Joel Osteen Dec. 2nd

So sometimes on Sunday morning, while i clip my coupons and wake up, I watch Joel Osteen's 30 min sermon. It's the closest thin to church in my life at the moment. So a couple years ago I had Rob agree to go to church once before the year ended... needless to say the year ended without church. So on Dec. 2nd Rob & I are going to the Night of Hope with Joel & Victoria Osteen. I think it's a couple hours but it will be the first religious event my husband and I have attended together. And if you know my husband then you'll know this a big deal. I can't predict what my future involvement with church will be but I love my lord & savior and will for all eternity. So I hope that mu husband will enjoy the evening and come out with some new insight or something. It's kind of fitting that it is in Dec, with Christmas and all. Also it is after all my lectures are done and the day after test 4- so only the final will be left. But right now it's still Oct. & I need to do my mental health IPR & get cracking on some more neuro since the test is in 1 week.

Long time, no update... (mental hospital & aunt in ICU)

So wish me good luck and safety for the next 2 days because I'm spending 20 hours as the mental hospital! Yay for me! Not so much... Just part of my class, 2-10hour clinicals at the local mental/behavioral health center. All I know is what I've heard- no touching (they all want hugs), there is a peds unit (great- is Damien there? - omen ref.), the teacher tries to get you to do crafty things with the patients, and of course tuesday is an article presentation.... yay public speaking! So for multiple reasons my natural tendency is to dislike, stress over this. But I'm going to get through it, i know this.... so I'm going to attempt to do my best and put my fears aside (box them up and place them in my internal closet). After this I only have 3 clinical days left OMGoodness! Then it will practically be Thanksgiving and soon to done with N-4. So next week is test 3. Nervous because we only covered half the content so far (just 2 wks of test material on the test) and i have clinical, ie- monday paperwork, tuesday nursing work. So test 4 & final I'll have an extra amount of time to study.
Lord be with me everyday but especially on monday/tuesday when I "may" need your presence a little more so than just an average day at home. Keep in check, my mouth shunt unless saying appriopate theraputic communication, allow my to handle whatever the situation, not be embaressed (especially to the point where my face turns cherry red and I get nervousy like sweating and hot).
On a less than funny/cheerful note- my aunt Jan (diagnosised with Cancer couple months ago) is fighting for her life in a columbus ICU. She's been there over a week, she has 2 kids in college that still need her guidance in life. I think nursing has given me a strength to be very work like in these situations. It seems like this season is always not the greatest on my family....
So I'm going to get to work now.... finially writing my little paper that i must turn in tomorrow (yeah yeah I had a bad procrastinating weekend- call it stress).
God bless all my loved ones and have a great week!

Missing my Grandma- 5 years later

So... I did good on my test, 84, I could go on about how I should have done better and blah blah.... the fact is- on the first test of each nursing class I've only once done better than this grade (once got the same). If I made an 84 on each exam I'd be happy. So tomorrow I'll see my unit at the hospital and then have a fake test and check off. Woohoo- not. I'll get through it though, I always do....
On a less than chipper note- today marks the 5 year anniversary since my beloved Dorothy died. I'll never forget the last month of her life, the last time I saw her, or heard her speak, or walking into that funeral home with my dad on one side and my mom on the other as I broke down crying just barely in sight of her in the coffin (yards away). I dream of you often grammy and miss you so much. There will always be a hole in my heart with the aching of missing you and loving you.
Was it a coincidence that Hereafter was the movie to premiere on HBO Saturday....

Goodbye week 1, hello week 2....

