As the last week of classes begin, I found myself without an 8am health assessment to run off to. Instead I got to sit in bed and work on yet again another study guide. But it's nice to not have to rush and get moving so quickly in the morning. Now I realize why so many people don't schedule classes at 8am. Kinda relaxing to watch the sunrise and the day start.

Dear nursing school, can we work on this?

Additional Comments linked with last post

Forget choosing just one position- this article is really interesting.

http://www.nursinglink.com/careers/articles/6431-10-hottest-nursing-specialties-for-2009?page=1

My highlights from the list: flight nurse, critical care nurse, and legal nurse consultant.

Today I want to Be...

A flight nurse.

http://www.nursinglink.com/benefits/articles/4250-air-and-surface-transport-nursing-

but I it's neccesary to be an ER/ ICU nurse first.

Keep on keeping on!

Nursing Banter

Drink water! Prevent Kidney stones!

The Holidays must be near!

One of the things that makes my family different is that we always dress up for the holidays. Because we live so close to one another and get together frequently, we need to do something to distinguish the holidays from any other Sunday Family dinner. Oma always says, it's simply a way to mark the holidays as special occasions!

Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday. Not just because I get to buy a new dress ;) , but because of all the family traditions that we have that to go along with it.

My Christmas Eve dress -->

Down Time

The weather has finally turned here in Florida,

and I couldn't be happier!

Love:

putting on a sweatshirt in the morning with a matching t-shirt underneathe

going for a run and having the cold wind turn my cheeks pink

having time to try out my hand at homemade meat loaf

-minor note, I realized that when I cook new dishes I like to just make them for myself first, then I have no worries about what others are going think, if the meal is going to turn out right, if it doesn't taste good I'm my only critic :) -

taking my last Health Assessment Exam

having time to read girly magazines

sitting in bed and studying hard with a glass of red wine in one hand a piece of chocolate in the other

the excitment that thanksgiving break is just around the corner, along with the fact that in just a week i get to wear scarves and hats!

missing: the boy whose out of town flying around the world for a week.

you know you're a nursing student when your blog creativity is suffereing because you simply don't have time to think in terms of anything other than "diagnosis, drugs recieving, sypmtoms and signs, adverse effects noted, theory supported, and interventions prioritized."

11 days till a flight homeward bound for thanksgiving!!

yay for the semester almost being over!

HapPy HAlloWeEn!

Who would have thought that my mom would send an e-mail such as this!

haha

the 3 D's

8:30--

although I didn't go to sleep last night until around 2am, and still haven't officially caught up from my early morning at the hospital at 4 am on Wednesday, I still find myself waking up and forcefully rolling out of bed at 8:30 to start working and plugging away. I always seem to get more work done in the morning and that way I can take it a little easier the rest of the day when the "normal" people in my life are up.

:) have to say it's definitely growing me to become well disciplined -- diligence, dedication, disciple

ps. I am still jealous of my best friend/roomate still being asleep at 9:30 though, I often wonder if others were put in a situation similar to mine if they would be able to wake up and start pushing right away

Encouraging Notes

I woke up this morning to find myself tagged in a note written by one of my students from Lead America. She entitled the post "My Heros."

*Heidi- She was my amazing TL at the Lead America conference. I learned soo much from her about myself, about medicine and healthcare, about life and about how to be a leader. She was soo nice to me, she cared about me when no one else did which really meant a lot to me. Whenever I was down she would check on me and wouldn't accept an "I'm fine for an answer. She would pester me until I spoke and discussed my problems. In the end it made me feel a lot better. After we talked I usually left our conversations feeling like I was on top of the world and nothing could bring me down. I left the conference with confidence in myself to be myself and with someone who cares about me. Not a bad deal. HEIDI Rocks.

:) stuff like that keeps me going

Busy making it fall in my bedroom today. I've decided that if I have to work on the computer all day, then I might as well make it a friendly enviroment. My computer battery dies too fast and since there aren't any plugs outside for me to work.....

opened up the window wide, and turned my ceiling fan on high.

fresh air, cool breeze

:) all i need is a potted plant sitting on my desk, and it'd be great!

A new baby girl!

We have a new addition to the Betz family.... my cousin finally had her baby!

Little Isabella.

Isn't she sweet?

Oh pooh bear,

"You are braver than you beleive,

and stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think."

- Christopher Robin

Every once in a while, you need to find a new quote to live by.

