Thanks Dad!
(This is a tribute to David Wilkerson who passed away last week in a car accident; His family is in our prayers!)

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).
Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.
Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.
That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”
Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”
Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.
To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”
Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.
POSTED BY DAVID WILKERSON


Today is Resurrection Sunday which means today He is Risen!
I am so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and your sins!
What is so awesome is that if we were the only human soul on earth... He would have still died for our sins and rose again three days later!
I am thankful. Thankful in deed.
Sad that I could not be with my family where the weather is sunny and peaceful, but am thankful for where I am at and where the Lord is leading me!

Here are a few Easter thoughts from around the web....


What Really Happened at the Cross

The Day Between Days



In honor of Earth day, I thought it would be most appropriate to recognize some of my favorite Guerrilla Gardening fascinations.

Guerrilla Gardening: A more subversive form of urban gardening, guerilla gardening is a way of adding plants to public spaces that don’t technically belong to the gardener such as a vacant lot, median, beside a highway, or in little strips of dirt. (courtesy of EcoLife)


The following photos are from across the World Wide Web and WebUrbanist.
 
 


#32 on my Wist List.... "Go Guerrilla Gardening..."


This week's This n That is a day late and so I apologize. I was spending yesterday in a research symposium with nursing students from all over the state. I watched in attentiveness as senior nursing students just like me presented his or her professional research proposals. But enough about nursing for today. Here our my favorite This n That's for this week. I chose things that are great for entertaining and I hope in the near future they will be a part of my lovely home collection! (Slowly but surely, I am blessed with gathering special treasures for my own future home).

I just love this little serving tray. It has so much etsy/elegant personality and would be great for a book club or a birthday party.
When I walked into Pier1 the other day, I fell in LOVE with this serving tray. It fits perfectly four dishes and could be great for any gathering. I love that it could be used indoors or outdoors and have a very simple clean feel to it. I would enjoy using it for a coffee table decor. You could put a candle in it with a few magazines! How cute would that be!?!
A few months ago, I had seen one of these shelves with my mom and loved it! The only thing it was black. I really like the white look here and could be accented with so many different things. What's great is this one is even on sale right now!
All photos are courtesy of Pier1


There is this one little coffee shop that I have recently been coming to more often than normal. It is not the same as my first and favorite coffee shop, but it will do. I sit here and soak up every minute I can of the free Wi-Fi they provide and read my favorite blogs and take my daily ATIs (that is not my number one choice of things to do).

I look forward to the day where I can read blogs, practice my DYIs that I have placed into a book in which I will do after school, and have all my exams (including my NCLEX) complete. I look forward to the dark washed bermuda jean shorts and loose white v-necks that are worn while driving with the windows down and my aviators on.

But for now, I will study.
My book of 1500 pages sits beside me and I vigorously try to get through the entire book within a few short days.
I have my neon orange notecards with all my lab values connected to my hip and my cell phone close by.

I'm ready to be done.
I feel as if I have been burnt out with school.
It's been a long time and I am ready for a break.

But for now, I will get back to my final two exams I need to study for.
And then my one main exam.... NCLEX


As of today, for school this is what remains...

- 3 Exams (Leadership, Med-Surg, and Predictor)
- Final part of a CQI paper
- Edits to graded care plan
- 1-2 clinicals for critical care (I really am not sure how many left)
- 1 field trip  (Dialysis Center)
- Simulcast

We are so close.
So close to finishing our last semester of college.
I am so excited.

I just have to keep reminding myself that I can do this
I have done what I can
Now, it's in His hands


I love old things... "vintage" you may say. Isn't this book so fun? I love the color and illustration! 




I'm a camera girl and when I came across these air fresheners, I just got so happy. What a creative way to express your photography side in your car!
So how about those penguin paper clips?


To all the nurses...
We Can Do It!

Exam Schedule:
Critical Care Exam - Neuro - April 12, 2011 PASSED
Leadership ATI - April 19, 2011 PASSED
Med-Surg ATI - April 26, 2011
Predictor - May 3, 2011


To Be Continued...

As I am getting older (hmm...), I am enjoying the part of it where I get to decorate my living spaces and make it suitable to who I am. Right now, I am working on my room. Now, it is a work in progress because I am being very picky, but when I find pieces I really like... I keep my eye on them (if you know what I mean).

So when I saw these in the store, I knew they would be perfect for flour, sugar, and rice! I am finding out more and more that I am a very natural person when it comes to kitchenware. My mom got me the most amazing spice jars for an early Christmas gift last year, and these would go so perfectly with those jars. I also think they are great because they are made out of recycled glass!

I have really been into cooking lately and wouldn't it be delightful to have all your friends and family recipes all tied together in one book... that is... the tasty ones :)

I love pillows! Currently on my bed I have some pretty awesome ones. I have been looking for a yellow one, and found this one today and just really really love it! Yes, it is just a slip cover for a pillow, but hey what better way than to be customizable!

This chair... yes this simple vintage yellow chair would be PERFECT in my bedroom. You see, I have been looking for a yellow chair for a very long long time, and when I walked into the youth center of the church I currently attend and saw this chair... I may have gotten really excited... A little too excited. This was it... the chair I had been looking for. So now I'm on the hunt again :)




1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
      I will constantly speak his praises.
 2 I will boast only in the Lord;
      let all who are helpless take heart.
 3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
      let us exalt his name together.
 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
      He freed me from all my fears.
 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
      no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
      he saved me from all my troubles.
 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
      he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
      Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
      for those who fear him will have all they need.
 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
      but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
 11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
      and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
 12 Does anyone want to live a life
      that is long and prosperous?
 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
      and your lips from telling lies!
 14 Turn away from evil and do good.
      Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
      his ears are open to their cries for help.
 16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
      he will erase their memory from the earth.
 17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
      He rescues them from all their troubles.
 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
      he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
 19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
      but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
 20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
      not one of them is broken!
 21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
      and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
 22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
      No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned

Sometimes we just need to be an encouragement to others. Praying for answers. Hoping for the best. Just being there. As I am finishing up my last few weeks of nursing school, I am getting excited for what is ahead and just trying to focus on what is right in front of me. I wake up knowing that there is security as long as I can follow through and be successful at what is given to me. It is so close. Someone told me this week this simple thought...

"We can prepare, study, and do all that we know we can... but there comes a point when we just have to let God do the rest. There is no studying that is going to accomplish what the Lord has for us. If he wants us at a certain point, He will pull us through."

Yes, I have heard this before, but for some reason it just soaked in a lot more this time around. It was good to be open and share my heart and know that people who have just met me are praying and believing. I have the best support out there.
The best parents.
The best family.
The best friend.
The best Heavenly Father.

What more could I ask for?! Why dwell on where the next penny will come from... where the next answer to the question on the exam will be remembered... where the next activity will be due to piles of studying...

I know I am where I am suppose to be.
I love where I am.
Who surrounds me.
The presence of Joy.

God is good.
Therefore it is good.




Today I will go barefoot.
Will you?


 These people did.
4.5.11


A day where you go without shoes... the entire day.
It is a challenge I pose to all my lovely readers.
It will change the way you think about shoes.
Support the cause and make a difference.
Wrap up the day with prayer.
Praying for those who are less fortunate.
Pray for a way you can help those in need.
One Day Without Shoes.
A day to bring awareness... unity... and a chance to make a difference.