The Story Continues w/ My Debut on the Radio...!

(Make sure you read the post, Where Do I Begin...? that was posted on Sunday, March 18, before reading this one as it precedes this one in story form...)

God is amazing. I have had a dream to do radio for quite some time. Yes, I love my job as a NICU RN and will continue as an RN, but that passion for radio has always been there. So guess what?! WaYfm's Sharathon week was my debut ONAIR on the radio! Brief though it was, I loved it nonetheless! Rich gave me an hour in phone central on Wednesday evening from 6-7p, and I loved it! The first break I was on, my hand holding the mic was just shaking. I was so nervous. I received a lot of positive feedback, so I started to relax and have a good time. That first night, I was in phone central w/ a youth group. That made it so easy b/c I could play them up and have fun w/ them. Besides, they wanted to be on the radio too! Since that hour went so well, I asked Rich if I could do it again. He just laughed, but the next day told me that I could ask someone if they would mind if I did their shift in phone central. Derek was kind enough to allow me to do his. Thanks, Derek! Again, it went quite well. I was on w/ Joe and John. Good times. Then came Friday morning. Rich asked me if I wanted to do his hour in phone central from 9-10a. Granted it was just after primetime, it was still a good time to be on nonetheless! Way too cool. Then that afternoon, Rich scheduled me for the 3-4p hour with him, Rick and Joe on. Let's just say, I love doing radio! It went very well and we had a good time. God is good. I told a few of my good friends at work that weekend that I made my debut on the radio and they were very supportive of me. They thought it was very cool. One of my friends (who has daughters my age), thinks it is amazing what God is doing in my life. To be able to make an impact as an RN and also with radio...what a ministry. I have prayed many times for God to expand my territory beyond what I can see. He has and continues to do so. I give Him all praise, honor and glory. I have a passion for my generation to be reached with the Gospel of Christ. If that means as an RN, thru radio - whether onair or supporting onair staff behind the scenes, in the mission field as I'm planning to go to Jamaica with WaYfm this summer, and any other way that God has in mind, I'm open and willing to be used.

God use me. Expand my territory beyond what I see, b/c You never cease to amaze me.

Weekend is here!

Yes, it is the start of my weekend. I just finished working the last 4 out of 5 days at work, and yes, those are each 12+ hour shifts. I've had enough! No more babies for me for 2 days! (...back at it on Wednesday...) We are still pushing 100 babies. The spring chicks are here! It's just crazy how many people are having babies right now! But you know what, I'm caring for a whole new generation. Pretty cool when you think about it.

Last night after work, I was able to watch a whole episode of the Amazing Race! That was the FIRST whole episode I have seen all season... mainly b/c it's on Sunday nights at 8pm when I'm lucky if I'm home by 8:30pm. Fortunately, CBS is carrying NCAA and if the game goes long, it pushes all of CBS's programming back. Hence the fact that the race actually started at 8:30pm. That was sweet. Go Uchenna and Joyce or Dustin and Candice! You 2 are my top 2 favorites. Uchenna and Joyce have won before, so I may go for the girls... We'll see. I haven't seen enough to decide.

After the Race, I still had so much pent up stress that I went rollerblading about 3-4 miles at 9:30pm. Some may think I'm crazy for working all day and then rollerblade that late...? Yeah, that's me :). When I'm stressed out and need an outlet, I exercise. I'll throw on some TobyMac, Mark Schultz or Klink (David Klinkenberg) and exercise just about as hard as I till I can't go any farther. Then I slow my pace, the music is off and it's just me w/ my thoughts and me w/ God. And the peace transcends...

God, You never cease to amaze me.

Burnout reached.

I am officially declaring burnout. Number of babies still around 100. We are all getting fatigued and burned out. No one is excluded. So why am I online now when I work tomorrow? B/c I'm releasing pent up stress and totally venting! One more 12 till my weekend (Monday)! So can't wait. I seriously apologize to anyone who is tired of my emails and IM's and anything else b/c I have been in the "needy" stage for a while as my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual capacities have been stretched to the max these last seven days. Thanks for putting up w/ me! You mean more to me than you know! You know who you are b/c you've received the IM's and emails. Thank you for listening, reading and praying. I greatly appreciate you.

