OBX

Yesterday, I set out to see some of the Outerbanks (OBX) lighthouses! It turned into a long day, but it was well worth it. :) I started by catching the ferry to Ocracoke Island and finished by making a u-turn up by the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to head home. I had planned to take some pictures from the ferry since it was a two hour ride, but I found out too late that my camera batteries were dead. Oh well. Just take my word that the ride was through some beautiful, blue water.

Once I arrived on the island, I found a grocery store to get some batteries and then went in search of the lighthouse. You wouldn't think it would be difficult to find a lighthouse, I know, but I must admit I passed this one completely missing it the first go round! It's literally in between a cluster of houses with a little boardwalk that goes out to it.

Ocracoke Lighthouse

After a few pictures, I found a fun little cafe for lunch called the Flying Melon Cafe. I had a blue fish sandwich (apparently blue fish aren't just in Dr. Seuss books!). Of course no trip to an island is complete without a little stop off at the beach - at least in my opinion. I never get tired of the ocean and waves! This picture just can't do justice to the beauty of that beach!!

Ocracoke Island Beach

After a little while of watching that beautiful scene, I got back in my car to continue my lighthouse tour. The island, after you pass the "metropolis" of Ocracoke, is pretty much Highway 12 with the beach on each side of you! It's a great drive. I caught the next ferry over to Cape Hatteras. This is my favorite lighthouse so far with its diagonal stripes! :) You can pay a fee to climb this lighthouse, but I didn't take that option yesterday.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

From here, I got back on Highway 12 to go to Bodie Island. This stretch on the highway actually had towns on it, so I couldn't see as much of the ocean. But, for all you Nicholas Sparks fans, I DID pass through Rodanthe (great book!). :) There's a long bridge that crosses the ocean between Cape Hatteras and Bodie Island. As you drive, you can see the Bodie Island Lighthouse the whole way. This end of the island is mostly unpopulated - I think because it's marshy, but I'm not completely sure.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

The last stretch of Hwy 12 is a long one that goes up to Corolla, NC, which is close to the VA border. But, that's where the Currituck Beach Lighthouse sits, so I went. :) A long time ago, my parents gave me a ceramic lighthouse that lights up, and I'm pretty sure that it's this one. I couldn't remember the name, but when I saw it, I immediately recognized it. :) Located in a park surrounded by trees, it was hard to get the entire lighthouse in a picture, but I tried.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

There's also the option to climb this lighthouse, but I got there just as it was closing for the evening - not that I was planning on climbing hundreds of steps anyways. :) To get back to the mainland, I crossed a couple more long bridges. For me, the most impressive thing about the Outerbanks is that you can see both the sunrise and the sunset over the ocean - especially down around Ocracoke Island. What's better than that?!? This is a view of the sun setting as I drove across one of the bridges back to the real world. :)

Well, that's a MUCH abbreviated version of my trip yesterday! Have a great day!!

Jenn Goes to Washington

That is, Washington, North Carolina. :) I had today off, but it was TOO pretty to sit around inside. So, you guessed it, I headed out on a mini road trip!!

The other day, a girl at work told me about a little cafe that has live jazz groups playing during the week. Well, this was one of my FAVORITE things to do while at A&M! A group of us from church/ABS would meet at this local coffee shop called Sweet Eugene's House of Java for caffeine, games, and great music. Spades was usually the game of choice when it was just us girls. :) I fell in love with one of the local bands - Big Apple Trio - so much so that I bought their CD. Good memories. This morning, after a healthy dose of coffee, I set out.

I did find the cafe, so I'm sure that's where I can be found most Thursday nights from now on. Also, in my wanderings in downtown Greenville, I found an adorable little park. It has several flags - I'm guessing all the flags that have flown over NC in its history - surrounding a memorial listing all the names of people from Pitt County that have given all for our country since WWI.

