Fall

Jeremy and I aren't really into Halloween. Our first year being married and in SC we decided one day we were going to go browse around a Halloween store. Now, I wasn't raised with it, I didn't trick or treat until I was older and having fun with the kids I babysat, but I was okay with Halloween in general. Until we visited this store. It was gory, it was nasty, it had been taken to the next level - or 10 levels. It was just too much. Too far. We have decided that if we do anything with our kids for Halloween, it will involve turning all of the lights off, ignoring the doorbell and having a popcorn and movie night! 

Last year we carved a pumpkin because the Daycare I was working at was having their annual pumpkin stroll and everyone donated a pumpkin that their family carved together to represent them. We did the state of NY outline : ) This year, we aren't carving any pumpkins, but that doesn't stop them from being purchased!

I could "play" in pumpkin goup all day long just to get those precious little white seeds

Now I cannot take credit for this recipe (click here), but it makes the most delicious pumpkin seeds I have ever tasted! I made some with a friend on Saturday and by the time Sunday's grocery trip rolled around I could not put off buying pumpkins any longer. 

I had never heard of boiling your seeds before baking them, but trust me. When my friend and I made them this weekend we cut up a garlic clove and threw it in with the seeds while they boiled. Do it : ) 

When it comes time for baking, I sprinkled a little more garlic powder and some salt in with the olive oil. 

Ahhhh, heaven in a bowl : ) 

Happy Fall Ya'll (that one was for you dad : ) 

Painting Class

We have businesses around here that allow you to bring drinks and snacks and go learn how to paint! This is the second one that i've done. The first one was for a bachelorette party (which was a super great idea) and this time some of the ladies from my life group went together. It's really fun and pretty relaxing when you aren't stressing about how to do what the instructor just showed you : ) 

This is what we were painting this time....

And here's the progression of mine!

I was super scared of this one and was pretty critical of it, but I think it turned out pretty good! I can't wait to do another one : ) 

Pinspiration

It's been a little while since I blogged about my "pinsperation" and my top choices for upcoming crafts. Ok, It's been a while since I've blogged at all. Forgive me for that. I've been taking some time : ) 

Anywho - I'm back and wanted to share some of these fun things with you! *Warning, the source link will bring you to my pin because most of the links don't actually send you to instructions on how to do them (I hate pins like that!), but most of them are pretty self explanatory*

1.

 (source)

2.

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3.

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5.

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6. (DIY floor mat) 

(source)

7.

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8.

(source)

Which one is your favorite?

Do you have a craft to-do list?! 

'Calm My Anxious Heart'

"Leonardo da Vinci was an artist of great skill. When he was a pupil studying under his master painter, the master called Leonardo to him and asked him to finish a painting the master had begun. The man had grown old and felt the time had come to quit painting. Young da Vinci had such reverence for his master's skill that he was overwhelmed by the suggestion that he should add his strokes to the master's. The man said simply, "Do your best." 

Trembling with emotion, Leonardo seized the brush and knelt before the easel to pray. "It is for the sake of my beloved master that I implore skill and power for this undertaking." As he began to paint, his hand grew steady and his eye awoke with slumbering genius. He created a masterpiece. My friend, will you take the paintbrush in your hand and kneel before your Master?" 

*WOW*

This is an excerpt from the book I am reading by Linda Dillow entitled, 'Calm My Anxious Heart'. 

I would recommend this book to every female I know : ) 

Hiccups update...

Since the news that I found out on Monday and my post from yesterday I have been able to find out some more information.

Yesterday I called the State board of Nursing for South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and New York (our neighboring states that would be easy for me to go and take the test and then obviously New York where I could take the test while visiting family if it worked out) 

South Carolina regulations state after being out of school for one year without successfully taking the nursing boards, you have to take a refresher course. After 3 years, you have to go back to school. I have yet to understand this as I don't know how you can be made to go back to school when you already have classes on your transcript, but.....so be it. 

Georgia has the same regulations as South Carolina. 

Neither New York nor North Carolina have any regulations or limits on how many times you can take the exam or anything to say about how long you have been out of school, except, after you reach the 3 year mark you must submit an application (with fees of course) to the State board and have it go under their review. They can decide yes or no as to whether you can sit for the exam or not. Basically what I was told is if they are having a bad day, they can say no just because. 

Then of course, if I was successful in NY or NC I would then have to transfer my license back to SC (more fees)

I also heard back about my appeal to get my $200 refund back and it will not be refunded under any circumstances. 

I am pretty much at a stand still right now. 

Do I accept this as the Lord shutting the door, which I have been praying about since I started this whole process, or do I keep pushing? 

So, that's where we are right now and we will see what happens next! Since I can't get my $200 back it will stay "in effect" for a year (I have that long to take the test) so if I choose to apply to another state and take the test, I can, but I don't need to do anything RIGHT now. I am stopping and waiting and praying. I don't want to make any rash decisions in either direction without peace.

I am so thankful for all of the love and support from family and friends throughout this whole "adventure". I love and appreciate you all! 

Hiccups

How often I've learned the lesson that things don't always go how we hope or plan them to. 

How hard that lesson is. 

Yesterday I called the company that I paid my exam fee to, inquiring as to how long it would take for it to process and when I would be able to schedule my exam date. I was informed that paying the fee wasn't the only step in the process and that I also needed to register with my state board of nursing (I have never experienced this step before). So, I got the number and called South Carolina State Board of Nursing. She told me the steps I needed to take to register...more money, paperwork, my head started hurting as I talked to her but little did I know just how much it would be hurting by the time I hung up. She asked me what school I was coming from and I informed her that I graduated in 2010 from a school in New York. She was quiet for a minute and then informed me that I am ineligible to take the exam at this time because I have passed the 3 year mark of graduation. 

Come again?! 

My heart sunk and my head started spinning. 

My next thought was how to get my $200 back. So I called the company again and they informed me that the fee is nonrefundable and that was clearly stated before I submitted my payment. I went in circles for a few minutes and then asked to speak to the supervisor. I was put on hold for a few minutes and when the gentleman came back on the phone he told me he had some more information for me. He gave me another number to call and told me that they would be the ones to make the decision as to whether I could get my money back. So I called that number and was sent into circles again. While I understand the fee is not refundable, I would also argue that I'm not choosing to not take the exam, I am not being given a choice.  And that's what I said in the claim that I filed. So, we shall see. 

At this point, here is where I am. I am trying to get my money back and Jeremy and I are doing some research. What are my options at this point? What would I need to do to become eligible to take the test again? Could I take it somewhere else? 

Part of me is trying to accept this as God shutting the door. I am not willing to throw a bunch more money at this as I feel I have already wasted the money on the class i'm taking and now the $200 that it seems I have lost. But part of me is crushed and wants to know what I could do for this last chance since I have invested so much so far. 

So, continued prayers would be appreciated for sure! Thank you to all who take the time to read this and pray for me. I will update you when I know more! 

#Truth

"Finally, whatever is untrue, whatever is not noble, whatever is not right, whatever is impure, whatever is unlovely, whatever is not admirable - if there is anything that is not excellent or worthy of praise - think about such things." 

...let's try this again...

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." -Philippians 4:8

I started a new bible study a couple weeks ago. We are going through the book 'Calm My Anxious Heart' by Linda Dillow (HIGHLY recommend) and I was smacked in the face by that reinterpretation of Philippians 4:8 on the very first page.

How easy it is to get that wrong...