Restoration

"How's school going?"

My response?

"Great!"

Truth = school IS great. However, it is also a sacrifice.

Sacrifice of relationships. Sacrifice of time. Sacrifice of SLEEP. [Oh how I could talk about sleep deprivation!] Sacrifice of good habits previously developed put on the back burner for study time.

Sometimes, it's really overwhelming! All that I'm sacrificing for this program. But - it's okay. I know it's okay.

Like every infuriating valuable lesson, it's the process.

Today, I had a two words spoken to me that lifted my spirit and reminded me that God is in the process.

Healing.

Restoration.

That is what I do when I interact with patients. Bring healing and restoration to their bodies, minds, and spirits. I have been given a unique charge by the Lord: to meet people in a desperate place and bring Jesus. His healing. His restoration.

Then, of course, we sing "Restoration" at church today and I was reminded how we desperately need God's restoration. How desperately I need His restoration every day!

If you aren't familiar with this song, please listen and be blessed!!!

Summer Nights with a Turkey Leg

So, last weekend was one of my favorite summer traditions.

The Rascal Flatts concert!!

I needed this night out more than ever this year. With school [blah, blah, blah] I just needed a night out with my ladies!

Before we went to the concert, we hit the Ohio State Fair for some good times and - thank you Rachel - FAIR FOOD. Oh, Lord. I love fair food. I mean, I love it.

Meat on a stick? Check.

Ice cream? Check.

Elephant Ear? Check.

I'm sorry what?

Yes, this is part of the 30 Day Shred. Of course it is! Don't be silly!

Anyway, here are a few more pics I snapped as we sweat the afternoon and evening away!

First order of business, the giant slide! And yes, we are grown women, who's asking?!?

Monica is looking for the Creamery, and we had to briefly reenact one of my favorite scenes from "Friends". Yep, she had to get into the map.

Here's Cara with the gigantic turkey leg she and Jen shared. Shortly after this photo was taken she was offering the rest of the leg to strangers. After all, they had about 7 bites between the two of them. Surprisingly, she was turned down. Repeatedly.

I'm surprised this photo turned out so well. We are sweaty, nasty girls. I think we had just been in the bathroom asking each other if anyone had deodorant stashed in their purse. Negative.

I just had to throw in this one photo I took during the Rascal Flatts finale. They came out in Ohio State jerseys. What can I say? These guys know how to excite the hometown crowd. They even wrote a song about comin' back to O-H-I-O!

It was such a great evening, despite the profuse sweating!

[read: I DON'T LOVE SWEATING.]

Looking forward to next year's concert already!

Potpourri

Let me first start by saying that this post is NOT related to potpourri directly. While potpourri is lovely [READ: in moderation, and - say - at your grandma's house], it is not an integral component here. I just like that title for the mixed bag of randomness that's about to take place.

I'll just give in 100% to my OCD tendencies and make some pretty titles so we can all follow along easily, m'kay?

Wild Olive T-Shirts

I ask you, who doesn't love a good t-shirt about Jesus? I'm not talking about a t-shirt with an ichthys, or "My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter". These are trendy t-shirts for the fashion-minded.

I just recently purchased the "Beloved" shirt, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. What's so awesome is that they have tons of verses to choose from, and they are getting ready to release a kids line of t-shirts! As for me, the "Beauty from Ashes" shirt is next on my list! Amie and Kristen are part of this amazing company - so go check 'em out and get yourself a sweet tee and "Get Your Verse On"!

Random Confession

I don't know if I've previously confessed this in my past entries about my quirks, but I am totally and completely in love with dishes. I don't know if you follow, The Pioneer Woman, but she had these dishes on her site last week, and I haven't stopped thinking about them ever since! Seeing these awesome dishes made me start thinking about - um - please don't judge me - all the amazing things I'll get to register for when TBD and I get married! [DISCLAIMER: I understand that marriage is not about the stuff, but sometimes I get excited thinking about the stuff.] For example, this, this, and this. Just to name a few items off the top of my head. :o)

Speaking of My Wedding...

Has everyone seen this video?

SO AMAZING! I love this idea and have already put several friends on "alert". I have even had an offer by a TRUE friend to do the worm. It's going to be classic!

I thought I had just a million other things to share, but they escape me now! If I think of it later, you may get two entries in ONE week! Woo hoo!