The Last Exam

So the very last exam in nursing school was crazy!

My class would insist on the teacher telling us exactly what would be on the exam, like what chapters, how many questions, what type of questions, etc.

The teacher told us the exam would be 20 questions.  15 questions from the last several chapters we went over and 5 questions from the movie we watched the week before the final.

We all opened the exam on Blackboard, and there were 35 questions!

35 questions is 15 more than expected.

15 more.

One girl called the teacher out on it.

Girl: There are 35 questions on this test!?

Teacher: Yes, yes, there is.

Every single exam question since I've been in nursing school is multiple choice, multiple answer, or rarely a fill in the blank question.

Never an essay question.

This exam had 5 essay questions.  5.

You know when the last time I answered an essay question?  Me either.  I guess maybe back at the community college.  Like 3 years ago.

It was crazy.

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 1 Corinthians 15:33

All I Wanted Was My Picture Taken

That's it.  Simple.

No.  Nothing is ever simple.

Imagine this room:

This is called the "Grad Bash."  Sounds like a party doesn't it.  It wasn't.

I walk into the room, I see the photographer to the right of the room, pictured in the green.  I go up to him and tell him I want my photo taken.

Photographer: Ok! Just go over here to my right and get your gown and I'll take your picture.
Me: Ok, thanks.

I walk over to the graduation gowns table and try a talk to the ladies at the table to request my gown.
Lady: Eh, no. You have to go through all the other tables before I can give you your gown.

Deep breath.  Okay.  Just play the game.  I know that I have only have a limited amount of time before I have to go to Pittsburgh later that afternoon, but I'll play along.

I got to the first table on the left.

Me: What do I have to do to get my picture taken?
First Table Lady: It's easy.  Take this card and go around to each table and have them fill it out as you walk around to do everything you need to do at each table.  At the end, after everyone fills out your card, drop it in the box and you will be entered for a prize.
Me: Ok, fine.
First Table Lady: What's your student ID number?
Me: 0987654.
First Table Lady: Is this how you want your name on your diploma?
Me: Yes, I filled that out like two weeks ago.
First Table Lady: Okay. *checks my card*

Off to the next table I go.

Man At The Second Table: *blank stare*
Me: Hey.
Man At The Second Table: Oh, did you fill out the graduation survey?
Me: Yes, like 3 weeks ago.
Man At The Second Table: *checks my card*

To the third table.

Women At The Third Table: Student ID number please.
Me: 0987654.
Women At The Third Table: You do not have any outstanding charges on your account right now.  Unless you get a parking ticket, or a library fine, or Wellness Center fees, you are good to graduate.
Me: Uh, ok. Cool.
Women At The Third Table: *checks my card*

To the next table I go.  But let me preface this next table with something.  This table was the Alumni Association table.  They wanted everyone to sign up on their website to keep in contact with the school.  Seems perfectly reasonable to me.  Except for the fact that the women in charge of the Alumni Association came to our class on Monday and was rude.

And when I say rude, I mean I wanted to go all Stephanie Tanner status on her, How Rude!  In class she was just ugly to one of my friends, and then she asked everyone to raise their hands if they used Twitter, which I do, and she the proceeded to make fun of Twitter.  So this is how the conversation at the went.

Rude Alumni Association Director: Just sit down here and fill out the information online and you will be signed up for the Alumni Association.
Me: Do I have to?
Rude Alumni Association Director: You do if you want me to check off on your card for the prize.
Me: Fine. What do I have to do?
Rude Alumni Association Director: Sit here and type your name in this box.
Me: But I don't know if I want to be apart of the Alumni Association.  You want to much information.
Rude Alumni Association Director: *blank stare*
Me: Fine. *types name* My name is in here twice. (Of course it is)
Rude Alumni Association Director: Oh, well, it's probably the first one then.
Me: *clicks on the first one, fills out the copious amount of needed information* All done.
Rude Alumni Association Director: Good. *checks my card*

Next table.  They are asking for money.  Yeah, at this Grad Bash, they are asking for money.