103 & counting!

(to my onair friends... just a precaution I am taking as I've been surprised before as to what made it to the airwaves... this post cannot be used onair d/t sensitive material. thanks!)

I thought WaYfm's Sharathon was crazy at times (d/t Rich's crazy incentives ;) ...lol), that was nothing compared to work today! Yes, 103 is referring to babies. We are bursting at the seams w/ babies. Talk about high-stress levels. Today wasn't too bad, but having that many babies to care for raises stress levels automatically. This is the most number of babies I have ever worked w/. What was going on 6-7 months ago anyway? :p Please pray that we will continue to be detailed in the care we provide for each and every baby, b/c we are caring for delicate, fragile human beings, ...some of whom don't weigh much more than a pound.

Busy as can be...
B/t Sharathon last week in K-zoo (Tues-Fri), working two 12s (12 hour shifts) this past weekend (Sat & Sun), Caiden's eyes and my volleyball tournament this past Monday, WCSG Tuesday, working 12s today and tomorrow, then two more 12s this weekend (Sat & Sun), I feel like I haven't lived at my house for the past 2 weeks ...except maybe to sleep once in a while and to run myself out of food. I have almost nothing left to dig thru for food - no time to grocery shop! Let's just say, I'm starting to get real creative when it comes to packing a lunch for 12+ hours as I'm running out... No worries, I'll restock Friday to gear up for the weekend! But sleep... I need sleep...!

Met Rush of Fools today!

Today, two of the members from Rush of Fools, Wes and Kevin, were on the Morning Show with Tommy and Brook. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to meet them. Great guys! It was fun meeting them. Check out their music by clicking here: Rush of Fools ...so worth checking out!

Where do I even begin...?

Wow, what a week. Where do I even begin? Had an awesome time at WaYfm's Sharathon this year. God is amazing. We didn't reach our goal, but God is faithful regardless. He will provide. This is a phenomenal ministry that reaches a group of people that is very hard to reach - the teens to twenty-somethings to 30-somethings. God will provide. If you are interested in making a pledge to WaYfm, please consider doing so now at WaY.fm/sharathon

So many stories to tell from WaYfm. I was in K-zoo all week and stayed in a hotel w/ the GR staff. Way too much fun! Played foosball every night. Topher was ALMOST unbeatable... even when we teamed up against him, we couldn't beat him! Then the last night, Mike and Topher were on one team and John Balyo and I were on the other team and we beat Topher twice in a row! Topher's only 2 losses. HA! Topher is NOT unbeatable! Good times.

Then, on my way down to K-zoo, I had no trouble finding the town, but their building is not marked well. I had NO idea where they were located! Since the main street is one way, I figured I had passed their building and had to turn around and take another street back. Total God-thing, b/c where I turned to go back was by the parking lot where the WaYfm vehicles were parked. Yeah, total God-thing. Then, since the building wasn't marked well at all, I asked like 7 different people and they didn't know where WaY was located. The last person I asked knew the building, but not the floor. So I walked in, and at the bottom of the very discrete sign it said, "WaYfm, 6th floor". I made it to WaYfm at last.