Another great thing about Greenville is that they have FREE street parking!!!! It's been a long time since I could just park on the side of the street and not do the "quarter search" through my car and belongings to try and avoid special notes from Rita-Meeter-Maid. I got out and walked around the park for a while, and I came across a HUGE sundial! As you know, I have a great fascination (or some may say obsession) with clocks of all styles. :) This sundial was called the "Millennium Sundial", but it wasn't done until 2006. (a little confusing to me) There's not a "stick" in the middle, but there is a big plaque that tells you where to stand according to what month it is. Then, your shadow will fall on the correct time. In other words, you get to be the stick in the center of the sun dial. :)

This morning, while watching the weather on the news, I saw a live camera shot of a city near here called Washington that had what looked like ocean water. :) I'd seen signs pointing to Washington before, so I headed east to see what I could find. Not that I'm a geography genius, but I do know that the ocean is somewhere east of here! :) Well, the ocean isn't at Washington, but they do have a very cute downtown. Apparently, that stretch of the Tar River (which they renamed the part that goes through their town) is famous for blue crabs since it's where the fresh and salty water starts to mix. I bring this up because I saw several rather large crab statues as I wandered around downtown Washington today!! :) Of course, I took pictures of almost all of them. So, here goes . . .

Yep, that's a picture of our first president. :)

This town is the 1st in the US to be named after him.

This was my favorite, Forestacean!! I thought that was a very clever name.

I know that's only 2 pictures, but you get the idea. My internet connection isn't cooperating tonight. :) Anyway, it's a great town with some beautiful old buildings, and they are continuing to restore more of them. It was a very fun little trip.

Three things that make life Wonderful!

#1 BABIES!! - I love working and playing with babies. After taking two weeks off of work and then sitting through a week of orientation, I FINALLY got to play with some babies again today. :) There's nothing like wrapping up a little one and holding him/her for a few minutes. I know this probably sounds strange to most people, but I really miss my job when I'm gone for too long. I'm so glad to be back in the land of the tiny humans!!

#2 Short Commutes - Time left for work from my apartment this morning: 6:15AM; time arrived at the hospital: 6:20AM!! UNBELIEVABLE! :) I'm not sure I've ever had a 5 minute commute before. Granted, it's a Saturday, so Monday may take me a whole 10 minutes or something. Quite a change from last month! How great is North Carolina?!?

#3 mini Moonpies - My first two years of college, I lived with one of my best friends, Camille, down in Aggieland. We'd take "study breaks" to run down to the corner Circle K for energy boosts. Mine always consisted of a Sprite and a chocolate Moonpie. Well, when I went to the grocery store the other day, I found a box of mini Moonpies!! What a treat. :)

Jammy Day vs. Explorations

This was my "dilemma" this morning. :) (I know, rough life, huh?!?) I had today off after a week of hospital orientation and before I start my unit crash course orientation tomorrow through Monday. As usual, this has been a bit of a stressful week with moving, learning a new area, sitting through HOURS and HOURS of boring orientation classes, and that AWFUL test on Tuesday morning. So, I thought it would probably be wise to have a Jammy Day (my version of a lazy day; AKA "Me Day") today in preparation for learning a new unit over the next few days. But, because of a high endorsement from one of my friends, I also wanted to go see the Simpson's movie. What to do . . . what to do. :)

Well, I did a little of both! :) I found a showing of the movie in a town about 40 minutes from here this afternoon, so I set out on a mini adventure. I don't quite understand why, but there's a HWY 264 and an Alternate HWY 264. They both go in the same direction, but the alternate goes through some small towns and farms, so you only get to drive 55MPH. The other one, you get to drive 70MPH. Well, just for kicks, I took the Alternate (not realizing the speed difference). I discovered that this area of NC isn't all that different from East Texas . . . except that you need to trade a few hundred pine trees for a few hundred tobacco plants. At least I think that's what they were. I'm not sure I've ever seen a real tobacco plant other than on Gone With the Wind. Along this road, I saw TONS of old, rusty barns & silos. I'll have to remember to travel this area again with my camera. These would make great pictures for my dad to paint once his shop is built!! :)

I did finally arrive at the movie theater, got some Junior Mints in honor of my sister (or should I say "hunior meentz"?), and got ready to laugh. Well, I'm not a particular fan of commercials at the movie theater, but the Coke vs. Coke Zero commercials crack me up EVERY time I see them. Well worth the drive by itself!! :) After the obligatory 30 minutes of commercials and previews, the screen went blank and that was it. After a few minutes, I realized the movie wasn't coming on (I know, slow learner!), so I went out to let someone know. About 10 minutes after that, the lights came back on in the theater and the "in between movies" stuff started playing again. I ended up just getting my money back and coming on home. I guess I wasn't supposed to see the movie today after all! All in all, I drove almost an hour and a half to see some TV commercials and movie previews . . . and to get some Junior Mints! :)

