Asheville with the Otto's

This past weekend I had the pleasure of driving 3 hours north to meet half way with the Beth, Noah and Isabella Otto of Raleigh, NC. Beth and I have literally been best friends our entire lives. Our families are best friends. Naturally, when Beth married Noah Otto and then had a baby...they became part of my family too. Beth and I haven't lived in the same state for over 8 years, but our friendship has been made deep through growing up together, going through some tough life experiences and both knowing and loving Jesus.

We watched fireworks the first night and spent the next day seeing waterfalls and different rock formations on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It may not seem that exciting, but we were happy to just be together and hang out.

Me, Bella and Beth at the waterfall

Here's Isabella all bundled up and out of the wind. This little girl loves to smile and squeal!

Bella being loved dearly by her mom

The Otto's

I left the weekend very thankful for getting to spend time with some friends that I love so much!

Giving Up Christmas...Buckhead Style

So this morning was the singles Christmas breakfast at Buckhead Church. Seeing as how I am still new, I figured this was a good opportunity to continue to get to know more people. The even cost $5, which the church matched and then throughout the morning your group/table could win money. This included Christmas trivia, which due to our amazing amount of useless knowledge bought us a trip on stage to sing a rousing rendition of "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow", more trivia and acting out the 12 days of Christmas...thankfully, we got out of the later. With the money, you could do whatever you wanted with it, but the goal was to get the focus off yourself and to serve others. Our group ended up with $140 total...and this is what we did.

We at table 53 decided to split our money. We gave $50 to another table so that they could sponser 2 kids at Safeway. With the remaining money we decided to buy fruit, donuts, muffins and hot coffee to take to the park and give out to the homeless. We walked around for a while and only found a few people to share our goods.Our journey led us downtown to a United Mission House. There were so many men lined up on the side of the building. It was a little intimidating at first. A worker told the guys that they can't bum rush us and this will be done in an orderly fashion. They let us go in and we went to work passing out coffee and food. I looked at the line and then at the amount of food we had. I thought "Lord, you have to multiply this because we aren't going to have enough!" Sure enough, by the end of the line, every person had at least one thing to eat if not more...and we had nothing but cream and sugar left over. What a lesson of how God provides all that we NEED, both for us and them. Some of the men when we offered them more even said "Oh, I'm full!" they were so thankful and respectful, no threat of a stampede. We all left full of joy and by the time we got back to the car we couldn't wait to give thanks. A great morning, an eventful afternoon and a precious moment of prayer. I just moved here three weeks ago and this was the exact thing I was hoping to find. What a blessing getting to bless others!

I continue to meet some very cool people and am having a blast...

So Much To Be Thankful For...

Wow, where do I begin? I am a "glass half full" kind of lady, so I am completely enjoying life right now, but I can't help thinking..."this can't last forever...it's just too good!"

I have settled in to Atlanta quite nicely. I completed my orientation and finish up my first week on my own tonight. I can't get over how nice everyone is! I love the hospital. It has everything you need to be a good nurse! Of course, I really like the people on nights as third shifters, well we tend to be a breed all our own. I like the humor and atmosphere. I get called things like "youngster" "love" and "little darlin'" I kinda chuckle to myself everytime I hear it. One guy calls me Katie...he thinks I look like one. I could be called worse, so I don't mind.

I went to Buckhead again and don't really plan on visiting any other church while I am here. I just love going there. It's a lot like Apex...only bigger. I thought it would be weird to watch Andy on a screen but they have it set up so that he is actually lifesize and the churches have the same back drop so you can't even tell that you're watching a screen! I laughed the first week when people would answer back and talk like he was there, but I found myself doing it the second week. I met a super nice couple my first week and we went out to breakfast this past week. They introduced me to a fun single gal who I am going to go to the Singles Christmas party with this Saturday. I am hoping to meet some more people!

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun! I drove down to Valdosta to meet up with my brother and my sister in laws family. Of course Emma and I had a great time! She is the funniest little girl! Zach and Jordan announced that they are expecting! She is due in June and we are all beside ourselves with excitement! Christmas is going to be wonderful! I am flying home Christmas Eve to meet up with the whole family to be together. Then I will drive back with Zach, Jordan and Emma. Here are a couple pics from Thanksgiving...





