where are you now?

I laughed a little bit yesterday when I saw the time span between the dates of my previous and most recent entry.  My life's a little different now than 2 years ago.  Just to establish some common ground, here is a few facts about where I am.

• I am a 21 year old female and I reside in Lancaster county Pennsylvania
• After YWAM (Youth With A Mission, an accredited short term missions school that has hundreds of bases worldwide) in Queensland, Australia I went back home and started working for my mom's cleaning business.
• While working, I took a full course load at HACC (a local community college)  for general education with a degree in healthcare in mind.
• This past fall I got a full time job at Lancaster General Hospital as a Patient Care Assistant (which is like a nurses aide.)  
• Feeling conflicted about whether nursing was right for me, I saw the job as a great opportunity to see if I was cut out for the medical field. (I love it! But more on that later :)  )
• I cancelled all my classes at HACC for the fall 2012 semester and focused on working.  I have all of my nursing prerequisites done.  All that there is to complete are clinicals and nursing specific classes which start every August.  Until August of 2013, I will be just working.  It will still take me 2 years to do, but my course load will be lighter.  
• I applied last month to Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences (which I think is the college with the longest name around here)  The jury's still out on whether I'm accepted or not, but I'm  not too worried. (Shameless religious plug: God has brought me all this way and led me to where I am now.  I know that if it is his will for me to get into this school I will and if not he will make a way for something else. So even though I check the mail twice a day and wonder if it will happen I know that it's out of my hands, but into someone's that are much better. I know God will give the admissions person discernment if I am the right candidate for the program.)  
• So *if* I get into school I plan on working as an PtCA for two more years until I get my R.N.. Since I'm an employee the hospital will help me pay for tuition!  Until then I am just working and gaining lots of experience.  
• I work 2nd shift on a cardiac medical/surgical floor.  
• I still live at home but gained 2+ family members. My mom got remarried in July so I have a stepdad and a stepsister.  
• My favorite place to be is by the river.  I live in a small river town right along the Susquehanna River.  Rarely a day goes by that I don't go down.  The paved trail by my house has provided my town many miles of recreation and a park with a bench which is the best place to think and pray.  When I am dealing with an issue I'll ride my bike to the trail and 3 miles later I'm at the park.  The park has trees cleared out and opens up to this great view.  I can sit there forever watching all the water flowing in a steady direction, the birds on the rocks and the beauty of the small mountains with little cookie cutter cabins staring back at me.  Any grievance I have or issue I'm dealing with slowly dissolves as the beauty of nature surrounds me.  I realize that I start to breathe a little slower and my body relaxes. What Jesus said from Luke 22 always come to mind when I look out at the river: 

  Luke 12:22-34

  New International Version (NIV)

  Do Not Worry

  ²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[a]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

  ²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

  ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  
  

  I hope this gives a little window into what I have been up since I blogged last.  It's a sunny Saturday and that means I'll be at the Susquehanna. :)  God bless.