Christmas Time

Merry Christmas to everyone!


While it sure doesn't look like it's Christmas time outside (the sun is shining and I can see green grass on the lawns), it's Christmas Day and I am rejoicing in the birth of our Lord.


I had a wonderful day with my family yesterday and have already had a great morning with my parents and siblings.  Now we are getting ready for my dad's family to come over in a bit!


The other day I heard a song by Phil Wickham that I had not heard before called Christmas Time.  It is a simple, happy song and I was thinking of it this morning while sitting around the fire opening presents with my family.  


Enjoy your day!


Here is a link to the song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6u8iABIlm0

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is just days away and everything is coming together.


This afternoon I went home to help my parents get our house all set and clean for our extended family to come over on Christmas day.  My little brother got home from school tonight and we all went out to dinner and it was great!  


I came back to my apartment after dinner (because I have to work Thursday and Friday - I don't know how people have jobs where they have to work 5 days a week...) and on the drive I was admiring the Christmas decorations - especially the lights - and I couldn't help but think that it really is a wonderful time of year.  Not that the rest of the year isn't great, but there is just something special about the anticipation of the holidays and of seeing friends and family that you haven't seen for a while.  


Once I was home I turned my Christmas tree lights on as well as the lights I've got decorating the kitchen, played some Christmas music and used my newly fixed oven (I am so grateful to have a landlord that responds quickly to my roommate and I when we have a problem) to bake a batch of cookies to bring to work tomorrow.  I also made a very delicious looking chicken/pasta/broccoli meal that I will eat for dinner for the next few days.  


All in all, it was a very productive day and I will be humming myself to sleep with the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (my favorite version of this song is sung by Frank Sinatra).


Don't know if I'll get a chance to write again before the holidays, if I don't, may all of you celebrating have a blessed time with your families and loved ones!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things (Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes)

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens    (Yes)
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens  (Doesn't really matter to me)
Brown paper packages tied up with strings  (Love the idea, too bad it doesn't happen anymore)
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels (Don't really think about it)
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles (Doorbells and sleigh bells, yes)
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings (It's a pretty sight)
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes  (White and blue? Yes, please)
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes (YES)
Silver white winters that melt into springs (Yes)
These are a few of my favorite things


I grew up somewhat obsessed with The Von Trapp Family and Fraulein Maria from The Sound of Music.  Due to my love for that movie, a few of my favorite things have been biased because I love the song, "These are a Few of My Favorite Things."  In the movie I love the song and I love the scene in which it takes place.


Well, this song jumped into my mind this morning when I woke up, looked out the window and saw some REAL snow!  I'm excited to go out and play!


I am also now in the mood to watch this movie.... I'm sure it will be on TV soon as it usually is around Christmas time... or my parents have it on VHS... hmmm... I may have to go steal it from them sometime!

Let It Snow!

So far this holiday season it has snowed only a little - just a dusting - and if it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow!


Christmas eve is only a week away and I am in full blown holiday spirit!  I am bombarded with holiday shoppers on Michigan Avenue every time I leave work.  I am in awe of the beauty of the city with the Christmas lights sparkling on the trees and love the sound of the Salvation Army bells being rung by the volunteers.  When I get home I sit on the couch and look at the Christmas tree with too many presents under it for my family and friends.  


I Love Christmas!


But, we still need snow!  So the song of the week is "Let It Snow!"

Mr. Know It All

I have decided to make it a mission of mine to not judge people by their covers or what I think I know about them.  This is a terrible thing that I have done in the past and over the past twenty four hours I have realized what a mistake it is.  


I have been a Mrs. Know It All.  