At the next table I have to harass the poor lady selling class rings and graduation announcements to get her to check off my card because I've already bought my class ring and announcements, but I need her to check off my card.  I didn't realize until later I could have just checked off my card myself without going to all the tables...

Finally, I'm to the graduation gown table.

Me: Hi.
Gown Lady: Hey.  What's your name.
Me: Katie Bestnurseever
Gown Lady: Ok. *looks though some boxes* Your gown isn't here.
Me: What?!
Gown Lady: Let me call downstairs.
Me: Okay.


Phone call.

Gown Lady: Your gown is downstairs.
Me: Okay.
Gown Lady: I'm going to go get it.
Me: Can you get my friend's gown too while you are down there?
Gown Lady: Sure!!

She goes downstairs giving me enough time to sign my name really big on the banner that was in the middle of the room.  Katie, BSN.  The line for the gowns in backing up with about 7 people behind me.  She comes back.

Gown Lady: I'm sorry, I don't have your gown.
Me: What!?!?!?!!!!?????!?!?!  All I wanted was my picture taken!!
Gown Lady: It's okay, I got another gown for you to wear.

I get my picture taken.  Very nice pictures if I do say so myself.

Then I go back to apologize to the Gown Lady.

Me: Thank you for your help.


It took me almost an hour to get my picture taken.  Next time I graduate with my bachelor's degree, and have to go to the Grad Bash to get my picture taken, I won't be annoyed with everyone.

I want to know who won the prize.

"And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

There Was This One Time

I have to write a journal for my class about an incident that happened while I was in clinical.

The other day I was thinking about having to do this journal and had a bunch of stories.  But now that I am sitting down to do it, I can't think of any good ones.

Well, I can think of stories, but then I have to identify a leadership concept and say how I would handle this situation differently next time.

I thought about writing about one of the first times I ever had a clinical.  We were in the hospital and my patient was getting physical therapy.  The physical therapist and her assistant came in the room and got gloves.  Except one of them dropped their gloves on the floor and picked the gloves up and put them on, and did the PT with the patient.  I was horrified.  The floor is dirty and nasty.  Nothing that touches the floor should ever be used to help a patient.  I didn't know what to say to the physical therapist.  So I just stood there, mouth gaping open.  Now if I saw someone drop gloves on the floor, I would say, "hey let me have those dirty gloves, and I'll get you a new pair."  In a nice voice.  This is a patient safety issue by the way.

But I've already told that story a bunch of times.  So I don't want to write about that.

So I have to think up another story.  I must have many, because I come home from clinical and think about how incompetent people are, or I think "when I'm a nurse I'm not going to...".  So here's to brainstorming.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalm 24:3-5

10 Years? Really?

It does not feel like it has been 10 years since 9/11/01.

A lot has changed since then.  But people still don't seem to know that the Pentagon is in Virginia, not D.C.

I was just 12 years old then.  And my outlook changed.

Heard someone today say that it was a call to prayer for the Muslims.  I think that is a good idea.

Going to work on that now.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44

PS, over 5,000 blog views!!!

Return Of The School, Part 4

I'm heading back to school today after being home with my family all summer.

I'm nervous and excited.

I have a car full of stuff, a haircut, and a waxed face because of my Mother.  (Literally waxed, she paid for my eyebrows and lip to be waxed yesterday.)

I wonder what this next semester holds.  I know it doesn't hold worry though.  I learned that in church this week.  My only job as a Christian is to not worry so that I can show God's glory.

Off to vote in a few minutes.  I hope everyone takes their kids with them to vote.  I clearly remember going with my parents to vote when I was little.  They had the old voting machines where you had to pull the handle over and the curtain would close.  Then my Mother would let me push the little switch over for whoever she wanted to vote for.  Then she would pull the big handle again and the curtain would open and your vote would be cast.  Then we would all get a sticker.

I think about how fun that was whenever I go to vote and every time it has been a computer touch screen.

