In exactly 6 months I will be a WIFE! Oh my goodness I'm so excited! I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by! I feel like Kyle has been a part of my life forever, but at the same time it seems like we just started dating yesterday. I am so blessed!
I am so thankful to have a fiancée who cares more about our marriage than a wedding. We have spent more time reading and talking about our future marriage than the actual wedding. This has made me even more excited to get married. A wedding lasts one day, but a marriage lasts a lifetime. I am also so thankful that he is willing to read all of these books with me! Kyle has been so patient with me and has helped me become a better person and therefore a stronger couple. I know we will make it through anything together!! God's love for us is overflowing and we can feel it in our lives! I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!!!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
God's Grace
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are NEW EVERY MORNING;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
While driving to work at 5:45 Monday morning I was awe struck by the power of our God. The sunrise seems to remind me daily of the great love he has for us! Each time I glanced at that amazingly pink and blue sky I kept hearing this Bible verse over and over in my head. His mercies are new every morning. What a humbling thought that is! Who are we that God would choose to love us each day and give us a second chance daily?? Our God is wonderful.
I've been struggling lately with grace. I can't seem to wrap my mind around something as wonderful as God's grace. I have been given so much over the last few years that I feel guilty. I have been blessed with the most amazing fiancée in the world. If I could have created the perfect man Kyle would have exceeded all of my expectations. He is more than I deserve and I am eternally grateful that we were brought together. I know God has amazing plans for us as a couple! Besides my wonderful Kyle I have an amazing family and a career that I adore! I stand in awe with all God has blessed me with lately.
My only hope is that every sunrise is as beautiful as they have been this week. They not only remind me of the amazing grace we have been given, but they allow me to slow down, if only for a moment, and see the beauty of God's creations on Earth.
Monday, February 28, 2011
First week of preceptorship
When I began my journey as a nursing student my only goal was to one day be a nurse in an oncology unit. When my dad had cancer his nurses were amazing. They made that difficult time for us much easier because we were confident that he was in good hands. That overwhelming feeling was what made me want to be an oncology nurse. I knew that if those sweet women could give our family that peace, then I too could give that peace to another family. God continued to prepare my heart for oncology nursing my entire time at Auburn. Whether it was going to clinicals at the Hospice facility, or having 3 patients with a terminal illness in one day he prepared me. He continues to bless me daily with the reminder that this life is not all that we are promised.
Last week I started my preceptorship on the oncology unit at Huntsville Hospital. My preceptor is amazing! I feel right at home on that floor and I am confident that I am where God has hand picked for me to be. Before going to preceptorship I had this fear that the oncology floor would be somber and quiet all the time. It is anything but!! These patients are exactly who I need in my life. Even with terminal illnesses or chemo running through their veins they are by far the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. It has been my personal observation that patients who don't have many days left to live are the ones who find the most to live for. They realize how precious time is and they take nothing for granted. Their hope and smiles keep me wanting to go back every single day. I can't even begin to describe the feeling I get when I walk into a sweet older mans room and see him laughing with his wife and grown daughter. My patients have all found so much joy in the day to day tasks!
One evening it was time to change the IV site of one patient. He is known for having difficult veins because of all the treatments he has been receiving. This did not stop my preceptor from letting me try to get a good vein. She had full confidence that I could do it. This particular patient was hard of hearing as well so explaining the procedure was not an easy task. The first try was unfortunately a failure. I got the vein but then as we were flushing the line the vein blew. So try try again. After many minutes of searching for another vein that would work we found one that was ok. It was not my first choice, but my preceptor said to try it so I did. The same thing happened again and I blew the vein after inserting the IV catheter. I was a bit flustered at my lack of skills for the moment. I knew I had done the best I possibly could have, but as a nurse nothing makes you feel dumber than blowing a vein. My preceptor stepped out of the room for a minute to answer a page from the doctor and left me alone in the room with the patient and his sweet family. I was standing there trying to tell myself that I'll get it next time when my sweet patient said, "Jessica don't be sad you couldn't get the IV. The most important thing is that you tried, so just keep trying." It's moments like those when I know I'm in the right profession. I wanted to hug him!! He and his wife were just so encouraging!! I am so blessed by my patients.
Last week I started my preceptorship on the oncology unit at Huntsville Hospital. My preceptor is amazing! I feel right at home on that floor and I am confident that I am where God has hand picked for me to be. Before going to preceptorship I had this fear that the oncology floor would be somber and quiet all the time. It is anything but!! These patients are exactly who I need in my life. Even with terminal illnesses or chemo running through their veins they are by far the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. It has been my personal observation that patients who don't have many days left to live are the ones who find the most to live for. They realize how precious time is and they take nothing for granted. Their hope and smiles keep me wanting to go back every single day. I can't even begin to describe the feeling I get when I walk into a sweet older mans room and see him laughing with his wife and grown daughter. My patients have all found so much joy in the day to day tasks!
One evening it was time to change the IV site of one patient. He is known for having difficult veins because of all the treatments he has been receiving. This did not stop my preceptor from letting me try to get a good vein. She had full confidence that I could do it. This particular patient was hard of hearing as well so explaining the procedure was not an easy task. The first try was unfortunately a failure. I got the vein but then as we were flushing the line the vein blew. So try try again. After many minutes of searching for another vein that would work we found one that was ok. It was not my first choice, but my preceptor said to try it so I did. The same thing happened again and I blew the vein after inserting the IV catheter. I was a bit flustered at my lack of skills for the moment. I knew I had done the best I possibly could have, but as a nurse nothing makes you feel dumber than blowing a vein. My preceptor stepped out of the room for a minute to answer a page from the doctor and left me alone in the room with the patient and his sweet family. I was standing there trying to tell myself that I'll get it next time when my sweet patient said, "Jessica don't be sad you couldn't get the IV. The most important thing is that you tried, so just keep trying." It's moments like those when I know I'm in the right profession. I wanted to hug him!! He and his wife were just so encouraging!! I am so blessed by my patients.
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