My 24th Birthday!

Hillary, Jenny, Me, Katie, Scarlet and Jory

At 11:59am today I turned 24! Hard to believe that I am almost a quarter of a century old. It caused me to look back on my life and see how far I have come and let me tell you, I have come a long, long way! I also have such a long way to go to become the woman I long to be!

I had a great evening celebrating with a few close friends. We had dinner at Red Robin and than went bowling!

Katie and Scarlet .... two wonderful ladies!

Hillary decided she wanted to show off her beautiful new flower clip!

Hillary, Jenny and me!

At Red Robin, they sang for me and the table next to us.

GoodBye

Friday night my friends and I threw a surprise going away party for two of our friends who are leaving us. My friend Jon left on Sunday for the Navy and will be gone for SIX years! My friend Luis is being deployed in February for one year, our group of friends will not be the same with out them. However, I am thankful that there are people who are willing to serve for our country, who are willing to be away from their family and friends to protect mine.

Dinner at the Main Exchange

DIY Birthday gift

My nephew turned 4 on November 12, he has so many toys and clothes and I didn't really know what to get him so I got a little creative. His favorite movie is Cars so this is what I came up with!

Glue cardstock to a piece of carboard to make the background

Next I glued some blue in the corners to spice it up a little

Then I glued a picture I colored from the movie Cars

Then I added pictures of Daniel and me. I also used stamps to spell out his name on the sides

The final project! The frame is from Wallmart for less than $10

Inhale..... Big Step .... Exhale

Last weekend I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a conference called Life Options. Life Options is a conference put on by Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). The conference is all about helping college juniors and seniors explore their life options. The conference shared many different ways you can become involved in CRU, going on staff, interning, going over seas, working in the main office, working with high schoolers, etc. The conference also encouraged those going into the work force to see that as their place of ministry and share their faith there.

Since I got back from my trip to Africa in September and realized I would not be becoming a full time nurse missionary I have wrestled with a new idea ...... interning with CRU ..... wait ... WHAT!? I am so scared but completely excited at the same time! I have begun filling out the extremely long and intense application. If I am accepted I will spend the summer raising support, I need to raise A LOT of money to intern. That part kind of scares me ... ok it REALLY scares me but my God is amazing and if this is what He has for me, I trust that all my needs will be met and the support will come in.

This is a huge step for me, while interning I will not be able to work an outside job, which means goodbye nursing for at least a year. I feel like I should be more upset about giving up a career that I worked four long years of college to earn but I am not. I am joyful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. I still need to tell my parents which is also scary, I have no idea how they are going to react, so please pray for me and for them!

XoXo,

Valerie :D

Packer Land!

Yes that is right, I live in the good ole state of Wisconsin where we love our Green Bay Packers! Last night I went to a packer party at my lovely friend Hillary's house, we had so much fun watching the game, eating good food and of course wonderful conversation!

Me and Hillary! I don't actually own a Packer jersey or shirt so I make due with what I have!

My sweet friend Victoria and me.

It was also our friend Jon's birthday on Sunday so we had a wonderful Dairy Queen ice cream cake to celebrate!

P.S. I went to an amazing conference this weekend called Life Options, more to come on that soon!

Almost 50

Last Sunday we had a surprise birthday party for my Dad, he is turning 50 on November 19th. We had it a few weeks early and it was actually planned two days before it took place, he never had time to expect a thing! My step-mom and step-sister planned everything, they held it at the bar my Dad goes to every Sunday to watch the Packer game. I am not a fan of going to bars but it was my Dad's 50th birthday party so I felt like I should make an exception.

Me and my Dad

My sister-in-law and me

Uncle Fred, Aunt Tracey, Aunt Debbie, Me, my brother, my dad and my Grandma

Bloglovin

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It's November?

I'm trying hard to break a pattern that seems to have crept up in October, it seems every week I am sick with something new! I'm so tired of being sick, taking pills, eye drops, seeing the doctor! Today I woke up and my left eye was swollen, red and full of drainage. As a nurse I immediately new I had pink eye and would have to go in so I could get a prescription for eye drops. Unfortunately for me this means no wearing contacts or eye makeup for a week! Oh boy, I know I can do, but honestly I wasn't too happy about it! Last week I had a 24 hour stomach bug, don't worry I will spare you the details on that one! Before that I had a nasty cold that lasted two and a half weeks! I got a flu shot today so hopefully I can stop the madness!