But nonetheless, going with my parents inspired me.  And I love voting.  It's my right and I do it wholeheartedly.  Going with them made a lasting impression that made me realize that what is going on on the TV with politics and such, can change when I vote.  So, take your kids with you to vote!

After voting, I'm going to the pregnancy center to volunteer.  I'm sad about leaving, but so happy I got to be there this summer.

Then off to school.  I have some nesting to do.


"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6

The Phone Call

I don't like answering the phone at places I work.  I'm going to have to get over it eventually I guess, but I have said some stupid stuff on the phone.


At the bookstore one time I answered the phone, it went something like this.


Ring ring.
Me: Hello. *stupid stuff coming out of my mouth, embarrassing because everyone is watching me, babble babble babble, more stupid stuff*
Hang up.
Female-coworker-who's-name-I-can't-remember speaking to me: I have too much pride to say stuff like that.
Me: Well, you can't go to Heaven with pride.
FCWNICR: I don't believe in heaven, I'm agnostic.
Me: You're definitely not going to Heaven then.


"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8


And I thought agnostic meant that you didn't know if there was a heaven or not, as opposed to thinking there there was not a heaven?  Yes.  I think that is what it means.

Going Hog Wild

There was this one time, I was in the library at University, and I was printing off Power Points and Syllabi and Outlines for class.


I wanted to use the 3-hole-punch.  I went to the front desk and asked if I could use it at the computer where I was sitting near the printer.

The lady at the desk said:  Oh, sure.  No problem.
Me: Thank you.


I walk back to the computer and punch holes in my stuff, and print more stuff.  And punch holes.  Print.  You know how it is.  5 classes means 5 syllabi, 5 outlines, and at least 5 Power Points.


Then this other librarian lady starts walking around in a panic.


Librarian Lady: *shouting* Where's the 3-hole-punch!?  Where's the 3-hole-punch!?!  Where's the 3-hole-punch?1?
Me: Uhh, here.
LL: *shouting*  You can't hog the 3-hole-punch!
Me: *blank stare*


"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." Matthew 5:42

Chocolate Or Vanilla?

Have you ever gotten what you wanted then found out that you weren't sure that was what you wanted?


Confused?  Me too.


It's kind of like really really really wanting a Chipotle burrito, but they were being skimpy on the salsa, and it just didn't hit the spot, and you spent $8 for nothing.


Or like the time I was in Switzerland, and my new cousins took me to a gelato stand, and made me pick what kind I wanted first.  I picked chocolate - because I almost always pick chocolate, and everyone else picked vanilla.  Why did they all pick vanilla?  Why did they make me go first?  (I think they were being nice.)  If I had seen everyone else pick vanilla, I certainly would have too.  I want to know what the vanilla was like.  Was it better than the chocolate?  Or were they just vanilla people?  I would have asked, but I don't speak French.


Or it's like how I chose this path in life, and I got exactly what I wanted.  I even praise God for giving it to me, because it is so amazing.  I am in awe sometimes about how much He has blessed me.  But then I think, what am I doing here?  How did I get to this place?  Did I make the right choice?  Or did God just bless my choices?  Then I have to get rid of the Deist thinking of God winding the clock and letting me go.  Because I know that He has a plan and a purpose for my life.  Not just a generic - oh, bless anything that Katie does today, blessing.  But a - Here is the path, walk therein.  I guess I just get worried when I see others with lives that are 2 steps ahead of mine, and I can't wait to be there (Whether those people be in romantic comedies or real life.  And what does it matter what other people are doing?).  But at the same time, I really don't have a vision past next May/June 2012.    


And now I'm thinking that it is a good time to start praying about the vision coming 2012.  Because without a vision, people don't do so well.


I'm not sure if it's PMS or too many movies or too much time to think, but welcome to the thoughts of me.  And that's probably enough crazy for one night.


"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11


"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16a


"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Exodus 20:17


"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18

Plane Pangs

I went to Peru in 2008 for a missions trip.  We started in the capital of Peru, Lima.  We stayed there for about a week, then flew to Cusco, Peru for the second week.


