Re's Road Trips

Journey to 10

2015-09-30T18:03:00.000-04:00

Destination: ICD-10
Total Miles: unknown
Total Cost: TBD

Well, it's almost upon us!

Doomsday: October 1st, 2015.

Tomorrow is the day...will the world of healthcare come to complete stop? Will healthcare insurance come grinding to a halt in payments? Will. We. Survive?! (no. no. and yes.)

Ok.

Back up.

What is ICD-10, you are asking? And why are you on a "journey" to it?

ICD-10 is a code classification system that allows the healthcare provider to use a specific diagnosis code to communicate what is wrong with you when you go for a visit. The current system is ICD-9 and about 20-30 years out-of-date. The rest of the world uses ICD-10 (if they use a system), and they have for years.

Perspective: If you had gone today to see a healthcare provider to be diagnosed with ebola, there is not a code in ICD-9 to diagnose you with it. And there is no way to create a code in ICD-9 to let your insurance company know what you were seen and treated for at that visit.

So, our practice (and every practice in America) is updating to the new system tomorrow. On a patient level, it really should not affect your visits. It will mean, if used correctly, that your diagnoses will be more specific (so that when you bring your child back for a f/u for that ear infection, the provider will now be able to look at the previous diagnosis code and know if it was right/left/bilateral without having to question you or dig through the notes).

On a practice level, it's a lot of prep. Which I won't go into because it would not make much sense...suffice to say that for about 6 1/2 months, my team and I have been going to meetings, watching webinars, attending classes, batching test claims, and converting hundreds of templates to the new codes to make sure the whole place transitions smoothly.

What does this have to do with road trips and journeys you may ask?

Well, my iPhone defines journey as "A long and often difficult process of personal change and development." And this process has seen a lot of personal growth. I've learned things about healthcare that will better help me serve my patients. I've learned a small portion of how much goes into the billing department which will better help me understand the hard work and effort it takes to communicate effectively with insurances companies.

And I've learned a lot about myself:

I am not much for desk jobs...my childhood issues involving attention deficits and procrastination have been major hurdles over which I have labored to jump.

I have commitment issues when it comes to labeling specific templates...rumor has it that "unspecified" codes (codes that are not as specific in labeling) will not be paid out...and there are A LOT of unspecified codes.

I do not know my alphabet as well as I should at my age. The ICD-10-CM draft is divided into two sections, both of which are alphabetized (think massive index that is over 1100 pages long). I have found myself singing the alphabet song more than any adult my age should just to remember where K comes in the alphabet. #facepalm

I am borderline OCD about labeling and really have to work against trying to control every little thing about the templates.

I do not know nearly enough medical knowledge. Which is humbling.

I am in love with my practice. With the support they give me every day. With the countless little moments each provider has taken to answer my (very) random questions about various topics and diseases. With the staff members who have encouraged me to persevere. With the management who have tirelessly worked with the team to transition smoothly and accurately. With my fellow ICD-10 team members who have sacrificed more than any one will know to make this thing work.

And work it shall.

At the beginning of the project during one of our meetings, I was reminded of a quote that I read when I worked night shift at the hospital...it applies so well to life, to road trips, to the journey of countless miles:

And make the turn, we shall!

Labor Day Road Trips

2015-09-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

Destination: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Total Miles: 1,500 (roughly)
Total Cost: Somewhere around $150

What better activity to do for Labor Day weekend than to go visit out-of-state family?! Having a slightly longer weekend and the option of leaving a little early on Friday presented me with the perfect road trip opportunity: visit Will and Kara in Fort Wayne (while the weather is still decent enough for this Southern girl).

I will admit that the weekend came up faster than I had thought it would, so Thursday night and Friday morning found me scrambling to pack and prepare before work Friday morning.

The previous two weeks had been spent in ICD-10 preparation (more to come on that journey!), and I was anxious to get out of the office and away from the computer to hit the roads for a few hours.

Will (my "little" 6'5'' brother) and his wife, Kara, moved to Fort Wayne around Memorial Day. Her family is from there, and the timing worked out for them to move (much to the Guidinger Clan's dismay since it's the farthest move of any of the siblings to date). It is about 9 1/2 to 10 hours from Greenville...and conveniently takes one within 6 minutes of Grandma's house in Knoxville!

First stop of the trip after driving through the beloved and much traveled I-40 mountain stretch was at Grandma's exit for some Starbucks and a quick visit with Grandma and Pap. After a refreshing drink and visit, I was back on the road with an audiobook to entertain and about 5 days worth of music to pick and choose from for listening.

Saturday morning found me waking up at my usual 7 a.m. Kara had to work the morning, so Will took me out for a bicycle ride around a path they like to ride...it was great to catch up, and we even managed to get caught in a torrential downpour (no thanks to the weather channel app that did not show a chance of rain that morning!). To dry off and warm up post-ride, we headed to one of Will and Kara's favorite little coffee shops for more catching-up and cappucinos.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out with Will, Kara, and a couple of her brothers. We stuffed ourselves and had some good laughs at a Brazilian restaurant, went to the Dollar theatre to see Inside Out (yes, I cried...it was one of the best Pixar movies...and I've seen almost all of them), and managed to squeeze in a couple games of UNO in the evening while snacking on our favorite: Oreos and milk.

The weekend was definitely a weekend of firsts for me! Two of the biggest were on my bucket list of "Things To Do Before I Turn Thirty." Namely: Laser Tag and learning to drive stick-shift. Both of which I thoroughly enjoyed! We played two rounds of Laser Tag, and Will taught me on Sunday after lunch how to drive manual transmission...which was a lot of fun in spite of my initial difficulty pulling forward after stops.

Sunday was a busy and fun day: we visited a church near their apartment for the morning service, ate a delicious breakfast and lunch prepared by my amazing sister-in-law, drove around learning stick-shift, went to DeBrand's for some amazing iced hot chocolate and a chocolate Sundae, and a side road trip to Ohio for the afternoon/evening (which bears some explanation--see the post-script).

On Labor Day, we all slept in until 9 a.m. and lounged about, playing UNO until Kara won a hand. I decided since I don't get DeBrand's a whole lot, that we should go back for a brunch...which then turned into a stop at Panda Express for lunch. Definitely a huge fan of their Orange Chicken. :)

After lunch, it was time to hit the road home, and after the goodbyes, I headed South a little happier for having spent time with people I love.

Last stop of the trip before home was, of course, supper at Grandma's! She had specially made tacos (my favorite!), and it was so fun to visit for a few minutes before taking on that I-40 mountain stretch.

More trips to blog about...stay tuned!

PS:
So...to explain the Ohio trip, three words: Chocolate. Zucchini. Bread.

I am friends with a lot of people, and one of the things I love about being friends with others is having the opportunity to meet their friends and family. In my Sunday School class at church, there are two brothers who are from Ohio. Over the past few months, I've gotten to know both of them a little better. At the beginning of the summer when my zucchini plants were producing their bumper crop, one of the brothers shared their mom's recipe for chocolate zucchini bread with me. It's amazing. With that, came her phone number in case I had questions about the recipe or whatnot. We've stayed in touch throughout the summer, and on the Friday morning that I was leaving for Fort Wayne, I decided to look at a map to get the basics on where I was heading. A town in Ohio caught my eye, and I remembered one of the brothers saying they were from Spencerville. Sure enough, it was only an hour and a half from Fort Wayne. I decided to see if it would work out for me to meet and give my personal thanks to the mom for sharing the recipe. Not only did it work out, but I was able to go to church in the evening with the oldest brother and then go to a graduation party and play a couple hours of volleyball with some of the church people. The brothers' family was so gracious, and I thoroughly enjoyed my side-trip to Ohio and am thankful for new friends!

Five days and almost 2,400 miles later...

2015-07-07T22:38:00.001-04:00

Destination: Niagara Falls (and Boston)
Total Miles: 2,391 (driving total)
Total Cost: $350 a piece

For a while now, my friend, Chenille, and I have been talking about going to Niagara Falls. It's been on my bucket list for a very, very long time. Back in March, we decided to opt to take a couple extra days off around July 4th and roadtrip somewhere.

Enter Niagara Falls.

What could be more patriotic than Niagara Falls? Actually, Chenille suggested that Boston and the Fireworks Spectacular show they hold annually could be more patriotic. And since I know people, it was then decided that we could drive up to Niagara then drive over to Boston.

In order to understand a little better how this all came about, there is something you should know about Chenille and I: we share a love for randomness (as long as it includes some quality time and Starbucks).

With a basic plan in place to leave after we got off work on Thursday, stop somewhere along the way to Niagara Falls to spend the night, then stay at the Falls in a quaint B&B (on the Canadian side because everyone says it's better), then drive across New England to Boston, see the fireworks and spend the night with my friend, and then head home, we looked forward to our northern trip.

To begin with, we started out a little later than planned due to some last minute work issues. Once we got on the road, we realized it would be better to follow directions not on our phone maps which would eat up data, so we took pictures of the directions. Which turned into a hilarious adventure since there were several places that the road signs were not clear.

A little random tidbit of deja vu: once we hit onto 77 in NC, I realized that it was the exact same road I had taken Sunday to get to Winston-Salem for a day trip.

As we traveled, we got to talking so much that before we knew it, it was pushing 1 a.m., and we were in the middle of No-Where, West Virginia. We finally found a somewhat decent looking motel at a decent price near Clarksville (I think), and by 2 a.m. we were checked in and reassuring ourselves that the closest Starbucks was only 20 minutes away.

Back on the road again, we headed northward.