On the brighter side of life: I am going to see my sister tomorrow, I don't remember the last time we actually saw each other ... maybe August? She lives a little over an hour away and we are both so terribly busy all the time! I am also looking forward to coloring some pictures tonight with my best friend ... Yes I do enjoy coloring especially when the pictures are for a friend who has been having a tough time lately, I hope the will cheer her up!

Snap, Crackle & Pop

Snap and Jasmine

Crackle and Snap

The Marian Crew!

Snap, Crackle & Pop (Rice Crispies!)

The girls before heading over to the party!

Freedom Reigns

This is currently my favorite worship song! Freedom Reigns by Jesus Culture. What is your favorite?

Whirlwind

Do you ever feel like your mind is a whirlwind of too many thoughts and things to do? That is how I feel, ever since I got back from Africa I have been so crazy busy! I shouldn't complain because the busyness is all good things! It's just that sometimes there is just so much that I feel like I don't have enough time to process anything before I'm running off to the next thing. So much has changed in the past month and I am so excited to see where God is taking me on this journey, only sometimes I feel like I freeze and can't move. I can see a path in the distance but it seems so hard to actually get there!

For the past 5 or so years of my life I thought I was going to be a full time missionary to Africa, working as a nurse missionary. A month ago I went to Africa on a missions trip and taught health classes. While I was there I knew God was speaking to me however, I didn't like what He had to say, or at least not at first. So, you know what I did? I argued with Him, yup that's right God and I were having a disagreement, looking back on it is silly to think that I was actually arguing with the One who created me, my Lord and Saviour, the perfect One. What was the argument you ask? Missions, God was telling me that while I love Africa, this was not the mission field He was calling me to, I would not be serving there full time like I have been dreaming about! At first I was angry, mad and hurt, I thought God, how can you say no? I am doing this for you! I love you and want to serve you here! You know I love missions! What do you mean no?

God gently replied, I'm not telling you no to missions, I'm saying no to Africa. This confused me for a while, until I was back in the States, then it hit me, my mission field is right where I am, God showed me what I am truly passionate about and that is college students! I want to continue to be a part of the lives of college students and help lead them in their faith or to God if they don't know Him. So where does this all leave me? I am currently praying about interning with an organization called Campus Crusade for Christ. I love this group and what it does. I am excited to pray about and look into becoming more involved in this organization and most importantly doing what God has called me to do!

Health 101

In Africa we each had our own subject we were going to teach the girls at the school. I am a Registered Nurse so I thought it would be appropriate that I teach something health related. Only problem was, I hate public speaking, I hate being the center of attention and having all eyes focused on me! Good thing God is so amazing, He gave me the strength to overcome and I was able to teach some basic but helpful health classes to girls who were so eager to learn anything and everything I had to say.

Basic hand washing ... One of the girls told me that she use to not care about washing her hands but after I taught her the importance of proper hand washing and preventing the spread of germs she is now really careful to make sure she washes her hands really well! I was really touched by that comment! Who knew something so little to me would be so big to her!

How to rescue a choking baby! These girls absolutely loved the doll or "baby Emily" as we named her. They had never had a doll growing up and they were so excited to hold baby Emily!

How to bandage a wound. I also taught how to treat burns and the importance of getting enough sleep. I couldn't have asked for a better class! These girls are truly amazing and I wish you could meet each one of them because I just know you would love them as much as I do!

Beautiful Girls

Theses are the beautiful girls I had the privilege of ministering to in Africa, aren't they so beautiful? Their joy for the Lord is so contagious. I love all of them and miss their smiling faces and their laughter ... Oh these girls could laugh! This picture was taken after Church on the second Sunday we were in Africa.

Getting away!

I'm so excited tomorrow is Friday!! This week has been tough, I got really sick on Tuesday and am still recovering. It was 80 degrees out and I had on two shirts, a sweatshirt and was wrapped up in tons of blankets and was still freezing!!! I had to skip my small group that night because I couldn't even get out of bed. Yesterday was a little better, I didn't go to work but I was able to go to my bible study that night and today I went to work and to CRU.

I'm so excited that I have this weekend off and I am going on a fall retreat with CRU (campus crusade for Christ). It is going to be so nice to get away from everything and have a time with friends I haven't had a chance to see in a while and worship God and hear from some amazing speakers!

The Team

So here it is, my first official post about Africa and I want to start it out my introducing you to the wonderful women I served with for 2 1/2 weeks!

