Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Dallas Zoo, June 28, 2008
Dallas Zoo was my first adventure, and I picked a rather hot day to go! I didn't get to see a lot of the animals, and most of the ones I saw were in the shade panting. Below are a few of the pics I took.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Three Months Review
WOW! It's hard to believe that it's been 3 months since my last post. I can remem
ber at the time I last posted, I was so ready to get home to rest and visit and move to Dallas. So ready, in fact, that I drove just shy of 800 miles (14 hours) in one day in my completely loaded down Honda. I don't know if it was insanity or pure readiness to be back home; probably a little of each. Whatever it was, I spent the next two weeks sleeping and avoiding anything with four wheels.
I must admit it was difficult leaving Mississippi, even though I was very excited about Dallas. I take great pride in where I come
from, and I will always be a Mississippi girl; it's where my family is and where my heart is. I took these pics as I was passing through Vicksburg. I can remember passing through here as a child on the way to Monroe. Coy and I called it the "Green Bean" bridge. Please don't ask why because I really haven't the foggiest idea; all I remember is that it was always the highlight of our trip, and I have always found this part of the Mississippi River to be quite beautiful, minus the casinos. I stopped in West Monroe Thursday night and spent the night woth Aunt Becky and Uncle Jerry, and had a wonderful visit! Then it was of to the Big D.....
I made it to Dallas June 20, and started my first day at Children's Medical Center on June 23.
As you can see, Children's is to the left, and the Dallas skyline is below (I wasn't driving...I was riding with Bailey!) As cool as it looks, give me some pine trees and field on a beautiful spring day or the mountains and I'm happy...I guess some things never change. Once a coutry girl, always a country girl!
I have had the opportunity to do things here that I wouldn't do in MS, so that has been nice! I must admit there are times I regret signing a 6 month contract here, but I know the Lord brought me here for a reason, and I have to trust in Him that His plan for my life is perfect, though different from the one I made. Daily I am more and more convicted of my sinfullness. I really struggle with some of the things that I see, and sometimes it's really hard not to question why these things happen. I go back and forth thinking maybe I need to change specialties, maybe I need to take a break from nursing, maybe I need something lower key, or maybe I need a normal schedule so I'm not so tired/emotional. It's not that I can't handle my job or that I can't function, I think sometimes I just want to run away from the pain and suffering. I think one of the hardest things is not being able to really talk about it (privacy violations), and the hardest for me is not being involved in a church. I grew up in church, and was always active in mission trips, teaching/attending Sunday school or Wednesday night fellowship, regularly attending both Sunday services, etc. Not to mention, in college I was active in RUF and Twin Lakes, so I was very sheltered from the world and pain in it. It's hard to be a part of something so great one minute and the next feel as though you are cast from it because of your job. But, something good has come about over the past couple of years. I have felt very alone and apart from the world, but during this time I have come to rely more on God and His grace. I have also come to realize how horrible my true sinful nature really is, which makes grace seem so much sweeter! ("How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" is one of my favorite songs!)
I guess this last verse of a hymn sang on Sunday best sums up my thoughts at the moment:
"No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; from life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand!"
Praise be the name of Jesus!
ber at the time I last posted, I was so ready to get home to rest and visit and move to Dallas. So ready, in fact, that I drove just shy of 800 miles (14 hours) in one day in my completely loaded down Honda. I don't know if it was insanity or pure readiness to be back home; probably a little of each. Whatever it was, I spent the next two weeks sleeping and avoiding anything with four wheels.I must admit it was difficult leaving Mississippi, even though I was very excited about Dallas. I take great pride in where I come
from, and I will always be a Mississippi girl; it's where my family is and where my heart is. I took these pics as I was passing through Vicksburg. I can remember passing through here as a child on the way to Monroe. Coy and I called it the "Green Bean" bridge. Please don't ask why because I really haven't the foggiest idea; all I remember is that it was always the highlight of our trip, and I have always found this part of the Mississippi River to be quite beautiful, minus the casinos. I stopped in West Monroe Thursday night and spent the night woth Aunt Becky and Uncle Jerry, and had a wonderful visit! Then it was of to the Big D.....I made it to Dallas June 20, and started my first day at Children's Medical Center on June 23.
As you can see, Children's is to the left, and the Dallas skyline is below (I wasn't driving...I was riding with Bailey!) As cool as it looks, give me some pine trees and field on a beautiful spring day or the mountains and I'm happy...I guess some things never change. Once a coutry girl, always a country girl!I have had the opportunity to do things here that I wouldn't do in MS, so that has been nice! I must admit there are times I regret signing a 6 month contract here, but I know the Lord brought me here for a reason, and I have to trust in Him that His plan for my life is perfect, though different from the one I made. Daily I am more and more convicted of my sinfullness. I really struggle with some of the things that I see, and sometimes it's really hard not to question why these things happen. I go back and forth thinking maybe I need to change specialties, maybe I need to take a break from nursing, maybe I need something lower key, or maybe I need a normal schedule so I'm not so tired/emotional. It's not that I can't handle my job or that I can't function, I think sometimes I just want to run away from the pain and suffering. I think one of the hardest things is not being able to really talk about it (privacy violations), and the hardest for me is not being involved in a church. I grew up in church, and was always active in mission trips, teaching/attending Sunday school or Wednesday night fellowship, regularly attending both Sunday services, etc. Not to mention, in college I was active in RUF and Twin Lakes, so I was very sheltered from the world and pain in it. It's hard to be a part of something so great one minute and the next feel as though you are cast from it because of your job. But, something good has come about over the past couple of years. I have felt very alone and apart from the world, but during this time I have come to rely more on God and His grace. I have also come to realize how horrible my true sinful nature really is, which makes grace seem so much sweeter! ("How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" is one of my favorite songs!)
