I love naps. That's all.

I saw this nap illustration today and had to share it!

I am a huge fan of napping - and naps have become mandatory and necessary for success while working night shift.

Hope you enjoy the laugh - I sure did!

Found here.

I have a WHAT?

Hey -

Did you guys know I have a blog? Yeah, I had forgotten too!

I can't even begin to update what has happened since my last blog - I had just gotten my first nursing job! I'll do my best to catch you up to speed:

Job Update

I started my job in early March, and transitioned to night shift in April. I would have never guessed how much I would enjoy working night shift. While I don't anticipate this will be a long term career location, it's been wonderful. The ladies I work with at night are absolutely the best - funny, caring, smart, and willing to help this newbie when she has that panicked look on her face! I am convinced that having great coworkers makes a difference in how we feel about our jobs.

The only downside to my job is the drive - it's anywhere from 40-50 minutes from my house. I'll be honest - I'm tired of the commute! After driving 60 minutes to nursing school 5 days per week for 15 months, and now working out of town, my poor Jetta is taking a beating! However, we are quite the road warriors - me and my faithful car!

About a month ago I had the opportunity to interview for a position at a hospital that is 7 minutes away from my house. Did you get that? SEVEN MINUTES. And - it's brand new, and therefore BEAUTIFUL. I would love to work at this facility. Now, I'm just waiting to hear if I will be given the opportunity. Do it Lord!

Working in healthcare is stressful and can be exhausting at times (physically, mentally, and emotionally). However, there have been some very funny moments. I'll spare you a lot of the details, but one funny story involves a patient asking me if I could provide him an "excuse note" for the courts - as he was past due reporting to JAIL. Yep, he had missed his day to report for mandatory incarceration. And there he was, in front of me, asking for a note. That was a first!! Sadly, there are other stories that involve all varieties of bodily functions that would only be funny to those of use brave enough to work at the bedside of patients in the hospital. Hey - I have to laugh about these things - or I would probably cry!! Ha ha!

While this job, at times, isn't what I expected AT ALL, I really do enjoy working as a nurse. I am absolutely convinced that my destiny is Mom's and babies - but this first job has been a great launching point for me.

Transformation 2011

At the beginning of this year, I felt God prompting me to focus on the idea of transformation. You can read here about hearing that focus for 2011. I have transformed in ways I never thought possible in January!! The biggest (and most surprising) transformation this year has been my physical health and wellness. While I am by no means finished in this journey, I have lost about 35 pounds since graduating from nursing school. WOW!!! It has been (and continues to be) a roller-coaster, but I feel better than I ever have.

Jlogging

Currently I am not on the jloggy train, but I hope to be back in action soon. Right now, my Dad and I are really enjoying our bikes we got last year. We rode in a 25-mile bike event in September across the country side near the hospital where I work. It was considered a "fun ride" of sorts - that was until I noticed that we were close to completing the ride in under 2 hours! Then my competitive streak came out with a vengeance and I made my Dad STEP ON IT. I'm proud to say we completed 27 miles in 1 hour and 56 minutes. (Yes, the organizers of the ride added on 2 extra miles. Wasn't that darling of them? My knees thanked them.) I hope to keep everyone updated on my jloggy and biking progress. They have been critical in my weight loss!

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Well, I can't really think of anything else to update ya'll on at this moment. I'm sure it will come later. In the mean time, I'll leave you with my mug - minus 35 pounds!!

Lookin' good!

Ma-jah Updates

BIG NEWS!!!!!

The job hunt (better known to some as OPERATION PAYCHECK) is finished!!

I have a job as a registered nurse!!

WHAT?!?!?!

It's still shocking amazing to me that I have been hired to care for people. Without supervision. When I feel like I really have no idea what I'm doing!

Before I start hyperventilating, I'll spill the beans:

On February 18th, I had my first interview since passing the NCLEX in October. It was for a part-time position on night shift. The day before, I went to lunch with a friend of mine from nursing school that encouraged me to apply for the position (she also works on the unit). She was helping me prepare for the interview, giving me tips on questions to ask, etc.

Since I had found out about the position, I had felt this conviction that the position was mine. Not in a prideful way, but in a "God just provided me a job" kind of way. I was going after the provision that Father had supplied!

The interview was great - so easy and comfortable. I wasn't nervous at all! (Talk about walking in godly confidence!)

After waiting years five days on pins and needles, I was not only offered the position, but a FULL TIME position! YIPPIE!!!!

I start on Monday, and am a bundle of excitement. I'm so excited, yet nervous that I've forgotten everything I learned in school! I know it will all come rushing back, I just hope it rushes back quickly!!!

Plus - if I'm being honest - I'm ready to wear scrubs and get some income!

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I thought I should also give a jlogging update. The last running post I wrote talked about being in a rut. Well, the rut continued.

Not that it's an appropriate excuse (because it's not), but this winter I have been more of a homebody than in previous years. I seriously lacked motivation - I was just so cold! All I wanted to do was stay home and cuddle under my favorite blanket.

There was just one *teeny* little problem.

I was signed up to complete a 10K this past Sunday. Hmmm...a 10K is 6.2 miles. Interesting considering I count the number of times I've ran since December on two hands. Not really the sort of training the experts are looking for with a 10K. Or a 5K. Or anything for that matter!

Thankfully, I was running with a small group on Sunday - Monica, Jen's hubby Sam, and my Dad. I warned them in advance that I really had *NO BUSINESS* running a 10K! Thankfully, my people love me anyway!