The Hours Fly By

Life has been taken and siezed by a whirlwind. No, it's not crazy and spinning out of control. It just requires constant attention. Last night was the first time since the semester began (about a month ago) that I had an evening to myself, enough time to do one thing I like. I decided to scoop out my cook book and look up delcious recipes for my kitchen and I to converse over together. It felt great... oh, and I also had time to do and complete! (key word) all my laundry. But all the easy every day tasks in life now seem a little daunting. A small thing such as filling my car up with gas can very much put me to tears and takes every single ounce of energy to actually take time away from my already filled with with neccesities only schedule and venture out to the gas station.

These simple things are so important and yet time gets lost for them. My simple things goals for this week:

1. to go grocery shopping

2. to go to a nursery this weekend and buy a plant

"A ship in a harbor is safe.
But that is not what ships are built for."

And so I travel away from the harbor. A safe life in the bay is not what I was built for.

True Fact

You get 100% more work done in the library than in a bedroom.

important stuff to remember.

Cultural Awareness

Interesting facts from my nursing reading this week:

• the chinese do not have a word that equates to the English word meaning saddness. Often times when the Chinese attempt to describe that they are sad they will complain of cardiovascular problems. For aren't when you're sad, your heart hurts? Doctors and nurses will then run all the cardio tests only to find out that nothing is wrong; instead, the Chinese person is simply grieving.
• Growing up I often heard my mom say, "put a sweater on. Drafts can make you sick." Little did a know that my own culture was coming into play here. According to my textbooks, "German's often beleive that drafts can be a cause of illness." And here all along, I simply thought that everyone beleived this to be true!

Sunday Reflections

"Our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace."
- Psalm 144:12

I like this verse, mainly because of how it describes what it means to be a woman of Christ... a pillar. A pillar is not just a thing of beauty to look at, but it has a specific and important purpose. A pillar stands tall and firm. It holds up structures. It is a crucial part of the building. It is a support system of strength, dignity, and honor. We're not just statues set to stand beautiful in the palace; instead, God calls his daughters to play an active, steady role in his Kingdom on earth. And in the work that we do, we become something "carved to adorn a palace." It is in our strength, perserverance, willingness to compassionately serve that we become beautiful. The image of a pillar is also something of delicacy and feminine. It is not a huge, large, block structure. More, something precious and artistically designed.

I want to be a pillar.

Celebrate Friday's!

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate friday than to put my feet up on the couch, open the windows, sip a tall glass of pink lemonade, and enjoy my newly arrived magazine of Better Homes and Gardens.

It's fun having more "adultish tastes" and being able to actually start exploring/dreaming/planning what my first apartment or house will look like one day... in reality, it's only a small bit away!

Sending Happy Friday wishes to all!

Where I'm At

My new "U" t-shirt.

Ha.

Saturday Night Shin-Digs

A good saturday night consists of...

Heidi: it's a big shin-dig, has lots of people, takes place outside.. obvioulsy a festival.

Matt: couldn't you just say it has balloons and a ferris wheel

Gina: tele-- pathic... tele--pathic..... tele-pathic

Nate: for the third time no, not telepathic

three, three, three, three

alright, who was going for the oats?

Adjective: graceful

Scotty: if you had Helen Keller, now would be a great time to play it.

Yes, it is hard to be back. I officially bought all of my nursing books yesterday (a whopping 21 books, four of which are massive heavy duty texts) and spent a grand total of $1000. I feel some emotions of fear, worry, slight excitment, but more just general "unsureness." Unsure of what the year will hold, and if I truely want to put in all the blood.sweat.&tears neccesary to become a nurse.

But having all of our friends over tonight for a little saturday shin-dig put my heart at ease again. I have a great life down here in Fl and great friends. It was nice to be able to sit back and laugh whole heartedly. To know that this is what most of my weekends consist of. At the end of the evening everyone asked, so when are we doing this again ;) and i turned to tricia and said... life is good.

Popsicle Licking Sundays

How to spend your last sunday at home?

Outside soaking up the sun, reading my summer book, and licking up the flavors of my rasberry popsicle.

Heat's on, ice out!

Once again, I feel like a little girl. I forgot how fun popsicles and sunshine can be.

Imagine If-

After a busy day at work, I like to spend my time relaxing through creating. Just playing around with my computer camera and the artistic tools of picasa. I like this photo. To me it speaks of-

possiblities
wonder
imagination
innocence
spark
simplicity
awe

imagine if-

It's back to days filled with barbie band aids, playing rock band in the basement with plastic guitars/ keyboards, and muddy pies.

Nannying for a week before my boat officially ships back out to the shores of Miami. And I am reminded how much I really love being a kid at heart!

Love and Bliss

One of my new favorite summer tunes and artists. The type of song where I open up the windows, let my hair down, wear my summer dress, and dance around the kitchen. Let the breeze take my heart for a spin.

