Where I am

In 2010 when I started Nurse Practitioner school, I imagined in October of 2012, I'd be settled into an amazing NP job in family practice, or ideally in pediatrics, in the Jackson area.  Even in August, September, October 2011, this was the goal I was working toward.  As my job search continued & job opportunities were looking slim, I decided that I was supposed to move back home & work in that area.

  So, I started seeing myself working in Meridian or the surrounding area, still in family practice with hopes of pediatrics.  The job search continued...with flashes of promising ideas here & there that always fell through.  By this point I was so confused.  Maybe what I had planned all along had been completely wrong, maybe I'm supposed to be somewhere else in the state of MS or maybe a different state entirely.

So, grudgingly, I began searching for jobs all over MS and even in other southwestern states.  Finally at the end of August 2012 I had a VERY promising option back towards the Jackson, MS area in PEDIATRICS....and then kind of out of the blue it, too, fell through.  I was very heartbroken & discouraged.

 And then one day, shortly after that I was looking on craigslist (of all places), under their job page for Meridian where I found an ad for a NP with an interest in dermatology.  Not that I was particularly interested in dermatology, but I wanted to explore ALL my options.  I sent my resume in & I got an interview with the doctor & she basically gave me the job right there.  As I'm starting to learn more about dermatology, the more I'm interested.

 So now in October 2012, I am just starting my first NP job in the Meridian area, in dermatology.  And now I can see, that even though I'm nowhere near where I thought I'd be...I'm exactly where God had planned for me!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL??

I am a HUGE football fan.  Not the biggest one out there, but I'm up there.  So why not write about football?  I spend my Sunday afternoons glued to the TV typically watching one of my many teams.  Sometimes Saturdays too, depending what games are on.  I'm not going to analyze teams or games or anything, don't worry.

I guess my love for football started when I was 10.  My older sister was in the high school band so we went to the games every week to watch her & as I was sitting there with my daddy, who was really into the games, I began to watch with him and ask him questions about the game.  By the time she graduated, I was in high school & in the band.  I was one of the only Color Guard girls who sat and intensely watched the games.  In high school, I started watching more & more college football & NFL.  Now, I'm completely addicted!

On Saturdays, if the MSU (Mississippi State University) game is televised I do what I can to arrange to be home so I can watch it.  And Sundays after I get home from church, I turn on the games and pretty much settle in for a complete evening of football; watching the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, & the Denver Broncos. Sometimes I watch the New York Jets...but I'm really waiting for them to start Tebow before I watch!

Working!

Yesterday was the first day I actually did any training for my new job.  It was only for a few hours, but I am so thankful it was because I was still so overwhelmed by it all!  There is so much to learn, but I'm really excited about some of the things I'll be able to do once I'm all trained.  Right now, it still hasn't really sank in that I'm really & truly employed again. That I'm actually going to be getting a paycheck at the end of this month.  SO EXCITING!   I've been waiting for this for so long, I truly appreciate being employed & I hope that this has taught me to never take that for granted!  Short post, I know.

Creativity

I have always been the kind of person that would much rather buy a gift for a baby shower or wedding shower that shows a lot of thought.  Like something I made or a gift basket that is personalized for that person.   And when money is tight, those kinds of gifts aren't just fun, they become even more practical because typically you can get away with doing them for much less than buying a gift.  

So today, I thought I'd share a couple of things that I've made for myself or for others.  

Scrabble tile coasters.  I made these for my sister who just got married a couple of weeks ago.  Her last name is now Webb, so I worked that into each one. 

Change jar I made for my sister for Christmas.

Jewelry holder I made for myself out of a block of wood.  

This sign was at the door of the church when my sister got married.  

T-shirts I made for my sister and her new hubby!  

In Him, I have hope

I was doing my Bible study this morning in 1 Peter, and one passage really stuck out to me.  It was 1 Peter 3:15-17, which says, "But in your hearts revere Jesus Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

As Christians, we are called to always be ready to share Christ with others; to share what He has done in our lives. To tell others why we always have hope in Him. But, we shouldn't do this in judgment or condemnation. By that I mean the "turn or burn" theory of bringing salvation to others.  All that does is attempt to "scare" people into believing in God.  A true relationship with God doesn't involve fear.  It revolves around love.  His love for us; our love for others. For that reason, we should share His love with love. 

In today's world, Christians are stereotyped as judgmental & hypocritical. These two things should never truly describe a follower of Christ, because after all; He was neither. And isn't our goal to be Christlike?  He never threatened people with Hell to get them to believe in Him; He loved them, plain and simple. 

Wait

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

The past year has been extremely difficult for me.  All this time, this verse played a big part in my life.  God has provided for me, now, in an amazing way; in a way I never thought possible.  Last October, I was finished with school & planning on taking my certification for FNP.  I never foresaw a year-long search for a job.  I never imagined I'd be working in dermatology; a field not many nurse practitioners (around here) get the privilege of working in.  

During the past year, I got discouraged...A LOT.  It began to feel like finding a job was hopeless. Things would come up that would seem to be promising, and then like that it would fall through.  Even when this job came up, I was afraid to get my hopes up.  

God used Psalm 27:14 to speak to me numerous times during this past year.  I am stubborn and it took a while for me to get what he was saying.  It takes the most strength to wait for Him to do His will.  I wasn't being strong when I was anxious about money or about a job falling through, or not getting a phone call that I was hoping for.  When I was trying to do it for myself, I was at my weakest.   When I reached the bottom of what I could do, He was there to carry me to the wonderful plan He had for me all along.  Not that I'm saying that I've arrived now & I don't need Him anymore.  I need Him now more than EVER! He is the only reason I'm where I am.  

Praise God.  If you are going through a difficult time, remember, He's still there, waiting...sometimes we have to wait for Him.  His timing is always better than ours.  

AT LAST

So, I've joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge for the month of October.  I hope I can keep up with it! It's actually kind of perfect because I'm starting a new chapter in my life.  One that I've been waiting for for a LONG time.  I started my new job today!  My first job as a Nurse Practitioner.  The bad part is that I have to do my training 4 hours from home.  Really not fun for a home body like me.  The doctor was nice enough to open her home to me during the few months I am going to be training, though...but in some ways that made the anxiety worse.  Until I actually got there, that is.  Now, I'm totally relaxed about my housing arrangement, now I can start stressing about the important stuff...learning all this DERMATOLOGY!

Now, about my first day.

Shortened version:
Sprained ankle. Paperwork. Bad News. Driving all the way home.

Extended version:
I think I am the only person who can sprain their ankle on the first day of their new job, before they even leave for work by simply walking down some stairs.  Yep, just walking down the stairs & I came down on my ankle and twisted it, leaving me with a self-diagnosed grade 1 sprain.  It's not too terrible, I'm still able to walk on it.  What a way to start the day!

But then I spend the day doing all sorts of fun paperwork, getting everything lined up.  Applying for my nursing license in Louisiana since I'm going to be training down there, signing my contract, applying for malpractice insurance, etc.  There is SO much that goes into it.  And then I find out, I can't actually start training until I get my license.  So now I'm in limbo.  Good news is though that I get to come back home, but I've got to start studying!  :)

I'm excited about this blog challenge, getting to explore my first month of this new part of my life through blogging...hope it interests y'all!