Currently Reading Unveiled: Lineage of Grace #1 By Francine Rivers see related

  Work. Consuming much of your day, five days of the week. Of course for me, I have already been working as a nurse for a year, and it has been 12 hour work days, usually 48 hours a week.

    Here in college sta. I am truly blessed with my job. I work in Scott and White, a very well know clinic here in town and a big hopsital network in Temple, TX. I now work the beautiful hours of 8-5. I started off in their Urgent Care department, but the clinic has had a lot of changes made due to the big guns who want to save money and make the place run smother. So, whle 42 other people lost their jobs, I was able to keep mine and was simply moved to a different part of the clinic. Definetaly God's amazing grace! I currently work as a nurse in the Internal Med dept. I am the nurse for Dr Jose, one of the busiest doc in the clinic, and I work with him in managing the care of his numerous patients. Lets just say I have yet to experience down time. Man, I am learning so much too, you can't call and explain test and meds and help develop plans of care if you don't understand your stuff. And the health issues cover a lot of territory, because our pt's have so many different issues, so I have sure been learning alot. I love my job though it is a bit stressful at times and a little intimidating to know 1 person, your doc, is constantly evaluating you and the job you do. Life is sure different than college, and I miss that life sometimes, but also enjoy being out among people daily, people with difficult issues who need much help, and God like never before. Starting IV's is pretty great too!

A Tribute to the HOUSE MAN.

You may be asking yourself, "What the heck is a house man?" Two weeks ago, I myself would have pondered the same question. But now as most of you know, I am a married woman! And most women preparing to embark on marriage fear the daunting task of cleaning, cooking, and maintaining a home. I too held some of these fears upon entering that pretty swell matrimonial business. I was wondering how to work a full time job and be in charge of all that womanly house stuff.

   For those of you who know my husband, Ian Speir--well, you know he has never learned how to be lazy or to relax much. He is always on the move, working and doing and creating new ideas and such. So you see, presently he is between Tulsa life and starting grad school. Grad school for him does not start until the end of August, and he doesn't have a job due to not being able to maintain one throughout the school year with the intensity of his load there. So he has become what I call  the "house man."

  The house man gets up with you early to make you breakfast and coffee before heading out to work. The house man makes you lunch and brings it to you at work or has it ready at home on your lunch break. The house man has dinner ready when you get home. He does all the cleaning, most of the laundry, hugs you and tells you your beautiful several times in a day. He always makes you happy to come home. The house man is amazing!!!

   I never knew what a blessing it was to come home after a 8-12 hour day of work and not have to worry about cooking and scrubbing the toliet. It is truly a beautiful thing.

   The super cool paradox of it all: the house man does all this while still maintaining his manliness and studliness. (Having a grizzly like beard very much helps in these matters).

   Now, not to say all the responsibility will always fall on my house man once he is in school, for things will change and we will both be pretty busy. But I must say, girls, find yourself a guy like mine, who knows how to rise to the occasion and be the house man when necessary.

Thought for the day:

        1 Samuel 17:47

             "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all you into our hands."

     I really like this verse. Often times, I ware myself thin in a pitiful attempt at trying to fight for and control so many things I simply can't. Why am I fighting what is not mine to fight for in the first place? Who is my trust in? Myself or God? Who is fighting my battles? What is truly a victory in my life? Is it the best job, the best husband (which I actually have!), the best house and financial situation? I would have to say no! It is to truly know Chirist. Beyond a movie version of comfort and happiness; to utterly depend on him and trust him when all is lost. Because....ultimately, nothing is lost if my end goal is Christ. For then I know the battle is always won! The ultimate goal is always reached! And you know, I can give to God that which no one else can. My love, trust, joy, and thanks. And I have never been in a more right spot than I am now, here with Ian, in a new place were things aren't always certain or easy. Yet Christ is more dear and real to my heart then  ever!

   Hey, you should read Psalms 91 today! It is cool, refreshing, and kinda freeing if I do say so myself!

 My stomach's name is Murray. Yes, I even have a wing shirt that says Bre and Murray on the back. I use to get asked if that was my boyfriend, and than I would just have to explain, "no it is my stomach". One of my friends, Danae, even wrote a poem about the old guy. So he is definitely a credible part of my life.

  How did Murray come to be? I believe he started on good all Moriah, when Cheryl and I where roomies for the first time ever. One day I woke up, and as he growled for food, I just knew. I mean, stink my stomach has a mind of its own! I can't control all his wants and desires. When he is hungry, he is hungry! Regardless of whether or not I was ready to make the often scary trek to the cafeteria. So I figured the only polite thing to do was name the guy. Yes, mine was a guy. Some people have same sex or opposite sex stomachs. That is up to you and your stomach. So I new mine was manly, but not like "Butch" manly, definitely not feeling that one. And then it hit me, like I knew all along, I just hadn't recognized it till that moment. Murray, his name was Murray, I mean you got to admit, "Bre and Murray" has got a cute and playful ring to it.

   And, hey, since this occured in "pre-Ian" life, it felt kinda good to say, "hey me and Murray got a dinner date tonight", or also self-confidence boosters like, "Murray pigged out a little to much there", or " Murray needs to tone up a little". And thus my life had expanded, Bre and Murray, an unseperable pair.

   But how can you keep a good thing to your self. I mean how much of our lives are devoted to eating? Scary thought! And all that time ignoring the friend that makes these expereinces necessary? And might I add, makes them a whole lot more fun:) So that year on Moriah, my wing and brother wing started naming their stomach friends. Herby, Gordita, Arnold, Derik.......it was a beautiful thing. And also that year our wing spring break missions team all named their stomachs. In fact when trying to make converstation in spanish with several little girls, I used my limited vocabulary to introduce them all to Murray, and then about 8 of the little girls proceded to name their tummies as well, amarillo, gordo, pequeno......from there it spread and spread, people I never met before would come up to me in the cafeteria and ask me to name thier stomachs. All my missions friend and wings since have named their stomachs as well as people in China, Ghana, and Thailand.

   All to say, name your stomach, it is a little weird but fun too! I really started the stomach names, cause it was fun, often broke the ice in conversations, increases endorphins which makes you laugh, smile, and be happy, and also lets you bond with others, love others and love life. Cause life is great, God is incredible, and we might as well rejoice in all of his creations, including our stomachs............

Yes, I am officially Ian's wife and now embarking in crazy stuff like Xanga. Scary what marriage will do to you. For all you friends of ours out there with Xangas, especially one's I've seen through Ian, you are all incredible and I love you!!! You are inspiring,deep and definitely motivated me to embark on this journey of public contemplation!!! Love ya all......

Oh, Murray, for those of you who don't know is my stomach. If you haven't named your stomach, you should! I will have to follow with futher info on stomach names and their importance later..............