NCLEX Prep ..Park Edition.

"For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

Psalms 91:11

In order to become a licensed registered nurse (RN), each nursing school graduate must pass the NCLEX (basically, nursing boards). The NCLEX has brought me and my nursing friends much anxiety over the past couple years, and much more since graduation in December. For the majority of my class, jobs have been applied for and accepted on the basis that this exam is passed. And for me, knowing that everything I've worked toward my whole life rests on this ONE exam is quite terrifying!! 

My test was originally scheduled for January 17th. I was a nervous wreck! I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I was nauseous. I vomited  …a lot. I had so many panic attacks that week, I literally thought I was going to die.

But.

Then God stepped in. Doesn't He always show up? 

The Friday before my test, I was looking up an address for my testing center so I could make my test drive. Turns out, I never received confirmation of my testing date and the date/time I thought I had scheduled wasn't saved!! At first, I was angry - it was something else that didn't go "right" in nursing school, another obstacle to overcome, and another thing to "fix". Once the anger faded and reason came into play, rescheduling wasn't an issue at all. 

My new testing date is February 4th - a whole two and a half weeks later. Praise God!!

Today, just one week before this test, nerves are beginning to sick in again. However, they are lessened by about 100%. I feel a smidge more confident and I don't feel rushed. I'm sure this will increase as the next week drags on, but whatever the outcome, I have faith I'll be taken care of and protected.

NCLEX prep, though, is serious business. 100-200 questions a day PLUS review material, my brain feels like mush. And the thought of sitting in my apartment studying all day for the third day in a row seems like a good motive to jump off the patio! So in order to preserve what little sanity I have left and save my precious little life, studying commenced at the park today. There's this super small place my grandma use to take me every week when I was little to do my homework before my violin lesson. I'm not sure why this place popped into my head, but it was there when I woke up - and after the events of today, I know God lead me exactly where I needed to be. I packed my bag, stopped for an early lunch, and headed on over. I found a picnic table that was slightly secluded and covered, but still had lots of sunshine! I pulled out my books and began my routine. After about two hours, a lady and her daughter passed by me. She noticed the ten million NCLEX-RN books spread out and began to talk to me. She told me of how she's an RN, her experience with the NCLEX, to hide good luck charms in my bra because they'll seize everything, and that I would do just fine. She talked to me about where I'd be working, where she works, and places to look into once my contract with Emory is over. 

Now, everyone and their mama has told me I'd do well on this test. But my problem with this is that they don't really know. For example, my mama has all the faith in the world in me and tells me all the time not to worry because I'm gonna pass. I love that she thinks that! I do, I do. But, she's doesn't really know if I can pass it, because she doesn't really know what's on the NCLEX, how it works, or the statistics of it. The same logic goes for my pops, my brother, best friends, etc. This lady though, she talked to me about how to fix problems I was having and things to look for in each question. She, after knowing all my problem areas and having real-life experience and not knowing me from Adam, believes that I'm gonna be okay. And that is comforting!

Everyone just believes I'm the smartest person and has the greatest of faith in me - and it's scary. I know that's a stupid thing to be scared of - too many people think I'm awesome and that's a problem! It is though. I care entirely too much what people think of me and if I don't pass this test, not only do I let myself down, but I disappoint everyone else too. My family has pinned all the hopes and dreams of a future on me and I don't want to fail them. Oh, the struggles of worrying about everyone else.

Prayers are greatly appreciated!

NCLEX Prep @ Grayson Park

Peace and Love,

V

Wolf Ridge Ski Lodge 2015

It's that time of year again, folks! Ski Season!! (:

I say that as if I've actually been brave enough to attempt hitting the slopes. I'm terribly sorry to disappoint, but that would be a big, fat negative. You know, something about tumbling down a mountain of ice and snow just doesn't seem appealing to me. Disclaimer: I will eventually try it ..like maybe next year when I can't get kicked out of school, fall behind in school, or lose my job offer.

The past few years, I've tagged along with my brother and his boy scout troop on their annual ski trip. This year, however, I was able to share this experience with my whole family and our church youth group. Due to financial reasons, we weren't able to spend the whole weekend, but the day trip was a lot of fun anyway! After all, the Bible teaches us to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5).

The day started entirely too early; 4am to be exact. By the time we reached Mars Hill, NC, there was snow everywhere and it was snowing pretty hard if you ask this Georgia Belle!! It was so pretty though. Anyone who knows anything about me knows I'm absolutely crazy about the mountains and cows - and they were everywhere. It's gorgeous up there, y'all.

Wolf Ridge Ski Lodge @ Mars Hill, NC
1.24.15

Hickory Grove Baptist Church Youth Ski Trip
Mars Hill, NC
1.24.15

Road Trip to NC
1.24.15

The folks seemed to have had a blast skiing ..or attempting to ski. We were incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to fellowship together, to have a great time together, and to all make it home in one piece.

Peace and Love,

V

Y'all didn't think I forgot the selfies, did ya?!

Hello 2015! It's Very Nice to Meet You.

With the new year upon us, folks everywhere are taking it upon themselves to make resolutions for their lives. I suppose this is completely and perfectly okay ..for them. 

I, however, have never been a believer in resolutions. The word itself means the solving of a problem, and I don't believe we are problems. I believe we have problems, just as we have trials and tribulations. But we, the human population, are not problems. How can we, therefore, make resolutions? By making this one simple act, we admit that we are a problem and to not be a problem we must *insert resolution here*. Moreover, how can we decide to just be a different person on January 1 at 12:01a than we were December 31 at 11:59p. In my very own and very humble opinion, it doesn't make sense!

I do believe that people are full of ambitions. Ambitions to be healthier, thinner, smarter, etc etc etc. I know, I know! Ambitions sound a lot like resolutions! But they're not; this is the key. Resolutions are made to solve problems. Ambitions are no more than unidentified goals. Goals are things we can work toward to better ourselves, to improve our lives, but they do not solve problems. They improve our lives.

With all of this said and after much prayer, here are my GOALS for 2015.

1. Get close to God (James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.")
2. Be patient. Trust God and His timing. Put faith in His hand that things will work out (Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.")
3. Daily acts of kindness. Forgive quickly. (Ephesian 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.")
4. Live simply. Life isn't about how many things you have, it's about the people standing next to you when you hit a road block. (Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.")
5. Stress less (Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.")
6. Make healthier life choices (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.")
7. Write every day - blog, journal, write songs/poems, write a book, etc

And there we have it! 2014 was definitely one for the books, but bigger and better things are coming. I can feel it in my bones y'all.

Now, for a brief recap of 2014!

Peace and Love Y'all,

V