Christmas vacation

We got to soak in the sunshine & sand of Puerto Vallarta in the middle of December, thanks to Chad's awesome parents!

Sunset from our balcony:

I love them:

And him:

A little sample of the ice cream bar:

A Christmas tree made of poinsettias:

Whale watching:

We had a blast! It was so nice to get away and to be able to spend time with Brian & Karen. We rarely get to do that since they live so far away. It was much needed and we enjoyed every second.

That's My King! Do You Know Him?

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.

Let the whole world know what he has done.

Psalm 105:1

He has healed me, saved me & set me free. He has loved me, guided me & forgiven my failures. He gives me new mercies every morning and opens his hand to satisfy the desires of every living thing. He's Sovereign. Never out of control. His timing is perfect and his love is unfailing. He's constant, never leaving. He's slow to anger and abounding in love.

And his grace is sufficient.

God speaks, Listen.

I know, I know...2 posts only 3 days apart?! Yes. Because God has been overwhelming me with something. I want to share.

I've been a part of a bible study group for over 2 years now. We have seen God move and we have also seen our share of tragedies. I love being a part of these girls, because they have come to my rescue in prayer more times than I can count. And I count it a privilege to be able to pray for them.

We are currently studying Beth Moore's study over Esther.

Here are 2 things that I can't get off my mind:

• God attends not only to apparently momentous events and people but also to those that seem both mundane and trivial... Indeed, so all encompassing is God's attention to events within creation that nothing... happens..by..chance. -Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

• Ephesians 1:11

Even when we're blind to the evidence,

God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will."

God speaks throughout the daily routine of life. It doesn't have to wait until Sunday at church or Friday at bible study. Listen for his voice and follow the leading of his Spirit.

"Whenever God gives you a check in your gut, stop IMMEDIATELY! Don't just slow down, STOP & LISTEN! It's saved me many times."

-Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven Life

And on top of all that, the daily, mundane things...the story of your life, is being written into God's greater purpose... chew on that!

Molly Moo

Welcome to the farm, Molly!

(And thanks to my great friend Lindsay

for giving me some black TOMS for my bday!)

I'm one happy girl!

Life is good.

Remember

Remember when I didn't have pain everyday

Remember when I didn't have to think about how to bend or not to twist or to elevate the bed of my patient's instead of bending over...just to listen to their lungs

Remember how I had used an ice pack less than 10 times in my life

Remember how I rarely ever took Ibuprofen

Remember how I could jump, run, twist, lift

Remember when I didn't have to think about how exactly to get out of bed correctly

Remember when I could cross through an intersection and not even think about someone running a red light

Remember when I couldn't relate to my patient's back pain

Remember when I didn't *really* know what they did during an MRI or CT scan

Remember when I didn't know just exactly how far my friends, family and especially husband would go to make sure my every need was met

Remember when I realized just how lucky I am to be living this life, to be able to clean my own house, bring in my own groceries, do my own laundry

Remember when I assumed things and judged people without having a CLUE of what they were going through

Remember when I had yet to experience God's healing so closely in my life

Remember how this strengthened my marriage, my calling as a nurse and my love for my family

Remember how God showed me that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I thank God for this pain. This pain serves as a reminder of the better person I am on the other side of the tough times. I'm thankful for what has happened because of that pain. My back may be screaming at me at the end of a 12 hour shift.... but it's screaming "I'm soo thankful!!"

Thank you, God, for the pain. Thank you for putting me exactly where you put me at 6:30 am on Sunday, April 18th. Thank you for the way you love and nurture and the way you bring beauty from pain.

Birthday Wishes

My birthday is in 3 weeks and I'm only asking for 2 things....

Which one do you think I'll get?!

Fun lil 9-patch

It's about time I post pics of my last quilt. This was my first time to not have a pattern. Just had some strips of fabric and some ideas in my head.

It's for some friends of ours that are having a baby girl soon.

The white fabric is called minky dot and you wouldn't believe how soft it is! I love the cute lil flowers on this one.

If you're interested- Here are just a few quilting blogs that I follow. Even if you don't quilt, it's still fun to look.

Moda Bake Shop

Piece N Quilt

A la Mode Fabric

Quilt #4

Here's a sneak peek of my next quilt. It's for a baby girl due in just a few months!

For the first time I'm not using a pattern.

Fabric: Aviary by Three Sisters for Moda.

Maybe staying at home is not so overrated...

It's about that time.

One more week of physical therapy and then back to work! It's a bittersweet feeling. I can not tell you how thankful I am to be feeling so much better, but now that I'm feeling better I'm {really} enjoying being home all the time.

It's funny the things you become thankful for once you lose them. And you really can't be thankful for them {until} you lose them. I was so happy the first day I was able to carry my own groceries into my house that I almost cried. I remember bending over for the first time with no pain. Sleeping through the night without having to get up and go to the recliner. I am genuinely thankful for these things and so much more.

There are a few other things (good and bad) that I don't want to forget:

• Honestly not knowing (or caring) if it's Monday or Friday (this happened A LOT).
• Getting frustrated with something and immediately thinking "Ugh-where are my running shoes?!" then remembering I can't run!
• Feeling so guilty having to sit and watch Chad do the things I should be able to do around the house.
• Loving friends who brought dinner, cleaned my house & checked on me daily.
• Meeting mom for lunch everyday.
• Watching food network all day and cooking every night.
• The precious time spent with Mrs. Gateley learning how to sew.

