What 2009 means to me!

2009!!! WOW! I thought it would never get here.

Back in 2002 when I started taking courses towards my nursing degree, I remember planning out my courses year by year. I placed the list of courses on my fridge and started crossing off as the courses were completed. At that time, knowing that I would graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing degree in May 2009, seemed so far away! Now...it's here! (well, in 4 months time!).

I'm so excited! It's been such a long process and so stressful, but very rewarding at the same time. I'm not sure what I'll do when Sept 2009 comes around and I'm NOT going to be getting ready for school! It's going to be so good to have two incomes once again, and to not have to worry about papers, exams, and group work. My family has been so supportive of me, and my dh...well, I'm going to have to give him a medal for all his patience and encouragement along the way.

Two years into my courses, we decided that I would quit my fulltime job, and often wondered how we would survive on just one income. I have to say, that God has provided for us, over and above what our needs were. We have been blessed so many times, and I know it's because of our faithfullness to Him.

It hasen't been easy to do a degree with two small children...but I would encourage ANYONE who was planning on doing it...to just DO it!! The best thing is that after accomplishing this...I feel like I can do anything!

I start my final term on Jan 7th and have just 7 weeks of classes left!! (7 WEEKS!!!). I'm off for March break and then start my preceptorship. The RN exam is written on June 2! Wow! It's all so exciting!

All through this process my family, and more specifically, my kids, have been my biggest motivation. My kids have been so patient when mommy is studying, and so understanding during stressful times, like when a paper is due, or when a big exam is upcoming. They would get stressed right along with me.

When Emilee was just 3, she was old enough then to realize that mommy was going to school to 'learn about being a nurse'. She was coloring one day, and saw a picture of a nurse in one of her coloring books. She colored it, and then ripped it out of her book, and asked me to put it on the door in the kitchen. She said, "Mommy, every time you look at that picture, you need to say 'I can do it' ". It brought me to tears that day and that picture has been up ever since. Here's a photo of what it looks like today. Yellowed from the sun, and curled at the edges, but, I still look at it and whisper to myself, "I can do it". Thank-you Emilee for this constant reminder!





So, as we finish 2008 and head into 2009, I have many things to be thankful for and so many things to look forward to.

Although I have never officially made resolutions, I figured that a year as important (to me) as 2009, should have some:

1. I plan on spending more time in prayer this year.
2. I plan on being more patient with my kids.
3. I want to spend more time with my family.
4. I'm going to get a job!
5. I hope to go on a family trip.
6. I plan on staying more of top of my laundry, which means folding and putting away clothes right after I take it out of the dryer (yeah, right....lol)
7. I plan on scrapping more.
8. I want to spend more time with my husband (and less time with my nose in the textbooks!)
9. I will be more thankful for God's blessing every day.
10. I will do less procrastinating, and more 'doing' so that I can do more for others (and myself).

That's it for me!

Happy New Year and many blessings in 2009!