Just Keeping Working...Just Keep Working...

I recently decided to return to grad school this summer. It’s been fun trying to learn how to balance full-time work, part-time grad school and a social life. Over the last month every weekend I’ve had a family event that I attended, it’s great to be able to spend time with family. The challenge of working full time with a mini trip every week and trying to keep up on my class has been very difficult. It’s actually so overwhelming that the stress is messing up my sleep, ability to think, and function in everyday life…the exhaustion is real and I just want to slow down but I can’t. 

Time to study more pathophysiology!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   Philippians 4:13 

“ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they all walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

2017

Highlights of 2017:

I did get in some traveling last year. Not as much I hoped for. 

March: I went to Shanghai, China for a week. At first, I couldn't wait to be able to blog about my trip to China. After getting home, I had a lot to process and didn't know what to share. For most of the week I would end up with a massive stomach ache every night. Then my knee started acting up to the point I almost couldn't walk by the time I got home. That has never happened to me before.

My second day there I wrote this in my journal:

"God, I'm not sure exactly what I'm feeling, jet lag, food, lack of communication with you, stress, or all of the above. I feel like my witness for you isn't there. I'm struggling with the different culture, and expectations that I can't live up to." 

The day before I left, I wrote "Tomorrow I head home and I think I'm ready. That's very unusual for me."

Once I arrived home I literally wanted to go to a safe place where I could surround myself with fellow believers and hide. It took a long time for both my physical and spiritual recovery.

July: I was able to head back east and visit friends that I hadn't seen in awhile. That trip was pretty great! 

August: I decided to make a huge decision and bought a condo! I had never had any interest in buying anything before and rented for years.

September: I moved again...this time to my own house, well condo.

October: I passed my CCRN exam which I had been stressed out about for a year!

December: I made it back to Florida where I visited with family that I hadn't seen probably since my last trip there (10 years ago). 

Goals of 2018:

Now that I've looked back it's time to look forward. 

Who knows where I will end up this year. There are several options that I'm in the early stages of exploring, or do I continue to stay where I am? I'm not sure yet what I'll decide...I only know that I must keep moving forward...