beautifully broken

Thank you...

2011-09-07T03:34:00.006-04:00

I'm so excited to be sitting down and writing! I haven't done it in quite awhile and it's helping me reconnect to a piece of my roots down deep in my soul. Right now, it's 3:40 in the morning, I had the night off work and I'm thrilled to be chilling in my comfy bed. Candles lit. Diet coke by my side. Just polished off some homemade chocolate cookies I made. Brooke Fraser playing. Perfect.

I've worked the last five nights in a row. Now, I know you regular work day people are probably laughing at me, but five 12-14 hour shifts at the hospital...in a row...oh my word! It about killed me. But, I survived. And, brought in a little weekend pay as well as holiday pay! So, my bank account will think it was worth it. Now that it's all over with, and I have a bit of a break before my next shift, I'm thankful for the time I was there. I mean, I spent 60+ hours with the same patients all weekend. I got to know them. I knew their exact needs. I knew their preferences. Recently, I've been praying for Father to give me the opportunity to just slow down at work, and have actual time to have a conversation with my patients, or even just one patient for that matter. And this long weekend, I had just that opportunity...and then some. :)

What Father taught me the past five days is just wanting to leap out of my soul, so I must share! He taught me the importance of thanking people. The importance of being kind. The importance of respecting people no matter what. And, the importance of selflessness, no matter what you may be going through. You may feel as if you are in the worst situation possible, but you have no idea what others may be going through...and they may be right next to you.

The long workathon started off with a total of five patients. Not too shabby when we can have up to seven (which randomly happened over the weekend, but we'll stick with these original five I started out with so we're not confused). We'll start with the story of the butt hole. Yes, I said butt hole because that's what he was...except I used the other word for butt a few times when I was referring to him. So, we'll refer to him as BH.

BH was admitted to our unit the first night of my workathon. He had already been all over the hospital for weeks...trauma, ICU, etc, etc...then to us. BH was in a motorcycle accident. BH was driving this motorcycle drunk and high. They thought he'd be paralyzed. But, BH was not paralyzed. That's good. However, BH liked to pretend like he was paralyzed. BH was a middle aged mama's boy. His mama was there the whole weekend, acting all spastic, writing down everything I said, every med I gave...etc, etc. I mean, I can respect that to some extent, but really. Woman was gettin' on my nerves! BH also liked his pain and anxiety meds and knew the exact time everything was due. So, since BH was new to our floor, I did not know this about him. So, let's just say I was about 10 minutes late with BH's morphine and I got cussed out. And not just with his hateful words, but his hateful eyes. Plenty of times he told me I was worthless. He was a very broken man. I just blew it off and did as he asked. I gave him water to drink, fed him, put medicine in his mouth, held the dang hand held urinal for him while he peed, and moved him any time he was uncomfortable. I even knew that this man liked to have the end of a washcloth rolled in between his pinky fingers. I eventually learned what everything meant when he asked for it. "Fix my arms"=grab his hand and lift the elbow at the same time and pull the arm down while not overextending the shoulder. I did all those things. I did all those things while being cussed out. I did all those things while being told I was worthless. I did all those things and never once, in the five days I was with him, was I told thank you. Not once. I eventually learned that when I asked, "Is everything settled and okay now...anything you need before I leave?" and he answered, with an attitude, "Good God, whatever...I guess."......I knew that that meant, "Yes I'm fine. Thanks, Katie." BH had me in his room just about every hour, which would have been fine but I had four other people to care for.

While I held my tongue and gave BH the best care I could provide, I wish he knew that he wasn't the only one with problems. I wish he knew that the patient on one side of him had just had a liver transplant after being sick for years and this man talked to me about the love of Christ and thanked me for EVERY thing! I wish he knew that on the other side of him, was a young man with autuism who's parents abandoned him when he was born and all he had was this older lady that stayed with him 24/7. I wish BH knew that the autistic boy said nothing but "Thaaaaanks sweeeethaaaaurt" every time I left his room. I wish BH knew that two doors down from him I was consulting a woman who was admitted because her right hand was shaky and she just didn't feel like herself...only to found out that she has a frontal brain tumor. This lady was admitted Friday night and had the brain surgery yesterday (Tuesday) morning to have the mass removed. I wish BH knew that three doors down from him was an 80+ year old lady that had had a stroke and could no longer speak. She was all alone. I had to crush her meds, feed them to her in applesauce. As BH's strength was increasing in his arms and legs, this lady's was not. She couldn't speak or move. I fed her. Gave her water. Combed her hair. Changed her diapers. I wish BH knew those things. But, he didn't.

My heart hurt for him. He had family with him. He had a nurse taking care of him, learning his needs. And not once did he ever say thank you. Just about every morning on my way home from work, I'd cry. At first, I'd cry because he was mean to me and hurt my feelings. Then, I began to cry out to Father for him. My heart hurt for him. It hurt for his ungratefulness. I prayed for Father to lay that warm blanket of His sovereignty over him allowing him to recognize that things are out of our control and that no matter how angry he'd get, it didn't change things. It can't change his motorcycle accident. It can't change the fact that he was drunk and high while driving the motorcycle. It can't change his past actions. But that blanket can change the root of his issue: being separated from the Almighty. God is in control. He is sovereign, He is the Almighty. Oh my heart hurts knowing he doesn't know Him. And, I plead that all he saw in me was Christ. That was my goal. It wasn't to act all high and mighty, like I'm better than him. It wasn't even to get a "thank you". It was to show him even a glimpse of light. I want him to wonder what's inside of me. I want him to want the same thing for himself. To know Father. To treat His children with kindness. To be grateful.

And I knew, there was no need to cause resistance. Father specifically told me to keep my mouth shut and care for this man. He told me there was no need to confront and argue with him because that fight......it's already been won on the cross. BH's sin towards me has already been paid for.

So, from all this. I've learned that the words "thank you", could change a person's entire day. Use them, no matter what you're going through. And on the flip side, continue to treat people with kindness and loyalty, even if they are a total BH. :)

Proverbs 3:3 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart."

Everyone needs a little hope...

2011-07-27T11:41:00.005-04:00

According to the dictionary, "hope"=a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. I love the word hope. To me, it's that feeling of mystery; not knowing what's to come. It's exciting! To some people, hope may not always be exciting because you don't know what's going to happen on the other side of this mysterious feeling. It could be something bad. It could be life changing, in an inconvenient way. Instead, this exciting feeling turns to a bundle of nerves and anxiety.

The good news is hope is not intended for nerves, anxiety, and especially not for worry. Our personalities are so intricately designed that we have the privileged of feeling hope, the way God intended us to feel it. So, what does that look like?

Hope in the world = expectation

Hope in God = confident expectation

Whenever I think of confident expectation, I break it down as literally confidently expecting the Lord to act on my behalf. Does that mean that what I am hoping for will happen? Not always, BUT that's where the confidence really kicks in. I am confident in my Father. He will provide. He will take care of me. He knows everything I need. So, if what I'm hoping for doesn't happen, it's His will for it not to happen and I'm okay with that. Does it mean that what I'm hoping for will never happen? Not necessarily...

Romans 8:24-25: We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.

The Lord knows the desires of our hearts. He wants to fulfill those desires when the time is right to bring Him the most glory. If you know God has called you to do something or promised you something but it hasn't happened yet, confidently expect it will happen! Wait patiently and confidently.

Hope and trust go hand in hand and this is my prayer for you: Romans 15:13:

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hold on to what God's promised you. He is faithful. He will provide. You must trust and confidently hope and expect that He will act!

Update Sesh...

2011-07-18T10:33:00.002-04:00

I haven't blogged in over a month so I thought I'd do a little life update! I've missed writing and blogging about it. Hopefully things will settle down soon and I can get back to it!

Well, my last post was about a book review. Oh, to blog about books again! That seems so long ago. That was when I was between finishing school and the beginning of my nursing career. So, I definitely had more time on my hands. The last two months have been a whirlwind really, so here it goes:

May 9th--graduated nursing school (WHOOO!) and spent fabulous time with my man (even better!).
May 17th--first job interview out of school and then that same afternoon, found out I was accepted to USC Upstate to go back to school (I still don't know what I'm thinking just yet...I'll let you know in August).
May 28th--took my State Nursing boards (most nervous day of my life!).
May 30th--Found out I passed my boards!
June 2nd--Accepted the job offer as a Neurology nurse at Spartanburg Regional.

So that little month was a doozy! But how wonderful our God is in His provision for my life! The rest of June was spent reading books, relaxing, spending time with my great guy, going to the beach, and getting things lined up for the job.

I started my job on June 28th and so far, I'm really enjoying it! It's such a big change from nursing school (textbook/perfect world nursing) to real world nursing. The adjustment will definitely take some time and the fact that I actually have a voice and I'm respected for my judgement and opinion. Oh, and the fact that I'm getting paid! Whhhhaaat?! Y'all have to understand that I went from not working at all the last year so I could solely focus on school (thanks mom and dad) to making a nurse's salary. What a blessing!

