Bathroom!

Here are some pictures of the apartment. I know that you all are saying, "FINALLY!" I got some new stuff for my bathroom today and Rachel was back so I could use her camera.

I have the master bedroom. The bedroom opens up to the bathroom with an achway, no door. Through the arch is the sink and vanity. There are two doors. The one on the left leads to the closet and the one on the right leads to the toilet and shower.
Here you can see how the archway opens up to the bedroom. Opposite the mirror is a towel rack that you seen in the reflection. I bought the toothbrush holder and the soap despenser today. The candle I had before. It matches quite well, don't you think?Here is a close up of the towels. I bought the towels at Target and the other stuff at Linens 'N Things. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they match.
It is hard to get a good picture inside the room with the toilet and the shower. There is another towel rack by the shower.
On the right is a very convienent linen closet.

Bathroom, continued...

I have been having some problems posting pictures. So get ready for multiple posts.
Woo hoo! Linen closet and it is not even full. But I feel like it does look like a Dove commercial, and you can't even see the 8 bars of soap that are beside the deodorant. Here is a close up of the shower curtain. I am hoping that the steam of my showers will release the wrinkles. If not, I will have to break down and iron the thing. The blocks on the right are bigger than the ones on the left. I am not sure if you can tell that from any of the pictures.
Here are the super cute curtain rings that coordinate.
Here you can kind of see the idea of how there is a door to the closet and to the shower/toilet.

$12

And these beauties we got for $12, total. Two chairs and an ottoman for $12. And yes, they are covered in plastic. Plastic slip covers, they are going to make great paterns for the new slip covers that I am going to make. Awesome. You have to love estate sales.
Kinsey likes the chairs.All smiles. Now in this picture you would think that Kinsey would no longer like the chair. However, that girl sat in that chair forever like that. Loved it. She loves it. The best part is that she is totally teething and drooling all over, but it doesn't matter, because the chairs are covered in plastic.

Posting

Hey friends. There are a lot of things going on in my life. If you want to know, call me or email. Many of them are pretty personal and would rather not have them posted for the entire world to see. There are somethings that I will post about. But, not yet. Feel free to enjoy the post below that I discovered tonight.

The Job-Hey found this post saved from May!

I have to say that I really like my job so far. When I was in my internship I thought that I might have made the wrong choice about being a nurse. I did not really like my internship. In fact, before I would go in I dreaded it. I got this icky feeling in my stomach.

I think my biggest problem was that I felt like we weren't really helping people. I felt like I never saw anyone actually GET WELL. That is a really frustrating thing when you go into nursing because you want to help people. Now, I know that it is not true that we didn't help people. We did. I am sure that many of the people that I took care of actually got better and were able to go home eventually. But you don't see the going home part in intensive care.

I wasn't able to talk to my patients, or at least communicate with them very well. Most of the patients were on ventilators. For you non health care people that means they had a tube in their mouth or in their throat that was hooked up to a machine to help them breathe. The could not eat on their own. The could not tell you if they were in pain. Often times we would have to pinch them just to make sure that they would respond to the touch.

I felt like all we were doing were the basics to keep people alive. Sometimes I felt like we were doing too much to keep people alive. I don't know how everyone feels about people living on tubes, but from what I have seen I think sometimes we are playing God by having people live off of machines and not letting them die. I think there is a point that there is no return, the point when you withdrawal the help you are killing that person, but why do we let so many people get to that point. You can debate me on the moral/philosophical/legal issue if you want, but I contest that you have not seen the things that I have seen. And every situation is different.

Anyway, my point is I LIKE MY JOB. It is great. People are not on the verge of dying, typically. I am able to talk to my patients and for the most part they can understand. I can ask them what they are feeling and the can tell me. My job is not simply to keep them alive, but to really take care of them. I am able to provide for more than just their basic needs, I LOVE that. This job makes me feel like this is the reason that I became a nurse.

There is a lot that I still have to learn. I am very thankful that I have 12 weeks of orientation. I am also very thankful for a great preceptor (experienced nurse mentor showing me the ropes.) We get along well, and she is a great teacher in addition to a great nurse. She gives me time to think about things, does not make me feel bad about asking questions and challenges me in a good way.

