Yeah, I'm still around!!

It's the last week of college before Christmas break!! That means finals! This morning I had my A&P final, and in about 2 hrs I'll have my Math final. Then it's the big nursing final on Friday.

Unfortunatly I haven't been able to get much work over Christmas break, which was stressing me out at first. However I've decided that I'm going to choose to enjoy my time off, free of work and studying, and have a great time. Maybe I'll be able to finish some projects that I've started oh so long ago!! I'm actually beginning to look forward to the free time that I'll have and I've already begun making a mental list of everything I'd like to get accomplished.

Mom and I were taking yesterday about the traditions of Christmas and where they all origionate....why do we celebrate Christ's birth on Dec. 25 anywhy?? Anyhow it stirred up some thought, and interstingly enough after reading some information Mom found it actually began to make me wonder if we really realize why we have the traditions we do, such as the mistel toe, holly, christmas trees, even the date Dec. 25 etc.

I'll have to post the article that Mom found and let you guys read it for yourselves. (I'll add that to my list of things to accomplish next week :) haha.

Also we currently are taking care of a homeless ferret that our lovely doberman found Sunday night. Apparently our dog was barking up a storm late Sunday night, and upon inspection Sam found a ferret hiding up against the side of the house. I got home about 11pm to find Sam waving his flashlight at me... asking me to give him a hand as everyone else was in bed and didn't want to contribute to the cause. lol. So Sam graciously rescued the ferret while I held the flashlight and convinced him (and myself) the terrified ferret wasn't going to bite his finger off. He's actually quite a friendly fellow and now lives in our kitchen in an abandoned bird cage. It all works out!
Needless to say Rochelle fell in love with him before she set eyes on the thing. We call him Garret the Ferret (who can't eat a carrot). We were told vegetables are hard on their digestive tracks and should be avoided. I really don't know what we'll do with it, we called the humane league hoping the owners called in to report it missing, but thus far there's been no word. So, for now Rochelle's very happy to have another pet around the house!

A weekend in NY

I've finally found the time to upload my pictures from the Long Island trip. It was a great weekend. Friday night Kim and I met up with one of her friends at a local Bar. Going to a Bar was a first for me. Kim felt convicted for being the one to introduce me to that scene, and thus corrupting me....haha. I really enjoyed it though.

Saturday morning was filled with running errands, going to the gym and spending 2hrs at the hair salon. Early that evening we met up with two of Kims friends, Lauren and Lisa. It was Laurens birthday and she wanted to celebrate it in the City. So the four of us hoped on a train and within an hour we were in NYC!! Woohoo!!
I love NYC and it has been at least two years since I've last been there. We didn't stay long though, just long enough to grab some supper. Lauren had plans to meet up with some other people later on. But I enjoyed the few hrs we were there anyhow!!

The pictures below are from Sat. evening in NYC.
Kim, me and Lauren at the train station
Kim and Lisa hanging out on the train
Lauren and I
We went out to eat at some Mexican restaurant
They sang Happy Birthday to Lauren and gave her a beautiful sombrero
NYC Yay!!!
These girls were great!! Wish they lived closer :)

Kim and I

Leaving Nyc :(

We had great fun....yes great fun. :) Sunday I was able to go to her church and eat lunch with her and her sister before heading back to the dorm Sunday night.

Yay for the weekend!

Oh it's a lazy thursday night and I am putting off studying until after the Office is on tonight. So naturally I'm surfing the web :) I love reading everyone's blogs and I do check them often- so thanks for all the updates and pictures :) I wish I had some pictures to post but I haven't taken any recently.
However this weekend I am going to Long Island with my friend Kim. She is from L.I. and just recently moved to lancaster county. Anyway I looking forward to the weekend. She has a friend who has a birthday on saturday and wanted to celebrate it in the big city :) So I'm super excited. It's been so long since I've been to NYC. I know it will just be for a few hours sat, but I'm still stoked! I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to tell as well as pictures to share!

Ok maybe I should be more productive with my time...perhaps I'll crack open a textbook and try to absorb some information :) I am feeling slightly guilty knowing there's much to be studied and I know none of that is going to happen this weekend!!

Oh by the way, just a random piece of information...this weekend that big tree in our front yard is going to be cut down. There are so many dead branches it's ridiculous and when we got an estimate on what it'd cost to have trimmed they told us the tree is dying and recommended we just cut it down. I'm a little sad to see it go....

