She is Clothed in Strength & Dignity

I am loving the current She Reads Truth Devotional centered around God's Promises. It is a simple message but also really makes you think about just how blessed you are to receive God's Grace! Today's scripture was Isaiah 30:18.

I try to find my own strength and sometimes lean on the strength of my friends and family for help but I know that strength has limits! God's Strength is LIMITLESS! I can try to do it on my own but I will always fail because I find myself being broken down and discouraged but when I look to God for His Power then I know I'm in Mighty Hands :)

Reminds me of the strength that the women I see at Assure need so much! They are scared and lost which is exactly how every woman has felt at some point in her life. God heals and offers hope to those woman that seek Him. I had my first shift at the new West Office and feel blessed to be part of this ministry...plus it isn't bad working in such a beautiful environment! Check it out...

All Wrapped Up into One Day // Worship Wednesday

Today is a very significant day for multiple reasons. It's a hard day because I know that my best friend and her family are hurting. They went through something very difficult a year ago that is pretty shocking, yet when I see their resilience and faith, I am reminded that this doesn't have to be labeled as a "sad day". 

I can honestly say that Kendra has played a significant role in shaping my faith and her friendship has made an impact on not only my life here on Earth but in my Forever Home in Heaven. Wow, that's deep stuff...but it's the truth and it is what is on my heart today as I think of the heartbreak her family endured. So I think it is no coincidence that this day is also National See You at the Pole Day.

  

I have no doubt millions of people across the nation were praying not only for their school, classmates and teachers but also healing. Whether that be healing from sickness, loneliness or a broken heart. God can work wonders through prayer and it is powerful that today so many young people are joining together for one mission. A peaceful demonstration and positive gesture in this broken world reminds me of the song by Kari Jobe called 'We Are'. The song is an anthem for living like Christ and walking in your faith as an open example for others. 

Every secret, every shame
Every fear, every pain
Live inside the dark
But that's not who we are
We are children of the day

So wake up sleeper, lift your head
We were meant for more than this
Fight the shadows conquer death
Make the most of the time we have left

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
Let the light shine, let the light shine

We are called to the spread the news
Tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there's freedom in His Name
So let His love break through

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

One Year Wedding Anniversary

Where did that year go? Seems like not too long ago I was running around Omaha gathering up supplies for our wedding or calling/texting my sister and mom several times a day to finalize all the details. It was a fun, hectic and amazing time that I sometimes wish I could go back to but then I think of the love that has grown between Alex and I in just one year! I can't wait to see what the next five, ten, and fifty years brings!

We celebrated by relaxing together on the weekend which is something that we actually rarely do with our work schedules or traveling different places to see family or friends. 

After my 5K race  I came home to make homemade "Sweet Swine" pizza and watch the Packers game with Alex.

 Unfortunately the Packers lost but that wasn't spoiling our Anniversary day ;) Alex's mom stopped by to drop off a lovely house plant and a thoughtful card. 

Alex's "I don't know what to do with it" face

Even though the pizza was really simple to make, I was ready to have someone else make us dinner so we headed out west to one of Alex's favorite restaurants Kona Grill. 

Of course I wanted any excuse to wear a dress so Alex was forced to put on some dress clothes too. After ordering their delicious edamame and crab crunch rolls it was time for the main course! The waiter talked Alex into getting the pork loin and I had the house favorite macadamia nut chicken. 

"Lets take a picture in front of the fish!"

Both were delicious and left us very full but not too full to forget about dessert! We took some banana cream pie home for later and I reluctantly "shared" dessert with Alex. We are both bad at keeping surprises so we had exchanged gifts the day before and actually got each other THE SAME THING! So I guess with only one year into marriage we know each other pretty well ;) I checked my email Saturday night (not thinking there would be a gift waiting for me among all the junk mail) and I was excited to see a one hour massage! 

Worship Wednesday - Give Me Your Eyes

This song by Brandon Heath is so dear to my heart because the second I start to hear the introduction I am taken back to Tanzania, Africa. This song sums up my experience in Africa like no other journal entry or conversation can. Love for the Humanity encompasses the simplicity of what that medical-mission trip was all about! 

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere, 
Why have I never cared?

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

Ones that are far beyond my reach.

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

Yeah

Yeah

Step out on a busy street

See a girl and our eyes meet

Does her best to smile at me

To hide what's underneath

There's a man just to her right

Black suit and a bright red tie

Too ashamed to tell his wife

He's out of work

He's buying time

All those people going somewhere

Why have I never cared?

I've Been there a million times

A couple of million eyes

Just moving past me by

I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well I want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all along

Photo Book of Black Hills Vaca

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Remembering 9/11 & Worship Wednesday

Most of us woke up today from the sound of our alarm clock and not from a nightmare of the image of the Twin Towers falling. For that I am grateful but also saddened that so many people still have these horrific visions implanted in their memory. As a nurse I take care of patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some can find a little relief by taking a pill but medicine can only do so much unfortunately and many of these victims struggle every day to regain some sort of normalcy in life. I am no expert on this topic but my heart goes out to those that were present at Ground Zero that day and for the many firefighters, police officers, veterans, and current military men and women who are affected by PTSD. So if you are a praying person, please take the time today to ask God to wrap His arms around these men and women as a thank-you for their courageous acts! 