Remember the whole "follow the picture of the directions" thing? Yeah. We ended up crossing the border into Canada much sooner than we planned. At which point, Chenille was reading off directions to our B&B when our phones dinged with warnings that we were on foreign soil and would be charged roaming fees.

WHAAA?!?!?!

We quickly switched over to Airplane Mode. Only to realize we had no clue where we were or where we were going.

Much laughter ensued, and thanks to our awesome navigation skills, we managed to find our B&B which was 30 minutes away, in sufficient time.

Then to get back across to the American side so we could ride the famous Maid of the Mist, we walked 1.2 miles, crossing the border on foot (another adventure!). And after a 2 hour long wait in line, we boarded the Maid of the Mist dressed in the blue rain ponchos that were given us (I actually wore my yellow raincoat over top of mine which was a fun contrast to the 599 other people on board).

Surreal. Phenomenal. Breath-taking.

Words truly cannot capture the magnificent power of the Falls.

That evening, we had the pleasure of watching some beautiful fireworks over the Falls (and meeting a couple from Winnipeg, and realizing that people from the Orient have NO concept of personal space!).

The next morning, we were served breakfast right to our room and enjoyed lounging about for a few minutes pretending we were rich socialites.

After breakfast, we hit the road, crossed the border, and commenced the reading of our study book: The 5 Love Languages for Singles. It took us 3 days to make it through the entire book, but it was well worth the hours of reading aloud and discussions that ensued. No, I will not go into all our discussions, but suffice it to say that it was thought-provoking and that I look forward to the application of the principles learned as I seek to love those around me. :)

Boston...my dear friend from nursing school, Katie, opened her home to me yet again. Her husband was awesome enough to map out an entire plan for getting all of us down to Cambridge for the fireworks show. The show was even more fantastic and spectacular than I or Chenille had even imagined. But, I think my favorite part was just the adventure of hanging out with old and new friends. I will say, if you opt to go see the fireworks, make sure you are standing across from the barge that they are shot off of, and also make sure you stick around for a little bit after the show is done because then you can stand by the railing and get cool pictures of the Boston harbour with fireworks that are shot after the crowd leaves because they did not fire off correctly during the show.

The next morning after a delicious breakfast (Katie is one of the most amazing cooks!), Chenille and I headed toward Maryland. Except that we got turned around and found ourselves on northbound lanes out of Boston. To which we turned in to an excursion to find a Starbucks with a drive-thru.

Southbound again, we managed to make our way out of the city without using the GPS. At some point, I offered that we could take a detour to see one of my aunts' farm and get some ice cream for lunch. Another adventure ensued and after traversing the lovely countryside of Connecticut, we finally found our way back to the main road and opted to make our next stop Philadelphia.

Somewhere along the way, we managed to navigate ourselves straight into the middle of the Bronx, and I have now crossed "Driving (and staying alive to tell) through the Bronx" off my bucket list only after having to put it on there involuntarily. Got some lovely views of NYC and also some great laughs and memories with Chenille.

Once in Philly, we enjoyed making some stops to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall before heading down to Geno's Steaks for a taste of delicious and atherosclerosis-inducing world famous Philly Cheesesteaks.

Last stop on Sunday was at another aunt's house, where I am fondly known as "Dora the Explorer." We spent the night up the street at a church member's house, and before we knew it, it was Monday morning. Aunt Cindy prepared a delicious breakfast (can't compete with biscuits and gravy!) for us to partake of prior to heading home.

As we left, we decided since we were apparently on a somewhat "Patriotic City" tour, it would only be fitting to stop in Washington DC and check out some memorials (and Starbucks) before heading the rest of the way home. Except that, per my normal DC-traffic-issues, it took forever to find parking. The day was warm, but the sites were, as always, worth the walk.

The road home was littered with traffic, cops, and not enough coffee places. But home we arrived in one piece, about 2 hours later than planned, but in one piece and with hundreds of pictures and even more memories made of our adventures.

So, here's to adventures both planned and unplanned, the randomness of crazy music (Crayola doesn't make a color for your eyes?), the spontaneity of no GPS, and the fun and memorable bonding moments with a great friend. May the road rise up to meet you.

Greenville, SC

Follow On...

2015-04-24T01:21:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that just a year ago I was preparing for graduation, elated at the passing of my comprehensives, quitting my job, searching for a new one, and (with some fear and trepidation) anticipating where the Lord would lead me next.

Fast forward a year.

I have moved in to an apartment (which I love, have decorated, and even planted a small garden!), gotten a pretty crazy/cool roommate who is quite possibly even more of a nerd than I, traveled a fair amount (currently up to 145,000+ miles on Mr. Darcy!?!), seen my favorite team win their 5th NCAA championship--GO DUKE!, and been working at Parkside Pediatrics (quite possibly the best pediatric office ever) for a little over 7 months.

I'd say that makes for a pretty spectacular year on this adventure that I like to call "Life."

Many more trips planned (as my time off allows) for this summer/fall...including a big road trip, a wedding, and the Highland Games in October (for which I shall traverse across the continental USofA)...so stay tuned!

If 29 turns out to be half the adventure that 28 was, it's going to be a fabulous year!

Follow on...for the open road is waiting!

And May the Road Rise Up to Meet You!

2014-12-15T19:26:00.000-05:00

The journey of...137K?!

How fast time passes! I have merely turned around and found myself facing the end of the year with its busyness. In the last 4 months, I have moved twice, started a new job, and put a few more thousand miles on Mr. Darcy. I now find myself settled into a comfortable apartment and sitting back to reflect on this one night of the entire month which I have free.

FIVE YEARS!

It has been a whole five years to the day since I first purchased my awesome Honda Fit, so-named Mr. Darcy because that happens to be one of my favorite literary characters.

It's been a crazy five years, in retrospect. And in that time, I have put over 137,000 miles on my vehicle...and spent several hundreds (if not thousands) of hours traversing here and there and a bit of everywhere in between.

I have also managed to put over 60 (yes, sixty) bumper stickers on his windows, making him the most tastefully sticker'd vehicle that ever roamed the highways and byways (and, if I may be so bold to say, one of the most photographed vehicles in the Upstate of South Carolina...not a week goes by that I don't catch some other driver or passenger or pedestrian stopping to snap a picture of my photogenic little vehicle).

Truly, I am very thankful for the Lord's provision in a reliable vehicle that is also fun to drive and a willing partner in my adventures (though, it is fortunate that he cannot tell of ALL the places we have been together as that might raise some alarm).

So, here's to an amazing five years with the coolest vehicle in town...and to another five should the Lord allow!

Why Blog...

2014-09-10T10:29:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago, one of my sisters approached me about participating in a blog hop. To which I said: What is a blog hop!?!?!?

I was afraid she was going to want to swap blogs, or have me as a guest blogger, or some such thing (which was fearsome in that we are very different and our blogs are on completely different topics!).

But...no worries. A Blog Hop is where someone writes about a topic (in this case: Why Do I Blog) and then promotes the blogs of a few friends.

So...why DO I blog?

Blogging is something I love doing! I have the opportunity to write about a topic that I am passionate about: traveling!

Since I can remember, I have kept journals about life. Some of them are definitely more interesting than others...some of them are pretty simplistic...and some of them are almost unreadable because of the poor progression of thought while I was writing (which you may or may not think has carried over into my blog!). Journaling has almost been cathartic for me over the years (especially in college when I went through some difficult growing). After graduating from college and starting my nursing job (read here to learn about what I did for almost five years), I found that I could budget for traveling. And so I did!

I have traveled since college to: California (a three-week, all-over-the-state, music team trip), Haiti (x2), Seattle, NYC (x3), Boston (x2), Concord (NH and MA), Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Denver, Colorado (x3), Charleston, Virginia (all over), DC (x3), Philadelphia (x2 or 3)...and that's NOT an exhaustive list by any means.

And during my travels, I found that there was so much to write about and that in writing, I could share that with my family and some friends. And I wanted to have a place to go back to read about my adventures.

I am definitely not one of those people (like my sister) who thinks about what I am going to write, plan out the words, write a post then proof it and make corrections! Generally speaking, I write whatever comes out about the trip, maybe check for obvious errors, and then post. Which is probably not the most effective way to blog, but it works for me...and since it's my blog...

Around the same time, I purchased a new car, a Honda Fit named Mr. Darcy. He and I have now gone over 130,000 miles together...and I am so thankful for the Lord's provision of a dependable car! He is one of my favorite companions on roadtrips and is always a willing participant in photo opps.

I freely admit to not having hundreds of thousands of readers. In fact, I'm certain that none of my posts have been read by 100 people. But that's not the point of the blog!

Me and the LPs...who are fast becoming
not so little people (but who are still my
faithful companions!)

I blog not just to share my adventures. I blog so that I can look back at where I have been (literally and figuratively) and compare that with where I am now. If I have come even a few steps closer to the God that I serve, then every trip is worth it.

Some blogs that I read and follow:

Hazelnuts
-Interested in updating some furniture? Love the concept of giving a fresh look to old pieces? Look no further than this blog by my dear friend and sister in Christ, Charis. People often get us confused and think we are sisters, but on those days when I need advice on life and an older sister to listen to my troubles, I go to Charis and share over cups of hot tea. Charis doesn't blog constantly, but I love her touch of whimsy.

Life Content: Diary of a Future CRNA
-This is a blog by a very good friend of mine from nursing school. Joel is in the process of becoming a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) and blogs about his journey...starting from the idea of what to do and where to go for grad school all the way to what he is learning in school. He's an excellent writer and expresses his thoughts well. If you know someone who is interested in going back to grad school, this blog gives a real life example of what that entails.

