Fall Semester is OVER!

Woohoo! How relieved I am to have a little (very little) time off. I passed! I finished my first semester of RN nursing school. I never ever dreamed it would be so hard. It was truly, only by the grace of my Lord and Savior and His merciful favor upon me that got me through this. I keep reminding myself of His great plan for me. I know that one day I will finally step my feet onto foreign soil as a medical missionary to spread His word and to help heal physically and spiritually. I know I am in His will.

I also know that as hard as I studied and as much as I tried this past semester I have to give more of me. I have to study harder and I have to try harder. This second semester is going to much more involved and much more intense than last semester. There are days I wonder if I have it in me. I miss my lazy days sometimes, I miss being able to do only what I feel like. Yet, I know, deep down inside that I was getting no where then. That I was being passive. Life was passing me by. I was being of no use to my Lord. Hard as this may be, every day that goes by I am closer to the place the Lord called me to go. I'm pressing forward.

I'm 1/4 nurse!

If you are reading this, please keep me in your prayers. Pray that I retain and understand all that I am being taught.

They have already posted next semesters schedule and assignments. I have more than enough to keep me busy during my break. I'm definitely going to make time for my family and take some me time during my short break. Balance. That's what I've got to do. Balance everything! :)

Philippians 4:11 " Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." 

Can't Wait to Try This!

Doesn't this look divine. I hope try this around Christmas, if somehow I run short on time or better yet.... energy-I will definitely put this on the list for Tony's birthday in January.

INGREDIENTS:

• One box of strawberry cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs as directed on box)
• 2- 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
• 1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
• Yellow food coloring  (if desired for color)
• 1- 7oz. container Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
• 1/3 c. powdered sugar
• 8 oz. Cool Whip Topping
• Rainbow sugar crystals

DIRECTIONS:

• Make cake according to box and bake in 2- 9 inch round cake pans as directed.  Turn finished cakes over on cake racks and allow to cool completely.
• Cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
• Beat marshmallow creme and powdered sugar in and then fold in Cool Whip until completely smooth.  
• Cut each cake layer in half.
• Alternating layers of cake with layers of frosting, assemble cake.  
• Cover top and sides with frosting and sprinkle with rainbow sugar.
• Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Thank-you Easy Baked

Happy 17th Birthday My Sweet V

My middle girl Savannah Sky. My 'V' is growing up. 

 She is so beautiful.

I love you my V. 

Christmas 2012 Family Photos

Just a few.....

The Bowman and Dalton family. 

Meadow, Matt, Heaven, Jenileigh, Roxy, Tony, Treyton, Sky

My man Tony and I on the couch. 

 Pappy, Treyton and Mimi.

The joy of my soul. My grandson. 

Landri Walking!

Little miss Landri has come such a long way in such a short time. We all know that God's healing hands are on her, even now. She is coming home on the 5th of December. Praise God for answered prayer! Thank you prayer warriors for staying on your knees during this difficult trial that the Jones's family is going through. Below are pictures of sweet Landri Dee walking with her walker and then holding her momma's hand and walking. Such a strong determined little girl!

Mark 5:41 "Taking her by the hand He said to her, 'Talitha Kumi' which means "Little girl, I say to you ARISE!"

Thanksgiving 2012

I know I've shared this before but I'm going to share it again.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love this time of year. I'm just so blessed that often times it overwhelms me.

Thursday we spent Thanksgiving on the Mountain, my all time favorite place in the world, at my precious mother in laws. It was a wonderful day. Tony and I cooking together in the kitchen. Both of us growing older and aching together. I have to laugh at us. We are one of those "something" else couples. It takes years to create a couple like us. We are priceless. We create some of the sweetest moments in time and a delicious meal might I add.

After eating and cleaning up I ventured outside with my grandson Treyton. We went out into the woods. It was a such a beautiful day. I laid down on the ground, it wasn't cold as you would have expected, it was warm. The sun was basking down on us. The breeze was sweet and gentle. We learned about pine cones, green moss, and leaves. We talked, we hugged, we played. He enjoyed covering me with leaves and laughing as they fell all around my face. Simple joys. The greatest pleasures in my life. I turned over and looked up at the sky through the tree tops and praised my Lord. My heart cried with joyful thankfulness for that moment of heaven in His beautiful creation. How majestic He is. How powerful, loving, and kind. What better gift could a father give His children. The air so fresh, so crisp, so clear. Peace. Thank-You My Savior.