The biggest challenges I am facing is learning to prioritize. Even though I am able to provide for lots of needs, I need to learn what needs to be taken care of now and what can happen after now. That is not always an easy decision. Directly related to that is, time management. I am sure that both of these things will improve with time, but it is frustrating to not be "great" right away. It takes me so long to do somethings that should be so simple and that is frustrating. Some of those things are mechanics issues, such as where do I get that, or I have never worked with this kind of IV set before.

Those are both issues that I expected to face. The one that my preceptor anticipated that I did not is that actual mind set transition from student to nurse. I am an RN. I can go do something without asking someone first. But it is my license that is at risk, not someone else's. It is time for me to have the knowledge and be making the decisions.

Wow, this being an adult thing is difficult sometimes. But is good. I am so excited to start my nursing career in a place where I feel like I can make a difference in people's lives. And the best part is, I feel like I already have.

RACHEL IS HERE!!!

RACHEL IS HERE!!!

Guilty?

Last week at a church group for young adults the question was asked, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian would their be enough evidence to convict you?" That was said in light of Daniel Chapter 6. Some guys trick the king into making a law that people can only worship the king for 30 days and if they worship anything else they will put to death in the lion's den. They do this specifically to get Daniel killed because they know that the only way they can get him out of power is to do something related to Daniel's God. Daniel was an upright man and everyone knew that he believed in the one true God. Why? He lived it.
So, this question has been on my heart all week. Would I be convicted? Why? What do I think is the evidence that would lead to my conviction? Interesting questions. What do you all think?

OC

This weekend I went to visit some friends in Orange County, technically, Irvine, California. Here are the people I was visiting. I feel like it is easier to list them and explain how I know them.

Ty-Ty is a Japanese guy that I meet in Japan through BEST club. He was there visiting his good friend...
Eddie-Eddie was a Navigator short term worker in Japan for two years. He was part of the team I worked with while I was there. He is from Irvine and thus we were hanging out with him and his great friends.
Kyle-Kyle was also a short term worker in Japan. He was on another campus, but I met him on a retreat. He is in the process of visiting some friends before he starts his job in DC.

So, it was the perfect time for me to come visit. I got to see 3 guys for the price of one. :). In addition to those guys, I was able to meet a friend of Ty's and a few of the ladies that were in Japan this summer and spent some quality time with my good friend Joanna. That was really, really great. Being with them, in some strange way, made me feel like I was getting to spend time with her. Is that strange?

I was planning on driving with a friend, but at the last minute he decided that he was not able to come. Which is fine. But then I was thinking, I really don't want to drive that far by myself. Maybe I should fly. And I did. I bought a plane ticket and flew. Isn't that crazy? The best part is that I don't think I spent much more than I would have spent driving. And I didn't have to drive.

When I was in the airport I realized how interesting airports are. There are so many people from so many different places. It is really cool actually. Also, the fact that people start out in a central location (the airport) and just by stepping onto different planes, end up all around the world. That is so fascinating to me. The fact that we can ride on an airplane is crazy too. God has made some pretty amazing minds to come up with the stuff that now seems so normal to us.

I had a really great time. It was so fun to spend time with those friends and the other people that I met there. I really felt a sense of community. I realized that is what I feel like I am missing. I feel like this group of friends is really living out the Hebrews verse to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds." I had real conversations with people and was encourage in my walk with Christ and challenged in good ways. More than friends, that is what I really miss about college, the people that were my support system, the people that encouraged me daily to run hard after Jesus.

Over all it was a really great weekend, had some good times and excellent company.

P.S. on the flight home I thought I was going to die. There was a big storm and it seemed like the lightning was going to take us out. And, I sat next to a Christian guy from India. India is 3% isn't it nuts that this guy is a Christian? Sweet, Huh.

One day your in, the next day your...out

I am totally completely and utterly addicted to Project Runway. Seriously, I absolutely love it. Probably to the point of insanity. I actually had the thought "What if Rach and I are in our new apartment before the season is over. What if I can't watch it?" Who does that?