My schedule has been swamped due to working 12's and also having to attend all these orientation classes, continuing education classes, etc. Once I'm set on just my three days a week, hopefully I can blog more and cook more. I'm sure I'll at least have some awesome patient stories that we can laugh and cry about.

And just a little spill about what God's speaking into me lately: Proverbs 3:3 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart." Everywhere I go and everything I do, loyalty and kindness must stay with me. I am constantly reminding myself and speaking it over me all throughout the day. I'm trying to be loyal in all of my words, by following through with loyal actions. And, kindness to someone can change their entire day, y'all! Be kind to one another. It makes all the difference.

Happy Monday! :)

Book Review

2011-06-12T19:36:00.001-04:00

I just finished up reading a phenomenal summer read titled, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I definitely recommend it. The book is based out of Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960's. The book has an entire cast of characters but mainly focuses on three in particular:

Skeeter--a twenty-two-year old graduate that has a dream of writing one day but her mother has other ideas in mine...like being a proper southern lady, getting married, and being like all the other ladies in town. But, she has plans of her own that create the entire story for this novel.

Aibileen--a black maid raising her seventeenth white child who decides to take a stand for what she believes in by telling her story.

Minny--a black maid that is s-p-u-n-k-y! She also decides to tell her story of working as a maid for over 30 years.

It really is difficult to describe the greatness of this book but I must say that reading it is a must for this summer! But the icing on the cake is that it's being made into a movie that will be out in August. Here's the preview:

Separated

2011-06-07T13:25:00.006-04:00

Psalm 103:12

"He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west."

I read this yesterday morning and took time to really think about it. I can read and stare at it all I want to. Every time I've read this, I always get that song stuck in my head. And, it's not even a favorite of mine.

So, I tried to be still. To be quiet. This is what I got:

separated

When we ask for forgiveness of sin, it's forgotten. It's as far from you as the east is from the west. You're separated from it. And when you're separated from it, it's AWAY from you. When it comes back to us, it's because we allow it back in. If there's something you feel like you're constantly battling, remember that by the power of Christ, you're separated from it. If it comes back, you brought it back. Have the mindset that you're SEPARATED from it. It doesn't belong to you anymore. It's not meant to stick to you.

That's why each day is new. His mercies are new. What you did yesterday and asked for forgiveness for today, is separated from you. It can't touch you. It's as far as the east is from the west.

Remember too, that, this whole separation of sin goes to those that have hurt us as well. If you've forgiven someone for hurting you, have you really forgiven them? Have you separated that sin, that hurt, they caused you. When you look at that person, do you look at the sin they committed against you still? This one is much more difficult. But, if we are to forgive someone for something they've committed wrongly against us, we are to separate that sin from them. Look at that person in a whole new light, just as Christ looks at you as you radiate.

You radiate because you're separated from darkness.

My beautiful friends

2011-06-06T11:23:00.007-04:00

Here's a photo of my beautiful ladies and I at a wedding we attended this weekend:

Dreaming of Sparkle...

2011-06-05T21:15:00.002-04:00

Untitled by ktgrl130 featuring floral dresses

Jason Wu floral dress
$5,507 - boutique1.com

Christian Louboutin peep toe pumps
1,995 GBP - net-a-porter.com

Clutch handbag
$40 - amazon.com

Alex and Chloe chain jewelry
$46 - alexandchloe.com

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick - True Red : Target
$6.49 - target.com

Vintage Eiffel Tower Wall Art - Wall Plaques - Wall Decor - Home Decor...
$99 - homedecorators.com

6 ft. Tall Double Sided French Mannequin and Singer Canvas Room...
$99 - amazon.com

Decorative Screen and Wall Screen with Birds and Flowers
$1,000 - invitinghome.com

French Distressed Bird Cage - Bird Cages - Home Accents - Home Decor ...
$69 - homedecorators.com

And now, I breathe.

2011-05-30T18:21:00.006-04:00

If you asked me to sum up my life in the last few years, I really don't think I could. I've accomplished something greater than myself. The Lord placed a calling in me that I was afraid of. I ignored it for 2 years. He wouldn't stop calling me to it. So, I went. I dropped out of the school I was in and went to another one. I enrolled in nursing school. I thought I was crazy. I thought God was crazy. I just knew that I wouldn't be able to do it. I didn't even believe in myself. But, my Father did. Oh, how He believed in me.

So, down the path I went. Just because I followed the Lord doesn't mean that it was easy. This was the hardest path in my life. There were so many obstacles that were thrown in my way. Not just in school, but outside of school. Hearts were broken, worlds were shattered, friends were lost. Seasons were bad. But, thankfully, some seasons were good. There were things I failed at and the Lord made me do them again. He never ever once allowed me to give up. Not once. No matter how many times I told Him I couldn't do it. Throughout the tears and failures, He was shaping me. He was shaping me for something that I still haven't even seen. And, I'm excited about it.

Today, I found out I passed my state boards. Hallelujah! I'm the real deal. I'm a nurse. I'm legal! :)

Just now, Father led me to this(I changed the "him" to "her" and "he" to "she"...you get it) :

"How she rejoices in your strength, O Lord!

She shouts with joy because you give her victory.

For you have given her her heart's desire;

you have withheld nothing she requested.

You welcomed her back with success and prosperity.

You placed a crown of finest gold on her head.

She asked you to preserve her life,

and you granted her request.

The days of her life stretch on forever.

Your victory brings her great honor,

And you have clothed her with splendor and majesty.

You have endowed her with eternal blessings

and given her the joy of your presence.

For she trusts in the Lord.

The unfailing love of the Most High will keep her from stumbling."

-Psalm 21:1-7

Glory to God.

Love,

Nurse Katie

PS:

Recent Appointment History

Appointment	Exam Description	Details		Status
Sat, 28 May 2011 Start Time: 08:00 AM Pearson Professional Centers-Greenville SC, Greenville, SC, USA	NCLEX-RN: The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses English			Pass

PSS: This was the song I listened to before EVERY test. His love is so strong.

2011-05-29T16:15:00.001-04:00

Source: tumblr.com via Hey it's K on Pinterest

Hi. Hey. Hello.

2011-05-18T10:41:00.007-04:00

Last weekend, Chance and I had a wedding to attend. Chance was in the wedding so we had to attend the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, get there early for the wedding, etc, etc.

Since I'm obviously not from Jacksonville, every time I go down for a visit, I'm always meeting new people. There's never going to be one trip when I meet everyone that Chance knows. He knows a lot of peeps! Anyway, the wedding he was in wasn't with people he hangs out with regularly but the groom was an old friend of his that asked Chance to be in the wedding. To make a long story short, I'd never met any of these people.

At the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner, I felt awkward because I literally knew no one but my man. I mean, how do you handle that situation, "Uhhh, what's up guys...just crashin' your rehearsal and thanks for the free food?!?". I understand that weddings are hectic and everyone is trying to figure out each detail the night before, so I didn't take offense that no one was really paying me any attention. I mean, I wasn't like the ultimate honored guest whose presence was vital. Of course my man made me feel like a princess by making me feel like I was the only gal in the room, so that was sweet. At the end of the night, I was a little aggravated at certain things and the fact that it wasn't a very welcoming environment. But, I quickly got over it and over myself.

The next day, wedding day, Chance and I headed out early because, as a groomsman, he had to do the wedding party-get ready-let's take a million pictures-thing. So, I dropped him off and went on a little shopping adventure by myself. Thank Jesus for GPS! I'm not known to know my way around even Greenville. While I was out on the town, waiting for the wedding to start, I was dreading going because I knew I'd feel awkward and not have anyone to talk to. Since Chance was in the wedding, I'd look like a big ole' loser just chillin' by myself in the audience.

But things took a turn...

While I was standing around, by myself, at the venue...waiting for the wedding to start, a sweet little lady about my age, began walking towards me with a big ole' smile on her face. She came up to me and said, "Are you Chance's girlfriend?! My husband and I recognize you from Facebook pictures!" Oh praise Jesus for Facebook! Of course I told her yes and we struck up a conversation. She led me back to the group of people she and her husband were with and asked me if I'd like to sit with them at the wedding. So, I did. I sat with them during the wedding and they reserved a spot for me at their reception table. How tender. It literally changed my entire outlook on the evening.

I know I've been blabbing on about myself but Jesus really taught me something that night. If you ever see someone just standing alone in a crowd, reach out and speak to them, whether you know them or not. You never know how out of place a person feels so make an effort to speak. I admit I'm not great at doing this but since it was done to me, I can not ignore it if I see it now that the kindness has been given to me. So, if you see someone standing by themselves, at least make an effort to say Hi, Hey, or Hello. :)

What next?

2011-05-16T11:38:00.004-04:00

What a whirlwind of a week!

I graduated nursing school (PRAISE THE LAWD!).
Continuously studying for my boards.
The family was in town.
My handsome man came to town.
I went back to FL with him for a few days.
We had a wedding to attend.
Squeezed in some quality time with Brooke Downing.
Drove back to SC

It was funz-ies but I'm tired! After a week like that, I don't know what to do with myself. Now, I'm just chilling in my house, with my dog, in silence.