I think it would be a great song to play at a wedding one day.

Special Thanks!

With the start of a new school year and a little excitment with summer I've decided to change the blog look out. Wanted to send out a special thanks to,

Modern Mama Diana

for creating it for me! Love the poka dots and the colors. Lately I'm into the palet of watermelon colors. It feels so fresh, juicy, refreshing, and summery!!

:) happy days. life is good.

Taking Lessons from Lucy ;)

Life Lessons Learned in a Little Classroom Setting

Lead America was a long toll. Looking back on it, already only just one week out of the intense craziness, it was a great experience. Chance of a lifetime to visit so many different places, leave a mark on so many different high schoolers lives, learn such great lessons, test my limits, be educated on medicine/gross anatomy/and leadership, and be surronded by a great team to learn from/work with/ and play with. A summer full of adventure.

But, I'm also happy with my decision to end after the chicago conference and not to engage onto san francisco. It was a tough call to make. So many people in my life- that I look up to and truely value their wisdom- said I ought to push through. But in the end it came down to this... throughout the course of the ten days I spent a lot of time talking to my students about life values and helping them identify theirs. From these, I instructed, you can always make good sound decisions. When you are at a cross roads look back on your values, see which path follows most closely to what's important to you. I felt conflicted with the challenge of whether or not to do san francisco because it placed two of my core values against each other.... family and commitment. But it's here that I learned the important lesson, simply because commitment is one of my values doesn't mean I have to be commited to everything. I can have commitment as a part of my core and still leave Lead America early. Family/balance/having time to play are important to me; therefore, coming home and being on vacation for a week with no work obligations made sense. I wanted to enjoy my summer by just being home as well.

Making decisions and following my heart.
No regrets.

Windows Down Music

YouTube - Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On: "

It's summertime. Yes.

End of Summer Computer Background

Girl's Got Ingenuity!

It's done, the second conference that is. Deep sigh, how akward it feels to have more then 40minutes to myself. In an effort to relax and enjoy myself I decided to test out my little dorm oven and bake brownies.

Note to self, baking brownies with nothing more than brownie mix, an aluminum pan, a fork, eggs, and vegetable oil requires some creative thinking.

Problem 1- lack of mixing bowl. Solved, just put all the ingredients in the huge aluminum pan and mix there!


Problem 2- lack of mixing spoon. Solved, just use a fork (but be careful not to mix too much for fear of poking a hole in the aluminum foil pan).

Problem 3- lack of measuring cups for the water and oil. Solved, oh look! the nearby nalgine bottle measures out oz in four, go online and figure out how many ounces are in a cup (make sure to wash nalgine bottle out completely before drinking usages).


Problem 4- the dorm oven's door falls out completely on one side when you open it up. Solved, somewhat, balance the door on your knee and stick the brownies in really fast.

Not gonna lie, I'm feeling pretty domestic with a little ingenuity on the side!

An urge comes over me. I feel like being artsy this afternoon. Bringing out the paints, traveling to downtown boston and painting the harbor as the boats settle into the evening sunset. Or whipping up a batch of chocolate covered strawberries, going to sit by a stream, and dipping my toes in the water as I enjoy the colors of my surrondings. Opening up all the windows in a house and rearranging the furniture. Grabbing a tall double chocolaty chip frappachino from Starbucks (a new find, slightly classier than my usual hot chocolate), and placing myself at a small little table outside in the middle of the city; a prime spot for people watching.

My hidden secret pleasures. For now, writing about them is going to have to provide enough fresh breathe to the day. Off to Boston's Museum of Science and dinner in Harvard Square. I like to be a traveling girl.

Fourth of July- Boston Edition

Nothing beat rallying in the 4th of July for 2008 then being in one of the cities in which our very nation was established- Boston. We honored the countries date by walking the freedom trail in the afternoon- special pit stops and interesting facts (faciliated by yours truely) including the state capital, ben franklin's gravesite, the first public school house, the park street church, mother gooses gravesite, the site of the boston massacre, and ending up in quincy market.

Reading the history and walking the trail made this holiday come alive for me. You could feel everyone's excitement rise as red, white, and blue shirts/polos/hats/and flags began to fill the town. Note to self, on commerative holiday's such as this historical trips always are a must!

After the freedrom trail the STAFF met up for a nice sit down dinner. Somehow I get puruzzled into eating at "dicks" with a quite hysterical and roudy enviroment. Not a typical "heidi" place, but the laughter that filled the table was worth it.

