"You belong among the wildflowers..."

Someone is going to have to teach me how to put pictures on here.  I'm not so good with those.  Anyway, today was a loooong, hard day at work, and while these days are not my favorite, they do make me incredibly grateful for all I have in the world, and for the honor of just knowing some of the greatest kids in the world.  I wanted to post pictures of my plants (because they're gorgeous and alive) that I'm pretty proud of.  I think it was my dad who said I've had the honor/curse of "ushering several babies into heaven."  It's hard to forget those kids and parents (in fact, I think they'll stay with me forever), but I've found I still need a way to honor and remember my babies even after I've watched them pass into heaven.  So each plant is for a special patient, so that I can remember my babies (even if they're older) and the journeys they had to make.  They've survived my lack of gardening skills, a lack of sun, and now, several tornadoes, so I think they can make it through a summer at my parents' house.  I'm pretty attached to them, so God help my mom if they krump while I'm gone.  So anyway, today's list.

 1.  I'm grateful for my coworkers.  They're hilarious, brilliant, and simply amazing.  We work our butts off day in and day out, and I'm pretty sure they're the best group of people you'll ever know in one place.
 2.  I'm grateful for the option of one day eloping.  While the wedding of William and Kate was beautiful, and her dress will totally be on my list of best ever, I still think that had that been me, I would've broken down an hour in, and decided to screw the crown, find some tequila, and apologize later.  
3.  I'm grateful for baseball and Publix sushi after a long day.  My family is there without me (jerks), but I'll settle for second best on my roommate's rather large tv. 
4.  I'm grateful for Moe's Day in the cafeteria!!  The burritos are smaller, and the prices are the same, but the amount of joy I get from a burrito at 2:30 in the afternoon at the hospital is unreal. 

I think that's all I've got for tonight.  I'm leaving you with some pictures of some of my plants that I'm oh, so attached to.  Goodnight!

This was last year.  This plant is currently doing some rehab at Mom's house.

These still look pretty good!

The cactus is for an odd but awesome kid.  The marigolds were another girl's favorite.

Here Comes the Sun, Doodoodoodoo

4/28/11

Today I’m thankful for...
 1.  Shopping trips with my mom and sisters.  It’s funny to watch us descend upon Macy’s with coupons, enthusiasm, and my mom’s tenacity for getting the best bargain possible.  Amy picks up everything not sure whether or not to love it, Ashley loves everything, and Mom just sits back and holds our bags, offers us coupons, and says “Don’t buy it without my card!  You’ll save an extra 20%!”
2.  Shiny periwinkle blue luggage bought at 67% off.  I’ve never had to go anywhere important enough or for long enough to buy my own luggage, I’ve always borrowed it.  It’s no Louis Vuitton or anything, but I’m pretty proud of it.
3.  Time to wander around downtown Athens this afternoon after dropping off some forms.  It made me feel young, and a little silly, because now that I’m grown up, I can afford all those clothes I used to hope for in the windows of the shops.  Of course the twist of fate is, now I feel too old to wear most of them.  Beautiful day, though, and I always forget how cool everyone is downtown. 
4.  A slightly neurotic sister who cleaned out my car while I drove.  It did indeed make me a happier person to have a cleaner car!
5.  Finally finishing rewatching Gone With The Wind on Netflix.  It came up in conversation so many times recently, that I decided to watch it again (probably for the millionth time), and I’m so glad I did.  I’ve always loved the clothes, but I now I have a new appreciation for the characters, their strength, and their endurance.  Especially Rhett.  I’m not sure I ever really appreciated the romance of his character (even if he was a little slutty), but he truly loved with all of his heart.  *Disclaimer: I know it’s stereotypical and racist, but looking past that, it’s a great movie. 
6.  My ability to procrastinate a little longer on my final paper, and studying for my final exam next week by watching movies, blogging, and going to trivia tonight. 

All I got for now.  Goodnight!

Singin in the Rain

4/27/11

Tonight, I'm disappointed because I'm missing out on karaoke with some great people because of the rain, and a tornado.  I'd rather be singing in that rain (or rather singing badly in a thoughtfully built shelter from the rain), but I'll settle for a close second of watching trash tv (America's Next Top Model, Amy's choice, by the way) with the whole family, minus Ashley. 