The song, "Mr. Know It All" by Kelly Clarkson has a lyric in it - 


Mr. Know It All
Well ya think you know it all
But ya don't know a thing at all
Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me
You don't know a thing about me


An acquaintance of mine passed away on Sunday and I am someone who judged him by what I thought I knew about him.  I've known him since I was young and I didn't take the time to really find out about the person he had turned into over the years.  While I enjoyed his company when I saw him I brushed him off thinking of him as a kid who didn't have direction.  I feel terrible.  I thought I knew about him and I didn't at all.  When I saw something funny he had said on facebook, one less than a week ago, I didn't take the time to comment or show him that I cared.  Why didn't I?    


Take inventory of the people in your life and think about what you really know about them.  Do you think you know all that there is to know or do you make assumptions about them based on what you see from snippets of your time with them?  I let my preconceived ideas get the best of me and I can't let that happen again.  


All I know is that I will be thinking a lot more on this subject and make it a point to ask questions, listen for answers, and value the experiences, thoughts and beliefs that a person carries with them before I decide what kind of person they are.  Really, I should not even be the one deciding what kind of person they are, but I should let them show me and make that showing teach me what kind of person they are.

Thank You

I know I'm a few days late, but last week was Thanksgiving and I don't even know where to begin with everything that I am thankful for.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, group of friends, a job that I really enjoy, my health, food and shelter, happiness, love, and everything else.

Therefore, the song of the week is Daryl Black's, "Thank You."

I am also thankful for the year ahead.  Perhaps the most exciting and most challenging part of the next year will be SCHOOL!  I have applied for a master's program that I am really excited about.  I'll find out in the next month or so if I have been accepted and then will start in January.  It all came about pretty quickly, but it is something that I have been thinking about for awhile - it finally just happened that everything fell into place and I found a school and program that both fit me really well.

I saw two quotes the other day and it's something that I am going to try to strive to do each day -

"Dear God, I wanna take a minute, not to ask for anything from you, but simply to say thank you for all I have."

"Don't forget to pray today, because God didn't forget to wake you up this morning."

Have to remember that every day should be thanksgiving and not just one day a year!

I Was Here

Beyonce.  What can I say, that woman is an absolutely incredible talent and performer.  I heard her new song this morning, "I was Here," and I love the lyrics.  I think about the legacy that I am leaving and the legacy that I want to leave pretty regularily and this song puts my thoughts and hopes into words.
Check out the lyrics - 
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of timeKnow there was something that, and something that I left behindWhen I leave this world, I'll leave no regretsLeave something to remember, so they won't forget
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here
I want to say I lived each day, until I dieAnd know that I meant something in, somebody's lifeThe hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leaveThat I made a difference, and this world will see
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here
I just want them to knowThat I gave my all, did my bestBrought someone to happinessLeft this world a little better just because
I was here
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will know
Copied from MetroLyrics.com 


Even the music video is pretty cool, take a look at it on Vevo - http://www.vevo.com/watch/beyonce/i-was-here-live-at-roseland/USSM21102003

God Of This City

I first heard the song, "God Of This City," sung by Chris Tomlin at a conference when I was a junior in college.  The song comes to me at strange times- when I'm driving in the city, when I'm sitting on the train, when I'm at work, or even when I'm just with friends.  


Last week I became aware of an organization, one that I had heard of before, but had never really considered before.  The group is called Big Brothers, Big Sisters and it is something that I am really interested in becoming a part of.  Whether I decide that I want to become a mentor or just volunteer at one of the clubs in the city, I am excited.  I am excited to know that while I help people at work, now I will be helping someone out of my own volition, not just because I am at work.  


The reason that the song "God Of This City" is prevalent is because there are clubs all over Chicago and from what I can see through my research is that they are doing great things.  There is so much that needs to be done, people need to remember that they are not going about their own daily lives separate from everyone else, but that they are a part of a larger society that needs to do more to help those around them.    


As the song says, "greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done here."

Thriller

Tomorrow is Halloween.  Definitely not one of my favorite holidays, but it's a fun day none the less.  I remember being little and being so excited to run around with all of my neighborhood friends amassing as much candy as we could carry.


