this is your life

have you ever had what seems to be an ordinary experience just rock you to your core? today as I was driving home from the vet after picking up my sweet, but very expensive Bella (she has yet another bladder stone & infection) I was sort of feeling bad for myself...it wasn't really an expense that we were planning for. But of course she is worth it. Anyways God spoke gently to me...there was a young lady that crossed my path. I don't know her story, where she has been, or how she ended up with a sign by the side of the road that read, "homeless and hungry". But there she was...beautiful and alone. I wish I could say that I invited her into my car and took her to have a warm meal, but I didn't think of that until I was a few blocks past her. However, God did remind me of the Kashi granola bar in my purse, I quick dug it out of my bag, and handed it out the window...I said may God bless you, and she said you too. It was quick and simple but I think she appreciated it. I drove away, kicking myself for not taking her for coffee or something like that. Then God spoke to me...through music, and broke my heart.

This Switchfoot song was playing, and He just broke my heart for the lost, especially teenagers. This girl couldn't have been more than 18, and there she was on the side of the road, totally alone in the world. It shouldn't happen, but it does. And it is sad.

to play this clip you have to pause the music at the bottom of my blog, this song is so moving.



"This Is Your Life"

yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
yesterday is a promise that you've broken
don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
this is your life and today is all you've got now
yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

yesterday is a kid in the corner
yesterday is dead and over

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes
don't close your eyes

this is your life are you who you want to be
this is your life are you who you want to be

this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, are you who you want to be
this is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose

and you had everything to lose

grapes or raisins?

ok, I am not sure how this happens, and hopefully I am not the only one who does this...but I go the grocery store with a list in hand. I have the best intentions to stick to my list. But then I get suckered into a sale. Grapes $0.99 per pound. I think to myself, I like grapes, and at that price I ought to buy a couple pounds. So I go home with my 3 pounds of grapes, because hey, they were a great deal. I eat some grapes when I am putting the rest of the groceries, and they are great! :) then I sort of forget about those yummy grapes. They get pushed to the back of the fridge, and are somewhat forgoten. :(
Then about 3 weeks later, I go back to the grocery store, and buy more food, no grapes today...but I clean out my fridge before I put the new food in there. I am confronted with the forgoten grapes. They are now somewhere between grapes and raisins. Thank goodness for our compost bin that Dean built last year. I think the graisins will make a great addition!

steps...

today I took 6,000 plus steps at work. That equals 2.4 miles. I am not sure if that is a lot or not...but it was a little bit of a slower day than the usual weekend.

amanda's shower

these are some photos from Amanda's shower this weekend...it turned out to be a bit smaller than we had originally planned...due to the crummy weather, but it was still really fun. We made mints, played some games, and had really yummy healthy (for the most part) food. Later that day we dragged Mindi out for a photo session. She really had fun, but you have to wait to see those pix on my other blog! :)

yeah!

just a quick update...I didn't have to get a shot this am in my eye...accd to DR. J...my eye is "stone quiet". I am not sure what that means exactly...but I am assuming that is good b/c he said I didn't need an injection. YEAH!

yuck!

I was going to blog about how crappy my week has been, how I am exhausted and when I get home to a messy kitchen I just want to scream because I just want to try to keep the house clean till this weekend, but I am humbled by the problems of another friend. My problems however annoying are very minor in comparison. So I am greatful for a job, even though it feels as if I am being pulled in a thousand different directions at one time. And I am greatful that even though my kitchen in a cycle of me cleaning and Dean making a mess and me cleaning...at least I have a kitchen, and a Dean :)
I am excited for the shower this weekend.
I am super excited to have Heidi and Aaron stay with us for the weekend!
I do have an eye doctor appt tomorrow morning...and Dr. Jordan will get to meet my sister Heidi, because I think she is going with me this time. Dean is on assignment at the office because my dad and mom will be away from the office due to the conference that my dad has this weekend.

this picture is hope that spring/summer will come evenutally even if we do get 15 inches of snow tomorrow!!!

a.m.

Well...Sarah and I were talking about when you get the most done...morning or afternoon/evening. This was in reference to when is a good time to work vs be at home. Well...this week I am a bit off...I am working pm's all week, which I was dreading! I used to work alot of pm's, but now I am mostly 12 hour days. By the time I get home from work, all I want to do is put sweatpants on and lay on the couch. But today, I got SO much stuff done BEFORE work! It was great...my mom came over and we cleaned my house *for the shower*. I made banana bread...it was great. Plus I got to see the sunshine from the outside instead of just from the inside of a hospital. Now I am tired, but it's a good tired!

here's to a "GOOD TIRED"!

you know you are getting older when...

you can't sleep past 7:15 am. Long gone are the days of sleeping till noon. I literally wake up without an alarm clock these days at 7:15 without fail. YUCK! I wish that I could at least sleep till 8.

yesterday we got tons of stuff done! My mom and I went to Party America and we got stuff for Amanda's shower this weekend and also stuff for the groom's dinner. It is going to be so fun...but I will not spoil the suprise...the theme is super fun!

Then we went to Target, Q-doba, and then to Macy's and Herbergers.
And last but not least...we went to Happy Harry's for the last day of the penny sale and each got 8 bottles of wine!

Today...I refuse to go back outside after all this crummy snow! What the heck? I thought it was April?!?!

I work all week from 2-11 pm...the guy who normally works this shift is dating a college student and they are going on spring break...lucky!

ok...here it is

After alot of consideration...I have decided to appply for a new job as a respiratory therapist at the VA hospital in Fargo. But I really haven't told too many people especially at work so try to keep it on the D.L. It's not that I don't like my job...I do like it alot...but, there are alot of great things about government benefits. The health insurance plans would really take alot of stress off us...and the pay is significantly more than at my current job. There would be some things about this job that I wouldn't like as much...they do not have as busy of an ICU, and it would mean starting over getting to know all new staff, etc. But, I think I am ready to try something outside the box.

As previously mentioned...I would love to do photography full time...but I don't really love, love, love the business aspect of it. Plus, I want to enjoy it, and not feel like I need to have a certain number of clients to pay my bills. And of course there is the issue of retirement funds/health insurance/etc...

big things!

We are praying about a big change for me...I am considering a new job. It isn't because I don't like what I am doing...I just a ready for a change; but I am not going to go into a bunch of details because I don't want to get too excited about it yet. just wanted to update everyone in general.