Swagbucks

After reading about Swagbucks search engine on many blogs that I follow, I decided to give it a try a few months ago. Since I quit work last year, I'm always looking for easy things that I can do that can be a bit of a treat for Donald and I every once in a while. One thing that I've done for the past few months is by using Swagbucks as my search engine instead of Google or Yahoo. This search engine randomly awards Swagbucks when you are searching, and they accrue in your account until you cash them in for giftcards, video games, or other goodies. I always save mine and cash them in for amazon.com giftcards or starbucks giftcards. I use the amazon giftcards to help with the cost of college textbooks, and use the starbucks giftcards for a treat for Donald and I when we're out on the weekends.
You won't get rich, or make a ton of giftcards, but I get excited when I go to my mailbox and have free giftcards in there! I downloaded the toolbar so I always remember to use it when I need to look something up. They also have an awesome referral program which is that you earn 1 Swagbuck for each Swagbuck your friends earn up to 100 per referred friend. Can't beat that! The link above is using my referral, so if you might be interested, check it out. I only post things I believe in and have seen work, and I've received several giftcards now, so I can honestly say it works.

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!



I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! We had a delightful Christmas. We enjoyed time with out families on Christmas Eve as we celebrated with food, laughter, and gifts. Jackson was so excited about the gifts he got. He has enjoyed these gifts so much since he got home, and now I'm trying to figure out how to add onto the house to fit all the toys he got (Just Kidding! We will be working to figure out a plan to be able to fit all these items into our house, which will probably include donating some of his older toys.) Considering his train set is approx. 5' x 5', which takes up a large space in my living room, but it's essential to have it in there, and have it running at all times. Just ask Jackson, he'll tell you so. He also loves his remote control dinosaur which needs lots of space to roam and attack innocent bystanders (poor Gizmo!).

Donald and I were so truly blessed at Christmas as well. We received items that we will use, and things we would never buy for ourselves. We enjoyed the fellowship with our family immensely. Nothing can compare to this time we spent with our family, and we're so thankful for that.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas as you and your family reflected on the true meaning of Christmas.

Reflections on Christmas

This year I committed to really make the journey to Christmas a personal journey for me. I wanted Christmas to be a personal spiritual journey in which I reflected on the birth of Christ and the impact that had for me. I just wanted to share a few of my reflections.

I am in awe that a perfect Savior would choose to come into this world in a dirty, smelly stable. That He would choose to leave a perfect place to live in this imperfect, cruel world to save a sinner like me. WOW!

Our pastor was preaching this morning about how prophesy in Micah had revealed that He would be born in Bethlehem, but when He was born, He was born into this world rejected and alone. There was no room for them in the inn, and Mary was forced to have him in a stable because there was no where else for him to be born. Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes herself because there were no others there to welcome Him. It seems no one in Bethlehem was waiting on their Savior to be born. It makes you wonder, is anyone waiting for his second coming? Are we busy about His work waiting on his second return?

I hope you have a Merry Christmas, and reflect upon the meaning of Christmas in your own heart.

1 Adventure Down, 1 More to go

Yesterday was my last day of my internship in acute care. What a challenging semester I have had with classes and this internship. This semester proved to be a difficult one with lots of challenges, but a variety of learning opportunities. When I started this semester, I felt a bit overwhelmed as I was in a new setting...one that was very intense, and came with a variety of complicated cases. I've had days where I was so thankful for the opportunity God had given me to encourage a patient and their family, but also days where I felt beaten down because it's heartbreaking to watch what some of these families go through. It's encouraging to watch these families overcome and prevail against adversity in their life, and to see their faith in God strengthened as they endure the trial.
I've been re-reading a book by Dr. Joseph Stowell, and have been so encouraged as I have read about adversity, and how and why God uses adversity in our life to show just who God is in our life and that His grace is sufficient. Just this morning I was reading and he was writing about how when we have difficulty in our life it's like a huge blinking light on our head. Everyone takes notice, and wants to see how we're going to respond. That's so true!
I have enjoyed laughing with families, and have also shed tears for families as I've seen the adversity they face, and from personal experience know it's not an easy road. I've had many opportunities to remind families that God is ultimately the One who decides when we take our last breath not us or doctors, etc. I'm so thankful for the professional and personal growth I have gone through this semester. Who knew that a semester I dreaded so dearly because of the personal impact it might have, proved to be such an encouraging experience!
I'm out of school for the next month, and will enjoy this time to slow down, and catch-up on a few things. I start clinic back in January and will be working in an out-patient rehab setting. I will graduate on May 10. YES!! Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to study for the PRAXIS exam for Speech-Language Pathologists. I take the exam on January 10, and must pass in order to obtain licensure and a diploma. Whew! There's a lot weighing on this test which will test everything I know and goes back to even my undergraduate studies.