So all in all, I have NOTHING to complain about and bask in the many blessings from God. Great Family, great job, great city and great people...my heart is full. I won't wait for the other shoe to drop, I will simply revel in the life God has given me.

Georgia On My Mind

Ok, so arrived safely in Atlanta with an uneventful trip down. I haven't done much of anything out on the town yet, except for grocery shopping, but even that was enjoyable. This is just a very convienient city. Everything is just around the corner or right up the road. And so far, as long as I avoid the highways, the traffic hasn't been unbearable. I started orientation today and already feel like I am going to love it here. I am preparing to be a little overwhemled next week when I start on the unit. It's twice the size of what I am used to, but they have amazing resources here. There are two other travelers in orientation right now and we've had a good time talking about past assignments and homes. Below are pictures of my apartment. Keep in mind, I took these tonight, so in your head add a TON of sunlight and a balcony on the 7th floor! I can't wait for a warm day so I can open my balcony doors from both my living room and bedroom, drink a cup of coffee and relax. Also looking forward to going to Buckhead Church this weekend! I am so excited to find a Bible preaching/teaching church so quickly. They're much harder to find than I thought they would be. I'll let you know how it goes! Here's my bedroom looking into the bathroom

The bathroom with two huge closets

Looking at the living room into the kitchen

The kitchen...with a WASHER AND DRYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Standing at my front door

How Can I Not Love Them!?!

Sorry I have not posted about the trip to the DR sooner. It's one of those things you process over time. I guess I will approach it in two ways...group and individual. As a group, I was very proud of the enthusiasm that was put forth by the group during the clinics and village visits we did. We saw every pre-schooler and his/her family. Once you add in that the families can be large, it was a lot of people! We also saw every kid at the after school program that was there that day, among many in the villages. It was amazing to see how much can be accomplished by a group and not just one person (AKA...me...in May) I had to laugh because everything I did was usually repeated because people would just be so eager to help. Rest assured, almost every kid in my group was listened to approx three times. It was so great to see the kids again! Here is a picture of our group as we left. The picture coming back wouldn't be pretty...half the group was sick.

On a personal note, it was much harder than I was expecting. This was the hardest trip for me to the DR to date. While I love being around and enjoy people's company, I like to do my own thing. The ironic thing is...I am a big team player at work and feel it absolutely essential for an emergency room to run smoothly, but at the same time I was the student who despised group work. When it comes to accomplishing tasks together...I have a hard time. Being a travel nurse, you get used to doing a lot on your own and have to become very self sufficient. It's not an option to rely on others, at least not for a couple weeks until you are comfortable with the staff and start creating friends. In May, I was on my own. I had staff there and couldn't have got by without them, but if I needed some time, I could just hop on a moto, grab a bite to eat and then sit while watching the ocean. I felt like I was in a constant battle of wanting to make sure everyone in the group was getting the most out of their experience and wanting to (let's call a spade a spade) take control. I have to say I was a little disappointed with my attitude. Things that shocked me the first time are familiar to me the third. I felt so selfish and like I was giving Satan a foothold to let little things annoy me. By the end of the week, the Lord prevailed. All kinks with the clinic were worked out within an hour...with no input from me. Everyone being so eager to do medical things left me with nothing to do...until I got to step outside and just hug and love on the kids I so desperately wanted to see. Just like so many other times in my life, I look at things I want to do and think that I know the most efficient way of doing something and God says "No Laura, you need to step back. You are just a person that I created and I want you to do this my way...the right way" Looking back, there's nothing I would have changed about how the clinics ran. Why? Because God knew better. While planning and organizing trips are some of my favorite things to do, I'm learning when to step back. In God's Kingdom, we truly are a body and must work together. You have to love others and learn to work with everyone. Here a just a few of the 2,000+ pictures that were taken.