Update :)

Hello, Hello :)
It's been a while- as usual, but I thought I'd just write a little something.
Things are going pretty well right now. I'm at school in Reading during the week and have been coming home on the weekend to work. Initially I was thinking I'd spend most of the weekends up here- but it sure is nice to get away from the dorm for the weekend!
My classes are going very well. I have an A&P lab exam coming up this week. I'm being tested on the tussues and bones of the body. It is actually quite interesting.
In my Nursing class we are learning a lot about all the paperwork that needs to be filled out and the proper way or accomplishing that. We also were practicing nursing diagnosis'- coming up with a diagnosis, goals, interventions and finally the evaluation process. It's a lot to learn but it's going well.
I've been in clinicals for about four weeks now. We really are still doing very basic stuff, becoming familiar with patients charts and learning to do a little charting ourselves. As far as interaction with the patients goes...so far it's mostly just interviewing them and fixing their bed. Nothing too exciting. haha.....Oh but I know it will get more interesting (and stressful) as time goes on. There are six other girls in my clinical group and we all get along well. The one girl Anna and I have a lot in common so it's really been fun getting to know her!
This past weekend I spent some time with a friend who recently moved to the area- like three weeks ago- from Long Island, NY. She's such a breath of fresh air, not growing up around here she doesn't have those lancaster county mind sets, or preconcieved ideas- and her accent is great!! lol
After church on sunday I stoped by Two cousins (a pizza shop) to have lunch with friends and I met people from work, church, and also Jourdan, Audrey, Hershel, and Georgia. It was definitely the place to be I guess. Anyhow that was fun.
Sunday night I went to see that movie Fireproof that just came out. A Church in Georgia produced the movie and it was SO Good!! I'd definitely recomend it for anyone that hasn't already gone to see it. It's based on christian principals- it's a story of a couple that is getting a divorice and that's about all I can say. Kirk Cameron playes the husband in the movie... :)
Anyway definitely check it out....and if you are emotional like me- bring the tissues!

College

Hello!! Guess I should up date everyone on the latest events in life :) Monica helped me move into my dorm room at Reading Hospital's School of Health Sciences this past Sunday. The dorms are actually Motel rooms. Its not a big school and most of the students commute. However to accommodate those of us wishing to dorm, the school rented out a wing of a local Inn. So the good thing is that all the rooms have a bathroom!!!
My roommate I Dayna and she actually lives 10 min. from campus. So I was able to hang out with some of her friends this past week which was very nice considering there was not much to do back at the dorms. Dayna is a christian which was a huge answer to prayer and she recently got back from a medical mission trip to Africia. We have plenty in common though she is a few years younger than I. Actually most everyone there (at the dorms) is about 4-5 yrs younger....though there are about 3 that I've meet my age.
So we had a week of orientation and our classes will start on Monday. I'm taking A & P, Nursing 101, and Clinical Math. That'll be enough to keep me busy for sure :)
I'll keep you posted on how things go!

A weekend with the Martins!

It was refreshing to spend a weekend away from home and very exciting to see everyone again! Michawn and Kendie I wish you both could have been there! Because of being at a wedding friday evening I didn't get to the cabin until late. I spent Saturday hiking to the top of the mountain. Barry said there was a trail that lead up the side of the mountain and so a group of us went to check it out. The path ended a quarter of the way up the mountian....but we were determined to make it to the top...so we blazed our own trail, and it was a steep one!! The hike up was challenging, but coming back down was rewarding! The rest of the afternoon was spent being lazy, reading, playing volleyball and some cards. Of course the night was finished off with a fire work display thanks to Jay, Steve and Hershel! Sunday we spent time sharing testimonies of Gods faithfulness in each of our lives. It was very good to be reminded of how awesome our God is!!

Below are some pictures from the weekend!


The "new" Cabin....and it's actually called the Martin's Cabin :)

A wonderful shot of Nick :)
A game of Haus anyone??



The weekend would not be complete without at least one wrestling match!!

Rose and Nick
Alexa, Pricilla, Cassandra, Monica, and Savannah watching the guys get bombarded with H2O balloons :)
Pricilla, Rochelle and Kari

These are pic.s of our hike. Here we are starting our descent...lots of loose rocks. Below Jay is tossing a rock to see how far it would roll. It was quite steep.The few, the proud, the most adventurous of hikers :) Thanks to Barry for blazing the trail....literaly!
THis is the view from the front porch....that mountain in the distance....yeah that's the one we hiked :) (can you tell I'm still impressed we did it??)Micah and Pam
Sitting around the campfire saturday night. Barry, Grandma, Grandpa, and Ben
A little midnight volleyball....ok so maybe not quite midnight :)


Evan found a turtle!