On another note, I was talking to my sister on the phone tonight and she says "Where is my cell phone?" HA HA HA! It was so funny, she was on her cell phone! Tee hee! Love ya Megz, where my friends at?

Mortgage?

I met with a mortgage lender on Friday. Nothing makes me feel more like an adult than talking about a mortgage. I was asked questions like what are my financial goals. Does this guy know that I have paid more in taxes this year than I have made most of the summers of working before this? It is crazy go nuts. And, Phoenix is crazy, and I do mean crazy when it comes to real estate. What it would cost me to by a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo could buy my parent's house in Iowa. My parents have a pretty nice house. I think that my mortgage (if I acquire one) will be more than my parents. Absolutely ridiculous.

Anyway, I am in the process of prequalifying or preapproving or something. I feel like the guy is talking another language when I go in there. I will find out on Monday what the good/bad news is. I think I am still going to end up renting. I don't know if I want to live here in 3 years. I don't know if I want to live here in 18 months. I have decided that the cost of renting is fine if I consider the freedom it comes with.

Since when did buying a house become a real possibility? Weird!

I Made It!

Well, I survived my first week off orientation. It was actually really good. I am so thankful to God for how well it went actually. I know that all weeks will not go that well. I can't explain it, but I had a peace that just does not make sense. My first night was actually kind of crazy. I admitted a patient that was not doing well. When the doctors came to see him they were trying to decide if they were going to keep him on my floor or send him to ICU. The doctors were wanting this and that and they wanted all of it NOW. They were asking me to do things that I had never done before. In fact, the few things that I did not get to do on orientation I did that first night. I had a great staff supporting me as well. Praise the Lord for excellent health unit secretaries.
The next couple of nights also went relatively smoothly. Nothing big, bad and scary happened. I am thankful for that as well. I don't know if this up coming week will go as smoothly, and I know that I am bound to have bad days, but this week was a true blessing.

Megan, Church, No More Orientation

Hi, yes. We all know that I don't update my blog often. So here it is, and I have to say, some of you all are whiners. If you really want to know what is going on in my life, call. I say that will all love and affection. And, my toe is doing well. It still does not look great and I can't tell if I actually have a toenail or not, but it doesn't hurt and there is no evidence of infection and that is good enough for me.

Megan was here last week. She got here on Monday and left last night at midnight. It was really great to have her here. We really didn't do anything. We ate, went to the pool, floated down the Salt River, went to the mall, hung out at the coffee shop, and stuff like that. Basically we relaxed and spent time together like we would if we were at home. Man it is so great just to get to spend time with her. I miss her like crazy. Oh sweet November, come quickly.

The venture down the Salt River was interesting. It was kind of boring. It is supposed to be one of those relax and float down the river, enjoy the scenery type things. It was, but I found out that I must be allergic to something in the river or by the river or something. About an hour into our trip my eyes started to water. By the end of the trip I was miserable. My eyes hurt so badly that I could not keep them open. I had to hand over my keys to drive back. The problem was solved with some benadryl that resulted in a 6 hour, yes 6 hour nap. My sleep schedule is so off.

One of the really fun things we did was go to IKEA. Seriously, I had no idea how cool that store is. The stuff is not that amazing, it is starter furniture and some is really cool and some is just not my style, but the way the store is organized is one of the coolest things I have seen in my life, as far a stores go. My favorite part was the mini-apartments anywhere between 300-800 square feet. They have the whole thing designed and that rocks my face off.

On Sunday we went to church. A friend that has moved down to teach found a church online that he wanted to check out. It was pretty sweet. My cousin and her boyfriend joined us. The church was pretty typical of what I am used to from Parkview and that was nice. There was a point when I was confused about how we were observing the Lord's Supper, but all in all it was pretty great. The music was good and the message was relevant and directly from the Bible. The gospel was clearly shared and it seems like a church that I could get involved in. The kicker was that even though it is a big (4000+) church, I got a phone call today to invite me to something that the church has to offer for my age group. Of all the churches that I have tried out, this is the first one to actually give me a call. I think that is pretty cool.

