going green

haha. wow, i don't wanna fall into the popular thing to do these days, which is to go green. but i gotta admit, it's fun to ride my bike! yesterday i decided to ride my bike to work, which is only about 2 miles away. i scouted out my route the day before, taking neighborhood byways as opposed to getting killed on the busy freeways :) one thing to note, when you're in a car, you don't really realize you're going up and down hills, so i was in for a little morning sweat on my way to work the next day! and how's this for perfect timing... the clouds were ominous as i was riding, but my neighbor bill said, "no it won't rain today" and i believed him. i got all the way to work without even a sprinkle and when my friend came in a few minutes later, she was drenched! how's that for good timing! and it was hot and sunny in the afternoon when i left. good for a little afternoon stroll...
and this morning, i realized i didn't have any milk. i'm not gonna drive to the grocery store just to buy milk. so i rode my bike! it was a little harder to navigate with a milk jug on the way back, but i survived!
i might not be saving alot of gas, but every little bit helps... plus i get some exercise, break into a little sweat... it's all good! GO GREEN!

never settle

this morning in the newspaper, i read an article discussing the issue of single women. the author was encouraging aging single women to settle for marriage with an okay guy versus waiting for mr. perfect, because there is no mr. perfect. it really shocked me! i know that some women do think that way, and that "i'm never gonna find mr. right, so i'll just settle for mr. right now." i think this is a scary philosophy. if i were to settle for just an okay guy, and not be challenged daily, goal-driven for the future, or passionate about God and each other, then i would be miserable for the rest of my life, wondering what could have been...

for me, mr. right is not necessarily going to be the best looking guy on the block or the most eloquent speaker, but his passion for the heart of God will be the attracting force.

i want God's best
and i won't settle for anything less

my mission

when i was interviewing for this job, i told carol, my boss, that i want to go overseas and do missions at some point in my life, but right now i know that God has placed me here. he's given me a wonderful job, great colleagues, and a wonderful and stimulating work environment full of people in need. this unit, these patients, these nurses i work with: that's my mission field right now.

i'm thankful for this opportunity. i know that i'm being challenged and helping people everyday. i'm making a difference, even if it is a small difference in someone's life. please pray that i can be a witness of the GREAT PHYSICIAN. the ultimate healer. the miracle worker.

xander

my cousin ashley is having a baby. it's the first baby from my generation so that's really exciting! my mom and i got to go to ashley and stephen's baby shower yesterday! she's got a cute baby bump, and this precious baby is already getting spoiled even before he's out in the world!

his name is xander josiah bird. what a wonderful gift from God! i pray that xander grows in favor with God and becomes a powerful tool used to give Him praise!

what happens in vegas, stays in vegas :)

so my mom, sister and i went to vegas for a little girls week action! it was super fun to chill out after a completing my college education! we shopped, laid out by the pool, went to several shows, spent a day at the spa, and saw the sights!

i think girls week is going to turn into an annual event, so i'm always up for a little pampering with the girls!

here we are eating sushi on the first night.

we got to go see cher! she was incredible for a 60+ lady, all hyper and jumping around on stage! she was a riot! we got to go see the beatles "love" by cirque du soleil. i had to pick my jaw up off the floor a few times. we had great seats for cirque, and julie and i got alot of attention from the performers. at the end of the show 2 guys gave julie and i some pretty flowers as they were ending the show :) it was special!

i am blessed

i know alot of people that don't have the best relationships with their family. and it breaks my heart. family is one of God's sacred institutions. our families on earth are but a dim representation of what the family of God looks like.

i am blessed. my family means the world to me. they back me, they cheer me, they support me, they make me laugh, they make me cry, they know that i will do the same for them. i always look forward to spending time with the family just chilling around the kitchen and sharing laughs and stories. i think that's a picture of what heaven's gonna look like.

if your family is cause for more heartache than happiness, don't let that discourage your view of what our heavenly family is like. everything on this earth pales in comparison to eternal things. don't let your dad that lets you down taint your view of our abba father. he will never let you down. he will never quit loving you. he will never walk out.

our abba father is constant. he is unwavering. he is faithful. where we lack, he fills in. where we quit, he finishes to completion. he is our source of strength and our rock to stand on.

and one day, the family of God will be complete and there will be a party in the sky. come on brothers and sisters. join me...

big girl now

i am a college graduate! wow, it's crazy that after 19 years of schooling, i'm finally done! well, finished with formal schooling that is.... now comes my real education - on the job experience! i'm so excited/nervous to work in the hospital as a registered nurse. i'm working at integris baptist as an icu nurse!