It's late and I'm tired of studying...consider yourselves warned.

Stream of consciousness time!!! You lucky things, it's midnight, and as if this moment I have ONE HUNDRED days until graduation.

Whoot! Whoot!

Here are a few things on my mind - with 100 days left, and counting:

• I am so flipping tired of studying. I don't know that I can accurately describe how DONE I am. It's somewhere between that feeling you get when you realize it's time for your annual "lady" appointment, and the feeling you get when you run into an old boyfriend who's moved on. Yep, it's right about there. That's how I feel about studying.

• I can't wait until I can write "RN" at the end of my name. It's going to be really fun. Those letters are costing me roughly the same amount of money as a Mini. Just sayin'.

• Tonight as I was holding my dog in my lap, he started humping the air. I wasn't impressed.

• I have no idea why I needed to share that last tidbit, but obviously the scars are still very real.

• I can't believe it took me this long to figure out I want to be a nurse. I absolutely love caring for people. Even if that means emptying a urinal. I have had some really gracious, sweet, affirming compliments from the patients I have cared for, and I love it. Makes this 15 months totally worth it.

• I am seriously annoyed with myself that I went to an amazing wedding two weekends ago and took exactly NONE pictures. However, I did tear up the dance floor like it was going out of style...and that's really worth more than a picture, isn't it? Plus, let's be honest, the majority of my readers attended said wedding, and we can all agree it was a blast!! No photos necessary.

• I am so excited to start having hobbies again. It's so funny, but I used to have hobbies. Now my hobbies are checking my school email, and making flash cards. Honestly. I can't wait until I can cook again regularly. I have a few recipes already in the queue: this, this, and this.

• I *cannot* stop watching "The Real Housewives" of New York and New Jersey. I realize they have absolutely no redeeming value, and perhaps are doing more harm than good, but it is perfect, mindless TV. This video still makes me laugh. I could watch it all day. Honestly, "spoken word over a Saint-Tropez beat" has to be the best description of a song EVER.

I think it's time to tuck my consciousness into bed. I'm not sure the internet can take any more of my randomness.

This is the home stretch! ONE HUNDRED DAYS!!!!!!

Update & A Potpourri of Random Music

Well folks, Baby BSN tells me that there are only ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE days until it's arrival! That is FOUR MONTHS people.

FOUR MONTHS.

FOUR.

4.

I can't believe this program has gone so quickly, and I am currently in the throws of the hardest quarter of this baby. Thankfully, there are only about 3 weeks left and then it's smooth sailing for the summer!

I have some new music to share with you, but you'll have to forgive me as I am (literally) all over the place these days. There is no rhyme or reason to these songs other than, "It's good. Me likey."

List time!

• "Love Came Down" - Brian Johnson. Do not be fooled, this is the same song from the album that I mentioned here. However, this is the fancy radio version. I think this version should be alternatively titled, "The Version that's Faster and Has More Drums so You Can't Weep as Much". Seriously, this song gets me. EVERY TIME.

• "Our God" - Chris Tomlin. This is just a good song. Chris Tomlin sings it. What more do you need to know?

• "Be the Center" - Jami Smith. I recently heard this song again after a LONG time - honestly, this should be our theme song for life.

• "Marked By Heaven" - Jake Hamilton. Now, this is a new album that I just purchased, thanks to my sweet friend Ali, who I recently reconnected with. Jake (we're on a first name basis) is currently leading worship with the Jesus Culture worship team. I LOVE his raspy voice. Best songs from the album: "The Anthem" and "Sacred Obsession".

• "Breakthrough" - FourSquare United Generation. I don't want to say that I bought this album just because the group name has the word "Four Square" in it, but that pretty much sealed the deal. If loving four square is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Now I would like to move into the arena of "Summer Music". I don't know why, but when the warm weather arrives, I suddenly feel a strong desire for really awesome music. Not that I don't feel that other times of the year, but there is just *something* about summer music! I like to blend the "oldies but goodies" with a few current favorites. Here's how my list is shaping up so far:

OBG (Oldies But Goodies):

• "Sunshine & Summertime" - Faith Hill
• "Summer Nights" - Rascal Flatts
• "Stolen" - Dashboard Confessional
• "Soak up the Sun" - Sheryl Crow
• "Summer Love" - Justin Timberlake

(Apparently my summer mix is brought to you by the letter "S".)

• "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" - Kenny Chesney
• "When the Sun Goes Down" - Kenny Chesney
• "Dreams" - The Cranberries
• "Everyday" - Dave Matthews Band
• "Just Like Heaven" - The Cure
• "All I Wanna Do" - Sugarland
• "4 Minutes" - Madonna & JT

NaG (New and Good):

• "California Gurls" - Katy Perry
• "If It's Love" - Train
• "American Honey" - Lady Antebellum
• "Today Was a Fairytale" - Taylor Swift
• "All the Right Moves" - One Republic
• "Smile" - Uncle Kracker
• "Chameleon" - Dave Barnes

What are your summer essentials???

