Worked Out!

Oh yes, I ran on that elliptical for 20 minutes (200 calories burned)! Wow, huh? Hey, that's pretty good considering I haven't worked out since my trip to Tanzania (Oct '07). I walked up hill on the treadmill for 25 minutes (100 calories). My total=300 calories! Then Dan and I hit up Subway for their $5 foot longs. I suppose the chicken & bacon ranch added a lot more than 300 calories. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

So, UC's rec center is pretty nice! I'm wondering if I should sign up for unlimited classes again for $45. If I spend the money, it makes me feel as if I have to go, which isn't a bad thing in my book. Yoga, pilates, step aerobics, butts & guts, etc....too hard to pass up, right?

Busy-ness

My first day of the quarter went as expected. The profs read through some of the syllabus and stated all the work that will be required for the quarter. Thankfully, that is the last "first day" that I have to attend!

This quarter will be filled with a lot of busy work which will be difficult with spring on its way. I am hoping to stay focused on not only getting my work done early, but also getting healthy. Dan and I have changed our eating habits, but I have not been exercising. I think going to the gym (which is free to students) thrice a week is a good start. My energy level increases dramatically when it's sunny and I'm in shape, so I hope to go out with a bang this year!

Speaking of health, my back injury has been 3 years ago and I have been in a lot of pain for the last 6 months. I know it goes away when I have a strong core. If I ever think about having babies, I know that my hips/back need to be pain-free and I need to take my vitamins! I hope I can get on track soon and then someday when I'm 40, maybe I'll have a child.

Great People, too much business

I led worship today with Dan. It was awesome. I love playing with him! The people loved it, but it makes me so uncomfortable when they tell me they like it and miss me when I don't play. The lady who is in charge wasn't there. It seems as if she never shows when we play. She never communicates with us and it's frustrating. I really think a lot has to change in the music area of our church for new people to come, but I don't know how to communicate that to the chair lady without hurting her feelings. I'm also quite passionate about the subject and can get very blunt. So far I've done a good job in keeping my mouth shut, but I hate doing it!

The church wants to hire a our part-time pastor as full-time. He is teaching currently, but they want to raise money to hire him full-time. I hate the business aspect of it. Dan and I think we will try to transition out by June. I'm hoping God leads us to a new place where we can settle, but if that is Spain, there won't be much settling.

I'm missing Arizona a lot today. It's cold and rainy and gray. I miss the sunshine!!!

School starts at 8am tomorrow. I'm excited to finish! I can't believe that I'll be done in 10 wks!

End of SB-08

This was officially my last spring break, because I'm graduating in 10 wks!!! I can't believe the end is so near.

My winter quarter ended with a B, so that takes my "amazing" GPA to "good", because it was a 13 credit hour class...ugghh. Oh well, this quarter should hopefully boost things back up, but not to worry.

Arizona was a wonderful place to spend break. Actually, it would be a wonderful place to live. I would have family around, enjoy the warmth of the sun, and be happy almost every day! That is at least what I imagine my life would be like. We all know that Wisconsin is "God's country", but we know the winters are straight from hell. Anyway, we stayed with Dan's grandma in Mesa and then visited my uncle in Tucson (he showed us the place where he retired). We had a great time!

So, I have the weekend left to relax. I am leading worship tomorrow and have to set my own course objectives for the independent study class I'm taking, so after I blow a few lines on here, maybe I'll get some work done.

Easter in Arizona

Yes, life should be spent in the warm sun and rising heat. Arizona is paradise! Why do I not live here? I've been asking myself this question since I was 16. Possibly Dan will get a job here and I would be in heaven.

We are staying with Dan's grandma in Mesa and will drive to Tuscon to see my Uncle on Monday. We got quite a cute car (Chevy Cobalt) that is red and has California plates! HOT! ;)

The older I get, the more I realize that growing up as an only child has hindered my social skills. I used to be so outgoing, but I realized I only talked about myself and never asked how others were doing. By my early 20s, I realized this was the case, so I found myself not talking at all which killed me inside...I love talking! Now I talk way too much about the stuff that shouldn't be talked about. Here I'm with Dan's family and I bring up stuff that should be kept to myself, or complain about this and that, or find myself talking away about the dullness of my life.

