well, we're home from our amazing trip to Campbell River to see Jeff's brother Ryan, his wife Amanda and meet their new son and our new nephew Keenan! It was such a relaxing time just hanging out with them, seeing the town, and getting to cuddle with our newest nephew. He is a gorgeous little man!

As you can see from the next picture, our family is obsessed with soccer and they all start soccer practice young.

the best part was probably the fire on the beach. Who else gets to say they had a bonfire on the beach in early March. but sadly I have no pictures of it becuase I was too busy taking pictures of Keenan. I miss him and his parents already. I also miss the flowers that are blooming out on the island!

I have a feeling that work just gets in the way of my life! Don't get me wrong, I like my job but I'm starting to feel like I live at the hospital. Today is my one and only day off all week... a full 24 hours....great. Tomorrow is technically work but it's learning fair so I basically sit there and then have a first aid class. Until our trip to Campbell River I don't have more than one day off at a time... what is up with that? And while I'm complaining I'll have everyone know that working nights literally kills you. Seriously, there have been studies done. If you haven't done it before you just can't know how terrible it is. Yes, I still get about 6 hours of sleep during the day but it's just not the same. Then I feel iritable and then I write crabby blogs like this one. Thanks for letting me rant! Cheers.

Here is Keenan Beer!! Ryan and Amanda has him on Feb. 3rd and he is beautiful. The next day Ryan had his appendix removed so it was quite an eventful few days for them! Jeff and I will be heading out to the island to see everyone in early March. We are soooo excited for another nephew!

Just have to show off my cute nephew. These were taken at Christmas. and we are also super excited for another niece or nephew, Ryan and Amanda are due any day!

This one's for carmen!

so we are finally home from and incredible week in Mazatlan, Mexico!

We left on the 28th from Calgary.... it was such an early morning! But it was worth it!

Arriving in Mazatlan we found out that the past few days and the next few were going to be the coldest it had been in January in 60 years!! Well it was 25 degrees but definately not bikini weather for me.

The first night we took the city bus, which is always an experience to the central market. It was also a meat market, yum pig heads and my blonde little sister sure did get some Mexican attention!! On the way back to the hotel we took one of the red trucks with a few seats in the back with a topper. These would not meet Canadian safety standards.

The next few days included trips to stone island, making dad go parasailing, laying on the beach, going to the market and walking tons!

One of the biggest highlights of the trip was the canopy tour on zip lines. We had so much fun and it was beautiful. Mostly it was so wonderful to spend relaxing time with Jeff and my family. My biggest stress in life was where I was going to soak up some sun! Anyways here are a few pictures but i have lots on facebook so check it out there!

I am so disappointed. The yearly hunt is called off and I will not be getting a Christmas tree. I know, I know, what a terrible thing at Christmas time. But realistically we just won't be around very much and we would have to take the tree down on Christmas Eve anyways (because we are going to MEXICO!!). So enough complaining I will just have to be satisfied with my smelly pine cones.... and I know Jeff, pine cones don't usually smell like cinnamon and cloves but I don't care. I love them anyways.

Jeff and I are back from an incredible few days at the Banff Springs Hotel. Each year the Canadian Baptist Pastors of Western Canada meet for a conference to learn and also to relax. The biggest perk is that the spouses get to go!!

First of all I must say that the Banff Springs Hotel is incredible...and huge... and overwhelming. We first drove up to it and I instantly know I would love this place and get lost numorous times inside of it.

They treat you like royalty here and I even hear that there are secret passageways and corridors in this scottish castle inspired building that they take special guests like the queen down, very intreging. Next year I guess we'll try take the tour.

We spent many hours walking around Banff and enjoying all that it had to offer. We learnt a lot about our God, how we do "church" and where we are going. I also learnt much about myself, my stuggle as a wife of a pastor (even though it has only been a few months) and what ministry means for me, not my husband. I feel reenergized and refreshed. I guess that's what spending time with your husband does combined with amazing food, conversation and scenery.

I've realized that it has been only a little while since i've posted anything and because of a few complaints thought I'd catch everyone up on our lives! Since the last post I've started work in Pincher Creek at the hospital and realized that I offically know nothing. Everything is different here and though many, many frustrations I've started to get into the swing of things and don't feel completely terrified to go to work. I've also gotten my toes wet in the areas of emergency and labor and delivery which are always interesting experiences.

I also noticed I haven't posted any pictures of my incredible nephew, Liam.

This is Liam one day old.

And this is Liam a few days ago, He's four months old already.