I'm in the yellow on the left, than it's Victoria, Brenda, Bobbi-jo, Julie and Wanda. These are some wonderful ladies! I am a registered nurse so I taught health classes, Victoria and Bobbi-jo taught jewelry making, Bobbi-jo also cleaned the girls teeth (she is a dental hygienist), Julie taught the girls how to sew a purse and Wanda taught the girls how to sew a quilt. Brenda is the missionary who lives in Benin, West Africa. The picture above was taken at a restaurant. (which also was the only toilet between Cotonou where we flew into all the way to Parakou which is the city we worked in. It was about a 7 hour drive!) Now that you have met the team stay tuned for posts about the rest of the trip!

Catching up!

So I feel like a terrible friend, you know that friend who "lets the ball drop" on her end of the relationship. I have not had a chance to blog in a really really really long time and there is so much to tell! So much is happening and that is part of the problem! This past month has been intense, joyful, filled with sorrow and sadness, filled with excitement, stress, worry, tons of prayer and so much more! I don't even know where to begin telling you all that is going on my life. I was in Africa from September 2nd-18th which is another huge reason why the blogging has been so little.

Tonight I'm going to change that because I miss blogging and I miss all of you! So won't you join me while we sit and catch up like old friends who haven't seen each other in a while! I'm sitting here at Starbucks with my Carmel soy frappuccino and pretending like you are sitting across from me and we are having a wonderful chat about life! Wouldn't that be great if we really could hang out in Starbucks together?

I don't want to overwhelm you so I'm not going to share a whole lot tonight but trust me when I say I have many,  many post's to follow up after this one! I will start with the most recent and that is this, I'm realizing that I am in a really awkward stage in life. By this I mean I have graduated from college over a year ago and have "entered the adult world." AKA I have a 'real' job, I work as a RN and I love my job, I really really do! I am also single and have no family of my own. (meaning husband, children ...) So that puts me in this weird awkward category. I have a lot of free time because I don't have the responsibility of having a family to take care of, sometimes this is great because I have the freedom to do whatever I want and other times I hate it because I waste so much time being bored. I hate being bored, I love to be doing things, being with people, enjoying life!

My work schedule has recently changed I now work MWF 11:30am-3:30pm and TR 9am-3:30pm at two different elementary schools as the school nurse until they can find a permanent nurse. I work for an agency so I just fill in as needed. I am really excited about this schedule because I am involved in college ministry and events occur at night so that frees me up to be able to attend. I have always wanted to work days because for the past year I have worked 2pm-10pm which is not very fun when all your friends hang out at night when you are working!

On Wednesday nights I am part of a group called 77 which meets at the university I attended. It is a new group that offers a Bible study and other various events such as cookouts, bonfires, movie nights, etc. to help build community. We basically just want to tell others about Jesus! On Thursdays I attend CRU (formally known as campus crusade for Christ.) a group that I have really come to love! These two nights are great and I so look forward to them every week but it's just not enough for me, I want more! So I joined a "growth group" at the church I attend, it's basically a small group Bible study which will be taking place on Tuesday nights, I am really looking forward to this as well, my first meeting is tomorrow! I really want to get involved in Church again, (this summer I moved about 30 minutes away from where I was living so I joined a new church in my new location.) so I signed up to help out in the nursery! I can't wait to help out! I want to fill my time here on earth wisely and serving my King! I try to keep from being idle because that is when not so good things happen!

Wow this is a loaded post and I think is enough for you to read for one night. I really, really hope to be writing more often! I hope you have a wonderful week! I have missed you all so now I'm going to spend sometime reading your posts!

XoXo

Valerie

I'm Back!

I know I've been gone for sometime now. I got home yesterday from my wonderful trip to Benin, Africa!! I have so much I want to share that there will be more than one post about Africa. I'm still trying to adjust to being back home, the time change is really messing with me! In Africa were I was they are 7 hours ahead of us that and about 26 hours of airplanes/airports makes for a really long day! I've missed reading your blogs and can't wait to catch up!

It's finally here .... well almost!

Hello friends!

I'm sorry I have been so bad at writing and keeping up with what is going on with you! I promise I will have fill you in on all that has been happening at the end of September! Tomorrow I am leaving for Africa for a missions trip!!!

XoXo
Valerie

My week...