This year, while I won't be trick-or-treating or even handing out candy (how do kids trick-or-treat in the city?), I was able to make a costume and go out with some friends down in Springfield.  We had some fun arts-and-crafts time making our costumes and once at the bar we were told by many people that our costumes were their favorites!  Yay!  My roommate was the ABCs while my other friends and I were a game of beer pong.  Here's a picture - 

In honor of tomorrow being October 31st, the song of the day is 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson.  It's the perfect creepy, great song for Halloween!

Sleepwell Chicago

A few years ago I heard a Christmas song by an artist named Trent Dabbs.  Other than that one song, I had never heard any of his other songs until just recently.

I was watching tv a few weeks ago and heard a song that I immediately thought "wow, that sounds like that guy who sings my favorite Christmas song."  I googled the lyrics and low and behold, it was a Trent Dabbs song!  I have now you-tubed him and listened to a number of his songs and am itching to go to the library and see if they have any of his CDs.

One of his songs, "Sleepwell Chicago," is the song of my day.  The tone of his voice is so simple and just because he sings about Chicago, I automatically like the song :-).

I highly suggest finding some of his songs online!

I Love College

It's been two and a half years since I graduated college and this weekend is homecoming at my alma mater.  While I cannot go this year, I am reminded of all of my incredible friends and memories from my four years of college.

One song that my friends and I repeatedly sang our senior year was called "I Love College" by Asher Roth.  We heard it on our spring break trip and for the rest of the year we played it constantly.

I love the life that I've been living since college and am so grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given, but I still miss the feeling of being on a college campus walking across the quad in my jeans and jacket marveling at the changing leaves and saying hello to so many people on a daily basis.  I miss having such a big part of my group just a few steps from me and always available for a chat or hangout.

I suppose a better song would be "I Miss College."  However, then I would be wanting a song about loving my post-college life :-).  Can't have the best of both worlds!

Days Go By

The first Keith Urban song I remember hearing was "Days Go By."  From that day on I knew that I would be a fan of his.


Last night I went to the second to last concert of Keith Urban's Get Closer World Tour with my good friend from high school.  We got a head start and had dinner at a little whole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in Des Plaines and then headed over to Allstate Arena for the show.  I was pleasantly surprised by the opening act, Jake Wilson, and look forward to hearing more of him because I think he has a lot of potential.  

Me and V before the show! 

Jake Owen 

Smiling and playing

The main attraction, Keith Urban, was fantastic!  He seemed so genuinely happy to be playing for us and was very personable and funny with the crowd.  His banter came naturally as did his smile which made him seem just like a normal person who happens to have an amazing talent and 'day job.'  Overall he put on a great show and the whole crowd had a ton of fun!  

I've Got a Crush

Yes... I have a crush on someone.  I'm not going to go into any details like who.  Don't you think it's fun to have crush on someone?  Someone who you hope to see or run into, someone who can make your heart skip a beat?  


Song of the day is "I've Got a Crush," performed by the one and only Ella Fitzgerald.


How glad the many millions of Timothys and Williams
Would be to capture me
But you had such persistence,
you wore down my resistance
I fell, and it was swell

You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you, I shall never, never know

It's not that you're attractive
but, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view

I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night-time,
hear me sigh
I never had the least notion
That I could fall with so much emotion

Could you coo?
Could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share?
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you

(instrumental break)

Could you coo?
Could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share?
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you

Yes, I've got a crush, my baby, on you


Whatever happens, it's just fun to have the anticipation of seeing someone :-).

Somebody Else's Song

I've been a floor nurse for almost 2 and a half years now and I am ready to move on.  Do I want to move to the ICU?  Do I want to get my masters?  If I get my masters I think that I would go the management & leadership route.  The only part of going that way is that it would take me out of patient care.  I love patient care, that is why I am a nurse, but of all of the graduate programs/routes for nurses, I feel like I could do this.  I've been thinking about this for a long time, but something is holding me back, something is keeping me from making the leap into something new.