Charity Greene, Wellness Advocate (doTerra essential oils)
-The Blog Hop list wouldn't be complete without a shout out to my sister, Charity, and her blog. While I do not hold with some of the science behind essential oils, I have seen them work. If you're interested in learning more about oils and how they could help you, check out Char's blog and her thoughtful posts.

Other blogs that I support and read can be found at the bottom of my blog along with links to their most recent posts. Read and enjoy! And look for more posts soon!

Taking New York City by Storm (Part Two)

2014-09-02T20:30:00.001-04:00

So, I will freely admit to there being a rather large gap of time between Part One and Part Two of these two posts. And I apologize! It wasn't planned...and there is a very good explanation. I moved a couple weeks ago and am housesitting for the next three months. Unfortunately, there is NO internet at the house. And after calling every major (and some minor) providers in the area, I have resigned myself to limited internet. And I am much more thankful now for my unlimited data plan on my phone!

But...enough of that!

Part Two!

Let me see...where were we?

Statue of Liberty!

The next morning, we grabbed some breakfast at the hotel on our way down to the harbor.

And may I interject here that going early in the morning (8:30ish) is one of the best times I could recommend?! No lines. No waiting. We marched up to the ticket counter, bought our tickets, headed through security, and then boarded a ferry. That. Fast.

While there were decent amounts of tourists milling about, it was still a pleasant stroll around the island. I love all the history surrounding Lady Liberty and what she represents. Truly phenomenal.

After listening to the better portion of our audio tours, we browsed the gift shop before crossing over to Ellis Island.

Ellis Island is another place that fascinates me and as long as I live, I shall not be able to shake the feeling of awe I feel as I walk through the buildings of that now deserted island. Treading in the steps of thousands of immigrants...one can almost imagine the swarming mass of people who were daily shuffled through the rooms.

We were able to go up to the third floor (which I have not done before) and watch a National Park Service video about Ellis Island. Unfortunately, several of the displays have been taken down because of hurricane damage from Hurricane Sandy. But overall, it's a great experience, and if you have any relatives that immigrated to America from Europe early in the 1900s, you should definitely go for a visit!

After some time, we realized we were very hungry and, it being early afternoon by now, that breakfast was a distant memory. With no specific plan in place, we headed back to the subway.

Which was a whole other adventure! Long story short...my metro card decided not to read correctly--after Chenille was already through the gates. There was a strange man lurking about, and while we weren't sure exactly what to do, I decided to find a new card...which required me walking quite a distance and leaving poor Chenille to watch the gates for my return. It took a few minutes (and fighting the afternoon crowd coming up from the metro), but eventually, I made it back to Chenille.

It was decided that now would be a fun time to visit the Plaza and perhaps partake of some Afternoon Tea. A short ride later, we arrived a couple blocks away from our destination...just in time for a light shower.

Wet and very hungry, we arrived at the Plaza Hotel in all its grandiose splendour in time to take Afternoon Tea. Our waiter agreed to let us split the sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres but also each have our own pot of tea (mainly because we could not agree on a tea to split). It was delicious! I drank the entire pot, and we polished off the food. The live music was entertaining, and we spent a good two-ish hours conversing over tea.

After tea, we did the next most classic NYC thing...shopped Fifth Avenue! More window-shopping than anything else...though we did both purchase some shirts at Banana Republic.

By the time we were finished at BR on 5th Ave, it was time to head back to the hotel to change for our Broadway experience. We had, by a unanimous vote, determined to go to the new production of Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella performed in the Broadway Theatre on Broadway.

It was amazing! Loved the music. Loved the play. Loved the whole experience (except for the girl one seat down from me throwing up at intermission...but even that turned out for good, and we were able to get different seats that provided a better and more comfortable view).

After the lengthy production, we headed to Times' Square and the closest Starbucks. The police officer in front of us in line was very chatty, but after we purchased our drinks, we headed to the middle of the Square.

By the time we were back at the hotel and ready for bed, it was close to midnight...and fearing the tolling of the bell and changing back into normalcy, we hit the beds and were out like lamps (our heads full of singing princes and fairy godmothers).

Ok...probably just mine since I can't speak for Chenille! But still, it was a blast of a trip!

The next morning found us wearily packing our belongings, catching the metro and train back to JFK, and boarding the plane for our flight home.

No happy seat-mates on this flight! As we landed in Charlotte, a little tiff broke out between two women sitting across the aisle (which continued partway through the terminal once we had landed!). Very interesting...and who even knows what it was about.

All in all, a fantastic (and short) trip!

Taking New York City by Storm (Part One)

2014-08-18T20:42:00.000-04:00

Destination: New York City
Total Miles: a bunch (sorry...don't know exactly. we flew)
Total Cost: you do not want to know (suffice to say, it was worth it...but if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a trip, do not expect to see tips to save money in this post)

Still playing catch up from the summer's travels...but this is one of my favorites.

Back in March when I went to the Dominican Republic, one of my roommates and I were discussing our love for traveling. She has been to places I dream about going...but she had never been to New York City! Which, I've been to three times. We talked about some day, after graduation and boards, possibly going to NYC.

Fast-forward to the middle of June.

We had graduated, studied our brains out, and taken boards. While we had studied, we would occasionally park ourselves in the travel section of Barnes and Noble and would discuss our future trip to NYC.

Little did I suspect that the day after boards, she would look up flights, I would subsequently look up hotel rooms, we would have everything booked within 24 hours, and within a week and a half from taking boards, we would be in NYC.

The trip started the day after Caroline flew out (read up on Caroline's visits here and here). Chenille and I drove up to Charlotte, parked Mr. Darcy, and were in the air by early afternoon.

The flight was just as interesting as all my flights...and I made a new friend (of course!). Random fact, but I love flying for the sheer fact that I like meeting people and one never knows who one will sit next to on the plane. We had the pleasure of sitting with an unaccompanied minor who talked our ears off. I helped her with her math work, she watched part of a movie on my iPod (having kid movies on that iPod is a lifesaver!), and we talked about American Girl dolls. She thought we were 14 year olds and was "shocked" to find that we were twice that (and, apparently, her mother's age...which made me feel peachy).

After making sure she got to her family after we disembarked, Chenille and I took a taxi into the city. A rather expensive venture. Since Chenille had never had the pleasure of riding a taxi in NYC, I thought it would fun to ride one at the beginning. On the way back, we just rode the subway (which was MUCH cheaper).

Our first stop was the hotel, and after checking in and putting our stuff in the room, we headed to Times Square for some shopping and supper.

I doubt that I will ever get over the massive quantity of people located at any given moment in Times Square.

While we were waiting for a table, we did some people watching...nurse practitioner style. Diagnosing was never so fun!

After a delicious dinner, we voted to visit a place I dream about: L. A. Burdick. I love hot chocolate. Drink it year around. People think I love Starbucks because of their coffee...but what they don't know is that I am really addicted to the hot chocolate. Well, L. A. Burdick makes Starbucks' hot chocolate look like cheap, watered-down hot chocolate. However, we opted to walk...over 20 blocks...to the Flat Iron District. And by the time we got there, even this hot chocolate fanatic did not want a hot beverage. Fortunately, they have created a masterpiece for such an occasion: the Iced Hot Chocolate. One word: ambrosia.

But, consuming that many calories required extensive exercise. So, we walked back to our hotel...and stopped for some classic tourism in the form of the Empire State Building. (Which I have not been to the top of since my high school senior trip in 2004). The view was stunning, and we had a blast walk around and around the top getting pictures of the New York City skyline at night.

Upon returning to our room sometime after 11 p.m., we determined to get up early, catch some free breakfast at the hotel, and head to another classic must-see: the Statue of Liberty.

Talking, Hiking, Talking, Ice Cream, Talking...

2014-08-12T10:17:00.002-04:00

Well, you get the picture.

While Caroline was here, we did a lot of talking...which is what kindred spirits do when they go for almost a year without seeing each other.

After visiting Tennessee and having a relaxing Sunday at church, we hit the road again on Monday for some adventures.

Destination: DuPont State Forest and Cowpens
Total Miles: approx. 150 miles
Total Cost: $4.50 (not including gas...because I didn't fill up on Monday)

Yes. You read that correctly. The grand total cost was four dollars and fifty cents. What could I possibly have purchased? Glad you asked! Read on.

Our first destination for Monday was DuPont State Forest in North Carolina. We decided to head out just after lunch. I have been to see the waterfalls a couple different times, but I have yet to tire of the beauty of the falls and hiking the trails.

Having been before, I figured I would be able to find it without a GPS...

Thankfully, I had also wanted to show Caroline a fun roadside pottery shop that I had been to...one missed turn will take you to places you did not intend to go but allow for some fun adventures.

Which reminds me a saying that was framed on a wall at the hospital where I used to work: A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.

So, after our stop at the pottery place, we got back on the right path and arrived safely at our destination.

The afternoon was one of those perfect afternoons to hike...not to hot, plenty of cloud coverage, but enough sunshine to make it a lovely day. And the falls were as majestic as ever!

After hiking a couple miles, we headed off to another favorite destination of mine: Cowpens National Battlefield. I've taken the LPs here several times and love the history.

We also made sure to stop at Strawberry Hill and get some delicious homemade ice cream. If you have never had their homemade strawberry ice cream, it is a must stop when you plan your visit to the battlefield! I am not a huge fan of strawberry ice cream, but this is the real deal and delectable (and this is where I spent my $4.50)!

The ride back included a lot of talking and discussions on a plethora of topics (including some medical issues that have been seen recently in our line of work).

All in all, it was a fun day that included one of my favorite activities...more favorite than having an adventure and eating ice cream...

Spending time with my dear friend.

