Weekend in Missouri

While Trevor was in LA attending Celebration 4 ( see his blog for details), I was in Missouri hanging out with the rest of the fam. Here are some really cute pics of the nieces. The first of one is of Emily Grace when I took her to McDonald's on Friday.

Random Useless Facts

Since my last few posts have been so dark and introspective(maybe I've been reading too much Dark Tower) here's one of those cutesy
all about me surveys(: Please comment and participate!

1) What is your current ring tone? for specific callers?

Well for most callers, Rain Song by Day of Fire (good song); for Trevor, Super Mario Bros(per his request), Greins, Blue Monday; Pringles, I want to know what love is; Emily, Questions by Jack Johnson; Work/Unity, Welcome to the Jungle (I think this is hilarious, "Its gonna make you bleed!') If you want another one let me know for now this is all the ring tones I can afford!

2) What's for dinner tonight?

Hamburger helper with beans. I'm neither creative or ambitious tonight. However I had turkey burgers for lunch. Mmmm juicy.

3) What song do you have in your head now?

Its a toss up between David Crowder's B Collison verson of I Saw the Light (Bluegrass
Style) or I Want to Know What Love Is

4) What is something I gets me excited?
SNOWCONES!! I have only had one so far this year.

5)Favorite snowcone flavor?

Probably Wedding Cake or Strawberry Cheesecake, I also like Blue Coconut


6) What is the last book you read?
Dark Tower VI: Wolves of the Calla Over 700 pages!

7) Favorite verse
Lately John 14:15 Look it up, yeah I haven't memorized it but I DO know what it says(:

8) Current Bathsoap?
Bath and Body Works Spearmint Eucalyptus Stress Relief

9) What do you plan to do tonight?
Eat dinner, watch at least one movie (rented Children of Men), I don't know what else

10) Favorite Yoga Position?
Hmm the Corpse Pose comes to mind(:

11) Current drink of choice?

Dr Pepper with Pure Sugar Cane Sugar!

12)Favorite Scrubs episode?
so hard to choose, probably My Monster, My Hero, or the one with Micheal J Fox and the rooftop toilet


That's all folks!

I'm a stranger in this land.....

Last week was not the most peaceful week so I took an opportunity to learn about peace.
1) Peace is active. Psalms 34:14 says to "pursue peace."
2) Peace goes hand and hand with strength (The Lord gives strength to his people. the lord blesses his people with peace.")
3) Peace requires walking straight, righteousness. (Ps 37:31)
4) The person who loves the "law" or the Word of God has peace. Ps 119:165
5) Peace is an aspect of a person. Ps 120:7 talks about a man OF peace.
6) Jesus is our peace. Micah 5:5 "He will be their peace."
7) Peace is not of this world. Only Jesus can give us peace. John 14:15
"Peace I leave you, My Peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled."

I have been struggling with people "of this world" hating me. But Jesus told me I should be suprised. The world hates and longs for the peace I have in Christ at the same time. I must hold my tongue much. I pray that at some point I would have encouragement from where I work, which can be a very dark place for me. I have very little. People have bad attitudes and bad things are happening to people. I must SPEND TIME WITH JESUS to keep that my peace strong. I can't let someone else's bad attitude become my own. I long to share my light and peace but sometimes I feel like I am shining a little penlight in a huge dark room. I pray God will make that light enough. Even when I fail...

I just wanted to post a little note about a few things God is doing in my life.
I am learning to be less selfish. Be patient, I said I was learning. I also have some major issues with anger I am just recently begun to work on. Again be patient. I am trying to not let silly little things bother me. My group of friends, especially Alicia, encourage me a lot. Iam realizing slowly but surely that I do not have to always be acknowledged. Or "petted." I say this as in, expecting people to say " O good job, Amanda showing up to work today." I just need to stop expecting that. I have learned from my husband that expecting things is not always a good thing. Anyway, a note to my group of friends that all is well. Really. Thanks.

Top ten reasons I didn't answer my phone today

Here's the scoop. At the hospital, nurses and aides have to carry phones with them and I become more and more annoyed by the thing. Here are the top ten reasons I didn't answer it:

10) The battery has a life of about 3 minutes and it has ALREADY gone dead for the fifth time in a row.
9) I'm hiding from the doctors, they might find something for me to do (Actually they are probably busy ignoring MY page)
8) I'm hiding from the crazy family members who call at 7:30 AM to ask how Aunt Sally "is doing." ( I don't know, I haven't seen them yet and even if I had I can't tell you,please call later so you can interrupt what I'm dong again)
7)I'm hiding from all the people who want something RIGHT NOW at shift change.
6) I am up to my elbows in something. Use your imagination.
5) I actually found five minutes to go the bathroom so I didn't pee my pants, thank you.
4)I ate my phone due to my extreme hunger. You hear it ringing? Yeah its actually in my colon. You mind answering for me.
3)My phone accidentally fell in the toilet and I accidentally flushed it. Refer to # 5.
2)My phone accidentally fell on the floor and I accidentally stepped on it.
1) It's amazing my phone learned to fly...out the window! I can fly, I can fly, I can fly!

