My life is in your hands....

I know You have Your reasons for everything

So I will keep believing

Whatever I might be feeling

God, You are my hope, and You’ll be my strength

Anything I don’t have, You can give it to me

But it’s ok if You don’t

I’m not here for those things

The touch of Your love is enough on its own

No matter what, I still love You

And I’m gonna need You

-No Matter What (Kerrie Roberts)

Well once again I find myself apologizing for my absence; life has been crazy-busy since starting school up, but we'll get to all that later. 

I really like the above lyrics, and I think they send a very meaningful message. I know that in my life I tend to question what God sets before me; how many of you do the same thing? Another part of this song that's not listed is that every heartache we have has to go through His hands; he knows what we're going through. We're going to pass through trials and temptations and even though it seems like God is distant, he's right there with us. How many times have we heard "God never leaves you; you leave God"? We can try to run and hide from God, we can say he's left us and we're all alone, but the truth is, is that God is in the same place He has always been. If it seems like your relationship has drifted from Him, then it's time for you to RUN back to Him, because the longer you wait the further you're going to drift from Him. When we come upon hard times we can look at them 3 ways we can whine and complain, we can turn to Him to help us through the situation and then learn from it, or we can have a combination of the two. Unfortunately I tend to drift more toward the last one, I'll complain of some situation I'm faced with but then in the end I'm grateful for all the lessons learned. How much easier would it be if at the start I'd just rely on Him to get me through it....

It's hard when we ask God for something and His response is NO, but so often we tend to take that "No" as a "He didn't answer, and I'll ask Him again". I need to be constantly reminded that even though God tells me no, that's ok, and like the song says "I'm not here for those things".

 The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:19-20: ¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. God did not put us here on this earth to accumulate treasures....because in the end all the money and possessions we get here, we're not going to be able to take with us. Our focus needs to be Him....our focus needs to be on the lost....our focus needs to be on making disciples and carrying His word to the ends of the earth....

Well enough about that....here's an update on life....school has been a roller coaster....I've made some great new friends, and I'm so glad we're all in this together! After a lot of "discussions" with deans and instructors, we all successfully passed first term! Second terms proves to be a tad more hectic and tiring....this term I'm taking Pharmacology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Foundations of Nursing, Nutrition, and then 2 days of clinicals. Pharm and Foundations are going to be my hardest 2 classes this term....but I've enjoyed them so far. We're told that if we can pass Pharm and Med-Surge (which is next term) then we'll be fine. I started clinicals this week, and they've actually been fun; having to be there at 6:30 AM is not my favorite part, but it's great getting to practice the skills we've learned at school. 

I've kind of had to back off some of what I do with our church just because there's so much to do school and now work wise (more about that later)....but I, with a lot of help, did recently got done planning our 72 Hour Prayer Event. This is something that got started at our church in Memphis (First Evan) by 2 guys who came up with the idea of having one there, and I brought it to Mt. Zion. We did one last year, and decided to do it again this year. It's always a hectic time trying to get all the details figured out, tent set up, reminders set up and what not, but when it's all said and done, it's such a relaxing time. A lot of people think they can't pray for an hour, but believe me, when you get in there that hour flies by! I always "enjoy" my time and we get some good feedback! We're hoping to make it an annual (or someone said a bi-annual) thing!

I finally got a job....It took a LONG time....but as my mom would tell me every time I mentioned I didn't hear anything after turning in an application or going to an interview "I guess that's not where God wanted you", I'm so impatient sometimes....I actually applied at 6 of our local Blockbusters, and got a call back from all but one of them. I ended up taking a job at the Blockbuster in Liberty, which means nothing to some of you, haha! Liberty is a city 30 minutes from my house and 30 minutes from school. It's kind of nice getting job simular to the one I previously had :) 

Well....that's long, so if you made it this far I congratulate you. Heading off to watch How to Train Your Dragon!

Until next time....

take my life and let it be yours....

Glory to god

Glory to god

Glory to god forever

Take my life and let it be

All for you and for your glory

Take my life and let it be yours 

-Glory to God [Steve Fee]

So a lot has happened between now and when you last heard from me, hence the long gap between posts....

The lyrics to this song have a lot to do with what I've been learning this Summer, which is why I picked them to be the theme through-out my update.

While in St. Louis, they would give us "group time",  and group time was basically a time for your church groups to meet together and talk about their day. Well it was the first night I had been there, and Jeff (youth pastor) asked question:

"Why are you in St. Louis?" 