Jeff and I are also working on our house. It's 100 years old and in some real need for some updates. We decided to start upstairs with removing a few wall, painting, new carpet and redo the bathroom. Little progress has been made, mostly due to the lack of people in this town to do any work and also with Jeff being crazy busy with youth and school. he is really enjoying his work even though it can get stressful at time. There aren't alot of social things to do for a young married couple with no kids so our big date night is a nice walk to the post office to pick up the mail or a drive to the lake for a picnic and a walk. Nothing too extreme.

Last offical shift!!

So right now I'm in the middle of my last official shift in the Chinook Regional hospital. Although I'm excited to finally be offically in Pincher Creek I will really miss this place and the people I've worked with for the past two and a half years. I really love everyone here, the staff is amazing and I always leave with a smile on my face. I've grown so much here, personally and professionally. I've learnt lots of hard life lessons but have learnt so much and know that I will only continue to learn and grow where ever I am but this just feels like home. To all you 4Bers and 4Cers I love you guys and will remember my time here forever! You are all so wonderful and I will miss you and of course I will come to visit!

Carpet, carpet, carpet. The other day Jeff ripped out the carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. Yes it was gross and stained... what I call mystery stains... they are very bad, especially when you come home from work with a mystery stain... just think about it! Anyways the carpet is gone but now I need something else to go there which is why I had to go carpet shopping today. I know very little about the carpet world and am afraid I"ll get hosed. I found one that I like but need the Jeff approval before I buy and I suppose the bank account approval as well. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully we do it soon so that we can move into afinished room and start on our bedroom! I'm tired of sleeping in a lilac purple with yellow wallpaper room. What are people thinking sometimes?!?!

ON a different and rather grosser note.... I saw the biggest poop ever today! My job is ridiculous.

Hey all, I know ... I've been a pathetic blogger lately. But honestly nothing really exciting has happened. The last week has been fairly boring and has been filled with work, work, work. I'm doing a crazy amount of nights (which are nothing but boring and my patients keep me on my toes!!) but nights leave me drained and I don't feel like doing much else other than sleep. I've been staying at my parents to save on gas and because I don't trust myself driving after no sleep. So I've been missing Jeff like crazy especially since he's been at camp councelling for the week. I'm amazed that I miss him like I do and he's pretty much all I think about. He truely is my best friend and I miss being able to tell him everything about my day and what I'm thinking and feeling. Man I miss him!! Anyways the house renos are underway and going very slowly because there is rarely anyone around to do them!! But to be honest I love painting and fixing up the house and look foward to doing it and bringing out "the handyman" in me.

Being in Pincher has been great so far. God has really blessed us in so many ways and has confirmed our move numerous times to us. It can be a little lonely but I think that once I"m working out there and are just around more we'll get to know a few more people. Also please pray for my job situation. my temporary position in Lethbridge end September 2 and I have already applied to the Pincher Creek Hospital. Pray that the online application system actually works for once and my application gets to the right people and that God will provide a job for me!

Also for anyone who doesn't know yet... Jeff and I are now uncle and aunt. Jeff's brother Nick and his wife Denea had a little boy, Liam and we LLOOVVEEE him so much. ( I was going to post pics but my computer is stupid). They are all amazing and wonderful and Jeff's other brother Ryan and his wife Amanda are expecting in January so more little guys are to come... super exciting.

Have a good one.

We are officially moved. On Tuesday we moved all of our stuff into our new home. I hadn't seen our lovely orange beast for over a month and couldn't really remember what it looked like but I still love it as much as when we first saw it. We are finding more and more quirks wih the house and are prioritizing the renos that will need to be done but in all the house in old, beautiful and has lots of character. No cookie cutter house for us!! I've already spent a few ours in the yard with all the flowers trying to figure out what they are and how to care for them. There are also lots of weeds to be taken care of but I'm enjoying it so much. Hopefully I'll develop a bit of a green thumb. Other than that I've been working nights and Janessa graduated, she was so gorgeous.

The house is packed...mostly... I can't find anything, everythings a mess and were're moving in 3 days.Let the fun begin!!

So things are moving along pretty well. Jeff and I found out today that all the conditions on the sale of our house are removed so other than a signature for the lawyer our house is sold!! so now I'll just have to start packing but we have some time as the possession date in July 1... meaning I'll probably procrastinate until very close to then.

We also found a house that was listed privately in Pincher Creek and gave the family a call. They were just in the process of finding a realitor but hadn't put the house on the market yet. We made a mad dash to Pincher, looked at the house and already love it. It is very old and has LOTS of character. There are also many thing to fix on the 100+ year old house but it's all mainly cosmetic and will make for lots of fun summer projects for Jeff and I. The main hilarity of this home is that the owners have recently painted the exteriour.... orange....bright A and W orange. Oh and the trim is dark blue with some red and yellow accents. It's quite a sight and no one will miss finding it. So we'll hopefully put on offer on today and find out soon if we can call it our own. Again please pray that God sorts out our housing situation and thank you to all who already have been. I wish I could post a picture of it but if we buy it... don't worry I will.

