Dear Sister

I apologize in advance (but not really) because this is going to be a long post. This is something I am so passionate about, and in truth I started this post over three years ago but have never published it because I didn't feel my words were the right ones.

However, it has been pressing on my mind ever more these past few days and weeks and I knew I couldn't delay it any longer.

Sweet girl, YOU ARE ENOUGH.

Do you hear me?

You are enough. More than enough.

It doesn't matter how much you weigh, what color your skin is, your body shape, the degree you have (or don't), whether you're introverted or extroverted, if you're single or married, if you have kids or not, or any other number of things that our society - or even some men - would make you believe you have to be. You are enough.

Let me say this one more time just for good measure. You. Are. Enough.

I don't mean to say this with a tone of apathy, because of course I hope that we are all striving to improve ourselves and become the best that we can be. I hope we won't settle for mediocrity. But sweet girl, there are far too many things in this world that will tell you that you're not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not smart enough, not successful enough. Maybe they will tell you that you're too pretty, too skinny, too smart, and too successful. I know it is hard enough to do what needs to be done without having somebody else throw their two cents at you. And although I am here to also give my two cents, I hope you come away from this knowing that YOU MATTER. I cannot stress that enough.

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I have seen too many girls and women (including myself) look at themselves in disappointment because they didn't meet somebody else's expectations. They feel down about themselves and their abilities and doubt their worth in anybody's eyes, including their own.

So sisters, let me tell you this.

You are strong and courageous. You are important, intelligent and worthy. You are inspiring, creative and compassionate. You are loving, true and able. YOU are.

You are more than any outward label people would assign to you.

I challenge you to listen to these songs and think about them not in a romantic way, but as a pep talk to yourself; thoughts on you loving yourself. 

This is so incredibly important.

I hope that you will not be afraid to chase your dreams and become the woman you want to be, because you can do it. Your worth and abilities will not change just because he doesn't want to date you, or because they chose another candidate for the job, or because Mrs. Jones down the street is a better housewife.

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You are literally a daughter of a Heavenly Father with a heritage that is divine. You sit on the precipice of greatness. Do not take that lightly. Your life might look a little bit differently than you had planned, but that's OK. Bloom where you are planted and take courage with what God will make of your life when you turn to Him and get to work. 

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He loves you wholly and completely and perfectly. Some of you know this and it is rooted deeply in your heart. However, I know that there are also some of you who have doubts in your mind. You may be unsure of yourself, your faith may be wavering, or you may be unsure if God really loves you and that His Atonement really can make you whole. You may be afraid because of the uncertainty that lies in your future. If this is the case, I hope you'll make a conscious effort to open up your heart to the Savior as you watch this last video. Think of that holy infant lying in a manger, born to be our advocate that we may someday be sanctified and justified before our Father. Born to atone that He may perfectly know how we feel, even in the dark or bitter moments spent feeling alone. Born to give us true, fulfilling peace that we will never be able to attain anywhere else. 

I love watching Mary. I promise you, God has a divine role for women. And for you.




For what it's worth, I am cheering and rooting for you every step of the way. You've got this, and you are enough. Like Brian Andreas said "let your new self splash like sunlight into every dark place...and thank all that is holy for the gift, because now you have no choice but to let all your love spill out into the world."

Helloooo North Carolina

FRIENDS. It has been forever since I posted anything.

Right now, I'm sitting at a hotel in Durham eating a chicken bowl from Chipotle and watching the Holiday Baking Special on Food Network (yes, I'm one of those people). I finally have a few hours of a guilt-free break so I figured I'd catch up here! I had planned on doing more touristy things in NC this time around but I didn't take into account daylight savings. It got really dark really early, so maybe another time! There's still about a hundred trips left to come to campus.

In honor of being in the South, how about a little country song...love this lady. And this song.

Anyway, an update.

I am almost one semester closer to becoming a nurse practitioner. Let me tell you what, my advanced physical assessment class has made that feel real.

For example, today we practiced acute and chronic cases all day. We haven't learned how to diagnose yet, but we're supposed to start practicing what questions to ask and what body systems to examine based on the patient's complaint. This is how my first case went:

(Also, this case is made up and not a real patient...my classmates and I just made up stuff for each other to practice)

Me: Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm the nurse practitioner student working with you today, what brings you to the office?

Patient: I've been having some really bad nose bleeds.

Me: Oh really? How long has this been going on?

Patient: Well, I've had 4 nosebleeds in the last 12 hours.

Hold up. WHa???????

Sit and think for a few seconds before asking more questions.

How do I find the cause of this? I mean, I'm thinking this could be hypertension or allergies but this also could be something totally different. WHAT IF SHE HAS CANCER. (Don't worry, I didn't even consider that the patient might have stuck something up their nose, which is a very likely explanation. Tunnel vision at its finest).

And then I continued to ask several questions and did a physical exam and felt suuuuper overwhelmed about the responsibility of this job. This was only a nose bleed but it could've been diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, meningitis...you never know what's going to walk in the door.

I looked up the top ten reasons people visit their doctor, and I found things like fatigue, lower back pain, abdominal pain, headache...there are so many things that could cause any of them. I realized the magnitude of my responsibility as a nurse practitioner before starting the program, but truly...you can't afford to miss stuff. There is so much to know. And I'm actually really excited to learn it all.

One of the main points of this campus visit was to pass off our comprehensive physical exam we practiced last month and I passed, so at least there's that. I will actually learn to diagnose and come up with treatment plans in future classes.

Also, North Carolina is beautiful. Specifically, Duke is beautiful. It's not anything like I'm used to...I still think Idaho is my favorite place ever...but North Carolina probably has more than it's fair share of the beauty ticket.

The gardens on the Duke campus are breathtaking. It's literally 50 acres of the garden of Eden, and it smells sweeter than candy. Not to mention the school buildings are old and charming and have a gothic feel to them.

that little cottage is for the caretakers...how cute is that??

And guys, THE CHAPEL. The first time I accidentally drove down the wrong road on campus, the chapel was right at the end of the road...what a spectacular sight.

Not to mention that their new nursing building is phenomenal. State of the art equipment. I got to peek inside the OR simulation lab and that was the coolest thing ever...I mean who has a simulation room that looks and functions like an operating room??? Another wing of the building is like a hospital wing, complete with a nursing station and everything. This is seriously an amazing school with a great program. I feel so blessed.

Anyway, school and work is pretty much all that's going on in my life. If you've been trying to get a hold of me and I haven't answered or gotten back to you it's because Duke owns my soul.

Love to you all!