If anyone had asked me prior to the trip I probably would have told them a variety of things, but it wasn't until 3 days after this question was asked, that I found the answer. 

During one of our worship sessions something the speaker said, stuck out to me. He said:

"We need to be ready to give everything up for Christ and His Kingdom"

So often I get caught up in the "giving it all to God" thing, but then not really giving it ALL to Him. 

I noticed that in my life I'll give God just parts of it....but then other parts I'll have a tight grasp on. That's not what God's called us to do....he's called us to let go of our lives, and realize that there's nothing we can do without Him. 

Before we left for St. Louis I honestly didn't know how well it was going to go, I felt like we were un-organized and un-prepared. We were supposed to arrive, meet the other group we were working with, and plan a VBS curriculum in less than 2 days. 

If anyone knows me at all, they know I like my schedules and I like my schedule to be organized, they know I want to know what's going to happen when, how, and why. This trip was far from MY normal....

I graduated in 2005, and here was MY plan for MY life:

-Go to school and get my BSN (graduate in 2009)

-Work for a couple of years

-Meet a guy and get married (after I'm done with school, but not before I was 25)

....and that was my plan, I had it all figured out....

Wanna know what my life has looked like since I graduated...:

-Graduated in 2009 with my General Associates

-Moved to KC at the end of 2008

-Graduated in 2010 with my Cosmetology License

-Started Nursing school in Summer of 2010

I couldn't have planned that in a million years....

This trip has made me realize how much I hold onto MY plans for MY future, when neither are mine! My prayer is that I would give my life to God with an open hand.....that God would take my life and let it be HIS, that everything I do would be for the glory of him....For too long I've made MY plans....and now it's time that I let GOD'S plans work through me. 

Now a little more about St. Louis itself. It was such an amazing trip. Our group met up with Bethel's group, and we planned our curriculum. All of the students really showed leadership during that week....they all stepped out of their comfort zone and did what needed to be done. They stepped up to the plate, and some of them went above and beyond what was called of them. I think overall we had 57 kids enrolled during that week of VBS, and it was such a joy to see the students pouring out their time and love for the sake of these kids...to watch them go door to door sharing the gospel, praying, handing out invites, and just getting to know the people... We were in a small building so a lot of what was done, was done OUTSIDE. It got hot, things didn't always go as planned, the kids weren't always good, and they got tired, but they kept going!  I am so blessed to be able to take part in the STL Project 2010!!! 

I just finished my 2nd week of nursing school, it has been interesting to say the least. They've got some interesting characters teaching at the school....and they seem sort of un-organized....but what I keep having to tell myself is that it's just for 14/15 months, and then I'll be out of there! But since I've started, I have learned a lot and met a lot of new people :) There are 30 of us in my class, and we're set to graduate October 31, 2011! It's going to be a long hard journey, but we're all in it together....! I pray daily for a positive attitude and the strength to go on! 

Well that's about it....this one got kind of long, I hope I didn't bore you too much, whoever you are reading this :) I'm going to try to update more often now that I'm in school....so you can kind of get a glimpse into the life of a Nursing Student....but I promise they'll be shorter! 

Until next time....

St. Louis

Well, in the next hour or so myself and the rest of our team will be setting out for St. Louis, were we will join the rest of our group, who left yesterday.


Please pray for our group as we minister to the kids and families we interact with!


Also pray for our bus, which is currently in the job because of a broken belt, pray that they're able to find the right part and fix it rather quickly! 


I'll update when I get back.


Until next time....

nothing without you....

Take my time here on this earth

And let it glorify all that You are worth

For I am nothing,

I am nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

-Nothing without You [Bebo Norman]

We did this song in youth group a couple weeks ago, and I just really like the words. It just made me stop and realize that we truly are NOTHING without Him, and sometimes I forget that. I tend to get really caught up in what I can do to benefit me and my future, and every once in awhile I Just need to be reminded that my ultimate goal should be what I can do to glorify 

So the past couple of weeks have been rather exciting! It's been so great having Maggie and the boys (Bo and Dave) here, along with Tim, Jeni and the girls (Sophia and Naomi)! Also a friend of my mom's and Maggie's, Seth, and another friend of Maggie's, Kelly, came to visit. It's really been a lot of fun! It's been so cute watching NayNay, Sophia, Bo, and Dave play together along with our kids, they're all so sweet! Needless to say, our house has been rather full the past couples of weeks :) We'll be sad to see them go =(

Tomorrow the majority of our St. Louis team leaves bright and early. We're kind of flying blind for this project, so it'll be interesting. Basically we're all going into this trusting that God has a plan and as long as we're following that plan and we're flexible and open to whatever He has to say, then it should be fine. I'm not saying it will be easy, because leading VBS for 80-100 kids is NEVER easy....but if we can leave that week saying "God's will was done" then we've done what we where sent there to do. Just pray for our team as we're there....Pray for our students going, for the leaders, for the organization we'll be working with, for the kids and familes we'll be ministering to, pray we'll all have good attitudes, and that we'll have open and receptive hearts to what's being said and taught, so that we're able to clearly present the messages to those around us.