However, the highlight of the evening- fireworks in Walthum. In this football field, the entire town of Walthum could be found. Lawn chairs. Blankets. Little kids playing chase. Sparklers. Fire men. Ice cream trucks. Fried dough cakes. Those glow in the dark necklaces. It felt like I was back in my good old, small hometown of Crystal Lake again. The city's government came out with big speakers that played cottoneyed Jo, and Bye bye miss American Pie. Laur and I made a pit stop at the ice cream truck and then jogged over to hop on the swings and play at park. The loud bangs lit up the sky. What a great celebration!

Recent Updates

So not only is my background changing, but I'm changing as well. Never realized that your entire life could be thrown at you in one swoop and that you could have so many things going on at once to deal with. It's like having an ocean being poured on you....

but no worries. to that we say, "rock on. let's bring out the floaties."

Me and the Boy

:)

Wow.

One word to say. wow. It's definitely an experience. Not so much the easy going, let's lick the ice cream up slowly and watch the people walk by, summer that I'm normally used to. Clear example of this is that I haven't even managed to write one post since starting with LeadAmerica.

Things I've learned thus far:

• Don't judge an experience or make any decisions when you are tired and feeling overwhelmed.
• No evaluation until the first conference is finished.
• How to follow rules and uphold them even when you don't neccesarily agree with them or see the "why."
• Take things day by day. Step by step. It helps things to not seem overwhelming.
• Hold your tongue when you are exhausted, keep your energy in.
• How to decide when to be energetic and when it's okay to be quieter. Give yourself time to breathe.
• The importance of "me time"
• That growing and challenging yourself isn't easy.
• It's okay to re-evalutate decisions once they are always made, never feel like you're stuck in a situation. And sometimes, I truely think it's okay to choose the simpler path.
• Pick your battles wisely. Somethings aren't worth fighting for.
• Complaining doesn't do anyone any good. Be an example. If I don't complain, the students won't complain.
• How rewarding some one-on-one conversations with the students can be. How many kids in the world don't even have one person to take the time out of the day to listen to them and encourage them and generally just care for them.

In continuence with my "different mottos for different times in life" theme, I've come up with a new one. This season's theme: just keep plugging along.

We'll see where things go. Just taking it day by day.

Sum up the direction of my life in a quote,

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experiance to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiance." -Eleanor Roosevelt

It's not always easy at times. This newer, richer, utmost experience part. But it's the journey that I'm on :)

- and as mom says, might as well go on the adventures now. While all my peers are growing/learning about life, I'll be ready to place roots. In an exact quotation, "well look at it this way, by the time your down with school you would have already had all these experiences and adventures you'll so ready to settle down."

The summer's new motto: outward vs. inward.

My favorite thing to do in the middle of the day when I have some spare time just to think/pray, is to put myself in my place. I stop and think about where I am. and then about the town I'm in. and then about the state. and then about the country. and soon the world and then go to outer space. And when you take the time to do that you realize what a tiny little spot you are compared to everything else in the world. Too often it's easy to become focused on ourselves. We take everything and every person that comes across our life path and relate it directly back to how it effects us.

Instead we should put our focus outward. What can I do to better serve others. How can I make this person feel cared about? How can I be a better daughter, student, counselor, friend? When our focus is outward vs. inward we have a much better chance of making a good impact on the world.

Besides, it feels a lot better to go out of your way to make someone else's day special :)

I'm an Auntie

Em and Christopher got a puppy yesterday and named him Gibson.

Yes, I know I'm just an Auntie to a dog.. but it's still exciting!

Can't wait till I can get one of my own.

Random Bloggings

A good piece of advice that I recieved right before leaving Miami. Knew I wanted to post it, but it for some reason it slipped my mind until now...

"It takes two people to make an akward situation akward. So as long as you don't feel akward, then everything is okay, and the situation can't be akward."

Other things:

countdown--

1. One week and a day till the summer adventures with Lead American begin. Flying off to DC on the morning of June 5th.

Favorite song lyrics--

a song that has been played on K-love for about the past 6 months came on the radio today while I was driving to work. It's by the Newsboys, Something Beautiful. For some reason I just love the lyrics. It's just the purity and innocence of the moments it captures, and then comparing that to God's love with us. It makes my heart skip a beat :)

It's a voice that whispers my name.
It's a kiss without any shame.
Something beautiful.
It's a child on her wedding day.
It's the daddy that gives her away.
Something beautiful.
When we laugh so hard we cry.
It's the love between you and I.
Something beautiful.

Saturdays Consist Of...

Scrubbing the sails. Love being home, but missing these Saturday's too...

My family cracks me up. Emmy lou left me a note this morning

"it's the awesome 20 year old"

things like that fill my heart with love...and laughter. blessed.

