Catch-up snippets!

Nate & I had pictures taken last August...A glance at my favorite :) Missing that summer weather..

Pretty Tinker-cat helping me do homework 

Another snippet of the wonderfully talented Erin Heckler's amazing photography skills

Catching Maxx snoozing on my pillow. He was supposed to be helping me stay awake to finish my homework! 

Lady looking pretty while I was back home to see mom over the holidays..

Happy Thanksgiving from G101! Right before I left for the CICU

Me and my two guys saying goodbye after our Christmas festivities wrapped up for the season..We were bummed to have to return to reality! 

Little man Liam telling Nate that cows say "mooo" :)

Life..

So....In the last seven months since I've posted so much and yet so little has been going on.  I've been elbows deep in school and I am officially FIVE weeks away from being done...at least with this little journey that I have been on. I am sure the world of academia is not done with me yet but I'll get there. For now though, the last five weeks couldn't go by fast enough! KUDOS to everyone out there who is working full time and making strides in their career all the while going to school.  Whenever people mention it, I tend to brush it off but it is a big deal! It is such a time commitment. Did I mention that my boyfriend will be done with his grad program in May??? SO DARN EXCITED about this! We can actually start living again.  

Aside from school, I left my previous position in an organ transplant unit at The Cleveland Clinic and moved to the coronary intensive care unit.  It is a completely different world of nursing, but I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn so much.  It really is the cutting edge of medicine (#1 CICU in the country!!) and everyday there is something new to be seen and to be learned.  Working with wonderful people and continuing to learn and to grow is all you can really ask for, right? I am one lucky lady! 

So basically, I have been MIA due to school and work. Things are starting to wind down though so I am really hoping to be on here more often.  Another big deal that is about to happen is that we are going to move this summer. We are getting our own place and guess what..? I get to decorate! I have been waiting for this for quite some time.  All of the organizational and decorating tips and tricks that I have been reading about in all of the other blogs I can actually use now. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. I'm totally okay with admitting how nerdy I am :) I hope everyone is doing well on this hump day. Almost to Friday, folks.  XOXO 

Here is a snippet of our trip to Detroit with Maxxie :) 

Roadtrip!

summer time!

I absolutely can not believe how fast time goes by.  I remember as a kid I would roll my eyes whenever my parents or grandparents would comment on how quickly the time would go by.  In my eyes, time could not have moved any slower. Now, I can't seem to keep up with the days. My days off consist of laundry, errands and homework. My days at work are consumed because I am up at 5 a.m. and arrive home at 8p.  I have little energy left to accomplish much more than dinner with Nathan at that point.

So with all of that said, I would like to clarify that I am not complaining about my life. Not even a tiny bit. I am very aware of my many blessings on a daily basis and try to always remember to be grateful.  It has been my goal recently to try to take a minute to step back and really consider my blessings.  This week, Nate and I went Detroit for a critical care conference.  Being away for a few days was the perfect opportunity to reflect just how good we really have it.  I said many thank you prayers and shared lots of smiles with Nate along the way. To top it off, we spent the night at his dads, enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner and caught up on some quality family time.  Even beyond that, we celebrated our freedom over the Fourth of July and enjoyed spending time with friends.  What more could a girl ask for? I can't come up with anything! It is the little things in this life that I appreciate the most.  Till next time--
Be Cheerful. Strive to be Happy.

Desiderata

So this is my first official post on this blog, and I as a sat down to write it, I came up with a major form of writers block. That's okay though, because I decided to start off with my favorite poem: Desiderata.  I have found that there is a lot of wisdom in this poem and I try to live by it on a regular basis.  I hope you find wisdom in it as well...

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.


On that note, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Tuesday! Be cheerful & Strive to be happy :)