Stephanie Comes to the Great Pacific Northwest

A few weeks ago The Best, Stephanie, came up for a much needed visit. Portland was on the agenda.  Naomi graciously offered to be our host. Two Bests in the same weekend. I was in heaven! When Keeno arrived, we stopped at the house to introduce her to A and E and stopped and Mom and Dad's so she could hug Mama Labberton and then off to Portland we went. 

It was so nice to be able to talk in person, face to face, shoulder to shoulder. It felt so refreshing to be able to really get into deep conversation and hash this life, this journey, out. Just being in the car together for hours was dreamy. I know how silly it sounds, but just the opportunity to sit and talk with this lady is a gift. It felt good to discuss what we are hoping, fearing, dreaming, feeling limited by. We always talk about all of these things, but to be able to share them in person with no limits on our time was the best.

We had all kinds of fun. We laughed. A lot. We shopped, drank more coffee than was probably safe, people watched, ate amazing meals, almost got knived, saw a man's bare butt donning only a thong and chaps. We explored Saturday Market, enjoyed the view from Naomi's house, savored the rain, took the bus like natives, got to worship together, found the cutest parking garage ever, drank delicious brews and simply enjoyed togetherness. It was lovely. 

...

Right off the plane! SO excited.

Mother's Bistro. Amen.

Nomes and I. 

Rain coats in full effect.

Bussin' it, like a boss.

Getting me addicted to cappuccinos...

Amazing desserts.

More cappuccino. 

Morning faces.

Shopping success.

We also did a little wine tasting. There will be another post on that. 

...

Bible Hoarder

When I dropped her off at the airport yesterday I was bummed. The Best was gone, back on her way to California. And then I got home and discovered she'd left me a sneaky little gift. She knew that I had wanted the thin line ESV, because, well,  I'm a Bible hoarder. Out of all things one could hoard I figure this is least harmful...I could hoard cats, or knives, or booze. Me, I hoard Bibles. Anyway, I was going to buy this one at Powell's and she jumped in and bought it for me because this is how we do birthday's. Fun, huh? What I didn't immediately know was that this is the EXACT Bible that she has. Be still, my Bible hoarding heart. She also wrote a personal inscription in it for me. Of which she wrote I cannot tell you because I cannot even think about reading it without tears springing to my eyes. This is a gift that I will surely treasure. And the coffee. Well. Come on.
There will be a post soon about all of our shenanigans while she was here. Naomi and Josh were our gracious hosts for a weekend in Portland. We tasted local wine. Discovered lots of delicious restaurants and indulged in lots and lots of girl talk.
As I said, dropping her off sucked. Sucked hard. But it was a relief knowing that I was sending her off to a home that she loves and where she is loved. It is a blessing to end a vacation weekend both returning to a life where we feel richly blessed. Coming home to a hot Husband didn't hurt so bad either. I didn't hate it ;)

Cue me bawling like a little girl. 

Weekend Recap

My friend Abby let me borrow her camera lens this weekend and I had the best time playing around with it. Thanks Abby! I took pictures of anything and everything. Hence: the photo of the suma mandarin. Have you tried these things? I hate oranges but these babies... delicious!

I also tried out a new cookie recipe via Mel's Kitchen Cafe blog, you can find the recipe here!

E-man helped Campbell with his brackets. Also, is there anything sexier than a wedding ring? I think not.

Although I'm a close second, Everett wins the award for best napper in the house. 

And now, the rest of the weekend brought to you via my iPhone:

Watched the Zags lose. so rough.

New nails. 

Tried out the Train of Four on ourselves in ICU training. Train of Four =  shocks. 

Date night with Hubs. 

Had a serious convo with these two. 

Embraced day 2 hair.

Got beat to bed by this little lady.

Was disgusted by day 3 hair. 

Made popcorn for dinner. Yes, for dinner. 

Coffee at my favorite new coffee house with two good friends.

We also had dinner at my in-laws which involved teaching them a new game, it was a ton of fun and somehow I managed to get zero photos. We also attended a great church service. Have you heard this song yet??? Check it out here: Man of Sorrows.

"The good news of the Bible is that God is not at all disinclined to satisfy the hearts of those who hope in Him." 

-John Piper

(There is that hope, that one little word, popping up again!)

Ramblings of a nurse and {P52: 6 & 7}

Project 52: To get one picture a week. This has now turned into a lesson in forgiveness of self and realizing my limits and not being too self-critical. This equals: new goal.

Time to admit that some weeks there are no pictures taken, none, zero, zilch. Some weeks I run around like a chicken with my head cut off only to fall face first into bed exhausted, worn out, emotionally drained and wondering why in the world I ever thought nursing would be a good idea! Yes, there have been some hard days at the hospital lately. Hard days that make me realize more than ever that being a nurse is what ever fiber of my being was made to do. It was who God has called me to be. These same days have also left me wondering if I am strong enough. 

Am I strong enough to the hold the hands that are taking the last breaths? 

Am I strong enough to be a witness in those times? 

In those moments as I quietly pray for their soul? 

To fight back the tears as I am helping them to breathe? 

All while praying that this may be their last peaceful breath? 

Wondering if I should have done more?

Or possibly less?

Who am I to be at that bedside?

To go home with the memories of them heavy on my heart? 

To hug my parents extra hard just in case?

Now that we got the career/calling discussion handled, we can move on!

I still want to be pushing myself towards using the camera more and not give up completely just because not all pictures fall on the right week, or are taken at the right time. Whatever "the right" time is! So, 52 pictures will be taken, edited and posted. Moments will be documented. Maybe not all in the correct week, there may be many in one week and none in another, but nonetheless, they will be. 

P52: 6

A hike with Avery and Husband. 

P52: 7

A new study with Stephanie. 

"The climax of God's happiness

 is the delight He takes

 in the echoes of His excellence

 in the praises of His people. "

John Piper

{HOPE}

One little word.

I kept seeing this idea popping up on several of the blogs that I read. And then, I realized that one of my favorite bloggers and authors (and a woman who has a huge heart for Christ) also used "one little word" to name her years. See more about her words here. Maybe while scouring her blog you'll decide to name 1000 Gifts along with me too, but that is a different post, more on that later.

When moving into the new year, the fresh, shiny, pregnant with opportunity 2013, I knew that I wanted a word from which to base my perspective. I wanted a ground zero with which to calibrate my thoughts for one entire year. I thought my word would be TRUST, I also knew that I wanted my word to be something that was not just a true north for my perspective, but also a word that was constantly refocusing me on Christ and His will for my year in 2013. I am all for a method that will will keep me focused on the positive and seeing the good, however, if it is not ultimately pointing me to Jesus then is not the positivity in vain? For only my own "feel good"?

As I prayed about the coming year in the familiar, weary, short, dark days of 2012 I realized that God wanted more from me for this coming year than just TRUST. I was already trusting, but more in an obligatory way and with an admittedly skeptical heart at times. Instead of just trusting, I realized that He wanted me to be trusting with enthusiasm, excitement and assurance that what He promises will come to be, that He really is working out the very best path for my life. So, HOPE was born. 

This verse was laid on my heart twice in a 24 hour period while I was praying and preparing for 2013. Often I feel like God must laugh at how blunt He has to be with me. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a HOPE and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, (emphasis mine)

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