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.