Wedding Gown

Well, Brian and I haven't really done much wedding planning yet due to the busy-ness of school, but now that it is summer, we are hoping to move more quickly on things. To start this summer off, I went and bought/ordered my wedding gown on Friday. That is of course very exciting and I can't wait for you all to see it! I LOVE it! :)

Another Semester DONE!

Well, I took my last final last night...it was pretty hard, but I am glad it is over. I am just so glad that I survived my first semester of grad school - it was looking a little scary at the beginning. It feels soooo nice to have a few days off!! Summer school doesn't look like it will be any easier though. :( I start summer session the week of June 1, so I am planning on catching up with friends and relaxing a lot over the next week and a half. :) I think I will try to work on a cross-stitch and catch up on my magazine reading. haha. :)

A huge thank you to all those people that helped me get through the semester - for proof reading, offering words of encouragement, and being there when I needed to vent. :)

Health Promotion

I came across this website and just had to share it because I thought it was really cool. Since we have been studying, performing, and teaching breast exams this semester, I thought it was very fitting to mention it here as well. So, make sure you are feeling your boobies!!!

I can't believe it!

I went to visit my mom for Mother's day and I couldn't believe how much my brother has grown in the past couple weeks/months! I mean it hasn't been that long since I last saw him, but he just shot up!
He is now as tall as me...at age 13! He will be 14 in about 6 weeks and he is starting high school soon - he has already started wrestling (and his shoes are a size 12!). Absolutely crazy! So the question is, will he be taller than Brian? :)

My 1st RN "job"

Friday morning I received a call from Dee Dee who was going to be the Confirmation 2 Retreat nurse, but she was feeling ill and ended up needing to be home with her kids for the weekend. So, she asked me if I wanted to do it. I did not think that it was just a coincidence that I had no assignments due over the weekend and I was feeling very called to do it. After thinking about it all day, I decided to go. Dee Dee was preparing me on what to do and expect, but she started freaking me out with all her stories, but I remained prayerful. While I was babysitting, but once all 4 kids went to bed, I looked up some med information for the teens' prescriptions and then left at 10:30 pm, picked up Brian and we headed up to Running Springs (arriving at 1 am).

It was a lot of fun being on the retreat this weekend, but at the same time, so strange being there in a different role (and also only knowing a couple dozen familiar faces). It was a wonderful experience and I am very thankful that nothing bad happened. Nothing occurred that a little advil, benadryl, pepto-bismal, or a band-aid couldn't handle. :) I was really scared to be there working as an independent nurse for the first time, but I knew God was there with me (and also Brian). I definitely think this experience has increased my nursing self-confidence and I look forward to using my skills to help like this in the future.

I included a couple fun pictures from today, hanging out with Jon and Megan. We missed our photographer, Dick, though...

Max vs. Rose

Well, I am not housesitting anymore, but I said I would post a picture of the mastiff and lab together so that you can compare sizes. So...here is Max and Rose. Both of them are soooo sweet!

Relaxin'

Well, it's spring break for me right now and I am thoroughly enjoying the extra time! I am still housesitting in Ladera, so I have been making good use of their Wii while I am still here. :) I love that thing and am actually thankful I don't own one because I would spend WAY too much time on it. :P I am in love with Wii Fit and this Endless Ocean game. (It's a diving game and is basically so realistic that I never need to go diving...I actually get scared in this game (so silly, I know), especially when there are sharks in front of me or nothing but black deep waters - lol). Anyway, I can't believe spring break is half over now, but it has been so nice catching up on some zzzzz's and lounging around watching TV and movies (like The Little Mermaid or Must Love Dogs). Well, that's all for now...better go do some more relaxin'. 

Meet Max

This is my housesitting buddy, Max. He's a mastiff...and he is extremely large! I don't think it even shows up that great in these pictures, but it was just to give you an idea. 

These pics were taken around Christmas time. The family also has a yellow lab, so I will try to add a pic of the mastiff and the lab together, because that helps compare the sizes. 

I feel like a celebrity or something when I walk this dog - every car slows down to see him, people stop to say hi, pet him, etc. It's pretty crazy. He is such a sweetheart though...I can see why they are known as "Gentle Giants." I am looking forward to hanging out with Max and Rose (the lab) for a few weeks! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, I noticed that it has been a month since my last post, so I thought I should write something. I really don't have much to say except that school is still crazy! Schoolwork is really all that I have been doing these days. We are at the half way point in the semester!!! Very exciting...and I am really looking forward to our Spring Break in a couple weeks!

Since it is St. Patrick's Day, I thought I would add an excerpt from St. Patrick's "breastplate" prayer:

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

I love what this prayer says and should probably read it everyday! I hope you enjoyed reading it too. :)

Hanging in there

Well, as much as I hate school right now, it is definitely nice not knowing I'm alone. I got an email from a classmate today saying "I hate school right now, and I'm kinda wishing I was working instead!" Another classmate has her gmail message as "Hating School!" I think all of us in this right now hate it and are totally overwhelmed, but I have to say that I am so thankful for all the support of my friends. I seriously couldn't do it with out them/you! :) I think grad school is one of the hardest, most challenging things that I have done so far. I just can't wait to see how it all works out and what God has planned for me. For now, I will continue hanging in there!