Other than that I'm busy with work and Jeff starts June 3rd as well as taking a class from Briercrest and of course we are busy with soccer!! I hope it doesn't rain tonight.

The Scoop

So Jeff and I have had an eventful past week or so. I finally decided to just apply on the medical floors so that at least I would have a job. In the mean time, the first baptist church in Pincher Creek offered Jeff a youth pastor position. After much praying and thinking Jeff accepted the offer. Therefore we need to move to pincher Creek. I've decided to keep my temporary position (which ends in September) and maybe apply casual in Pincher Creek. So I will be making good sized commutes each day or maybe staying in town when I have 5 night stretches to work. Please, please pray for us in this crazy time. We need to sell our house and find somewhere to live in Pincher. You wouldn't think it but Pincher Creek has a hot realestate market which is about as expensive as Lethbridge and very few houses. I mean right now there are two houses on the market that are in our price range. I don't think I will be able to be choosy about what sort of house we buy! But God has already answered many prayers about how this is all going to work out. Even though some of the answers are not ideal they have all been blessing and I'm learning to trust God with every move we make. He has been faithful and won't let us down now!

I'm alive

Sorry that posts have been so few and far between. To be honest there is just not a lot going on right now. Jeff is still waiting about youth pastor positions. we are really no closer to knowing where we are supposed to be than the last time I posted... which was almost a month ago! We are remaining patient and relying on God to direct us and provide for us. It is trying at times but God continues to provide for our every need. I have been hired on the medical floors of the hospital as a graduate nurse and begin orientation on Wednesday! It is exciting to finally be making money but it's scary to have so much responsibility. I pray each day that God gives me the knowledge and clarity of mind to make the right decisions for my patients. Other than that we are just hanging out in lethbridge, having fun and waiting. Jeff has also had an array of jobs over the past month including.... selling vacuums... I mean "cleaning systems", making boxes ( that was short lived) and presently deliverying anything and everything you can image. This last one has an added perk. Each time I enter our lovely car I think that there is a nice pizza in the backseat. I love pizza smell!! I think the past month as been a humbling experience for both of us but as long as our bills keep on getting paid I don't think I should complain.

Well, I'm officially done my clinical rotation in the ICU but will have to wait till May 1st to be a grad nurse. But in the meantime I can enjoy my grad photos! Yes it is a little stereotypical but I love it. I wish we still had caps and the whole bit to tell the world where I graduated from! Nowadays everyone looks the same in their scrubs from nurses to surgeons to housekeeping to unit clerks. Caps identified nurses and I sort of wish I actually had one! Still no word on what I'm doing with my life but I'll be working a little bit here. I was on 4C today and boy do I miss ICU. Medical floors are crazy and I never feel like I was a great nurse at the end of the day. A little disheartening. But at least right now I can still learn, have lots of experienced RN's around me and hopefully this will be a little more time to prepare me before I'm in charge of a full patient assignment. Jeff has been wonderful lately. Now that he's unemployed for a bit he's been cooking, cleaning, buying groceries, etc. I tease him about being a stay at home dad!! But he really would be good at it!

I had a lovely day today finishing up another stretch of a little work and a little clinical. I feel so uplifted today that even though I only have one week left of clinical and then I'm on my own a few of the doctors today paid me VERY nice compliments.... and doctors are not too quick to compliment a student so I feel quite good at the moment. I'm really nervous about being an actual nurse as being a student is a nice safety net and I feel really comfortable in this role. But even though I"ll be done I still don't have a job. Please pray for Jeff and I as we await news of a new job for Jeff. Pray for patience and also for me as I can't really apply for jobs until I know where we are moving. This is giving me a lot of anxiety as I'm a week away from finishing practicum and a month and one week away from being able to work as a grad nurse. I'm really frustrated and just wish I knew where to apply. I'm sure that life will work out but hey, I'm a type A personality that likes to have my life organized and planned out and living day by day drives me nuts!! What I would give for a personality change right now!

Oh life, why must you torture me?

What a day yesterday was. I've just worked 6 12 hour night shifts and I got 4 hours of sleep this morning to go to the eye doctor. And yes I need glasses... again... . Right now I could cry at everything and anything. I suddenly become extremely emotional with no sleep and I feel crazy. Then Jeff gets screwed over by the dentist and I cried... actually I bawled. Oh well life has just been a little rough lately and I'm tired of it. I don't understand why God always seems to tell Jeff and I to wait. And then on top of it He seems to throw us curve balls. I would just like some answers sometimes so that we could carry on with life and be content. Maybe that's why he tells me to wait all the time and just be content with the waiting. Anyways this doesn't make sense.

