Pages

7.31.2010

My Grandpa, My Inspiration

Today has been one of mixed emotions. For this was the day of my Grandpa’s birthday.

Grandpa was an inspiration to me and taught me so many lessons in life.  He taught me to value life, no matter how big or small it may be.  And his love of nature is definitely running through my veins.  There was nothing better than spending a day out in the boat fishing.  And when I say “the day”, I mean literally until the last few rays of sunlight were setting!  He also passed on a love of the mountains to me and to my family.  And most of all…Grandpa passed on to me a love for photography.  I only wish that I could now share the passion that I have with him.

I know that as I go through life…I have the most amazing guardian watching over me.  And when life seems too hard, I can hear his words of encouragement and assurance ever so loudly telling me it will all work out and be ok.

We all love you and miss you so much Grandpa!

7.26.2010

I wish I could have met…

1.  Leonardo DaVinci- This is one of the most intriguing individuals in my opinion.  He was a man before his time and many thought he was just a little “too far gone” because of it.  I wonder what he would do with the technology that we have today?

2.  Ansel Adams-  An amazing photographer!

If you could go back in time to meet someone, who would it be?

7.25.2010

If tears could talk…

What would they say?

I came across this question and it intrigued me! So what would my tears have to say?

I am angry.  I am hurt.  I am sad.

These would be the main reasons to see tears streaming from my eyes.

So what might your tears have to say?

7.24.2010

Dear Winter

I am so sorry that I was in a rush to see you go.  Please forgive me for being so rude and obnoxious!  I have had a change of heart.  I would love to see you…SOON!  And this time I promise to be much more tolerant and accepting.  Until we meet again, I will be anxiously awaiting your return.

IMG_2556

7.23.2010

Reflection

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

As I sit here and look at all the changes that are taking place in my life, I cannot help but look back on the road that has led me to this very point.  I am where I started out at 11 years ago.  A high school graduate ready to conquer the world and begin my career as a nurse.  But life had other plans for me. 

There were a few twists and turns, a few back-flips, and lots of learning between then and now.

Today, I am back in that same spot beginning my career as a nurse.  And it was today that I realized one very important thing.  I could not have done this 11 years ago.  There were too many life lessons that I needed to learn in order to get to this point. 

I am thankful for all of the tomatoes that life has thrown at me.  They have given me strength, courage, discipline, and have shown me that I can handle anything that may come my way.

So I stand here now, writing my next life chapter and anxiously waiting to see what the ending will be.

7.22.2010

You know you’re a nursing student if…

1. you are not allowed to talk about your day at school at the dinner table.

2. you have what you think is a nightmare, and realize “oh…I’m just at clinical!”

3. you have replaced sleep with coffee and other highly caffeinated beverages.

4. you have no problem discussing bowel movements at lunch.

5. you find yourself wiping other people’s butts more than your own.

6. your family has placed an APB in order to locate you.

7. you get excited over a dressing change or catheter change.

8. your friends start wondering if you’re still alive.

9. you have a new favorite color…white.

10. you find yourself subconsciously giving your friends and family nursing diagnoses.

7.21.2010

Slacker

Yes…I have been a slacker on blogging lately.  So in a quick re-cap, here is what is happening in my world!

School is keeping me extremely busy.  I am finishing up week 5…and I am truly surprised at how quickly it is going by.  I am now getting back in the routine of studying and have a routine now.  That makes me very happy!  Our first round of clinicals started today.  I am very excited to finally put to use the things we have learned in class up to date :)

Free time…not so sure I know what that is anymore!  My camera is feeling pretty neglected.  Between school and this blistering heat I haven’t had it out all that much.  Maybe I can show it a little love this weekend!

That’s pretty much the way things are rolling in my life!

7.09.2010

Stream of Consciousness

Woo-Hoo! The first 3 weeks of school have been completed and so far all is going well! It has been quite the adjustment though. I have found it to be a little challenging to get back in a good study routine in the beginning, but now I seem to be getting back in the grove. Guess I just needed to brush the dust off :) And I have found that Pixie Stix are a great study companion too! This may not be so good on the diet though!!!

