Finally, on the other side !

In honor of turning 50 (in a few more months)... I have been focusing on some goals this year. I'd like to share the journey of one with y'all. 

Back in 2020, I Graduated Nursing School, and honestly;went thru a bit of burnout afterwards. We then prepared our house to go on the market and pack up our lives of 25 years,move across the country, from WA to LA. It has been a bittersweet transition for all of us. 

We are slowly making community and finding our way.

We have been homeschooling all these years, so that has still been a priority. This time with the kids will be gone in just a few years. Last year we found  a great co-op, graduated Sarah and now in the homestretch of High school with Isaia. Just a few years left❤️

Last year, I was blessed to do some Hospice type caretaking with a few special families. This time rekindled my heart for serving, and standing in the gap of prayer and medicine. As '23 began, My heart was watching those Nurses in my life. I said goodbye to my Gr.Aunt T, who first inspired me to be a nurse. Her daughter, just retired as a nurse and has become a dear friend. I watched my niece finish up her Nursing School Program and many friends whom are advancing in their careers. It was time to complete this journey.💜

So, I fought off lots of doubts and grabbed some courage.... Be strong and courageous...I repeated often. I studied hard the past three months. From co-op to Dr appts and track practice, always with notecards in hand. The stubborn part of me knew that if I was finally going to tackle this NCLEX, I only wanted to do it once. I fought off fear and doubts and what ifs all the way to the door of the testing center last week .

But God is bigger than all those thoughts and fear is a Liar !! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I prayed that over all my questions. The test shut off at 85 and I panicked.  Held back tears and went to the car. Prayed for peace driving back to hotel. When I turned on the car the song, By Faith, was playing. "By faith I keep pressing on, by Faith hope is never gone...."

Well, after the longest 48 hours waiting, I am so happy to say that I did pass and I am now an official RN. 🎉🎉

It has been a long road, but I am so thankful to be on the other side and to see how the Lord will use me.❤️❤️

So thankful for all the family and friends who have supported me and the family through this long journey.

Love, Tammy Hollaway,RN

 (This picture was a card given to me by my first Clinical Instructor..seemed fitting for closing out this journey.)

Isaia's big night

For all our friends and family that have known Isaia since he was little, sharing a huge milestone.

So back when Isaia was about 8, he hit a point with his speech struggles. He was shutting down and only had a handful of people that could 'translate' his words for him. That year he was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech. He had moved up to his second SLP at the time. Heather and Shawna became part of the family, with Skype sessions several times a week. We love these ladies !!!

Summer of 2016 and '17, with the support of many friends and family, we were able to get him into Camp Candoo in Spokane, with Dr.Amy and Dr. Nancy and their team. His world opened up and he began finding his way and getting his huge vocabulary unlocked. He still has to think through his words sometimes,but overall he has fought hard and came to be a well spoken young man conquering his Apraxia. 

Friday night, our Homeschool co-op drama class put on a play. "Such a Time as This", a story about Queen Esther. Isaia played King Xerxes and had a large script of lines. 

He and the rest of the cast did so well.

We were so proud of Isaia and just seeing him up there projecting his voice and words with passion, made my heart rejoice. 

I remember the years where he felt trapped and no one would talk to him or they would walk away rather than try to decipher his words, and He has always had something to say ... He wouldn't go anywhere without Mom, Sarah or his buddy Anchor- because they knew his special language. Nowadays he is non stop talking !!😂

 God is so good,and we just loved seeing how far he has come in the past 7 years, wanted to share! Excited to see how the Lord uses him and his voice in the future.❤️❤️

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Psalm 126:2 ESV