And I'm thankful.

This pask week I went home for Thanksgiving. It was great to be home and spend time with family and friends. He are just a few pictures of some of thost I love. These two precious children are Hailey and Nathan. I love them dearly (along with little Liam who was sleeping). They are some of my favorite people and a must see every time I'm home. I was so blessed by their hugs and stories. It's so fun to watch them grow. 

One day while I was home I got to spend the afternoon with my brother Turner. We did some errands and had time to chat over coffee (I thought it was so pretty I had to take a pic). I love him so much! I couldn't ask for a better brother.

 

 Every time I'm home we have one night where we get lots of people we love together and talk, play games, eat, and just enjoy each other. This is one of my favorite things and I'm glad it's become a traditon now. I think I will definitely have to have a big dinning room table at some point in my life because I just love when a lot of people can be all together.

And......STEPHANIE!! Stephanie and Brad flew home for Thanksgiving and were in Branson for a couple days which is not far from where I live. I absolutely couldn't stand it is she was that close and I didn't get to see her so I drove to Branson one night and had a wonderful couple hours with the Griggs family. It was so good to see my beautiful friend that I love and miss...such a blessing!

I also had time with my wonderful mom and dad :) One night my mom and I put up Christmas decorations which is something we always do together. As we put up the tree my mom told me stories about the decorations. We always seem to tell the same stories but it never gets old. She talked about how the first time she decided to color coordinate the tree that they didn't have very much money and all she had was colored lights so my aunt came over and they took off all of color with fingernail polish so she could have white lights on the tree. We talked about the last year we had a real tree when she decided she wanted a really big tree and went to the tree farm down the road and picked the one she liked the best. My grandpa was with us and he thought the tree was too big, but my mom was convinced it would fit. Needless to say the tree took up about a fourth of the living room that year and about 5 foot had to be cut off the bottom (which my dad and grandpa did in the living room)...then there were millions of tree needles all over the floor. forever. My mom said that would be the last real tree we ever had...and it was...but I love our fake tree so its ok. One of my favorite stories though is about the year my dad hooked up the christmas lights on the tree to some sort of radio or cd player thing and programmed the lights to blink in time with music...I'm still not sure how he did that. We also talked about my favorite ornament which is the crystal icicles. I'm not sure why they are my favorite but they are. They were always what I was most excited about as a child and would sometimes just lay under the tree and watch them sparkle.

 

 We also had an amazing Thanksgiving meal with lots of family.

                                                                    The traditional olives-on-your-fingers picture.  

I am so thankful for my family and this time at home. I took more pictures this time because its one of my goals right now. Take more pictures....because this is a good season and I want to remember it.

Thoughts of the day...

1. The best thing about early morning classes is having a blueberry muffin from Broadway cafe.
2. Jesus is my best friend (I alway used to really want to say that but I just didn't think it was true. But I think its true now. I talk to him more than anyone else. He knows all of my secrets. He has the first of my excitement, worry, frustration, tears, joys, thoughts, and ideas. He has my heart and it is safe there.)
3. The first five months of nursing have felt like boot camp. Nursing boot camp. I've learned more than I ever thought I would and I've been stretched physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I work nights but have an 8 am class every couple weeks. I'm almost done with the classes. It will be nice when I only have to work 3 twelve hour shifts a week...and not ever get up for an 8 am class... It's good though. I'm where I'm supposed to be.
4. My roommates are the best. They are so quiet while I sleep during the day and always greet me excitedly when I wake up. I am blessed.
5. I feel like I don't have as many pictures from this season of life...since graduation. Time is a lot less event oriented these days. And it moves at a much different pace. But it is really good and I want to remember it. So I think I'll try to take more pictures.
6. I really like my co-workers. I want them to know Jesus. Pray that I have opportunites to share with them and to build relationships.
7. I like being up late. I don't have a bed time now. That makes me happy.
8. I wish I had 10 thoughts of the day...but I can't think of any other significant thoughts from today...so I guess 8 will have to do :)

So it begins...

I've known for a long time that many people at KL blog, but I had never taken time to actually read them. The other day I just got really curious and looked at many of the community blogs and I was so blessed. I was blessed by stories, by pictures, and by a glimpse into the lives and hearts of those I'm so thankful for...so I've decided to start a blog. I have no idea what this will look like, but I'm excited. I had a blog when I was in Thailand and it was something the Lord really used to help me speak what I was learning and experiencing and it gaves those who weren't near me an idea of how to pray. Copies were even printed out and given to all of the elderly people that lived at the assisted living center I was working at at the time. My parents could read it and understand my day to day life.  Many people told me that the felt like they could be on the journey with me. So I guess that's what I want. I want to invite others to journey with me.

So why Unashamed?

Several reasons. Number one. The Lord has absolutely transformed my life. He has taken my shame, guilt, and sin and brought redemption in ways that still brings me to my knees in thankfulness. I am so blessed to be so loved. Number two. The Lord has really been building a lot in me lately. I have felt as if it has been a season of foundation pouring. During the long night hours that I am awake and alone (got to love night nursing) the Lord has pursued my heart. He has been growing my ability to hear his voice more clearly, he has spoken about being bold, he has given me a heart for sharing his love with the lost (especially those that I work with) and many other things. Mainly it leads me to being unashamed in the way I love the Lord, in speaking what he says with boldness, and stepping out in faith when sharing with those who don't know him. Number three. Sometimes trusting in the Lord requires waiting before we really see what he has planned. I don't really like this place very much, but I know the faithfulness of the Lord. So I hang on to his promise that those who wait on him will not be put to shame.

I guess now that I have a post I need to tell people that a new blogs exists. Thanks for journeying with me! Blessings!