The day did look up as I took a nice nap to clear my mind and try to feel normal again. I awoke with a kiss and my wonderful husband bringing me supper in bed! Yes supper in bed... it was delightful... everyone should try it! And then to top it off we took a stroll to 7-11 for a candy run. My man sure does know the way to my heart! Finally we returned home to watch Prison Break which is always fantastic while curling up with my honey on the couch. I guess the moral of the story is that life is always better with my husband by my side even if the rest of our life isn't going as planned.

Exciting News

So just in case people didn't know Jeff and I are going to be an uncle and aunt!! Yes, we are very excited that Jeff's brother Nick and his wife Denea are expecting in July! We've been waiting far too long to spoil a niece or nephew and can't wait to teach them naughty things that will make their parents mad!! It will be great.

Sleep

It's reading week... sleeping in feels so good!

No time for play.

Hey all,

Though I should actually update you all with the happenings of our lives! It has been a while. So I am finally in the ICU and loving it. Each day is a new adventure and I have learnt so much. Who would have thought that after 8 shifts in the ICU I would know so much about medications, cardiac rhythms, trachs, ventilators, CPR, doctor- nurse relationships and have met so many cool people. I origionally thought I would hate doing 12 hour shifts and at first the learning curve was so huge that by hr10 my brain was about to explode and at 3 pm I was so tired (that's usually when I go home and take a nap when I work 8 hours). But now I'm coming around and really enjoy it. Usually you only work 3 days a week then have a few off and it's nice. But my preceptor picked up a few so I've worked 10 shifts in 2 weeks. That comes to about 60 hours of work a week, which is tons period but then put high stress into the mix and it's a little too much. I guess I could handle it if i was getting paid for this but I'm paying to work insane hours. How does that work??!! Anyways I really do love it and could see myself in this area in the future.

Needless to say my house remains a mess as I'm never home ( I might as well live at the hospital) and Jeff is busy getting ready for job interviews. But in 3 more days I start reading week. Jeff and I will be gone for part of it but the rest will involve me doing homework, cleaning, baking, doing more homework and figuring out how to become a nurse in BC, job interviews and also working shifts for my real job that I get paid for!! It will be busy but I'm thankful for the bit of time I will have to accomplish things!

Jeff and I finally got to have a date night and saw Blood Diamond. Wow, what an eye opener. I kind of feel guilty for wearing my wedding rings! good show, go see it!

Bad Wife

I've been noticing how many people are talking about thier wifely duties and how busy it gets. Yes, this is true...if you actually do the cooking and the cleaning and the laundry. I have come to realize that I'm a bad wife. Full time school work and cleaning do not go together. Since we have moved in our house (almost 2 years ago) I have neglected many household chores. My mother would be ashamed of me as I do not spend my entire saturday cleaning bathrooms, dusting, washing floors, doing the dishes, vacuuming or doing the laundry as she taught me to do. I invite company over so I actually clean my bathrooms. Mostly I'm so exhausted from going to class, doing daily assignments and writing papers that any little bit of time that I have left in the day are devoted to curling up on the couch with Jeff to relax.
Honestly, i haven't bought groceries in about two weeks and have been surviving off a few odds and ends that I froze over the summer! I know, I'm a pathetic wife but I suppose that's all I can be for now. 4 more days of class and then 10 weeks of clinical till I graduate!!

Christmas time

Merry Christmas everyone! I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone already and I guess so has the new year! Jeff and I had a great Christmas and finally had a little bit of time to relax and have some fun!

Here is our Christmas tree! Yes it is real and yes I have lots of pine needles on my floor. I greatly debated getting a fake tree... They are just so much more full and actually are shaped properly. But Jeff would not hear of it. My family has always gone to the mountains and chopped down our own Christmas tree and Jeff said that we must continue the tradition and so we did. I don't think that we did all that bad considering that we spent an hour pushing the truck up a hill after it got stuck on shear ice! What an experience. I love my tree, with all the miss matched ornaments and the not quite proper shape with a few gaps here and there! Each ornament has special meaning to me and was given to Jeff or I by someone very special in our lives!

No Christmas is complete without taking advantage of the snow and going for a good ole tobogan ride! Jeff and I took a few of the youth out to the suger bowl for a good time!

My crazy siblings. Instead of gifts the Moermans put their money towards a few "Living Gifts" at Ten Thousand Villages or through World Vision and we took a trip to Calgary for some good food, a movie and ZOOLIGHTS!!