Over the next few weeks, before I take my state boards (ugggh), I'll have plenty of time on my hands. I do love it though when I have time to reflect and rest in what God's getting ready to do with me. During that reflection time, I love to write! So, what topics would y'all be interested in reading about? I'd love your input!

My next write will probably be on a season of waiting because God's really laying that on my heart to explore. I'm also getting great feedback from many that I feel are also in a season of waiting. Let me know your thoughts! :)

Happy Monday!

Sweet Home Alabama

2011-04-28T11:22:00.004-04:00

Hi friends,

My guy, Chance Craven, is headed to Alabama with 2 other team members to help with disaster relief! Here's how you can help:

http://www.disasterrelief.cc/on-our-way-to-alabama

Pray for the restoration of these cities!

Loving Self

2011-04-16T21:40:00.002-04:00

I’m currently in such an intimate season with the Lord. It’s like no other intimacy I’ve ever experienced before. I’m waking up every morning not just knowing that He’s with me but feeling that He is with me; right beside me throughout the day. I talk to Him as if He’s there. I joke with Him. I laugh with Him. I cry with Him. I plead with Him. I walk with Him. Tapping into that intimacy is incredible. It took awhile to get there. Intimacy is a process and it takes a while. Months ago, I would’ve felt weird, but I wasn’t willing to be close just yet. Father wasn’t ready to reveal Himself to me with the heart I once had.

He’s really been hitting me with acts of service and what that looks like today and in my future. He’s totally broken me for true compassion upon people and my future holds many opportunities to have sincere compassion upon His children. I know as a nurse, you have to be compassionate…that’s like the definition of Florence Nightingale. But, God has placed a compassion inside of me that will go beyond a textbook definition. He’s defining it in me to do great things. And, I’m excited. I’ve already been told at the hospital not to allow my compassion to exceed it’s limits because I will just be taken advantage of by my patients. It hurt my feelings. But the Lord quickly reminded me of the fact that I’m ultimately working for him; for his glory, not anyone else’s.

In order to play out these acts of service to their fullest, they require a spirit of kindness. But, before I can be kind to anyone else to it’s fullest, I must be kind to myself. A genuine kindness. I think we’re probably our worst critics. That’s not kindness to self. Kindness to self is loving self. Here’s how Father is teaching me is looks like:

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails.

Loving myself is:

Being patient with myself in times of failure.
Being kind to myself when I mess up or makes mistakes.
Never being jealous of someone else; it only brings me down.
Not becoming proud or rude because I’ve done something wonderful. It’s being grateful because the Lord allowed it to happen and gave me the strength to accomplish something that makes HIM proud.
Not dishonoring myself by dismissing the gifts God has given me and never using them.
Not in a selfish way; where I only love myself and do not display the love that overflows to others.
Being gentle with self; not becoming angry at myself if something goes wrong.
Not keeping any record of wrong. Again, if I make a mistake, I move on. I don’t beat myself up about it.
Delighting in the true things the Lord says about me.
Protecting myself by valuing myself.
Trusting in myself by trusting what the Lord has placed inside of me.
Being hopeful. Hope=confident expectation.
Preserving myself. Keeping myself safe from things I know will harm me.
Never placing myself in a failure category. If I give up on myself, I fail. There is nothing that can be done through me if I lose faith in myself. This is the full circle back to patience.

In order to share all these things with others, I must share them with myself. Learn them. Have these qualities dwell in my spirit. That is loving myself. That is how to receive love and give love.

Success of a warrior

2011-04-16T21:40:00.001-04:00

I’m recently reading an EXCELLENT book called “The Bondage Breaker” by Neil Anderson. I highly recommend it. It’s a great guide to claiming the freedom we have in Christ, realizing our power over sin, and how to be successful when the enemy makes war over you.

I wanted to share something specific that has helped me realize my power in Christ. If you’re familiar with Ephesians 6, you know it speaks of the armor of God and that we must be fully armed in it. Those verses have always pumped me up but I never really knew how to wear the armor because I never knew it’s significance. As Christians, we are constantly at war with the enemy, whether we realize it or not. To be successful, we have to wear our armor! But, we need to know what it signifies before we can fully understand it’s power.

Ephesians 6:12-17—”For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body of armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on the salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (NLT).

What do these 6 pieces signify and/or mean?

Armor we already have in salvation immediately is the belt, breastplate, and shoes. That is what helps us to “stand firm”. It’s our position in Christ! Claim it!

The belt of truth—Jesus said, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6). Because Christ is in me, truth is too. The belt of truth is my primary weapon because it blocks Satan’s ultimate goal: deception. the belt is continually attacked because it holds the other places of body armor in place. Satan always attacks with lies.
The breastplate of righteousness—It’s not my righteousness but Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor 1:30). When Satan aims an arrow at me telling me I am not good enough, I can respond with Paul, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.” (Rom 8:33)
The shoes of peace—When I received Christ, I was untied with the Prince of Peace! I have positional peace with God right now (Rom 5:1), but the peace of Christ must also rule my heart which is only possible when the word dwells in me (Col 3:15-16). These become protection against the devil when I act as peacemaker; which pleases God! (Matt 5:9)

The rest of the armor is the Word of God and help in the battle win:

The shield of faith—The more I know about God and His word, the more faith I”ll have; to grow my shield; to grow my knowledge of God (Rom 8:16).
The helmet of salvation—Covers the most crucial part; my mind-where spiritual battles occur. Satan tries to make us doubt our salvation when under attack (Col 1:13, Rom 8:16).
The sword of the spirit—Speak aloud God’s truth! Satan isn’t omniscient so he needs to hear it. By observing me, Satan can pretty well tell what I’m thinking, but he doesn’t know what I’m going to do before I do it. If I pay attention to a deceiving spirit (1 Tim 4:1), he is putting thoughts into my mind and he will know whether I buy his lie by the way I behave. It is not hard for him to tell what I am thinking if he has given me the though. I can, however, communicate silently with God in my mind and spirit because He knows the thoughts and intents of my heart (Heb 4:12).

It’s easier to wear something when you know what you’re wearing and why you’re wearing it.

What the bible says about women

2011-04-16T21:39:00.002-04:00

The creation of woman was the first thing recorded that wasn’t made from dust. Woman was made from man. That shows howprecious and valuable a woman is to God. Gen 2:22.
Eve was easily convinced by satan to eat the forbidden fruit because she wanted the wisdom it would give her. Women are easily convinced by things God does not want us to run to; forbidden things. We must be on guard; knowing that even theFIRST woman created was convinced. Gen 3:6.
Adam blamed Eve. Yes, it was Eve that made the first move but Adam was just as guilty. Man didn’t stop woman. He waspassive. Stay away from passive men and men that point the finger. Gen 3:12.
The Lord said that because of Eve’s fall, the pain of pregnancy would be sharpened to all women and…our curse…we will have thedesire to control our husbands. That has to be continuously fought against! Gen 3:16

More to come…

He's enough in everything

2011-04-16T21:39:00.001-04:00

Over a month ago, I wrote about a test I took that I didn’t pass. I had to pass it in order to continue nursing school and graduate in the Spring. Since I didn’t pass it, I had to sit out for 5 weeks and do a lot of remediation work. You can scroll through my blog and read about it. Of course I was devastated because I knew I had prepared for the test in every way possible. When I missed it barely by a mark, I cried. A lot. Then, I realized that everything was going to be okay. It was all in the Lord’s hands and I began to think about what He may need to teach me or use me for that I wouldn’t be as responsive to if I were in school.

So, I made it through the 5 week study period and studied like a champ! I also had one of the most intimate times in my life following who Jesus is and the things that God has called us to do…and that it’s not always pretty or “makes us feel good”. I had people praying with me and for me that God would reveal His purpose for this time and that I wouldn’t be blind to it.

Day ONE of my five week remediation period, on a Monday…I received a call that my sister wasn’t feeling so well. She had just moved into a new house the weekend before. She had complaints of a migraine accompanied with an MS episode which involved partial paralysis, blurred vision, altered taste, etc. She was basically bed-ridden. She was diagnosed with MS last December. My initial thoughts were that this would pass because she gets migraines frequently and it just happened to be bad timing with the MS episode. Before I continue, I’m going to be honest about where my relationship was with my sister. We were not close anymore, and we both knew it. Our relationship consisted of the occasional text message and seeing one another at family events. That’s something neither of us can ever get back, but my eyes have been opened that I never want to go back to where we were.

As the week progressed, so did her symptoms. That Tuesday, we took her to the ER because the migraine pain was unbareable. She was given fluids and was sent home on pain meds because that seemed to have helped. By Friday, she was worse than ever. She was lethargic and had no drive to get better. She just wanted to sleep. So, back to the ER we went. They were planning on sending her home with pain meds again but my dad insisted on doing an MRI, spinal tap…SOMETHING! So, they did a spinal tap and it revealed she had spinal meningitis. She was admitted immediately, late that night.

