I was listening to the radio last night and I heard this song, and it was really encouraging to me.  It just really seemed to fit a lot of what I have been feeling lately, and it was a good reminder for me to stay strong, even when everything seems really hard.  Hopefully all of you will find it encouraging as well!

Stay Strong by the Newsboys

You're in the moment now
A bitter root
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin

You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with
Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'

We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won

We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way

Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbnKW1gHRzE 

Run with Endurance

I feel like I am somewhat lacking in endurance and motivation lately.  I have 40 days left until I graduate (hmm...a Biblical number), and it seems like the closer I get to that life milestone, the harder it is to pick up my feet.  Unfortunately, it's not just my school studies that are suffering.  I have sort of hit a wall in my devotions lately, and I'm having trouble putting my heart into it and I feel like I'm just going through the motions.  Any suggestions?

Things with school are really keeping me busy, that's for sure!  Life has been pretty good otherwise though.  I went on the CBF retreat, which was a lot of fun and it was really great to see and spend time with friends.  Of course, there was the usual sleep deprivation and muscle soreness to accompany the weekend, but then it really wouldn't be a CBF retreat without those things. :)  I was home very briefly this past Saturday to celebrate my Grandma's and two sisters' birthdays.  Going home always reminds me of how much I miss my family!

I am in the process of trying to find another apartment for after graduation, because my current lease runs out at the end of May.  I was kind of hoping that I would be able to have a roommate (living alone just doesn't appeal to me), but I didn't want to live with a stranger, and I really would prefer to have a Christian roommate.  However, all the people I asked already had living arrangements and weren't interested.  So, I had kind of given up on the whole roommate thing.  Then a couple of weeks ago, I got a call from the mom of one of my friends from back home, asking if I would be willing to talk to the niece of one of her friends from her church, who was interviewing at Hershey Medical Center that week.  So I said sure, and gave her my email address.  This girl and I emailed back and forth a few times, and it turns out that she accepted a job in Hershey and is interested in rooming with me.  So we talked about it on the phone a little and it sounds like we have a lot in common.  And she is also a Christian!  The one thing that makes it a little difficult is that she goes to school in Michigan, so we probably won't be able to meet in person before deciding, but I am encouraged by this opportunity and am praying that it will work out.  It is always interesting to see how God works!

I guess that is all for right now.  I know that many of you pray for me and I can't tell you how much that means to me.  I am so grateful for all the people that God has brought into my life over the years that have set good examples of godly living and been such an encouragement to me.  I miss you guys!

Black ice and Amazing Grace

I went to a movie night this past Friday to watch "Amazing Grace."  I had seen it once before, but I really liked it the first time I saw it, so I was really excited to watch it again.  For those of you who have not seen the movie, it is about William Wilberforce, who spent many years in the British Parliament during the early 1800s fighting to abolish the slave trade.  The movie is very well made and well worth your time.

On the way home from the movie, I hit a patch of black ice on the road and came close to having a serious accident.  Fortunately, I managed to plow the car into a ditch on the right side of the road instead of driving into (and probably through) the guardrail on the other side (which also happened to be above quite a decent drop-off!).  I had three other girls in the car with me, and I think we were all pretty scared for awhile!  Of course, as the driver, I had to stay calm and make sure everyone was ok and then figure out if the car had sustained any serious damage.  But after it was over and I was back at my apartment, it all hit me pretty hard and I realized just how bad it could have been.  God was surely watching over us that night! 

I found out later that one of the medical students here at the hospital was also involved in an accident with icy roads that same night, and she was killed.  There was a memorial service for her today at the medical center, and although I never met her, I have lots of friends who knew her from class, so it's been a rather sobering time for all of us.  I've been thinking a lot about just how fragile this life is and that we really have no real control over those things.  It is so reassuring to know that I belong to a God who has a purposeful plan for my life and that I can rest in knowing that He is my hope and salvation.  I was talking to my roommate about it afterward, and she made the comment that it obviously wasn't our time to go, so God must still have work for us to do.  Isn't that so true?!  It is so easy to take our time here on earth for granted, when in reality, each day, each minute, each breath that we take, is a gift from God and we should use it for His glory. 

Ok, I'll update...

Well, people have started to bug me about how long it's been since I've updated, so here you go.  Ummm...where to start?

I guess the biggest news in my life right now is that I accepted a job at Hershey Medical Center for after I graduate and I'll be starting on July 7th this summer.  Yeah, it's pretty big!  I'm really excited about the unit where I will be working and all of that.  So, now I just need to somehow stay motivated to do the work required to get me to graduation. :)  I think I have senioritis...

Another big piece of news is that my car is back in commission.  Just to fill all of you in, here's the story.  Around the beginning of December, I was out running errands and I noticed this fruity smell.  I looked out my rearview mirror and saw white smoke billowing out of my exhaust pipes.  (Uh-oh.  That doesn't look good.  Oh, great, the car is over-heating.  I guess I'm going to have to try to find a place to pull over.)  Not exactly fun.  So I called my dad and he left work to come get me and take both me and the car home.  The end diagnosis was that the head gaskets were shot.  So a month later (after a lot of tedious work of taking apart the engine, and cleaning/replacing parts, and putting it all back together again...), everything seems to be working fine.  I am so grateful and fortunate to have such a talented and giving dad. :)  Now if this poor, old car can just last until I am making enough money to buy a new one...

Classes are keeping me pretty busy.  I am taking 17 credits (what happened to having an easy last semester?!?).  I have psychiatric nursing, community nursing, nursing research, trauma nursing, interpretation of labs, and a clinically focused independent study.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to graduation!  Which, by the way, is on Saturday, May 17th at 3pm at the Bryce Jordan Center (if any of you are interested in coming).

Some other miscellaneous stuff...I have still managed to get out and do some fun things with people.  I went bowling the other night and bowled a personal best.  172!  I also saw National Treasure 2, which I enjoyed, even if it was rather unrealistic.  That's pretty much it for now, so hopefully that will keep you all satisfied for awhile, and I will try to update more often.  No promises...

Wow, it's been quite awhile since I last updated!  Let's see, what are the most important and interesting things....

Well, I had my first job interview for after I graduate, which is pretty significant (and also scary!).  I interviewed with Hershey Medical Center for the Heart & Vascular Intensive Care Unit where I worked this past summer.  I really loved working there and I'm almost 100% sure that's where I want to work after I'm done with school.  I will probably hear back within the week, so you could be praying about all of that and that God would help me to make the right decision.

I went on the CBF Fall Retreat this past weekend, which was a lot of fun.  It was great to see and catch-up with all the people I miss so much now that I'm here in Hershey.  I am pretty much recovered from all the sports activities, but I have some lovely bruises. :)

My classes are going pretty well right now.  I seem to have at least one exam every week (sometimes more), so I never really get any down time (that's why stuff like the retreat is so nice...but I get behind too).  I'm very much looking forward to having a whole week off for Thanksgiving.  Only 10 days away!!! 

The weather here has been gorgeous...clear, blue sky...relatively warm (50s)...autumn wind and rustling leaves...aahhh!  I love the fall!

I guess that's all for now.  Hopefully it won't be such a long time before I update again!  Have a good week everyone!