Do Good Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

it's been too long...

Hi, all! Believe it or not, I'm still here! I have been unbelievably busy with nursing school. Pretty much, when I'm not studying, I'm too busy relaxing to blog. I miss you guys though! School has been pretty eventful, and I have a lot to tell you about, but it unfortunately won't be tonight. I have way too much studying to do. I have my next big exam on Friday--the 3rd one so far. I can't even believe that the semester is like half over already. I will be finished with school before I know it! I can't believe it has gone so quickly. I also can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged. If anyone actually enjoys reading my posts, then you have my utmost apologies for not posting! I am going to try to start back with atleast once a week. There may be more narrative than craft, but I will try to share some projects I'm working on, too.

I hope everyone is doing well! I promise to check in with more soon! (I will tell you all about my first time giving an injection, which was today, and was so great! There were no tears shed by me or my patient, so I think that was a success!...Maybe because I didn't tell her I was an injection virgin;) haha!)

Be back soon!

GTKY: 9.8.10

1. Do you like seafood?
I don't really like seafood that much. I like fried fish and popcorn shrimp. Basically, I like fish that doesn't taste like fish.

2. Are mermaids hot?
I think, in real life, mermaids would be super creepy, so no. I don't think mermaids are hot.

3. Have you swam in the ocean?
Swam? Is that correct? Swum? Yea, I guess it's swam. Yes, I love swimming in the ocean! The beach is my favorite place to vacation.

4. If you got stung by a jellyfish, would you let a stranger pee on you?
I wouldn't be at the beach alone. If I was, I doubt I could talk a stranger into peeing on me anyway. But yea, if I was in pain, go for it. Still gross.

5. Have you ever pee'd in the ocean?
Yes I have. Many times. The lake, too.

6. Can you make a cute fish face? (Show a pic..if you want)
Of course!

7. When you see the lobster tank at the grocery store do you just have this overwhelming urge to set them free or cook them up?
Neither. I like to tap on the glass though, which they never seem to notice.

8. Are you afraid of sharks?
Definitely. I'm afraid of anything lurking under the water that I can't see and that might want to bite me.

you have awesome people skills...

A True Story

19-year-old nursing student: How old are you?
me: 26
19-year-old nursing student: Oh my gosh! You're old!
me: ... {speechless. Mr. Savvy Stitcher is 35. He must be geriatric.}

later...

same 19-year-old nursing student: You're so short!
me: So are you.
same 19-year-old nursing student: No, I'm not. I'm like 3 inches taller than you!
me: No, you're not.
same 19-year-old nursing student: Yes I am!
me: How tall are you?
same 19-year-old nursing student: 5'2". How tall are you?
me: 5 foot
same 19-year-old nursing student: Nuh uh!
me: Yes, I am. You're two inches taller.


I hope her bedside manner is better than her friend-makin' skills.

Post It Note Tuesday: 8.31.10

Week 3: Day 1

Onto my 3rd week of nursing school. I can honestly say that I am loving it, but the panic has now set in. My first exam is on Thursday. The panic mainly comes from not really knowing how to study at this point. Hopefully I will know how to study for the 2nd exam, but for now, I'm just flying by the seat of my pants. I can safely say that everyone else is freaking out, too, so atleast it's not just me. I cannot wait to have this exam behind me.


Clinicals start NEXT WEEK. This is crazy and unbelievable. Are they really going to trust me with actual patients?! Yes, yes they are. But with lots of supervision, I promise. And there will be no needles involved, thank God.

1 Week Down

I know I've been MIA lately, but I was busy getting through my first week of nursing school. I made it! 1 down, many more to go! After the first week, I'm still really excited {thank goodness!} and think I've made the right decision. I've learned that there is a whole lot more to nursing than just giving medications and doing physical exams. Things I never really would have even thought of. I hope I'll be a good one.

I've also done some crocheting when I get the chance, you'll be glad to know. I am really hoping to get some mary jane slippers in the shop very soon. I've had a few custom orders though that I've been working on, which is why I haven't gotten any listed yet. Maybe I can stay this busy to help fund school. I have to admit that I had a bit of a panic attack last week, but it has thankfully passed. Going from working 40 hours a week to being a 3/4 time student and having your afternoons empty is quite a transition. Not to mention the unemployment part again. We're cutting back and will continue to do so, but it's pretty scary. Plus, I've learned just how lonely quiet afternoons can be when everyone else is working. I was made to work. I could never not work. Not just the being busy part, but the social aspect. I hate how quiet it is when I'm home alone all afternoon. It's so weird. Atleast when I was in college the first time around I was a traditional student and had friends who were around all the time. It's so much different this time around. I will probably just go to the public library and study because there's too much temptation to take a nap or do something else when I'm at home. Atleast at the library I can force myself to study. There's not much to study just yet, but I know it's coming. And I know I'll come to the point where I'm thankful for these empty afternoons, but right now it's still an adjustment.