She was in the hospital for 5 days. There were many ups and downs. She was on intense antibiotics with a PICC line. There were MANY times when I was completely thankful for the education that I had received in nursing school thus far. Ashley had a cyanotic spell…bascially turning completely blue in a matter of seconds and I knew what to do!! Thank you Jesus! There were also some potential medication errors that I caught or questioned and it was just awesome to actually know what the doctors were saying and to be able to translate it to my parents, putting them at ease. She was on the road to what we thought was recovery, when we had an unexpected bump in the road. Ashley’s MRI results returned and a blood clot was found on her brain. Panic set in with the family. I mean, come on, anything about a blood clot sounds scary but when you include the word brain it’s an all-out panic attack! The plan of action was to continue the antibiotics and start her on Heparin to thin the blood.

After 5 days in the hospital, she was released to come home. She was 100% cleared of meningitis but she did have to come home with the blood thinner injections along with a blood thinner pill because the clot was still present. Not only did me staying in the hospital with her, praying crazy prayers over her, and just getting back to “us” bring us back together but there was a blessing among having to give her the injections every day. The blessing = I got to see her every day!! Giving someone a shot in the stomach is horrific but when it’s your own sister…ahhh, I don’t even want to go there. We would both cry. What’s kinda cool though is the type of injection I gave her was the type of injection I gave when I gave my VERY FIRST shot in nursing school. So, I guess you could say, I had practice. ;)

As the weeks went by and her healing continued, I began to just praise God for all He had done in our relationship. If I would’ve been in school, I probably wouldn’t have given it much thought…that’s just being honest. I love her but loving her wasn’t enough. I had to SHOW her that I loved her. For now, I am enjoying showing her that I love her and I would do ANYTHING for that girl. She’s so special to me.

Even though I had confidence in the Lord’s timing, I began to get a little anxious the closer my test got. I even thought about sitting out an extra five weeks and study more. Then, I fell into Deuteronomy. OH. MY. DANG. That junk will mess you up! I decided that I did NOT want to become like the Israelites. God displayed their Promise Land RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES and they still walked on by it because they were afraid! What the heck?! I did NOT want to walk past what the Lord had promised me because I was scared or anxious…or basically…didn’t have FAITH that God would go ahead of me and fight for me in the battle!

So, today, I took my test. Passed it with a 99%! There’s also a score sheet that explains the individual percentage I scored in each nursing category. And the cherry on top: My instructor said no one has EVER made a perfect score in a category and I DID! Ahhh! Jesus was showing off! He was all like, “See, baby girl…I told you not to be afraid to enter into the land and TAKE POSSESSION of what I have promised you!” Ah, I love Him so much. He is faithful. He is good. All the time.

I am considered worthy because He chose me for hardship.

I conquered because of Him.

Glory to God. All praise to His name.

2011-04-16T21:38:00.004-04:00

Deuteronomy just kicked my tail. And, this was just from what I gathered from a few verses out of Chapter 1.

You have two choices. You can either let fear and panic set in just like the Israelites did and lose your one and only chance to enter into your Promised Land – or you can have the same strong faith and belief in God that Joshua had – and go in their with akick-butt attitude that you will be completely victorious and that you will accomplish everything that God will want you to accomplish for Him.

Ouch.

FEM

2011-04-16T21:38:00.003-04:00

What is FEM? Female Empowerment Movement

What does that mean? Empowering women to rise above their circumstances and take hold of a new way of life.

How do you do that? TONIGHT, 10/19, I am a part of an event that one of my best friends, Madison Hopkins, has put her heart and soul into. We’re expecting to see over 100 women in downtown Greenville tonight at a local community center. There, they will receive food, a word from a motivational speaker, love, gift bags, hugs, and many local representatives of different outreach sources that could change their lives. We want to see them get off the streets and realize that there’s a promise for their life, better than the one they think they only deserve.

What can I do? Pray for the ladies hearts to be softened and accepting to the love that we long to pour out unto them.

Isaiah 61: 1-4

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

Divine Purpose

2011-04-16T21:38:00.001-04:00

Luke 24 Summary:

At this point, Jesus “should” be in the tomb…dead. But, he wasn’t!Women found that the stone had been rolled away. Two angels appeared to the women to ask them why they were looking among the dead for someone that was alive. The angels specifically said, “Remember what he (Jesus) told you back in Galilee? That the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day”. Several women went back and told the eleven disciples the news. They all thought it was nonsense.
The same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking seven miles to Emmaus, talking about what they had heard, when they were suddenly in the presence of Jesus, the risen Savior. But, “God kept them from recognizing him.” (vs 16). They talked to Jesus about himself! Basically, they were discussing that they thought they had been following a Savior all along but he just ended up…dead, nothing supernatural about it. Their faith had crumbled! They lost hope in who Jesus said he was before the crucifixion. Jesus noticed this and as they walked, he told the men all the writings of Moses and the prophets, explaining all the Scriptures concerning himself. Basically, Jesus gave these men a VIP bible lesson! The men, still not knowing that this is Jesus, invited him in to eat. Jesus then broke the bread…and it was then, in that moment, that they recognized him!! They were shocked, confused, and probably scared…but then…Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures he had shared with them as they were walking earlier.

1. You don’t have to know everything about God to share what God’s doing.

The women were the first to see. They shared it and people thought they were crazy!
A woman shouldn’t be discouraged on sharing the gospel
Nonbelievers, or people that doubt you…don’t get discouraged if they don’t believe you as a woman. Our job is to share what Jesus did…Jesus just showing up in our life….

2. People don’t recognize Jesus for who He is. Regardless of how much we think we know, we never fully grasp who Jesus is.

The men knew stuff. They were his followers…but Jesus had to tell them more which is why we must constantly pursue him.
It takes Jesus Christ revealing who he is for people to truly grasp that…never our words…but who he is and what he did on the cross is what grasps people to His word and to the cross.

3. The closest we come to grasping who Jesus Christ is, is understanding what he did on the cross.

You don’t’ have to be the smartest person to share what God’s doing…you’ve just got to share what God’s doing…which is what the women did…which planted a seed for the men that were walking…and because the women planted the seed, it opened the door for Christ to show up, unrecognized, until they understood what He did on the cross….through the breaking of the bread which was the piercing of his body.

Application: The moment we recognize the potential that Christ’s body has on our lives, we can grasp a portion of who He is and the promises that will unfold in our lives. The men were knowledgeable of who Jesus was and what he said he wanted to do…but they didn’t actually apply it until they recognized what His body meant.

If I pass, God is good. If I don't, God is still good

2011-04-16T21:37:00.001-04:00

Today was a big day. I had a lot of people praying and a lot of encouraging words blowing up my phone, facebook, and twitter. I’ve finished my Pediatric rotation in nursing school with success! There was a LOT of studying involved and it was extremely time consuming. On top of having the stress to be successful in Pediatrics, I also had to pass an exam called the ATI. The ATI has nothing to do with pediatrics; it just has to do with EVERYTHING I’ve learned so far over the last 18 months of nursing school. You must be successful on the ATI exam to move into the upper division of the nursing program which moves towards graduation. So, it’s understandable to see the amount of stress I had on my plate.

Today, I took the ATI. I did not pass. I missed the mark by 1%. My heart is broken.

The next step: I’m held back for five weeks with remediation work and I’m provided the opportunity to retake the ATI at the end of the five weeks.

This blog is not a time for me to just let all my feelings out about how frustrated I am but instead, share what God has already placed on my heart within just a few hours of my unsuccess.

God has made it evident that I was not disobedient or lazy. I prepared in every way possible. I studied countless hours, took all the practice tests with excellent passing percentages, and prioritized my time. Basically, I worked my butt off because I knew He told me to. One thing for sure: the Lord never promised me success…in the world’s eyes.

In His eyes, I am successful. He’s after my heart, not my brain! He’s after the care and compassion that I am able to show every day! He’s after the relationships I form with all the people I get to meet, go to school with, and take care of. My calling is not about the standards the world has set before me but instead the standards that HE has set for my spirit!

It sucks. I want to be really angry, but that’s stupid. His timing is impeccable. So for now, I’m crying out to Him for open ears and eyes of things I may not have seen while my mind was completely focused on school. There’s a reason for this 5 week lag and I’m jacked up to see what happens and what He reveals.

Please pray for me as I continue to keep up my strength. I have been called to finish the race and I will do it well, no matter what comes my way!

What my earthly body desires may be completely different than what my heavenly body will need.

Tiny failures may set you up for huge success.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.”

Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

First, I’m thankful for Chance, an incredible man of God that leads me and supports me through it all. Thank you to all of those who have been showing me love! I heard this song BEFORE my test and thought of each of you, whether we know each other well or not. Love will hold us together. You’re never alone.

If you ever feel stuck, come to me! We’ll work through it together. Never feel discouraged in your efforts.

Go on and get fierce with it!