When I was in church I realized how much I miss going to church. I have had to deal with some interesting feeling about "church" that I won't go into detail with, but I realized that I am missing a place of corporate worship, a place to serve and a place to grow. My Bible study is still great, don't get me wrong, but it would be nice to get "plugged in" somewhere.

The only thing that really stinks is that the church is super far away for me, at least while I am living with my aunt.

Last week was my last week on orientation. Tonight is my first night all on my own. That is pretty crazy to me. But, the thing that seems the craziest is that I am ready. I know that I have lots of challenges and hard nights in front of me, but I think that everything came together at the right time.

And on that note, I must get some more sleep before work tonight. Blog back at you again in ages, after everyone has made a comment about how I don't blog.

Fake toenail

Warning, this may gross you out. If you are easily grossed out, do not continue to read. This is my fair warning.

I had to have my big toenail on my left foot removed. It was infected. It had been infected for a while, and I had not done anything with it.

So last week I had it removed per the advice of my doctor. This will allow my nail to grow back fresh and healthy, or at least that is the point. So right now I just have this ugly looking place where a toenail should be. It is summer time and I would like to not have to wear closed toed shoes. Friends, here is my solution. I put a bandaid over it and painted a "toenail" on the bandaid. I think it is pretty cleaver. I don't think you would really notice if you weren't studying my toes, but if you look closely it looks like one of those fake nails you would wear as kids, the ones that were like thimbles that you put over the tips of your fingers. Yeah, rock on.

Hand Washing

A while ago a friend posted a blog on handwashing. (Click here and scroll down to "Dialog with me") There were many comments as people were asked to comment on the topic. At the end there was a comment from a mutual friend that mentioned the fact that I had not commented. I meant to post a long time ago, but I forgot. Thankfully I have a system to help me remember that I wanted to blog about something. I will create a title and then save as draft. That way, it is there for me to see when I log in. Sometimes I end up posting stuff, other times I delete. ANYWAY! The task at hand.

Handwashing is the number one way to prevent the spread of disease, period.

You should wash your hands after using the restroom, before eating and before preparing food. Those are the most essential times. You should wash your hands more frequently if you have a cold, work with children, in health care, etc. I have to admit, I ALWAYS wash my hands after I use the restroom and before I prepare food. BUT, I sometimes forget to wash my hands before I eat, except when I am at the hospital. I always wash my hands before eating while I am at the hospital. Sick.

Your hands are a prime spot to pick up germs, because, hello, you touch with them. Any time your hands, filled with germs comes into contact with a mucus membrane (mouth, eyes, nose)you risk getting an infection.

The issue of soap. Soap is good, but it does not have to be antibacterial soap (unless of course you are working/living in a germ infested area). I would contest that if you have the choice, you should buy soap (for your home) that is NOT antibacterial, but that is a whole different issue. If there is soap, use it. Make sure to rub your hands well for 15-30 seconds. Friction is almost as important as soap, and if you don't have soap it is one of the few things you have.

Issues of washing hands in public places. Just do it. Even if you have to touch the door handle, doesn't it make you feel better to know that you started off with clean hands?

If you are really particular, start carrying an antibacterial gel with you. There are bottles the size of a jar of carmex. Studies have actually shown that using the gel is more effective in killing germs than hand washing with soap.

So, always wash your hands. It stops the spread of disease. If there is no soap go ahead and rinse and rub. And remember, only you can prevent forest fires, oh wait, that is another lecture.

*Leave your name and I'll...

1. respond with something random about you.
2. tell you what song or movie reminds me of you.
3. pick a flavor of Jell-O to wrestle you in.
4. say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5. tell you my first memory of you.
6. tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. ask you something that I've always wondered about you.

