Today's Untitled Blog Post

So I can not think of a title for this post today. My clever genius starts after 7:00 am.


I read the most encouraging blog post yesterday, I was so encouraged and moved that I decided to not blog about it then but to let it stay with me all day. You might begin to think that I have an obsession with Ann Voskamp...well I kind of do becuase she has an obsession with Christ that I want! They say if you want to be skinny, do skinny people things, if you want to be fit, do what fit people do and so forth. Well, I want to be passionately in love with Christ and let him use my messy story to heal me and if he chooses, to touch others with it as well.

I have become a bit of a perfectionist over the years, always striving to have everything in it's place, to be the best at everything I do, and I get frustrated when things don't go exactly how I pictured.  I have also started to rely on God to break me of this nasty habit. He doesn't want my perfection, he already has it through Christ. He wants my praise and my love to turn towards him in everything I do.

I have noticed a change in my attitude already just by being aware and giving thanks for all the beautiful gifts He has given me. On the flip side, I have had some pretty down times as well. That old self coming out telling me I am not good enough, smart enough, perfect enough to even be worthy to call upon his name. Those lies will creep up, but my God has given me the truth. I read another amazing woman's thoughts on this, and I encourage you to head over there too. We are His beautiful children, there is great delight in his eyes when he sees us.

Thankful for,
long talks with my mom
wedding album finally in
smell of clean clothes
early morning walks with Doug
laughing with my husband over silly things
our Rwandan Compassion child
knowing God is not finished with me

Oklahoma!

Weekend get-a-way to Oklahoma may not sound romantic or exciting, but getting away from work and school and the apartment to spend some much needed time with your husband, is just the kind of weekend I needed. We had bought a Groupon for the Hyatt Hotel in Tulsa, Googled some very Tulsa things to do and headed out for our destination, complete with Chex Mix and peanut butter M&M's. I wanted to share some of the things we did while there, so check out the photos below!

Grabbing coffee at the local, shabby chic, Shades of Brown

In Tulsa's version of Bradly Fair, they had a fun old phone booth!

"Help! Help!"

Dun-da-da-Dun!!

"I will rescue you!"

Where there is a Doug, there is a Starbucks.

Fun at Anthropolgie

Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

Beautiful Philbrook Museum

So beautiful, so hot, I melted

Random garden gnome!

This gazebo is what took husband and I out of the AC and into the sweltering Brazilian rainforest, wait I mean Tulsa

Despite the heat wave, the flowers were in full bloom.

Snapped some self photos and high tailed it back to the museum!

 

 

 Things I am grateful for:

Long worknights with great coworkers
patients who understand they are not the only ones you have to take care of
God holding me together when I am falling apart
good times with the sister

the air conditioner
of course, get-a-way weekends with the hubby
how he chose the smoother path on the way there so I could sleep in the car
clouds disguised as a fantastic king sized bed
dinner and a movie date night out of town
remembering how God loves me, all.the.time.
brother and sister-in-law's preparing to have a baby girl :)
going to be an Auntie!
good chats with good friends
late night and early morning walks with my love
have I mentioned the air conditioner?

Gratefulness

I have been struggling with learning how to be grateful/thankful in ALL things. I lose perspective so easily and focus on the dark, the imperfections, the things I feel helpless to change, when I need to just shift my camera lens over and focus in on the object of my passion, on the one who waits to give me a life full of passion, fulfillment and purpose.  I'd like to share these two videos with you this morning.






















Now this video is about teaching gratefulness to children but I think we adults can take a lesson ourselves. I am using this blog as my own form of a gratitude journal, do whatever fits your life best but take the time to begin savoring the moments and make a change to see things as God would have you see them.



You have heard me talk about Ann Voskamp before, but I wanted to share this video with you becuase, the beautiful description of framing moments and shifting your focus on what really matters is exactly what I needed to hear. I do not need a house, or children, or tons of friends, or a best selling book, or know how to cook well (working on it though!), or be the best at everything. All I need to do is give thanks to God for the breath I have in my lungs right now, for the things that really matter are the things I need to begin to make important in my life, and to let all else rest outside my frame for that moment.


1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


Thankful for
Godly perspective
good books that redirect my attention towards the Lord
my good, caring husband who listens to me
tears of frustration that give way to hope
vanilla bean ice cream while watching Phineas and Ferb
sweet pregnant friends about to burst forth a new life any time now!

Early mornings are for muffins

Working nights throws my poor sleeping patterns off terribly. Slept all day yesterday, woke up around 7 (normally I get up at 5... it was a LONG and HARD three nights at the hospital) tried to spend time with Doug, and then went to bed at midnight. So... I got up at 4:30 am, made some banana nut and strawberry muffins while the husband made the coffee.

Little baby muffins!

So I will not bore you with a recap of how awful work was, but let me say this, the last three nights made me reconsider why I ever wanted to be a nurse in the first place. Especially a med-surg nurse. It is hard to give adequate care to 8 patients, 8 very sick, very needy patients. I felt like I was running for 12+ hours! I don't mind busy, I do mind crazy.

That being said, I am grateful for:

co-workers who help you
patients who say thank you
a piece of dark chocolate, sea salt, almond fantasticness in the midst of chaos
knowing your shift will eventually be over (they can't make me stay forever!!)
the train on K-15 that gives you green lights, all.the.way.home.

biscuits and gravy, hashbrowns, and OJ with the hubby at Braums after work yesterday
coming home to our cute apartment that contains our comfy bed
a hot shower.
SLEEP!
having a loving God who tests me daily so that I may know him more

I should be sleeping...

I really should be napping right now before I go to work tonight, but here I am, blogging really quickly!

thankful for...
groupon deals to Old Navy
cute new clothes
helpful sales people
a wonderful husband that shops with me (and let me have his groupon!)
hearing others stories
knowing God changes lives
having a job helping others
yesterday's 8 hours spent with my sister, my best friend

My seester and me. taken by Jackie Cooper Photography

God is working in me, and I am learning to get out of the way.