The song of my day is "Somebody Else's Song" by Lifehouse.


Here are some of the lyrics 


"I've got somebody else's thoughts
In my head, I want some of my own
I want some of my own, I want some of my own

Well, am I hiding behind my doubts?
Are they hiding behind me
And closer to finding out?
It doesn't mean anything"


Historically, I have been a doubter of myself and of my abilities.  This intensified when I was in nursing school and had a professor question me and my desire to be a nurse and who questioned my ability to succeed.  This professor's comments shook my to my core and I don't know that all of my psyche has ever fully recovered.  


When I think about moving to an ICU I question my knowledge base and my ability to handle the intensive care.  When I think about grad school and becoming a manager of a unit, I question my leadership and ability to play out that role successfully in a hospital.  Part of me hears my professors words in my head, knocking me down.  Part of me hears my own words in my head knocking me down even more.


I don't like having negative thoughts in my head, and they are thoughts that I have to remind myself are untrue.  I know that I am good at what I do.  I know that I am knowledgeable.  But why is it so hard for me to make the leap into the unknown?

It Is Well With My Soul

It's a beautiful day outside and all is 'well with my soul.'  The song of the day is the Jars of Clay version of "It Is Well With My Soul."




When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
What ever my lot you have taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though the devil will ruin, though trials may come
Let this blessed assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And He shed His own blood for my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
And the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Wait For Me

This past weekend I had the joy of attending the wedding of one of my best college friends.  She is not the first of my really good friends to be married, not even the first to start having babies.  


While I couldn't be happier to see my friends so happy with their lives, it is still a bit of a slap in the face.  I am not a jealous person and I don't typically covet what others have.  However, when I see my friends so happy and finding the person that they want to spend the rest of their lives with, I can't help but want what they have.  I hope and pray that someday I find someone who I can spend the rest of my own life with and that God has a man in his plan for me.  


The song of my day is by Rebecca St. James and it's called "Wait For Me."


How do I know if that is His plan for me though?  I know, I'm young, I have plenty of time - at least that's what I tell myself... but that doesn't mean that I still don't hope that I get to experience what they are experiencing sooner rather than later.  I guess I just have to continue to remind myself that while I am waiting for 'that guy,' 'that guy' is out there, somewhere, waiting for me too.  

These Hard Times

It seems like every time I turn on the TV and see the news people are fighting or badmouthing or complaining about the state of the world.  What if all of these people tried acting to make a change instead of just talking about it?


These are the lyrics to NEEDTOBREATHE's song, "These Hard Times"


Give me something brighter
Give me something I can see
Give me something vicious
Give me something I can be
Give me all the love and peace
To end these wars
Give me something sacred
Something worth fighting for

It's clear enough to me
The ugliness I see
Is evidence of who I need

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times

Give me motivation
Give me all my heart's desires
Show me something gorgeous
Show me till my eyes get tired
Give me all the drums and
Show me how to play them loud
Show me how to move
When I can't feel that you're around

It's clear enough to me
The ugliness I see
Is evidence of who I need

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times

We hide like thieves in shadows
Scared of the sun
We know the light will find us
Us and all we've done

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times 

Give me an answer
Give me a way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times

What a Wonderful World

While the weather outside is nasty - cool, rainy, and gray - today's song of the day is Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."

Today marks the 6th anniversary of my Gram's death and the song that we played at both her and my grampa's funerals was this song.  It took awhile for me to be able to listen to this song without tears forming, but now when I hear it I think of my grandparents and my memories of them.

I hope you're having a good day so far!

Bleed Red

This is a topic I wrote about in May when Osama Bin Laden was killed, and it's appropriate to talk about it again.


September 11, 2001.


On Sunday the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 will be upon us.  The reason I am writing this tonight instead of on Sunday is because I'm working the next few days and wanted to make sure I put my thoughts out in the world before the day has come and gone.  