Easter/ Stanley's Birthday

Tomorrow is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our saviour. Not only did he die for us, he rose again on the third day! Disciples came looking for Jesus at his tomb and the angel said, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" Jesus is alive!
Makes me think of the chorus for a hymn I love:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future, life is worth the living
Just because He lives.


Also of note, it is our adopted World Vision child's birthday tomorrow.Stanley lives in
Haiti and he turns 10 tomorrow! Happy Birthday Stanley!

Old Tyme Pics

Here are two sets of photos from Eureka Springs. The way blogger loads is weird but last year's are the 1930's era. This year's are the western ones.

Pics from the trip

Here's some pics from our trip to Eureka Springs. Note that we lost our digital camera so some of these would have been better. Maybe Trev's camera will give us better ones.
I also had some fake smile going on, don't know what that's all about(:

Anniversary #1

Some of you may remember what happened this day one year ago. Yes it was a cold and rainy day in March when we will all gathered together to celebrate our wedding. We've already thawed out the cake (not bad I might add, tastes almost "fresh"). We've made arrangements for our child, Jack (thanks Scott and Kendal). We're going to pack our wedding dvd (thanks John!). Now all we have to do is pack and head out to Eureka Springs. You might see us at church this morning. Then again you may not. Check out the ME link on my page for my blog entry and profile song on my Myspace. Ah good memories. Here's some pics just for fun....

A bloody mess!

The Stories Continue...
One of the patients was quite confused yesterday. He was sitting up in the hall so we could keep an eye on him when I arrived. He asked me, "What movie is it that we are in again? I forgot." I remind him he is in the hospital and I am his nurse (the proper thing to do).
Later on in the afternoon he asked,"Excuse me. I am in Fort Worth and I need to know what stop is my stop." Now he thought he was on the train. He commented to other nurses, "Man, this train sure goes slow!" At least he was pleasantly confused. Apparently, he thought I was mean because I keep telling him he had better stay in his
seat. "She's a mean nurse," he told someone. Oh well at least he believed me.

Let me tell you first that I have spiked blood, oh at least a hundred times in my nursing career and I have never done this before! After verifying patient identity, one must don gloves and carefully pull apart the end of the blood and insert the spike from the IV tubing. I went to spike some yesterday (the 2nd unit I might add) and it didn't stay spiked, it kinda slipped out. I knew I needed to get the end of the bag back up but blood was going everywhere and I was trying to avoid a) dousing my patient and her robe on the chair b) myself. The family asked if they could go get someone I said, "Yes and quickly!" Terri and the techs helped me save at least half the bag (I had to call the dr later to let him know what had happened since the patient didnt get the whole bag. He couldn't understand this.). One tech exclaimed, "It's like a murder scene!" Another said, "It's a bloody mess!" But we did manage to avoid the patient, her clothes, the bed, and I only spattered a little on my shoes. It was a pain however, mopping up blood which ShellyAnne, bless her soul, stayed and helped me with. A bloody fine mess indeed.

Bad Day

Sorry for the depressing last two posts. Last night, I knocked my glasses off the counter in the bathroom effectively breaking them in half. I also developed a severe sore throat and fever a 9:00 last night.
Today my awesome husband took me to get new glasses and the AM/PM clinic to get antibiotics. Meanwhile, and a hundred dollars later, Trevor got ill and we spent the remainder of the afternoon sick in bed. The good points were that I can see again with spiffy new glasses and fixed up with antibiotics. So hopefully my husband and I will be going to work feeling 100% better.

Update: We took Trev to AM/PM and discovered that Trev has strep throat. So we are both at home recovering.

"Shine your light and let the whole world see.."

