Returning...

Well, I have announced to the facebook world about my return to Brookwood, so now here it is on my blog. I am excited to head back to a place that I know, people I know, and to Birmingham!!! I am returning as a prn employee, for those of you who are not medical, this is an "as needed" position.

I am not giving up on my traveling world just yet. It was just time to actually have a home base. I am very excited to be able to do 1-4 week assignments in the future, as well as have a job when I come home.

I am hoping to start work next week. I hear things are pretty busy so I think I will have plenty of days to work. After two weeks off I am ready!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful New Year so far. I have and am definitely excited about the way things are turning out so far in 2012!

2011

As 2011 comes to a close, there is a lot to reflect upon in this past year. I have done so much more than I ever thought I would and have taken a lot of "chances". I really can't believe the roller coaster ride I have been on.

I will admit, it is has been a tough year for me. I never ever imagined that at 29 I would be where I am, nor would I change a thing (even though I wonder why a lot). For I know there is a reason for every season in life and all of this has shaped who I am today.

I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead in the new year. The possibility of being closer to friends but also making new friends. The chance to travel more, the ability to have a place to call "home" as well. (vague here, still working out all these details, but you will see what I mean soon, hopefully!)

I want this new year to be the best, I want to become more involved in church, want to go on a mission trip, become a better friend, a better sister, a better daughter. I want to not worry so much about "what others think". I want to have happiness. I want my quiet times to be richer. I want my love for Christ to grow more than anything else, truly, that is the most important thing, eternity!

I am actually excited to start this new year. God's promises are amazing and I know wonderful things are in store!
(Heb. 10:35-36)

December fun...

This month has flown by! I truly don't know where all the time has gone. I knew it would. Holiday time always seems to go so fast for me. It has been an amazing month I will say that!

See ya Texas---that's right, I left Texas the first week of this month. I enjoyed my time there, but I was really ready for a change. I was ready to be closer to my family and truly ready for a break from work.

I did not break too long. I spent the first week at home helping my sister out with my nieces candy land birthday party! Talk about fun--I think it would be so much fun to be a party planner...but stressful too!

I also had the chance to take care of one of my friends daughter for three days. It was so much fun to have a little baby around. My nieces and nephew ate her up (and I did my fair share of spoiling as well :). I'm sad I don't have a current picture of AC, she is so cute and so incredibly sweet. I got a new phone so all of my pics are gone that I took, and trust me I took a lot, she is too cute! But here is a pic from when I first met her...

Isn't she sweet?

The next week I took off for California. I will be honest here, I was dreading this trip! But I really could not pass the opportunity up. I was only going to be there for a week, only had to work for two days, the whole trip was paid for except for food--who would turn it down? Let me tell you how many times God surprises me. I can almost guarantee if I am dreading something, it turns out to be one of the best things I have done. I had a lot of fun and met some really awesome people.

I returned home Christmas Eve night...actually got back to my parents house at 1200 am Christmas Day. When I woke up I got to hang out with this precious little one...

Can you say happiest child ever? I think all she does is smile, and she is just beautiful!

I also got to spend some time with the other three kid's in my life.

Of course Blaine was too busy for a picture! But we had a lot of fun playing Just Dance 3 and spending time together.

I have spent most of this week with my brain shut off. I guess I needed it after the last few weeks. I have already started thinking about what 2012 is going to hold for me. See next post on that...yeap that's right two post in one day! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Time away...

I am taking some time away from Facebook for the month of December. I know that I have been doing a lot of Facebook stalking/exploring out of pure nothing else to do...however, I do have other things to do. I have books to read, sewing I want to do, friends to see, and most importantly...God... that I need to be giving more time to. This conviction hit me hard this week!

Also, I am nearing the end of my assignment here in Houston, I have four days left of work. This is bittersweet. I am going to miss a good many things about Houston, but I am very ready and excited to move forward.

I can’t wait to spend a few weeks with my family in Alabama and be able to visit friends that I haven't seen in weeks.

With all of that said and done I want my perspective this Christmas on what really matters...God sending His son for us...you and me! And all the many blessings He has provided…family and friends. I pray the season of thanksgiving overflows to everyone’s Christmas!

