Life is good!

Life has been good! I am learning a lot, getting connected and building a lot of solid friendships, back in school, and working. For the most part I have a complete and unexplainable peace about not finishing nursing school in my previous program. However, on days like today when they took their last final...there have been moments when I wish things could be different. I was so close...but I know God had His hand in it all. As the weeks have passed I can see so many things I would not have been able to be apart of because of nursing school. I have finally been able to really connect with people here and find my place here in NJ.

Today, I was speaking to one of the nursing recruiters at my hospital. She was saying that our hospital currently has a freeze on hiring new graduate nurses. This is not just happening at my hospital but many of the area hospitals. While, much of the country is facing a major shortage of nurses...NJ is not facing that currently due to so many hospitals closing down leaving experienced nurses to fill in the gaps. She told me that come January when there aren't many nursing students finishing school the picture will be much different. What a relief to hear that. The reality is that once I finish my nursing I have to give up my job as a tech. I am no longer legally able to work as a tech. So I can see just another way that things are working out for the better.

Tomorrow I am spending the day with my friend down at 6 flags Great Adventure and then Sunday I will be racing in the New York City 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). This is a good chance for me to gauge where I am at for my marathon. I would love to do under 2 hours but my priority is to run with my friend and enjoy watching her celebrate her first ever 1/2 marathon. I find a lot of joy helping and seeing others run races like this and realize that they just accomplished a major goal.

Here is something that has spoken to my heart lately. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how much I fail or how uncertain I can become...God's promises are faithful. Every morning no matter what happened yesterday...it is a new day and His promises are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Where else can we find such promises.

The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassion's never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."
Lamentations 3:22-26

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD.

Calvary Chapel Beach day 08/01/09

Saturday the first was my churches beach day. Unfortunately I had to go to work in the afternoon...but I did make the trip for the morning. It was a perfect hot day for the beach. There were a ton of us just hanging out on the beach and enjoying some fellowship. This is there annual baptism day and I believe 7 people were baptized in the Ocean.

Since I have not been in nursing school I have really had some great opportunities to fellowship and build some good friendships with people in the church.

At one point I went swimming with my friend Saul. We originally only went into our waste level. However, the waves were very big. Considering that not much Surfing happens in NJ, and there were a ton of surfers out...that says something. Well, we proceeded to get hammered by 3 waves in a row. The kind of waves that slam you to the Ocean floor and flip you around. Saul lost his sunglasses so we decided to swim out a little further. Usually this is better because then you aren't where the Waves are breaking. Well after a bit out there the lifeguards were calling us back. He was swimming back no problem. Me on the other hand...I was swimming in place. The Riptide was so strong it was carrying me sideways toward the pier. On top of that the waves were crashing on top of me and pulling me backwards. Before the lifeguard got to me to pull me out...Saul had me hold onto his leg and pulled me out. I was a lifeguard for many years, and I am a very strong swimmer but I must say that one really took me by surprise. I know that the rule is to swim with the riptide till it breaks but I was too close to the pier and the waves were to big. Needless to say I have a new appreciation for the power of water. My friend likes to tell the story as if I really was in the shallow and I was flopping around in the water yelling "Lifeguard save me." He then says he picked me up and said SaraJane your in the shallow water! Trying to make it sound like I was just doing it for attention :-) Sounds a bit like something my big brother Sean would do.

I wish I had some pictures to share but I forgot my camera. I will definitely take some pictures during my half marathon coming up a week from this Sunday. Love and miss you all!

Marathon training 1

Next week I officially start my marathon training for the Philadelphia Marathon November 22. I have already ran as long as 15 miles at one time. Over the next few months I will do weekly runs that are more than that.

Marathons are one of the few races that you don't run that distance or more in your training. They find it to be more of a hindrance rather than a help. My longest run will be 23 miles. So Saturday I generally do my long run...nice and slow. My dog loves these runs! During the week I run 3 or so times and go to the gym to cross train.

Today I ran for an hour...but it was very humid and gross out. That can make a run difficult. I am proud of myself for adapting to be able to run in the summers here. I still try to get up early but the problem is when it cools off, the humidity rises.

A lot of people think that I am gung hoe for every run. I promise you I am not. I have to fight the same battles that everyone else does. The thoughts of "maybe I can just sleep in today", "I don't want to run", "Really if I just skip today will it matter". The thing that motivates me is one...my dog loves to run, two....I like the quiet peaceful time to think and pray, three...I like how it makes me feel.

Philadelphia here I come!

I have officially signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon (26.2 miles) for November 22 of this year. I have been antsy to do another marathon since I ran the Portland Marathon a little while ago.

Training for a marathon is something that requires discipline, focus and desire. But to be honest if you have the desire...the other things will fall into place. I used to help with a program that trained people who never thought they could run a marathon to be able to do so. It was so much fun for me to see people reach their individual goals and do something that very few people ever accomplish by running a marathon.

My longest run currently is 15 miles and I still have lots of time till I have to run it. I am definitely ahead of schedule but with a marathon even the best laid plans may not work. It is so easy to get injured or have something interfere.

Keep posted here to see the ups and downs of training for a marathon.

YEAH!!!!

So I found out that I was accepted to Excelsior's nursing program. A chance to start over and finish the dream that I know was placed on my heart by God. I plan to take my first 2 or 3 exams here very shortly. I have a total of 8 exams. Once those are finished I will take a 2 1/2 day clinical exam which means I will have to travel somewhere and may have to wait 4 months for. My goal is to be finished by January but in all reality I am learning very quickly that my plans are not God's plans. And I am also learning that His plans are much better than my own.