Sick :(

I wish I could write as eloquently as some of my fellow bloggers (take Laura or Andrea for instance!). Reading some of their posts, it seems that they have spent hours piecing together personal anecdotes and thoughts until they have woven the perfect blog to entertain and inform their readers. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have that gift. Perhaps if I wrote more often that would change. Maybe if I cared more. I'm not sure. Either way, I'm not a gifted writer. I just tell it like it is.

This week I have been sick. Apparently I picked up the cold Bob had last week. I rarely get sick when he does- I generally have a stronger immune system than he does. But this time I got it. Worse, I think, than he did.

Following a busy weekend campout with UCA's sophomore class (Bob's one of their class sponsors), I drove up with the school to MiVoden for their fall picnic. We spent a wonderful day with Michael, Tonia, and Eleanor, enjoying time with great friends. We even got to take a boat out for an hour or so. It was great. :)

By the time we got home, I realized I was coming down with something. When I woke up on Tuesday, my voice was deep and ragged - my "sexy, manly voice" as some have called it. ;) Since then I've gotten used to the round the clock cold meds, hot teas, airborne, and TONS of water. I SO want to be over this!

This morning I coughed so hard that I had a hard time catching my breath. And I had the strangest sensation of what it may feel like to drown, thanks to the lovely junk in my lungs. I just hope that I can get over this before it settles in my chest and I develop pneumonia. I had it once when I was younger and it was awful.

I have so many things I'd rather be doing right now than being sick. I'd planned on spending this week reviewing anatomy, MMT, and goniometry before our practicums shortly after school begins. Instead I'm wasting time watching TV shows, movies, and reading because my brain hurts too much to think much, and I don't have the energy to get things done around the house. It stinks!

Stupid Internet!!!

Argh. Today was supposed to be our date night at The Old Spaghetti Factory, to celebrate Bob's birthday. We've been looking forward to it for a long time. We haven't seen much of each other the last couple of weeks. My work, though it's not that many hours, keeps me really busy, but Bob's putting in probably 60 hours a week these days. Sometimes it feels like we're roommates. :( We both live here, but don't get to have family time. Meals are the only time we get to talk. And tonight was supposed to be different. But instead of eating right now, he's up on Tower Mountain trying with a group of guys trying to get the internet to work, and I'm all dressed up and waiting, gifts are on the table. Makes me feel a bit blue....

Thanks for "listening". Had to get it out somewhere...

I hate it how stupid past decisions still influence my life today. Yes, I did learn from them, but they have a way of sneaking into my mind and changing the way I do things. It angers me.

On a more positive note, I have had such a great time recently looking at sewing and quilting projects. I have collected an assortment of fabrics that complement each other. Now all I need is a project and a bit of guidance. I want to make quilted wall hangings. That would be fun, and it would also help me to cover some of the still bare walls of our house. Yesterday at Jo-Ann's I found a guide to a project for a cute apron. I think it'll make a good first project, as it is primarily straight lines and bigger pieces of fabric. If I get to it, I'll be sure to post a picture or two. :)

On Thursday night, Bob and I had our pictures taken by Sarah at Manito. I can't wait to see how they turned out! I am excited. From there, we went to dinner at The Olive Garden and splurged, ordering drinks and dessert this time (we do this about once a year). I should probably clarify that when I say drinks I mean lemonade and iced tea. :)

Well, it's a wonderfully rainy Sabbath morning. Bob's in the shower and I am making a breakfast of hashbrowns, morningstar sausage patties, and scrambled egg-beaters. I better go make sure it's all going well. :)

So since my wedding 2 years ago, I have gained nearly 20 lbs and have gone from a size 4 to a 8-10. Talk about depressing! No excuse. I've decided to do something about it.

On Wednesday I joined the local gym. I have since enjoyed yoga and Zumba class, as well as my own personal workouts. My goal is to lose at least 10 lbs by the end of the summer. Who knows if it'll happen or not, but we'll see. All I can do is my best

Today I went to Ross and found a few workout outfits that I feel good in. Not baggy, but not second skin either ('cause nobody wants to see that!). Definitely will fit a smaller version of me. :) And I've made a pact with myself- these are the last clothes that I will buy until I can fit into smaller clothes. No use buying more clothes that will (hopefully) be too big soon. Now when I go to the closet and get depressed because something doesn't fit, instead of going to get new clothes, it's off to the gym!