So... the first week went well I think. And tomorrow is my first clinical of the semester. I think I'm ready. It seems like the night before these things are about the same: gather stuff up and relax, after doing whatever work first. I don't obsess about things, like I could be going over the head to touch like crazy and doing a couple dry runs with the husband but i'm just trying to be as calm as I can. Does that make any sense? Not that I have reason to panic but let's be clear- anything can happen in clinical. You don't know what you'll have to deal with or what questions you'll be asked.
So I'll spend the first 2 weeks a nursing home- mainly doing head to toes and dealing with the "final" phase of life... not exactly my highlight and may pose some personal challenages for me but hopefully I'll be the bestest nurse I can be (including control of my reactions & emotions).
Then the until Turkey day it's an oncology unit with some mental health throw in. Cancer- I should be good at that, huh? I've had lots of exposure and actually seen an oncologist but will this dig up fears and sadness? I think I'll be ok, I should fine tune my communication skills, wonder if I can discuss my experiences... hmm... only if it comes up like "I can relate... my blank had blank cancer too"... ?
LOL so what is my strategy for dealing with stress (other than doing all i can to prepare) sew!
I bought 2 yards and cut them into 3 1/2 inch squares. I just sew a few together at a time. Don't know what it will end up, just making square blocks for now.... So wish me some luck or send me some prayers or kind words! Nursing school is not for the weak & I know God choose this for me.
Goodnight & God Bless
Tomorrow is going to be an awesome day...

Last Weekend of Freedom..

So I figure (on my next to last day of freedom before school starts) I should post something. I'd say I've neglected my blog a bit but honestly I've either had not much to say or been living it up. Just to recap quickly: My trip to TN was great, got see a high school football game and my niece preform with her color guard team, I even got to see my dad (been 3 years). 4 1/2 days go by fast. So I'm planning one last hoorah trip to TN (last because I plan to be moving there by next summer- fingers crossed I pass all my stuff so I can be a licensed nurse). And one last thing to mention my baby Max is currently under the 20 pound marker (has been as much as 22 or 23) just a few more to go! So here are my tidbits:

• 
  
  Article of the day: 10 states where no one wants to buy a new home ... (scroll down to the "Gallery" to see this list & skip the article) Sadly my home state Ohio is one the list (& much of the northeast/midwest). Guess selling anything (cough cough my dad's inherited over 100 acre farm) would not be smart at this time.... At least I basically have a house there...


• 
  
  Have you heard of Zulily.com? It offers sales for cool shops for moms and kids and all the in between. They have some cute baby clothes that would maybe cost more than I'd want to spend but I'm sure whenever a kid comes into my life I'll use this site a few times...

As usual my intention of flooding you with links fails! I guess there ain't much going on in the world. Congrats to my niece Holly & Mo-West for beating Greenville! Go Trojans! Now into.. some chapter reading for school.... Monday is fast approaching (hopefully so will May when I get pinned - prayers)....

Healthy Veggie Soup

1st picture is most of the ingredients (not including some spices)

2nd is the soup

It made a huge pot full so I'm going to have it for lunch a couple days then freeze the rest in single servings for quick meals (I made it before and it freezes well).

Get the recipe here...

Tuesday Tidbits....

As I watch the today show they pose this theory or idea: The End of Civility. I've learned in life that some things Ill never understand because I'll never be or do what the action is, therefore I can't understand others would. Don't misunderstand me: I am not 100% right, I am not perfect. But I do give it my best effort to be kind & polite, to give in some form and to help. I really hope the Today Show is wrong but all I can is my part....

Now my Tidbits...

• 
  
  First I just want to say I was blessed yesterday with a monday paper & another Sunday paper (FYI: I only subscribe to double papers wed-Sun)... No clue what was going on but thanked the Lord for added coupons anyways...


• 
  
  I also ordered the Smart Money magazine from Amazon, they had a sale for $5 so I thought why not, I'm trying to get my finances in tip top shape & hopefully in less than a year I'll have my first Nursing job and making more money than I ever have.


• 
  
  Taco Bell has there nacho surpreme for 99 cents- awesome. It's normally like $2.?? i think. Just for a couple weeks though....


• 
  
  Also my 2nd cousin Addie Dixon won the 2011 Champaign County Fair Queen! Yay!

I guess that's it for now... Next week I'm heading north to TN (big surprise huh?) I'll be there 4 whole days. My dad may be coming for a day and my brother's in-laws maybe coming too, and my oldest niece Heidi! Going to watch a high school football game (my niece is in the color guard). Should be so much fun that if flies by so fast that I'll be wishing I had more time but gotta get back to FL because it then be less than 1 week until school starts. Although I wish my break was longer than 3 weeks, I know I can do this- with lots of hard work I can do this! (& God too)

My first weekend-school free!

