OH The Joy

This time of year is my favorite. I love spending time with my family. I love shopping for my friends and family and I love the sweet way my husband looks at me while I wrap up the gifts under the glow of the tree and when he can't take how "cute" I look so we dance to the Christmas music. I love how cozy our cabin is right now.

Tonight: before I went to the gym I stopped by my inlaws house to visit and Grace-Marie tricked me into playing a card game with her.It was a lot of fun. We couldn't find the rules so I just made some up and soon her older brother Jesse wanted to play.

We had a good time.

I love babies-

I always have baby fever but I'm making a new kind of fever.

A kid fever.

After the card game we played "Sorry" (G-M won!)

We really enjoyed eachother and as a newlywed wife I get kind of lonely. Coming from a big family and then BAM there is just two of us

(which don't get me wrong it's nice having hubby all to myself)

But I miss the JOY that children have. How they can laugh at nothing and be silly because they are just kids.

Christmas future: Children gathered all around their Papa and Mama, fire crackling, hot cocoa, music in the background and a love for God the creator of life.

Snow Day!

We love snowboarding.

On this day, Ryan my 10 yr old brother was learning.

We found out he has no fear and after "racking his stack" fifty times he still hopped back up and yelled "ohhhhh baby!" while bombing down the hill.

I felt like an over protective parent wincing as I watch him go down the hill so fast just waiting for him to wreck. Ryan is actually really good for his first time. I caught him going off a few small jumps on our last run- crazy kid.

My friend Jeri came and skied- traitor!

My brother, Isaiahs' sister.

We had a fun safe trip- hoping for many more this winter season.

This World Is Not My Home.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

I haven't thought about death very much but the past few weeks have forced it upon me.

At the hospital I did my first post mortem cares. It was strange taking care of a body with no soul in it and it got me thinking as I drove home that night. I took a look at my hands, my arms, and my legs and feet and it hit me. This is not who I really am. There is more to me than just this flesh. I've heard it over and over in church. This life is short, your body is temporal, your soul is eternal.

My body is just a vessel taking my soul through this life and when it comes to an end I will leave my vessel and enter Heaven.

All that day I looked at bodies and wondered how their souls was doing.

So many people worry about their vessel instead of the precious cargo it is carrying.

I'm not scared to die- I know where I'm going. I have believed on the name of Jesus Christ and I am saved from my sins and hell.

I have peace about death.

The past week my Grandpa has been dying. This morning they gave him 24 hrs to live. He is in no pain. My Dad told me he is sleeping. I'm not worried about him. I know my Dad has told him about Jesus and that my Grandpa has accepted Him into his heart. In a way I'm jealous- I wish I could go to Heaven now. As Paul said "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

There is a reason I'm on this earth and that is to glorify God and my job is not done and that is why I am alive.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Thanksgiving

The festive table clothe, the huge turkey, home made rolls, mashed potatoes and corn, pumpkin pie, family and friends gathered all around. The setting of the table, the choosing of the seats,

and the Dad asking the blessing.

This is what I think of every year around Thanksgiving.

I love traditions!

When Isaiah and I get older and have a bunches of kids I can see what our Thanksgivings will look like- we will have ham and turkey

I will make a pumpkin cheese cake and apple pie

We will always have mashed potatoes. ( A smile to my mother-in-law)

Isaiah will make his yummy succotash.

And as I was thinking about how stuck I am in traditions and how I like things to be just so.

I find I'm missing the important part of the day.

To stop and thank God for all His blessings He has given us.

So a few things I am thankful for this year:

Right now, as I rush to turn off the kitchen sink faucet , that when my sink overflows it over flows to the other side instead of the floor.

That I have a car that runs (with a warm heater) and for the job it takes me to.

For babies- they bring such joy into life.

God has really given me a lot in the past few years.

My cup truely over floweth.

My church family.

A husband that loves me so much.

And that he is super cute too.

Shame on me for complaining in my head.

So tomorrow I'm going to just be-

Thankful for every moment I get on this earth.