Friday we spent Thanksgiving at my mom and dad's. Everyone was in this year and it was great being together without being hurried or rushed. Sissy is home and there is a spirit of peace everywhere this season. The fellowship was amazing. Everyone came together and helped each other. We each cooked something or had a hand in preparing the feast that we were able to sit down and partake in.

The only sad part was that my dear sweet husband was running a fever and missed the festivities.

My mother took the honor of saying grace for us. I love to hear her pray. As I glanced around the kitchen yesterday and looked at each face that was gathered around the table, I was reminded of just how fleeting time is. We are all aging. We have all matured. We have all been through so much, together and apart. Through everything it's made us who we are and brought us closer.

After eating I walked outside with my dearest nephew Derron. What a lover boy he is. So tender hearted. I sat down in the driveway and he climbed in my lap. Once again enjoying one of the most beautiful days I've been blessed to experience. He held my face and he said, "I love you Mimi." Nothing in this world could compare to the love that filled me in that moment.

My boys. My answered prayers. God is so good to me.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

All Is Well

This Monday was much better than the last. I passed my catheter assessment check off. One more down several more to go. Only a few more weeks. We have our final test and our final exams coming up after assessments. I am giving my all. Praying that I PASS! I'm not giving up! I've worked so hard. Father God. I trust IN You!

"Hope is the great stabilizer. It steadies us in times of fear and difficulty, not because we know that everything will turn out as we want, but because we know that God is trustworthy. Hope is what helps us stay on course regardless of circumstances." Those are wise words from Ann Spangler. I will stay on course regardless of circumstances. The Lord is my strength! I am His. I am not my own! Hallelujah. What a joy to be in His presence.

A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the LORD, with the LORD for his hope. He is like a tree by the waterside that thrusts its roots to the stream; when the heat comes it feels no alarm, its foliage stays green; it has no worries in a year of drought, and never ceases to bear fruit....Hope of Isreal, LORD! (Jeremiah 17:7-8,13)

AMEN!

The Bowman family is anchored in the Lord!

Landri, Praising God!

God is answering prayer! Hallelujah for His healing power! Jennifer and Jesse were told that a second pathology test was done on Landri's tumor and there will be NO RADIATION! What a blessed Thanksgiving this 2012. My God is a healer. My God is a redeemer! My God is God above all gods in this world. The One and Only. The Alpha and the Omega! Yahweh! Jehova! Elohim! My Savior! The Great I AM! Father God we give YOU all the praise, honor and glory in Jesus Christs sweet and precious name!

Mark 5:41 "Taking her by the hand He said to her, 'Talitha Kumi' which means "Little girl, I say to you ARISE!"

I love you Landri Dee!

Update on Landri

Message from Jennifer-Landri's mom.

"Landri has been really wanting the feeding tube out. Today she got it out, just not in the ideal way. It started gagging her and she threw up and it came up too. It looked like a long worm hanging out of her mouth. Poor baby :-( I told them they were NOT putting another one in! As you can see, it's out and Landri has nuggets and a milk shake from Chick Fila. Keep your prayers going up. She's working so hard. We all know Landri wants to walk and talk and do all the things she used to do and even more. She's going to be so much better at all of it. I can't say it enough...my little hero!! A parent's love never stops growing. I'm so, so proud of my Drayden too. He's been so mature during all of this. We miss him so much and he misses us just as much, but he has been such a trooper. I sure hope and believe Santa is going to be super awesome to him this year because he definitely deserves it PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME HE MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE Thank you everyone ♥"

Thank-you all for keeping Landri in your prayers. I am so proud of her and her family. Our family is so strong and have really pulled together during this crisis. It's made us rethink every moment, every day and how we choose to live. God always brings greatness out of what satan means for harm. 

Mark 5:41 "Taking her by the hand her said to her, 
'talitha kumi,' 

which means, 'little girl, I say to you, arise.'"

And in Jesus' name she is doing just that!

Worst Day Ever!