The new staff down there is amazing. I was a little nervous, not knowing how we'd all click since I had lived with the last staff and loved them dearly. My heart overflows with the new people God has placed down there with Anne, Garrett, Robin, Cara and Sharla. They are a fun group of people and I look forward to getting to know them even better. I found myself often just wanting to stay up and chat with them...and laugh. Things seem funnier in the Dominican. Here's a picture with Robin and Cara in Cabarete...discussing my return.

Tomorrow I move to Atlanta Georgia to embark on my new assignment. I am so excited! A different excited from Philly since I know a little more what to expect. I just feel like God is going to do some big things there. I am so looking forward to already knowing a church to go to and having some extended family and friends close by. This time I go by myself. I would give anything to have my Mom or Dad with me when I walk into the apartment and stay for a week and get to know my way around a little bit. But this is not the case...so I face this adventure with Jesus. He and I are going to have road trip.

Sorry this was not and upbeat Laura post...I have lots to learn.

So Long Philly!

As hard as it is to believe, three months have already gone by and my assignment in Philadelphia is done. My last night at work started out terrible, including cleaning up vomit from a four year old while The Philly's won the World Series...the exact moment actually. But then my co-workers threw me a HUGE carry in with a ton of very good food. We were all stuffed! I will certainly miss them. I met some very funny and wonderful people. I hope to keep in touch with them and will miss the way they say things...beacause it's usually entertaining.

I learned a ton in Philly. A lot about myself, what I am able to handle and how good God is to lead you through and give you the strength that you need to stand up, or keep your mouth shut. I know I am a better nurse for working at St. Chris, and I hope to take those skills with me to Scottish Rite.

I am ready to move on and Atlanta is the next stop, but not before returning to the DR! We leave Tuesday! Please pray for safety as 1)we leave on election day...yay...my vote is already in 2) There are 14 of us going, double the size last year 3)Housing and school schedule have changed a little bit. I know that it is all in the Lord's hands and I cannot wait to see ALL that He is going to do. It's going to be so great to see the staff, the kids, and all that God has done in the six months since I have been gone.

Why am I not sleeping?

It's almost 4am. I got off work at 3am and as I have done a few times now, I called back home to my old job on my way to my apartment and chatted with everyone for a half hour or so. I got off so that I could go to bed, but the second I hung up was the second I woke up. I think it hit me that in just a week and a half I will see these people again! And in exactly two weeks I will be hugging and loving on the the kids that I came to love this time last year. Excitement has taken over and yet part of me knows I have more goodbyes to make...which I am never good at. So here I sit, writing a blog and watching Fox News.

Speaking of goodbyes...this past weekend Kara and I were going to Baltimore, but since she was getting sick, we decided to go out to dinner at a cute place on a Friday night. We had such a great time, but it was never far from my mind that at the end of the night, who knows when I would see this amazing girl again? I can't say enough good things about Kara, if you haven't met her, you are missing out. She is a beautiful young woman striving desperately to serve and honor God through her life. She's not perfect and stumbles like the rest of us, but she is truly repentant...not only in her heart, but her actions and words back her decisions to change what she feels isn't pleasing to the Lord. She is a great listener and an extender of grace. I just look at her sometimes and think..."it would be so nice to articulate my thoughts, ideas and emotions as clearly as she does." She is also the type of person that would be saying "no, no, no" if she were reading all of this. Plus she's got a great sense of humor! I just have to laugh that God put us both here in Philly at the same time. It was not an easy goodbye...and we decided we will meet again. Hopefully in the DR or in Atlanta.

On Saturday, Kristin and I went to dinner with her friend Mark who was in town. It was a super nice chinese place. I tried all sorts of things that I had never had before, but my favorite was the dessert which was ALL chocolate, like 6 or 7 different things that were each incredible! We spent a lot of time laughing. Mark is Chinese and was showing us pictures of the misinterpreted chinese to english translations during the Olympics. Kristin has been a good buddy here as she is a traveler too. We have a blast together and I am sure our friendship as I go south and she goes to Arizona. Eventually we'll probably end up in California for a stint there. Here is a picture of us outside "Susanna Foo"


I can't believe how fast the time has gone, but I know the time is coming to a close. God sent me here, right in the middle of Philly (not to mention during a huge election! Philly is not a fun place for a conservative individual such as myself), for a reason and he's moving me for another. I am just so thankful he has provided people along the way and that He is who He is...constant and faithful. I have lacked nothing and have more than I need.