Baby BSN

You will notice a new addition to my blog - a countdown to graduation!!

I was talking to Kristen today, and she suggested I add a countdown clock so you all can join me as I race to the finish line!

I thought this Lilypie countdown was hilarious because this program really has been a labor of love. I feel that I am birthing something new!

I give you - Baby BSN!

Eight is most certainly NOT enough...

It's a blogging streak, people!

Two posts within just a few days of each other?

Let's give the Lord a clap offering!

Ok, I feel I need to tell you that I was NOT born in a barn, and I do have an above average comprehension of spelling and grammar. I just read over my last post, and LORD HAVE MERCY. I look like I need remedial - well - LIFE. I had to correct the errors, 'cause that's just the kind of OCD girl I am.

Thanks for not judging me.

And if you did judge me, you just take it back.

Now, let's carry on.

One of my bloggy buddies commented on my last post that there were no photos of the *beach* on my BEACH vacation. I aim to please all my readers and I offer you the following as proof that I was, in fact, on a beach.

That would be me drinking a nice cup of coffee that I carried delicately through the sand to enjoy oceanside. I will confess that I had to crop the lower portion of this photo because my legs are SO FREAKISHLY PALE that I offended myself. I wish I were kidding. People are always so sweet and call it "porcelain" or "fair". Mmmhmm, yep, thanks.

PALE.

Now that I have proven my vacation to be true, I can show you this next photo. I had forgotten all about it until I was uploading my hoards of vacation pics. Remember when I talked about seeing trolleys on the highway?

Look!

How fun! And, in case you were wondering, the numbers were 108. I like to think that it meant 10 = a journey and 8 = new beginnings.

Speaking of new beginnings, today on my way home from school I noticed that my odometer read 88,808. I did not remember what 8 stood for, so I thought I would just look it up at home. For the rest of my drive, it seemed that all I saw was the number "8". I saw it within a phone number on a van driving next to me, on a mile marker, on a license plate, etc. I couldn't get away from it! For a while, I felt like it was the only number I could see!

Closer to home, I passed a van that had a HUGE "14" on the side. I thought, "Wow. That's not an 8, but it's a flippin' huge 14." I didn't think anything of it until I got home.

After being totally BLOWN AWAY by how good God is by showing me all those "8's", I looked up what 14 stands for...try DOUBLE ANOINTING! How fun!!

I felt like God was giving me a huge hug today, saying He's got my back and He has all kinds of new and powerful things for me!

NEVER stop looking around you for signs of His humor and goodness!

Keep that head on a swivel! (Ron, Kristen's husband once said that to their daughter Maddie as he encouraged her to keep her eyes out for what God was doing. I have NEVER forgotten it!)

Finally - an Update!

Whew, it has been an offensive amount of time since my last post! Hopefully all 2 of my faithful readers are still around - and, if not, I bid you adieu.

So, what has life been like for the past 2 months since my last post? Well, it has been a whirlwind of paperwork, presentations, *really* early mornings, a huge test where I basically had to memorize all the medications known to man, finals, and - finally - vacation!!!

I want to update you on lots of fun stuff. Since you know I operate best with lists, let's just embrace it, shall we?

New Shoes - Certainly you remember these shoes, right? NOT CUTE. Well, after walking my last mile with feet that hurt, I was in desperate need of an upgrade! Thankfully our mall has a New Balance store where an angel of mercy fitted me for the most COMFORTABLE shoes. Stylish? Not as much as I would have liked, however, I have learned in my short time walking ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY, that style sometimes has to bow it's (stylish) knee to comfort. Can you all hear my Mom weeping tears of joy at that statement?!? Anyway, this angel also told me that I walk on the edges of my feet and that these shoes have something miraculous called a "roll bar" that will keep me walking straighter! (Honestly, if you are still reading as I talk about how I walk funny, I applaud you. Wow, can I ramble or what?!?)

Vacation - We just got back from a glorious week at the beach. Yes, it was chilly, however I couldn't have cared less. I was so happy to not be studying, I would have been content if it rained all week. I thought ya'll might want to see all the awesome pictures I took. I assure you, these are the ONLY TWO PICTURES I took all week. I think if nursing doesn't work out, I have a future in photography.

This first photo makes me laugh out loud. Remember this? See - I come by it honestly! What you're looking at here is EIGHT bags of chips for our 7 days at the beach. No, we weren't traveling with a group of teenage boys - there were three of us. Honestly, I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit that, but it's just too funny!