If I remember correctly, the flight from Lima to Cusco was lacking in excitement, except for the fact that I had diarrhea.


As you learn quickly on a oversees missions trip, or any trip where digestive health is very important, everyone's bowel movements are up for discussion, whether that be the Big C or the Big D.  One girl was slightly embarrassed because she fessed up that she hadn't gone poo in a couple of days and we all laid hands on her and prayed for the Spirit to move - her bowels.


Anyway, in the airport going to Cusco, I had diarrhea.  I made to through security without too much trouble, PTL.  Now, waiting at the gate for the airplane to show up was a different story.  I think I went back and forth from my seat to the bathroom running like 6 times in an hour.


Finally, they started to board the airplane, and I had to run to the bathroom again, leaving all my stuff with the team (read, my tall guy friend).  I figured I had time to get this last bout of diarrhea out before the plane took off.  But no.


The entire plane must have boarded in less than 5 minutes, and was about to take off.  This is no American airline where you sit on the tarmac for at least 30 minutes before even taxiing out.  Unbeknownst to me the plane was about to close its door to passengers while I was in the bathroom.  And my guy friend has my purse in which my passport is enclosed.


Guy Friend to the Flight Attendant: She's in the bathroom, she will be right here!!!
Flight Attendant: She will just have to catch the next fight.
Guy Friend: She has diarrhea!


Insert British lady here.  She over hears this whole situation and runs too the bathroom to get me.


British lady: Katie!!
Me: *why does everyone have to be named Katie? Can't I just poo in peace?*
British lady: Katie, Katie!!
Me: *I don't know any British people*
British lady: Katie!
Me: Yes?
British lady: Your plane is all boarded, and your boyfriend or your husband is freaking out!
Me: OMG!!! *Wipe, sort of*


I didn't wash my hands.  They let me on the plane, thank God.  Off to Cusco.  I didn't have diarrhea on the plane for some reason, probably terror of being left sans passport and any command of the Spanish language in a Peruvian airport.


A shout out to the British lady who saved the day.  If you ever read this and recognize the story, email me.  And I apologize if you are Australian or South African, I haven't yet perfect my knowledge of accents.


You know what the team said when I sat down on the plane?  Glad you made it.


"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

1) I was at the bookstore helping a guy find a book.  He looked like Aziz Ansari.  He was standing next to me, we were almost shoulder to shoulder, he bends around to look me in the eye, and says:


"You have really blue eyes.  I bet your babies will have really blue eyes."
"Thank you?"


2) I was at an observation clinical, and one of the nurses is running around and says to me:


"You have Irish eyes."  And she runs off.


I tell the nurse I'm hanging with that I am Irish, and she yells to the other nurse, 


"She is Irish!"


3) At clinical, by a patient,


"Oh my gosh, you have the prettiest blue eyes."
"Why, thank you."


It's the B vitamin I take; B for blue eyes.


Or it could be my affinity for blue eyeliner and shadow.

(UPDATE 6/26/11, 1750, My Father has blue eyes too.  So I probably get that from him.)

And if this post sounds conceited, it's not really.  These stories come at times when I need encouragement (except for maybe the first one, that's a weird story).


"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." 1 Peter 3:12

Finger Licking Good

I was about 6 or 7 years old and I think it was my first time helping my Mother make dinner.


I had helped her make cookies before, but never dinner.


This was really exciting for me.


We were making chicken, and dipping them in eggs and then breadcrumbs.


When we were done, I licked my fingers, just like I had when we made cookies.


Only Mother wasn't happy that I did this.  And she made me drink like a gallon of milk, I'm not sure why.


I didn't understand the difference between cookie dough and raw chicken.


I don't remember the next time she let me help make dinner.


But for some reason, I am super scared about food poisoning and am really careful about food preparation.


"And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." Jonah 2:10

A Cat Skeleton

Once upon a time, I was in the fourth grade.


And we had to do a "science fair project".


It was really more of a research-tri-fold-board-project.