Tuesday was her last day in Greenville, so we made some stops around downtown Greenville (which is one of the top places for, well, a lot of stuff. Check it out here!), and we also had lunch at one of our favorites: India Palace.

While it would be nice if time could slow down so that we could enjoy more moments, there is always the anticipation of looking towards whatever is to come next. And in light of that knowledge, Caroline's visit came to an end. Until our next adventure!

Misty Mountains

2014-08-09T15:07:00.000-04:00

Destination: Tennessee
Total Cost: roughly $100
Total Miles: roughly 450
Dates: June 13-14

Time to play a little catch-up on the blog (which will hopefully cover some of these fantastic trips I've been on over the last couple months!).

Today, we will start with one of my favorite people coming for a visit!

After I took boards (the first time), I had a couple days to regroup and prepare for Caroline's arrival from Colorado/Wyoming. For the first time since she graduated, she was coming to visit me!

We planned to head over the Smokeys to Gatlinburg for a day before heading to my grandparents' house near Knoxville. Caroline arrived on a Thursday evening just before Rivertree Singers' rehearsal, which she graciously attended with me.

Following a good night's sleep, we headed to Gatlinburg for a fun day of shopping and sightseeing. Our first stop was recommended by my grandma: Ober Gatlinburg.

While it was an overcast day, we could still see through the mist as we rode the aerial tramway. The views were impressive, and Caroline and I had a great time listening to the tram's operator give his oration.

Once at the top, we explored the area, did some shopping, ate lunch, and tried to get caught up from a year's worth of missed conversations.

Back down in Gatlinburg, we set about doing some window shopping...which included checking out some comfortable moccasins and a sports' store that had a very small corner containing both Duke and Clemson paraphernalia (in the same corner...what are the odds?!).

That evening, we stayed at my grandparents' near Knoxville. It was the first time Caroline had met my grandparents and my aunt and uncle, but other than Caroline's beating all of us at Phase 10, the visit went very well. On the whole, it was a very relaxing end to the day.

The next day found us headed back to the mountains in search of bears, caves, and one of my favorite spots this side of the Mississippi: Cades Cove.

If you have never been to Cades Cove, you must check it out! My family has been visiting the Cove since I was probably around 10 years old, and the beauty and wonder of it has yet to lose its charm. here to learn more about it.

Nestled among the Appalachians, Cades Cove has a large scenic loop drive that allows you to take a leisurely drive around the Cove. There are old churches, houses, and barns that can be explored, bears and deer that may wander across your path, and hiking trails available for the adventurous. Check out the National Park Service website

After spotting some deer and bears, walking through some of the houses and churches, and a picnic lunch, we headed a few miles down the road to explore some caverns. Another place I remember visiting once during a family vacation was the Tuckaleechee Caverns. I took the LPs there a while back, and since we were in the general area, I decided that Caroline and I would visit the caverns.

They did not disappoint.

The caverns are much more hands-on than others (so I am told), and the tour guides always share something new that I don't remember hearing before.
When we finished the tour, we purchased some delicious fudge for the journey home. It was a fun trip, and I love the spontaneity that traveling with Caroline always affords.

And don't worry! We took another trip into the mountains before she left, so I'll be sure to blog about that in the next couple days.

Until then!
:)

Procrastination

2014-08-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

With a capital P.

No...I have not been sitting around for the last two months, idling the time. And I have not been studiously studying this whole time either.

(Though...there has been A LOT of studying going on...).

I took the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner boards towards the beginning of June and thought that would be the end of studying. But God had other plans, and I was two questions shy of passing.

Which meant more studying.

And I have been studying like a fiend. But I've also been traveling and taking some time to enjoy the summer (which has been relatively mild for South Carolina).

So after loads more studying, some quick trips to Virginia, New York City, Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Cowpens, Townsend, and Charleston, and some more studying, I took the AANP Family Nurse Practitioner boards in Knoxville on July 19. And passed! And by a good margin, too!

All that studying (and traveling...and studying while traveling) paid off...though, I suspect that the Lord had a greater hand in all of it and allowed for the circumstances.

So...what did I do to celebrate? Work at basketball camp for a week, then travel to New England for 5 days. True road trip style!

But, this brings me back to my title: procrastination.

Because of my constant guilt of doing anything productive when I was not studying, I put off blogging about all those trips. And, once I passed boards, I put off blogging because of how much there was to blog. And I didn't want to tot my computer around during camp.

(hanging head in shame)

But! Last night (at 2 am when my insomnia and lack of full-recovery from nightshift was in full swing), I determined to be productive and stop procrastinating. Seriously! I am unemployed (and loving it!) and have been so many places this summer with some awesome people...

And who knows how long that unemployment is going to be. Or where the next road trip will find me!

Time to get blogging!
:)

You Drove HOW Many Miles?!

2014-06-12T15:50:00.002-04:00

Destination: Maryland
Total Miles: >2,000
Total Cost: maybe $150?

So...this trip occurred almost a month ago, and I apologize for the delay in posting. Life post-graduation has yet to slow down. But with two more trips around the bend, I figure it's time to update you on this trip.

And besides that, it was a fun trip!

So...how did I spend so little going to Maryland and Washington D.C.?

Hitchhiking.

Just kidding. Well...sort of.

Having quit my job (and loving unemployment more than is probably normal), I have a little more time on my hands to help out with the LPs. And when Mom mentioned going to a homeschool convention (Teach Them Diligently), I volunteered to go along to "help with the driving."

We had a blast! We took Chenie and Charles (which always makes everything more interesting) and we brought along some Frozen music for them to sing-along with...and like the majority of people who have to listen to that soundtrack on endless repeat, I now have the words memorized and could probably do a music video.

Our first stop was in Virginia with my friends, Laurie and Matt. I've mentioned them before on my trips and love visiting with them! We had a great time catching up, and I loved meeting the newest addition to their family! Nate is as adorable as ever, and I couldn't be prouder of him.

That night, we stayed near Jamestown, and the next morning, we spent the first half of the day exploring Jamestown. The kids were enthralled with the Indian village, colonial settlement, and ships. And I was happy that everything was just as I remembered it from 16 years ago (6th grade class trip).

The history is amazing and well-preserved, and I highly recommend the tours to anyone who loves history.

After grabbing a bite to eat, we headed north to stay at my aunt and uncle's. I enjoyed visiting with them and their church people!

Thursday, we toured a couple monuments in DC and spent some time at exhibits in the Air and Space Smithsonian. I may or may not have mentioned it before, but my childhood dream was to become an astronaut...and I love any chance I get to see various aspects of space.

That evening, we headed to the conference at the National Harbor (which was a beautiful setting). I enjoyed hearing Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis speak about the importance of teaching that the Bible is not 'stories' but literal, factual history. If you did not get the chance to watch his debate with Bill Nye (the Science Guy), please take some time to watch it here. Having formally debated in my teens, I appreciated the various aspects of the debate. Even if you are not inclined to disagree with evolution, I encourage you to watch the debate as I did, with an open mind and taking notes (literally).

I was also able to hear Mark Hamby from Lamplighter's Books speak on the importance of well-rounded education. He referenced the Renaissance period and was overall very fascinating.

The next day, I dropped Mom and the kids off at my cousin's (she was going to the convention)...and I went off in search of some early morning Starbucks. Which meant going to Delaware. Which was fun and relaxing. After spending the morning writing Thank You notes (which I'm incredibly behind on!!), I decided to hit the road around 1 p.m. in search of lunch.

Two hours later...I arrived fifteen minutes before lunch ended at the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant. It was adorable and antiquated! The staff were dressed in period costumes, the food was delicious, and I enjoyed being pampered (since I was one of the only patrons).

That evening, I met up with my friends-who had just landed in Baltimore-for a delicious supper and fun time at Bus Boys and Poets. Josh and Meredith are those classic friends that I may not see as often as I'd like, but when we get together, we spend hours catching up and planning some of the most random schemes.

On Saturday, I met up with my friend, Abi, for a fun afternoon in Georgetown. She and I met on the Dominican Republic trip in March. Since I was coming up, we decided to get together and catch up. The plan was for her to ride the metro into DC, and I would pick her up...except that I got there 20 minutes early. Which in the South isn't a problem...but in DC, it makes for some great adventures. I drove (not even lying!) around the Washington Circle at least 10 times and got in some great laughs at the craziness of the other drivers.

After picking Abi up, we made our way to downtown Georgetown. It was beautiful and fun! We walked along the canal towpaths, enjoyed a delicious lunch at a pizzeria, snacked on yummy milkshakes, and found some extremely random fish in a flooded canal (random because the fish were at least 18 inches long and rather scary looking). We spent a lot of time talking and chatting about life. Sometimes I meet someone who becomes what Anne of Green Gables would call 'a kindred spirit.' And Abi is definitely one of those people!

That evening, I picked up mom and the kids, and we traipsed over to my mom's brother's house for a cookout and campfire. I love my family...especially the extended family that I don't see that often!!

Sunday was spent enjoyed the fellowship at Eastern Shore Bible Baptist Church. In between services, Chenie and I set out in search of ice cream...and, you guessed it, we ended up in Delaware! We found a Rita's and filled our craving for ice cream. It was a beautiful day for a drive, and I love the countryside!

Monday was head-home day. We had a grand time of listening to a Lamplighter audio book (I cried), and overall, enjoyed the successfulness of the trip.

But when we got home and Mom added up the miles...well...she's not used to someone putting around 800 miles on her vehicle without her and wanted to know just how in the world did I put so many extra miles on her vehicle...

I'm sure I have no idea. It was a pretty average road trip for me.

:)

The Journey of a Thousand Miles

2014-05-11T08:09:00.000-04:00

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn."