Today is better than Saturday night. Let's just say Trev and I didn't agree. It was part selfishness and partly constantly trying to understand each other. I am still trying to figure out what my role is in friendships, my marriage, at work, etc.
Work is one of those places where I just don't feel like I fit in. I just don't feel like my co-workers really care about me as a person, what I do, etc. Don't know why this bothers me now, never really has before. And it likely may be MY fault. Lately, I just feel like I am very snippy with patients who are demanding (calling EVERY FIVE MINUTES for whatever). I want to be a light for Christ wherever I am but I'm just not. I struggle a lot with who I am. As prayed about this Saturday night, I confessed my bad attitude. God reinforced that I make him happy NOW by just being me.
Isaiah 62 is the place where God always brings me back to. God says I "have a new name given by GOD himself." And I will "be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand." He "rejoices over me!"
I felt a little better but drew Trev in an argument and was still upset by Sunday morning at church. We came in late to a song that says


Song: Mighty to Save
Everyone needs compassion,
And love that never fails,
Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness,
Kindness of the Saviour
The Hope of nations

(Chorus:)
Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My god is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything that i’d believe in
Now i surrender (and i surrender)

(Chorusx2)

(Bridge:)
Shine a light in and let the whole world see
Singing, for the glory of the risen king
Jesus, Shine a light and let the whole world see
Singing for the glory of the risen king

(Chorus)

(Bridge:)


When I got to the bridge I couldn't sing it. The tears started because I want so badly to be that light at work but just can't find the balance. Either I'm snippy and rude or I get run over. God still encourages me with His word in Isaiah but I still feel like there has to be something more I can do at work. I don't know if any of this makes sense. Probably doesn't. Just pray for me as God sorts it out.

"Sharks are like dogs...."

"Sharks are like dogs...they only bite if you touch their private parts."

Yes, this from "our" movie 50 First Dates, the first movie Trevor asked me to three years ago yesterday. We watched it tonight after a rousing game of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with the Greins and Pringles. Hard to believe Trev and I have only REALLY known each other three years (well you could argue we didn't know each other until we got married but we won't go there) Somehow it is a fitting movie for us(: In less than a month we will have been married a year. Wow. Here's another of "our" moments.
Here's a link to our favorite song. Altogether now: awww. By the way, Jack Johnson's In Between Dreams album is something worth checking out.

The last two days have been good. Kendal picked me up yesterday to go work out at the Y. We participated in a weight circuit workout and how I hurt today. It was a lot of fun though. Then I went to Stillwater to meet Leslie and Ephraim. Of course we went shopping,etc. Ephraim is getting so big! Today I went to work out again at the Y and did a Yogalates workout. Again it was hard, but good. Finished off today with Bible Study over I Thessalonians 3. Not bad at all.

This Weekend

Wow what a weekend! Trevor and I not only went to the Family Vision weekend, we also went to Louisiana on Sunday and came back yesterday. On the way back we did some shopping in Norman and we met with Kevin Stark at the Action Figure Museum in Paul's Valley. Trev is working on a project for this summer. So today I am cleaning up around the house and maybe get to visit with Kim(:

The Vision

Trevor and I attended a Family Vision conference this weekend. We learned how to create our vision statement and were able to think and pray about our family values. No, we are not expecting but this is our family, at least right now.

Taylor Family Vision Statement:
The Taylors Live Like No One Else.

I won't recount the rest of our Vision statements now but the main one is that we live a life of worship. (Romans 12: 1-2) That's how we live like no one else. I am sure we will continue to tweak it but that's it for now.
This is part of the vision we want to pass on to generations to come!


Thanks to all our friends and family who support us in so many ways now!

Better than I Deserve...

"Doing better than I deserve."
Dave Ramsey says this all time on his radio show. I feel it applies to how I feel about
life right now. Things have not been easy but Trevor and I are moving closer to our first anniversary. Wow, how time flies.
Professionally, spiritually, socially I still have a long way to go in life. I just say
be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet.

My Husband Continues to Do Well

Not only did Trev get me a mixer, he also cooked steaks, fixed a fancy salad, and arranged a candlelit dinner after I arrived home on Wednesday night. He said he went to
Walmart earlier that day and was amazed by all the plastic baubles you can buy for your loved one. He said I am worth much more than that. Awww. I guess I am worth quality steaks (: That's pretty good in my book.

Valentines Day Came Early

I wanted to show off the Valentines present my husband gave me last week. I already made a Dr Pepper cake.

Movie Plans

Here's a movie title that got me excited, The Last Sin Eater. It is based on a novel by Francine Rivers, one of my favorite authors. Coincidentally, it is also directed by Michael Landon, Jr. It seems lately a lot of quality Christian films have been produced. ( Some would argue against me about the reliability of this claim since Mr Landon has done a lot of the Love Comes Softly books. I actually enjoy those books.) I hope to see it tonight, if I can get Trev to go. For those of you who have never heard of the book, check out the website for the movie.


Update: Kendal and I saw the movie on Sunday and it was pretty good. At least we enjoyed it.