So I haven't commented on anything related to the Chick-Fil-A controversy and their statement on gay marriage. I know what I believe as a Christian, and I don't feel that posting what I think about the situation all over the social media world is going to further the Kingdom in any way. I am very much supportive of those who own Chick-Fil-A for standing on what their company was founded on. And if you know the Haydens at all, we LOVE their food. (Jesse proposed over a Chick-Fil-A dinner picnic!)
However...
Today on my way home from Annie's vet appointment, I passed the Cool Springs Chick-Fil-A. If you don't know the area, Cool Springs is a very wealthy part of the Nashville area. All of the shopping you can ask for is in this one area. Jesse and I have yet to figure out what the people in this area really do for a living. It is always crowded and no one seems to have a job to get to, yet their houses are huge and cars brand new. The Chick-Fil-A today looked much like all of the pictures I have seen posted on facebook today with a long line of people wrapped around the sidewalk and cars backed up into neighboring parking lots. And then I noticed the man standing just a few feet from the building in the same spot I always see him. Since it is illegal to solicit for money on the side of the road, the homeless community in Nashville writes and prints their own newspaper to sell on the streets to those passing by. The newspaper provides jobs for the homeless in the community. Every single day there are people in the Cool Springs intersection trying to sell "The Contributor" to those who live in this wealthy area. And it just so happens, Chick-Fil-A is on this busy intersection. SO today it broke my heart to see this man, someone who Jesus himself would have went to and loved on, standing in the 100 degree weather only feet from "Christians" waiting in line for chicken.
When are we as Christians going to get it? We are not going to bring any bit of glory to our Savior by standing in line to eat in an air conditioned restaurant that believes the same as we do. Jesus himself was among the sinners making a difference in their lives to the point where they wanted to follow him. Who today went and made an actual difference in the homosexual community besides making them feel hated? I have an uncle and dear friends who are gay and who I love very much. There sins are NO greater than mine, and when I start claiming to be a perfect Christian, please punch me.
So if you are standing in line today, take a look around and see who you can be loving on. Don't let what we have been called to do as Christians be blinded by that tasty chicken..
Interested in "The Contributor"? http://thecontributor.org/
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Answered Prayers!
Today I received an email from the nurse manager on the oncology floor at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. After three interviews, she invited me to join her team, and I seriously cannot be more thrilled! First of all because this is my dream job. Second because I did not apply for the position...
A few months ago before the wedding, I made a trip to Nashville to visit different hospitals to talk to nurse recruiters. I had gone about the traditional applying for positions alone, and after months of not even hearing from a real person, I decided I would take matters into my own hands. Nurse graduates I had known before me had recommended I take portfolios to different hospitals just to get my name out there. When I visited Baptist, which is the one of the biggest hospitals in Nashville, no one would even talk to me in the human resources office. I walked to the elevators feeling pretty defeated since this was one of my top picks for hospitals in the area. I then decided that I wasn't leaving without someone talking to me. So while praying the entire way to the information desk and to the 6th floor, I found the nurse manager's office. After introducing myself and telling the nurse manager about who I was and the passion I have for oncology, she told me it was extremely hard to get a job in a specialized field such as oncology as a new graduate and they mostly hired internally anyways. I thanked her and left my portfolio if something were to open up....and I was sure that was the last I would hear from her until a week ago, when I received the call asking if I had already found a job...
Another funny thing about the situation is if you would have asked me a year ago where in Nashville I would be working I would have told you Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. And in fact, I made it to the final interview for their residency program until I was put on the waiting list for a job. But the cut off for the application process was before I even stepped foot on an adult oncology floor and I found my LOVE for oncology nursing. Yes, I was heartbroken when I didn't get the job at Vandy, but now that I look at how God is working, I know that just wasn't His plan...and I am thankful for that.
So have I been inpatient? Have I doubted God even wanted me to be a nurse? Have I been angry at how unfair the hiring process is for new graduates? YES! But I've learned that my worth is not in a job or in what I can contribute to our financial situation as a family. My worth only comes from Christ and the sacrifice He made for me. Nothing else matters. Once I let go and realized my life is never in my control and how God will provide all my needs, He provided. So this entire process has brought Him all the glory! Everyone who knows me knows it's a miracle in itself that shy Brittany was able to walk up to a stranger and say with confidence this floor is where I want to be. ALL the glory to God...
Thank you to all who have been praying!!