I guess this last verse of a hymn sang on Sunday best sums up my thoughts at the moment:
"No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; from life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand!"
Praise be the name of Jesus!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
A Sunday Day on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park
Well, it was a wonderful Sunday in Virginia! After kind of a crazy sleep schedule, I woke up about noon, and then left for Skyline Drive, a 105 mile scenic roadway in Shenandoah National Park.
I left my apartment around 1:30pm, and arrived to the park entrance around 2pm. I reached the end of the 105 miles around 7pm, and then drove back, finishing around 9:45pm, and then back at my apartment around 10:15pm. So, I had a nice time in my car today exploring and making stops, and, of course, taking a LOT of pictures!
On Friday and Saturday, in between sleeping, I made a couple of mixed CDs to listen to for the big drive back to Mississippi, so I brought them along. The first and last portions of my trip were spent listening to a Christian mix, mostly old hymns, which are my favorite! It was so amazing to see the splendor of God's creation while listening to songs such as "How Great Thou Art."
"Some of my Favorite Christian Songs CD"1. "Power in the Blood" -- Shane and Shane
2. "Blessed Assurance" -- Alan Jackson
3. "Softly and Tenderly" -- Alan Jackson
4. "I Love to Tell the Story" -- Alan Jackson
5. "Lifesong" -- Casting Crowns
6. "The Old Rugged Cross" -- Brad Paisley
7. "When We All Get to Heaven" -- Alan Jackson
8. "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus: -- Jackson
9. "I Want to Know You" -- Sonic Flood
10. "In the Garden" -- A. Jackson
11. "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" -- Casting Crowns
12. "Are You Washed in the Blood?" -- A. Jackson
13. "I'll Fly Away" -- A. Jackson
14. "O Worship the King" -- Shane and Shane
15. "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" -- A. Jackson
16. "Standing on the Promises" -- A. Jackson
17. "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" -- A. Jackson
18. "When I Get Where I'm Going" -- B. Paisley and Dolly Parton
19. "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" – A. Jackson
20. "The Old Rugged Cross" -- A. Jackson
21. "Before the Throne" -- Shane and Shane
22. "How Great Thou Art" -- A. Jackson
23. "I Want to Stroll Over Heaven With You" -- A. Jackson
24. "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" -- Patsy Cline 25. "Blessed Assurance" -- Shane and Shane
26. "These Thousand Hills" -- Third Day
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Unusual Situations
It seems like I find myself right in the middle of messes a lot. I don't know if I am creating them, if I am adding to them, or they just find me. I was in quite the unusual situation around 11pm (I'm at work), and because I was in a shared room (there were two patients in one room), and because everyone was rightfully sleeping (except me), I couldn't laugh out loud. But, even now, I am having to suppress my laughter. It's definately not a story I would be allowed to tell at the supper table, but it's one I will not soon forget. If you are really wanting to know what happened, you will just have to ask. It's probably not something I will write down, because if I do I can't later deny it if it's writing, and I am sure I will one day want to deny this.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monticello
Well, today was an absolutely beautiful day, so I decided to take an excursion and visit Thomas Jefferson's house at Monticello. When I got there and purchased my ticket, I had the option of taking the shuttle bus to the house/grounds, or I could take the 0.6 mile hike up the mountain. I decided that was not a long walk, and I would love the fresh air. That was one of the reasons I decided to go today! Maybe I need to reiterate the up the mountain. Yes, 6/10 of a mile is nothing, but wow, I must be really out of shape! I must admit I felt wonderful after that little hike! Well, anyway, I have purchased my ticket around 2:15, and my tour of the house started at 3:00. I got to the grounds in maybe 15 minutes, so I have plenty of time to wander and take pictures. Then, I realized I had no idea where I was supposed to be for this tour....the back of the house or the front...and it didn't help that I thought the front was the back and the back the front, and there were so many people there. Hmm...I even asked some older people, but I don't think they knew either, so I did find out where eventually, but I was too late, so I didn't see the inside. Below is my tour group I missed...
I wasn't bummed about missing my group; instead, I decided to just roam the grounds. I got a little caught up in the scenery, that I found myself walking down a road to I didn't know where, then ended up in a parking lot. So, I continued through, enjoying the beautiful day, a
nd came out in the gardens. I looked back and saw this sign:
I wasn't bummed about missing my group; instead, I decided to just roam the grounds. I got a little caught up in the scenery, that I found myself walking down a road to I didn't know where, then ended up in a parking lot. So, I continued through, enjoying the beautiful day, a
nd came out in the gardens. I looked back and saw this sign:Oops...So, thankfully I didn't get caught by somehow wandering into what I figured was obviously staff parking. I did get to see some pretty scenery in the parking lot!
Here are some other pics from my excursion:
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