Well, maybe not the WORST, but close to it. My time of the month came last night. I had clinicals early this morning and lab this afternoon. I got up at my usual Monday morning routine time of 4:30 am. I felt fine, took a hot shower which felt amazing. Was ready in plenty of time and arrived at my girlfriend's house 20 minutes early, so that I would have time to study for my catheter assessment today.  When I swapped vehicles to ride with Jen I forgot my cell and my catheter supplies. I had no idea.

I went on to clinicals and found myself so busy that I didn't realize I had bled all over myself. It was bad. I would have gone home but I had rode with Jen and there wasn't enough time to get me back to her to her house to get my car. So, another friend got me a change of clothes and I went on to lab. I had studied and was prepared, so I went first, I had borrowed supplies from the school to check off. When I went to check off my kit was missing needed items so I automatically got an unsatisfactory.

I could have cried. This was my second one for the semester. We are allowed twelve, so in all actuality I am faring well BUT it was just the point. I work very hard to be organized and keep everything together. I HAD my kit, if only I have driven myself.

Such a discouraging day. It was easy to think, "I'm never gonna make it through nursing school, why keep going? It's only going to get harder."

BUT, all thanks be to God and my precious hard praying husband I controlled my temper and my thoughts. I cast them down in Jesus name and He brought to my remembrance a testimony that my nursing teacher had us watch in the very beginning of school. I'm going to link it below so that you can watch it. Please take the time to watch it? You'll be glad you did. I learned so many things from it.

I learned that sometimes it depends on how bad you want something as to whether or not you'll ever get it. There are many things in life that you WILL have to fight for. There will be many obstacles, the question will be, are you a quitter or are you a fighter?

I have had so many obstacles. So many brick walls. So many bad days. So many horrible circumstances. And then I think, "SO?" Who do I think I am? Who is determining my future?

I am.

And I can do all things through my STRONG Savior! The only way this isn't happening is if I have given my all and it's not enough. I am not a quitter and I will not give up. I will press forward. I will march on. I will finish the race.

I don't have it as bad as others. I can't and won't feel sorry for myself. I will use my mistakes and learn from them.

If you need encouragement watch this.

There is always someone out there that has it worse than you do and they handled it differently. They chose to march forward. They chose to do the right thing. They didn't feel sorry for themselves. They didn't fuss and moan. No, Oh woah is me. They weren't selfish. They are the true inspiration, that if you set your mind to something, you can do it.

I will be a wife prized above rubies. I will be the best mother I can be. I will be the best daughter I can be, the best sister, aunt, cousin, friend, mentor, example, and one day I will look back and say the road was tough but I didn't give up and I am the BEST NURSE that I can be!

All glory be to God!

Senior Pictures for Sky

I cannot believe that I am taking my middle daughter to have her Senior pictures made. She is graduating 2013 at 17 years old. I am so proud of her. She will be in the school annual, we are ordering her class ring, and she will be testing very soon.

I cannot believe how fast time flies. It seems like yesterday that she was my baby girl. Those huge gaunt blue eyes. Mommy's girl. My hip baby. Out of my three girls she was the one who was most dependent on me. She'd rather be by my side then playing on her own. I can remember that my oldest daughter Heaven loved Barbies. She collected them. She took care of them. She saved them. I know that my youngest daughter Meadow loves the Littlest Pet Shops, she takes care of them, collects them and always plays with them.

But not my Sky. She always liked people better than toys. She never played alone. She hated being independent. She thrives when around others. She has always been this way. Often times it makes things harder for her because most of her friends aren't like this and they find her clingy. It's brought the two of us closer. She is so special to my heart. She confides in me. I let her. No judgment. Only direction. I share with her my heart as she shares with me hers and I pray that she makes the best decisions for her life. I pray that when she doesn't, she learns from her mistakes.

It wasn't always this way between us. She taught me so much about relationships, life and parenting. She showed me that not all children are alike. She taught me that I did not know everything and that I was not always right just because of my experiences.

I admire her.

The biggest things I want her to remember is that you never give up. You never quit. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Always be striving towards a goal. Enjoy life. Never focus on other people's opinions of you. Be an over comer. Forgive. Move on. Protect yourself. Believe in yourself. You can do anything through Christ who continually strengthens you. Without Him we are nothing. Never judge. Fight for other people's rights as you fight for you own. Love at all times.

She does all of these. I am one proud momma.

Congratulations Class of 2013!

