21 days and then I Habit!

I have forgotten the very reason I started this blog. I have always wanted to know how to not waste my life and I haven't been very good at figuring it out.

In fact I have done the exact opposite. I have wasted many a day sleeping in and then watching pointless television. I am a boring person right now. Although I do try to keep the house tidy, since I am the one home at most hours of the day....it's my way of living for something. It's really hard to just sit at home, no job, no money, no purpose. Sometimes I actually wish I were still taking some classes so that I do have purpose.

I went to church on Sunday and my pastor gave a great sermon. It was about faith. I have to admit I have been slightly faithless during my pursuit of a job. It isn't so much that I don't think God is going to give me what I need or that I have put Him in a tiny little box and don't think He can get out. It's the kind of faithlessness where I just kinda forgotten about Him. I keep depending on myself and trying to think independently from Him.

I am done putting myself before God. I am no longer going to forget Him. I know that He is going to give me a job...the right job...at the right time. No longer do I need to fear or worry about what is going to happen in the next few months, because I am His and He is going to provide what I need.

I have read that an action repeated for a minimum of twenty-one days is likely to become a permanent habit (David Crowder-from his book Praise Habit). I think that God has revealed to me that instead of feeling lifeless and purposeless during my unemployment, I need to take this time to develop a deeper relationship with Him. I need to really commune with God and listen to Him, speak to Him, read His word. Starting yesterday I will begin to develop a habit of reading God's word and really having a relationship with Him.

Yesterday I read about Psalm 1 in my book Praise Habit. I meditated on it and realized what I was really missing. Verses 1-3 really struck me and inspired me to really kick off this journey.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he medittes day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Ps 1:1-3

I am excited and hopefully by August 17 this will not only be a habit for me, but I will have a deeper and better relationship with my Lord.

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Second to last night at the big family reunion! We are having tons of fun, however it is very exhausting...glad that we are using this night to relax, we have a few different board games going on, Kevin's doing homework, I am ripping music from Josh so I can put it on his phone, and other miscellaneous activities are taking place. All while the older adults are out to dinner.

We are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of Aunt Teresa and Uncle Rick! They should be here soon, hopefully.

It has been such a blast to be here with family. I really love everybody and it's so much fun to get to know all my cousins again, and a little better.

I love my Leibbrand cousins! Jana is a young adult now...she was able to come out to dinner with us on Wednesday. We went to the Japanese Steak House..yum. Except they did not have Yaki Soba (pardon if that's not how it's spelled) which is my favorite ever. But my Shrimp Hibachi (again spelling heh heh) was delicious. I also ordered California Rolls so that Jana could try what I like to call pretend sushi. But she was brave enough to try Jeanette's shrimp rolls...not Katrina's spicy tuna though. That was a great night. After dinner we, of course went to Wal Mart and then Katrina, Jana, and I got on this amazing ride...pictures to come.

James and Josh are so much fun...I have a great time joking with them, at the pool we kept dunking each other... although James was a rock and I was unsuccessful, until he graciously pretended I was strong enough! :) and Justin is the cutest and sweetest little man ever. I love telling him to stop smiling because he has the biggest smile...and he can't, so he smiles bigger and says, "I can't".

I never have really had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Jeanne before this week just because she is always off with the younger kids. But she has been wonderful. I have loved getting to know her better and I definitely welcome all of her loving hugs she gives me everyday.

Janie is so cool. I have so much fun hanging out with her and playing games and everything with her. Having her here with us has been a blessing. She has been a trooper and I know she has had a lot of fun!

And of course, I could never forget my Tiffany and Jeanette! I love Jeanette she is so wonderfully weird! and she has done a great job photographing our crazy family. We are in the same room with four other single ladies (Aunt Jo, Grandma, Janie, and Jana). We call it the single ladies room and then sing the Beyonce song (of course this has only happened on one occasion! heehee). It has been awesome to see Tiffany again. I finally got to see her amazing sewing work. Her quilts are spectacular! She is tons of fun to joke with and talk to. Even though I used to be her annoying little cousin, I am glad that we are closer now! And she married an awesome man. Brendan is pretty much amazing too. He is always easy to get along with and talk to and he brings a very fun dynamic to our group. I missed having Starbucks with him this time though! :(

Well I guess that is a long enough post for now. Sorry I don't have pics to share, Kevin and Jeanette have the bulk of the pictures. Congrats to the new parents in Japan! Aeris is gorgeous and I love reading the posts.

Kari Lopez, RN

I kind of like the ring to it! In case anyone hasn't heard, I am officially a Registered Nurse!!!! I was checking the board of nursing website every hour on the hour today. Each time my heart was racing!

Until like 1:38 when I decided to check again. I figured, eh it won't be up now. And then after a pivotal point in Zombieland, I look down at my computer and see that beautiful word. The most beautiful green font Times New Roman word: APPROVED!

I didn't expect the next sound to come out of my mouth to be a scream and then "I'm a nurse, I'm a nurse, I really am a nurse!" haha. I felt foolish and interuppted Josiah's movie experience. I did actually start to cry. And I screamed some more. I really want to call mom even though I sent her a text and know she will find out tonight after work.

Anyway I am so excited and happy. Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. The test took me 4 hours and I got all 265 questions! Thanks Mark Klimek you were right about my expectations.

I love you all. Thanks!