2011-04-16T21:36:00.000-04:00

Right now, I’m reading Jesus: 90 Days With The One and Only, by Beth Moore. I’m about two-thirds of the way through it and it has been extremely influential in the area of knowing WHO Christ was when He walked this earth. It goes beyond relationship with Him. It’s created such an appreciation for what he actually endured, conversations he had, and how he dealt with conflict. I highly recommend it!

Today’s reading was based out of Luke: 13:31-33. Basically, some Pharisees told Jesus to stay away if he wanted to live or Herod was going to kill him. Jesus said, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose”.

My thoughts: Whoooo hoooo!!! Go on and get fierce with it, Jesus! Totally a female interpretation but nonetheless, Jesus was direct and intentional in finishing out what he was called to accomplish. I just love that he called Herod a fox. A fox is a symbol of cunning and trickery. So, Jesus was on to the type of person Herod was. Meaning, there was some sort of trickery trying to stand in Jesus’ way of accomplishing His work. The brilliance of it is Jesus was on guard! He knew that just because something stood in His way didn’t mean He wasn’t supposed to reach His goal.

When we live our lives according to God’s will, no Herod in the world can thwart our efforts at reaching God’s goal. Not a Herod of sickness nor a Herod of crisis. Not even a Herod that seems to hand us over to death.

Whatever it is that is standing in your way, get direct with it! Are there times in life when directness like this is not just allowed but is actually what the Lord would like to see from you? Just because there are obstacles, doesn’t mean you’re not supposed to finish what the Lord prompted you to start.

I posted this song on my Facebook page earlier this week, but thought I’d share it here too. I’ve struggled this week with obstacles standing in my way, particularly doubt of what Jesus has called me to, and with prayer and repetition of this song…I’m fired up to be direct with my Herod! :)

A New Generation

2011-04-16T21:35:00.002-04:00

Women are a burden to my heart. Broken women. Women who think they are worthless because someone or something embedded that idea into their minds. Women who put on a smile so people think they’ve got it together. Women who are afraid to be different.

We all go through bad seasons and times when we’re down on ourselves but some don’t know how to break through that. They don’t know that something better can be offered.

Not only does it affect women who haven’t been raised under the ideal circumstances but it happens to women who have been raised in “good homes” but society has totally twisted their mentality. I’m a firm believer in finding your beauty, as a woman, in the eyes of Jesus. I take pride that I was handcrafted in my mother’s womb, not by nature, but by the Supernatural. But, unfortunately, not everyone believes that.

My desire is to influence and change the way society is to a woman. We think it’s okay to bash people, make fun of them, judge them, and point out faults. We think it’s okay to make someone feel insecure just so we can have a moment of security. Spirituality is dead and it needs to be alive. It’s up to mothers and women in general to change the rising generation of women.

Overlay our death of spiritual exploration with our excess of training in ambition…and you have a generation of godless girls…raised largely without a fundamental sense of divinity. In fact, our worth in the world has always been tied to our looks, not the amazing miracle of mere existence.

They fit in by hating themselves because it seems that finding something wrong with yourself is the way of joining in on a conversation.

This is something that I’m exploring, researching, and praying over. I don’t know how this influence will be made but I trust in the Lord to guide me in that direction.

On a lighter note: Smile at a stranger today. Hold the door open for somebody. Be kind.

Overcoming the mind

2011-04-16T21:35:00.001-04:00

Isa 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

The heart is capable to overcome. The spirit is capable to overcome. But Do you believe your mind is?

Evil engages us at the point of our thought lives.

Where is your mind set?

God says He will give us perfect peace in our imperfect minds.

We cause oursevles more pain by the way we frame events than the events themselves cause. Pretend you’ve already won the battle. What does that look like? Winning the battle in your mind=freedom from negativity overshadowing positivity.

To be steadfast is to lay hands on the word of God, knowing that it is the truth, even when the mind is tempted to doubt.

Just some thoughts…

Be here now

2011-04-16T21:34:00.002-04:00

I witnessed life being brought into the world four times this week.

I watched a fragile life take it’s first breath.

I introduced four different mothers and fathers to their children.

I was the first one to take care of the immediate needs of each child.

It was scary. It was my responsibility. It was intense. It was life changing.

A thought that crossed my mind after leaving the labor and delivery unit one afternoon was how careful we are with new life. We pay so much attention to it, nurture it, and make sure that it’s always safe and away from harm. But the older we get, we grow into independence. Independence is a good thing but without a motivating and nurturing presence, we become mediocre. We become so stagnant in personal growth, thinking that just because we’ve reached a certain age, we’re not capable of accomplishing great things.

That night I read Ezekiel 16. I encourage everyone to read it. The first part of the chapter paints a beautiful picture of how we were born to be left alone in this world but because of a loving God, we are never alone. Bad seasons in life come and go, but He’s always there. We may live a life of disappointment, drowning in sin, but He never leaves.

Ezekiel 16:8a “And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love.”

Ever feel like you’ve accomplished all you can accomplish in life? Do you feel like you’re too old to do anything great? Do you feel like you missed out on something amazing? Do you feel like you’ve accomplished the standards of this world in regards to school, getting a job, marrying, having children…etc? Are you excited about life?

It’s never too late. Maybe God’s been waiting for you to reach out to Him all along. Maybe He’s “passed by you” thus far waiting for you to confide in Him that you know He’s not only capable of doing great things but He’s capable of using YOU to do great things. Are you ready? Ask Him. He wants to love you and once you experience that love…life happens. Not mediocre life, but instead a life that leaves you humbled and honored that He chose you.

Do it. Get out of mediocre. The God that created you is supernatural, meaning He does things that aren’t natural! He wants ALL of His children to expect that He can do supernatural things through them. I want you to wake up excited about your life.

Walking with God

2011-04-16T21:34:00.001-04:00

Imagine going to heaven and standing by God as He lovingly shows you His plan for your life. It begins with the day you are born. Once you received Christ as Savior, every day that follows is outlined in red. You see footprints walking through each day of your life. On many of the days, two sets of footprints appear. You inquire: “Father, are those my footprints every day, and is the second set of prints when You joined me?”

He answers, “No, My precious Child. The consistent footprints are Mine. The second set of footprints are when you joined Me.”

“Where were You going, Father?”

“To the destiny I planned for you, hoping you’d follow.”

“But, Father, where are my footprints all those times?”

“Sometimes, you chose your own path. Other times, your footprints appear on another person’s calendar because you liked their plans better. Sometimes, you simply stopped because you would not let go of something you could not take with you.”

“But, Father, we ended up okay even if I didn’t walk with You every day, didn’t we?”

He holds you close and smiles, “Yes, Child, we ended up okay. But, you see, okay was never what I had in mind for you.”

*Walking with God in pursuit of daily obedience is the sure means of fulfilling each of His wonderful plans.*

-Beth Moore, Breaking Free

_____________________________________________________________________

During my time with God this morning, I came across Galatians 3:3 which reinterated the above passage. “How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”

And…this is what that looks like through my peepers:

God’s character NEVER changes. It shouldn’t. He’s perfect. However, we are fallen. We are sinners. The good news? Because of Jesus Christ, we are not called to be perfect! There’s NO point in trying to reach perfection because it will never happen. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t make mistakes, we wouldn’t be disciplined by the Father, we wouldn’t learn, and most importantly…we wouldn’tGROW. God wants us to continue to grow…so…staying in one place in life trying to become something you’re not meant to be stunts your growth and poisons your brain with the mindset of striving.

God speaks to me weird...

2011-04-16T21:33:00.000-04:00

I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m willing to follow His lead…even when it’s not always comfortable.

I had a patient last week with an extremely poor prognosis. I was honestly expecting him to die. Upon meeting, he was impossible to work with. He had no drive. He had no will to help himself. He didn’t care.

He had damage to his esophogus and swallowing was an issue for him. He was placed on tube feeding through a nasogastric tube (tube inserted into your nose and leads to the stomach). When I came in the next morning, I discovered he pulled the nasogastric tube out during the night. Um, ouch homie! When I asked him why he pulled it out he said, “Because it was just bothering me and I didn’t want it there anymore.” Well, ok…whatever floats your boat, sailor. I explained to him that that was the only way he was receiving any nutrition and he had probably done more damage to his esophagus. At this point, he couldn’t swallow, meaning his new doctor’s order was NPO (nothing by mouth)…not even water. The main reason for this was to prevent aspiration. Since he can’t swallow, he’s more liable to choke…which would be bad. He also had fluid and secretions on his lungs which makes him more at risk for choking. As a nurse, something I’m educated in is interventions. So, since he had fluid gallore…I had to think of a way to get that fluid OUT so we could put water IN. That’s where the use of an incentive spirometer comes in handy. It’s a breathing device used to loosen up secretions and fluid in the lungs. Basically, it produces a cough so you hack all that mess up. Another thrilling experience.

As I was charting some stuff outside his room, he kept yelling for me:

Patient: “NURSE, get in here!”

Me: (gritting my teeth) “Yes sir, what do you need?”