So, when I got home, I put my jammy pants back on and decided to rest the rest of the day. What a fun day! :)

Tests and Storms

Here are some pictures of my adorable apartment! This is the first one I've been in that actually has decorations on the walls and a throw in the living room. How cozy!! :)

Check out the huge candle for me to use!! It's like they know me. :)

The 4 doors on each side of this walkway are to two walk in closets. I'd SO pick this apartment for myself!!

More fun decorations in my kitchen. Yeah, that's a rooster in the corner. :)

Very pretty room with a flower arrangement and fun tea light, tiered candle holder!

I officially started my new job today. I was welcomed to the hospital by taking a 5 hour essay test about all things NICU (well at least most of it was about babies). :) With my great love of tests, this just about did me in. So, I was very grateful that the day was complete once I finished writing! After having lunch with my new friend (who - intentionally or not - basically called me "old" to my face, TWICE) at a fun little place called Bear Rock Cafe (or something similar to that), I came home and did pretty much nothing while I waited for the phone call telling me whether or not I passed the test. My nurse manager from the hospital finally called tonight around 7:30 to let me know I get to stay here in NC for the next three months!! YEA!! :) If I hadn't passed the test, my contract would have ended, and I still have a long list of things I want to do here. That would have been bad. While talking to her, she said that she'd try to get me in the unit either this weekend or first thing next week. That made me happy because babies are SO MUCH MORE FUN than orientation, sitting in a classroom, and taking tests!!!!

Tonight, I encountered my first North Carolina storm. It was a pretty impressive show of lightening and thunder with a little rain, although very short lived (about an hour at most). It was a perfect excuse for me to stay in with a movie in stead of running the errands I needed to - Pride & Prejudice is my reward tonight for taking the test earlier. There's always tomorrow for errands, right?!? :)

Claudia

One of my friends' foster children passed away this Tuesday. She will be missed, especially her gentle, big eyes and her beautiful smile! But, for the first time EVER, she is healthy and getting to snuggle with her Creator.

Wayne Watson - Home Free

I'm trying hard not to think you unkind

But Heavenly Father, if You know my heart

Surely You can read my mind

Good people underneath a sea of grief

Some get up and walk away

Some will find ultimate relief

CHORUS:

Home free - eventually

At the ultimate healing

We will be home free

Home free Oh, I've got a feeling

At the ultimate healing

We will be home free

Out in the corridors we pray for life

A mother for her baby A husband for his wife

Sometimes the good die young

It's sad but true

And while we pray for one more heartbeat

The real comfort is with You

Pain has a little mercy

Suffering's no respecter of age

Of race or position

I know every prayer gets answered

But the hardest one to pray is slow to come

Oh Lord, not mine But Your will be done

CHORUS:
Home free - eventually
At the ultimate healing
We will be home free
Home free Oh, I've got a feeling
At the ultimate healing
We will be home free

Comfort Zone

I know you've been anxiously waiting for the conclusion to my road trip back home. :) I made it back to the Tyler, TX, area Monday evening!! HOORAY!! :) As much as I LOVE my car, Roony, I was totally ready to get out of it for a while once I arrived home. All in all, I believe my trip home consisted of about 25-26 hours in my car spread out over 3 days. It was a beautiful drive, and I got to see a lot of North & South Carolina that I hadn't seen before.

The last part of the trip home was pretty uneventful, which is good since I was exhausted by that point. It's great to be back home with the family - my personal "comfort zone". I took the short drive over to Dallas yesterday to have my 6 month dentist check up. YUCK! My dentist is VERY sweet, and he's so excited about my next assignment in NC. He & his wife recently took a driving tour through North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. With his fingers busy in my mouth, he was telling all the things I needed to "be sure to see" while I'm out that way. :) While in the area, I was able to visit with some friends from where I used to volunteer at the March of Dimes and also at the hospital where I started my NICU career. (They're my NICU family!!) It was great to see them & share stories. I got to have lunch with my sister, which was great because I haven't gotten to spend much one on one time with her since I left Texas last January. Sister time is the BEST!! :) Lastly, on my visit to Big D, I got to see my precious "Sammy". He's just started walking, and it's absolutely ADORABLE! He's still so unsteady and preferring to crawl if he's in a hurry, but the few independent steps he took just warmed my heart! He's such a miracle! I can remember SO many times while taking care of him in his first year of life that we weren't sure he'd even make it out of the hospital. Now, 2 1/2 years later, the little stinker is starting to walk! What a special gift from God to share him with us this long! :) Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he continues to struggle with serious health issues.