My favorite way to start the morning is with the attitude of -- this is going to be a great day. That's where I'm at this morning. It's friday, it's payday, and the kids and I are are going to be kept busy all the way until 5pm. But even if all of that weren't to be in place, simply by me saying it's going to be a great day makes it a great day.

A lot of the way our days turn out is based on our attitudes and intentions. Being optimistic with a positive attitude has the power to turn a day around. I guess that's why growing up my mom always said, "find one thing to be thankful for every day."

We have the power to control our emotions.
What is your daily intention?

An evening filled with whole hearted laughter with my mom, auntie marcia, emma, and me. Nothing beats time with the women sitting around the kitchen table!

Our favorite new family motto:

Are you the bug or are you the windshield?

;) ha

My Stomping Grounds

It's 9am. The cold air brushes against my face as my cheeks begin to turn a bright shade of red. Somehow, in all the hussle and bussle of spring, Crystal Lake has not yet realized that it is May and the weather should be warmer than 55 degrees. But I'll gladly take the cooler temperatures. Mud clings to my gym shoes from my accidental steps in the freshly layed soil near the drive way. In the quietness of the country road I hear the pavement beat to the sound of every step. It's just me this morning out here. Me and the road. The oak trees seem to have gotten bigger. They tower overhead and form an awning above me. My heart beat quickens. I close my eyes for a second and deeply breathe in the midwest air. The kind of breathe that fills your tummy completely. The aromas of my small town take me away; freshly cut grass, muddy patches, pine trees, and brisk fresh air. Nothing like my jogs in Miami where the air is filtered out by the city, I'm surronded by houses, and blazing in sweat from the humidity. The rolling hills out here in Illionis also burn my thighs a bit more than the flat road in FL. But this morning that extra bit of excerise feels good. One thought rolls through my head, I'm glad to be home.

Yes, there are things about Miami that I miss. The ocean, staying up late on Thursday nights to watch Gray's Anatomy with my best friend, a certain boy, and such... but they'll all be there when I get back :)

Lo Siento about the Hiatus

a new blog post will be coming soon. I apologize for the lack of words, thoughts, pictures, and general notes. These past 3 weeks have been very crazy with finishing up school, spending time in Miami, and now recently coming to Chicago. It's a transition period, and as well all know, sometimes I just can't seem to wrap my head around transition periods. I can't seem to focus my thoughts enough to do some creative writing :)

Recent note though:

-grades came in
PSY 350- A
PSY 250- A+
Microbiology- A-
TAL 101- A+
MIC 112- A
GPA- 9.931

Today's Highlight

Breaking out a box of oreo cookies and glasses topped off with milk for breakfast. Sitting around the kitchen table with Suzzette; talking about life and laughing at ourselves.... getting milk mustaches and enjoying the fine pleasure that is dairy oreos.

Tonight I choose to be... thankful.

One of the lessons that I've learned this year is that we get to choose how we react to things and events. Yes, we may not have the power to control the event, but we have the power to control our own outcomes and (to some extent) our emotions. And so tonight I choose to be thankful.

• Thankful for having Tricia. Who'll always set aside the time to listen/encourage/ and love on me in the midst of anything in our days. Who knows my whole story. Who still tells me day after day I'm one of the most amazing friends she's ever had.
• Thankful for getting to go kayaking today. To laugh at how the boats almost flipped over, how our boat was constantly trying to head out into the ocean no matter how hard Scott and I tried to stay on course, that no one knew all of the words to the little mermaid songs, and that our round versions of row row row your boat never manged to end in the sam key they started in. Thankful for the huge smiles that were put on our faces when we all tried to rope two of the kayaks together and have the four of us row one very large raft. Needless to say, David nearly got knocked in the head a few times by my oar.
• Thankful for my sister. Who I can ask questions and bounce ideas off of.

The list could go on, but I think the gist is gotten. Tonight I choose to be thankful.

Up and At Em

As summertime draws nearer day by day, I am getting better at sleeping in. For the past four months the internal/external alarm clock has been set for 7am. It seemed that as soon as the sun would shine a glimmer of light through my bedroom window, my heart felt it was time to get up and sieze the day. I give it credit though, I did have 8am classes every morning. And there is something nice about waking up early with the bright yellow sun. I find myself able to accomplish so many more things, and I love having the morning all to myself. To sit with my thoughts, and God's thoughts, and Chris Tomlin's soft worship music in the background. No one else to think of, no projects/assignments to get done, no to do list that must be started that minute.

But now -with only one more test left -I'm able to stay cuddled up in my bed and permanatly hit the off button on my ipod alarm clock. Nothing compares to softly waking up to the the birds tweeting outside, uncurling my body out from underneathe my massively large down comforter, opening up my eyes just a tiny little bit, and deciding whether I want to get up and stretch and welcome the day or go back into hiding for another 15 minutes.