I start school in 11 days, I am actually very excited....I am not a big fan of school, so that will be a struggle, but I am ready to have a little more structure in my life. I have always liked having a schedule knowing what I'm doing when, where, and who with....so yeah. 

Well that's about all I have time for right now because I have little nephews wanting some attention.

until next time....

our GOD is greater....

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? 

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? 

What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God… 

i love the lyrics to this song....we took a group of students to camp last week, and this was one of the songs we did a lot! i think it really describes GOD himself....so often we get caught up in our own strength, when really, we need to be relying fully on Him. 

i think as Christians we know that our GOD is greater, stronger, and higher than any other....but sometimes we just need to be reminded of that. 

GOD can do some amazing things if we just let Him....but being the humans we are, we tend to try to do thing our own way...and then when we fail once....or twice...or maybe even three or four times we will then turn to GOD for his help. 

why is it so hard for us to go to him first? we need to let our pride go, and realize that there isn't anything we can do on our own. if it weren't for GOD we wouldn't be here today....we wouldn't be able to take a single breath....

we serve an amazing GOD, so why is it so hard for us to make time for him?

so many times we all get so caught up in our lives that GOD just gets put on the back burner. 

its amazing to me the things i make time for (facebook, texting, or whatever else) and can't make time to sit down and just study God's word and pray....i've talked to so many people that say "oh i don't know where God is, i feel like He's just left me" when in reality God never leaves us....sure we'll chose to walk away from him, but he will NEVER walk away from us. 

a lot of times we only think of God when we need something....we should be going to God no matter what the situation. i know that many times i take what i have for granted....even just waking up in the morning, i go to sleep at night with the expectation that i'm going to get up in the morning and go throughout my day....i don't know why because it's not like we are promised tomorrow! i get in my car to drive somewhere and just expect to make it where i'm going....we need to be living every moment like it's our last....

ok onto life.

like i posted in my "quick update" i got into nursing school :) i start classes july 19th! 

i officially no longer have a job, i've put in many applications, but haven't gotten any positive feedback....or if i have it's not for the times i need....once i start school i will be in class 8-5 every day, so i really need a night job, but a lot of the places that have gotten back to me, they need a day person. i will continue to turn in application, and i am just trusting God that he has the right job out there for me.

these next couple weeks we have my sister in law and her boys (and friend, Kelly) here (Taylor [my older brother, her husband] is deployed right now....they live in Cali, so we really don't get to see them a lot, so it's nice that they get to come down and visit for more than just a week...) and then sometime this week my brother, Tim, and his wife and girls will be coming to stay for a bit, so it'll be great to see them all!! we hardly ever get to all be under one roof at the same time! 

so the rest of my summer will consist of job hunting, spending time with family and friends, going on a missions trip to St. Louis with our youth group, and starting school.

until next time....

quick life update.

I am currently at Super Summer Camp with some youth students, I don't have a ton of time so I am just going to give some highlights on what's been going on recently.


1. I GOT INTO THE CONCORD NURSING PROGRAM!

2. I am now a licensed Cosmetologist, and am able to practice in the state of Missouri.
3. My store closed down, Movie Gallery store #3075 is no more :(
4. I'm at Super Summer Camp with some youth students, and its been amazing experience! 

Well that's my quick life update, I'll write a real on once I get back home!
Until next time....

Impossible....

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard 

Impossible is not a word 

It’s just a reason for someone not to try 

Everybody’s scared to death 

When they decide to take that step 

Out on the water 

It’ll be alright 

Life is so much more 

Than what your eyes are seeing 

You will find your way 

If you keep believing 

-What Faith Can Do [Kutless]

It's funny the things that hold us back, a simple 10 letter word....IMPOSSIBLE. How many times does this word stop us from doing what we really want/need to do? How many times have you heard "Oh my gosh, I can't do that, that'd be impossible!" 