Here we are at the zoo! It was cold but absolutely beautiful... there were millions of lights.

They even had an ice sculptor... can you guess what he is making?

Janessa and I out in the cold at the zoo!

My mom and dad are awesome... and yes my dad is pretty much wearing a beaver on his head! Beaver...Beaver!

Well this is getting pretty long so I'll catch everyone up on New Years later! We hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

ICU

So I just found out where my final placement is going to be... ICU in Lethbridge! I super freaking out but at the same time so excited. Part of me wanted this experience and the other part of my just wanted general medicine or surgery to gain good organizational skills but this experience will allow me to nurse in critical situations that I would never be able to experience otherwise. I'm sure that I will learn so much and get my butt whipped into shape. I'll be studying my brains out so that I'm somewhat prepared for what I'm about to see and do. Wow! This will be one wild ride!

My last paper ... of this semester.

I have a love hate relationship with this time of the year. I love getting ready for Christmas, preparing for our yearly Christmas tree hunt, playing my christmas music and decorating the house. I hate this time of year because the semester is winding down and I'm trying to get my last assignments finished. I have one paper left and it is causing me excruciating pain trying to finish it. I have to create incentives for myself to get even the slightest bit done. I'm close, have to just edit but frankly my paper sucks. I've never written a good paper and honestly I didn't go into nursing to write papers but alas I must in order to get my degree.
On a brighter note I've taken today off work to spend the evening with Jeff.I've been working evenings at the hospital the last three evenings and it leaves no time for us to spend together. Plus I just couldn't bring myself to pick up a shift tonight. The last ones were CRAZY. Its so frustrating to know what kind of care you want to provide to patients but you know that it is just physically impossible. I would have to clone myself three times in order to do so. Despite the insanely fast pace and the frustrations that come along I do enjoy my job and the people I work with. I get to work with some amazing nurses and until you've been a nurse you have no idea what they do and how hard they work. I love being a nurse!

Christmas Treats

Thanks Auntie Emily for the early Christmas treats!! I was very excited and it made it feel a lot more like Christmas with the snow and everything! I know your reading this even though you never comment so I just thought you know I appreciate it!

Love Bethany

PS Your my favorite. And if my other aunts are reading this you have some ground to make up if you want to be my favorite!

Stroopies

So today was the old ICHS bazaar. I'm just a little nostalgic and just had to go. I guess I remember being there all day, playing games, eating dutch food (YUM) watching movies and hanging out with your friends from school. Well Janessa and I went and I realized it isn't all that much fun. We quickly walked past all the tables and didn't buy anything. I did have to have a bit of lunch with stompot and sausage and croquettes (they are to die for!). And of course we had to stop by the "dutch" store for chocolate sprinkles and stroopies ( you know those dutch cookies with the syrup inside). It's funny because I can go to the store and buy these anytime but I just don't because you only buy them at the school bazaar. So our trip took us a whole 45 minutes and there was no one from my graduating class there. I guess they are just too cool for school and I'm a loser still wanting to have so much fun at the bazaar. We JJ and I did have lots of fun anyways and ate too many stroopies!

Grandpa

So my grandpa's surgery went as well as could be expected. Thank you to everyone who was praying! He was only in ICU for about 24 hours post-op and is now on the regular surgical floor. His pain is well controlled and he sat up in the chair today. It's hard because he can't eat or drink anything until they know if the reconnection of the esophagus to the stomach has begun to heal properly. So he has a long way to go but God has been good.

Everyday Hero!

I've realized that I am such a lucky girl. My husband in so domestic and I LOVE it. On Saturdays I generally do a few hours of homework while Jeff plays his X-box and then for an hour we go nuts and clean the house. Well this saturday was a real treat because while I was doing homework Jeff did all the dishes (there was a large stack from the week), tidied the whole kitchen and dining area (where we throw all kinds of crap like mail, homework, dishes, etc), put in a few loads of laundry ( which I later folded but I have forbid Jeff to fold laundry, not one of his many talents), and he took away a car load of recycling (I'm trying to save the earth!). Well, let me brag further by saying Jeff can also cook! Yesterday, we had steak with pasta (I've never heard of that) with garlic toast, veggies and raspberries with ice cream for dessert. I don't know but a meal always tastes better when someone else has cooked it! I have the greatest man ever! He's my everyday hero!

My dirty house

Well, today I feel so great because I finally did some house work. Jeff is so great and helped me out so much as well. Since school has started I haven't even cleaned my bathroom...gross! But we got to it and did bathrooms, dusted, vacuumed, I did laundry, dishes and I've even done some homework today! I love to feel like I've accomplished something and now my house is clean!! Well, at least for a few days but it was worth it!