Destination: Clemson University
Total Miles: 36.5 (one-way)
Total Cost: approximately $23,500

Ten years ago on May 9, 2004, I wrote a letter for my high school senior English class...a letter to myself. Five years to the day, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bob Jones University.

And on May 9, 2014, I walked across the stage in Little John Coliseum at Clemson University and received my diploma for my Master of Science.

Trust me. No where in my high school letter was any mention of graduate school. Anywhere.

It's a long story that is filled with tears and much prayer.

(Joel and I, friends since
the undergrad days and
still friends as we pursue
graduate degrees in
nursing~CRNA and FNP)

I know people think I'm smart, but honestly, I'm not any smarter than the next person. In fact, I had
some of the lowest passing grades in undergrad among my class. I have a very healthy dislike for science (and a VERY healthy respect for it!), and it was a miracle that I graduated five years ago...and I very distinctly remember as I walked out of the FMA that I was never going back for grad school. Ever.

Yet, five years later...the Lord has a sense of humor.

A little over three years ago (has it really been that long?!), I began to seek where the Lord would place me next. I will be very open and candid with you: I had never expected to be turning 25 and be single and in the States. In fact, it was one of the last places I wanted to be. As the official middle-of-my-twenties approached, I began to question the path I was on.

I prayed and sought the Lord's will for the future. And while I cannot say at what exact moment I realized that He was directing me back to school, I do know that when I discussed the possibility with my parents, my dad was literally speechless and my mom fell out of her chair.

After some personal struggling, I sought out a school for midwifery and applied. During the application process, it was made clear that I would not be accepted into their graduate program because I had not graduated from an ''accredited'' BSN program. I was a little taken aback...I knew the Lord wanted me to pursue a degree that would further my abilities to work in foreign countries. This school had seemed the perfect fit. Yet, a rejection was not what I had planned.

After talking with several friends, I decided to apply at Clemson University. I usually procrastinate on everything, but I finished my application and had everything turned in almost a month before it was due.

And they lost my paperwork. Twice. (and people wonder why I procrastinate!)

After waiting for almost 7 months with almost no communication, I gave up hope that this was really the path God wanted me to follow. I applied for some traveling companies and started pursuing that path.

One week later, I received an acceptance email from Clemson which was quickly followed by a letter of acceptance.

From there, life became a little more crazy...I suddenly went from a life of travel and living debt-free to juggling a night shift schedule with classes and a huge bill every semester.

There were many ups and downs...trying to remember how to study, meeting a whole new group of people, writing papers out the wadzu, buying books...trying to flip from nights to days and back again several times a week...and trying to maintain a semblance of a social life and some sanity.

Many people have asked how I did it. Honestly...with the Lord's help one day at a time.

In spite of the craziness, I have never once regretted following this path. The journey, though long and winding (and expensive!), has been one of faith.

I have cried. I have laughed. I have made new friends. I have learned
so much. And I am looking forward to where the Lord puts me next.

As I was hooded during nursing convocation and then later received my diploma, I was reminded of a song that I have sung in choir:

"We walk by faith and not by sight, led by God's pure and holy Light.
Prepare us for the journey, Lord, and may we know Your power and might as we walk by faith and not by sight."

Clemson Lampost Moment

This journey is just beginning. I have taken the first couple of steps and cannot wait to see what adventures await!

Nursing Graduate Class of 2014

Chenille and I

Thomas and I after graduation! We made it!!!!

Thomas and I during graduation
-Got to love alphabetical order!

Can't believe it's done!

My beautiful sister, Charity, who has supported me through it all!

A true fortune!

The Diploma (that's one expensive paper!)

Chenille and I...
we made it!

Baby Lizzie's bib:
"My Aunt is the Best!"

(Go Tigers!)

:)

The Closing of a Chapter

2014-05-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

Destination: Unknown
Total Miles: Unknown
Total Cost: Unknown

So...this blog has been tracking my many journeys, and I would be remiss if I failed to post about the ending of a journey that began over 5 years ago.

On Election Day 2008, I was finishing one of my last critical care clinicals of nursing school and was assigned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Spartanburg Regional. The day before, I had been complaining to a fellow senior nursing student how discouraged I was that I had not found my "niche" like so many of our classmates. She and I prayed and left it in God's hands. The next day, He made it very plain where my niche was: the NICU.

I loved every minute of those 7 hours. I loved the staff. I loved the babies. I loved going on deliveries. I loved it.

And when my instructor sent out an email the next day stating that the NICU at Spartanburg Regional had requested a practicum student for the Spring, I did the unthinkable: I changed from a safe bet in an ICU with a good friend to an unknown NICU. The 200+ hours I put in for my practicum in the Spring were grueling...and I loved every minute of it! I experienced the joy of new life and the sorrow of death. And when the manager approached me halfway through and offered me a job, I took it without looking back.

I spent 4 months in orientation and prep before heading to night shift.

And I've spent the last four years on night shift...probably some of the craziest years of my life!

I don't know how many hours I put in...the hours don't matter, honestly.

I don't know how many deliveries I went on...how many babies I admitted or transitioned...how many bottles I fed...how many IVs I started...in hindsight, none of the statistics are important.

What is far more important are the friendships I have made, the lessons I have learned, the babies I have seen grow from tiny 1+ pounders to toddlers, and the lives that have touched mine.

My coworkers and I have laughed and cried...we have supported each other even when we had our personal differences...and the list could go on and on.

I could list so many lessons that I have learned in the last five years...things they do NOT teach in nursing school...but I think I will share the six that come to mind:

1. Neonates will teach you how to defy all odds...watch closely...even the tiniest is born with a pugnacious attitude.
2. Your coworkers are people. They have problems just like you, and sometimes they will bring those problems to work. Be willing to forgive and maybe offer a listening ear. Treat them as you want to be treated...with love and respect.
3. When people are put in new situations, they react differently. Just because a neonate's family was gruff earlier, do not assume they are always like that....they were just thrown into a scary new and unexpected world.
4. Remember, you are responsible for your response...(this one is sometimes harder than it sounds).
5. EVERY person that enters your world is important, whether their job is taking out the trash or fielding calls. Treat them as such. Just like you love to be recognized for doing a good job, take time to thank them, no matter how menial their task.
6. Neonatal nurses are a different breed. Spend enough time with them, and you won't be the same person. They will advocate for a patient and stand up to any one. Do not enter their unit without expecting some questioning stares or gruffness. They are extremely protective of their tiny patients. They will call a baby a 'troll' one minute and cuddle that baby the next. They have strong opinions, developed from countless hours spent discussing life. Behind that sometimes blunt exterior, there lies a heart of gold that has faced down death and said "Not today." They have seen what few others have: a first breath and a last. They are NICU nurses.

I have been privileged the last five years to work with some of the strongest people I know. As I close this chapter of my life, I must express my gratitude.

To each of my coworkers: nurses, doctors, respiratory terrorists (I mean, therapists), secretaries, cleaning staff, and transcriptionists...Thank you.

To all of my babies and their parents...Thank you.

I would not be the person I am today without each of you.

Through thick and thin...I am eternally grateful.

(also...to all the Starbucks people...Thank you for the amazing hot chocolate and putting up with me, especially the last two years. I have maintained a semi-stable state of sanity largely impart because of your encouragement in those brief moments you hand me my tall extra-whip hot chocolates. Blessings!)

Spring Break 2014

2014-03-28T12:54:00.003-04:00

I know...I know...after last year's Spring Break trip, you were expecting me to head to Alaska this year to catch more snow (read up on last year's trip here, or here, or maybe here, or even here...or become very well read and check it out here, and here and there and finish here. For the shortened version, only read this one.)

But, I decided to keep to the more traditional Spring Break this year and headed south.

As in Dominican Republic kind of south.

And, if you know me at all, you will know that by "traditional" I mean my kind of traditional.

:)

This year for Spring Break, I had the amazing opportunity to travel with a group from Clemson of 12 other nurse practitioner students, 6 senior nursing students, 2 spouses of said NP students, 2 nursing faculty, 1 former Clemson grad student, 1 somewhat random nurse from Maryland (who became a very dear friend!), and 1 family/OB/GYN/ER doctor. We spent a week in the DR and crammed so much into that week, I'm still reeling from the trip a week after we got back!

Destination: San Juan de la Maguana
Total Miles: absolutely no clue
Total Cost: around $2,000

So, I know you are wanting lots of details, etc...but...you'll have to wait for another post for that.

Just a quick run down of what we were doing:
We spent two days traveling, one day at the beach, and four days holding clinics in various locations.

The clinic days were by far my favorite part of the trip!

I'll go into more detail in the next post, but we saw a total of 552 patients, handed out tons of vitamins, prescriptions and reading glasses, got to do joint injections, saw some crazy diagnoses, met some wonderful and giving people, and made some amazing friends.

We had several translators working with us, but (with the help of a couple translators and lots of practice!) I was able to pick up a decent amount of my Spanish (learned that in two years of high school Spanish and a random semester of Spanish in college). I was also able to use my Creole from my Haiti trips with a couple Haitian patients we saw and with Pastor Anol. Pastor Anol traveled with us to the clinics and handed out tracts and spoke with people about Christ. He doesn't speak English, but I discovered on our first day of clinic that he speaks fluent Creole! Loved him and am so thankful I was able to communicate with him and see his heart for the people on this trip.

The scenery was gorgeous and reminded me of Haiti. The overall poverty level was a little better than Haiti, and the majority of the people were a little lighter skinned than the Haitians. It was really odd to see so much of the scenery and familiar buildings and feel as though I were in Haiti, but then to do a double take because everything was in Spanish and not Creole.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I promise to share more in the next few days! For now, I'm sorting through the unpacking, the reverse culture shock, and the three languages I now have mixed up in my head.

