Goodbye 9South

I just drove home from Children's Hospital Boston for the last time.  I just worked my last shift.  When I opened the door, I walked into an apartment that looked drastically different than when I left.  All the frames are off the walls.  The tv is packed away.  The entertainment cabinet is on the curb.  Boxes are piled high.  This is really happening!  I turned in my badge tonight; I had my exit interview.  It's done.

As much as you can prepare yourself for goodbyes, that doesn't make them any easier.  Although I haven't cried any tears yet, my heart is full of emotion.  Walking off of my 9South tonight was very hard.  My stomach felt a little sick.  Here is a quote from the goodbye letter I wrote my colleagues: 

"I don’t know where to begin when thinking about all the things I love about you all.  I truly believe that we have the best job around.  I know we know this, but it’s hard to remember when we’re working our third 12 hour shift in a row with the same family that’s driving us nuts or as we empty our 50th hat of the day; what a privilege it is to be a nurse.  We get to enter into people’s hurt and pain and love and care for them--offering hope--in such a vulnerable time in life.  We get to be healers, counselors, shoulders to cry on, mediators, translators, advocators, playmates, bottle-feeders, teachers, baby rockers, and friends.  And you all play these roles so well.  Some better than others, but the sweet thing is that we can all find our niche and excel in that place.  As nurses we wear many hats, and I will miss swapping hats with all of you."

I honestly think the hardest part about leaving Boston is walking away from this incredible "job".  I put job in quotations because so often it hasn't felt like a job, it has felt like an honor, a blessing, an amazing opportunity.  I will miss every single person I have worked with.  I am so expectant and excited for what God has for us in Phoenix, but boy, will I miss Children's.  I will work at another children's hospital, and there will be more amazing people to work with.  I will meet more kids that I just love and more families that bring joy to my heart.  I will learn how to work on a team of different doctors and nurses and social workers and child life specialists...  but memories of 9South will always be fond in my memory, close to my heart.  I am so thankful for this opportunity I have been blessed with these past 4 years. 

I will hopefully have some pictures to post tomorrow from the little dinner and bowling get together my floor planned for my going away.  I just had to get these thoughts out now. 

So this is really happening.  One chapter is ending in my life... and a new one is beginning.

Food for Spring

 Shaved Asparagus Pizza from Annie's Eats

 Blueberry Crumb Bars from ...?  I forgot! But you can find the same recipe here.

Homemade sparkling orange fruit jello from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

She's having a baby!

Today a group of ladies and me helped celebrate our friend Emily Little as she prepares for her first child, due this August.  The baby shower turned out great and a lot of people came and had a lovely time.  Emily is married to Seth, the worship pastor of our church, CFCF.  They have both been involved in our church for several years--in college ministry, worship, the training school, serving so many people--needless to say, many women want to celebrate this baby along with them!  She is a sweet friend to me,  and Andy calls Seth one of his closest friends, too, so we will miss them out in Arizona. 

onesies sewed by Lisa Pierce

one of the 2 tables of treats

delicious and colorful!

Cake Pops... recipe below!

Always a blessing to have a Starbucks alumni in our midst! (They generously donated coffee.)

Um, these are being added to my Crate&Barrel wishlist... in my head.

I was in charge of flowers.  Trader Joe's is the best!

Kristen's famous fruit pizza (seen at any gathering/party/shower). I LOVE it!

Rose Cake.  Made by moi.

The guest of honor and her mom--who flew up from Georgia and surprised Emily today!

Standard awkward opening presents pic.

Cake Pops
So, cake pops started gaining popularity from this blog, Bakerella.  I definitely did not make this recipe up, and to be honest, I more call it "directions" not a "recipe" since it involves store bought mixes.

• Make a cake mix according to the directions. (I used rainbow chip--classic!)
• Bake cake and let completely cool.
• Break up cake into your mixer.  Mix in on low speed a can of frosting. (I used rainbow chip again).
• When everything is incorporated, you have a pasty mix.  Scoop the mix up into little balls (I used by small cookie scoop and then hand rolled them after they were chilled) and put on a cookie sheet.  Put in freezer until chilled, or until ready to dip.
• Dip balls (by using spoon or lollipop sticks) into melted chocolate or candy melts.
• Let harden up in freezer or fridge.  

I kept them in the freezer overnight before the party.  They never freeze rock hard, so I think that's fine to do!  If making cake pops (as opposed to cake balls--with no sticks), make sure you dip the entire ball in your coating so the stick is anchored.
Enjoy!

Three Weeks

So today marks the 3 week countdown until Andy and I leave Boston.  For some reason today I have only started realizing what we are doing.  It is finally hitting me that we are crazy!  We are choosing to leave the comforts of life here... my amazing job at a world-class children's hospital, Andy's great job with potential for more at a middle school down the road, our incredible church and church community, sweet friends, and our family close by.  We are up and leaving it all to live 3000 miles away.  It's not like we're being paid to move.  No company has hired us and offering to cover the moving costs.  In fact, I'm still waiting for confirmation that I have even been hired at Phoenix Children's!  We're not leaving Boston because Phoenix is so much better.  We are going on a word, a call, a promise from God that a revival is going to happen in Arizona and he's asking us to be a part of seeing it happen. 

I said to Andy last night, "If things don't work out, then we are fools."  And you know what?  We already know that we're fools.  A famous Christian missionary once said, "Everyone is someone's fool.  Whose fool are you?"  We decided long ago that we are going to be fools for Christ.  So, here we are.  If this isn't a journey of faith, then I don't know what is!  If I ever get discouraged or second guess our decision, I can't help but think of...  the girl we met on ASU's campus last year who said, "Revival is coming!  We have asked God to send laborers, and here you are!"... a well-known Christian prophet who said last year that the next great revival to hit America will be in Arkansas, Alabama, and Arizona... the Christians we have all met in Tempe who love God but haven't found a church or a community of believers that they feel connected to yet...  the picture God gave me of a well in the middle of the desert with thousands of people lining up to get a drink of water from... 

Though I am a little scared for the unknown, very sad to leave family and friends behind, and quite unsure of how this will all play out, I am certain of these things: 

"He will be our guide even to the end" Psalm 48:14  

Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20


"Delight yourself in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..."  Psalm 37:3-7


"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.  But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.  I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.  I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.  I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.  I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."  Isaiah 41: 18-20


"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

God is good, and he's calling us to be a part of seeing the poor and thirsty in the desert be filled with the Living Water that is Jesus.  And we're not here to say that our church is the only one that is doing this.  There are lots of Bible-believing, Jesus-preaching churches in that area, but for whatever reason, God needs more laborers to bring in the harvest.


So, here at the three week countdown, I am a nervous yet excited, sad yet hopeful.  The emotions haven't hit me yet, but I have a feeling they will come with abandon at the end.  Until then, we're trying to get time with all of our friends.  I am looking forward to a much needed "girlfriends weekend" this friday and saturday with my closest girlfriends in Marblehead.  We haven't started packing, but that will be soon.  I'll leave you with a few photos of what we've been up to.

Hannah and me at the end of the year college ministry party

with Luci

Erin and Kelsey

Lauren and Beccah

Little Mary and Lisa over for dinner