Amanda

1. Amanda is my best friend that I never talk to. :)

2. Mighty Ducks. Always.

3. Pineapple.

4. I don't think so Jose.

5. We were both in the Emperor's New Clothes. I am pretty sure you wore colored tights, and that was awesome.

6. A horse, beautiful and strong.

7. Whatever happened to the figurines that were in the mustang?

Emily

1. Emily is someone that I always have a good time with. If Emily is there, I know I am going to have fun.
2. Since the greatness that is iTunes is now on my computer, I actually listen to EMILY and that reminds me of her! ;)
3. Strawberry.
4. I can't share!
5. You were singing, in the ped mall before classes started my freshman year.
6. A blue bird.
7. How old are you? I never asked or knew!

Joanna

1. i read this thing about personality where there is a king and a warrior and a lover and a joker or something and i think we are the same, or very close to the same a least and according to that, that is why we can sometimes clash, but oh joanna I am so thankful that we work for our friendship. it is REALLY worth it.
2. bridget
3. red and green, but not seprate layers, mixing in the middle.
4. how's it smelling?
5. walking over to reniow for Bible study. dang, i thought i was never going to be albe to keep up with you fast walker.
6. a monkey
7. how do you make friends so easily?

Rachel
I'm doing this for you anyway!

1. Rach is the only girl I know that wakes up and watches sports center.
2. Walk to Remember, and us crying our eyes out in the theater.
3. Strawberry, but more like strawberry pretzel dessert, although the pretzels may hurt.
4. Quad couches.
5. This is hard, all the sudden freshman year we were going to live together, and then you slept on my floor, but the first clear memory is me forcing you to play Girl Talk Secret Diary. Oh the first of my bossing you around.
6. A small dog barking at a large dog, instigating a fight that it cannot finish.
7. How do you survive soley on mint chip ice cream, chips and salsa/velveta, and ground beef?

Kelli B

1. you are my favorite person that I did not get to know very well at SMR
2. I think the fact that we have NEVER watched a movie together sticks out. Sweet action for lack of TV at SMR
3. Apple, do they have apple Jello?
4. sorry, i don't have the DVD. we are only doing the book.
5. i don't remember you from the SMR meeting, but i do remember driving out to SMR with you!
6. an ant, but not like a real ant, an ant like in the cartoons with the big eye and antenna because of when you make faces.
7. what colors did you use to decorate your home?

Megan

1. megan has much better people skills than me.
2. stop, collaborate and listen...ice is back with a brand new invention, something grabs ahold of me tightly.......... and any movie that is about sisters
3. how about jello brand chocolate pudding
4. i haven't sent the email yet, oops
5. singing to you in in the dining room while mom was cleaning the kitchen. you were a baby.
6. something cuddly, like a fluffy cat, or a bunny, yeah, a bunny.
7. how do you ever put up with me and manage to love me the way you do?

Angie

1. ange, i feel like i relate to you on so many levels. and i love that you make me blog.
2. does my so called life count? it is not a movie or a song, but it is surely on DVD
3. blue raspberry, but only because it is blue, not because it is raspberry
4. i rock at darts.
5. i remember you and cate in burge, my freshman year. you always had cool T-shirts
6. a zebra, because it is wild, and free and lives in africa
7. how did the move go?

Revelations, Reflections

As I was working on my Bible study tonight, I had a revelation.

Side note: it is Friday, Bible study is on Wednesday. I am not even going on Wednesday because my parents will be in town and it makes sense to spend time with the people that are spending just as much time traveling here as they will be spending time here. Not to mention the fact that I love them and am excited to spend time with them. I completed the third of five lessons. I feel like I need to drop out of procrastinators anonymous.

We are doing a Beth Moore study called "Living Beyond Yourself." It is a study on the fruits of the Spirit. Any how, the study was going through some of the roles of the Spirit and how it works in our daily lives. One of these roles is convicting us of sin, causing us to grieve it and then truly repent. The study also dove into the issue of how we grieve the Spirit by our sin.

As I was reading, I was convicted of sin in one of my relationships. And in this conviction, the Holy Spirit seemed to be speaking to me. The way I felt this person was treating me (my sin is my reaction to it) is exactly characteristic of some of the ways that I treat God. Wow. I wept. What an amazing and humbling way to be convicted! What a challenge it is to love in the way the Jesus loves me when I treat Him the same way.