Bucket List

2014-03-14T23:28:00.003-04:00

Destination: Florida
Total Miles: 1,410
Total Cost: $390

Definitely one of my more expensive weekend road trips, but worth every penny spent!

So...you're wondering what in the world did I do on Saturday that would classify this trip as meeting a Bucket List item? Three words for you:

Harry Potter World.

As nerdy as it may be, I am a Potter fan. There are definitely some qualifying statements that accompany this fact, including but not limited to: these are not books that children should be allowed to read-some high levels of discernment should be learned prior to reading these, and while I have read the books and seen the movies, I believe it something that should followed with some caution.

That being said:

After an awesome concert Friday, Heidi and I headed to Tampa to meet up with my friend, Joel (you can read about that in my previous post). We had supper and slept hard in preparation for Saturday's adventures.

Joel picked us up from the motel around 9 a.m., and we headed to Orlando to meet another fellow Alto II from choir. Her husband works for Universal Studios, and we were meeting up with them so they could give us some tips for the day.

After waiting in line to get tickets, we headed into the park...I was so excited!

We headed straight for Harry Potter World, and, let me tell you, when we stepped foot into Hogsmeade and the music started playing an opening sequence from a Potter soundtrack, it was like stepping into the village itself. We took in the sights and sounds as we headed to Hogwarts for the first ride of the day.

Once inside the castle, we by-passed lines using the Single Rider. The ride
was awesome! We saw the Sorting Hat and followed Harry, Ron and Hermoine on an adventure.

After that, we meandered the parks, riding rides and eating at eateries.

The butterbeer was excellent! Kind of like a cream soda with delicious foam on top.

We did lots of waiting in lines for rides, but we had a blast catching up and people-watching.

Joel and Heidi were good sports and put up with my excitement over, well, everything.

I honestly don't think I can explain everything, so I'm posting pictures at the bottom of this post with captions. Hopefully, you will forgive my lack of words and enjoy seeing some of the fun we had.

Before heading back, we stopped at Honeydukes, a candy shop in Hogsmeade. I bought a chocolate frog while Joel purchased some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans for us to try. We all took turns guessing the flavours...and when they say every flavour, they're not kidding. Joel got one that filled up the entire vehicle with the smell of dirt on the way back to Tampa.

Sunday, we lost an hour of sleep because of Daylight Savings, but Heidi and I hit the road in fashion with a breakfast stop at Starbucks.

We also took a side trip to my Guidinger grandparents' house in Greenville, Florida and partook of a delicious Sunday lunch. It was so good to see them and spend a little bit of time with them before heading back to Greenville, SC.

All in all, a wonderful trip. And worth every dollar!

Stay tuned for the Spring Break trip starting this Saturday.

Riding Buckbeak's Flight

Fish and Chips

Post Hulk Giggles

The Hulk

Fun Day

The moon over Hogwarts

Frozen Butterbeer

Chocolate Frogs!

The moon biding us goodnight as we leave

Welcome to Choir Con

2014-03-08T09:05:00.000-05:00

Destination: Florida
Total Miles: TBA (it is adding up!!)
Total Cost: TBA (also adding up...)

The American Choral Directors Association Southern Division conference is difficult to explain to people who do not care about choir. One of our Rivertree Singers explained it to the hairdresser that it the conference is like Comic Con for choirs. Thus the name "Choir Con" was born.

Singing in front of such an intelligent audience who have probably heard half the songs we performed is a little daunting to say the least.

But sing we did.

And it was amazing.

As the last applause died and we exited the stage, our nerves and adrenaline gave way to laughter and excited chatter.

Please visit our website, www.rivertreesingers.com/‎, listen to some of our Jubilate Deo-written by one of our members, and Kyrie).

music, and purchase a cd of our works. You can also watch us perform two of our songs from this Spring Season on YouTube (

After gathering our things, giving some more hugs, Heidi and I headed to warmer weather in Tampa.

With a perfunctory stop at Starbucks...of course!

Before finding a hotel just outside of Tampa, we met up with my nursing school friend, Joel Porch, for a delicious late dinner at Crazy Cafe. Sushi was the name of the game, and we enjoyed some delicious sushi (I got a Butterfly roll, but my favorite was Joel's sweet potato sushi). Like all good friends, we spent a couple hours catching up on life.

Heidi and I spent another hour or so talking once we got settled into a hotel room, and then we slept like rocks in preparation for today.

Universal Studios...here we come!

At Long Last

2014-03-07T10:52:00.002-05:00

After taking a sabbatical from blogging for sundry reasons (grad school, et al.), I am back!

Temporarily.

For a couple weeks out of the year, after midterms and mid-semester projects have been turned in, it is time to enjoy those rare road trip opportunities that I seldom have time for any more. But then, of course, reality comes back, and classes commence.

And I am ready to get away from this cyclical and crazy cold weather we have had this winter!

However, as you may or may not know, grad school is just about two months away from completion...and then: the adventures begin anew!

New job, new faces, new schedule, new adventures.

So. Let us see if I can remember how this works.

Destination: Florida (and sun. and warmth.)
Total Miles: TBA (at the end of the trip)
Total Cost: TBA (probably one of my more expensive weekend trips)

What has prompted this road trip, you ask?

Rivertree Singers!

Our choir auditioned to sing at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division. We were one of 77 choirs from across the Southern USA to audition. One of 17 chosen. One of only two from South Carolina.

And the ONLY community choir that made the cut.

We are singing a 25 minute concert in Jacksonville, FL with repertoire including works by Tomas Luis Victoria, Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Moses Hogan, and two of my friends: Peter Anglea and John Hudson. And call time is in approximately two hours!

So, yesterday afternoon after a long day of classes, discussions,
projects, and 2.5 hours of sleep, I met up with my friends and coconspirators (fellow Alto II, Heidi Moore, and Tenor II, Will Robinson). While we were driving in two separate vehicles, we followed each other down to Jacksonville. We stopped at Denny's for dinner and got into Jacksonville around 10:30pm.

The hotel we are staying at is fairly snazzy...the Hyatt Regency, and it is a walk away from where we will be singing. It is also on the waterfront and provides some lovely views of which we took advantage of last night after checking into our rooms.

I'm very excited about singing...and about the remainder of the trip.

Did you honestly think I would come all the way to Florida and NOT go other places, see other people, and try some new things?!

:)

Apparently, I'm an enlightened traveler!

Ice, Elevate, and Call 911?

2013-08-17T17:11:00.000-04:00

Destination: National Hoops Basketball Camp
Total Miles: 10 miles
Total Cost: priceless

Last summer I had the unique opportunity to be the camp nurse for basketball camp to some 40-odd teenage boys in Wisconsin. (For last year's trips, check out the links under June 2012. And for last year's camp video highlights, click here)

Registration Form

This summer, I was presented with a similar opportunity with the same camp, however, the camp was held at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC...just 10 miles from my house.

There were over 80 teenagers registered to attend camp, which started on Monday, August 5th...by the time the last campers checked in, we had 50 teenage "ballers" from all over.

Being a Neonatal ICU nurse has it's pros...and cons...I'm a little more familiar with patients who weigh less than 13 pounds and can't talk back. But after managing last year's bunch, I was confident this year would be smoother. ('was' being the operative word)

Of the ten counselors, one was unable to attend the meeting Monday morning during which my cellular number was given...guess which counselor was the first to have problems? yup.

I learned at breakfast on Tuesday morning that one of the campers had decided to call 9-1-1 around 0200 and then inform his counselor he wasn't feeling well...as they rode the ambulance to the ER.

The counselor now has my number programed into his cellular device.

The teenager was ok...until Tuesday night...I got a call as I was finishing up a blog post on Colorado and turning off the lights. The kid's mother wanted him to leave with his team right then because he wasn't feeling well. So, at midnightish, I headed over to the guys' dormitories to have a chat with both the camper and his mother. My NICU training came in very handy in speaking with the mother, and she agreed to allow him to stay for at least another 24 hours. I ended up staying out until past 0100 purchasing a water bottle and some snacks for the camper.

Nap time the next day was obliterated by a sweet camper whose eye started swelling (randomly) at lunch...and got progressively worse during nap time. After placing a few messages to some medical friends of mine, I opted to take him to a doctor's office to get checked out. We got some meds on board, and he was feeling better by the end of the day.

Being tired by the time we reached the room late that night, my roommate (the camp secretary extraordinaire, Kristen) and I opted to go to sleep...which was more wishful thinking. By 0200, my phone was going off...the camper who called 9-1-1?

He had called them again without telling his counselor. Again. The counselor assured me that they would be ok and that he would contact me if they needed me to come get them from the ER. I tossed and turned for over an hour before drifting off into a fitful sleep. Only to be reawakened at 0400 by another text. The kid had been diagnosed with a pretty serious condition, but the doctor opted not to keep the camper overnight. And by breakfast time, the camper and his friends had left without saying a word. Sigh.

This year, it was the popular thing (that all the 'cool' kids did) to have a bag of ice and sit on the sidelines with the nurse.

At least, that's how it seemed.

If only they could have all coordinated when they wanted ice...instead, I got my exercise in and became VERY familiar with the ice machine by making numerous trips to the ice maker.

Miraculously, by the time the competitions and tournaments came around, the sidelines were cleared.

Laugh. Out. Loud.

I love them. Each and every one. They all grew, both in basketball skills and in their relationships with God. The services were a huge blessing. I was able to sing a couple times and enjoyed joining voices with other staff members to sing praises to God.

Kristen and I had a wonderful time being exhausted together...we drank WAY too much Starbucks, and we probably had too much fun watching the skits and games.

