Patience- Hospital Edition

I always thought that I was pretty patient person. 

That is until this break. 

Mom went into the hospital on Dec. 14. 

It was supposed to be an easy surgery, easy recovery. 

And it was. 

Until...

She started throwing up and didn't stop. 

Three days later they finally figured out why and tried to fix it. 

Eleven days later she was still in the hospital. 

FINALLY on Christmas Day she made her escape! 

I couldn't have asked for a better present!

Those eleven days of waiting taught me so much. 

I learned patience... waiting for the body to heal takes time. 

I learned the joy of family. Watching my family rally and make trips to the hospital to see mom "fun" was such a blessing. 

I learned the importance of nursing firsthand. The nurses were invaluable to my mom and our family. I hope to one day be that for a family. 

I learned that I am NOT at all in control...God is so much bigger than my plans. 

I learned that trusting in God is the best thing I could ever do. 

I learned the special blessing of having a loving church family. We have had so much food these past few days and it's all because of families making it especially for us. 

I learned that no matter what..in our best and darkest moments the Lord is right by our side. He will never leave us through any of it. 

Thank you so much for your prayers for mom! Even though it has been a tough few weeks I am so very thankful for them and all that I was taught through it all! To God be the Glory Forever and Ever! :)

Capturing Gratitude [31-40]

                                        

31. Finals being over...and NO studying for a whole three weeks!!


32. Family dinners with my indy family. :)

33. That my mom's surgery went well and she is on the road to recovery!

34. Christmas Time!!

35. To have time to read this book by an inspiring sister in Christ!

36. Stories of hope and God's grace in tragedy.

37. The fact that I am officially 1/3 of a nurse and so excited to see what God has in store for me!
 

38. Christmas Music (Especially the David Crowder kind)

39. The fact that Passion is only 18 days away!!!

40. JESSICA AND BRYAN are COMING HOME in TWO DAYS!!!!

World AIDS Day

Here is a post from Now Abide In Me...a blog that I have enjoyed reading. I agree wholeheartedly with this post and the girls that wrote it. I pray that people National AIDS Day will open people's eyes to the harsh reality of HIV/AIDS and that this will truly be the beginning of the end of AIDS.

"She jumps up and down, demanding to be picked up. You snuggle her close while the other children grab at your skirt, demanding the same attention. As the dinner bells rings you gather them up and move with them into the home. They all sit down as you pass out plates of food and water and bow your head in thanks. She looks up at you with gleaming eyes and smiles as she shovels food into her mouth and dribbles water down her front.

And you would never know.

Never know that there was a little symbol that changed her life. That that symbol, written in her profile, brought her chances of being adopted down dramatically. That that symbol makes people avoid her. Nervously offer hugs. Push away her kisses. Freak out at the sight of her blood.

+

HIV +

That’s all it takes. One symbol. And her life is changed.

What if we didn’t tell you? What if we treated her like everyone else and you never knew the difference? You would hug her. You would kiss her. You would put Band-Aids on her scrapes. You wouldn’t fear. You would love her freely.

And maybe… just maybe… you’d consider making her your daughter.

The thing is- you’re confused. That + sign doesn’t make her unadoptable. It doesn’t even necessarily make her sick. HIV has never been spread in a household environment. You can’t get it from hugging and kissing and putting on band aids. It’s easier to manage than diabetes.

She’s not stuck in that orphanage because she’s HIV+. She’s stuck in that orphanage because we are misinformed. Because we don’t know.

Today is world AIDS day. Take the time to KNOW and LEARN. And maybe…just maybe… take a step to help children like her out of orphanages. Take a step to reach out to someone branded with that symbol. Take a step to speak out for the people all over the world fighting this stigma. Take a step to love them like Jesus."

waiting with patience

**How do we wait for God? 

We wait with patience. 

But patience does not mean passivity. 

Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. 

It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full 

in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.

                 The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior which means "to suffer."

Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, 

tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground 

on which we stand grow into strong plants. 

Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes 

and seeing there the first rays of God's glorious coming.**

                                           

                                                  {henri nouwen}

Capturing Gratitude [21-30]

21. That my Grandpa has been worshiping Jesus in Heaven for almost a year. (So thankful to be able to spend eternity with him someday)

22. Passion Conference 2012. So excited to spend four days with thousands of college students praising Jesus!

23. Study Buddies.

24. My Indianapolis Family.

25. Stories of God's Grace through trials and heartbreak.

26. Winter is coming!

 27. The amazing ways God shows us that He is the perfect creator of all things.

28. The opportunity to easily help children in Rwanda go to school.

29. Videos that make you laugh when you are sick of studying all day!

30. Happy Hour Sushi!! :)

When I am weak..

I am so weak... both physically and emotionally. This past week I had an appointment with my foot doctor and he essentially told me that I can never work in a hospital and that I may not be able to walk without major surgery by the time I am 50. BUT that is just a human doctor saying that. I serve someone so much greater and I know that He is bigger than any news from my doctor. He will hold me up and sustain me. He is my fortress and my strength. A pleasant help in times of trouble. He will never leave me or forsake me. These words I know to be true. Therefore, I will allow Him to use me however He chooses. I will let Him be the author of my story. I will rely on His strength to see my through clinicals and working long long hours. He will provide. I will trust in Him. He has my heart and my desires. I will let Him lead and I will serve Him until I cannot do it anymore. May His name be PRAISED...forever and ever. AMEN.

Capturing Gratitude [11-20]

11. The many aspects  of fall... [food, changing leaves, cool weather, football games...etc.]

12. Kossuth Street Baptist Church (even if I am not home to be there..there's always Podcast!)

13. Laughter

 14. Courageous sisters in Christ that follow His call no matter what!

15. Scarves for the fall!

16. Examples from Pioneers and Missionaries of the Faith

17. My dad!

18. The ability to communicate when you don't know the language

19. African Sunsets... (holding little hands makes it a lot better!)

20.  Pinterest.com... makes work go by so much faster!