I'm not sure I agree

You Are a Frappacino

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Give us a King: Reflections on 1 Samuel

Chapter 8, verses 4-9:

"Finally, the leaders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 'Look," the told him, 'you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king like all the other nations have.'
Samuel was very upset with their request and went to the Lord for advice. 'Do as they say,' the Lord replied, 'for it is me they are rejecting not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about how a king will treat them.'"

There is something about this that I just cannot seem to get my mind around. I feel like there is so much to be learned from this that I can't seem to forget about it. That is a good thing of course because I don't want to forget about God's word, but I would like to learn some conclusive things about this.

I keep thinking of how this is applied/reflective of in my life:

-What blessings am I missing and not praising God for? a.k.a. What is my rescue from Egypt?
-Is there a "king" that I am asking for? Something that looks good on the outside, seems so normal, but really is not good for me?
-What warnings am I not hearing about these "kings"?
-How does the Lord remain my king?
-How do I become content in my rescue from Egypt?

I think I need to meditate on this stuff for a few days. Could be good. Thought I would share my thought process. Maybe ask me about it later.

Back to PINK! Feelin' blessed.

So, I thought it was time to change up the template again, but when I looked I was simply drawn back to the pink. What can I say? It's me.

I have to say. I am feelin' blessed. I don't have life figured out or anything, but I feel like God just provides what you need when you need it.

A little over a week ago, I was invited to participate in a women's Bible study. The first one was this Wednesday. Blessing: my preceptor works Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Since I am in orientation, I only have to work 3 days. I had been working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but I was able to switch over to Sunday, Monday and Tuesday without problems. I am able to go to Bible study! Woo hoo!

Wednesday night there were six ladies there including myself. I only knew one of those ladies. Blessing: even though I was invited into this group, it is not an already tight group of ladies. Actually most of the ladies only know one or two others in the group. We are all kind of on the same ground.

Blessing: all the women are in their twenties and there is a mix of married people and single people. Just because I am single does not mean that I don't want to spend any time with couples, but I certainly do not want to spend all of my time with couples. This also gives me the opportunity to hang out with women that are part of a "couple," with out their other half.

The night was not awkward. With so many strangers it could have been very strange. Blessing: even though most of these women were complete strangers, we have the common bond of Christ that allowed us to share deeply and safely on the first night of our meeting. It was refreshing. I have been craving friendship and depth and the beginning of it are right there.

The Word has been a blessing in general. I feel closer to the Lord than I have in a few weeks. Blessing: God is using so many things to draw my face towards Him: His Word, prayer, Bible study, music, experiences, blogs, phone conversations and more.

I AM blessed. Praise Him.

No date!

Ok, so I have this rule that I will give a guy the chance at one date. But, I figured it is my rule, so it is ok for me to break it.

So I gave this guy my HOME phone number so that I didn't have to worry about him having my cell. This is a good thing. So he called and I was not there and then I called back and he did not answer. Then he called back, and I have not called him back. I know that I should call him back and tell him that I just don't want to go. I have this weird feeling about it. And I don't think I should go. So, I am not going to. But, I am being a jerk in the process. I will call him back, but I will not go on a date. If he wants to hang out with a bunch of people, I suppose that would be ok. I just don't think a date with this guy would be a good thing.

On the other hand, I got to hang out with one of my coworkers and her sister this weekend. It was very cool. We went to an arcade type place. Played some lazer tag, dance dance revolution, air hockey, and spent some time in the batting cage. I actually did not completely strike out this time. It was great. Not to mention the fact that I put in a token for one of the cages and it just never stopped. Seriously, I put in the token and it just kept going and going. We all took a turn at it and then handed off the bat and helmet to some kid. I have no idea when it actually stopped. Perhaps it is still going.

Then on Saturday night I went to a party with some of my aunts friends. It was fun. They are a nice group of people. All of them are in the car business, so it is funny to hear them talk about it. I told my aunt that I don't have to be part of the car business, because I have and will continue to learn all about it if I hang out with her and her friends.

So that was my weekend. Oh, and my cousin left for Europe. I am totally jealous. The only time I have spent in Europe was in the London airport.