I wrote this on my public blog in hopes that it'll hold me accountable. Sorry if it's TMI!

2010 Summer To-do List

Since I don't have a job, or any other obligations at the moment, I have decided to write my to-do list so that I have at least SOME direction for the summer so I can accomplish some things and feel that it has not been a waste:

Summer To-do List:
Leash train Storm
Scrap book wedding
Find 10 new meal ideas that work for us
Meet weight goal
Organize kitchen cupboards
Make jam/jelly
Make applesauce
Make quilted pillowcases
Make quilted wall hangings
Clean out office
Help Bob at UCA
Go through clothes -> donate to Goodwill

Hopefully I'll have a job to keep me busy soon, but for now at least I have plenty to keep me busy for awhile. :)

Anyone else feel like they aren't able to be successful at all the roles they fill? I feel like I can be a successful student OR get my sleep and take care of myself. I can spend time with friends OR take a couple hours to study for that quiz. I can have my house clean, laundry done, and meals prepared OR take some much-needed time to spend with my husband. Get to bed at a semi-reasonable hour OR take the time to have personal time with God. There's so many things I need to fit in, WANT to fit in, and I feel like I can't give any one area of my life enough time...... Does life ever slow down??

Letter to Me

It's a bit strange, but of late I have enjoyed listening to some country music. I know. I'm surprised too. It used to be on the same list as rap for me. But I can appreciate some of it now.

One of my favorite artists is Brad Paisley. Today I was listening to one of his songs on Pandora.com called "Letter to Me". If you haven't heard it before I encourage you to- it has lots of good things to think about.

As I listened to the song, I wondered what my future self would be telling me now to put things into perspective and share little bits about my future. Worry less. Embrace family. Don't stress so much. Take the time for those you love. What my kids look like. What job I'll have. When we'll build our dream house.

It's kinda fun to think about. :)

Our "New Addition"

So a couple of weeks ago when Bob was leading out the worship service at church, he made the announcement that a few weeks prior we had learned that we were going to have a new addition to our family. Of course the whole congregation let out a collective, "Awww!" and turned in their seats to look at my stomach - *AWKWARD!*. Then he told them that the day before (Friday), he'd driven to the St. Maries pet shelter to pick her up. Needless to say, many people were disappointed. But he got their attention. And it's nice to know that we have our church's approval when we do one day get to share that bit of news. :)

Well, we've had our new addition now for the last week and a half. Storm is a 4-5 month old labrador-retriever mix. She's full of love and energy and keeps us on our toes. I'm sure that all this puppy training will be good for all of us, but at the moment it seems a bit overwhelming. Nonetheless we love having her in our family.

Creative Pursuits

Lately, as I have thought about my Creative Pursuits and Aging research project, I realized that there are many several creative pursuits that I miss participating in. As I have worked with my group in the literature review, I realize that so many people put off their interests until later in life when they have time. I have many creative pursuits that I used to do that I have been neglecting lately, and some that I never have participated in, but want to. This got me thinking about all the things I hope to do one day:

- learn American Sigh Language
- become fluent in Spanish
- learn to play the piano again
- start playing the flute again
- learn to play the guitar
- learn to play the cello
- take up quilting
- learn to love exercise - continue yoga and pilates
- find a way to take up swimming again
- take singing lessons (though the thought terrifies me!)
- take time to blog and get my thoughts out

These are just a few things I've thought of lately. I'll probably be writing a part 2 of this later on. :)

Blog Facelift and Anticipating Adoption

I'm guessing that got everyone's attention. Sorry- no reason to get too excited. I just like teasing people like that. :)

So yesterday while I was avoiding homework I decided that I my blog needed a facelift. I have been quite neglectful... hopefully this will change. I need to write more often and keep everybody up to date!