Needless to say, I'm having a great time and making the most of the 2 weeks I have back here at home! I hope to be able to visit with everyone here, but if I don't get to see you in person, please know that I love & pray for you!! Have a wonderful rest of the week! (I know I will!) :)

Back to Birmingham

Today, I spent several hours in the car, again, ending up in Birmingham, AL. It was fun to see the area again! :) No fun excursions today really, so I just thought I'd put up some of the random thoughts that went through my head as I drove. I didn't start my 2nd book on tape today because I just wanted to listen to music. What better way to spend a Sunday than to listen & sing along with about 4 hours of worship music. And then, to listen to another 4 hours of Josh Groban. All the while, seeing beautiful (& some not so pretty) countryside. :) So, here are some of the thoughts that amused me today:

Dr. Pepper vs. Mr. Pibb: For some STRANGE reason, people outside of Texas seem to think that these two drinks are one in the same. Well, they don't taste the same. When I stopped for some lunch this afternoon in South Carolina, I ordered Dr. Pepper with my meal since it was listed on the menu. Well, the screen where you verify your order (yeah, it was a McDonald's) said I'd ordered Mr. Pibb. When I brought this to the guy's attention, he said that they were the same so the screen displays "Mr. Pibb". I corrected him and told him that I'd take a Diet Coke instead. Not wanting to change my order, he told me to pull up to the window, and we'd discuss it there. Again, he tried to make me take the Mr. Pibb, this time explaining that "Dr. Pibb" (Did he honestly think I'd fall for it if he changed it from Mr. to Dr.?) was the same as "Dr. Pepper". A little irritated at this point - both from having a stupid argument over this and from waiting too long to eat - I told him to change my drink to Diet Coke - "just in case there is in fact a difference between the two!" :) After a sigh, he changed my order. I paid, pulled up to the next window, picked up my food, and left (AFTER verifying that I'd received a Diet Coke!). I know, it was stupid of me to get into a discussion with the guy working the drive through over this, but WHERE's the customer service?!? A little ways down the road, I just had to laugh at the whole scenario!!

Inappropriate Signs: There's a billboard in the Houston area (or probably several of them) that advertises "Budget Funerals $99.99"! NO LIE!! :) The first time my dad and I saw it, we both nearly died laughing. Well, that still holds the #1 spot for inappropriate signs, but today, I saw one that came as a close 2nd. On a sign advertising help for people suffering from alcohol &/or drug addiction, the add read: "Contact the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery". Seriously?!? They couldn't come up with three other words to express their message without the initials spelling the word "BAR"?!? Maybe they did this on purpose - had some reasoning beyond what I can comprehend. But, I found it hilarious! :)

Appropriate Sign: "Flying" around the loop in Atlanta, GA, I saw a sign that said we were on the "Silver Comet Trail." As people flew by me like I was riding a bicycle on the freeway, I thought: Well, that sign is VERY fitting for this stretch of road.

License Plates: As you probably know by now (if you've read my entries from my road trip about 3 months ago), I have a habit of looking at license plates every time I'm on the road. Last time, I even kept a tally of the Illinois license plates. Well, today I saw 5. But, that's not the point of this. Coming from the DC area, where I saw license plates from probably 40 of the 50 states in America, I was noticing how much more infrequently I see out of state license plates the further south I go. More impressive, though, was that once I got out of the northern part of North Carolina, I haven't seen ANY DC plates. It just made me wonder - do they ever leave that area, or do they just fly to wherever they are going? It was nothing to see them throughout VA & MD, and sometimes even PA. But I can't think of a time when I've seen one further than that. Curious.