I'm very happy to report that I not only completed the 10K (with some serious walking breaks), but I did it faster than I EVER thought I would! I imagined the clean-up crew scraping my broken body off the street so they could open the road back up to traffic. Ha ha!

I am SO PROUD of Monica - I just have to brag on her for a second. She seriously amazed me in her ability to finish in less than an hour! What a power house!!! I look forward to my redemption 10K when I can actually keep up with her!

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Finally, a *small* man update. Not a TBD update, just a man update. There is a very nice guy who attends our church that I met recently. To see what kind of guy he REALLY is, my wonderful friends are hosting a staged "game night" to check him out.

Poor thing.

My motives are in the right place - I promise! I really want him to meet the men-folk in our group, as I don't see him talking to many people at church on Sundays. I want him to feel connected!

But - I also want to get to know him better! At the very least, another cool friend that loves Jesus. At the best - who knows???

Abe and Lincoln

Hi Blog Buddies!

Sorry for the large gap in entries, but I've been so busy with ALL THE NOTHING, that I just haven't had a free moment to write.

Things have been very low-key around here. I literally just clicked on my calendar to look back and see if I did anything interesting in that ya'll might want to hear about.

Low point.

Here's a funny story you might appreciate:

Last weekend we had a conference at church. I was hanging out with my girl Kristen and she brought up her sweet baby, Lincoln.

I said, "Hey - isn't his birthday coming up? I'm surprised you haven't mentioned it."

She replied, "No...his birthday is in July."

I rebutted, "Really??? That's so weird! On my calendar, I have his birthday down on Saturday."

She pauses for a moment, and then replies, with a touch of YOU ARE SUCH A FREAK in her voice, "Do you mean ABE Lincoln's birthday????"

Um...yes. Yes, I did.

Awkward!

LOL! Thankfully she is very forgiving and I said a quick - Happy Birthday! - to our 16th President.

Stay-At-Home-Chic

As I continue to my search for my first nursing job, my Dad has been kind enough to employ me to work with him. This opportunity has been a HUGE blessing to me.

One of the biggest blessings has been working from home. We love having an office dog, lunches together, and the convenience.

This morning I was reminded of one of the best parts of working at home. The dress code!!!

Now, normally I wouldn't take horrific photos of myself and post them on the internet, but this is merely an example of why working at home is awesome.

Yes, this is my work-wear.

Let's break it down, head to toe, shall we?

*Top: Black fleece, approximately 32 sizes too big. I love it.

*Bottom: This is embarrassing. I bought these pants when I was in college. And no, I don't mean nursing school. These pants are approximately 12 years old. I love them. Ever since I got rid of these pants as Hurricane Ike terrorized Ohio in 2008, the hole in my heart has been too big to part with anything else from my days at Ohio University.

*Shoes: Oh, friends. These are my new Uggs. I have fallen head over heels with these boots! The warmth. The comfort. I can't describe it. I was freezing this morning (and no, it's not because I was wearing 12 year old lounge pants) and put these babies on. Now I'm toasty warm!

So there you have it - stay at home chic. I realize my new nursing job will be a rude awakening as I transition from "home" lounge wear to "work" lounge wear (aka scrubs).

I'm hoping I'll be up to the challenge.

Rut

When I was in High School - I was a marching band nerd for 4 years. My freshman year I played the flute, and sophomore through senior year I was a Field Commander.

OK - QUIT HARASSING ME! HERE'S A PHOTO.

We had a practice field next to the school where we learned our pre-game and halftime shows. As you might imagine, ruts eventually developed in the grass as musicians marched day after day, week after week.

Ruts that sometimes looked like this:

These ruts were helpful for freshman and new members who might not remember their placement in a formation. The rut was a path they could follow to make life easier.

However, as the season progressed and we learned different shows, we had to tell the freshman to stop relying on the ruts. We were going in a different direction, learning new placements, and the rut could no longer be relied on. Countless times I heard upperclassmen and squad-leaders yelling encouraging, "DON'T FOLLOW THE RUTS!"

Ever since completing the 5K in December, I've been in a rut.

This picture sums it up perfectly:

After taking a couple of days off after the 5K, the holidays became - well - the holidays, and running was replaced with celebrations, dinners, and relaxation.

Holiday rut.

The rut was fine for the month of December, but - newsflash! - today is not December.

Now, I can't follow the rut any longer. I fell back into some of my old habits and familiar ruts in the name of "holiday spirit". It's time to get back on track!

DON'T FOLLOW THE RUTS!!!

There are new places to go run!

New habits to form. Habits that will take me from rut to race!

I have only run twice this week, and had meager runs each time. It's time to mix things up. Although the temperatures are plummeting into the teens and twenties each day, my Dad and I are running outside tomorrow. I need my accountability and running buddy back!

If anyone is equipped to remove his daughter from her rut, it's this guy:

Happy Weekend!!!!!

One Word for 2011

Well, it took until January 2nd, but I have my word and scripture for the year!

I actually had another word and scripture chosen, but this morning the Lord revealed His word for me. I would much rather cling to His choice than mine!

My word for 2011 is:

TRANSFORM

I feel so strongly that the Lord wants to transform every part of us. Mind, heart, will, spirit, physical body, emotions, and more! Once I got the word, the scripture was easy to choose!

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

I really love this version:

Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

So fun! Plus, I must pick up this shirt I have been eyeing since I was first introduced to Wild Olive t-shirts.

I can't wait to see how this word impacts me in 2011.

Happy New Year!