I finished my first week of TurboFire, and I can already tell the difference in my energy. Tonight I was able to do the core workout and then finish a short night run. This workout was my first time using resistance bands. Jesse swears by them, and after today I can see why. LOVED them! So all of my "starter" workouts have been done and tomorrow starts the real stuff. So we will see how it goes! :)
A few months ago before the wedding, I made a trip to Nashville to visit different hospitals to talk to nurse recruiters. I had gone about the traditional applying for positions alone, and after months of not even hearing from a real person, I decided I would take matters into my own hands. Nurse graduates I had known before me had recommended I take portfolios to different hospitals just to get my name out there. When I visited Baptist, which is the one of the biggest hospitals in Nashville, no one would even talk to me in the human resources office. I walked to the elevators feeling pretty defeated since this was one of my top picks for hospitals in the area. I then decided that I wasn't leaving without someone talking to me. So while praying the entire way to the information desk and to the 6th floor, I found the nurse manager's office. After introducing myself and telling the nurse manager about who I was and the passion I have for oncology, she told me it was extremely hard to get a job in a specialized field such as oncology as a new graduate and they mostly hired internally anyways. I thanked her and left my portfolio if something were to open up....and I was sure that was the last I would hear from her until a week ago, when I received the call asking if I had already found a job...
Another funny thing about the situation is if you would have asked me a year ago where in Nashville I would be working I would have told you Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. And in fact, I made it to the final interview for their residency program until I was put on the waiting list for a job. But the cut off for the application process was before I even stepped foot on an adult oncology floor and I found my LOVE for oncology nursing. Yes, I was heartbroken when I didn't get the job at Vandy, but now that I look at how God is working, I know that just wasn't His plan...and I am thankful for that.
So have I been inpatient? Have I doubted God even wanted me to be a nurse? Have I been angry at how unfair the hiring process is for new graduates? YES! But I've learned that my worth is not in a job or in what I can contribute to our financial situation as a family. My worth only comes from Christ and the sacrifice He made for me. Nothing else matters. Once I let go and realized my life is never in my control and how God will provide all my needs, He provided. So this entire process has brought Him all the glory! Everyone who knows me knows it's a miracle in itself that shy Brittany was able to walk up to a stranger and say with confidence this floor is where I want to be. ALL the glory to God...
Thank you to all who have been praying!!
I finished my first week of TurboFire, and I can already tell the difference in my energy. Tonight I was able to do the core workout and then finish a short night run. This workout was my first time using resistance bands. Jesse swears by them, and after today I can see why. LOVED them! So all of my "starter" workouts have been done and tomorrow starts the real stuff. So we will see how it goes! :)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
"Rest" Day
Today on my workout program was supposed to be a rest day. And yes I didn't do any of the workouts, but I did mow the grass to help out the hubby and had a short mile run to burn some stress. I have my second interview for a job that is exactly what I have been praying for. So a little night run was very much needed to make sure I can get some sleep tonight. The interview is at 7am, so pray pray pray!!
Tonight I made a pretty healthy dinner. I tried a lemon chicken recipe that I found online. It wasn't my favorite, but I guess you never know until you try. I did make mashed potatoes from scratch though. And if you ask my past roommates this is a big deal for me. First because I have potatoes that don't have growths all over them (I always forget that I buy them until it's too late), and second because all through college I was an instant potato freak. And I am actually proud I used a potato peeler for the first time in my life...yeah cooking is a new thing for me. :)
I have a heavy heart tonight for one of my best friends in the entire world. She lost her precious grandmother suddenly, and although one could say she lived out lots of fulfilling years with many who loved her, losing someone is never easy. It also blows my mind how although I never met her grandmother, I hurt so much for my friend. The Lord has blessed me so much with a tight group of college friends. Girls that would drop everything they were doing to be with me if I needed them. I wish that such a sad situation didn't have to be the thing to remind me, but God shows us some of the best blessings during the worst storms.
That's all for now..picking up the workout again tomorrow, and actually looking forward to it!
Tonight I made a pretty healthy dinner. I tried a lemon chicken recipe that I found online. It wasn't my favorite, but I guess you never know until you try. I did make mashed potatoes from scratch though. And if you ask my past roommates this is a big deal for me. First because I have potatoes that don't have growths all over them (I always forget that I buy them until it's too late), and second because all through college I was an instant potato freak. And I am actually proud I used a potato peeler for the first time in my life...yeah cooking is a new thing for me. :)
I have a heavy heart tonight for one of my best friends in the entire world. She lost her precious grandmother suddenly, and although one could say she lived out lots of fulfilling years with many who loved her, losing someone is never easy. It also blows my mind how although I never met her grandmother, I hurt so much for my friend. The Lord has blessed me so much with a tight group of college friends. Girls that would drop everything they were doing to be with me if I needed them. I wish that such a sad situation didn't have to be the thing to remind me, but God shows us some of the best blessings during the worst storms.
That's all for now..picking up the workout again tomorrow, and actually looking forward to it!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Here we go..