Overall, it was a very stretching and profitable week.

I will admit, I teared up when Friday night awards' ceremony came. Pastor Mike introduced the staff members to those in attendance, and those crazy campers gave a standing ovation...love them (and their scores of ice bags!)!

This year was significantly different from last year, but I learned so much and know that God is continuing His work in both the campers and in me.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
~Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Home Away from Home

2013-08-14T23:37:00.001-04:00

Third and final installment of this year's Colorado trip.

(no drum rolls, please!)

Let me tell you: This was a memorable trip.

Not that every trip isn't memorable or noteworthy, but this one was quintessential road-tripping with Charise.

Why, you ask? Because it was not only to one of my favorite places, nor just because of the randomness and occasional spontaneity, but mainly because it involved hanging out with a valued friend who understands my nursing humor, enjoys the random and spontaneous, and seeks to serve the Lord.

So...Monday and Tuesday.

Monday, we lolled about in the morning trying to decide what to do. The weather had been a bit iffy, so we decided to hold off on going to Elitch Gardens and instead tour the capitol building in Denver. We rode the light rail in to downtown and took a bus from Union Station to a block from the capitol.

Not only was the capitol open for tours, but it was also the week of the quilting contest! We were able to enjoy some 300+ quilts hanging on display throughout the building.

The tour was enjoyable, and I would highly recommend taking the tour! We were able to sit in the galleries of both the House and Senate...which were not in session (they only meet for so many months out of the year). We also learned about the unique architecture of the capitol...the rose onyx found throughout the building is the only rose onyx in the world to date. They did not realize that they were mining the entirety of the stone until it was gone and none could be found elsewhere.

For lunch, we decided to branch out and try an Indian restaurant located in a food court a level below the 16th Street mall. Saucy Bombay. We were extremely impressed and stuffed ourselves with the delicious food! I had a rice, chicken, chickpea combo smothered in a mild tiki masala sauce (complete with an iced Indian chai tea).

After some unsuccessful shopping (mostly because we were so tired from everything we had done the week before), we hit up a modern coffee shop, Ink!, where we enjoyed some massively huge (and delicious) iced beverages. All I know is that the guy behind the counter thought I would like the white-chocolate-almond-coffee-something-or-other...and he was spot on!

Monday night, I took the kids to Yogurtland (tradition!) where we splurged on some new flavors of fro-yo.

Tuesday was my day to head home...but not before we took a "little" 14,240 feet above sea level drive up the highest paved road in America! Up Mount Evans we went, this time with enough gas to make it to the top and back.

Literally, every single turn we made was more breathtaking the last...we stopped several times to take pictures of scenery. I found some mountain goats at the very tippy-top peak! Hooray for wildlife!!! We enjoyed hiking a little ways past Summit Lake, which is where we met a man who resides in Charleston and is a Clemson alumnus...so random.

The top was SOOOO windy, and I was extremely thankful that Caroline had packed some down-winter coats for us to wear. We took a few random pictures at the top, then wound our way back down the mountain (stopping to take a picture of the marmot we passed!). The beauty of God's creation is overwhelming at that altitude!

It was with mixed emotions that we drove back, picked up my luggage, and headed to the airport. I love coming home...it's one of the best parts of traveling...but I do not like leaving a place where I feel at home.

The plane ride to Chicago was uneventful...I met a very polite gentleman who talked the entire flight back about his travels (you people think I like to travel? this retired air force veteran just takes off to places all over...including New Zealand...because he can). I enjoyed hearing his adventurous tales and since we had both ridden the train from Durango to Silverton in the past week, we had at least one shared story.

There were plenty of empty seats on my flight from Chicago to Greenville, and while I chit-chatted with the man at the end of my row, I was able to rest some. Stepping out into the muggy South Carolina weather, seeing Mr. Darcy and my dad ready to pick me up, and going home were an excellent way to end my trip.

All in all...I love Colorado and my friends there.

And yes.

I'm already planning my next trip out to colorful Colorado!

:)

Sniftly Dancing Off Into The Canyon

2013-08-07T23:02:00.000-04:00

(for trip info, refer to yesterday's post)

Yes. Sniftly.

On our bus ride from Silverton to Durango, we had a most colorful Coloradan guide and driver who drove like me, spoke about the scenery and history like my dad (the driver is a history teacher like my father), and has the sense of humor like a nurse! She is to be credited with inventing the word "snifty."

As far as "dancing of into the canyon," the phrase belongs to the National Park Service tour guide at Mesa Verde. Being as that there were no fences or guard rails or walls to prevent people from waltzing off...BUT I DIGRESS!!!!

I HAVEN'T EVEN TOLD YOU ABOUT FRIDAY!

You all have no clue what Mesa Verde is or why I was there or anything. Let me rewind and start at the beginning of Friday.

Friday.

As I have explained previously, my friend and I are very similar in our love of adventures and randomness. It's great to have things planned, but flexibility is key to an exciting trip.

So, with a whole morning on Friday open to whatever, we (mostly Caroline who is more familiar with Colorado) searched for something that would fit into our time frame.

Cue Mesa Verde.

Having heard of the cliff dwelling Native American Indians, I was excited about having the opportunity to view the dwellings...not to mention actually going into one of them!

We woke up super early and headed a little more westward. Part of the excitement of the drive was passing (and turning around to pass again) a brown bear. Which, my sources tell me, is a rare find. I have begun to dispair of ever seeing any wildlife in Colorado after making it out three summers in a row and only catching a glimpse of a coyote (and hearing about the numerous "elk" and "deer" and "antelopes" that abound in Colorado).

This trip could be deemed a success solely on the wildlife I was able to see! Deer, antelope, a bear, a "chipmunk," a marmot, and even some mountain goats (found at the very tippy top of Mount Evans, a fourteener!!!)...

Anyway, even though we only had half a day to see as much as we could at Mesa Verde, Caroline bought tickets to see BOTH the Balcony House and the Cliff Palace. We stopped at the Lodge to pick up some breakfast and hot chocolate before hiking down to the Spruce Tree House.

Which was quite the hike (considering we were in flip-flops...a mistake we remedied for the other two dwellings).

We learned much about the culture of the Indians who built the cliff dwellings in the 1200s. I was able to practice grinding, and we enjoyed climbing three-story tall ladders.

The tour guides were fantastic (even if the one had a bit too many mentions about "community" etc), and we came away with knowledge about the cliff dwellers that made us both appreciate the conveniences of the modern day and also the sacrifices of the people who first settled there.

To our enjoyment, we met several other people in our tour groups and had some interesting discussions about various things (not limited to: Colorado, South Carolina, the Utah Jazz, and living in Germany).

We had to head home by lunch time, and (due to the amazing driving abilities of the nurses present) barely made it to the Garden of the Gods at sunset.

Saturday and Sunday were well-spent days, though I regret I did not take any pictures either day.

Saturday, I was invited to attend a family reunion at the cabin (where I thoroughly enjoyed meeting several of Caroline's extended family). While we were only there for a few short hours, I enjoyed relearning how to use a four-wheeler, meeting Caroline's adorable niece, and fellowshipping with my Colorado family.

That afternoon, Caroline and I headed to a singles' activity at a family friends' house. The plan was to stay long enough to eat some ribs and then head home...several hours later...we enjoyed fellowshipping so much that we ended up staying until well after dark. I was able to make some new friends, play a few games, and just enjoy talking with people around my age that have the same focus in life.

Sunday, I was able to divide my time equally between Caroline's church and her parents'. I enjoyed both services and (again) meeting new people.

Monday and Tuesday were adventures in and of themselves, and I will be sure to post again soon about the last couple days I had in Colorado.

Until then :)

This Is the Life

2013-08-05T23:02:00.000-04:00

Destination: Colorado
Total Miles: a lot...
Total Cost: $450 (roughly)

Colorado...I love Colorado. If you have followed my blog at all, you have seen this state crop up more than once.

This was my third summer going out to visit and go adventuring with my friend, Caroline. Her family lives just outside of Denver, and she-being a nurse like me-loves to travel and see new (and old) things.

Instead of hanging around Denver this year, we opted for a more adventurous trip. I had worked the four nights before flying out, and she had worked the three days before (including the day I flew in...which worked out beautifully with my late flight). After catching up on some sleep and finishing up errands (and my last projects and papers for class), we piled into her car, Cherry, and headed southwest.

Sixish hours later, we made it to Durango and checked into our cozy cabin at the local KOA. The evening was spent lolling about downtown Durango and trying out a local coffee shop.

We arose early the next morning to start out on our journey. Traveling by train, we wound our way through the mountains to the town of Silverton. The views were spectacular! Even though the train ride ended up being much longer than planned, Caroline and I enjoyed discussing everything from the past year while enjoying the remnants of our Starbucks hot chocolates.

While I doubt I would have appreciated the long and sooty rides when trains were the main mode of transportation, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my friend.

Our time in Silverton was short but profitable. We grabbed a late lunch and shopped around for some silver aspen leaf earrings. Fortunately, Caroline's parents had recommended we take the bus back, thus we were able to see some spectacular views! That area of Colorado boasts some of the most gorgeous and pristine scenery.

After arriving back in Durango, we opted to hop down to New Mexico (being as that I have never been and it was all of 30 minutes away). After searching around a couple of towns and not finding any reputable appearing restaurants, we headed back to our cabin in time to watch the sun setting as we chowed down on our grocery-store-supper.

Friday was sure to be another crazy adventure, and after the sun went down, we hit the beds in order to be fresh for Friday's exploits!

Below are just a few pictures from this leg of the trip...