Patient:(in the most pitiful voice you’ve ever heard) “Get me some water.”

Me: “Sir, I can’t. I’m not allowed to give you any.”

Patient: “But please….I need it.”

I’m a sucker and I hate to see people suffer. So, I tried to conjure up a way to relieve his thirst without giving him a sip of water and breaking the doctor’s orders. Praise God for mouth sponges that relieve dry mouth!

I then instructed him that we were going to do our little breathing exercises with the incentive spirometer so he would cough, which would clear his lungs of fluid, which meant he could begin drinking water again. Before I explained the reasoning behind it, he wasn’t into it but after I explained the benefits and the end result, he was all on board. I remember specifically saying, “If you just do this one thing for me, it will help you and ultimately get you something that you’ve been wanting but you’ve got to get through the tough stuff first.”

So, that’s when the spiritual chills set in at this guy’s bedside and I thought of these things:

1.) He was uncomfortable with the tube inserted, so he took it out. How many times does God place us in uncomfortable situations in order to induce growth but yet we back out because we “don’t like the way it feels” or it “bothers us”?

2.) Even though the tube was uncomfortable it was feeding him but all he could focus on was the discomfort. Spiritual discomfort is a form of spiritual nourishment.

3.) I knew he wanted water. I knew his desires and I could’ve easily given it to him but I had to find an alternate source in order to not disrupt the healing process and ultimately bring him to what heneeded. He had to be patient. It’s easy to become demanding with God so he’ll send us what we want. But ultimately, he knows what we need. However, just like I gave the patient simple mouth swabs, God gives us alternate sources as well to increase our faith and make us strong. I like to think of them as little glimpses of the big picture.

4.) He didn’t want to do the incentive spirometer until I told him that it would help him. The use of that would bring him to what he wanted. How many times do we fear what has been handed to us that we don’t move forward? As much as we want to move out of the storm, we secretly desire to stay because we’re afraid of what lies ahead. We’re not willing to do the work. Be willing. Build endurance.

The next day I came in to see a new doctor’s order. I walked in his room to find him drinking a glass of water and eating soft foods. Not only did he get what he wanted, but he got more. When I peeped my head around the corner and smiled at him, he looked at me and said, “Don’t say anything…you were right.”

I like that God speaks to me when I least expect it…even when it’s over mucous conversations. :)

let us learn

2011-04-16T21:23:00.004-04:00

I’m a writer. I write. I found these in an old journal.

· My sin made me learn; my discipline made me fear; my fear brought forth faith; my faith will bring joy.

· Romans 4:5—“But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” It doesn’t matter if you do well or if you mess up…all that matters is that you had faith. Faith is useless if we’re perfect.

· Romans 4:20-21—“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.”

· My interpretation on Proverbs 31:10-30

(10) If it is God’s will for you to be a wife and we wait on God, we build a real relationship with Christ while we wait. Not only are we worth so much to Christ for our faithfulness but we will be worth “more than precious rubies” to our husbands.
(11) A good wife can be trusted. She will greatly enrich her husband’s life. She will not seek to hinder him but instead help him all her life.
(13-19) She isn’t lazy. She is hardworking and useful to her family. She is resourceful with money.
(20) She is helpful and unselfish when it comes to helping others
(21-22) She makes sure certain needs of her family are met—works as a team with her husband.
(25-27) She is strong and respectable. She isn’t afraid of the future because of her faith in God. Her words are wise and kind.
(28-29) Her children respect her and her husband thinks she is the most amazing woman.
(30) Only the fear of the Lord allows her to receive praise—inner beauty, not outer.

· Psalm 5:8—“Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn” Beautiful. Lord, I want to live abundantly and effectively. I want my life to have purpose in You. Shine Your light to the right path. I will follow.

· Psalm 54:6—“I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.” Have you given God something VOLUNTARILY that you really wanted? He takes that sacrifice and turns it into something beautiful; something to exemplify His glory.

· Psalm 89:8b—“You are entirely faithful”. ENTIRELY faithful!! Through the good and the bad. Even in the bad, He’s faithful because it shows he represents who he says he is by being our Father; guiding us, and disciplining us! He’s faithful with his promises of being our Father!

· Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6

1) Belt of TRUTH—you know what the Spirit is telling you! You know what kind of peace you have in your heart. Doubt is NOT truth!! Satan=doubt.
2) Body armor of God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS—Everything good and amazing about God—something we will never reach—covers our entire body! He covers us with His righteousness!
3) Shoes of PEACE—Having peace in your spirit prepares you for any attack from Satan. Hold onto that peace because Satan wants nothing more than for you to forget you have it!
4) Shield of FAITH—The shield protects us from fiery arrows of the devil. Faith gets us through the battle!
5) Helmet of SALVATION—Jesus is in you and he is on your side! Don’t fight alone!
6) Sword of SPIRIT—All that you’ve learned is carried in your spirit! The word is there…USE IT!

· Did you live for today? Did you serve somebody? Did you represent who Jesus is by letting your light shine? Did you allow Satan to have a foothold in any area of your life?

· 1 Corinthians 1:27-29—“And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important”. SAY WHAT?! The struggle of sin makes me POWERLESS but it will be used, once broken, to shame those who are POWERFUL. Or, the sin is powerful so it will be crushed once broken. The power will be gone. The importance of the world will be crushed to NOTHING because it doesn’t matter!

· Your salvation gives you a new life and a new outlook where you should set your thoughts on Heaven instead of Earth. Like Mary, fixate on Jesus! Unlike Martha, don’t be worried about perfection or the details. Have NOTHING to do with shameful desires! Watch out for idolatry—what consumes your mind more than Heavenly thoughts? Salvation enables us to get rid of sin—surrender it at the feet of Jesus! It doesn’t matter who you are—your background—Christ loves you and that’s all that matters! Because of my love for Christ, I should be clothed in:

Kindness
~~Hatred~~
Gentleness
~~Pushy~~
Humility
~~Pride~~
Patience
~~Anxiousness~~
Forgiveness
~~Bitterness~~
Love
~~Hate~~

Let's help a family!

2010-01-27T16:21:00.005-05:00

I've recently been informed about a family that needs help!

The situation: The husband/father is dying of cancer. He's not expected to win this battle and the family is in financial distress. Because of the medical bills the family has had difficulty paying their power bill and even utilities. The wife also has a fear of being unable to pay for any funeral expenses if her husband loses his battle with cancer. They have three young children ages 10, 5, and 2. The last power bill was $315 and the only amount paid towards the bill was $150...and that was just to keep the power on!

What can be done: You can donate money online through the "ChipIn" widget below. The money goes through me and then directly to the family. My goal is to do more than pay just a power bill! We have the opportunity to bless this family with more than that! So, let's do it!

If you have any questions, you may contact me directly through facebook or via email: katie@itschance.com

THANK YOU!

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All you need is love

2010-01-07T14:21:00.006-05:00

iC Love Tour is about to get started and Chance and I are busy trying to get everything squared away! We've had the help and support of a lot of our friends but we would be grateful for even more help! The point of iC Love Tour is to spread love by way of handmade cards for Valentine's Day! Last year, itsChance spread the love in Jacksonville, FL. This year, we're teaming up and spreading love throughout upstate SC as well! We're going into Children's Hospitals, Retirement Homes, Nursing Homes, Homeless Shelters, and Women's Homes! It's pretty amazing what God will do when you just provide Him with the hands and feet! The outreach opportunities are endless and we're very excited about how God is using Chance and I as a team!

I'm going to try my best to keep everyone updated on what's going on in SC so here's a quick breakdown of what we've got so far:

Who's Helping?

My friends are AMAZING and they've been spreading the word like wildfire! Because of that, there will be a few "Card Making Parties" from now until February 10th. Let me know if you're interested in hosting your own or if you'd like to attend one and we can get you the information!
My friend, Brent Odom, is an administrative assistant at Ralph Chandler Middle School. I contacted him to see how we can get the kids involved in creating cards for a cause. The art teacher there is going to allow the kids to create the Valentine's Day cards during their time in class! Also, they're going to allow card making to be an activity the kids can participate in during their after school program! That's ALOT of cards!!!!!
I've contacted 46 day care centers in SC and in FL to get the kids involved in making cards there. Hopefully we'll hear from them soon!
I'm going to contact a few other facilities throughout SC and FL this afternoon and hopefully we'll have more people participate!
YOU can help! Even if you make one card! YOU can make a difference in someone else's life!

Who are we helping in SC?

I contacted Safe Harbor which is a home for women and children who have unfortunately experienced domestic violence. I spoke with their volunteer coordinator and she is SO excited that we're going to be able to bring in Valentine's Day cards to their clients!
Project Host Soup Kitchen is another organization that I'm in contact with about getting cards to! Gotta show the homeless some love too!
I'm also working with the volunteer coordinator at Shriner's Hospital in Greenville so hopefully we can get through all the logistics and get the cards to those beautiful kiddos!
If we have enough cards left over, I'd love to go into the Nursing Homes in Greenville, especially the ones that I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with during three of my clinical rotations.