I'm thankful I'm able to work and help provide. I'm thankful to be able to function normally. I'm thankful I can do laundry and vacuum and cook.

I will remind myself not to assume anything about anyone. They may have a broken back and you can't even tell. (Once, mom and I went to the flower store and I had to ask a guy to put some flowers into the back of the truck for me. I felt like such a snot, but if I said "Sorry, I can't lift. I have a broken back" He'd probably look at me like I was crazy!) You never know what is going on with people, mentally or physically.

Lastly-I will never forget how God healed me. The 2nd to last appointment I had I was expecting good news. I had 6 weeks left of medical leave from my job, anymore than that and I wouldn't have a job. I had a CT scan and X-rays first, then went to see Dr Reynolds. He came into my little room with a stern look on his face. He put up the CT scan and the X-ray, side-by-side. The CT didn't look much different than the very first one-L1 was still a scrambled mess and there was {no} new bone growth. The xray....was very strange looking. Something was obviously not right. Everything he said was a jumble, I can't remember it, but he did describe my x-ray as having "concerning scoliosis".

He said I am going to need 8-12 {more} weeks off, {then} 3-4 weeks of physical therapy. What?! In my head I had just lost my job and my life had just turned upside down. Made it to the car and was so upset, crying. (This is one of the times I really wanted my running shoes)

On June 11 I was running errands with my mom. We went to the feed store in Yukon. My mom is friends with the owner, Jerri. Her pastor and his wife happened to be there. After a long conversation about scripture and healing, they prayed for me-all 3 of them-right in the middle of the feed store. I knew I was healed, right at that second.

My next appointment was July 12th-one day after my medical leave had expired and my job was no longer 'protected'. I had a CT scan again that morning then went to see Dr Reynolds. I knew I was healed, but I couldn't wait to {see} it! He comes into my little room again, same stern look on his face. "Follow me," he says. So my mom and I go back to his office. He has 3 CT scans pulled up side-by-side on his computer. The day of the accident on the right, the last one in the middle and that day's on the left. He zooms in and shows how bad the fracture was, then zooms into the CT scan on the left-today's. Complete bone growth, all the way around. Absolutely no fracture. I will never forget Dr Reynolds saying, "This is really remarkable. I attribute it to your youth the way you healed." Dr Reynolds can attribute it to whatever he wants....

Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours."

Instead of 3-4 weeks of PT, I only needed 2 weeks. Luckily, my nice manager held my job for 2 extra weeks and I get to go back to doing what I love. Life is good because God is good.

Barely a Bayer

At this time last year it was a sweltering 107 degrees. How do I know? Because all of my family and friends and people that must really love me braved the heat to watch us say "I do."

It has been an incredible year. I am so thankful for Chad. He has enhanced my life for sure. I have a completely renovated house and my lawn looks awesome-none of that has anything to do with me, I am constantly encouraged, believed in, loved, spoiled! I love him so much more today than I did even a year ago, and I didn't even know that was possible. Without him these last 3 months, would have been an absolute nightmare, but with him and the Lord, we have just had a minor bump in the road.

I always knew God had a plan for my marriage. I grew up praying for my future husband on a regular basis. I still find it hard to believe I married someone who was my best friend first. It's so neat to see how God orchestrated that and how He brought us together... in His perfect timing.

The Lord has blessed us, for sure.

I love you, Chad.

Hodge Podge

Look what I bought!

It's a 1952 Singer sewing machine-all metal, in perfect

working condition with all parts and some to spare!

Mrs. Gateley is teaching me how to sew. We hit it off when I took care of her as a patient almost a year ago and we've been friends ever since. She's sharp as a tack at the age of 82 and even more witty. That's why we get along! She has really helped pass the time since I can't do much. I look forward to learning everything I can from her.

Meet some of my new babies:

Name: Duke

Birthdate: June 8, 2010

Mom: Bambi

Dad: Yadi

Name: Eli

Birthdate: June 10. 2010

Mom: Ally

(Notice Bambi looking through the nursery window).

Golden Girls

"I believe that we don't have to change friends

if we understand that friends change"

My college roommates and I all got together last night for dinner. It was the FIRST time we were all together with our HUSBANDS (well...Mary & Jason will be married in August). Here are some random pics we have taken over the past 10 years. I love these girls.

The Bayers, Rogers, Shillings & Diffendaffers!

Green Acres

Here are a few pics from our trip to Green Acres.

"Green Acres" is what we have always called my grandparents land that sits

just east of Meeker, OK.

They bought 80 acres with a little, old farm house sitting on it back in the 60's.

They don't live here but visit just about every weekend.

We've made a lot of memories going to Green Acres:

• Finding turtles for the annual Yukon turtle race
• Campfires & weanie roasts
• Learning to fish...with chicken liver and worms

• This old cellar... always creeped us out!
• Swimming in the pond
• Staying the night and eating gma's biscuits & gravy in the mornings (which she cooked on an old, pale pink stove)
• Learning to drive at 13

• 4-wheelers...and 4-wheeler accidents
• Hearing coytoes
• The tree house and tire swing

• Dalice & I talking Erin into standing in the creek and grabbing the hot wire. (Sorry Erin!)
• Seeing how many fish we could catch before breakfast
• Finding deer tracks with gpa

• Killing snakes, turtles & fish and teaching ourselves anatomy 101.
• Grandma making catfish "talk".

Those were fun times! I'm sure I left a million things out.

(All of these pics were taken on my iPhone)