As I laugh and smile with my jolly family and friends.

I will thank God for life with all it's joys and sorrows.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayers, Blessings, And Lessons

So I did the math.

To save $500 a month for a new vehicle I would need to work 20 hrs a week.

There was no way I could really do that being on call.

My boss asked me one Friday a few weeks ago if a full time day shift position opened up if I would take it.

With a really long pause... probably too long I said,

"My husband works nights so I would like to work nights." The end.

I walked out feeling good- I know what's important to me and my husband is more important than my job.

When I told Isaiah, he told me thank you, I told him my dream job at the hospital would be 3days a wk, 12 hr night shifts on hospital side (I really like working in the ER).

Two weeks ago the guy working that shift called in sick- I got called in.

One week ago he resigned.

Very hopeful but asking God what he would have me to do.

Last Thursday- working in medical records, talking to an older lady who has worked there for years about it she told me her husband worked opposite shifts for 13 yrs and it was hard on their marriage and advised me not to do it but fight for the night job.

Came home, Isaiah got a raise....again...3rd time this yr :)

So I prayed.....and waited for the shift to be posted...but it never did.

Yesterday the December schedule came up and guess who has his shift?

Yep, God gave it to me.

There were two other gals that wanted it and should have gotten it if they wanted, more experience ect.

But I'm very thankful and excited to be the night shift CNA.

We got our first snow!

It's so magical when the first snow comes.

Makes me excited for ice skating, sledding and snowboarding trips.

The house gets so cozy- the heating bill goes UP....right now there is no snow on our roof because the heat does't like to stay inside he likes to sneak out any crack he can in this cabin.

One thing that is an amazing blessing is our down comforter- where would I be without you my big white warm friend?

Last Saturday

Isaiah and I raced our last race.

It was a 5k that turned into a 4 or 5 miler when we followed the crowd that took a wrong turn.

Yeah...life lessons to be learned there- go straight, don't follow the crowd, pay attention to the signs and it was the turtle who won the race.

Psalm 19:5
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

At Work, At The Store, At Home

Today was crazy....

like most my days that I go to work....but no one spit on me.... hit me or cussed me out

like Wednesday. I did get told thank you a lot and that always helps- and it was a bonus shift and those are always nice but it was a morning shift and those are always crazy. But as crazy as things get it's always worth it to help people...even if they are out of their minds half the time :)

At the store....

I felt like getting ice cream...and pickles.

No reason just wanted those two things. I already have a reputation in our little store- now to add to it I buy crazy food items :)

So the cashier looks at my food and asks: "Are we pregnant?"

I had to laugh- and sadly tell her no....I think...I will let you know in a few wks.

At home....finally home.

Clean, clean, run 2 miles as fast as I can before the rain comes, shower, nap, take my hubby lunch- LUNCH DATE! Back home, sigh, time to write and relax.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

God be with you-

Scrubs

The past 3 weeks I've been working at the hospital.

Our hospital is small, one side is long term care and the other...well.. the hospital side.

Well I might as well tell you what I really hate before I go all super positive about the job:

I HATE complaining coworkers.....yep...I'd say that's the worst thing.

I love the feeling I get when I go home. I love when we have a lot of visitors at dinner.

It makes me glad most of our residents have a loving family that comes and visits them.

I love being in the ER and making someone that is in a lot of pain laugh for a second.

I love watching someone get stitches...yeah weird...but it's interesting.

I love pretty much all the nurses and so far I have one Dr that is my favorite. She was a fire fighter, ambulance driver, CNA, and nurse before she became a Doctor...and she is going to have a baby :) so I think she is pretty cool.

I love being told thank you over and over again.

I love being around people.

Now my boss also would like me to work in medical records when needed.

The medical record room is small but organized.

I love organized.

I love my husband- he's happy for me.

I don't think this is my calling forever and dream job....but it is a step towards it.

My dream job is being a wife....well I already am one of those...and a mother.

God is really showing me to be thankful, joyful when others are not,

and to be willing to learn new things.

This job is just a growing step.

Experience is priceless.