I did mine on cats.  And I had a big cat skeleton picture as the centerpiece of my board.  The board was yellow and snazzy.


The directions for the project said to have a hypothesis.


My parents were helping me with my project, and told me I didn't need a hypothesis because I wasn't taking a poll and doing research.  It was just a report thing.


Me: NOOOOOOO, I NEED A HYPOPOTHESIS.
Mother:  Katie, you're not doing research, you don't need a hypothesis.
Me: BUT THE PAPER SAYS I NEED A HYPOPOTHESIS.
Father: Katie, it's okay.  You don't need a hypothesis.
Me: *tear* Are *sniff* you *wipe tear* sure?
Mother: Yes!
Father: Yes.


So I believed them.


But, no.  They were mistaken.  I got marked off for not having a hypothesis.


I'm pretty sure I got first place in the science fair though.


And if I remember correctly, someone was doing their project on dolls, like glass dolls, or something, and their hypothesis was "Most girls like dolls."  I don't remember who's project this was, but I give you props for getting the points for a hypothesis like that.  Did you do a poll of at least 30 people to find out if that was true?

By the way, Dictionary.com defines hypothesis like this: "a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts."

"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:35-39

It's A Family Reunion

My Mother got us invited to someone else's family reunion one day.


Well, it wasn't just someone's, it was like my grandfather's cousin or something.


My Brother being the studly male he is, had this girl following him around all day.


She really like him.


Brother didn't like her so much, rightfully so.


But here's a tip for her:  Don't try and pick up boys at a family reunion.


Why?  Because it's a family reunion.


"And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren." Luke 1:36


"And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her." Luke 1:58


(These are the only two scriptures with the word cousin/s in it.)

Goodness And Mercy

I used to work at a college bookstore.  I really liked it.  Funny things happened all the time.


One time I was helping people find their books and there was this guy who asked for a history book.


"Follow me."  I said walking to the history book aisle.


We got there, and I was looking at the shelf looking for the book.  He tapped me on the shoulder, and said with a big creeper smile, "I'm still following you." 


"Good."


"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Psalm 23:6

A Song On My Heart

I really want to do missions work.  I've gone on three ministry trips.  First to Dallas, TX, next to Lima and Cusco, Peru, and most recently to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  All of which were mostly children's ministry.


I love ministering to people.  I realized on my last trip that just being there to give someone a hug can make an impact on a person's life forever.


I'm not sure where I am to go yet, but when God calls, I will say, Here am I Lord, send me.


This song has been on my heart for a while now.  And I decided to try and capture my heart in a video.  I think it is nearly impossible to do that, especially with my webcam and mic.  But here goes.  We sang this song at the Wednesday night service at the South Dakota Reservation.  Pardon the audio, but I just had to get this out.

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8


As a side note, no one is around to bug me and all I do it play the piano and watch t.v.  Nothing exciting.  But I can sing the same song over and over all day and nobody cares.  I could get used to this.


PPS Got to 4,100 blog views today!!!

So There Was This One Time

...when I was at Sam's Club.


It was 2007.  October.  I was buying candy for a thing at the Christian Student Union at NOVA.


I was done shopping and ready to check out, and my Mother left me to go to the bathroom.


I had two big bags of candy.


The old creepy guy in front of me in line said, "That's a lot of candy for one girl."


Me, "That's a lot of coleslaw for one guy."  He had like 5 bags of coleslaw.


Old Creepy Guy, "I have a lot of meat to go with it."


Really, Old Guy, Really?


Eww.


"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." Romans 6:6-8

Can I Remember It All?!

I'm scared of getting so many memories that I won't be able to remember them all.


Which is part of the reason I started blogging.  (Or part of the reason I'm crazy.)


But the reason I post this now is:


The other day after clinical my whole class and the teacher got on the elevator.  And another nurse was on the elevator too.


The other nurse said something like "those were the day" but actually "I don't remember much, I blocked it all out."


Now, I'm assuming she didn't mean what she learned, but she blocked out the experience or her memories.