Who ever reads this I just also want to ask for you guys to pray for my grandpa, he's just been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. His CT scan came back saying that it hasn't spread yet which is wonderful new... meaning he can go for surgery to remove the cancer and his esophagus. It's really a serious surgery. Pray for both my grandpa and grandma.

Weekends

Finally, the weekend has arrived. During the week I feel so crazy and exhausted that I don't get any of my homework done. Wed, Thur, Fri I just want to come home, eat and watch whatever addicting TV show that there is on that night, but I ususally end up dozing off anyways. Why do I get so tired when all I really do all day is drive and visit clients in their homes. I don't understand but my only guess is that I hate driving and I do it for at least 2 hours a day and then for the majority of my clinical day. It is crazy how far the Cardston home care nurses drive. On Thursday, we were only 10 minutes away from Pincher Creek and we went to a bunch of different Hutterite colonies. It was pretty cool but still too much driving!
But, it's the weekend, time for homework, relaxing and soccer! I guess I also need to deal with work calling every hour too but right now I'm just hanging on to sanity without having to go to work at the moment.
Okay, I need to get back to some paper writing. This year will go on forever, it feels like! Have a good one!

Bethany

Home Care

Wow, has this week ever been crazy. I have no idea how I'm going to finish this semester. I finally had a full week of clinical well Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I'm out in Cardston doing Home Care and I really enjoy it. In a rural town we get to do a lot more hands on and actually seeing clients rather than just paperwork. but i'm not enjoying the getting up at 5am to get there on time! I'm feeling super sleep deprived. Plus I have all my stinking homework to do and haven't even started my one paper! Then of course work wants me to come in all weekend...no way am I doing that! Well, I just want to ask everyone one reading this to pray for Jeff and I and our future. There will be lots of changes coming up again this year with jobs and where in the world we end up. Pray that Jeff finds the right job in the right place. Have a great weekend!!

Wedding Bells

This vase tipped over just as Denea was given away, and got the paper all wet! Amanda was sad that all her hard work got blown away.
The boys and Sheldon posing.
Amanda and Ryan were able to come from the island. We had lots of fun together. Amanda and I got a little lost driving back to our hotel the one night but still had a good time!
Me and my sexy honey!
The wedding was beautiful, especially the bride and the flowers (Amanda, Mom, Grandma, Paula and I did them!) I had to do the bouquets and was stressed out, but I think they looked nice. I think my new calling in life is a florist! Forget nursing!

Now we are happy to be home and need some time to recover...and catch up on homework. But of course now I'm procrastinating and blogging my homework day away!

Happy Birthday

Well, my birthday isn't for another 3+ weeks but my wonderful husband Jeff surprised me early with my gift. Since we've been married I told Jeff that for his gift to me when we have babies I really want a rocking chair because all moms should have one. Well, I didn't really think he was listening but he got me a rocking chair for my birthday and it's not just any rocking chair...he made it himself! Right now he's working at a furniture manufacturing factory and he found the design and got one of the guys to help him make it. So now I have this gorgeous, solid oak rocking chair that my husband made for me. Now all we need is babies! Well, we're not working on it yet but maybe when I'm done school.

Speaking of school, I'm already tired of it even thought it's been going well so far. I'm in a regular nursing class learning about management isues, I have an addictions class which is so interesting and I'll learn a lot and then clinical will start on October 4 and I'll be in cardston with home care. I haven't really had a community rotation so I'm sure I'll learn tons.

Me tired of doing homework.

Dumb, dumb, dumb

So, I'm dumb. This past weekend and you all know we took the youth group camping to Sylvan Lake and I was trying to hard to not forget any of the food or camping stuff that i totally forgot my camera. So if anyone is reading this and has pictures of the weekend...please send them to me! But we had an awesome time playing volleyball, sitting on the beach, swimming in the freezing water, playing cards, go carts, hiking and sitting around the camp fire.

Of course there are always things that go unexpectedly on youth trips. First of all we were stuck in traffic for 2 hours in calgary because of a huge accident on deerfoot but thank goodness we were quite far behind it. Plus we had a pretty fun time anyways and our drivers were so amazing... I would have been freaking out... well I probably was anyways. then we went to the sylvan lake waterslide on the Saturday and they were closed! There website said they were open until the end of September but it was wrong!! We still had a great time and in true CDCC fashion... it rained on Sunday morning. We haven't had one trip yet where it hasn't rained! Luckily it was only for the one morning!

Finally a weekend.