I am looking forward to a nice weekend. Maybe even get a little sun and catch up on my lack of Vitamin D. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with that!

Wow…my life really is pretty non-existent at the moment.  Maybe this weekend will give me a little more blog-worthy news!

7.08.2010

We Live

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

7.07.2010

30 Things About Me

  1. What color are your kitchen plates?  dark plum/purplish color
  2. What book are you reading right now?  Basic Nursing, 9th Edition (really exciting, eh?)
  3. What is on your mouse pad? Don’t use one…laptop
  4. Favorite board game? Monopoly
  5. Do you drink coffee or espresso? ABSOLUTELY!!!
  6. What is the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning? Is it time to get up already?!?!?!
  7. Favorite color? Red
  8. Least favorite color? purple
  9. How many rings until you answer the phone? As many as it takes for me to find it :)
  10. Future kids names? Well…I would say Isabella for a girl and Kade for a boy
  11. Chocolate or vanilla? Dark chocolate please
  12. Do you like to drive fast? Yes…but don’t like speeding tickets!
  13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Um…no
  14. Do you like thunderstorms? Yes…they make for awesome naps :)
  15. What was your first car?  Mercury Tracer
  16. What is your sign? Capricorn
  17. Do you eat the stems of broccoli? usually not
  18. If you could have any job what would it be? A photographer for National Geographic…esp if they supplied all the gear!!!
  19. If you could have any hair color what would it be? I have already tried most colors ;)
  20. Is your glass half full or half empty? half FULL…better to be positive!
  21. Favorite movie? Dirty Dancing
  22. Do you type with your fingers on the right keys? Yep…Mrs. Layton put white-out on the keys and you had best know where those fingers needed to be!
  23. What’s under your bed? Photography stuff
  24. Favorite sports to watch? Nascar
  25. Your single biggest intense pain? At the moment…that elusive grade I am working toward!!!
  26. Ketchup or mustard? mustard
  27. What is your favorite season? Spring
  28. The best place you have ever been? The top of a mountain…esp when there is a waterfall involved!
  29. What screen saver is on your computer right now? Bubbles I think
  30. Favorite fast food? Chick-fil-A :)

7.05.2010

I Am Me

Finding one’s self is a quest that we all encounter. We search to find our purpose and our place in this crazy world. Along the way we discover new things about ourselves…some things good and others my be imperfections. Regardless, they make us unique.

Sometimes we get caught up in trying to make who we are fit the mold of society.  But in doing so we loose sight of who we are. I believe Virginia Satir puts it all in perspective in the following poem.

I am me.
In all the world, there is no one exactly like me.
There are persons who have some parts like me,
but no one adds up exactly like me.

Therefore, everything that comes out of me
is authentically mine because I alone choose it.

I own everything about me
my body including everything it does;
my mind including all its thoughts and ideas;
my eyes including the images all they behold;
my feelings whatever they may be ...
anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement

my mouth and all the words that come out it
polite, sweet or rough,
correct or incorrect;
my voice loud or soft.
And all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes,
all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all parts.
I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
and other aspects that I do not know.
But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully, look for solutions to the puzzles
and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think
and feel at a given moment in time is me.
This is authentic and represents where I am in that moment in time.
When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I
thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting.
I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting,
And invent something new for that which I discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do.
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive,
and to make sense and order out of the world of people
and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.

I am me and I am ok.

7.04.2010

We the people…

of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I am so thankful to live in a nation that grants us freedom.  And not only freedom, but choice.  As we celebrate the birthday of this great nation, please take a moment to thank those that have served and are serving to provide us our freedom.  Without their sacrifice, I shudder to think of where we would be!

God Bless America and Her Troops!

firework_1327

7.03.2010

This is me…

on the other side of the camera! Doesn’t happen very often as I tend to stay be the one always taking the photos :)

IMG_4477edit

IMG_4485 edit

7.02.2010