The song of the past few days and for the coming days, for me, is "Bleed Red" by Ronnie Dunn.


9/11 is a date that I will never forget for the sadness, fear and confusion that it brought.  But also for the unity, faith, and compassion that it brought.  


We can all easily bring back the horrible feelings of that day.  With all that is going on in the world right now - the wars, the hatred, the financial turmoil, political unrest, fighting between parties and governments, etc, it is more difficult to conjure up the feelings of unit, faith and compassion that such a terrible day brought upon our country.   


I remember hearing of so many firefighters, policeman, nurses, doctors, just plain old regular people packing their bags and heading out to NYC after the attacks.  I remember seeing our beautiful flag flying from every house up and down my street, from so many cars on the road, pictures hung from business doors, and signs saying "Proud to be an American."  This was the first time I had seen and felt that our country was united for a cause.  It was the first time I had lived through an event so powerful that not one single person was unaffected by it whether they lived thousands of miles from me or just next door.  People were helping one another.  People were thoughtful, altruistic and not asking what was being done for them, but what they could do for others.  


My song for this anniversary is "Bleed Red" because it reminds us that we are all people.  No matter our color to the world, our background, our faith, our orientation, or our income, we are all people.  We all bleed red.  We are all the same.   I believe that it is time for us to use this anniversary as a stepping stone to becoming a unified country again and to forget all of our petty differences and to work as a unified group again for the best of the country.  This is my prayer going into Sunday.


Here are some of the lyrics to the song - 
Let’s say were sorry, before it’s too late, give forgiveness a chance
Turn the anger into water; let it slip through our hands
We all bleed red, we all taste rain, all fall down, lose our way, 
We all say words we regret, we all cry tears, we all bleed red

If we’re fighting, we’re both losing; we’re just wasting our time
Because my scars, they are your scars and your world is mine
You and I, we all bleed red, we all taste rain, all fall down, lose our way
We all say words, we regret, well cry tears, we all bleed red
Sometimes we’re strong, sometimes we’re weak, sometimes we’re hurt and it cuts deep
We live this life, breath to breath, we’re all the same; we all bleed red

Stereo Hearts

Oh my goodness, I fell asleep with a song stuck in my head last night, woke up with it playing in my head this morning and have been singing it to myself all day long.   I really like the song and the lyrics, but I have to admit that I want it out of my head!  


The song is Gym Class Heroes (featuring Adam Levine) song 'Stereo Hearts.'  


The lyrics are endearing and I've been a fan of Adam Levine's for a long time so it's fun that he is a part of the song too.


If I could only find a note to make you understand
I'd sing it softly in your ear and grab you by the hand
Just keep it stuck inside your head, like your favorite tune
And know my heart's a stereo that only plays for you

[Chorus]
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every note, oh oh
Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo


The video is good too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3E9Wjbq44E

We Live

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up.  These are the lyrics to Superchick's song, "We Live."


Living, loving and forgiving is something that we should all strive to do each and every day because we never know which day is going to be our last.

By Your Side

I must admit that I have not been very good about going to church this summer.  These past few weeks I've been thinking a lot about it and how I had been wanting to find a church where I felt more comfortable than at the other church that I had been going to.  Well, last Saturday night before going to bed I googled 'non-denominational church' near my zip code.  Guess what I found!  A church that was moving to a new location within walking distance to my apartment that sounded just like the type of church I had been praying for.  


So, this past Sunday I woke up and while a little nervous, went to the church and really enjoyed it.  Unfortunately I work the next few Sundays so I will be unable to attend, but I can't wait until I can go back.  Hopefully next time I'll be a little less nervous and a little more brave to talk to more people.  


One song that I've been listening to a lot lately is by Tenth Avenue North called "By Your Side."  It's sung from God's point of view - here are the lyrics 

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

(Chorus 2x)

I often wonder what God must think of my life and if he laughs, smiles, cries or yells "what are you doing?!".  I must remember that nothing is more important than having a relationship with Him and that no matter what I am doing or experiencing He is beside me, invisibly holding my heart and my hand in His hands.  This gives me such a feeling of comfort and strength to make it through my days.