I'll still get my morning quiet time with God. It will just be pushed back another hour or so ;)

and while we're talking about mornings, I'm thinking a trip to the grocery store to make banana pancakes one morning is definitely a neccesity!

Snapshots from the Girl's Weekend

Pineapple in the car!

pic w/ tree of life
i thought pluto had a thing for us ;)

"we have a thing for ferry boats" -grey's

Alice in Wonderland

My newly discovered hidden talent: a knack for finding doors. Mulling over things this weekend; this past year, decisions, ect. I realized that I am especially good at finding new opportunities and potential adventures. Big doors always seem to just appear in front of me. Doors that have the ability to bring me into a different world or significantly alter my path course. Examples: studying abroad in Australia, studing abroud in Italy, working for Lead America, taking a semester off, going on missions trips, spending the summer in Kenya. The list could go on and on. And while this is a blessing most of the time, it often puts me in a place of having to make tough decisions. Even harder is when I find the door and then for some reason it appears that God closes it. I never understood why He would close the door on such great opportunities. I'd look up at Him with hands in the air and say "doesn't this look good though?" I would get upset, hurt, and frusterated.

But now I've realized that it's a secret gift. Since so many doors just appear before me, I better expect God to shut some. Just because a door/ opportunity lays at your feet, doesn't mean it's worth walking through. And so I'm thankful that I have a Father who shuts doors and guides me so directly. It's a joy! Plus, how much more exciting is it when you find a little door off in the distance that opens perfectly when you come to it. That's where I'm at now, happy with the doors that are opening and I'm walking through.

Tribute to Laur

By all means, I have the best friends.

Lauren sent 4/27/2008 7:41 PM:
Hey I have tried to call you a few times but your phone said that "this party cannot be reached at this time" what gives? I am busily typing away in the library but I may need a break sometime this evening and would love to be entertained by delightful stories from your weekend adventure. I hope you are doing great. Laur

Lauren sent 4/27/2008 8:38 PM:
where are you?

Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:11 PM:
hmmm.... still not here. :'( <---------------sad lonely Lauren
Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:13 PM:
okay, maybe not that sad... more....a. :Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:13 PM:
b. :0 surprized how easy it is to write this much!
Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:14 PM:
c. :( un poco triste that I have not had a good chat with you in ages...
Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:14 PM:
d. ;))boarder line slap happy
Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:15 PM:
e. :/easliy distracted by these fun little faces that I never use in a regular conversation...
Lauren sent 4/27/2008 9:16 PM:
f. :(yawn)getting sleepy, I better get back to writing( another 4 pages should do it for tonight) so that I can get some chem done tonight (while it is still today) and get a bit o shut eye.

How to give a Knome Kiss

As a start, this will be the first summer that I officially am hanging up my nanny apron and turning it in for a professional buissness attire suitdress. That's right, after spending over 5 years of my life taking care of little kids I'm finding myself moving on. It's time for this girl to take some larger steps and enter the world of medicine, healthcare, flight, and buisness. And while I think, for the most part, I'm ready to move on and leave the apron behind until I one day have my own kids.. they've still taught me a lot about life.