Let us know if you'd like to help! If you do not live in SC or FL we still would love to hear from you and please know that you can still contribute to our cause just by making cards! We can provide you with our mailing address so you can mail the cards directly to us and we'll make sure they're distributed!

What are you waiting for?

Questions? Check out our Facebook page
OR
email us: Chance--cc@itschance.com
Katie--katie@itschance.com

THANK YOU!

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And that's what Christmas is all about...

2009-12-25T21:15:00.013-05:00

So, Christmas was a little different this year. Life is different. Priorities are different. My heart is different.

My family decided last minute to use the money that we would've spent on each other for a better cause, a more fulfilling purpose. Our original thought was to spend around $300 on toys for boys and girls and donate them to Helping Hands. So, we did that but in matter of days, my eyes were open to just how big our God is. He totally blew my mind.

So, we went to Target and purchased the toys. We split the money 50/50 for the boys and girls. Shopping for them was really fun and something that was really cool for us to do as a family. But on the way home that afternoon, as I was driving along, I felt like there was something else that needed to be done. I felt such a burden to help people! So, I just came up with the thought of maybe not donating the toys to Helping Hands but instead trying to find a family that was in desperate need of providing their kids with a Christmas. As soon as I got home, I asked around, posted something about it on Facebook and on Twitter. I thought I'd give it a day and if no one responded then we'd just go with our original plan. This is where it gets good....ready?

The next day my best friend, Autumn let me know of a lady that she works with who lost everything in house fire a few days before. The Brown's are a family of four with two little girls, ages 3 and 6. I thought that would be a great place for the girl toys to be donated to so I was really excited about that! Autumn gave me the husband's cell number and I planned on calling him right after work that afternoon just to let him know that I had some toys for his girls. Well, before I got off work, I called my dad to tell him the news and then he told me that he had actually already called Helping Hands and they would be expecting the toys....all of them. So, my idea to help The Brown's went right on the window! Until...

So I have this amazing job with an even more amazing boss, Jennean. She's more like a close friend. We've known each other for almost five years. We've shared a lot of life moments and stories together. Since I was at work when all of this was taking place, I told Jennean about the situation. Jennean is not only a really great boss but she's also a giver! She has her own non-profit organization called Just A Girl as well and you can read about what they do here. As I was leaving work that afternoon Jennean donated $100 to me on behalf of her organization so I would be able to help The Brown's! Amazing woman! I was so excited and extremely grateful! When I left work, I called Mr. Brown but he didn't answer his phone. So, I left a message which was something that was out of the ordinary for me to do. I thought, "Okay, either he's going to be really grateful or think I'm a complete psycho!" In the message, I told him that I knew of his situation and that I had some toys for his girls if they needed them and some donated money and to just give me a call back. As soon as I hung up the phone leaving that message, a friend of mine, Jennifer, called me to ask if I still had toys to donate because she knew of a family in need. The family she knew of was through her friend, Janet. Janet works with Big Brothers Big Sisters and mentors a family with three kids. Two boys, ages 5 and 9 and one girl, age 12. Because I had already made somewhat of a commitment to The Brown family, I told Jennifer I'd get back with her if I was able to come up with anything else for these kids. All I had now was toys for the boys and nothing for the girl and I just couldn't do that! I seriously didn't think I would have enough to help these kids. But then...

When I got home from work, another friend of mine, Adam, send me a message through Facebook asking if I had found a family to help. Adam and I went to high school together and he is serves in the Army and is getting ready to leave to serve in Hawaii. He told me it was really awesome what I was doing and asked if I was taking any donations! Whoa...hello God! So, of course I told him I'd love for him to help out in any way that he could. Adam ended up unselfishly giving $100. I was blown away! Adam was the final piece that enabled me to help out so many! My brother's sweet girlfriend, Chelsea also donated $20 to me to go towards the family with the three kids! And, Autumn gave extra money to go towards The Brown family! My plans changed in a big way! So, here's the breakdown if you're confused:

Helping Hands--I decided to give ALL the toys to them that my family purchased from Target. We will probably be able to give to about 20 kids with those.

The Brown's--They called me back the next day and I spoke with the wife. She told me the girls were fine because so many people had already donated to them. So, I asked her what her biggest worry was. She responded with, "I know this is selfish but my husband and I have nothing to wear to work". I reassured her that ANYTHING she asked for is NOT selfish in any way. I mean, they lost EVERYTHING! So, we were able to get $175 worth of Amex gift cards for them to spend anywhere. Sweet!

Big Brothers Big Sisters Family--I spoke with Janet and she was so happy that I was going to be able to help! She actually told me that a lady who was suppose to provide Christmas for these kids had just backed out the day before. She kept saying I was such a sent blessing! I had $120 to spend on these three kids. I went to Target, found some great deals and ended up spending around $160 on them. It was totally worth it and so fun shopping for them! I made sure each child had around 4-5 individual gifts to open and then I was able to snag a DVD player for $30 and some DVD's for $5 each as well as a few board games for all of them to enjoy as a family. I also made them Christmas cookies to really make it feel like Christmas at their house! Because of my hectic schedule, I was unable to go with Janet when she dropped off the gifts to the kids but she sent me a text message that said, "Thank you for making the children's Christmas matter! They were so happy! May God bless you like you have blessed this family! They said they've never had so much on Christmas!" How awesome is that?!

Overall, I didn't get to see any of the families or children receive these gifts but I really don't mind. It's not about that. It's about helping people and loving on them in whatever way I can! This blog isn't about what I did it's about the change we can make if we just put an effort into it. My prayer was that God would provide the way and I promised to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. So yeah, I'm pretty sure God provided...in a huge way! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and remember that change starts small but can grow into something that will blow you away! Thank you to EVERYONE who made this possible! I will be forever grateful!

Change is good.

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Beautifully Broken

2009-11-29T00:33:00.006-05:00

Past

Lift up your eyes girl, I know you’re broken
Just like the same war that you never know
Your way is to fall just like before you
But the way isn’t long and your almost there
There’s a feeling that you won’t make
All you have in store
This time is just a season, you deserve much more
Lift up your head, look out the window
Cause it’s almost over now
Take back the time that your fear has stolen
Cause it’s almost over now
Don’t let it get you caught in the tunnel
The end is always a few steps away
There’s a feeling of resistance
You can’t seem to fight
This time is just a season
You can make it right
Your eyes open, your heart clean, but are you looking
To be free

Present

May today there be peace within..
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing and dance. It is there for each and every one of you

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2009-11-27T15:24:00.008-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with running. The "hate" part includes getting ready, especially when the weather is weird and I'm not sure of whether or not to wear a sweatshirt. It also seems I get tired of the music on my ipod rather quickly so I'm always having to download new songs before I leave. Stretching is something I've tried to get better at over the months because even my doctor and a masseuse told me that if I didn't start stretching, I was going to do some damage. And then comes the mental preparation. I never want to go but once I find my rhythm and beat, the love comes out. We've been lucky here in SC to have such beautiful weather when we're rapidly approaching December. Low 60's and sunny with a crisp breeze. That's a recipe for perfect running weather. My favorite time to go is as the sun is beginning to set. It's absolutely breathtaking and creates a pretty incredible mini-worship experience. It creates a thankfulness inside of me for the small things in life; the things we take for granted. All that thankfulness initiates love for me.

I decided to wake up early Thanksgiving morning and get a run in before all the family arrived for lunch. So, off I went. It was a beautiful morning and I thought it only appropriate to listen to some worship tunes as I ran so I could really get in some good Jesus time. One of my favorites, Never Said by Brandon Heath was playing and it was a good time of reflection over my prayers. The lyrics were a good reminder of the times I doubt what I'm being told. It could be out of uncertainty of if I'm hearing Him right but mostly, it's fear. Fear of taking a wrong turn or going down the wrong path. However, those fearful times are when I allow faith to replace that fear. It's all a cycle, really. I had a pretty powerful moment the other night while praying. I was asking for an answer of something I've been praying about for months now. It's been emotionally draining and there's been plenty of times I've wanted to give up but something keeps me going. As I was begging for clarity and even saying "just give me the answer, now!", I heard Him say, "If I gave you the answer, you wouldn't have faith." Ouch. So then, I just prayed for renewed strength instead. I want to see as He sees, feel as he feels, and have a heart that is only triggered with His love.

When I've been running, I always pass a house at the end of my street. Most of the time it's usually dark by the time I make it to that end of the neighborhood. The man that lives in this house has no blinds or curtains so I can see directly in his house. He's probably mid-80's and he's always sitting at the kitchen table by himself. I recently learned that his wife passed away about a year ago and he lives alone. That pretty much broke my heart. Every time I see him, I always think that I should go introduce myself and just have a conversation with him but I never do. It's probably because I fear he's going to think I'm a total freak...but then again, he probably wouldn't. So as I'm running on Thanksgiving morning, I pass his house and I notice that his truck is in the driveway and I immediately felt a burden to go ask him if he had anywhere to go on Thanksgiving. I kept running. The burden grew. I kept running. Then I couldn't stand it. I turned around to go ring his doorbell. As I was approaching his house, I kept running. I thought, "I'll just fix him a plate of food and bring it by later". Yeah right, I knew I wouldn't do that. Then I remembered that not only will we regret the things in life we did but we'll also regret the things we didn't do. So, I turned around. I walked across his yard and rang the doorbell. I waited a few minutes but no answer.