I've come to the conclusion that I am my biggest obstacle. So many times what's holding me back, is me! I recently took my State Board Practical and my NET (Nursing Entrance Test) both of which where pretty easy, but of course 1-2 weeks before I was panicking and freaking out because I didn't think I'd be able to pass them, even though I KNOW the stuff. Its funny how we can hype ourselves up so much to the point where we think we can't do anything. A lot of times we do that because we're relying on our own strength to get us through....but when we stop and breath we realize it's all going to be ok. Like in the lyrics posted above, it says "Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing" and it's so true! Sometimes God just asks us to step out in faith, sometimes we can't see the end results and it may seem like a stupid or impossible idea, but if we just realize that God knows what he's doing, then it'll all work out! 

(BTW: I received the results for my NET, I got a 91 in the Math and a 73 in Reading [I just needed at least a 54 in each to apply for Nursing school] my State Board Practical I have not gotten the results back yet but am pretty sure I passed :]) 

Well everyone has been wanting to see a picture of my dog Zoey, so here she is:

L-R: Sarah (Friend from church), Zoey, and Abbi (sister)

Well I'm still on the hunt for a job..so far I've filled out 10 different applications for 15 different positions, and tomorrow I'm going back out looking again. Something is bound to turn up :)

Until next time...

Be Strong in the Lord....

Love these lyrics:


Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,

You're going to 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,

These are the words I would say.

Hello blog world :)

It's time to update again! I took my Nursing Entrance Test the other day, something I was really nervous about taking...I had to pass my math and reading sections with at least a 57....yeah I nailed it...got a 91 in math and 73 in reading. My admissions person said I had a really good chance of getting into the RN program that starts July 19th....but I think she tells everyone that ;) I feel pretty good about it all though...I did really well on the NET and next Wed. I have my interview with the Nursing Program Director! 

I'm still on the search for another job...I've applied many different places....and I finally got a call back from Baskin Robbins, which I'm pretty excited about :) I would really like a job at a hospital (preferably an ER..) but not sure that's going to happen....Movie Gallery has been pretty exciting....NOT...it's been so slow ever since people found out we're closing....none of us really know what we're doing because we really haven't been told anything other than "your store is closing"....we haven't received any of our paperwork or sign-age, so there really isn't much for us to do except answer questions people have...like "are you still closing?" or "why is your store closing?: or "where am I supposed to rent my movies now?!" or my personal favorite:

Customer: "i know the sign on your door says you're closing, are you really closing?"

Me: "yes, we're closing"

Customer: "I also noticed it says you aren't getting Avatar, are you really not getting it?"

Me: "No, I am sorry we're not getting it"

Customer: "You're not getting it at all?!?!"

good times....

Well nothing else exciting has happend....I really need to get to cleaning my room so that's what I'll be doing for the rest of the night :)

Good night world!

~Tina

life.

So I haven't blogged in a long while, so I figured it was time for a "Life" update.

I am now a graduate of the Regency Beauty Institute....and later next month I will be taking my state boards to become a licensed cosmetologist, which is GREAT if that's the field I wanted to work in. Now don't get me wrong, I love doing hair, nails and basic skin care, but it's not something I want to be doing 8-9 hours a day, which I realized 3/4 of the way through the program. 

So what's next? Well I have decided I am going back to school to get my RN and eventually my BSN. I will still do hair on the side, but I am really wanting to get back into the medical field. Granted, the only time I have been in the medical field was 7 years ago and it was just as an ER Volunteer. But it was an awesome 9 months, and it was something I could totally see myself doing for years to come. I know I know, when I originally started college, that's what I was going for, but then felt like that's not what I was supposed to do, so went for Cosmetology...and now I'm back to where I started. 

Anyways, I have found a school that offers a 16 month program here in Kansas City, yeah it's going to school 8-5 everyday, but it would be totally worth it if I can get my RN in just 16 months. I failed the STUPID 12 minute, 50 question test you have to take to even be considered to apply....so I will go back this week to take it. My admissions counselor said this "It's ok, next time just take your time but go a little faster"....yeah ok. If I get accepted I will be able to start in July! 

Well that's enough about school. 

I just found out yesterday that our Movie Gallery store is closing, we'll all be out of jobs in 6-8 weeks, the perks...we get a .50 bonus, but that's ONLY if we stay til the last day. There's a lot I am going to miss about my job, but at the same time I will be glad to be done with that company. So once again, the job search is on. 

Well that's about all that fun and interesting in my life....