Most Popular Posts of 2014

With 2014 coming to an end I wanted to take a look at the most popular posts of 2014, the posts from this past year with the most views.  Some surprise me, others not so much.

Let's get started.

#1: By a landslide the most viewed post of 2014 was Sleeping with Men.  It makes me wonder what people were searching when they stumbled upon this post but I can only hope and pray that one of those views maybe softened a heart, if only a little bit.

#2: The second most viewed post was Let's Talk Oils. This post prompted future posts about essential oils. People are interested in what essentials oils are all about and I am happy to write about my wonderful experience.  Bonus is that I think the pictures in the post are stunning.

#3:  It is not surprising that a Not Alone Series made it into the top five because four made it into the top ten.  However the most viewed Not Alone Series post this year was NAS: "Guess who's engaged?!".  Although not nearly as popular I also had a NAS: "Guess who's engaged?!--Part 2.  I just reread the original post and I didn't realize past me was writing for present me.

#4: We all know I am a link-up junky but who knew that a link up I only linked up to twice (say that three times fast) would make it into my top five most popular posts of 2014.  Back in June I talked about land lines, mushrooms, books, advice, physical challenges, and messages.

#5:  Finally, my fifth post popular post in 2014 was about Regina Angelorum: 20 Years of Sisterhood.  Thank you for celebrating sisterhood with me.  That weekend was such a blessing for me and I am so thankful for our covenant, our prayer, and Our Lady.

Thanks for taking a look at the most popular posts of 2014 with me. I am excited to see what 2015 holds.

Why I Hate Going Home

As soon as I breeze through the toll booth with my EZ-pass and turn off the freeway everything becomes familiar and I know it is less than 30 minutes to my parents' house.  I have gone this way many times, the same way I would come home from college.  I pass where my dad gets on the highway to go to work, my chiropractor, my hairdresser, and the road that goes to my Church.  I drive another 5 minutes and I turn onto my road.  My heart already hurts.  I love seeing my family, my dogs, and my goddaughter.  I enjoy lounging on the large couch in front of the fireplace,  the free laundry, and the double vanity sink.  However, sometimes this is over shadowed by my lack of trust and understanding.

I want to be living my life here.  Don't get me wrong, I know I am where I am supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing.  I am working my dream job, witnessing multiples babies born each week and helping women become a mother to a new a little one.  I live in my own apartment and my own group of friends and activities.  I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be.  I don't think I would know how much I love home if I wasn't spending a period of time away from it. However, that doesn't change the fact that when I am home I wish His plan was for me to be here, now.  I hope and pray that in the future I am raising my family not too far from where I grew up but for now I have to fall into the trust that I am exactly where He wants me to be.  Do you see the tension between what you want and what you know is right.  Between your heart's desires and His desires.  I continue to pray, continue to trust, and continue to thrive where I am planted.  

Empty and Encounter.

My word for 2014 was empty.  And to be completely honest with you I had to look back to even remember what my word was.  Of course my kind of photographic memory shower me exactly what the word looked like but didn't let me actually see the word.  Just because I didn't remember the word doesn't mean that I suprisingly and not so suprisingly recognize the ways the Lord has allowed that word to work in my life this year.  Graduating and starting life in a new city I could recognize just how empty I was and just how much I need the Lord to fill me.  Having had to make a handful of big decisions this past year I have had to empty myself of my own stress and emotions in order to be filled by his grace to make a decision.  Still looking back to the first half of the year before I graduated and while I was still at Franciscan again over and over again the Lord emptied me of my myself so that I could be filled with him.

After some prayer the Lord quickly whispered that the word for this coming this year was encounter.  I don't know yet what the Lord's plan is for my coming year but I want to truly encounter all the people in my life-my patients, co-workers, friends and family.  I am excited for whatever adventures the Lord has planned for me in 2015.

Chatty Blog

I am currently sitting in the nursery of the twin boys I nanny three days a week and just wanted to do a little chatty blog to say hi.  Apparently this blog doesn't fit really well in my current life as evidenced by lack of posts but I am not ready to give it up yet, I still tremendesly value the community especially the people who comment on my posts and start a dialogue with me.  I just have to figure out what this blog's place is in my new life.  

I do want to say I have plans to review my goals for 2014 and do a little tweaking for 2015.  I am in desperate need of updating my book list.  I also want to announce my word for 2015 and look back a little bit at my word for 2014. A bitty apartment tour is also a must.  Beyond that please please comment below and let me know anything else you are dying to know about my life, my job, my faith anything and I would love to answer you.  

Please don't hesitate to comment and bear with me while I find my blog stride.  

We seek the Beautiful.

There are three Churches that I go to Mass at here in Pittsburgh.

One I can walk to in about 3 minutes but I am the youngest person there by at least a half a century.

Another has super convenient Mass times, especially when I work on Sundays and has 24 hour Adoration. It is a small simply cozy Church that feels like it is giving you a hug when you are in it.

The last, is the Cathedral.  A grand beautiful Church with endless art just waiting to be appreciated.  I gravitate towards this Church with its large doors and majestic tabernacle.  A backdrop to Mass that is beautiful.  There is something in all of us that seeks beauty.  We enjoy a sunset, place things in our home just so, and twirl in a beautiful dress. Our God is a great God and it is so right and fighting to build and maintain beautiful Churches to foster our parish communities in.  This advent, seek the beauty to find God in.  Marvel and relish in quiet stillness at the beauty of the babe in the manager.

Two months.

Well it has officially been two months since I moved to Pittsburgh and started my job and what an adventure it has been.  Somedays it feels like I have lived here for years and others like I just moved here yesterday.  Moving and starting this job has come with its own set of ups and downs.  Somedays I am filled with anxiety and question what the heck I am doing.  Other days I can find peace and confidence knowing I am where the Lord wants me to be.

City living has it's benefits--everything is close and opportunities for community and daily Mass is abundant.  However the traffic and lack of parking wears me thin some days.

My job is crazy....so.many.babies.  They say you learn more in the first four months as an RN than you did in four years of nursing school and based on these first two months I think I can agree.  It is hard to even imagine how clueless, unorganized, and unconfident I was two months ago.

And did I mention that I picked up a second job.  Yeah crazy I know.  I nanny three month old twins three nights a week for a total of 15 hours.  So many babies.  Some days I talk to babies more than I talk to adults.  

I am adjusting.  Life is crazy.  I am working on my personal relationship with Jesus through all of this.  I am learning what this big kid adventure is all about.