So, that was my day: driving, listening to/singing with music, and random thoughts! I did, however, have a WONDERFUL burrito from Qdoba's after arriving here in Birmingham tonight. Good times. Tomorrow, I start the final leg of this journey home!

Have a great week! :)

Moving Day . . . Again

Yesterday was the last day of my contract in DC. So, I packed up and started my LONG trip home this morning. I had no intention of spending the whole day in the car today, but I had that opportunity anyway! :) The stretch of I95 between Arlington & Richmond was incredibly slow today for some reason. What would normally take 1 1/2 hours to travel took me about 4 hours today. Quality time with Roony and strangers on the highway! Thank goodness for interesting books on tape. I started the new James Pattterson book as I left Arlington, and it finished tonight as I was returning to my hotel. It's VERY good, by the way - lots of twists & turns!! I also practiced contortionist moves as I tried to reach snacks and drinks in the cooler behind my seat while sitting on the highway.

I stopped in Raleigh, NC, this evening after spending about 7 1/2 hours in the car. Since I was so close, I decided to go over to Durham to see the Durham Bulls play. They won - Hooray for the Home Team!! :) It was kinda a slow game until the 8th inning when the pitcher from the other team couldn't find the strike zone. This made life great for the Bulls! I met a sweet family at the game with a 21 month old little girl. She was ADORABLE! We had a good time visiting, and I loved watching her cheer. The only negative from the experience is that I couldn't find my collector baseball hat cup of ice cream there. Granted, I didn't spend a lot of time looking for it since I'd arrived to the game so late. None the less, I was a little disappointed. I had intended to take my camera to the game, but I forgot. Sorry for the lack of pictures. :)

Well, I'm off to Birmingham, AL, tomorrow for the 2nd leg of this 3 day journey back home. Have a terrific Sunday!

Thoughts, Vulnerability, & Scriptures

It's late - especially for me! I have WAY to many thoughts flying around in my mind right now, so I decided to write them out and find scriptures to combat them. So, basically, this is just a blog to help me find peace tonight and get some sleep. Probably won't be too interesting for you. :)

My precious little "Sammy" is sick and in the hospital, again. This breaks my heart since it is most likely a picture of what the rest of his life will be. One infection after another until he finally succumbs and goes to spend eternity with Jesus. He is such a happy little boy, and we've all been so blessed that God has allowed him so much time here on Earth. I just hate to see him sick and in pain. I know that God loves him even more than I ever could.

Mark 10: 14, 16

" 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' . . . And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."

My sister is struggling with her health, also. She's been fighting with this disease for years, and it seems to be getting worse. Numerous doctors have tried different methods to no avail. I know the frustration of hearing a doctor say, "I don't know what to try next." I also know the frustration of being on the other side - someone in the medical field and being absolutely helpless in a situation. I see that side many days at work when we've done all we can, and it's still not helping. All I can do is pray for her release from this. I know that's a very powerful tool to have, but sometimes it doesn't seem like much to do - especially for someone who likes to have an answer and a way to solve problems. (It's the analytical/problem solver part of me that struggles with this situation most!) My dad shared a song with me by Nicole C. Mullins called One Touch

(WARNING: Be sure to grab your Kleenex before listening to the song!) The story in the Bible that this song came from can be found in Mark 5: 25-34

(vs. 28) " 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' "

(vs. 34) " 'Daughter, your faith has healed you.' "

Today was my last Sunday here in Virginia - at least for a while. I'm not closing the door on coming back here for another stint in this NICU, but I don't see myself moving up here permanently - at least right now. I don't know what God has planned. On to the point . . . it was my last Sunday here, which means it was my last time to go to the church I fell in love with last summer. Honestly, it was one of the major reasons I returned to this area a second time. God is doing amazing things in this area of the country through the faith of His people here at MBC. Once again, I'm sad to be leaving this church. It's been such a blessing to me. As you know, music is a HUGE part of my life, and the music at this church - whether attending the traditional or more contemporary services - is always incredible. The worship leaders are so gifted. And then there's the pastor. What a man of God with a heart the size of Texas! Granted, it took a little "getting used to" last summer. (He's naturally a 'loud' person, which doesn't really agree with me.) He gives such insight into the scriptures. It's always a pleasure to listen to him teach! I also love the mission focus of the entire church. The Sunday night worship service, Frontline, "sent out" six different mission groups tonight - some local and some foreign missions. How amazing is that?!? I've been so blessed to get to be a part of this church!