I think I'll go to Boston...

What a great weekend! On Thursday I picked up Laurin and Camille from the airport. If they sound familiar, it's because they were on staff with Makarios while I was in the DR. We walked around downtown Philly for a bit and then met up with Kara for a dinner outside on the sidewalk of a cute Italian place. After we picked up some ice cream (for them) and milano cookies (for me) and went back to my place to watch The Office. I had to go into work at eleven, so I didn't see them long but it was so good to catch up and see how life was going for everyone now that they are back in the States.

The next day I headed out with a friend to Boston. Apparently everyone wanted to join us b/c our 6 hour drive turned into 9. We got to the hotel at 11 and went to bed knowing we had a big day up next. She and I both slept terribly, but not to be discouraged, we drove downtown and found our way around via a hop on hop off trolley...I feel like I am a pro with them now since this is the third I have taken. But it's a GREAT way to see the city cheaply and seeing only what you feel like taking the time to see. We saw everything from Paul Revere's house, the church he got the signal from, the graves of many famous patriots and the 5 killed in the Boston Massacre, Boston Massacre site, Boston Commons and of course Cheers.

Boston is a very cute city and I could see myself going back there with no problem. I have decided since I have always believed I was meant for and wanted a husband with an accent; the accent can be Australian, Scottish, Irish, British or Bostonian. I could have just listened to conversation all day! And the people are really nice! I was expecting to be treated like I was in New York, but I was wrong.

USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides"

Big wig of Maritime's house

Part of Boston Commons...a BEAUTIFUL park


Boston's Old State House

Where everybody knows your name...and yes, we ate lunch there with the whole gang

On Sunday we went to Salem, MA home of the Salem Witch Trials and a very cute little town. Both Boston and Salem have the small town, cute atmosphere of Cedarville and Yellow Springs only a little bigger and a lot older...making it even more fun to be in. Below in the Witch House...really it's just the home that one of the judges and his family lived in while in Salem. It does look creepy though doesn't it? And yes, all the leaves are changing and I was so in awe of God's creation and what an artist HE is.

We were there during a festival, so it's busier than normal, but you can still see the cuteness of it.

In other news...I was offered a position at Scottish Rite, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in Atlanta, GA. I quickly accepted it as I hear Atlanta is a cool place to live and it puts me closer to my brother and his family, one of my best friends in Raleigh and is the same distance from my parents in Dayton. I start November 19 and end on Feb. 14 (AKA Single Awareness Day). This is what I get for stating back in May, "I would never live in Atlanta!" well look at me now! Actually I am VERY excited about it! Maybe I should take erase my comment about a husband with an accent! Ha HA! For all you thinking..."I thought she was going out west after Philadelphia." I still am, I just wanted to be close to home for the holidays...this will be the first in Ohio with Emma...pray for snow so I can take her out on a sled! =)

Four score and seven years ago...

Yesterday I decided to venture two hours west to visit Gettysburg, the site of one of the most major battles fought and most men lost on our soil and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. At first, you think, well it's just farm land, but you are quickly struck with the immense struggles that took place here. Gettysburg only had 2,800 residents and in a matter of three days they had to dispose of over 51,000 bodies. Three friends born and raised there were all killed just days apart, 2 of them sweethearts, one of them carrying a letter from him to her, she was the only civilian killed when a stray bullet came through her sisters kitchen where she was baking bread for Union soldiers. The two young men died in battle. Another story of two brothers on opposite sides, seeing each other, embracing and then both dying the same day in the battle just hours apart. It's sobering, to think of hand to hand combat, or of Pickett's Charge, running to death shoulder to shoulder. The battle at The Wheatfield is said to have so many dead that you had to walk on bodes to get across, there was no ground to walk on. Yet, among the horrors on war, especially civil war, when you look out at the farms, mountains, trees and quaint little welcoming town, it seems like a beautiful and simple place to live. There is always hope, no matter how bleak the circumstances. I also put in more pictures of Washington DC. If you ever get the chance, these are two places you need to visit. Very interesting...
National Soldiers Memorial, the place where Lincoln stood to give the Gettysburg Address

A memorial to the two minute speech. When Lincoln finished, he thought the people hated the speech, little did he know it would be one of the most famous speeches ever given

Pickett's Charge



Past soldiers meet present on Little Round Top

Lincoln Memorial in DC, it looks like he just sits there looking over the city...straight to Capitol Hill. I wonder what he would think today.