I'll keep you updated!

Bittersweet Symphony

Today is my last day of work. I only have 20 minutes remaining. I should be ecstatic, but I'm not. I'm happy, and I'm looking forward to this new adventure, but I'm incredibly melancholy at leaving behind the people I have come to know so well over the past 3 years. I have made lifelong friends and some wonderful acquaintances--many of whom I will miss seeing on a daily basis. I know without a doubt that I'm making the right decision, and frankly, I have come to hate the job, but it's always hard for me to leave the people. I have learned something from each of them and will remember them always. Others I will be glad to never see again, but that comes with the territory. Several people have come by today to let me know how much they will miss me, which makes me feel great. Some of them were quite unexpected even, so you never know who you're making an impression upon. I plan to come back periodically and visit, but that's still to be determined. Even the best laid plans sometimes don't come to fruition. There are several people who I hope to keep in touch with, but even that might last. But suffice it to say that this job has molded me in more ways than one and while I'm glad to be moving on, I'm thankful that I have traveled this road.

PINT: 8.9.10

One More Week and a New Toy

I am very pleased to announce that I am now in possession of a new (to me) embroidery machine! A family friend traded hers in last week for an upgrade, and since it is in wonderful condition, I got an upgrade myself! I haven't actually embroidered anything with it yet, but I have tried out the sewing machine function and it's, quite frankly, amazing. I thought I had a good sewing machine, but I was obviously wrong. This one is fantastic. I won't go into the details, but I feel sorta professional now. The very very exciting thing about the new embroidery machine is that I can now embroider up to 6 inches x 10 inches. With the old machine, I could only do up to 4 inches x 4 inches. This is a huge difference! The possibilities are endless! :) I will definitely keep you all updated on my new projects;)

Speaking of new projects, here is my newest: the Little Buns Diaper Changing Mat.

I thought this turned out really cute and is a great use for fabric that I really love and hate using on small projects.

In other news, I start nursing school in exactly one week. I really can't even wrap my head around the fact that I will be a full-time student again. I'm nervous and scared, but also very excited. For once in my life, I feel certain about the career path I am on. Yesterday's sermon also reinforced to me that I am doing the right thing. The sermon series our pastor started yesterday is about raising Godly children, and while I do not have children yet, it really spoke to me. Not just about how I want to raise my future children, but also about the person I want to be. The pastor stated that he thinks people have such limited goals when it comes to their lives and the lives of their children. The goal of most parents is to try to make sure that the world doesn't change their children, but a parent's goal should really be to enable their children to change the world. I thought this was an amazing message. Not only do I want my children to change the world, but I, too, am still young enough to change the world, and that is my goal. I don't feel that my current job would ever enable me to do that, but I think Nursing will. I have felt very convicted lately to step out of my box and do whatever I can to help others and show them Christ through my actions. I pray daily that I can be that type of person. It's a constant battle, but God is bigger than I am. I know He desires for others to know Him and He wants to work through me. This is an honor I will work to fulfill!

Blessings and peace to you! I hope you are having a wonderful Monday!

Only Wednesday?!

Is it really only Wednesday? I feel like it should be Friday already, and yet it also feels like Monday. Funny how that works.

I went yesterday and purchased my scrubs for clinicals and was pleasantly surprised with the price, which is a first when it comes to this nursing school business. Everything seems overpriced. I swear they have 40 dollared me to death. I'm also fairly certain that books for this semester alone will be close to $1,000. I now understand what my parents went through when I got my Bachelor's degree. I knew college was expensive, but I just didn't know HOW expensive. It's much more real when you pay for it yourself. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Have I mentioned how stressed I am about the student loan process, too? I'm convinced there's something I'm going to forget to do, then I'll get kicked out of school for not having filled out some pertinent paperwork. Then I'll die. Or I'll get to the bookstore and they won't be able to charge my books to my loan, then I'll have to start with no books, then I'll die. Do you see where this is going? All roads lead to death.

Have I also mentioned how psyched I am to be leaving my job? This place just gets crazier and crazier. Plus, I'm fairly certain my new boss doesn't like the way we do anything because we still do it the way the old boss wanted it done. Do you know how hard it is to completely change the way you do your job? It takes time and lots of retraining. It's not easy! Give us some slack, huh? Plus {don't tell him, but} I think the old way is better anyway. It seems like things just don't actually ever get done around here anymore. Maybe I'm just burnt out and jaded. Probably. But office morale is nearly at an all-time low since my tenure here began. It's not a healthy work environment, to say the least. But I digress...Back to nursing school!

