Hughes News

So, I realize I haven't updated my blog in several months. I tried multiple times to write an update and consequently I have several drafts of half-thought-out, half-written posts. It's hard to know where to start, but I guess the best way to summarize March, April, and May is to say I've learned that there are some things I simply can't do. It's not that I thought I could do everything. I already am well aware that I can't play sports very well haha and I can't play anything difficult on the piano. Simple tunes only. Instead, I learned that there are things that I am capable of doing but simply cannot do all at the same time. I wanted to write for the school paper, I wanted to work my tail off to pay my bills myself, and I wanted to still keep in touch with all of my friends at the same time. If you picture a juggler juggling, this is that part when the clown is getting ready to throw in one too many balls that will cause everything to fall to the flo...

Been brewing lots of coffee lately just to stay warm and alert! The lowest temperature I saw over the last two weeks was -19F (-28C). our house - north side facing southeast driving back from my job in Bayard by my Gering job - just 1 min. W of gma's It was very pretty but my car gave me the whole, "ain't no way I'ma start in this cold" spiel, so I'm glad it's warmer out and I don't have to worry when I go out at 6:30 in the morning about whether my car will start. :) What's been going on externally: Outside of the weather, this past month my Uncle got married, my parents and brother went to Colombia for 10 days, my nephew went to the hospital for 5 days with pneumonia and is mostly recovered now, my brother-in-law spent two weeks training in Kansas City, I've filled out and submitted my nursing school application, and I've officially saved enough money to be about one month ahead on my college payments. Next up is f...

I recently have been noticing my tendency to black-and-whitenize things. Specifically I do this to my tasks and ideas. I like to post about what I've been up to and then separately post about what I've been learning. But really, what I keep busy with has everything to do with what God's been teaching me lately. I'll try to do better at integrating these two from now on:) So, over the last month a whirlwind of activity has passed through my life. My brain can hardly keep up with it all some days - But thank the Lord for Coffee, a wonderful brain stimulant. :) Since my last post, I have submitted my nursing application and classes have started back up. It has been almost literally insane trying to get everything together for my nursing app. There have been so many last-minutes rushes, unexpected turns, and out-of-my-control situations - and I'm so thankful for all of these things. I can get so over-confident in myself that I get to thinking the best thing is if I ...

Brief update for December - I finished the semester alive and satisfied with my grades! Now onto chasing down books for next semester and applying for nursing school. I'm hoping to have my application submitted by January 1st, so I've been spending my Christmas break chasing down transcripts and all other necessary paperwork like a dog chases little children with food in their hands. I am registered for next semester! Another 17 credit hours and then I'm done with my prerequisites for nursing school! I did not get the scholarship I applied for so I think I'll stick to the courses I've signed up for and try not to get too involved in extra activities so that I can continue working 20+ hr/wk I've been able to work so far. I'm still helping with AWANA and I volunteered to help teach 2&3's children's church occasionally. If possible I'm going to try to continue writing for the school paper, but so far I've not had much time to devote to i...

It is well past time I should be writing about my trip to Scotland this past August. I'm sure I could think of a thousand excuses for the delay, but let me be clear that "I just didn't care much" is not one of the excuses. I am greatly appreciative of the support and encouragement I received in preparation for my trip. I am deeply aware that I am surrounded by an amazing family in Christ:) Christmas is a great time to reflect, so I hope that if you've a already heard a report on the trip that hearing about it again will only be a great reminder of the faithfulness of our God and the exciting work He is doing around the globe. As I reread my journal to refresh my memory for this report, my heart just swelled as I recalled all the things I was able to experience over there. So many meaningful friendships were built, so much growth was experienced, God's Word was readily received, and so many people's faith was reignited - my own included. When my t...

What did I say to the trick-or-treaters that crossed my path this year? Nothing! Because I dressed as a mime for Halloween.... like I do every year:) While my costume maybe demonstrates a lack of effort as it required no effort to decide on, put together, and accomplish, the rest of my life this past month has been just the opposite. Much of my time in fact has been spent on decisions, getting things together, and accomplishments. Some of the many decisions I made were about work. After 2 months of unemployment, I'm blessed to now be doubly employed! I work just 4 hours a week for Community Home Care and then several more hours Monday through Friday for Region 1 Office of Human Development, an organization a lot like Friendship Community where I worked in Pennsylvania but minus the Christian affiliation. It feels good to have an income again, especially as the school bills keep rolling in. I had to also decide to pass on a cleaning job at the hospital, but I feel really...

Time for an update. My last post shared about what God's been teaching me, this post will be much less interesting. Haha I thought it would be good to just do a quick photo/logo update of what I've been involved with lately. So, without further ado... Been freaking out a bit about keeping up with classes, but so far I'm getting at least a B in every class and one of my classes ended Friday. So I only have 15 credits to keep up with for the rest of the semester. (hallelujah!!) haha I've loved being a Sparkies leader at Awana! I'll try to post a picture of the kids & I sometime in our Awana get-up:) After Awana I head back to school to hang out at "Christian Challenge", the campus Christian club. Right now we're going through Andy Stanley's series "Christian". I've been really enjoying it. If you've get chance, check it out:  http://northpoint.org/messages/christian/ I've been running a booth at the Far...