Since I worked the entire long weekend, I decided to take yesterday and today off as a replacement even though I felt really guilty about it. I think that people will think I'm lazy because I didn't work today or yesterday because after all we DID just have a long weekend but in reality I didn't. I worked a few nights and felt like I was goin to die afterwards... I didn't eat when I got home or wake up to eat at lunch and felt so nauseated for the rest of the day! Yuck! So I've learnt my lesson and should pull my act together. I'm also very excited because this weekend we start youth with our campout weekend. Jeff and I did the grocery shopping tonight and packed up the trailer a bit. I'm so excited because I haven't been camping since the May long weekend (because I work every weekend) and I wanted to go camping lots the year, which didn't happen. But at least I can relax this weekend and have so much fun with the youth. I love those guys so much and they are absolutely great. This trip is going to be sweet. We are going to Sylan Lake and doing all kinds of fun stuff there. I'll post pictures when we get back.

School is fun...and by fun I mean not fun.

So I just found out my clinical placement for the fall and guess what I'm on 4B the cardiac unit that I work on!! Really this is a pretty awesome thing because I know all the staff and the routine but I don't think it would give me a very well rounded education that I've been hoping for. Really the U of L hasn't given me the education I've been hoping for at all. Why am I paying thousands of dollar to do problem based learning which really means " you pay us lots of money so that you can teach yourselves everything that you need to know." What a rip off. I'm just dumb and should have whined and said I can't do medical because I work there! I just don't like to be a whiner but look at me now. I have to blog my frustration to the world. All I have to keep telling myself is that it will work out and I'll be a great nurse. I'm just worried that I'll end up working in the hospital for my entire life and not even know about all the other opportunities that are out there for nurses to do becuase I've always worked on a medical floor. then again maybe it is my calling in life to be a cardiac nurse and save the lives of the critically ill. I don't know... I wish I knew what I'm supposed to do with this nursing degree! If someone would like to tell me what area of nursing I'm meant to be in it would be greatly appreciated! My dream would be to be a school nurse but I don't think there is such a thing anymore, or I'd like to maybe teach nursing to others one day. The problem is there is just too many options. I will just have to pray that God leads me in the right direction and that he will use me wherever I end up!

Leaks and toilets

On Sunday I suddenely got violently sick! It was unreal how much one person can throw up and i was so disgusted.To top it all off I had a scheduled shift at the hospital which never happens and I had to call in sick. That's happened twice now and I've been sick only twice since the spring semester has been finished. But now I'm really turned off food and it is such a chore to actually eat something. I'm sure it won't last for long though because I'm a foodacholic. Exciting news, we finally got our brand new WHITE toilet and sink in our bathroom and our beautiful non gray lino as well. But the down stairs toilet is continuing to lead. Apparently old toilets don't seal as well after you take them off. I'm feeling like a handy man now that Justin, my brother in law showed me how to remove a toilet and not make a mess but I'm still no good at replacing anything. Demolishing things is always more fun and a lot more quick.

Schools OUT!

I am just so excited because my summer class is finished! I didn't realize how excited i was until I handed in that final exam, stepped out the door and couldn't stop smiling. What a relief. Now I'll be able to have a lighter course load in the fall and hopefully learn all the many nursing skills and knowledge that I need in order to graduate and actually be a good nurse. I've realized that there is so much to know and I feel so inadequate the majority of the time. So I suppose I'll just keep on learning for probably the rest of my life but thats not a bad thing. So from now until Sept 11 when I start school again I'll just be working my tail off and cleaning my house once the lino is in, which will be Monday!

What a week!

I'm always amazed at how life always seems to catch up on me. I think I have things under control and then wham... it sneaks up on me. But I'm extremly happy because
1) Jeff is finally home from his vacation on the island. He had a great time and was happy to see his brothe Ryan
2) I just finished my last assignment for my summer class. I probably won't do great on it but... who cares... it's done and I'm not going to think about it any more.
3) only one week left in my class
4) I finally got another shift at the hospital ( Iwonder how long work will be on my highlight of the week list)
5) only a few more days until our lino gets put in and i can start putting our house back together.

Missing You

My honey went to visit his brother on Vancouver Island today and left me behind. I was so disappointed that I couldn't go because I have a summer class right now and am trying to study and finish an assignment.But it is great that Jeff finally gets some holidays from wonderful Braman Furniture and relax for awhile. We left Lethbridge for Calgary at 0230. Way too early! After I dropped Jeff and his brother Nick at the airport I had an amazing drive home watching the sun rise. I've never been to Calgary and back before 0700. What an experience. Well sweetie, I hope you are having a great time with your bros and I'll be thinking of you tonight when it is our usual snuggle time! Hugs and kisses.