Yesterday I also started browsing through the local pet shelters to see what's available for puppies. We're hoping to get some kind of lab/retriever/German shepherd. I found a lab/St. Bernard mix that was pretty cute, as well as a black lab/golden retriever. Adorable. I was a goner. Luckily Bob is able to think rationally. As soon as March rolls around we can begin officially looking- it's so exciting! It will be fun to have a puppy. It's one more reason to look forward to spring! :)

My dream

Well, last Friday I got everything lined up for graduation! On June 11, 2010 I will receive my B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. The following June I'll get my masters!

It's exciting to see my dreams coming true. It's amazing for me to see where God has led. I can't help but think about what He has in store for my future.

In the last few weeks, as I have learned more about the scope of practice in occupational therapy, I have began formulating a plan of what I want my work and mission to be.

For several years I have wanted to work with children. After hearing Dr. Patch Adams at WOTA's conference last month, I got an idea of a clinic I'd like to start. I shadowed an OT in Vancouver, WA where there was a PT, OT, and Speech Pathologist all working in the same clinic. They were able to work collaboratively on each child, providing the care and interventions each kid needed. I'd like to start a clinic like that. Have the office open 3-4 days a week, and leave a day open for me to do some work pro bono and provide early intervention services to kids who would not otherwise have the resources to get the care they needed.

At this point I don't know how this would work legally to have a back door policy like this. But I feel such a strong calling to help children early on. Once they get into the school districts, the schools will provide needed OT treatment, but what about those kids who could benefit from care at an earlier time? It could make such a difference in their little lives.

A Random Act of Kindness

Today it was my turn to do the biweekly shopping trip to Costco. Though it's often fun finding new and tasty treats (especially on sample days!), it always seems to wear me out.

I had class until noon, and then my research group met for awhile, so it was early afternoon by the time I made it there, and I was hungry- not to mention tired and a little irritable. After circling the store and finding my things, I waited through line and finally made it out to the car. I put the lighter things into the trunk of the car first, leaving the heavier things until last. The very last item in the cart was the 20-lb bag of cat food. Twenty pounds probably doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot for me and my back. As I was staring at it trying to figure out how to lift it with the best body mechanics to avoid re-injuring my back, a man came up to me and asked if he could lift it into the trunk for me. I allowed him to, and thanked him, and then he offered to take the cart back to the store. What a kind thing to do!

Just that simple act of kindness made the rest of my afternoon happier. There's still good people out there willing to help others out. Feeling how good it is to have someone do something like that reminds me that I should be passing on that kindness whenever I have the chance. :)

The long and the short of it...

So I have a dilemma, albeit a small and not so significant one. But, I thought I'd ask your opinion on it anyways and try to get a little feedback. Do I look better with long or short hair? I've always tended to go for the longer hair- you can be more creative, or pull it up quick to get it out of the way. But having it short makes sure I always do something with it, since I can't just pull it back. It may look more professional though. So... in an informal poll... which looks better?? A, B, or C?

A (shortest)

B (short)

C (long)
I'd love to hear what you think!

My Summer To-do List

Well, this summer I had a short list of things I wanted to accomplish. Here is roughly what it was:
1. Get back in shape
2. Get a jump start on next quarters reading
3. Finish writing and send out wedding thank-yous (this has been on my to-do list for way too long...)
4. Do some fun summer reading
5. Settle into our new home
6. Plant tulips
7. Survive my first quarter of the MOT program.

So far, I haven't made much progress on number 1, although we did get a trial membership at Oz Fitness last night and I went swimming this morning. Sadly, it was the first visit to the gym this summer.

While I honestly thought I'd get a head start on summer reading, I have barely opened them. In fact, the last 2 only arrived in the mail today. Oops...

Today I've been working on my 3rd or 4th draft of the thank-you letters, but I still need to add pictures and room for a personal message. Hopefully I'll finish that today.

I did accomplish number 4, and enjoyed reading several books from the local library.

While we still have numerous boxes in our home, we are mostly settled, with only minor touches like putting up picture frames and organizing my study room left to do.