Crazy

Sometimes I feel like my unit at the hospital is really a psych floor instead of a cardiac floor.  The song of the day is "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley.  Some days I can't believe that people can still surprise me with their words and actions.  Some days I also can't believe that I haven't gone crazy after spending so much time with these patients.  I think to myself - am I the one who is crazy, or is it every one around me?  Who knows :-).  All in all, people are N-U-T-S.  

The One Who Loves You The Most

It's an every day goal to be happy and comfortable in my own skin and one song that reflects this is by Brett Dennen, called "The One Who Loves You The Most."


The song has a very simple, folksy sound to it which is one of the reasons I like it.  I really like the lyrics of this song, especially the last few verses - 


When you forgive your imperfections
And you've auctioned all your clothes
And you look to see your true reflection
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most

Greased Lightening

My day off of work has been spent dealing with my car.  Therefore, the song of my day is 'Greased Lightening' from one of my all-time favorite musicals, Grease.  I can recite the words and arm movements of this scene from the movie and am not ashamed to admit it!


The trouble with my car started a few weeks ago when the right passenger seat flooded with water.  And when I say 'flooded,' I mean standing water was on the floor of the passenger seat.  I cleaned it up, attributed it to the air conditioner drain being blocked by leaves or something and haven't had a problem with it since.  However, on Friday afternoon, when I was trying to get to a wedding, the car would not start.  Everything turned on, but there was absolutely no sound coming from the engine.  Uh oh.  BIG uh oh.  I had to improvise and ended up taking the L to my brothers and basically hijacked his car.  


I tried jumping the car on Saturday with my roommates boyfriend (no luck).  Today my dad came down and we tried changing out the battery (no luck) and looked at all of the fuses (no luck).  So.  My car is now all by itself at a dealer in the city.  The tow truck driver who came was an elderly guy who looked exactly like the guy who played the basketball coach on One Tree Hill.  He called me 'kid' and 'little thing' and asked me why with an Irish name like mine I live up on the Northside instead of the Southside.  I told him I was a transplant but that I might have to move if the Cubs keep up their terrible act of being a baseball team.  


I suppose if my biggest problem is my car not starting then I am doing pretty well :-).

American Honey

A song that makes me think of innocence, youthfulness and a simple life is 'American Honey' by Lady Antebellum.

This song fits my night last night because while I have been a nurse for two years, I had never had a to face a patient's death head-on.  Yes, I have had patients that I have taken care of pass, but it has never happened under my watch.  Last night was different.  I was getting ready to go into one of my patient's rooms with some medication and on my way their call light went off.  As I walked into the room and greeted the patient's family who had arrived since the last time I had been in the room  I asked what I could do for them since the light was on.  While asking this question I realized that something was clearly not right with the patient and while the family had been feeding the patient just moments before, the patient was no longer breathing.  I won't go through the details, but this patient died.  Thankfully the patient and their family had previously made the decision to make the patient a DNR/DNI (do not resuscitate/do not intubate) and the patient was able to go peacefully and very quickly.

My innocence as a nurse, and as a person, has been lost.  I knew that the day would come when a patient of mine was going to pass while under my care - in this profession it is inevitable - but I would never have guessed that it was going to happen yesterday with this particular patient who had had me laughing the whole day.  Thankfully, it is a situation in which I can know with my whole heart that there is nothing that I could have done to have changed the outcome and I can believe that it truly was their time to join the Lord.

I grew up with a simple, naive life.  I have lost loved ones.  I have now witnessed a man take his last breath.  This first 'hands-on' experience with death will be one that I do not forget.

Hey Jude

This past weekend was a great one!