Small Miracles equal HUGE Miracles

I guess it depends on how you look at it. To me, it's the small things that lead up to the BIG things. I've struggled so hard this semester of RN School. I've tried not to complain. I know how blessed I am to be where I am. God has answered my every prayer.

I had two tests this week and they were doosies. One of my classes, Physical Assessment, has test and Assessment check offs. The check offs count for the same percentage as the test so even though some of my test scores have been lower than I'd prefer my Assessments have been ROCKIN and totally pulled my test averages up. My second class, Fundamentals, has Assessments but those don't count as grades-only pass or fail. This class by all means is TOUGH. The toughest I've encountered yet. It's not a class of facts. It's not black and white. You make Assessments, you evaluate situations, there are several right answers and you choose the BEST one. No black and white. Lots of gray. I don't like situations that are gray. I think too much with my analytical mind. I make things harder than they really are.

Today was once again one of those make it or break it days. I asked my dear husband for special prayer. In taking the test I was sick to my stomach. After the test I had peace. I felt as though the test wasn't as hard as I had thought it would be and this actually is not a good sign in these situations. I needed at least an 80 to stay in the game. An 85 would have pulled me out of the red.

I got a 73.

I started to walk out. To walk away. Knowing this grade would be near impossible to pull up. I was so upset and frustrated. I was so thankful that the peace came and I had a good friend the Lord sent me to encourage me and plead with me to wait it out. After all, I do still have two more tests. I CAN pull this up. Why give up and never know? Stay and give it all you've got.

 So I stayed.

I done my afternoon check off and came home. Then I checked the board for my test scores. I was stunned. I'm not sure why. We had prayed and it surprised me that God answered? After all of our test are entered certain questions are thrown out if no one gets them right. When I checked my grade it went from a 73 to a 79.

Oh Hallelujah!

Let me tell you, those are shouting numbers! God moved on my behalf. Slow and steady wins the race. Devotion. Dedication. Faithfulness. Finishing the race. Nothing is more important than finishing the race. If there is one thing I have learned this semester it is to plant your feet, hang on, and not to let go until you have completed the task.

God spoke volumes to me in this. And it applies in ALL areas of my life. The most important one being my walk with Him. I am singing His sweet praises this day. I am blessed beyond measure.

The Day After

I'm so glad it's over. I have to admit that I am shocked at the results. I think that I would have been surprised by either turn out. This election was so close and people have acted so ugly. Especially Christians. It hurts my heart and disappoints me that we cannot control ourselves, nor our tongues to uphold an ounce of respect or to love those that are not like us.

One of my favorite stories comes from a Francine Rivers book called, "Silas". It is the story of Silas and Paul, not the most popular one that most everyone knows, but the one before Paul became a Christian. It was when Paul was Saul before the Lord had given him his new name. He hated Christians. He killed them. It still amazes me that in spite of those actions, specifically murder...murder, of those who believed on Jesus Christ, he was forgiven. Paul persecuted Christians and in one story in her book Saul came into the home where Silas was staying. They were beating and killing everyone because of their faith. Silas did not fight back. He prayed for the Lord to forgive the men. Saul noticed Silas's love for them EVEN THOUGH they were there to kill him. This stuck out in Saul's mind. He had mercy on Silas and spared him.

This instance of love, of obedience to God's word, spoke louder than any word or any war could have ever spoken. Today we are so busy accusing others, preaching down to others, as though we believe that somehow because of our faith that we are better than they are. Pointing fingers, calling out other people's sin as if we do not sin ourselves. We've become a hypocritical people. There are so few that still stand for what they SAY they believe.

I am ashamed to admit that I am one of them.

What the people of this world need to see is humility, humbleness and the POWER of God's LOVE. Loving the unlovable, the unthinkable, loving in hard situations, all situations. Having stronger faith. People actually OBEYING God's word. Remembering that God is in control. This election may have surprised me, but it did NOT surprise HIM.

Souls would be won if we were real. The world would be a different place if we were real. You simply can't claim to know God but live as your flesh desires.

I've had a real wake up call. I've been heading down the wrong path for far too long.

I am only one person, but I am the one person who is responsible for myself.

I make a choice this day.

I will follow.

I will obey.

I'm home Lord.