Word of the Day: Complicated

So, apparently today my mom and brother, Josh were having a conversation and Jackson overheard the word "complicated" being used. Mom proceeded to explain that a complication was "a mess." Jackson has been using the word ever since we left Mom's house tonight. It's found it's way into songs, conversations, and jokes. He uses this word in a variety If he wants to make you laugh "complicated" is the word, if he doesn't know all the words to the song "complicated" just might be the right word, and sometimes he's simply talking and "complicated" seems appropriate in his conversation. It's cute to watch, and gives us a laugh each time.
Thanks Mimi and Uncle Josh for educating my little boy today on "complicated." It's been fun to watch!

Christmas Lights

Tonight, we enjoyed a special night together as a family. Jackson loves Christmas lights, and we had been hoping to get out to look at the Lake Myra Christmas show. We finally had an opportunity to go tonight since my final exams are now finished. We had a wonderful time. We bundled up with gloves, toboggans, warm coats, and of course coffee and stood out there watching the show for about 40 minutes. It was beautiful as always, and Jackson danced, laughed, sang, and had a wonderful time. Of course he wants to go back soon, and I know we'll go a few more times before Christmas.
When we got home tonight, we enjoyed watching 2 deer running through the neighborhood. One of the nice things about living where we live is there is always plenty of critters running through the neighborhood for us to watch (That includes snakes, but we stay away from them!). Jackson really had a nice time watching the deer run through all the neighbors yard before dashing into the woods behind our house. Of course, when they went away he wanted us to make them come back. He didn't understand we can't exactly call the deer back like we do Gizmo, but he enjoyed seeing them.
I'm glad this holiday season our family is committed to slowing down and enjoying the true meaning of Christmas, and celebrating this special time of year.

Redplum.com

Just thought I'd share if you're needing diapers or Star Wars items for gifts, check out www.redplum.com. There's many coupons for Star Wars toys which would make great Christmas items if you know anyone who likes Star Wars, and also there's a $2.00 coupon off of a pack of Huggies.

Hope someone can take advantage of the savings!

Catch-Up

Wow! Where does the time go. I have so many things that we've been doing that I'd love to post on here, but it's so hard for me to keep up with everything. So, I'll post a few of the things we've done recently.

This holiday season, I really wanted us to do something as an outreach for others. I want Jackson to grow up knowing that Christmas isn't a time of getting presents, but a time that we can celebrate Christ's birth, and be a blessing to others as well. Jackson and I put together 2 boxes for the Samaritan's Purse shoebox ministry at church a few weeks ago. Jackson was excited that we went shopping for toys and other items to put in our shoebox. He had a great time putting these boxes together, and was excited about taking his boxes to church to drop off. Here's a pic of him with his box. We're also participating in a few other outreach programs, so my prayer is that Jackson will grow up enjoying the blessings we have been blessed with, and blessing others as well.

We had a nice, busy Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with family. Jackson was especially excited because his new cousin Dylan had just come home from the hospital, so we stopped by to visit with them, and let Jackson meet him. He loves babies, and has talked about his visit with Dylan for days now! Jackson also enjoyed his time with his cousin Kaylie. He cherishes their time together, and loves the time that they get to spend together. I hope they grow up to be close. I know when I was growing up, I always loved my cousins, and the special friendships that we shared, and still do.

Well, so much more has been happening, and hopefully I'll be able to post some more happenings soon.