a series of 'firsts' and 'lasts'

1.)  i got my first package from a 'secret admirer' i think it was ezra cause he sent them to 100 people.  but still, it is fun regardless :).

{have an awesome Christmas.  from: secret admirer}

2.)  i went to my FIRST phil wickham concert!  soo amazing.  it was wonderful to be able to praise the Lord with some of my favorite artists.  they did a mix of Christmas music and songs from their new CD's.  an then some worship songs everyone knew.  he was just as good, if not better, in person.  his voice was so heavenly.  i got chills several times throughout the night.  shane and shane were there too and i didn't know much of their stuff.  but their song called 'without you' is my theme song these next few weeks.  i can't wait to see him in concert again....hopefully SOON! and we sat by a girl from malone whose in laws sat next to us.  what a small world.  oh, and miriam told me she thinks i look 23 or 24 years old!  those words NEVER are said!!

{me and miriam went!  love this girl! and she shares my love for phil}

{oh my.  someone pinch me!}

{shane and shane, and phil!}

{one more just for good measures}

3.)  i finished my first last day of clinical for junior year.  i seriously loved this group of ladies and one gentleman!  they have been so amazing and i am going to miss them all.  we got along so well and felt like a little family. i even made some amazing friendships through this group, mainly jessica. and as much as it sometimes was slow on the unit, i do love maternity much more than med-surge! LOL.

{susan the instructor, angie, sarah h., ashley s., ashton, janet l., jess w., me, and john}

4.) today was my last college experience class....ever!  such a bitter sweet feeling.  i sat there and just kept thinking 'i can't imagine not doing this next year.'  but i know it's time.  this program has blessed me more than i can express or could ever have imagined.

{whole class. section 3!}

{funny faces!  i will miss them so so much.}

5.)  i spent my last thursday with the twins till after break--weird!!

{me and cam. he looks totally out of it and fell asleep about 2 minutes after this pic}

6.)  a not so great first.  i failed my third theory exam this semester *gulp*.  thought i did very well and knew the material but i guess not.  there is a bit of pressure going into the final and i am so freaking out.  i need to get a 76% on the final.  which doesn't sound horrible.  but i haven't gotten over than but ONCE all semester.  holy moly! me?  failing classes?!  this is SOOO not me.  so, i trust that the Lord has a plan in all of this.  and this is why 'without you' has been my song.  it is inspired from in exodus when Moses is looking at the promised land and says to the Lord that he doesn't want to go into the promised land unless the Lord and His presence are with him.  and if going to the promised land means His presence is gone, Moses doesn't want to go to this PROMISED land. wow. that's some powerful stuff.

here are some lyrics: 
'here i am, i'm calling out father

can you hear me?  can you hear me?

i don't want to go with you.

here i am, can you talk a little louder?

so i can hear you, i wanna hear you.

i don't want to move without you'

and 

'if your presence stays, i don't want to go.

and if your presence goes i don't wanna stay"

and this has been my prayer the last several days.  Lord, i don't want to go onto next semester if you're not with me.  if i am not to pass, and if that means that your presence stays with me, then that's what i want.  i will do whatever You want.  cause i don't want to go anywhere without You.  cause i can't do this without you.  i know i can't do this alone.  and if your plan is to have me not pass this semester--as scary, humbling, humiliating and not ideal as that is--i will trust You.  and if Your presence coming with me means i pass, than i will accept that and do the best i can with that {even though i'm not sure i want to do nursing}  so yeah, i'm in love with this song.  touching my heart now.  

those are my first and lasts for now....now time to study for my LAST set of exams for the semester!!