Voting Day

I just don't feel the love. The things that I dislike the most about politics are the lies and disrespect. I also loathe those that say they are voting for Christian principles. Really? I mean when is the last time there was truly someone leading our country that really had morals? Much less Christian principles. To me, when it comes to voting things need to come from a different perspective.

Freedom and rights. That is what America is suppose to be about. My freedom to be a Christian. Someone else's freedom not to. My Lord has never forced anyone to serve Him. He calls. He doesn't force.

I believe that being gay, according to the word of God is a sin. So is theft, murder, adultery, rape, lying, hating, gossiping, witchcraft, idolatry, gluttony. The list goes on and on and on. BUT as a Christian I do as my Jesus does me. I love the sinner and hate the sin. I believe in a person's right to be gay and have legal rights in America. They should not be treated as second class citizen's just because of my beliefs. This truly does remind me so much of slavery, inter-racial marriage, and the fact that color use to determine someone's rights.

I don't believe in abortion. I don't believe it should be legal. Yet as a Christian I completely understand that making abortion illegal is not going to stop abortion. Christians who so strongly oppose abortion should be DOING something. Loving those moms, not judging them. Witnessing to them, helping them, praying for them all in love. I do not believe in hate crimes. I'm sorry but that would mean that my faith is no different than any other. Jesus is love. If Christians truly loved the way Jesus did THEN and only THEN would people see a love they'd never experienced before.

Do I want my rights taken away in America? Do I want to lose my privilege to serve and worship my Lord and Savior? Do I want to lose my right to own and read His word? NO, I certainly do not. So then, I must fight for other's rights as well. I cannot ask to be given something that I feel I have the right to take from someone else.

This election is tough. I don't have a favorite candidate. BUT I can say for Christians to so blindly vote one way because they claim one man is a Christian is ridiculous. Mormonism is no different than Muslim ism. The lesser of two evils is still evil. A known enemy is safer than a wolf in sheeps clothing.

I want to say to vote because of what each candidate can do for America. Separate the church and the state. I don't want the government controlling my faith anyway. Yet, even so, my heart feels this election is a lose/lose situation.

I just can't stand to hear people claim that one is the Christian choice. So many are blindly led to the slaughter. Think for yourselves people!

And no matter how you vote, VOTE! 

 

Happy Halloween!

It's so hard to believe that my Treyty man is 2 years old. The Lord has blessed me greatly. I am so thankful during this season. October, my favorite month, has gone by faster than I hoped but I am grateful that November is right behind it. Thanksgiving. This is the season of Thanksgiving. I give thanks to my Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am so blessed. Blessed beyond measure. Blessed beyond words. I pray His blessing upon you as well. Tis the Season!

This picture looks exactly like Heaven when she was around 4. Same expression. Priceless!

My happy boy.

My Meadow the Honey Bee and her bestie Candace! Meadow is now 11 years old. My how time flies. 

Prayers for Landri Dee

This is my second cousin Landri Dee. She calls me aunt Jennifer and I call her my niece. She is 7 years old. Please keep my sweet lady bug Landri in your prayers. She needs God's healing. The Dr.s found a tangerine sized tumor at the base of her skull. She had surgery to remove the tumor on Wednesday this week. It was attached to her brain stem. She had a sinus infection when they done surgery. Ordinarily they would not have done surgery until the sinus infection was gone but this was too urgent. They believe all of the tumor is gone. They are waiting for the test results on the tumor. They believe they got the whole tumor and we are trusting in Jesus it is gone! Her complication now are her lungs. Please pray she heals and can breathe fully and normally on her own. Her swallowing reflex is not working so they are contemplating a feeding tube. She will have to relearn to talk and walk. Please share this. I want as many people as possible praying for her. Thank you so much my dear prayer warriors! 

This is the Jone's family. 
Jesse, Jennifer, Drayden and Landri

Missing are brothers Devin and Dylan and sister Leah.

This is Landri at her 7th Birthday party in September

This is Landri after surgery.

This is Dylan and Landri

This is the scripture that the Lord laid on my heart to pray for Landri. 

Mark 5:41 "Taking her by the hand her said to her, 'talitha kumi,' which means, 'little girl, I say to you, arise.'"