Strawberries

2013-06-17T22:34:00.002-04:00

Destination: Strawberry Hill and Cowpens Battlefield
Total Miles: 100 miles
Total Cost: $30ish

Before I begin my tale of adventures in the Up Country, let me quickly update you on my adventure to the Low Country.

I am currently a member of the Rivertree Singers, a choral group composed of around 30 members. We are professionals who work and live in the Greenville area of South Carolina...there's everything from account managers, web designers, composers, and stay-at-home parents, to nurses, cosmetologists, and bakers/cooks. And we all have at least one thing in common: a love for singing.

This spring, we have been rehearsing for our summer concerts. One was in Greenville, and the other was in Charleston at the Piccolo Spoleto festival.

Now, if you have been following my blog since its beginnings, you know that I love Charleston. And like most of my trips to Charleston, this one was a bit of a whirlwind. Having worked the night before we had to be at St. Phillip's for rehearsal, I was thankful to catch a ride down...which, unfortunately, I failed to take advantage of and sleep. By the time I got to bed that night, I had gone for well over 36 hours with only an hour or so of sleeping on the drive down.

My friend and former piano-duo partner, John, was also visiting Charleston with his choir from Westminster during the festival. We sang a song he composed (which you should be able to hear here), and he graciously came to our rehearsal and conducted us (giving us some helpful tips on both interpretation and musicality). Following the rehearsal, John and I spent some time meandering around the Market...stopping for some Haagen-Dazs ice cream. It was great to catch up with him and worth the extreme lack of sleep!

Supper was at a delicious Italian place near St. Phillip's, and
subsequently called for a stop near the waterfront at a gelato venue. Those of us who had eaten supper together finished our gelato and gave a spontaneous mini concert (aka: we sang one song that we all had memorized). Then, I rode to the hotel where I don't really remember anything until the next morning. (YES! I realize I look half dead in the pictures...trust me, I look better with sleep than without). :)

We sang in the morning at a church in downtown Charleston, then after a quick lunch, we walked over to St. Phillip's for our concert.

Which, if I do say so myself, was quite a success.

Anyway...

I got back late that night (mainly because I had gotten locked out of the house and went to Panera to study), and trust me, I thoroughly enjoyed sleeping.

Having promised the LPs a road trip to get some ice cream, (and having that day off from my two jobs), I piled them into Mr. Darcy. We stopped for some glass-bottled-cokes and lunch at an awesome cafe in downtown Travelers Rest, William's Hardware Cafe.

Instead of taking the somewhat shorter route to Strawberry Hill, I drove them the back way...up Scenic Highway 11. We enjoyed singing crazy songs, drinking our glass-bottled cokes, and telling stories as we drove the almost 50 miles to Strawberry Hill.

Upon arrival, we delved into the homemade ice cream (eating WAY more than we should have!), and then we piled back into Darcy to finish the drive to Cowpen's Battlefield.

After walking around for a bit, the kids were able to take part in learning how to fire one of the grasshopper cannons. They were so cute!!

Then we headed out to walk around some more...and ended up splashing through puddles during a deluge rainstorm. Soaking wet, we laughed and ran around the battlefield...much to the dismay of certain park rangers (who probably think I had lost my mind). But hey, we had fun and there was no thunder!

I had them race about once the sun came back out, effectively drying them off, then it was time to take Charles to his baseball practice.

All in all...an awesome 60 hours.

And just a window into the wonderfully non-normal and non-boring life I am privileged to lead.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2013-05-18T13:42:00.000-04:00

Destination: Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, SC
Total Miles: 230 miles
Total Cost: $90?

LPs, road trips, driving, the zoo, koala bears...just to name a few!

This past week, I was finally able to take the LPs on an adventure: We spent an entire day in Columbia, South Carolina at the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Accompanying us was a friend who has gone on excursions with us in the past.

While he had a legitimate claim of having never been to Riverbanks, the LPs claim was less credible (because I took them there a couple years ago and have an album of pictures AND a bumper sticker to prove it!).

I should have worn a helmet. Or braced myself better for the crazy day. Something.

And I should have known when I first woke up in the morning, walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and almost stepped on a baby palmetto bug (which, after the shock of seeing one, I obliterated with one of the kids' shoes), that it was going to be an eventful day.

But I forced the memory out of my mind, determining that it was going to be a pleasant road trip.

Ha.

After rushing to get the kids out of bed so we could pick up Robert in a timely fashion, I finally had everyone in Mr. Darcy, and the road was rising up to meet us. THEN.....from the backseat, I hear the following:

Thomas: Oh no! Chenie! What do you have in your hair?!
Chenie: What is it? What is it?
Charles: Gross!
Thomas: It's a tick.
<insert my panicked: "IT'S A WHAT?!?!?!?!">
Thomas: That's definitely a tick. Chenie, hold still. I'm going to pick it off you.
Charles: You must have gotten it yesterday at my ballgame.
Chenie: I think I'm going to be sick...get it off me, get it off me, get it off me!
Thomas: I've got a napkin. Charles, hold her head still.
<insert my alarmed: "NO! DO NOT PICK IT OFF!!!">
Chenie: Then what are we supposed to do?!?!
<speed-dialing Mom...and turning around...>

So...after mom graciously removed the tick (including the head, which had me panicking), I text Robert to let him know we were, for the second time, heading his way.

Other than a rude lady in a mini-van, the rest of the ride was uneventful. (I was extremely thankful for the suggestion that we stop at Starbucks on the way.)

We parked by the Botanical Garden and enjoyed a beautiful stroll to the tram. On the way to the tram, we found a huge hill which the kids decided was perfect for rolling.

Next to the hill, we picked up the scent of some delicious wild
honeysuckles. The kids and I delved into the bushes and began siphoning nectar from the flowers. Which is about the time I realized that Robert had no clue what we were doing...he had never had honeysuckles! We taught him how to and ate honeysuckles together.

Eventually, we found the tram stop and headed to the zoo portion.

Lions, and tigers, and bears, OH MY! The first stop included some
big cats, bears, and monkeys.

Our favorite stops in the zoo were the Galapagos Tortoises (which live up to 200 years), the Simian (screaming-flying) monkeys, the awakened koala bear (a rare site, indeed...koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day!), the smaller tortoises, and the reptile/amphibian house.

For lunch, I had brought a picnic lunch. On the way back to the car (since we couldn't bring any food into the zoo), the LPs found a baby snake on the path. Robert chivalrously pushed it back into the mulch, while I prayed hard that it wasn't poisonous!

All in all, I think we all had a blast! I splurged a little and bought the kids Dippin' Dots for snacktime and Zaxby's for supper.

Thankfully, the ride home was fairly uneventful...so uneventful that Robert fell asleep while the kids watched a movie on my iPod.

I love road trips, but I love them even more when I have my favorite LPs adventuring with me!

(They even made up a song for road trips...that goes to the tune of the Little Einsteins' theme song)
We're going on a trip in our favorite Honda Fit
Zooming 'round the road: awesome LPs!
Climb aboard, get ready to explore!
There's so much to see, awesome LPs!
We're going on a mission, start the countdown!
5...4...3, 2, 1
Everyone to Darcy; rev it up now...vvvvrrrrmmm...
We're going on a trip in our favorite Honda Fit
Zooming 'round the road: awesome LPs!
Climb aboard, get ready to explore!
There's so much to see, awesome LPs!
Come on! Let's go!
WE NEED YOU!
Awesome LPs...Yeah!

Four Exams and a Wedding

2013-05-05T16:10:00.000-04:00

One year has passed since I received an email (followed by a letter) that altered my life.

No, I'm not referring to the letter containing the deed to Mr. Darcy...though that did arrive the same day and did impact me. My vehicle is a constant reminder to me that I am living debt free and loving it.

I am referring to the acceptance letter I received from Clemson University at the beginning of May 2012. An offer of acceptance into the full-time Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Program was presented to me, and I, barely cognizant of the consequences, accepted.

The whirlwind that followed has been one of the most exciting adventures I have been on, to date. Whether it has been writing scores of pages or filling in every waking moment with clinical hours, my life has been anything but boring.

This semester found me working my fulltime NICU night-shift job while taking a fulltime credit load (including two clinical courses that required 90 hours of clinicals. Each.). When I wasn't working, I was at one of two doctors' offices learning. And when I wasn't at the offices, I was sleeping, in class, studying, or driving between those places.

Anti-social does not even begin to describe my life this semester.

But, I have a good report! By God's grace, I have passed all my classes and exams (still waiting to hear the official grades) and will be continuing in the program in two weeks with a summer class. Which means: one year from now, I will be graduating with my Master of Science!

This past week in particular has been an exciting one. Not only was I finishing up paperwork and exams for the semester but I was also Maid of Honor at my sister, Charity's, wedding. We had a blast preparing for the wedding this week.

She and her husband were married next to the Barn on the Enoree River where the reception was held. Even though it was overcast and very cold (the high on Saturday was 58F), the wedding went well, and the couple was sent off before the rain descended.

Still, if you had told me on April 30, 2012 that in 368 days I would be finishing my first year of graduate school and walking down the aisle at my sister's wedding, I would not have believed a word of it.

God works in mysterious ways!

There have been rough patches, especially with grad school...times where I have questioned the purpose of going back to school; times of seemingly insurmountable odds; times that I felt more alone and discouraged that I will admit to; and times where I wished I had turned down the offer and gone on with my travels.

But it is during those times that I am encouraged in Psalm 37. And it is during those times that I remember that my security is not in my schooling, in my job, in my friends and family...it is in my relationship with God.

Now that it is summer, I will hopefully be able to take more road trips, but school comes first. And as I reflect on the last year, I am reminded of a Robert Frost poem we sang in high school.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.