It's been almost I week since I've posted. I have been so busy preparing for the fall. I really love fall for many reasons I shared in this post. Tomorrow and Saturday I have a leadership meeting for a college group I am helping out with. I am so excited for the new semester and just want to meet all the new students and tell them about our group called 77, it is a Christian group on campus and is very new, this is only our second semester! You can check out what we are all about at our  web site. I have also been working night shift this week, 11pm-7am. I'm not going to lie, it was been terrible! I hate night shift because it is so hard to sleep during the day, I get home around 8am, eat breakfast and than sleep until around 3-4pm, wake up eat dinner and hang out for a few hours. I am so happy that tonight is my last night shift for a while, hopefully a long while!! Also a week from tomorrow I leave for AFRICA!!! So crazy!! I hope you have all had wonderful weeks!

XoXo,
Valerie

Two Weeks!!!

My dear friends and fellow bloggers,

In two weeks I will be disappearing for a while because I will be in Benin, West Africa!! I can't believe it is just two weeks away!! I still have so much yet to do before then, so please pray that I can get everything accomplished before I leave. For example, I still need to prepare most of what I am teaching!! I am teaching about basic first aid, hygiene, how to treat burns and who knows what else! It will be interesting because they speak French and I don't know any French!! I'm praying for interpreters!

Today I meet up with three of the other women who are going on the trip and it was so exciting to discuss how much God has already blessed this trip. We have received so many precious donations such as beads, bead making material, first aid kits and money. All of which make this trip possible! TWO WEEKS!!!

XoXo,
Valerie

My Prayer Journal

In the book, Let prayer change your life, the author Becky Tirabassi tells of a prayer journal she created with different sections to keep your prayer life organized. So today I created mine and have some pictures to share with you thanks to Hobby Lobby and their wonderful crafts!

The first section is called My Part which consists of 4 sections.
Praise - which consists of devotional reading and suggets rewriting psalms as your own personal prayers.
Admit - Confessing to God.
Requests- Prayer requests. (within this section is another section called My Prayer list).
Thanks - Thanking God.

Gods Part has 6 sections.
Listening - Listen to God in silence and write what He speaks.
Messages - Notes from sermons, outlines and verses.
New Testament, Old Testament and Proverbs - listing verses that comfort and convict you.
To Do - things I need to get done during the day. You write them down and then you don't have to think about them while you are meeting with God.

Forgiveness & Prayer

This summer I've been meeting up with a group of ladies every Monday night for a Bible Study and it has been so great! At the beginning of summer I didn't know these ladies very well but over the summer that has changed. I'm excited every Monday to hear how their week has gone and how I can be praying for them. I have been challenged through this study as well, which is always a good thing! This week our "assignment" is to forgive somebody we need to forgive. Doesn't sound too hard on the surface but actually doing it has proven to be difficult. The person I chose to forgive has hurt be a great deal and I'm not even sure if they realize they have. A part of me wants to be selfish and stay angry and with hold forgiveness ..... but who am I to with hold forgiveness from someone? Why do I think that I am so superior to this person and therefore I can make an exception and not forgive this person. Ouch! This is not a pretty place to be and I don't like being here!

So this week I am on my knees praying hard to my heavenly Father because I need His help with this one. I can not do this alone. Speaking of prayer, I haven't been as diligent and as faithful as I would like to be with my prayer life. I want to be know as a "prayer warrior." So my friends and fellow bloggers, how can I be praying for you this week? I recently started reading this book called "Let Prayer change your life" by Becky Tirabassi and it is amazing, I find it so hard to put down. In fact I think I'm going to read some more right now!

Have a lovely Wednesday!
XoXo
Valerie

Saturday with my Sister

Saturday my sister and I planned on going to the State Fair, only it was pouring rain all day so instead we took a little trip to the Brookfield Square Mall, this mall had some amazing stores. Here are a few of my purchases for you to enjoy with me!

All of the Above are from

http://www.charlotterusse.com/home/index.jsp

Which may be one of my new favorite stores!

And lastly this beautiful dress from H&M

Paid In Full

Paid In Full Those are three beautiful words! I recently paid back one of my two student loans, when I looked at my account online to make sure it was all taken care of it said amount owed: Paid In Full. It's so exciting to know that I have one less payment to make every month. I have also been putting in a lot of crazy, long hours at work to pay back my loans as soon as possible. I hate being in debt to someone, it just bothers me so much. I am hoping to have my other loan paid off with in the next year.

Do you know what else is Paid in Full? The punishment for my sins and your sins too! Isn't that great news!!! When God looks at me, He sees the perfect life His Son, Jesus lived. Jesus took my punishment, He died for me! Because of Him, my debt is Paid In Full. I don't have to work hard to try to "earn" God's approval or make up for past mistakes. God wants me and you just the way we are. He has paid the price, now let Him claim His prize -Your hear, Your life. Won't you lay it down at His feet and accept what He gives you in return? Eternity with the Creator of the universe!