What is wrong with me? Am I afraid of silence? Is it because I never had anyone to talk to when I was a kid, so it's all coming out now? Is it because our families don't ever talk about anything, so I'm going to talk about everything?

I get frustrated with myself. Dan's family must think I have no manners, and frankly, I'm quite discouraged at my lack of niceness these days. I tell it like it is and I haven't seen the positive outcome from my comments like I thought I would see. People cover up too much to look good, but really, there is a difference about sharing life and being negative and hurting others.

Well, it's 5am here (8 eastern time). I should sleep before the big Easter service and pancake breakfast. Hopefully I can hold my tongue today! Happy Easter!

Panic Day

Well, the day before any exam is "Panic Day" for me because I realize all the stuff that I haven't gone over or memorized. Thankfully I have a husband who is doing all the chores and cooking me lunch! I also have an amazing mom who had some very comforting words that always put things into the big picture. What a great family I have!

So, the big picture. I will soon be a nurse (RN, BSN). Even though I strive for straight A's and a killer GPA, where does that get me in nursing? No where. It's a job that will always be desperate for workers and my Awesome GPA means nothing. So this last year, I (un)fortunately have been settling for some B's which has helped my mental state, but has caused disappointment by knowing that I'm not doing my best. Really, the mental state is much more important to not only me, but my husband and everyone who is around me. Yeah for B's!!!

One positive aspect of A's...I didn't have to pay for college this year. The governmental grants and the scholarships that I've earned with good grades took care of everything but books. Yeah for some stress!

June it will all end...except passing my state boards (NCLEX). So, okay, it will take me the entire summer to be done, but at least classes and UC's College of Nursing will be done in June!

St. Patty's Procrastination

This is the first time I've been to a pub on St. Patrick's Day and my first time drinking in the morning. I had an Irish Coffee and thankfully Murphy's had biscuits and gravy (green of course) which were oh so good and tasty! I can say it was an okay time even though I'm not a fan of the bars, but I can add it to my list of procrastination!

I'm off to a real coffee shop to drink my Yerba Mate and actually get some studying done today!

A Changing Church

My church used to be around 20 people (50+ yrs old) who all were very close. We would have a potluck every Sunday and so we all knew one another pretty well, but I was still on the outside because of my age. I was the worship leader from the second Sunday that I attended. I loved it, and yet was frustrated that we were pretty stagnant. There was no energy and no motivation to change and grow, but the people were so faithful and prayerful and hopeful.

Last year the church grew by over 60 people, mostly elderly. They have so much energy and passion. A music person was in the mix and I was excited for someone to help me with music, because nursing school is stressful. We started an every other Sunday approach and I was surprised that I was quite upset that I didn't play every Sunday. I went to Tanzania for 2 weeks and upon my return, she had pretty much taken over. There was a choir and children's performance and she wanted to be voted into "worship chair". I was flabbergasted.

She was voted in because I was not interested in the position. It has been a struggle for months to go to "worship board meetings" and discuss what colors are going to be used in the "Easter Service" and all these details that have nothing to do with worship. My heart is in such a different place, but I know we are transitioning out, so I'm keeping my mouth shut (very hard for me).

Traditional Easter time is not my favorite time, and I find that sad because it's the base of my faith...Jesus is Alive! I don't care about what flowers are decorating the sanctuary or what color of table cloths should we use. I care that the people are so moved by God that they are pressed to show His love to others who are in more need of it. I think the purple flowers aren't touching people, but then again, am I being close minded? God uses nature to show us His love, right?

one final

Here is my first ever blog entry. Wish I could say that I'm witty and interesting, but I can't. Unfortunately, this is a good way to procrastinate for my one final on Wed.

Why do I want to put off studying?

1) I'm sick of school
2) The exam is worth 40% of my grade and it's a 13 credit hour class that is my only class this quarter
3) Learning to blog is much more fun
4) I only have one final this quarter
5) Procrastinating is just enjoyable until you realize that your exam is the next morning and your heart races and you are stricken with panic...

I think I'll go back to studying.