To my fellow bloggers

When I first started blogging, I never thought it would be like this .... I look forward to daily checking out the blogs I follow to see what is new in their lives. It may sound weird but I feel like I really know the people from the blogs that I read. I long to see what new adventures they are having. I don't really remember why I started a blog, I think I thought it would be fun to just write down some thoughts and maybe have someone read them. I love it when people leave comments. It's crazy to think how the Internet has advanced the way we know people. So thank-you to all of my wonderful blogger friends and keep posting because I love  reading!

New Toy

This my friends is my new toy ... or phone I mean ... My old phone died so this is what I got! And I have an adorable pink case to go with it!

Summer Bible Study

Last night I got together with some amazing ladies! We discussed what we wanted to study this summer, we decided on a women's study so we picked this book: Women of God.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0830830960/ref=sib_dp_pop_fc/184-9460199-5246712?ie=UTF8&p=S001#reader-link

I'm so excited to get my hands on my copy and dive in! It's been about a month since my last Bible studies wrapped up and can't wait to begin again!

What kind of Studies are you involved in this summer?

Hillsong United

On Monday I went to a Hillsong United concert, they are a Christan band from Australia. Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy!

It was a great concert and I had a wonderful time! The next picture is from the elevator in the parking ramp.

Hmm .... Mecca? Conveniently there was no 4th floor option which is where our cars where parked!

Too much!

Tonight I just finished up my 6th day of work in a row! This may not seem like a lot but when you work as a RN at a nursing home 6 days straight is way too much! I am so looking forward to same sane conversation tomorrow not that all my residents are crazy! It just seems like I have the same conversations everyday with the same people. This also means the same arguments such as you need to take your medicine! To top it all off when I got home from work tonight someone had parked in my parking spot! I called the landlord but she can't do anything about it til the morning so for now my car is parked in a parking lot across the street, I'm hoping it doesn't get towed!

Tomorrow night I am going to a Hillsong concert with some friends. I can't wait, I love Hillsong! This will be my first time seeing them in concert. What a lovely way to spend a day off! :D Here is one of my favorite songs by them ....



Christmas in June?

Lately I have been like a kid at Christmas time! I can't wait to rush home and open the mailbox to see if I have received another letter! I sent out about 50 support letters for my mission trip to Africa. I have received seven back so far. Each check or money gift usually comes with a little note and that is my favorite part, reading the wonderful words people write to me. One of my favorite so far is from a college friend named Amanda. We lived in the same house for a year and went on a missions trip together I want to share with you what she wrote because it really blessed me.

Dear Val,

I'm glad to hear that you are doing well and are enjoying both of your jobs as a nurse. Nurses definitely have the ability to touch people's lives wherever they serve and a Christian nurse can share the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ! I'm sure you will be able to do a lot of good with all those you meet in Africa. It will be nice to be able to help the young women be able to sustain themselves through selling jewelry. It's also nice going with a church because that way you can share your Christian faith with others; there is no greater gift than to help someone enter into or strengthen their relationship with Christ and the greatest thing is that while you are helping others you yourself are also growing in your relationship with Christ! I'm sure your nursing background will also come in handy while in Africa as well. I would love to hear about your trip when you return. I'm sure this will be quite the experience for you. Hopefully, once I pay off all my loans I will be able to do mission work as well! I cannot give a whole lot of money as I just paid of $10,000 of my loans so I am pretty broke right now but I will definitely pray for you and your fellow missionaries and the fruits of your mission! God bless and love always!

In Christ,

Amanda

Amanda gave me $5 for this trip, and that $5 means so much to me! It reminds me of the story in Mark about the widow.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on.' "

Mark 12:41-44

I'm not saying Amanda put in all she had to live on but I think you get the picture! Speaking of picture below is a picture from my second mission trip to Mississippi, Amanda is wearing yellow in the picture, towards the middle!