Great things to come

I recently worked a 4 day stretch, and now have tonight off - which is a blessing. Our car is finished at the Ford Dealer's and Josh is picking it up as we speak. I have one more night of work, and then we're off to Clearfield/North Carolina. I cannot wait! I will be able to sleep like a normal person for 7 days at least! And not only that, but after I come back I won't be in the admitting department anymore! How exciting! Not that I mind that much anymore that there's somebody working with me on nights... I will miss Debbie. She was a lot of fun to work with. Maybe we can keep in touch. This post is sort of scatter-brained, as i am right now. Mainly what I wanted to say is that there are a lot of great things coming my way in the near future - even the possibility of a Job offer, and I'm SO very thankful for every single one of them. I do pray, that Lord, You would guide us on where we are headed after Josh is finished with school, if anywhere. Please let us make no mistake about where your will for us to be is. and, thank you, God! For all the many many amazing blessings you have given us! We have a wonderful marriage, a quaint little apartment which I have come to love, a loving family - loving friends, a puppy that always makes our lives interesting, food to eat, jobs to keep food on the table, and a faith and desire to know you better. Thank you Lord for all of these things, and many many more. Amen!

Love, Sara

I'm in the middle of a four-day stretch at work, and usually I'm a zombie by now already, but today I feel great. I slept in the AC all day, got paid today, and my wonderful hubby is on his way home to me. All great things. The amazing thing is that we're doing really well with our finances right now - after we just bought a car and have made our first round of loan payments, which is really such a blessing and I know it's God who is providing for us. We've never been this secure before when both Josh and I were working and the normal bills were flowing in and out. I know it's God who is taking care of us, and providing for us. That makes me think that maybe I don't have to be so scared about wanting this day-shift position. Sure, I won't have night differentials, and I'm not really sure if I'm able to work a shift in the float pool, too, but I know that God will provide for us either way, and if I don't get that position, God's hand is still in our lives, at work, always at work. There is much to be thankful for.I have a weekend off to spend with my wonderful husband. We plan to go to the beach tomorrow which will be a lot of fun. I'm thankful that we have so many fun opportunities, and that we have each other to share life together. I'm thankful for the warm weather, and the sunshine. I'm thankful for Rigby - our cute cuddle puppy. I'm thankful for friends blogs' and their experiences - that we can all learn from each other. I'm thankful for my life in general. I'm very blessed. Amen!

Love, Sara

Visitors!

Josh's parents and grandparents are here visiting us for a few days, and so far it's been so much fun! Yesterday we went to Mount Washington, and went up the Cog Rail train instead of driving - let me tell you, that is quite an experience as well! it was a lot of fun, and the top of the mountain was clear as clear could be. I'm thankful that God decided to make such beautiful places in the world. I'm thankful that he took the time to show his love for us in that way, and it should say something about God that people come from miles and miles away to see His creations. I'm working night shift by myself again this weekend, and I've learned my lesson about complaining all the time - I was saying to Josh that it'll be nice to be on my own again so that I have more to do, and I was dead wrong. 1.5 admissions last night, no tomorrow charts, no direct admissions. I'll look at the bright side and say Debbie is so good at keeping me company and keeping me awake! And I'm less likely to cheat on my diet (like Woah!) when she's there. Speaking of diet, currently it's progressing like a disease with remissions and exacerbations. One day I'm really strict and don't eat hardly anything and the next day I go hog wild! God, Please teach me self control, and continue to work in my life. I'm so thankful that our family is here visiting, I'm thankful that Doug took Rigby for a walk so that I don't have to worry about that today, I'm thankful that the weather's so beautiful, I'm thankful that it's already the middle of July and in a few short weeks we will be headed to NC. I'm thankful that after tonight I get a day off, I'm thankful that all of this hard work is not for nothing, and I know my husband is truly grateful for me, and I am in return truly grateful for him. I'm thankful that we have such a wonderful relationship, I'm thankful that Rigby cuddles with me sometimes, I'm thankful that Liz made it safely to England. I'm thankful for all that you do in my life, God, and I pray that you never cease to work on me. Amen!

Love, Sara

4 days back on nightshift and I feel worn again. But there are many things to be thankful for in feeling worn, I'm working for my family - providing for my husband and I. I have someone on nights with me, to keep me awake and to talk to. I'm thankful for the paycheck at the end of the two weeks. I'm thankful that I don't need to pick up a part time job or whatever just to make ends meet. And really, it would be okay if I did have to do that - at least I'm able to work. I'm thankful that I get to have dinner with my husband every night. I'm thankful that we've had so much company this summer so far, and am really looking forward to having Josh's parents stay with us this weekend. I'm thankful that I have Friday and Monday off. I'm thankful that the two day-shift jobs are still posted on the job board, because that means they haven't given them to anyone yet. I'm so very hopeful that I'll get a call within the next week. But if I don't, it's still okay. This time in admitting is temporary, and I can see that - even if it weren't temporary, it would be okay because God's hand is in everything, and as long as God's hand is in it - it is good. I was able to find a schedule that works best for me and that is a blessing. I'm thankful for the blue skies and sunshine. I'm thankful that I got to talk to my dad on the phone last night, I'm thankful that I have such a close relationship with my family. I'm thankful that I have vacation with Josh's family in NC to look forward to, and that we have a reliable car that can get us there. I'm thankful for our health - Josh and my's... I count ourselves lucky that we can walk, and breathe on our own. Not everyone has that luxury. Thank you, Lord for your many marvelous blessings. Amen

