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