a new season begins...

This is the picture... coming in after only 4 runs on my first day of the season... this is the picture of freezing me, Birke, and Aaron.... It was a great day... gorgeous - beautiful... talk about a reflection of Papa's glory! The sun was shining so brightly - I was amazed again at how incredible creation is... wow... it took my breath away... or was it the subzero weather that took my breath away! It was cold. no, that is an understatement... it was FREEZING!!! I was a big whiner... but that is nothing new to Birke... she's the greatest boarding partner of all time!! Our new protoge (who already far exceeds my skills) is my little brother Aaron... he really is such a great guy - I love his sense of adventure and his apparent lack of fear... he will certainly challenge Birke and I to expand our snowboarding skills!!
Now I leave you with one more picture - just to prove to you how freakin cold!! Yes, I wanted to cry - the pain in my feet from cold... now forever captured in a photograph! (no worries though - no frostbite... as much as I felt like there was!!)

Can't wait to go again!!!

some exciting news!

With the encouragement of Travis (a friend at work), well ok... he brought the application and filled out half of it... I applied for a part time position in ER/ICU!

I heard back on the 17th from the nurse manager for that department and it looks as though I have the job! :)

It would mean that I would work part time in ER/ICU - floating between the departments, and part time on the Acute Care Unit where I already work. One day and one night in each department... I am really excited about this opportunity! I am excited to expand and develop my skills as a nurse... it really is a great opportunity! :)

It is not that I dislike my job... not at all! I love the people I work with and the work on the floor... I find myself very blessed to be working in a job that I love and with so many great people... and again with so many opportunities to be His hands in this world...

I won't start this new position until the end of January... I will start with an orientation to the ER (even though I already work casual down there) and then as soon as thats over...
I go to Prince George... for the month of February I am going to PG for my ICU practicum! It is not where I originally wanted to go... I did want to go to Nanaimo, but it seems that God has other plans... and it looks like it will be easier to visit Matt on my days off... :) blessing in disguise I would say!
After I return to Terrace in March I start a month long orientation to the ICU here... before starting in on my line in April...

SO much goes on... each day truly is an adventure!!! To think that all this is happening... when CHRISTMAS is in less than a week!!! Yes... I am beyond excited for that... but thought I would share with you all a little tidbit of my daily happenings and events...

SQUISHES

'not tomorrow but the next day'

so I can officially say "not tomorrow but the next day" for what you ask?? Matt is coming to Terrace for two whole days! It is a short visit... (please don't remind me of that) but I am so grateful that he is coming at all! This whole working a zillion miles away kinda sucks! But it is good - I see Papa's hand in it all... I know that God has a plan and purpose for this time and although difficult at times - he makes it light and easy... and Matt does such a good job of easing the distance with phone calls, emails, cards and surprises that make the time between visits seem at least bearable... mushy mushy I know... but what can I say - I love him! yep its true :) and I am pretty excited to see him on Thursday!

The Christmas banquet is this Friday! I am excited to dress up again (I just had my work party last Saturday night) and to dance the night away with Mark and the girls! smiles... good times had and good memories more to be made! Hopefully if Marlene isn't feeling sick still, I will be meeting with her to go over the program for the night... I have a few games planned... get ready for music and laughter! (great combination wouldn't you say?!)

(I am actually at work right now... and it is almost time for my break! yes, that is something that excites me at 3:30 in the am! I am getting sleepy... even though I did get a good sleep after last nights shift... maybe tomorrow, I mean today sometime I will get around to a picture post... if not today - soon cuz there are bazillions that should be posted for all non-facebook peoples!)

havin a great day!

SO after another ridiculously late night call with Mr. Wonderful... I had to get up this morning for work!
I thought for sure that the day would be the longest one ever and yet here I am on my coffee break wide awake and still full of pep and sunshine... even though the great outdoors is being blanketed with beautiful puffy snow - it looks soo magical!

Its the cutest thing of today really... I walked into my one room this am and said my goodmornings... and as the day goes on this one ol man says to me... "so the way I see it - you and me we have two problems..." (oh really, and what are those??) "your boyfriend and my wife!" ha ha ha... he is only jokin around - grateful for the assistance with things... he's a sweetie... and it certainly has made my day light and easy. ;) Thanks Papa, for being you and for shining through me today... for carrying me through...