Vietnam Memorial...overwhelming

Korean War Memorial

In front of my home at the WWII Memorial



A little side note...less than ONE MONTH and I will be back in the DR loving on the kids that have stolen a part of me. Thankfully I get to see the some of the DR girls this weekend as they are coming to the East Coast for a visit!

4 States and a District in 4 weeks...

Ok, so I have had quite the month. Philly is great for a lot of things...being close to a lot of cool cities is one of them. The day after my parents left, Amanda and I headed out to Ocean City, NJ to meet up with Kara and spend a nice relaxing day at the beach. Certainly not the ocean in Cabarete, DR but we made it work. Below is a picture of the boardwalk. It was so funny seeing it 10 yrs later. Perspective of "so cool" is much different now, but I still loved re-living it none-the-less.

The next weekend, my old neighbor growing up and good friend Kevin came for a visit. We made our way to New York City for $20 via huge, air conditioned charter buses. It was so nice to just watch as we drove in and see things and not pay the tolls and fight traffic...which was unreal. I was dying to see a real broadway show actually on Broadway Ave. After much sadness about our first show being canceled, our second choice going up in price, our third ended up being...

I heard it was good, but I wasn't prepared for the amazement of this show! I was wondering how they were going to pull off scenes from the movie, but they were so clever in the delivery. Also, the costumes were fantastic...especially the giraffes, which I think are an amazingly beautiful animal anyway. When we got off the metro and saw the bright lights of Broadway I was all alive with excitement...for about two seconds. There was a show "Broadway on Broadway" going on in Times Square, so there were mass amounts of people trying to get around, mass amounts of swearing, mass amounts of trash, and pretty much mass chaos. I decided "I don't like this city" and once we got into the theatre, we were able to see what the hold up was...

Thankfully, once our show was over, so was the one outside and we were able to take a picture in Times Square.

And you can't go to NYC without going up the Empire State Building...

So we did. We were super pressed for time so we were only up there for about 6 minutes so we could get back and catch the bus back to Philly. Once we get to Penn Station to catch it we find out they double booked the bus and we ended up leaving on another bus 45 minutes later...all that basically to say, that was the most expensive 6 minutes I think I've ever spent. It was cool and worth it though.

Kevin had never been to Philly so here we are in front of Independence Hall. We did all the other touristy things too. Including the Franklin Institute, where I flew a plane. Not really, but I did get in.


The next weekend I flew down to Florida to visit my BEAUTIFUL niece Emma. We went on walks, played on the swings, went to the beach and chased each other around the house. All in all, we had a wonderful time and it was great to spend time not only with her but Zach and Jordan as well. =)


Today I went to Washington DC. What an incredible place. Kristin, another travel nurse, and I decided to spend the day there. We took the train in and had a very full day. Lots of laughing, good conversation, and appreciation were shared. This place deserves a post all its own. We saw all the major things we wanted to see. The monuments are overwhelming and a sight to behold. More on that later when I have had some sleep... Here's the White House

Next came Arlington Cemetary in Virginia. Wow. We didn't get to spend a ton of time there and we only got a quick glimpse, but it was enough to make me choke up and once again just be so thankful that there have been so many men and women willing to fight for what I have the honor of enjoying.

Being in DC is like being hit constantly with a political bat. I get pretty fired up about politics and had to bite my tongue on more than one occasion. This only brings to my mind that I need to be in prayer for this nation. How comforting it is that God already knows the outcome of the election and ultimately is in control. He is above man and rules all. He is sovereign and wise!