I will be honest. I loved K-zoo. It is a very nice town. The WaYfm studio there is awesome. Luv'd it. Staff was great too. Felt like family. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Thursday morning Topher had me do the early early morning part of the day so he could sleep. So, I was up by 4:30a to be there by 5:30a. Got there by 5:40a to find the doors locked. Didn't have a key. No one was around except the cars going by. Didn't have a phone as I don't own a cellphone (no need, so I thought...) What do I do now? I have to be there to run the calculator. That role is essential for Sharathon. I started racking my brain as it kicked into survival mode... Hmmm... There was a parking garage across the street. Hoping there was a security person around, I headed over there. No one. Heard a diesel vehicle breaking, thought maybe it was a bus, but it turned out to be a semi-truck. I headed that way... Nervous... do I talk to him or not? Scouted him out a bit and decided I had no choice. I put my hand up to my mouth in phone fashion and asked if he had a cellphone. He said no. Seeing a bunch of cop cars parked all over, I asked him if he knew if there were any cops around. He said he had just seen one come out of the building he was parked next to and that I could pound on the door to see if one was still there. Having no choice, I did and ONE guy was around and let me in to use the phone. First person I called was Rich... he didn't answer. Then I called the studio line hoping and praying someone would answer. Michigan Message Center answered. I explained my situation and she said she didn't know if she could get thru on a different number. Next thing I know, I'm talking to Terri! Yes! God is good. She propped the door for me at the bottom, gave me the code to get up and next thing I know, I'm setting up for another day at Sharathon. Wow, not bad... for the time was now 5:50am.

WaYfm Sharathon on a roll

WaYfm Sharathon is well on their way! God is working wonders over here. We are heading for the $540,000 and God is good. He is blessing us in abundance. But we still need your help to get us there! Please consider making your gift now! There are some great prizes to be had every hour just for pledging. Click here to make a pledge now... WaYfm Sharathon ~ Pledge Now!

Changing lives together!

Went Running & Rollerblading :D

Today was very nice... Weather is improving and warming up! Yea! Spring is coming :) I took a 2 1/2 hour nap today and it was fabulous. Then to wake myself up, I strapped on my rollerblades for the 1st time this year and went soaring. It was awesome. I felt like I was flying. Such a great stress relief, especially after the weekend I just had at work... Then I played volleyball against Becky C's team and we sadly lost 2 out of 3 games. Very sad... I didn't get to set, so that was a bummer. I feel so out of sorts when I'm not setter, but I did have a few good hits and a block or two. That made it worth it!

After volleyball, it was still warm out so I went running for 2.25 miles. It is so much better than running on a treadmill! Believe it or not, I went at night in shorts and sleeveless. K, so you think I'm crazy... well after the first 100 feet, I thought I was crazy too. It was a bit cooler than I thought, but there was no turning back after I started ;) What's even crazier is that just before I left my driveway, a lady walked by in a winter jacket w/ her hood on... And here I am taking off running in sleeveless and shorts! Good times. :)

3 hour naps are fabulous...

(Click on the pics to make 'em bigger ~ looks really cool bigger!)

Yesterday, I laid down for a nap and woke up 3 hours later. It was wonderful :). Then I laid down this evening and kind of slept for about an hour... not as restful as yesterday, but better than nothing...

I had the opportunity to watch Tommy's kids earlier this week. They are absolutely adorable. His youngest and only little girl was a doll. She was glued to me the minute I stepped one foot in the door :D. His 3 boys were great too! Way too fun :) I have never bonded with kids as fast as I did with his. I hope he has me over again soon! I can't wait :)

Next week is Sharathon for WaYfm... Please consider a pledging a donation in support of this awesome ministry! They reach out to an age group than can be hard to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (ages teens to 30s). Click here... WaYfm Pledge Form ...to make a pledge and receive your very own Carry-All bag ~ I have mine already and luv it!

I get to hang out with all the WaYfm staff all week next week for Sharathon, and Tommy and Brook will be popping in once in a while as well! Should be a good time. I get to be the calculator person with Topher again (which is what I did for WCSG's sharathon ~ WaYfm's sister station). They are putting us to work for sure, but I love doing this position. And Rich even gave me an hour of on-air time as a "reporter in phone central" for Wednesday evening. I'm nervous but excited at the same time. Should be fun :)

Frozen in Time...

How long are your icicles? These icicles are located on the east side of my house and looked glorious in the sunrise this morning. When I first looked out my back window early this morning, I was very surprised to see the first one pictured already below my window and half way to the ground! (Click on the pics to make 'em bigger ~ especially the first one!)