I don't know where this gentleman spent his Thanksgiving but at least I had the peace of knowing that he wasn't sitting alone at his kitchen table. Even though this isn't much of a heroic story, ringing the doorbell was just a step. Small steps lead to bigger steps. It was a beautiful reminder to be cautious with fear. There's a time to be fearful and there's a time to replace fear with faith. And then there's just the beauty of time which is the most lovely of them all.

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2009-10-25T23:46:00.005-04:00

What if God wanted you to do something you didn't want to do?

What if it caused pain, made you uncomfortable, broke your heart, or caused you to lose hope just to regain it?

Would you do it?

That's all.

A servant's heart

2009-10-20T21:15:00.011-04:00

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to serve in Atlanta through a disaster relief organization (you can read more about it here). A group of 112 from my church made the journey early Saturday morning to assist in the post flood clean-up. The announcement of the trip was simply made online through my pastor's blog and amazingly enough, we still had 112 people show up--that's huge to not even be announced during a church service! I don't really read the blog too often so when I came across it last Tuesday, I knew I was being called to serve. To be honest, when I felt the call to go I thought, "ehhh, I kinda want to sleep in late on Saturday...I need to study...I've got tickets to the Clemson game...". However, doing these things instead just didn't sit well with me. So, I signed up...just like that. I felt great about it all week until my alarm went off Saturday morning at 4:45 a.m. I thought, "Really God? Are you sure you want me to get up and do this...I mean, this is my only day to sleep in?" I soon realized that that is pretty dang selfish especially when I've been praying for service opportunities to come my way. Which brings me to this blip--In my mind, I was waiting for some "significant" service opportunity...like it had to be overseas or something in order to be significant. No way! Speaking a kind word to someone is a service opportunity. It's more than about the actual act of service, it's allowing someone to see the Holy Spirit work through you and making our Creator's name famous.
Saturday was so rewarding for me and I'm so glad I did it. Imagine all of your belongings from your house being ruined from rain and mildew; all the way down to the sheet rock. We moved all belongings outside to the road to be picked up by sanitation. I picked up photo albums, clothes, book reports, furniture, and even bibles. It was a sad situation but really awesome to be apart of something bigger than myself; working with an amazing team of believers! My favorite part was God reminding me to keep going. It was really, and I mean REALLY, cold on Saturday. The wind was a chilly one and there were plenty of times when all I wanted to do was go back to the bus, but that little whisper kept saying, "This isn't for your comfort...keep going". Love those whispers, even when it's not what I want to do!
If you ever have the opportunity to serve--do it, even if it's something local or something you think isn't significant enough!

Peace and Love!

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tissue please

2009-10-16T12:15:00.018-04:00

I had one of the most impacting clinical experiences today. I've been trucking along through nursing school; I've seen a lot of things but today topped the charts. I'm currently in my Psych rotation which gives nursing a whole new meaning. For the past 8 months, the physical part of patient care has been embedded into our brains; getting vital signs first thing, washing your hands until they're so dry that lotion doesn't help, bed baths, change linens, give meds, give injections, create incredible care plans, blah blah blah. Beginning this Psych rotation was a difficult transition for me. I had to take myself out of the task-oriented mindset and transpire into an emotional-oriented mindset. Our rotations are quick, only lasting five weeks, so adjustments must be made pronto. My first week was okay. I was in an assisted living facility. I didn't feel like I really made a difference because I basically was assigned to make sure all the beds were made and that the floor had been swept. I thought, "really? I'm here for this?" I was only there for three days so I got over the, "oh my goodness I'm not doing anything" attitude quickly. Week two was in a hospice facility. Again, surprisingly, it didn't impact me. I think it didn't because the only patient I was assigned to was in preparation for discharge to a nursing home facility. So, the whole point of hospice is providing comfort at the end-stage of life right? I didn't get to do that so I was a little bummed out. Then week three arrives---mental hospital! The first two days were just scary. I was placed on a crisis unit which consists of patients with severe mood disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia, paranoia, and suicidal/homicidal thoughts. The typical explanation of these disorders in everyday society is pretty mediocre and that really bothers me. These individuals are truly suffering and need help. My assigned patient was an older gentleman suffering from a mood disorder. We had really good conversation. He is so stinkin' smart! He's all about "going green" so we were able to talk about all kinds of environmental things for about an hour. He's an educated man with a bachelor's degree in engineering, married 52 years, and completely brilliant. He reminded me of Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind". As we were wrapping up our conversation I thought he was improving until he looked at me and said, "I'm going to hypnotize you and turn you into a bunny rabbit!". Scary. Every individual on that unit was a picture of a sad situation. I witnessed plenty of random outbursts, someone trying to escape, hearing someone crow like a rooster, fights, got a few marriage proposals, inappropriate gestures/comments, and some really funny patient to patient conversations.

When I arrived this morning, I thought, "I'd really like to go over to the adolescent unit". So, I asked my instructor if I could attend their group therapy session instead of going to my unit. She agreed that it would be okay and so off I went. I had heard so many great things from students that had previously attended so I was super-stoked. The majority of the kids are within the age range of 13-17 so with my girlish looks, short stature, and laid-back attitude...I fit right in. I talked with a few of them before we went into therapy which was interesting. In their common area, the walls are composed entirely of dry-erase boards with creativity scattered. Poetry, thoughts, and song lyrics were dispersed among these walls so it was right up my alley. The time for group therapy was among us and I was so eager to listen but I honestly did not think it would impact me as much as it did. Keep in mind that most of these kids are here for depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and sexual assault. The purpose for group therapy is so they can discuss their stories and struggles with one another and receive advice not only from a therapist but also from each other. It is real. They talk about every intimate detail of their situation or struggle. The first hour was pretty basic, discussing their goals/feelings for the day. The second hour blew me away.

A young girl began discussing her painful past. She was really short with her answers and I could tell that she was hiding something she was just dying to get out. Her every inner-being was just screaming. She lost her mother recently and used suicidal thoughts as a coping mechanism. But there was something deeper behind the suicidal thoughts; something far beyond physical death. One of her peers instigated and said, "Why don't you tell them what you told me last night? You always cry at night about it but you never share it with the group". Immediately I thought how it's so easy to express our feelings when we're alone, at night, when no one is around but eventually someone is going to notice it. Truth comes out. This poor girl broke down and admitted she had been sexually assaulted numerous times over the last year and had never told anyone, not even her mother. It was such a breakthrough moment. Then her peer, who's also been through the same thing but is recovering greatly, said, "You have to let it go. It's not your fault."....then this brought me to tears, "What you think you are is who you are". D.A.N.G. This girl is 16 years old and realizes this already. I was so proud of her for saying that! I wanted to get up and give all of them hugs, cry with them, and tell them how incredibly beautiful they all are...but I couldn't because I'm not "allowed to". As a student and an observer, I can't show any emotion nor can I speak during these sessions. That was so difficult! I was balling my eyes out at how amazing some of these kids are and my friend looked at me and said, "You're not allowed to cry". I responded with, "Screw the rules".

"What you think you are is who you are"--The girl who said this made me so proud. She's come a long way and is so intelligent and mature. I guess you'd have to be if you want to survive any hardship. I wanted so badly to tell each one of them how much they're worth not only to me, but to Jesus. He thinks they're all beautiful and they are all worthy of something better than what they are giving themselves. So, What defines you? What have you created in your head that makes you think you are a certain way or not good enough? Do you idolize something that you rely on for your identity? What makes you, you?

The emotion and rawness of this observation brought forth many emotions personally. Overcoming insecurity is a constant struggle but is my struggle really significant compared to theirs? No, it's really not in my eyes. It put a lot in perspective for me and I learned it all from a teenager. When I left the house this morning my main concern was worrying that my khaki pants made my booty look too wide and then Jesus smacked me with a, "Look at their stories, be thankful my love". And so today, I am thankful. I have so many positives in my life and enable me to overcome the negative. So, I challenge you to rethink whatever situation you're in and realize the strength you have within yourself to overcome it.

I leave you with this: Good works and religion don't atone for sin (Isa 64:6), and no sinner has it within his power to change his own heart (Jer. 13:23). We can make cosmetic changes, but that doesn't remove us from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light. Only God can do that (1 Pet 2:9). Only the same "God who commanded light to shine out of the darkness" has the power to "shine in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor 4:6). Have faith. Make changes. Be better than who you are because chances are, you're not reaching your full potential. And if you're a parent, tell your kids how incredible they are--boost them up; tell your daughter how beautiful she is and tell your son that you respect him! Create an accepting environment.

Today was the jammity-jam!

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