MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Working in the NICU this year has given me a really different perspective on Jesus as a baby.  It amazes me that the KING OF KINGS would come to earth as a BABY!!  I mean, babies are the most helpless and vulnerable creatures.  For example, when I take care of those precious babies I give them their food, decide for them when they are done eating, decide what they wear, decide when to what with them, even decide what position they are going to lay in!! I move their heads and hands and body into the position I want them in!!!! (Of course this is all decided with the help of parents, doc's, etc.) but I mean babies have NO decisions in anything!  They are very smart and can communicate with us in many ways about their needs, but ultimitely we decide whether to meet their needs or not, they are completely helpless.  That is what I love about working in the NICU, taking care of the most vulnerable population.  And, that is what I love about our savior!  He CHOSE to come down to earth as a BABY, and he was not born in a fancy palace or even a clean hospital, he was born with the animals!!  No one important in the worlds eyes were there to witness his birth.  He was born humbly.  I just can't get over how amazing our God is, to come to our world to save US and he came in the most humble way one could come.  This is our KING!  How can anyone not look at that and want to give everything to a savior who gave us everything?  How can I so often put so many things before God when He decided my soul was worth so much and placed me before so many things?  We are more important to Him than being comfortable, powerful, and without suffering.  He sacrificed so much for us, this Christmas and this New Year I want to give my all to Him.

Want to know what made my day?  Well I will tell you...

For the past 6 years my favorite place to eat has been Chipotle Mexican Grill.  I had it in Denver and LOVED it!  Since then I have only gotten to have it on rare occasions.  I found it in Indy and Chicago, but wished for the day they would come to South Bend.  I even sent them an E-mail about it!

Well today while driving home from Walmart I saw something going up.  Curious, I kept looking until I saw the sign.  And there it was....     CHIPOTLE!  Oh baby, I am pumped!  Right there on Main St. near Douglas by the eyeglass place is the one and only best place to eat EVER!! 

I had a GREAT week last week!  My birthday was a lot of fun.  I went to the beach three days in a row!  July 4 I celebrated with my fam and then went to the beach with friends and then watched fireworks and everyone stayed till midnight when I turned 21!  Then I went to the beach wed with Amy and Becca.  We have been hanging out so much this summer, I love those girls so much and I feel like we've gotten so close this summer.  And I got so many calls and messages on facebook, I felt so blessed!  Then, thurs I went to the dunes with Dustin and his parents and had a blast.  

And this weekend I actually started my job out on the floor!  I've been doing lots of self-study time where I watch videos and read policies.  But Saturday and Sunday I worked 12-hour-shifts!  I was SO tired and I lost three pounds in two days from working -how crazy is that?  BUT, it was SO fun.  I worked with a great nurse and we cared for three little preemies.  I did their assessments, helped do their labs, changed, and fed them all day long!  I had so much fun feeding them because preemies struggle a lot with coordinating their suck and swallow and so I had to work with them a long time to get them to eat.  It's so fun interacting and holding tiny babies all day long!  It's been such a great experience so far, and the 12 hour days go by really fast.  I love my job!