Out of my box

Today I gave a 5 minute presentation on my upcoming mission trip to Africa at a church I used to go to when I lived with my parents. Now that I have moved to a different city I no longer go there. If you know me at all you know that I really, really dislike public speaking. It was great to be able to share about what God is doing in my life and my excitement for Africa. Afterwords everyone was so nice and excited for me as well. God is so good how he sends encouragement when we need it the most! The church also provided me with a donation towards my trip which was way more than expected! (not that I was expecting anything).

After church I meet up with an old friend from high school. It was so great to have lunch with her, we have been trying to plan a time to get together for the last 6 months! We live a couple hours from each other so it's not like we can see each other a lot. She also gave me a card and a donation for my trip which was unexpected. I thought I had seen all the support I was going to get but turns out it is still coming in.

Check it out

I have been busy catching up on work and things around the house that were neglected while I was away on vacation. Not too much blog worthy has happened lately so I though I would dedicate this post to a new blog dedicated to helping others around the world so if you have a few minutes I recommend you check out this blog.

Measuring Up

Hello to all you ladies, the following is a great article my friend Cassie shared with me and I would like to share with you.

MEASURING UP -Renee Swope

"When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12b (NIV)
Do you ever compare yourself to others and feel like you don't quite measure up? Maybe you think you're not as smart, capable, personable, or as godly as they are.
It is so easy to think that if we had more or knew more, we'd be secure. But the truth is, even people who "have it all" still struggle with feelings of insecurity. The Bible opens with the story of a woman who had everything, but it wasn't enough (Genesis 2).

God had established Eve's worth as His child and the crown of His creation. He also gave Eve every woman's desire: intimacy, beauty, security, significance, and purpose. Yet Satan conjured up feelings of insecurity by getting Eve to take her eyes off what she had and focus on what she didn't have.

Boy, can I relate. Like Eve, I've heard Satan's whispers telling me I'm not all I could be — or should be. One day I was reading her story in Genesis 2 and I noticed that his questions and suggestions were intended to plant seeds of doubt in Eve's heart. He wanted her to doubt God and herself.

The enemy's whispers tempted Eve to try to "be" more and "have" more by seeking significance apart from God's provision. He convinced her something was missing in her life and that the forbidden fruit would make her be "like God."
It was a foolish comparison, but all comparisons are. Yet don't we do it all the time? If only I was like her...if only I had a house like hers, a husband like hers, a job like hers...if only my children behaved like hers...If only _______, then I'd feel significant, satisfied and secure.

In today's key verse, Paul warns us that those who "measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor. 10:12 NIV). Comparison will always leave us feeling like we don't measure up. We can try to do more and be more, yet it's never enough.
If only Eve had focused on who she was and what she had as a child of God. If only we could too.

Yet Satan wants us to focus on our flaws and feelings of inadequacy, then exhaust our energy figuring out how to hide them. But we don't have to go along with his schemes. Instead we can recognize his lies, refute his temptations with truth, and focus on God's acceptance, security, and significance. Then we can thank God for His provision and His promises that remind us of who we are in Him:

I am accepted...
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.

I am secure...
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from condemnation. I can't be separated from God's love.
Philippians1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.

I am significant...
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Lord, thank You that in Christ I'm accepted, secure and significant. When I'm tempted to find my significance and security apart from Your provision and promises, help me recognize Satan's lies, refuse his temptations and stand firm in my faith. Remind me that such confidence as this is mine through Christ — not that I am competent in myself to claim anything for myself, but competence comes from Him. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (see 1 Peter 5:9; 2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

Related Resources:
This devotion is taken in part from chapter 6 of Renee Swope's book: A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises. To find out more or order your copy, click here.
Visit Renee's new website for a wonderful list of "Our Identity in Christ" Bible verses and enter to win her "Contagious Confidence" give-away!

Application Steps:
When you're tempted to use the measuring stick of comparison — be sure to measure UP by focusing upward on Christ — whose you are and who you are in HIM!

Reflections:
"The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior (and beliefs) will begin to reflect your true identity!" Dr. Neil T. Anderson
Power Verses:
1 Peter 5:9, "Stand firm against him [the devil], and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (NLT)
2 Corinthians 3:4-5, "Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." (NIV)

I hope you enjoyed the article as much as I did! Happy Friday everyone, I hope you have a great weekend! I unfortunately have to work this weekend.