Oh, North Carolina.

I pre apologize for the potential length of this blog....

Ok. So. Where to begin?! I have less than 48hrs left here in North Carolina and up until now, everything has been very surreal. I have worked the past four nights, so the mental processing of leaving NC so soon hadn't really kicked in, but then everything starting coming together and the good-bye's starting happening... North Carolina has been a special part of my life.

To give you a little background....  I've kind of always been a goal oriented, self sufficient, work hard & play if time permits type of girl. Life in Pennsylvania after about 10th grade was very much about going to school and working my butt off to make money (and then spend it). I took care of others more than I took care of myself and may have found myself  in situations that were not the best or safest. Relationships came and went and hearts were cracked but somehow God managed to get me out of this so called "transition" time fairly unscathed with family and a few close friends by my side.

Then in March 2010 I decided it was time for a change; so in May of that year I packed up my things and headed South to North Carolina. I knew God had plans for me, I just wasn't really sure on what those plans would be. So I start my life in Durham, NC working at Duke as a RN and getting into this "new" life. For the first time since high school I was only working one job while finishing my Bachelor's degree. Seriously, I didn't even know what to do with myself. Having just one job kind of seemed silly but I did manage to pick up a great baby-sitting gig for a then intern, his wife & their two precious twin girls... Seriously that family brings such a smile to my heart! ((Mesi, m'ap sonje ou!)) Although work is work, I was really impressed with the team work on my unit and to see people who truly cared. God also blessed me with a best friend  & forever friend at work who kept me grounded and sane while in the "trenches" that is oncology-nursing. Many mornings were spent eating breakfast together after night shift or just a quick coffee & chat when ever scheduling permitted! ((Mesi, m'ap sonje ou!))

Also while in NC, I started attending newhope Church. It is there that I joined a small group/bible study (which I have mentioned before) with some of the most amazing girls. We have cried, laughed, prayed, screamed, struggled, encouraged, and rejoiced (etc) with each other... Oh, and don't forget the swimming, biking, & running!!! Yeah, Triathletes! Seriously though, many of our lives have changed drastically since then but they all have become better just by being together (at least mine has). ((Mesi, m'ap sonje ou!))

Newhope is also the place that introduced me to The 410 Bridge and sent me packing with amazing newhope missionaries to Kenya & Haiti.

Yes, this is where I found Haiti. My new home. My passion. My purpose. 


Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the day I say my official good-bye's to my closest friends here in North Carolina.  That last breakfast after night shift, the last small group. Bittersweet... yet, I know there will be a lot of "see you later's" to be said because they are forever friends. I can't thank God enough for bringing us together for this season of our lives.

North Carolina, Duke, Newhope and the people who have been there throughout-You have forever changed my life. ((Mesi, m'ap sonje ou!)) Can not wait to skype, email, kik, & update y'all (had to sneak in the y'all) from Haiti and God's Littlest Angels!!!!

Mesi, m'ap sonje ou! ((Thank you, I will miss you))

...to be continued...

-B

Row, row, row, your boat...

In the last blog, I spoke about facing your Goliath and what weapon you would use to defeat whatever was standing in your way. God can choose anyone. He just asks that we are humble and willing. I have been reading Kisses from Katie and this book has been such an encouragement in my choice to serve in Haiti (when ever God chooses that will be). If you haven't read it. You should. This particular quote coincides with my previous posts.

“Ordinary people. He chose Moses. He chose David. He chose Peter and Paul. He chose me. He chose you. Common people. Simple people. People with nothing special about them. Nothing special except they said yes. They obeyed. They took the task God assigned them and they did it. They didn’t always do it well, but they said yes, and with His help they did it anyway. Extraordinary tasks.” -Katie Davis, Kisses from Katie

A little tangent... but, it's about to get a little deeper. As I was talking to my mom on the phone yesterday, she reminded me that yesterday, August 20th, marked 30 years since my sister, Trisha, passed away from Leukemia. This October she would have turned 36 years old. Although, I did not know my sister, she has guided my life and choices I have made. I know it may sound weird but she is one of the main reasons I am a nurse today. I still remember my mom talking about the nurses who took care of her in the hospital. Trisha, was a spit fire to say the least. She was strong willed and spoke what she thought. She was strong and beautiful. In some ways I feel as if I owe it to her to live my life out to the fullest in whatever ways I can, I know she is sitting up in heaven next to Jesus watching over me and guiding my steps, while also laughing at all the silly mistakes I make. I want to make her proud. Although, I no longer have a biological sister here on earth. I am so thankful for my three sister-in-laws and my sister's in Christ who have had a major impact on me. Each person is placed in your life for a reason, whether they were physically there or not, they can still impact your life.

God is calling us all to something great. Love fearlessly. (borrowed from The 410 Bridge)

...to be continued...

-B

Oh and a little words of wisdom to end this blog from a 4 year old Trisha...

"Row, row, row, your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...Life is Tough."