I know I have featured another Need To Breath Song before but they are just SO GOOD! So I can't help myself by featuring my second favorite song by them called "Washed By the Water".  As you listen to the song, you can hear their passion for the story behind the lyrics. But you can also interpret the song your own way whether it be a melody about baptism, endurance or standing up for what you believe in when no one else does! 

Daddy was a preacher

She was his wife

Just tryin to make the world a little better

You know, shine a light

People started talking

Just to hear their own voice

Those people tried to accuse my father

Said he made the wrong choice

Though it might be painful

You know that time will always tell

Those people have long since gone

My father never failed

Chorus

Even when the rain falls

Even when the flood starts rising

Even when the storm comes

I am washed by the water

Repeat Chorus

Even when the Earth crumbles under my feet

Even when the ones I love turn around and crucify me

I wont never ever let you down

I wont fall

I wont fall

I wont fall as long as youre around me

On the same topic of Water..check out one of Self Magazines 2013 Women Doing Good Honorees that is fighting for access to clean water world wide. Marla Smith-Nilson writes that through this organization, called Water 1st, her most inspiring moment was when, "An Ethiopian man called me their water mother. When their project was funded, he said to me, 'Now I know that God has touched the ground.'" 

Sharp Race Towards Brain Aneurysm Awareness

On Sunday I participated in a 5K that was truly special. Sometimes you sign up for races weeks in advance and the morning of the race you are thinking to yourself "why did I sign up for this..I just want to sleep in" but I'm really glad I got my butt out of bed for this one! One of the race sponsors was The Nebraska Medical Center so I had seen the signs posted in our break room and figured it would be a very worthy cause to donate to. Anita Sharp was a patient at TNMC after she developed a brain aneurysm during the holiday season last year. After the help of Dr. Thorell, a neurosurgeon, and numerous health care professionals she is doing remarkably well and is on her way to recovery! 

Working on a unit where patients don't stay very long and usually head to a rehab facility, I don't get to see my patients after they leave the hospital. So it was inspiring to see a patient that had once been in the ICU and was now enjoying a gorgeous day outside! 

Beautiful Day for a run at Lake Zorinski 

Dr. Thorell announcing that over 20 survivors were present for the race. 

 The race itself was a hot and muggy one! I finished in 31:24 which wasn't bad considering the hills and the heat. Each participant got 2 raffle tickets they could choose to place in different prize jars. They announced the winners of various raffle prizes but the REAL winners that day were the many survivors that showed up! Some even ran the 3.1 miles, which is an amazing testament to the endurance of the human spirit! 

If you don't like Coffee...

...then you probably aren't going to like this shake. But then again if you don't like coffee then you have bigger problems than just not liking this shake ;) Its ok, I won't hold it against anyone if they turn down espresso because I may have a slight problem. But if you are a coffee drinker like me and need a pre-workout boost then give this a whirl. There are similar recipes on Pinterest and this one stems from one I pinned awhile back. I rarely follow a shake recipe to a T because I'm usually just throwing in whatever I have available in my kitchen that sounds like a decent combo. 

// Ingredients //

1 Banana 

1/2 cup of frozen Strawberries & Raspberries 

1 cup of chilled coffee (leftover from the morning before because I'm the only coffee drinker in my home)

1/2 cup of Almond Breeze Milk

2 Tbsp of Flax Seed

Scoop of Protein Powder (mine was vanilla flavored)

 Blend it all together, close your eyes and chug it! Be prepared to be perked up and ready for your morning run! I love a combination of bananas and coffee...it may be weird but I think they fit nicely together :) If you don't like fruit in your coffee you may want to skip the strawberries and raspberries. 

August Cara Box Exchange

What a fun weekend...I can't believe it is September already! There are so many wonderful things that happen in September - Alex and I celebrate ONE year married, Mustang football season kicks off and of course my best friend Bailey welcomes a little girl into the world! And since Bailey didn't go into Labor on Labor Day, we have to wait just a little longer to meet Harper.

I figured it was about time to share my Cara Box from August since we are into another month already. I was paired up with Claire from Gypsy Slow Down and Amy from Love and Hot Chocolate. I had a wonderful time emailing and getting to know these two ladies through their blogs. They are very sweet and surprisingly both have two cats (maybe this is a sign that Kobe needs a companion too!) This month's Cara Box theme was centered around getting to know a blogger that is in your similar stage of life. Claire, Amy and I were in the category of Newlyweds so it was fun to chat with ladies that had planned weddings not to long ago. 

I sent Claire a package tailored towards her love for reading and included a little special something for her cats. Amy sent me a wonderful gift complete with scrap booking supplies, an inspirational magnet, jewelry holder, candle, nail polish, Christmas ornament and a thoughtful card! 

I lit the candle right away and tried out the jewelry holder with my wedding ring... Looks perfect! 

If you could like to join in on the fun and send your very own Cara Box, visit Kaitlyn's blog @ Wifessionals 

To see others from this month click Here.