Ok and another greatest thing ever about today... I GOT A PRESENT!!! smiles... my little sis and my Mom brought me a coffee and bagel and then handed me... a package! Mr. Wonderful strikes again... the cutest card ever and a Christmas CD for me to enjoy!!! He is seriously quite the thoughtful guy... and looks for so many ways to make the distance less... I can't wait to see him on the 11th!

Now - one more thing before I have to go back to work... really there is so much to say and not enough time or can't type fast enough... K - long story short - I have been trying to swap around a bunch of my shifts at the end of December cuz Matt is coming!!!! He was going to surprise me but as it turned out I was scheduled to work 9 out of 11 days that he was going to be here... BOO... anyhoo... the latest and greatest news - I just got the 23 and 24th of Dec off!!!! YAHOO!!! I still have to work 25th and 26th night shift but thats ok.. cuz its all triple time... thank you Jesus! Oh and I have to work New Years Day - I won't be hung over... but I will be zonked! lol... what else is new these days... sigh - so worth it though... this must be love! giggles...

K... best get back to work! I'll try to pop on here again soon!! Happy 20 days til Christmas and my birthday to all!!!

update on the last excitement!

Well... it as ONLY been just over 3 and a half months since my last post! :P
So to start I will update on my list of excitement (which is kind of fun cuz I get to relive all that excitement!)
1. the yardwork... umm yeah... kinda needs to be done all over again- the leaves are just not done... oops... thankfully Aaron raked up a bunch of them for me... he is such a great guy!! You all should know I love him to bits!

2. the GTT - was amazing!! I think if I look back what I remember the most about the sermons is how often people will say oh thank goodness I am not going here, not on this road anymore... and they miss out on the joy of the time that they are in... um yeah guess you had to be there... ALSO, all the good times surrounding that weekend will be heart memories that will be treasured for always... the trip to the Nass... the teambuilding night... the campfires... the HotRod movie night... le sigh - good times!

3. April's arrival home! It has been great having her back... she seems to have grown up more over the summer... and is becoming quite the young woman... a little bit of a tyrant at times... a little obsessive about next Christmas... but I know its just cuz she loves me and wants to be with me...

4. Meeting Bernie Bunnie... that was interesting to say the least... not really too sure what to make of him... really... I am glad though that April is happy with him - and he treats her well.

5. Matt's visit... smiles - well there have been a few more of those in between...but I think that was the first visit that he was here after we decided to pursue our relationship beyond just a friendship... and just to add... I think that was a great choice on his part! :P kidding... I meant on my part! He is amazing... and yes, I love him!

6. The back to school bash... went wonderfully... smiles - had to quiet some of the kids down a bit by 3am but meh... good times and great pics were had!

7. My pediatric specialty... the first course is done done done! I passed it with a 90% (the last rushed assignment must not have been a good one!) I am glad to have it finished... and not sure how excited I am about starting up again in January... guess I had better get moving on that if I am going to register!!

8. Hiking shoes... I love them! They are great for walking too - oh and I did take them with to Creston and they were quite wonderful for hiking up Thompson with Jen, Adam, Gabby, Josh and Matt... oooo that was COLD!

9. Working with they youth... :) Yes this dream has come true! We have had two weeks so far and I am excited to see what God is going to do in their hearts... I am looking forward to developing my own leadership skills and to doing what it takes to see these young people grow...

10. I did end up preaching in September... I spoke about how our identity is found in intimacy... if you want to hear it, I will try to figure a way to upload it or send it... It was an incredible learning experience for me, and I was truly blessed to have the opportunity and the support of my church family.

OK - now to PRESENT DAY!! yes... I said present day... eeekkk!! I am sooo excited for Christmas - and my birthday!!! This year is extra special... as far as Christmas goes I am getting the greatest gift ever - Matt is going to be here! And as far as my birthday goes... this year is my golden birthday! that means... turning 25 on the 25th! ... can we say party anyone?!?!

Yes, I know I am rambling at this point... I have tons to do... really I have tons that I could talk about as I have not updated on here in beyond forever... but for all of my new fans who live forever and a day away... I am going to try and be faithful on here... smiles!

Well off to work for me - and by work I mean cleaning and organizing my overfull house!! (mom and the kids have moved in... :S)