So Jesse and I have been married for about a month & a half. Which means I have had drastic changes in all parts of my life. A new name to answer to, a new house to take care of, and a new person who has to sleep in my bed. I also just graduated from nursing school and moved to a whole new city. A BIG city..well just outside a big city. And although this big city has lots of wonderful hospitals, new graduate job search is pretty difficult. But God has a plan. He always does. And I don't want a job that isn't in His perfect plan. So we are praying and trying to keep busy.
Recently, I have felt the need to start living a healthier lifestyle. If you know my husband, he is a workout fanatic, and if you know me, I like my naps. College life meant lots of fast food, late nights, and caffeine. But now that I am on to adulthood, it's time to really care about the things I eat and the non-existent exercise routine in my life. Granted, I feel that as girls it's easy to always think you should lose a few pounds or that a lesser number on the scale means a prettier girl. We can thank society for that. And it has taken me a long time to realize that I will never have perfect thighs or wear a size 0 in pants again. But after years of trying to be perfect, I refuse to let the world say I'm anything but beautiful. And I've been blessed with a husband who is pretty crazy about me anyways.. :)
I think there is a difference in wanting to lose weight for self-esteem issues, and wanting to be healthy to enjoy life. As a nurse, I have seen many patients who if they had made lifestyle changes, they wouldn't have the medical issues they do. So Jesse and I have decided to start with what we eat and make conscious decisions our lifestyles not only for ourselves, but for our family to come (a long, long, LONG time from now). It's giving us something to work towards together as newlyweds, and giving me to fun of looking for healthy recipes everywhere possible.
I have also started a 3 month workout program through Beach Body. If you didn't know, Jesse is a Beach Body Coach which means he sells and recommends programs for different people (If you are interested, contact me!!). I've tried P90x, which was a good workout, but was boring after a while. I have also tried Insanity, which is definitely insane, but not a program I stuck with. But after a nice sales pitch from my cute husband/salesman, I decided to go with Turbo Fire. It sort of reminds me of Insanity with a little Zumba mixed in. The work outs are shorter than the others I have tried, which hopefully once I start those 12 hour nursing shifts will allow me to stick with it. I started my first day yesterday, and I could definitely tell this morning. And after day two today, I absolutely love the program! It goes by so fast, and you can definitely feel every part of your body that is being worked on. We will see how tomorrow goes! :)
http://www.teambeachbody.com/watch/products/turbo-fire
So I want to use this blog as a way to track my progress through this new program..maybe as a little bit of accountability. I also wanted to share the healthy recipes the Haydens will be trying, and the lifestyle changes we will be making. Stay tuned!
Recently, I have felt the need to start living a healthier lifestyle. If you know my husband, he is a workout fanatic, and if you know me, I like my naps. College life meant lots of fast food, late nights, and caffeine. But now that I am on to adulthood, it's time to really care about the things I eat and the non-existent exercise routine in my life. Granted, I feel that as girls it's easy to always think you should lose a few pounds or that a lesser number on the scale means a prettier girl. We can thank society for that. And it has taken me a long time to realize that I will never have perfect thighs or wear a size 0 in pants again. But after years of trying to be perfect, I refuse to let the world say I'm anything but beautiful. And I've been blessed with a husband who is pretty crazy about me anyways.. :)
I think there is a difference in wanting to lose weight for self-esteem issues, and wanting to be healthy to enjoy life. As a nurse, I have seen many patients who if they had made lifestyle changes, they wouldn't have the medical issues they do. So Jesse and I have decided to start with what we eat and make conscious decisions our lifestyles not only for ourselves, but for our family to come (a long, long, LONG time from now). It's giving us something to work towards together as newlyweds, and giving me to fun of looking for healthy recipes everywhere possible.
I have also started a 3 month workout program through Beach Body. If you didn't know, Jesse is a Beach Body Coach which means he sells and recommends programs for different people (If you are interested, contact me!!). I've tried P90x, which was a good workout, but was boring after a while. I have also tried Insanity, which is definitely insane, but not a program I stuck with. But after a nice sales pitch from my cute husband/salesman, I decided to go with Turbo Fire. It sort of reminds me of Insanity with a little Zumba mixed in. The work outs are shorter than the others I have tried, which hopefully once I start those 12 hour nursing shifts will allow me to stick with it. I started my first day yesterday, and I could definitely tell this morning. And after day two today, I absolutely love the program! It goes by so fast, and you can definitely feel every part of your body that is being worked on. We will see how tomorrow goes! :)
http://www.teambeachbody.com/watch/products/turbo-fire
So I want to use this blog as a way to track my progress through this new program..maybe as a little bit of accountability. I also wanted to share the healthy recipes the Haydens will be trying, and the lifestyle changes we will be making. Stay tuned!
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