Twins?? Nick and Alex
Chanel, Cassandra, and Savannah



Alexa!

Judy and Chanel
Jackie, Doris and Les on the back porch
Awww...

And last but not least....my favorite picture :) Monica taking a break during our hike.

Washington DC

Hey!! Yep, I am still around in spite of a sever lack in my blog posts!! Saturday a group of 6 friends went to Washington DC to visit my friend Lisa, who is interning there for the summer. I had a great time. Lisa is working in two congressional offices, and part of her job includes giving tours of the Capital building....so she gave us her tour! We spent the rest of the day checking out the different monuments around town. I'd love to go back sometime soon and go through the museums too! Below are a few pictures from Saturday.
Group photo...Lisa is in the front, far right
There was a folk festival taking place on the Mall. Below is a native Bhutan dance.

Jefferson Memorial
Washington Memorial
Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

Monica's Graduation!

Saturday was Monica's graduation from Messiah College! The weather held out, they were calling for a chance of rain, but it held off. It was a bit cool and windy, but nothing we couldn't deal with. It was great to be there to celebrate this incredable moment with her.

She also recently started dating a guy named Matt. They met through mutual friends last summer. He actually attends our church. How awesome is that! So that has been exciting as well.

I still haven't sold my motorcycle. I'm a little disappointed, but I'm sure it will come about soon enough :)

God has been revealing Himself to me recently, and that has been exciting. There is such peace, hope and joy in experiencing His presence. I've been facing some uncertainties as I plan for school in the fall, along with other area's in my life. God has reminded me He is in control, and I can trust Him. His loving kindnesses is everlasting and I know His heart is for me. He is faithful, and I believe He has some awesome things in store for me as I venture into this new phase in life.

I have a few pictures from Monica's graduation yesterday that I thought I'd share with you!

Ben, Rochelle, and Sam patiently waiting for the last of the 650 names to be called!
Rochelle, Monica and I
Monica and her brothers!
Matt & Monica

This summer...

Well, I am one day and one final away from being done with my second semester at HACC! I found out a few weeks ago that I've been accepted into Reading Hospital's College of Health Sciences nursing program starting in August. Reading is only a 20 min. drive from home, however I am planing on dorming for the soul purpose of staying focused. I've learned from commuting over this past year that once I am home, the hopes of getting any studying done greatly decreases! There are way to many distractions.


Until then (aug.) I have a great many pieces of paper to fill out for the school, along with finding a health care provider, financial aid, back ground checks, CPR class to take....and the list goes on. Too much to try and keep track of....it's driving me crazy!!


I am scheduled to take Microbiology this summer. It will be two days a week for 8 weeks. Because of that I am sticking to my crazy work schedule, juggling my two CNA jobs, trying to attain as many day shift hours as I can get my hands on. Some weeks I do better than others. This also can be frustrating. I suppose I could work more steady hours, but that would require me working 2ed shift, and I DO NOT want to give up my evenings!! ugh!


So besides that, whats new??


Well, I have finally decided to sell my motorcycle. I must say, I am a little sad to see it go. At this point I'm thinking maybe after I'm through with my nursing class maybe I'll look into buying another one. We'll see. I've decided to hang on to me helmet and jacket for that very purpose.


Also Monica graduates from college next saturday 5/17!!! How crazy is that?? I really can't believe four years have passed so quickly. It will be a blast having her home again!


This is a good friend of mine, who happens to be a nurse also :)A friend and I went for a ride last sunday, it would have been more enjoyable had the weather been a little warmer :) It was fun none the less.

Here Sam is making some BBQ chicken for supper. Yumm yumm!!

Finishing some drywall'n

Before moving back home, sam patched up the drywall in his room. He currently has his own business doing this, working along side an experienced friend until he knows the ropes well enough to be completely on his own.
Anyway, this was the first I've actually seen him on the stilts he talks so much about. So I took some pictures. It made me laugh just watching him. At one point he actually kicked a bucket in attemps to strike a pose for me and nearly fell. We laughed soo hard! He was a good sport though, I distracted him for longer than he would have liked.