Honoring those who gave their lives...

I always get extremely emotional on days like today. I am not sure exactly what it is that brings to tears to my eyes when there comes a time to reflect on the many people who have served and who currently serve in our military. I think one of the many things that causes a rush of emotion to come over me is simply put by the word COURAGE. That word is something I lack, at least in sense of what it means to have real courage. To spend each day risking your life. I can not fathom what that must feel like.

They shared this video at the beginning of church on Sunday and I thought it was worth sharing with those who were interested.



http://vimeo.com/12153596

And some words that I have always found beautiful and deeply moving...
If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Never enough time

It is borderline suicide for me to even take a break to sit and type this. There are so many other things I should be spending my time doing right now...reading, case studies, plans of care, organizing, researching, more reading, reviewing notes, etc., etc. Maybe I should use this time to make a phone call to a friend, or my parents, or a sister. I have done an amazing job through nursing school so far not stressing or allowing myself to be overwhelmed. Well, it finally happened! I feel in over my head. A typical 16 week semester has been condensed into 9 weeks. I figured it out last semester; when to study, when to read, what is due when. It all got changed around. With the temptation to play outside or travel for a long weekend during the summer our profressors have put in safeguards to ensure that we come to class. I can't blame them. I would probably do the same thing. It is a lot of busy work though. I will just have to adjust to it...and I know I will.

I was watching a sermon online from North Point Church the other night with CJ. We were catching up on a part of the current series we missed. The pastor and his wife we doing the sermon together. They got to a part where they were discussing Sandra's desire to homeschool her children and the sacrifice she had to make to do so. She talked about all the time she wanted to go to lunch with friends or just go out and do something but she had set her mind to achieving this goal of homeschooling her kids. She said she use to reflect on the part of the bible where Nehemiah was busy building the wall of Jerusalem. Men of the town kept trying to steer him away from his work. He sent messengers to tell the men "I am doing a good work and I cannot come down."

"I am doing a good work and cannot come down." That surely spoke to my heart. I need to stay focused. I need to realize that I am doing a good work and I am close to achieving my goals and I can not take the time to come down right now! Focus, focus, focus!

It hit me hard when my favorite girls and I were trying to plan our annual summer vacation. It just so happens that everyone can go but me. Of course I feel sorry for myself. I don't want to miss out. I need girl time. I need time away. I DESERVE time away! But again, I am doing a good work and I can not come down!!!!

Pictures from Girl's Trip 2009!

Love and Service

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:13-14

I spent last Saturday volunteering with a group of people from my school on a street that was damaged by all the flooding in Nashville. As much devastation as Nashville saw, I was overwhelmed with emotion the entire week. I wasn't emotional from all of the damage, although it is hard to not shed tears when you see what many people lost, but emotional from all of the love, kindness, compassion, and service I witnessed throughout the week. I stood in the Brentwood Starbucks (next to Brentwood United Methodist and REI) where I heard a man speaking with a friend about losing his home and before I could blink 3 complete strangers were offering their homes, assistance, etc. I have seen friend take the week off work to go and clean up houses and tear down drywall and sheet rock. I worked with several classmates where we waded through raw sewage (feces and all) to clean a house so that the family and us could gut it. They lost everything and yet one of the men of the family kept offering to take us out for steaks afterwards. The whole week was an incredible display of what it means to be a Nashvillian. I am so proud to call this place home!! I am posting some pictures of the street were on. I am going back this coming Saturday with my church. Let me know if you want to come along!

This is in Franklin near the Harpeth River across from where the fruit stand use to be setup on the weekends. You can see how high the water was.


My old neighborhood, Cottonwood, was hit really hard by the floods. I drove down Riverwood Drive and could not believe how many houses were affected. It was a beautiful display of community as there were armies of people in each yard helping with clean up efforts.


The streets lined with trash, lumbar, and appliances.


The house that I worked on...


The water was moving so fast it knocked this bus over!!!



It affected all the houses on this street.