Like I was saying, I got my scrubs for clinicals, along with my very own stethoscope and pen light. I feel like a true nursing student now! I'm pretty sure I could save lives with just these two accessories. I can't wait to get started!

I've also been working my little fingers to the bone by crocheting every free minute of the evening after work. I feel that I should be making better progress, but I am getting a bit quicker. I finally listed a custom listing for women's Mary Jane slippers in the shop, so if there's a certain color combo you want, let me know:) Otherwise, I'm still working on getting several pairs made up to put in the shop that will be ready to ship when they're ordered as many of you have requested {I'm so honored!}. This is a pair that was given away by Inner Hooker on her Facebook business page. The winner picked a great color combo--avacado and yellow.


I'm hoping I can crochet my way through nursing school since I'm quitting my job. *hint hint* So if you feel a hankering for some Mary Janes, I'll be glad to "hook" you up! Ok, I know....that was a terrible joke, but I couldn't resist;)

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

• I did not have some unidentified bug of some sort yesterday.
• And I did not finally drag my ass out of bed at 11:15 a.m. just to go straight to the couch.
• And I did not lay on the couch all day long without moving except for bathroom breaks until 5 pm when I could no longer stand the fact that I had not showered yet.
• And I did not head straight back to the couch the minute I got out of the shower.
• I also did not finally finish a baby gift this weekend that my mom asked me for over 2 months ago. Thank goodness the baby still isn't hear yet, so I did beat that deadline atleast.
• I did not have my least-favorite recurring dream last night where I am back in high school and cannot remember my locker number or my locker combination once I find my locker, and I cannot remember my class schedule or where my classes are located.
• I did not wake up in a cold sweat so relieved it was just a dream.
• And I would not rather be given Chinese water torture than go back to high school.

No, not me!

What did you "not" do this weekend?

Getting to Know You: 7.29.10

1. Thong or Granny Panties?
I hate thongs. Must have been invented by a man. I only wear them when I have to. But my cotton undies are SO not granny panties. Frankly, I'm offended by this question.

2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him?
Hells no. Unless it's my husband. That is way to awkward. He'll already be embarassed when he realizes it, so why should we both suffer?

3. Spanx or no Spanx?
No Spanx. I hope I never have to go there, but who knows.

4. Do you sleep in your sheets?
What? Why would I have sheets if I didn't sleep on them, or in them, or whatever? This question is weird. Yes. I sleep in my sheets...

5. What is your favorite Disney character?
I'm not 6. I don't have a favorite Disney character. I find this also to be an odd question.

6. Dream vacation spot?
Hawaii! I would love to go there on extended vacay, or live there. Really, either way.

7. What is your dream job?
Who knows. I guess right now it's nursing. But if I could do something in which I can take care of animals all day, I'd love that. Maybe working on a farm. I know, it sounds crazy, but animals are one of God's best creations in my opinion.

8. Who is your hero and why?
Jesus is my hero. He saved me. I talk to Him every day and He gets me through everything.

Post-It Note Tuesday: 7.27.10

mmmmm....dessert

O.M.G. I have so much to get done this week. Just thinking about it all makes me want to FREAK OUT! But I won't. I will remain calm. Serenity now!!!! I am unable to disclose the details of all that I have to do but here are a few things:

• family birthday dinner tonight


• homework and two tests for online class due by Saturday


• make 2 custom baby gifts


• Mr. Savvy Stitcher's birthday tomorrow


• birthday dinner at mom's house Wednesday night for Mr. Savvy Stitcher


• another item of major importance that cannot be discussed at this time for various reasons, {will fill you in later!} but know that it's time-consuming

Ahh! Will I get everything accomplished? I sure hope so! Maybe I need a Valium. Or a stiff drink. Yea...that'll get me through!

Take Time To...

I am always working on self-improvement. I don't use self-help books, I use the Bible. I get advice from friends. I talk to my mother. Most importantly, I pray. Today is one of those days where I'm trying to remember to be the bigger person. This is not always easy. I would definitely rather be petty and childish and just do back what is being done to me. But I won't. Today I will choose the higher road. Tomorrow, who knows? Hopefully I'll choose the same, but

I have to take it day by day.

Today I stumbled upon this tutorial at Kind Over Matter for a Take Time Jar. I think this is a great idea and plan to make one for myself.


I love little reminders like this. Issa Sarza, the creator of this tutorial, has included photos, as well as a free download for the words to put on the glass beads. Very cute! Thanks, Issa and Kind Over Matter!

PINT: 7.20.10