Good News!

Hi friends!

It's been an exciting couple of weeks at my house, which is why I've been MIA.  It started last Monday when I took my RN licensing exam (talk about nerve-wracking!).  I found out Tuesday morning that I passed (YAY!) and officially became a licensed registered nurse in the state of Florida...woo-hoo!!!  Next step: get a job.  As it turns out, the day I took my exam a position came open on the exact floor I wanted to work on at the hospital where I did my internship.  I applied for the position on Tuesday and got a call to schedule an interview on Thursday.  I interviewed Monday (that's right, one week after taking my exam I was interviewing for a job!) and was "unofficially" offered the position.  I was called yesterday with the "official" offer!!  I have a job!!!!! :o)

I am so excited, lucky, and totally BLESSED to be able to start my nursing career exactly where I wanted to start it.  My dream is to one day work in Open Heart Recovery, caring for patients immediately after they have had open-heart surgery.  This job is working with open-heart surgery patients after they are stable enough to leave the ICU recovery area.  It's the best place for me to be to get the experience required to move into the Recovery Unit.  It's totally a God thing that I'm able to start here and I'm so thankful to Him for blessing me!!

If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking around!  I've also been a little crafty.  I'm hoping to open an Etsy shop to sell my papercrafts and crochet goodies, so I've been working on some samples to list.  Here's a peek...

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my good news with you! :o)

A Christmas Surprise from Africa

My hubby and I sponsor two children in Africa through World Vision, Esnart in Zambia and Carilus in Kenya.  In addition to sending letters and little packages to your sponsored child, World Vision also allows you to give monetary donations (in addition to your monthly sponsorship pledge) directly to your child and their family.  World Vision staff who work where the child lives then take the child and family shopping for things they need.  You, the sponsor, then get a letter from your child along with a picture of what all was purchased! So cool!

Anywho, in mid-November I sent both kids an extra donation as a Christmas gift.  World Vision says to allow up to 4 months to receive the thank-you letter and picture (I know, 4 months sounds like a long time, but there are no Walmarts in Africa!).  Well, imagine my surprise when I opened the mailbox Christmas afternoon and saw a blue Air Mail envelope from Zambia!  I thought maybe it was just a letter (Esnart likes to keep us updated on the latest goings on in her family...we get lots of letters from her), but no, it was a thank-you letter with this picture attached:

This is my sweet Esnart with the items she and her family purchased with their Christmas money.  They bought two large bags of fertilizer for their family crops, a blanket, a pair of new shoes, and a new school uniform for Esnart.

To make a long story short, I had to miss our family Christmas dinner because I was sick.  I was sitting home alone feeling quite sorry for myself until I opened this letter.  I had to stop and think about what life must be like if fertilizer and a new school uniform can put such a big smile on a little girl's face.  That sweet smile was the best present I received this Christmas! :o)

Here's a picture of our precious Carilus (he must not have been in a picture taking mood...he really does have the cutest smile).  I can't wait to see what he and his family purchased on their shopping trip!

For more info on World Vision and sponsorship, click on the World Vision badge on the right! :o)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  May your day be blessed with family and love. :o)

Moon Viewin'

Did you watch the lunar eclipse Tuesday morning? If you didn't, you missed a great show!  Since my hubby is off work this week and I don't work (Yay, for being a full time student on Christmas break!), we decided to watch the free show God provided.  At 1:30am, we bundled up (it was COLD for North Florida!), dug out some blankets, made some hot chocolate, and lit a small fire in our backyard to watch the eclipse.  Here are a few pictures of our fun!