Love, Sara

Rigby Kisses

I am thankful for Rigby kisses, and the beautiful warm weather. I'm thankful that we have air conditioning in our bedroom, and I'm thankful that we were able to go to care group last night. I'm thankful for all of the people in our care group that pray for us, and care for us. I'm thankful for our church, that we have been able to get more and more involved with it. I'm thankful for my husband, every day I am thankful for my husband. I'm thankful for the blogs I read that keep me grounded in faith - and for the bible which is my connection to God. I'm thankful that God made the ultimate sacrifice, and sent his only son to die on the cross for my sins. I'm thankful for the empty tomb, as this means that Christ rose again - He is alive. I'm thankful that we have food to eat and a car to drive, I'm thankful that our finances are stable. I'm thankful for the job that I have - it brings in good money and is not stressful. I'm thankful for the opportunity to apply to the D200 Med-surg unit. I'm thankful for my boss's understanding and her willingness to help me out. I'm thankful for the sound of birds chirping, and the cool breez that drifts through the open windows. I'm thankful for my little family, and the beautiful apartment that we have - and for our wonderful landlords. I'm thankful that I still get excited to see Josh when he comes home from work. I'm thankful for all of these things, and many many more things. Amen!

Love, Sara

"Negative Nancy"

I was looking at self-help books last night to aid in positive thinking, because I feel that I'm negative more often than not. I do get my hopes up internally for things, like job prosects and the like, and then when/if it doesn't work out I'm always really crushed. I think I've always sort of been that way, because if I don't get all excited about something and it doesn't work out, no big deal. If it ends up working out - well then it's an extra little surprise perk. I gather, from others and in my little reflective experience that it is much better to remain positive more often than not, and not to be negative most of the time and have a little surprise perk every once in a while. This blog started so that I could start seeing the little things in life to be thankful for, so that I would savor every moment of this life and not get so negative. I believe that it worked for a little while, but I would like to keep making progress, and I can't say that I feel like I am doing that at the moment. So, here's to a fresh start - I am thankful that it's already 4:45am, and that I get to go home and sleep in 2 hours and some odd minutes. I'm thankful for our new car that is state inspected and keeps us safe. I am thankful for my (and Josh's) health, and our finances - the fact that we don't feel like we're drowning in debt right now. I'm thankful for my job. I get paid very well, and it's not a miserable job. I'm thankful that Rigby hasn't started chewing on things until now, and I'm thankful that our landlords are so awesome. I'm thankful that I was successful in losing weight on my diet, and I'm thankful that we have a vacation to the beach to look forward to so soon. I'm thankful that our anniversary is just around the corner, because that means I've been married to my best friend, my love, my partner for life for almost a year! Isn't that crazy? Wow, God has been so good to me. Thank you Lord!! Amen

Love, Sara

Thankful through the good times and bad

I apologize for my absence. I would attribute it to working night shift, as I attribute everything to that, but realistically, it's probably just laziness. It' been busy here at the Brown household. We had my brother and his fiance' up which was tons of fun, then we had Ned and Hannah Kimmel with baby Jack come and spend a few days with us. Soon Josh's parents will be coming to spend some time with us too! I'm so excited to have all of these people spend time with us - it was rather lonely up here for a while, and still is when everybody goes back home. Other business - josh and I bought our first car together, we get to pick it up on Thursday (hopefully) and we're so excited! I've been applying for jobs left and right and sadly it feels as though no progress has been made since December and January, trying to find a job. I feel more and more as though there is a purpose for me being there. I've prayed time and time again to leave and get a different job, that I feel exhausted and worn thin - but God has not moved me from this place, so I can only assume there is a reason for it. I have to learn, also, to thank God in the good times and bad. That it's not all about what's pleasing and beneficial to me, it's about what's pleasing and beneficial to God. So, Thank you Lord, for all you have provided for us - for this job that brings in money so that we can pay our bills and live a comfortable lifestyle. I pray that you would provide me with energy, and that I would change my attitude and have an optomistic view of this situation. I pray that you would remind me what is important in life - not the luxuries, or things of this world, but the love you instill in me, and my faith. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Love, Sara