I will try to update my blog (even though I am sure not many peps read it :) on what is happening and where I am going next. So keep checking on me, I haven't disappeared, just trying to keep perspective on what is important!!!

Thankful...

With it being Thanksgiving this month and seeing so many post about things they are thankful for, I want to also. I don't think a month should remind us to be thankful...we truthfully should be thankful all the time, but I do think we tend to loose focus and a month dedicated to Thankfulness can be a good thing and a great reminder for us, especially leading into Christmas. So here goes my thankfulness...even though I know I won't be able to nearly cover everything.

-my Salvation
-my parents, raising me in a Christian home, all they do for me, I don't say thanks near enough
-my siblings
-my nephew and nieces...can't imagine having any kids of my own, I love these kido's so much!
-Anna Britten's hugs-they are the best--(it was worth my 14 hours in a car this weekend just to have a 2 year old hug my neck for 5 minutes straight :)
-my job and the ability to travel doing it
-being able to see God's miracles everyday at work
-my friends, love being able to pick up with all of them so easily, even when we do not see each other all the time, but it seems like we just saw each other yesterday

I have so many other things I am thankful for, it would take me all night to share how richly I have been blessed!

(So I guess the next is really just a favorite thing right now, but seriously I want everyone to know how awesome it is!)

-Shane and Shane's new CD - The One You Need I have not stopped listening to it since I've gotten it...I might wear it out!

On another note...I am putting this out there for prayer. I have been contemplating heading back to school (yes again :) For many of you, y'all know I have always wanted to teach. I really have felt in my heart for the past few weeks the need for a career change. Not meaning getting out of nursing (although sometimes it feels that way) but to be able to do something different with the career. I have started exploring options. I am praying for guidance and direction. I want this to be something that is God's will, not mine!

Sweet home Alabama

Yea, for a week at home! I really had to get my car tag renewed, but I was able to make it into a week trip. My mom, sister and I took a girls trip to Birmingham (yeap, still keep my car registered in Jefferson County due to my house). I waited two hours in line since Alabama has past their new immigration law, but hear that two hours is actually pretty good time :) Then we headed to [where else but] the mall. We hit all the malls in Birmingham and also visited some of my favorite places to eat.
We traveled to T-town on Saturday and went to the Alabama game. It was fun to be back in SEC land and to watch Bama play.

Roll Tide!

The rest of my week was spent hanging out with family and visiting friends in Fairhope.
I sure do miss these three...

I have a few more weeks here in Houston and then I am going to be in Bama for Christmas. I am excited to be able to spend some time there, especially at this time of year. It is so rare for a nurse to be able to have Christmas time off, so I am definitely taking advantage of it this year.

I am still praying for where God will be leading me in January. But am excited for a new adventure and new year!

Make Something Beautiful...

Laura Story songs are the best...this song is exactly what I am feeling right now [Don't worry people, just the life of a single girl sometimes :)] and came on my Pandora at the exact time I needed to hear, words from my heart I tell you!

When I'm at the point of breaking at the place where I resign,
When I'm at the stage of shaking my head as I look back on my life,
When I'm halfway through the grieving, but not quite through the ache,
When I cannot see the ending, or which road I'm supposed to take,
All I know to do is lift my hands to You...

[Chorus:]
Take all of my life, all of my life,
And make something beautiful.
I open my hand, trusting Your plan.
Make something beautiful so all will see
Your work in me, as You make something beautiful

When I'm tired of pretending, and I can't recall my lines,
Do I say, I'm barely breathing, or just say, I'm doing fine.
I admit there is a yearning, for the hurting to subside,
But not at the risk of missing what You're doing with my life
All I know to do is lift my hands to You...

[Chorus:]
Take all of my life, all of my life,
And make something beautiful.
I open my hand, trusting Your plan.
Make something beautiful so all will see
Your work in me, as You make something beautiful
Make something beautiful

Cause all I know to do is lift my hands to You.
All I know to do is lift my hands to You.

[Chorus:]
Take all of my life, all of my life,
And make something beautiful.
I open my hand, trusting Your plan.
Make something beautiful
Take all of my life, all of my life,
And make something beautiful.
I open my hand, I'm trusting Your plan.
To make something beautiful, so all will see
Your work in me, as You make something beautiful
Make something beautiful
You make it beautiful