Lessons Learned from being a Nanny
1. Little boys think that every where in nature is a toilet-- be prepared.
2. How to laugh uncontrollably about nothing all afternoon.
3. Spinning in circles makes for one dizzy person, but one happy heart.
4. Many a hours can be entertained by giving a little kid a paint brush and a bucket of water and telling them to paint the drive way.
5. Ask questions about everything and anything. Never underestimate the use of the word why.
6. When you color (or live), you don't always have to stay within the lines.
7. High class Cooking skills: pb&j, macaronni and cheese, sandwiches, chicken nuggets, rice, soup, smoothies, and hot dogs.
8. Tickling seems to help a lot if you are feeling sad
9. There is wonder and mystery in making ice cream sundays from scratch and getting to use a lot of whip cream
10. If you're feeling tired, go for a walk
11. All of the words to the Dora the Explorer, Diego, and Thomas the Train engine theme songs
12. The sipee cups with the rubber nozzels are difficult to put in and hard to wash, go for the white plastic ones.
13. The importance of hugs.
14. That nothing is more peaceful than having a little girl fall asleep on your chest. And then laying there for the next 2.5 hours, with your arms uncomfortably falling asleep, not moving an inch because you don't want to wake her up.
15. Putting on the radio and dancing to music all afternoon is actually a lot of fun.
16. Why spider man band aids are really so much better than the tan ones.
17. Setting rules and boundries is important. I'd now say I know how to discipline.
18. Nap time, it's not just for the kids (who would have thought).
19. That anything in life can be a grand adventure, as long as you have the right attitude.
20. Imagination takes you a long way.
21. Love to read books. Over. and Over. and Over again.
22. How to put on dress up wings, tutoos, and hats. Have a tea party. and not feel a tad bit self concious.
23. Dr. Seus books are WAY to long to read before bedtime.
24. If you are going to make cookies with the kids, realize that by the time you are done everyone will be covered in flour.
25. Detangle conditioner is a wonderful thing. Nothing is harder than brushing the hair of a little one that is full of knots and narls.
26. Where the best hiding spots in a house are for hide and go seek.
27. That just because we call an object something doesn't mean that we are right. For three years when asked what color something was, Alexis would always respond "blue"
28. Simple pleasures in life make for the happiest moments.
29. Changing diapers and cleaning up throw up isn't really that bad.
30. Boys can make anything into a gun.
31. Always check inside the oven before you turn it on. I've had a good couple plastic tupper ware dishes melt.
32. How to have conversations with anyone and everyone. Never be afraid. Just start talking. and talking. and talking.
33. For the majority of people, seeing kids puts a smile on their face.
34. Bookstores and libraries make great day trips.
35. When you want to play in the snow, realize that it is going to take a good thirty minutes to get everyone bundled up. Bonus point, make sure they use the bathroom before you have them dressed from head to toe in snow paints, mittens, scarfs, and boots. Double bonus points, be prepared to be the only person lugging the sled up the hill.

and my favorite.....

36. How to give a knome kiss.

There is a simplicity to little kids that I find highly delightful. But it's time to move on. Trade these tennis shoes and days in Crystal Lake in for some buisness heels and adventures in Boston, DC, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Chris Miller's (the sister's boy) definition of a Masonick girl:

domestification, but just not too much. The quick female wit and independance is quite attractive and fun!

Funny thoughts on the day: (part two)

Heidi: Kemy and Tricia you have to listen to my my facebook status, it's wonderful! "studying microbiology makes me want to activate my dendritic cells, which would activate my cytotoxic T cells to release granules and undergo phagocytosis, which would eventually head to apoptosis."

Kemy: Wow.

Tricia: Heidi, I love the fact that you always think your facebook status is so hilarious and fantastic... and no one else knows what it means.

Heidi: here, let me read it slower to you.

Tricia: Saying it slower is like yelling at a deaf person, it's not going to make any difference.

-----------------------------------------

Heidi: is the facebook invite for fuel up yet?

Tricia: I love in the time it takes for me to send out the invite and switch back to the main event page people have already responded. Clearly, no one has anything better to do than spend the evening on facebook.

Funny thoughts on the day: part one

Rules of the Road in Miami

Red means: make a left hand turn after sitting out in the intersection

yellow means: speed faster through the light. do not by anymeans slow down until the light changes to red.

green means: go

left arrow means: change into the right hand lane

right arrow means: watch out because I want to cross four lanes of traffic and make this high way exit right now! aka... the miami slide

yield means: could you say that in spanish? wait, I actually thought it was just a pretty triangle on the side of the road.

Solidarity

a word we often hear and think we know the meaning of, but then never actually truely define.

solidarity: union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests; sympathies among members of a group

It's like going on a missions trip to another country where they have a Domino's pizza. Solidarity means not eating at that Domino's because the people you are helping can't afford to eat there. Or not going to the mainstream beach in Hati because the people of Hati can't go to the beach.

or even something as simple as wearing your glasses instead of contacts because your best friend has an eye infection and has to wear her glasses for the next seven days.

hello marroon red glasses! solidarity sister :)

I've managed to get only two things checked off the to do list today out of 6. Maybe it's time to reflect on distractions so as to not allow them to happen again :) sure...

List of distracting things one can do in a day instead of studying microbiology:

1. Talk on the phone with Lauren
2. clean up bedroom
3. Talk in person with Tricia
4. Eat ice cream with Suzzette
5. Talk on the phone with emma
6. take a half an hour nap
7. talk on the phone with Beth
8. redecorate door
9. check out funny websites recommended by the sister: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/
10. bring out the tool box and fix Tricia's closet door
11. make more Crystal Light
12. write a blog entry

all i can say is thank goodness all the items on my to do list typically aren't "due" for a week.
tomorow's goal: less distractions

last minute addition (reposted about 2 hours later): change that 2 things off check list to 4. :)

Matthew 6:25-34

Therefor I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do now sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do no labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat' or 'What shall we drink' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do no worry about tomorow, for tomorow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.

