A new day, a new week

Sorry to be hogging the blog lately, but I figured I should do a follow-up to last week's quick message. Things are beginning to return to "normal" around here - class, studying, etc...The funeral was Saturday, which gave all of us some closure to begin to refocus on closing out the semester strong. My friend and I gave our big presentation over music therapy today to about 125 people, and it was a huge success! Whew...And finally, I got the job!!! I don't know the exact schedule yet, as HR hasn't contacted me "officially", but hopefully soon I will begin working at Medical City Children's Hospital. I'm so excited and feel so lucky for this opportunity to work with kids ranging from newborns to 18yrs.

I found out this week that one of my classmates is the spouse of a well known Christian group memeber: Dan Dean of Phillips, Craig, & Dean. How neat!?! In light of that, the lyrics this week are to one of their MANY songs. Look them up because I bet you've heard at least one of them in church in the past 10 years. Enjoy!

Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Past all my failures
To the point of my need
When the sin that I carried
Was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came running to me

Mercy Came Running by Phillips, Craig, & Dean

Riding the wave...

I just wanted to take a moment to share a difficult experience that I've been a part of this week, and ask for a favor. Today, a classmate of mine passed away. We were in class together Friday afternoon, but stood by her bed in ICU Monday afternoon. To make a long story short, on Saturday she became septic (her blood became toxic) and caused her major organs to progressively shut down. After coding (heart stopped) 3 times this weekend, she never regained consciousness. Upon arriving to class on Monday morning, we were informed as to the severity of the situation, and were asked to visit her. It was shocking to see someone that we treated patients with only a few days prior, as the patient...and in very, very bad shape. We were aware that she only had a short time, but as of around noon today, she was taken off life support and passed very quickly thereafter. I just ask for your prayers for the family and our TWU Nursing community. We are strong, but it is a very difficult wave to ride. She was an extremely kind woman that had such an impact on everyone she came in contact with. Thank you for your support & I love you all!

Katie

The Waiting Game

We can hardly believe how time is flying by...Last weekend, Katie's mom came to visit and we had a great time! One of our favorite parts was going to see Alice in 3D. It definitely reminded us how much we enjoy going to the movies together, but how rarely it actually happens. We also helped out at a church picnic by letting the kids hold the church bunny. It was a beautiful day to be outside!

This weekend brings a waiting game for us both - Chris on the possibility of getting benefits, Katie on the possibility of a new job working with kids at a hospital. Katie's interview is Thursday afternoon, so keep the prayers coming. Either way, it is nice to have the hopes of both! Oh, one more exciting thing this week: Chris' journal article was accepted for publication. We're very proud!

That's about it for now, but we'll leave you with this week's lyrics and pray that they find you happy & hopeful...

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me you heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath

Hoppy Easter!

We had a great time celebrating Easter this past week or so - The Sunday before Easter, our church put on an amazing concert to start off the week, the tulips in our neighborhood have been blooming like crazy, Katie made Easter cupcakes while we watched movies on Friday (believe it or not, it was our first time to use Redbox), and we spent Saturday and Sunday with family in Waco. Other than that, it has been more of the usual here: school, work, and some fun with friends. Hope you had a wonderful Easter as well!

Here's the "song of the week":

It ought to be more like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It's like I'm falling, oh
It's like I'm falling in love

More Like Falling In Love by Jason Gray

Back to Reality

So Spring Break is over for those of us who had it, and it's back to the usual. Not too much exciting has been happening around our house this week, which isn't a bad thing at all :) The biggest blessing has probably been getting to spend time with good friends...dinner, happy hour, birthday parties with cute babies, and much more! Chris was even able to rope a friend into helping him fix his vehicle. They spent the afternoon Saturday replacing the distributor on his Blazer. We also had some sweet friends unexpectedly bring by a very thoughtful gift. They have no idea how that touched our hearts. In return, we made cookies together for some of our amazing friends. It was such a fun art project!