I still need to complete number 6. I planted a few bulbs in the backyard and some in pots, but the majority of them still need to be planted in the front yard. Come spring, the bold yellow and red will definitely brighten our yard. :)

I did indeed survive the first quarter of OT school, with my GPA and sanity still intact. I've heard that this next quarter is just as intense, but at least I know what I'm getting in to. :)

While I may not have finished my to-do list, this summer was great. I adjusted to OT school, settled into a new home, and still left time for some R&R. Hopefully it won't take long to switch back on the multitasking-goal driven-deadline meeting side of me. We'll have to see how tomorrow goes. :)

Hello out there...

It's been awhile! Since my last post that was nearly a month ago, many changes have happened. We successfully moved out of our duplex in Cheney on time, and for numerous reasons are happy to leave the life of renting in the past. The last few weeks we have been staying with Bob's parents, who have been generous to let us stay here while we get our feet on the ground.

We made an offer on an house on July 13, and it was accepted on July 15! Our move-in date is set for August 17, the day before Bob's 25th birthday. I enjoy teasing him that it's his birthday present. Can't wait to find out what I get for my 25th! Ha ha....

I'll be done with the summer term next Thursday, just in time to get a few days to rest before the big move in day. It's been a tough quarter academically, but has been wonderful to get to know my classmates and form new friendships. It's interesting to see how different our lives are, yet we are all there for a common goal. It's pretty cool.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

This is a beautiful song that I've loved in the past and recently rediscovered. It's sung by one of my favorite groups, Selah. It really helped me put all my worry, stress, and anxiety into perspective. Hope you enjoy it as well!

Breaking Point

Reality is starting to sink in and I feel like I need to escape from it all for awhile. I still haven't learned to handle stress and I feel like I'm ready to break. I'm still trying to adjust to grad school and suddenly have the added strain of moving out in the next 15 days. When I first heard the news yesterday that we needed to be out soon I thought of it as an adventure. Since then, my act has failed and I am loosing the superficial confidence I was able to put on earlier.

This quarter is compacted into 8 weeks rather than 10, and is an intensive "review" of gross anatomy complete with a cadaver lab. We also are taking a kinesiology course that has many physics concepts I have never been exposed to. I feel like I've been playing catch up from day one. We're now 1/4 of the way through the quarter. The long days of class and intensive study are wearing me thin and my motivation as well as my concentration are melting away.

Our sudden housing situation is also a great concern to me. We are so blessed that Bob now has a mostly permanent job so we have more options. We'd like to take advantage of the housing market, but are not sure what our options are as far as that goes. So far there are not houses in the area that seem to be just right. At the same time, we're hesitant to rent again, because every monthly payment for rent could be going towards something we own instead that is about the same monthly cost.

Sometimes I long for the simplicity of life I had as a kid. Sure there were worries, but they were insignificant in many ways, especially when compared to the responsibilities I have today. It seems as though those days went by way too fast. I wonder what it would be like to go back just for a day and forget about grad school, bills, health concerns and housing woes.

I need to remember that God is in control. He hasn't let us down, and I'm sure he won't now. I just wish I knew how to trust more. Perhaps He will use this to teach me that lesson. I look forward to when God turns the next page in the chapter of our life and reveals what His plans are for us.

New haircut

Steal of a Deal

New Do?

In less than two months, I'll be starting my Master's Program for Occupational Therapy. I'm wanting to find a new look that for this next step in life. Not that it's that different, but it is a change, and they expect you to look refined and professional, since we'll be training to become OT professionals.

I've slowly collected more professional looking clothes that are modest, and look dressier than most of my school clothes. It's hard finding cheap, modest clothes! Especially when you're 5'12". :) So no more wearing sweats to class, or dashing out the door with my hair still dripping wet. I plan to "dress for success".

Lately I've felt that my hair is unpredictable at best, and often feels unruly and uncooperative. I've been thinking that I should try to find a "new do" that will be easy to maintain and look professional. Should I continue let it grow out, or cut it shorter? Let it have the faded color of once dyed, but going back to natural, or should I dye it. If so, dark brown, reddish brown... too many choices!

So, though it's not a super important decision- there's my dilemma. What to do, what to do.... any suggestions would be welcome!