C- Note

when two violins are placed in the same room if a chord on one violin is struck, the other violin sounds the same note.

hope: for everyone who knows how powerful we are. That just by playing the strings of music in our own hearts, we can stir up the same melodies in the people around us.

sing life into the day.

Since it's too early to actually go out and buy them..

it's a proven fact that having fresh flowers around the house is supposed to decrease your stress level, and generally brighten your day.

in the mood for either gerber daisies or sunflowers.

Have you smelled your library lately?

In the midst of writing/ researching my paper I've had to spend a lot of time at the University library, paticullarly the stacks. It's been a while since I've had to venture up to that wing of the building. A while since I've had to load on the small elevator on the second floor and wait as it takes me to the forbidden quiet zone.

But as the doors opened a surprising thought crossed my mind. I breathed in deeply and it hit me... I love the smell of the library. No, not the dusty or moldy smell that people would normally associate with stacks of books. But the clean invigorating smell. The scent of the books is almost palpable.

Now, I wouldn't go as far as wanting to purchase a room fragerance "scent of library." People would come over and explain .. your house smells... nerdy. It's just a small little thing in the world that I happen to enjoy while getting work done.

Brainstorm Debate

Attempting to narrow down the topic choice for my research paper in my Teaching and Learning: Foundations of Education course.

Thesis: pick any controversial issue in education

Brainstormed List of Topics of Interest

1. No Child Left Behind *
2. Rising college Costs- costs of education
3. Educating “gifted” students *
4. Business role in education, corporation donations
5. Charter schools- school vouchers *
6. Bilingual education
7. Testing in schools- standardized tests *
8. Home school debate *
9. AP and IB programs
10. Grade inflation *
11. Increase in autism
12. Year round schools

* indicates the issues I'm leaning towards
Any thoughts?

Something about being a Masonick Girl

Emily: "If smart is hot, I think therefore I am."

We were raised to think this way. That's what occurs when you grow up in a famiy where the women are all either entrepreneurs or administrators. The biggest blessing- that they are all loving and caring moms at the same time. It's difficult to mix a sense of drive and ambition with an equal call to raise a family and be attentive at home. Yet, the Masonick women stood up to the task and provided excellent role models. In our weekly phone conversations Emma and I constantly agree, "there's something special about being a Masonick girl."

That's How You Know

by far one of my new favorite movies... and songs. A new addition to the DVD's to be purchased list.

This Week's Quote

"Here I am,

Where I ought to be."

- Louise Erdrich

Reflections on Feminism and Education

One of the most stimulating courses this year has been my Foundations of Education TAL 101 lecture. From the outside, one might ponder how intellectual a 101 level course could be. However, upon commiting your name to the attendance list that notion is immediatly lost. The course is set up to discuss a different contraversal issue in education each week. Over 12 scholarly assigned articles are to be read prior to class, so that instead of summerizing the issue we can focus on conversing it.

Last week's topic: feminism

Before last weeks discussions I would have never labled myself a feminist. I saw feminism as meaning a woman who tries to prove equality with typical male characteristics, denying the role of housewife and uptaking that of more male orientated postions, someone who is overly obsessed with her rights, and constantly evaluating whether she is being unjustly treated due to her gender. According to Patti Lather, feminism simply means acknowledging that gender plays a separating and organizing role within our society. More straight forward, gender -which is a socially constructed idea -effects and changes a persons life. I agree with these statments. Growing up as a girl has ingrained me with a number of natural God given characteristics. I'm still not quite sure though if, due to my aggrence with this fact, I would then openly consider myself a feminist.

Just interesting thoughts..... about what society is, how our ideas are constructed, and whether or not our perceptions and definitions are really true

Celebrating Accomplishments

While staying behind to ask my PSY professor, who used to be my statistics professor last semester, some questions about our upcoming test he randomly shared with me some encouraging information.

He asked if he ever told me before that I had the highest class grade point average in statistics. While crunching numbers a few weeks ago in his office, he noted that my performance in the class was the highest he has seen in all his entire 10 year teaching career here at the University and that he was blown away.

it's always nice to be validated and have your hard efforts acknowledged. For it's much easier for me to underscore my efforts than to really confirm that I am at the top of my class. Now, only if microbiology was the same as statistics ;)

This is the Day the Lord has Made

Products of hosting my very first holiday dinner.... Coloring/ Painting Easter Eggs the night beforeMenu: ham, cheesy scallop potatoes, asparagus casarole, cresants, corn, and german cake

Note, in my family we always make the holidays special by dressing up for them. Thus, a certain dress code was upkept and I couldn't have been happier.

The main masterpiece!

HAPPY EASTER!