I was going to put "stress free" but there are always some minor stressers- ATM- Max isn't 100% yet but they did say could be 6 weeks (only been like 3), we are taking in the Geo today to finally get the oil leak fixed (& maybe some new lights & alignment), & just trying to get in all I can before the trip. God knows once we get back it's school school school!
So far I've done quite a bit: lots of laundry, cleaned up the bedroom, office, bathroom, & other room, washed the futon cover, started pulling clothes to pack, put up my N3 stuff, some other small things....
I still need to: schedule my shot, dye my hair, complete packing, clean up the living room (optional), print N4 stuff, buy my books, finishing burning/cleaning out my laptop, unload & charge my camera, prepare a package for mailing, some other things I'm forgetting, & probably study or do something for N4. I normally can't wait to get on the ball but after having only 1 week (really 1.5 wks) between the last 2 semesters I've just been not in the school mood. So I don't know what is better: A. take a complete break to recharge and get all my "other" things out of my system OR B. maintain a certain amount to studying/school so I don't get too relaxed and have a more difficult time getting back into the swing of things....

Update on date night

Harry Potter: OMG didn't really see the Snape thing coming....

Shopping: not that trilling. I was expecting to go to Old Navy and have to narrow down my purchases but 1. they didn't have much stuff in the store 2. Not much new fall stuff or clearanced summer... But I did find the one shirt I knew I wanted (sold out online) and ended up spending a few dollars more than I was going to because they had a sign marked wrong and I added a $1 things because I thought I wouldn't have spent enough for my coupon.. ugh but ok.

Food: ate at Ale House & like my splurgy husband- he has 2 "drinks", we shared an app, he got a meal & i got a bowl of soup, then we shared dessert= $49 (I was hoping more like $30 but what can say it was for is birthday..)

So I'm about to leave for the Chevy dealer to follow Rob in the honda so he can wait at home Vs at the dealer (who knows if it will even be done today). Hopefully it's reasonable, got a big vet bill coming Friday with Max's semi-annual stuff plus his $40 shot to help his bones/joints. I have no idea what I've spent on my doggie in the last 5 years and I don't care because he's here today & I love him so deeply. This dog has changed my life...

Praise Jesus I passed N3

So quick update: I passed my class and onto my 4th semester (aka nursing 4) at the end of the month. 2 semesters left until I graduate (take my boards) & become a nurse!!!!!!!!!!
On a shopping note: I spent under $20 on Kohls.com- got a couple xmas gifts for some kids (clearance sales) & a couple things I didn't really need but Im compelled! LOL
Last minute note: Watching Hoda & Kathy at the moment and they just read some study or poll that married couples (non-newly-weds) kiss once a week, Dude? WTF I kiss my husband a minimum of twice a day (i always kiss him goodnight unless he is working and we usually kiss before one of leaves, like this morning he kissed me goodbye even though I was 80% asleep & didn't open my eyes). Just thought that was kind of weird- kissing 1 time a week but hey I'm not a judger!
Thanks for the support & prayers- now lots to do with 13 days until TN vaca! Wonder if I should start packing/planning my outfits..?... Yes I'm a pinch crazy- I like to call it Spicy.
Big date & shopping tomorrow!!!!!

Tomorrow = Final

So I've tried my best to spend the day studying, I admit there were quite a few breaks and I feel nearly at the end of my rope with studying. I just hope not enough rope to hang myself hehe....
I'm not going to say how many points I need to pass this class because I don't want to just skim by, I don't want to aim for 1 more point higher than I need. I want to exceed and do so well that I a smile so big it hurts on Wednesday, when I find out my grade. Nursing 3 is easy some say... it's not easy just some of the content is a little familar (especially if you have kids) or some of the content is personally interesting. I hope the Lord will shine through me tomorrow and bless me as he has in the past. I know that whatever happens in life is his Will (with or without understanding). So as I round down my night with a little God time, I'm going to put it in his hands, give him my fears and the power over my life. Of course I'm going to wake up a little early and study more, just review some points. Always aiming for my best. & hopefully that equals success! Send some prayers for me if you like, I'd gladly do the same for anyone. I'd love to say on Wednesday I have 8-9 months left of school....