Ode to Janessa!

Love ya babe!

This is for you JJ!

Sorry, right now my computer is being gay and won't let me post any pictures. I'll try again after my class. Sorry Janessa!!

Table for sale

Yesterday, Jeff and I went and found new lino to put in our two bathrooms. It was quite the exciting event as those bathroom need new flooring so bad. As you all know the downstairs bathroom was demolished by Cooper the dog and the upstairs bathroom has looked like someone stabbed the lino repeatedly since we have owned the house. But alas, I found out the lino can't be put in until Aug 14 becuase the company we hired can't do it until then. Sigh... So we can't get the upstairs toilet put back in until after that and the house will just remain a little messy. I just like to get things done and I guess that renovating has taught me to just be a little more patient. I think it as also made me just relax a bit more about the appearance of my home. I like to be neat and organized but I should just give it up for now because it is just not working. Right now Jeff and I are sleeping in the basement becuase it is just too hot upstairs and our living room has our old kitchen table in it. my house is just in disarray. Oh if anyone wants our old kitchen table let me know. we are trying to get rid of it! Anyways, bye for now.

Crazy

The dog tore up more lino. I'm gonna lose it.

Flowers and Puppies

So last night was so much fun. The concert was great and it was nice to be able to dance and laugh with Jeff as well as make fun of drunk people. Stabilo put on a great concert. When we saw them in Calgary the played Rocky Raccoon by the Beatles which was so sweet... my two favorite bands rolled into one. But they didn't have time and really they should be showing off their own music but it would have made my day.
Other than that, I'm just waiting for the phone to call to go to work. Being casual can have it's benefits like today is my third day off in a row but then I mostly end up working weekends. ON the other hand I rarely put in full time. One pay period I did work full time and I was so tired. I now have gained so much respect for Jeff as he works full time every week at a job that he doesn't like at all. Plus he's been there for two and a half years. His determination and hard work ethic amaze me as he provides for us. I just pray that as soon as I'm done school he will find the job of his dreams because he sure does deserve it.
I've also been amazing myself. I planted flowers in my dirt in the back yard and some have miraculously have stared to grow! I feel like a gardener. Even though a few have died already it has not deterred my enthusiasm.
Lastly I have picture of the puppy. I'm ready to kill him. He's already tried to rip up our brand new carpet, he's torn up lino in the bathroom, chewed the crap out of our plunger handle and peed in the house once. He has now become an outside dog for the remainder of his stay!

Fun and Games

So tonight I'm so pumped because Jeff and I are going to the Our Lady Peace concert but guess who's opening for them... Stabilo! Anyways, the band stayed at my parents house and got into town last night. Even though it was late we wanted to see Chris so we headed over and hung out for a bit. It's always nice to see my cousin! Anyways we had fun showing the guys the giant gong at the Japanese gardens and of course they had to ring it! Did anyone hear it last night... that was Jesse and Chris. Crazy guys! Well, they are all pretty cool and if you can still get tickets for tonight you should go becuase it's going to be one amazing concert!!

Nothing much.

So...life right now isn't all that interesting. I realized this when the highlight of my week was receiving our new garbage can from the city. You know, the big plastic one that the special truck picks up with this arm and dumps into the truck. Yes, once again technology is replacing humans. Isn't it wonderful? I suppose that this week should be interesting. I'm working this weekend and that always leaves me with fun and interesting stories and Jeff and I are taking care of his mom's dog Cooper. He's crazy and has too much energy. How will I ever be able to be a mom to a bunch of kids when I can't even keep up to a dog. Everyone ... when I do get pregnant... pray for me because I'll need the extra help! Speaking of prego... I went to my friend Kristi's baby shower. She's having a baby girl and it's so exciting. She's going to be such a great mom and she's so cute. We went swimming and Kristi wore her bikini. I think it is so awesome when pregnant women aren't afraid to show their belly. Anyways enough baby talk.

Operas

A few months ago Jeff told me that I had to make sure that I booked July 7th off of work because he had a surprise for me. Well I asked so many times what it was and he would never tell me. Well, it ended up that Jeff got tickets for us to go to Calgary to see The Phantom of the Opera! I was so excited because I'd never seen it before but I love the sound track and the movie. Plus my husband HATED the movie and I would have never guessed in a million years that he would do this for me. He is so thoughtful and wonderful. Anyways the play was amazing and absolutely perfect. The singing, acting, sets... it all was what I hoped for and more. I think I am totally hooked on live performances! It was also a good trip because I actually drove in Calgary which I'm terrified of but I've decided I need to face my fears! Anyways, in the end Jeff actually liked the play a lot and we both had a great evening!