In summary - Friday I worked and when I got home my two great friends from college and my roommate were at my apartment waiting for me.  Saturday we walked around, hung out, went out to dinner and then had a little party at the apartment with a bunch of other friends from school.  Sunday was all about relaxation which involved playing frisbee and swimming at the beach, eating yummy home made pasta salad, walking around the Southport Summerfest that included Mike & Joe (an awesome coverband that we used to go see during college) and some delicious Dairy Queen.

Sunday night was also the first night of two Paul McCartney concerts at Wrigleyfield.... which meant that I sat on my porch and rocked out to old Beatles hits.  I've always wanted to hear Hey Jude performed live by the Sir Paul McCartney and I have now crossed it off of my bucket list!!!  There is nothing like hearing one of your favorite songs by the legend himself!

Because of this concert, the song of the past two days has really been any song by The Beatles.

I was thinking last night about what Mr. McCartney must think about when he reflects on his life.  It really is unfathomable to me.  I wonder what the highest point and lowest point of his life is.  How does he even begin to remember all of the places and experiences that he has had?  What is it like to know that  you played such a significant role in the history of music and pop culture?  I mean, really, he is just a guy, just one person, but his name will live forever.  How does a mere human being even begin to comprehend that?  That's all just some food for thought.

Good night!

Melody

I did some me-time shopping and walking around the city today.  It is something that I love to do, walk around the city and people watch and window shop and see what there is to see.

The song of my day was "Melody" by Kate Earl.

The song is about keeping a song forever in your head and never being alone because of the music you spend your day with.  Whether the song be a legit song or one that you make up, it keeps you company.  When my roommate is at work sometimes it becomes a long day of being alone, but, as this blog is about, I like to give my daily life it's own soundtrack.

Lately my melody has been songs off of Adele's "21" album.  I love the way you can feel the emotion of the song in the way that she sings.  What's the melody in your head?  Is it a song you've heard or a song that you've made up?

Indescribable

I just got home from the most amazing trip!  I took a long weekend trip to Denver, Colorado, where I visited with my little brother and got to see some of my extended family as well.


On Friday we walked around downtown Denver and Saturday was a packed day with hiking up a mountain at Chautauqua near Boulder.  I have never hiked before, and I still can't believe that I climbed up a mountain!  I climbed a mountain!  The whole time I was just in awe.  On Saturday night my brother and I were so exhausted that all we did was go see Horrible Bosses (which I highly recommend if you feel like laughing!).  Sunday morning we got up bright and early and drove out (and up) to Mt Evans.  What a beautiful location.  The mountain was absolutely gorgeous with snow covered peaks, pure lakes, mountain goats, and mountain views for as far as the eye could see.  We made a stop at the Red Rocks Amphitheater on the way back to Denver where we then had lunch with our extended family.  It was so nice to see them-it had been almost exactly a year since I had seen them.  After lunch my brother and I watched the end of the Women's World Cup game with some of his friends before heading over to the Coors Brewery in Golden, CO.  I like Coors, but I have to admit, Coors has nothing on the Anheuser-Busch tour.  Sunday night we hung out with a bunch of my brothers friends and just relaxed.  Monday morning, yesterday, we had a really nice breakfast at a cute little cafe in downtown Denver before we went over to my brothers favorite bookstore.  After browsing for a bit it was time for me to leave :-(.


I LOVED my time in Colorado - what an absolutely beautiful, majestic place.  The song of my weekend is Indescribable, by Chris Tomlin.  While looking at the mountains, and walking through them, I was in awe of God's creation.  God's hands made those mountains and he painted the sunsets that I witnessed.  He created the beautiful lakes and streams and views.  God is amazing!  While I saw this so clearly in Colorado, I know that His creation is beautiful no matter where I am - I just can't get complacent with what I'm seeing around me and remember that all of His creation is beautiful whether it's something that I see every day or once in a lifetime.


Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend -

Half-way up Mt. Evans

Chautauqua

The view driving into the mountains!