Peace Today

This week has slowed down some. I only had school two days. This fall air is so refreshing and rejuvenating. It gives me new found energy, desire, and hope. Having the extra time at my home, a home that I have grown to love so dear, is so appreciated. Having time to clean, cook, and listen to the Beatles. Spending time with my grandson Treyton.

Dad brought me a huge bag of fresh turnips and turnip greens. I'm fixing those with homemade macaroni and cheese, baked bean, meatballs and a huge pan of cornbread. Cornbread. It reminds me of my grandpa. His cornbread, turnips and greens were out of this world. Mine will never compare but the smell and every bite brings an old memory back.

Family. My sister is here helping me. I've missed her so bad since she has been at the beach for 16 years. I'm so glad she has moved back. Quality time together has suffered. Somehow those yearly visits just don't keep the bond as much as spending time together everyday.

God is so good.

My sweet second cousin-that I call my niece had surgery yesterday. They discovered a tangerine sized tumor at the base of her skull this week. We are praising God that the surgeons were able to get it all. She is only 7 years old and such a sweet, precious, brave little girl.

I have peace today and a heart of Thanksgiving.

Thank-You Lord for this day.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

By St. Basil the Great 

O Existing One, Master Lord, God, almighty and adorable Father: It is truly meet and right and befitting the majesty of Thy holiness that we should praise Thee, hymn Thee, bless Thee, worship Thee, give thanks unto Thee and glorify Thee, the only truly existing God, and offer unto Thee with contrite heart and spirit of humility this our rational worship; for Thou art He that hath graciously bestowed upon us the knowledge of Thy truth.

And who is sufficient to speak of Thy mighty acts, to make all Thy praises to be heard, or to tell of all Thy wonders at every season?

O Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation both visible and invisible, Who sittest upon the throne of glory and beholdest the depths, Who art unoriginate, invisible, immutable, the Father of our Lord: the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, our Hope, Who is the Image of Thy goodness, the Seal of equal type, in Himself showing forth Thee, the Father, the living Word, the true God, the Wisdom before all ages, the Life, Sanctification, Power, the true Light, through Whom the Holy Spirit was manifested: the Spirit of truth, the Gift of adoption, the Pledge of the inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good things, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of sanctification, by Whom enabled every rational and intelligent creature doth serve Thee and ascribe to Thee perpetual praise, for all things are Thy servants.

Filled thus with great awe at Thine immeasurable mercies and love, do Thou receive the unfeigned praise and thanksgiving of our unworthy hearts for all that Thou hast provided for us in this world and the next, and enable us to walk before Thee in holiness and purity all the days of our life in fitting gratitude for Thy loving-kindness to us;

For blessed art Thou O Holy Father together with Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory and worship, now and every and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Bonfires

I love bonfires. We are planning a big shin dig soon. A double birthday party for my dad and my sister. It's going to be a hum dinger! We will have a bonfire and fellowship into the night. Parties are one of my favorite things! Especially when they include family. I have the best family!

The Fall

My absolute favorite time of year!

No rest though. I'm just plugging on through.

I'm passing. Barely.

When they say that C is the new A in nursing school they meant it!

I'm studying like crazy only to learn that I need to study more. I'm just taking things one step at a time. Each day I hear this quite voice saying, "You can do this!"

My sister has moved back from the beach. My family is so close. No wars, no fighting. Peace. I love it.

October. Leaves changing. Ahh so sweet. Mountain air, cool breeze. Life is good. Really good.

Father God I praise You for every thing. You are so good to me.

No looking back. Moving forward. Slowly but surely. Gaining ground.

Ah. I need a warm cup of coffee.......

Hard Things

You know, many things in life are hard. There are different kinds of hard too. Right now my hard thing is RN School. I'm flabbergasted. I'm overwhelmed.

I'm one month in. This week is my fourth week.

I had heard people speak of nursing school. I had heard their horror stories. I thought I had prepared. I was sure to take every single class I could ahead of time. I only have my nursing core left. I don't believe I'll be full-time but one semester in two years.

Boy was I wrong.

Since week one there has been this overwhelming pressure to perform. At first it was math tests. You have three chances or you're out. We lost several. I had to test 3 times. That 3rd time was so nerve wracking.

This week we begun real assessments. We had two today. I was so nervous I had sweat dripping from my nose and my eye lashes, continuously dripping. I'm still waiting for my grades.