The song for this post is one that really keeps me in check, I guess you could say. It helps me feel like I am normal, but also that I am ridiculous at the same time. It makes me feel special & unique, but reminds me that sometimes I let the meaningless things in life become meaningful. I don't know how applicable this may be to the guys out there (other than making the woman in your life a more joyful person), but feel free to pass on the sentiments to the women in your life who might need to hear it. Chris can verify that I cannot make it through this song without crying, no matter how many times I've heard it...maybe it's just me though :) Enjoy!

One final (random) note: I heard the most amazing lecture in school this week on hospice care. It really solidified some experiences I've had and opened my eyes to so many new things. If you ever want me to share some of it with you, just let me know. As amazing as this sounds, it has already been put into practice this week as one of my mom's close friends "went to Glory". Now here's the song...

"So turn around you're not too far

To back away be who you are

To change your path go another way

It's not too late you can be saved

If you feel depressed with past regrets

The shameful nights hope to forget

Can disappear they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong can right your wrongs

Can rid your fears dry all your tears

And change the way you look at this big world

He will take your dark distorted view

And with His light He will show you truth

And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you"

More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz

Spring Snow?

Since when does it snow at the end of Spring Break...in the middle of March...when the temperature was 40 degrees higher 12 hours before??? Yes, in case you have not heard, Dallas received a good 2 or so inches of snow last night that lingered on until this evening. There were light flakes being swept around by the wind when we went to bed last night, but imagine our surprise to find a winter wonderland when we opened our windows this morning! Good thing we took in all our new plants yesterday afternoon...

Other than that, it has been a pretty regular week for us. We went to dinner with Katie's Dad this past week, which was a nice treat. Katie kept busy with yoga and circuit training, and Chris continued to work and unwind with his hobbies. Note to anyone curious about yoga: it's harder than you can imagine, but it's very rewarding. Try 90 minutes working out in 98.6 degrees and 60% humidity...bring it on swimsuit season! Not only that, but after this month's circuit training, Katie might qualify to try out for a collegiate football team (ok, maybe just high school). Her trainer has her flipping tires, swinging a sledgehammer, and doing all sorts of intense stuff that Chris would love to witness for himself. Finally, the Aggie Basketball team made a good run for it in the NCAA tournament, but fell just a bit short tonight. Like we Aggies like to say, "There's always next year!"

Instead of a Bible verse this week, here's the chorus to a song that has meant a lot to me recently. There are tons of songs that have touched my heart since starting to listen to Christian music radio, so this will probably continue - heck, I might just make a special post if God has touched my heart with a particular song that day. I encourage you not only to look up these songs and listen to them online, but try tuning into those radio stations. It's a great way to redeem driving time, calm down, and refocus. Hope you enjoy!

"Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You’re gonna do great things

I already know

God’s got His hand on You

So don’t live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don’t forget why you’re here

Take your time and pray

And thank God for each day

His love will find a way

These are the words I would say"

The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets

Feels like Spring

Things are beginning to bloom everywhere we look and the weather has been beautiful. Winter just might be over for us. All of this motivated us to start up our balcony garden once again. This year we will be growing jalapenos, dwarf eggplant, 7 or so herbs (rosemary, chives, thyme, basil, mint, parsley, dill), and some pretty flowers. It is so nice to see life again outside our window!

It is officially spring break for Katie, although it has felt like a vacation since her exam last Tuesday. She is loving nursing school and doing quite well - out of 8 exams, 7 A's and 1 B! The hospital experiences have been wonderful for her and we can only hope that it continues. A couple weeks ago she even put her anxiety aside and gave her first injection successfully. She is starting to find balance between life and school by starting yoga and baking more frequently. We know who benefits from extra sweets sitting in the apartment...but we are also giving some away to friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

Chris continues to enjoy tying flies and has even started brainstorming on original fly patterns. His practice really is paying off as his flies look better and better every week. It is amazing that he only began this a little over a year ago and now we are busting at the seams with all things fly fishing. Hopefully he will get to go fishing sometime soon, as his plans to go this past weekend were ruined when his car wouldn't start. Maybe that new vehicle is coming soon...we will see.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

-Proverbs 3:5-6