Ok, this next photo was taken at a restaurant we went to for dinner in honor of my parent's 36th wedding anniversary. My Dad had ordered calamari and this little fried fella came on the plate. In case you can't tell, it's a tiny octopus or something. All I needed to know was that 1) It was tiny. 2) It was slimy. 3) It had many legs.

Well, thanks for hanging in there for my photo tour of a week at the beach! Compelling, isn't it?

The Final Countdown - As I type this post, I have just 167 days until I graduate from nursing school! Isn't that amazing? I can't believe that it's less than 6 months away!! I am completely excited to be finished and moving on with my career. People keep asking me which area I am planning to specialize. I am trying to keep an open mind, but I can confidently say that I have NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER to see any more old man butts. I have seen way too many old man butts. I think I'll just leave it at no more old man butts. You can imagine the rest. :o) This next quarter I am doing pediatrics, and I am excited to see if I still "have it" with kiddos!

Now, for some fun stuff to wrap up:

• For all you married peeps out there, I encourage you to read this post about handling your single friends with care. This post just made my heart happy. (Disclaimer: I have amazing friends and this is not a subliminal hint that they are anything less!!) (Disclaimer to the disclaimer: I won't say no if my married friends want to do this. I mean, I'm only human! Ha ha!)

• In music news, check out Cory Asbury's song, "Jesus Let Me See Your Eyes". He's a worship guy from Misty Edward's IHOP and this song is so good!

• Speaking of Misty, we went to this really cool church on vacation, and they sang her song, "Pledge". It basically made me want to weep openly. GREAT SONG. (Side bar: don't you love when you visit a new church and see people start to worship the way you do at home?!? Honestly, when I saw people start to raise their hands in worship, it just made my heart sing!)

• Just heard about this new (to me) group, Foursquare United Generation. First of all, don't you love that name? I previewed their album "Breakthrough" and I'm pretty sure it will soon be appearing on my iPod!

I do believe that is all for now. Classes start again on Monday, but I really am going to try and be better about blogging! Happy Spring!

Clang, clang, clang went the Trolley...

(First, PLEASE tell me someone out there knows

the above reference without going to Google. Anyone?)

Since I spend the majority of my LIFE in my car, I realized today that God might try to do a little talking to me during my 60 minute commute. Crazy, right? (Seriously, does God ever think we are total IDIOTS? If He were human, HE TOTALLY WOULD. Thankfully, He thinks we are just funny and cute when we totally MISS HIS POINT.)

Traveling along a major interstate like I do, I get to see some unusual vehicles on the road. Typically just really big pieces of machinery or semi's carrying long metal rods that I am convinced are going to come rolling of the truck and straight into my car.

However, in the past month, I have see THREE trolleys on the highway. Weird, right?

I saw the third trolley on my way home today and suddenly realized:

HELLO BECKY. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE TROLLEYS?

I started searching the trolley for any cool sign/number/name that might stick out. Oh, you know, like "MEET YOUR HUSBAND TOMORROW AT STARBUCKS RAILWAY".

Really subtle messages like that.

Anyway, I didn't really see anything other than the number on the trolley 4-5-8 (also the trolley was red). When I got home, I found my handy "Number/Color Biblical Interpretation Cheat Sheet" (not it's official name) and looked up the numbers 4, 5, and 8.

4 = God's creative works

5 = Grace/Redemption/Anointing

8 = NEW BEGINNINGS (!!!!!!)

Red = Wisdom, anointing, and power

I am still seeking what the trolley means, but I just love how God can encourage us with our surroundings. He has not forgotten our declaration of this year being a year of NEWNESS. He is so kind! I encourage you to look around and see what He is saying!

(Oh, and to not cause you further angst,

here is the reference to the title of this post!)

New Music! (The iTunes Spending Spree Edition)

For Christmas this year, I got a TON of iTunes gift cards. It was probably one of my favorite gifts this year! I absolutely love music (in case you haven't noticed).

I haven't spend all my gift cards yet, but I wanted to share some of my immediate purchases.

Brian Johnson - Love Came Down

This is an acoustic CD that will bless you beyond belief! Some old songs, some new songs. All excellent!

Misty Edwards - Point of Life

This is Misty like you've never heard her before. This is not a live album, but a studio album with a more "electronic" sound. Really cool.

Misty Edwards - Fling Wide

This is Misty live! This is probably my favorite album right now. There are so many amazing songs! "Soul Cry", "Rend", and "Arms Wide Open" are my three favorite songs.

Harry Connick Jr. - Your Songs

I heart this man's voice. I have already (repeatedly) professed my love for his Christmas music, and this is a CD of great love songs. They make me feel sappy. Someday I shall play them and make TBD dance with me! Won't he love that!! HA HA!

And finally, another one of my favorite songs right now is "New Creation" by Fellowship Church. I posted the video of this song here, and now the song is available on iTunes. This is a great song to go along with my "NEW THING" for 2010!

Happy listening!