I have a 6 chapter test on Wednesday.

I have a 9 or 10 chapter test on Thursday.

We will have 3 more assessments on Monday. Harder than those two we done today.

My back hurts. Really hurts. I didn't raise my bed high enough. I can barely stand. I'll never forget to raise the bed again, not EVER!

God had mercy on me by providing me with Tuesdays off. Thank-You Lord for that sweet day of mercy.

At one time I had said that if I didn't make it through this semester I would go back until I did.

Today I decided that isn't the case. If I fail my first semester I won't go back. I don't think I can live through it again! I won't quit. I'll give it my all. I know I CAN do HARD things. I just never dreamed it would be this hard. I pray I pass.

On the way home from my mom and dad's tonight and after many tears, all I could do was praise the Lord and thank Him for this beautiful night. The cool, crisp, fall air. The many, many stars in the sky. The praise and worship on the radio. Thank-You Lord for this break! Thank-You Lord for this peace, this beautiful world. This life. Life as I knew it before nursing school. :)

Thank-You for this opportunity in nursing school. You will be the ONLY thing that gets me through. It's only through Christ that I can do all things. I pray this is Your will. I have and will give it my all. My blood, sweat and tears. Your will be done.

In Jesus name I pray.

And I've only just begun. I've heard that slow and steady win the race. I won't give up. I will not quit.

Sky's Mission to Ethiopia 2012

What a journey my middle girl went on.

A month spent in Ethiopia. A month with no meat, no milk, no chocolate. The stories she shares of holding little babes so tiny you could feel their ribs in their backs. Deep in the heart of Ethiopia, in the jungle, with rain and more rain. No cover. Leaky tents. Molded clothes. Mother's pleading with you to take their children. Orphanages of children who think you're there to adopt them. A heart crying out, "Why am I here Lord?" Emotionally and physically strained. The body at it's weakest point, the mind exasperated.

Maybe I just want to go home.

I imagine the process of the oil being pressed from the olive. All of the flesh's desires deprived. Icky feeling. The smell. No favorite foods or drink. No familiar faces, friends, nor family. Just a tribe of people with so little. Just when you think you could bare no more, more pressing comes, walking miles and miles to get to church. Making it as far as you could go, knowing you would be collapsing because you were at your end, only to be told you had just made it to the foot of the mountain. Learning that it was actually time for the real journey to begin. Looking up and knowing that you HAD to climb this mountain-right here and now-at your weakest moment.

HOW? You cried? HOW?

The Lord strengthened you. He sent many to encourage you. Where you thought you were done, you discovered that down....deep down inside you had more. Many times you thought you'd fall. Many times you doubted you could do it but you never quit.

You screamed. You kicked. You cried.

BUT you did not quit.

When you got to the top of that mountain you experienced something that you had never felt before.

Victory.

Sweet Victory!

I real true VICTORY. And not just any victory but a spiritual victory. A victory in Christ!

In one moment you knew, THIS, THIS is WHY I am here!

6 souls are saved.

6

That seems like such a small number for such a long time. So many people sent at such a high expense to spread the love of Jesus. Ah, but let us remember that it was Jesus who left the 99 to go and get the 1. Those 6 were worth it all to Him. How special they must be to His heart! To have sent all of you to find them, those 6 hearts searching and hungry for the truth of Jesus Christ. And to imagine what they will do with the truth they received.

He is not finished.

Have you not thought about what He has DONE in YOU? The work He created? The process HE began?

He will NOT leave unfinished.

My little girl came home different. Very different. She is not the same 16 year old teenager who left these states to fly to East Africa for two solid months. She is not the same. She is not the same physically-3 pant sizes smaller-with large gaunt eyes. She is not the same spiritually, there is this glow around her, this un-explainable peace. A maturity.

My how I look up to you. I see so much fruit! Actually I believe I see a bit of each one of the 9 in you now. I have to laugh because the Lord is exercising them in you and you have no idea whats going on.

Your view has changed. It's hard coming back into this place of so much abundance that people forget to be thankful. I see you wrestling and it's okay because it's a great blessing to see you growing.

You are in our prayers precious one! Know that He is molding you and shaping you for the plan that He designed for especially for you. I love you my precious V!

.....I'll share more about Sky's trip soon.