I wonder what nursing school was like for her?  Because I am having a fabulous time, minus the stress, papers, exams, and laundry.  But I cannot imagine doing something different than I am doing now.  I hope to remember all the fun times I'm having.  To remember the feelings of stress, and heartache, and joy, and new friends, and new teachers, and new experiences.  I hope to look back on this time and say, Thank you God, you did order my steps and you did have a plan for my life.


I just hope there is enough room for all my memories in my head.  Sometimes I find myself daydreaming, and laughing about what happened yesterday, or last week, or years ago.  I amuse myself.  So, if you see me seemingly laughing for no reason, this is why: ghosts of memories past.


"They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." Psalm 145:7-8

Dreams Of A Dental Hygienist

I went to the dentist in December to get my teeth cleaned.  They had all new dental hygienists in there that I had never met before.


I got all settled in the chair and she stuck her fingers in my mouth and stated to ask me questions.


Dental Hygienist: Did you just get back from school for Christmas break?


Me: Yeuresh


DH: What? *takes her hands out of my mouth*


Me: Yes.


DH: *hands in my mouth* Where do you go to school?


Me: Uneeennavercitty


DH: Uhh?  *takes her hands out of my mouth*


Me: University.


DH: *hands in my mouth*  What are you studying?


Me: Nuresssing. 


DH: Did you say nursing?  I almost went to nursing school.  I don't know why I didn't.  Someone told me I would be a good dental hygienist. *looking off into space absorbed in thought".


Me: Yeah?


DH: I think I'm smart enough to have been a nurse.


Me: Okay.


DH:  You really should floss.


I didn't know what do say.  It was awkward.  I bet she really could have been a nurse if she wanted to.  It made me a little sad though, because I really want everyone to be able to accomplish their dreams and she didn't seem like she was doing exactly what she wanted even though she had a good job or whatever.


"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

After I wrote DH half a dozen times, I realized that DH means darling husband on all the other blogs I read.  Oh well.

Telling About Jesus

Did I ever tell you I am a Teacher/Trainer in Evangelism Explosion?  I am.


I went to Florida in March 2005 and got the training.  It was soooo much fun and I learned a lot.


After we got back, the church I was doing it with would go out and practice EE.


I have one really memorable day.


Me and another lady went to the park and we were walking around talking to people, nothing too exciting, no one was raised from the dead or healed from blindness they had from birth, but we did get to plant some seeds.


Then we started talking to the one girl who was sitting on the swings watching her boyfriend ride his skateboard on the half-pipe they had there.


We made it though the first 3 points.  One, that Eternal life is a free gift that cannot be earned or deserved; two, you cannot earn eternal life because man is sinful, like having a B on a report card full of A's, just one makes you not a straight A student. Three, God is loving and just, he loves us more than we can imagine and wants to spend forever and eternity with us, but he cannot with us having/doing sin, so he must punish our sin.  And she was getting it.  She was liking what we were saying.


On to the next point we go, Jesus (they way we get to spend eternity with God even though we have sin).


And her boyfriend comes over.


He did not like that we were talking to his girlfriend about Jesus.  He started yelling and screaming at us.  Shoving the other lady a little.


The girlfriend got him to settle a bit, and sent him to the car.


And I had the presence of mind to ask for her phone number, and she gave it to me.  And she left.


This was a new experience for me.  I never had anyone mad at me for talking to someone else about Jesus before.


We started to walk to the car to leave, but they were parked next to us.  So we waited until they left.


I called her a couple of days later and I couldn't get a hold of her; I think I wrote the number down wrong.  I was really sad.


She seemed so ready to hear about Jesus but we didn't get to finish that day.


Every once in a while, I pray for her.  I pray for her safety and protection.  I pray that she doesn't feel like we abandoned her because we didn't call her back.  I pray that she finds Jesus and knows him as friend.


I hope that one day I'll be telling this story somewhere, and the girl will come up to me and tell me that she was the girl on the swing set that day.  And that Jesus is her friend.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6