Also, for those who don't know, I figured I'd tell a little more about where I'll be and what I'll be doing this summer.  Then I'll get to my fun list of the day.  As of May 26, I'll be in Mbarara, Uganda living at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and commuting to work as an intern with the Kabwohe Clinical Research Center.  Here's the website: http://www.kcrc.or.ug/index.html.  I'll commute to the Kabwohe region with another staff member every day.  I'll be going through their paper records, trying to put them into electronic form, and looking at the diagnoses they see the most, and figuring out where their prevention efforts will be best spent.  Also, I'll be doing field visits, and whatever else they need from me.  I'll come back on July 25, just in time to catch up from jet lag and meet my family at Fripp Island.  Yay!

Okay, today's list.  Today I'm thankful...
1.  For a road trip to pick up Big Sister Grizzle from the airport with my mom.  She's pretty cool as she tries to push food on me every 20 minutes, and she loves to sing along with the Dixie Chicks, which I just think is awesome. 
2.  To hang out with some fantastic family in Greenville.  Uncle Chris and Aunt Carol gave us brownies, Diet Coke, and dog time, and then Michael and Terri showed up with the kids for a few minutes, too.  It made me miss life in Greenville.
3.  For Diet Dr. Pepper.  That stuff is just awesome.  I'm going to hate being separated from it while I'm gone.

Hope the storm passes all of you with no worries and minimal damage.  Goodnight!

Things I'm Thankful For

I had a nursing professor say during a lecture that a good way to fight off depression is to write down 3 things you're grateful for every day.  I liked that idea, and for a solid three years, I faithfully wrote down 3 or more things I was thankful for on a daily basis.  I eventually fell out of the habit, but about a week ago, I found my notebook with all of those things listed.  I had the best time remembering the people, things, and days that had made me a happier person.  And since I had been trying to figure out a creative way to document my travels, I thought this couldn't be a more perfect way to begin. 


The first page of the notebook was a longer list of things, and I figure this post will be about as long.  It's been about a year since I last did this, and thinking over the past year, here's what I've come up with so far.
I'm thankful...
1.  To have fallen madly in love with a man that I wanted to spend every second of my life with. 
2.  To have the unconditional love of countless friends and family to bring me back to life (slowly, but surely) when that love fell apart.
3.  For the chance to work with and love patients and families who continually bless and enrich my life by witnessing unimaginable strength, unconditional love, and unwavering commitments to one another as they go through the darkest days of their lives.
4.  To have a job, even when I come home hating it as much as I love it most days. 
5.  To have the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to Africa, and trying to learn ways to fix the lost causes of the world.
6.  To have two sisters, that I love more than anyone to be my lifelong best friends.
7.  For both of those sisters to have married men that I thoroughly enjoy having as brothers in every sense of the word, especially because they annoy me, but also because they make me laugh, worry about me, and best of all, they take pretty good care of their women.
8.  To have two parents who love me more than anything, and constantly let me know it.  My dad spoils me rotten, buys me meals all the time, and drives me crazy with his stubborn refusal to exercise, and my mom takes me shopping, cooks me garlic bread until I can't fit into my clothes, and lets me cry in her lap whenever I need it.  Love them!
9.  To have a car that runs, gets decent gas mileage, and that has an Ipod connection so I can sing all of my horrible music at the top of my lungs as I drive to Athens for a lot of hours a week.
10.  To own all of Sex and the City on DVD to cheer me up whenever I don't want to participate in life.
11.  To have awesome clothes, even though I don't usually have the opportunity to wear them (as I sit at the student center at UGA incredibly overdressed, but looking especially fantastic).
12.  To have not yet killed my beautiful plants (pictures to come of all their glory).

 I'll stop there, but I'm hoping that this list will help me talk about what I see and learn in Uganda, and also what I miss and love here at home.  I also hope it will be a little less serious as I go.  Oh, and lucky number 13...

13.  To have the love and concern of a ton of people as I start this journey.  I can't wait!  Please continue to pray for and think of me as I start all of this madness!