Matthew 18:20
" 'For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.' "


Marriage . . . A friend of mine recently suggested I take an assignment in Alaska. The reasoning behind this is that there's a 12 to 1 ratio of men to women there. It made me laugh because when we took a family cruise vacation there, the running joke on board was that "the odds are good, but the goods are odd!" :) It's not the first time people have hinted about me still being single and pushing the BIG 3 - 0 (or, as I like to call it, 20-10). Some friends back home went so far as to suggest that I only travel for a year or two so I'd have time to get married and raise a family. In other words . . . "You're getting on up there - not so much time to play anymore." Well, I still don't know what God has in store for me in that respect. And that's OKAY! :) I honestly believe I'm where He wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do right now. So, my plan is to continue on this path, even if it sends me into my 30's, still single. I do want to eventually get married (IF that's what God has planned for me) and raise a family. I don't know if I've already met my future husband and just don't realize it or if he's waiting around the bend. It's all a mystery and kinda exciting. I recently bought a cd by Bebo Norman. It's one of his earlier works. The song A Page is Turned is on this cd, and I've decided that I want it played at my wedding someday! Below are the lyrics:

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin With a world to conquer at the age of ten

But as history unfolds and the storybook is told He finds salvation but not at the hands of man
And the God of second chance Picked him up and He let him dance Through a world that is not kind

And all this time, preparing him, the one To hold him up when he comes undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun And now a man, here you stand Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled

By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow With a careful cover of love that will not fail
And the God of second chance Picked her up and He let her dance Through a world that isn't kind

And all this time, preparing her the one To hold her up when she comes undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun And grown up tall, here you are Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife And there is no secret to the source of this much life

When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again Just a chance to somehow rise above this land
Where the God of second chance Will pick them up and he'll let them dance Through a world that is not kind And all this time, they're sharing with the one That holds them up when they come undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun And once again, here you stand

And once again, here you stand Your day has come

A few of my scriptures on this topic (and I have a LOT, so these are just a few) are below:

Jeremiah 29:11

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "

Esther 4: 14

" 'And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?' "

Job 1: 21

" 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' "

Psalm 15: 5-6

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

And last, but not least . . . my theme verse:

Lamentations 3:24

"I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' "

As my friend in college, Jen Seeker, pointed out - the use of the word "portion" is critical in this verse. It's used to describe the exact amount that I need. Just like a portion size in a meal, Jesus is the exact right amount of everything to fulfill me! That gives so much peace. :)

Well, after rambling for an hour and a half on here, I feel much better. Like I said, this is how I work through my anxious thoughts when they keep me up - pray through them with scripture.

Birthdays & Friends

A new year has started - at least in my little world. :) I had my 29th birthday a couple of weeks ago. Looking back over my 28th year, I have to say that it was a great year! Full of adventure, new & old friends, and learning. I left on my first travel nursing assignment 2 days after my 28th birthday, and now, I'm a "seasoned" travel nurse (having done it for a year). I'm looking forward to what this year brings into my life as I continue on this journey.

My birthday was a great day. I got to sleep in (very important after working 4 days in a row!!), cleaned a little/did a little laundry, and relaxed - pretty much a "me day"!! :) Since I'm not a huge fan of cake, I decided to make my own birthday concoction of ice cream, fudge sauce, and peanut butter M&M's. (the picture below)

It doesn't look spectacular, but it was YUMMY!!!! :)

Late that night, one of my best friends from Texas flew up here to spend some time visiting our nations capitol. How fun!! To be able to stay up late enough to pick her up from the airport, I drank LOTS of caffeine. So, needless to say, after picking her up, we were both still WIDE AWAKE!! We decided to drive downtown and take some pictures of the monuments all lit up. I drove around and she poked her head out my sun roof or out of her window to snap some pictures. Luckily, there's not much traffic around 2AM downtown!! :)

The Jefferson Memorial

Over the next several days, we proceeded to see most of the sights in Washington, DC . . . much to the dismay of Mandy's tired feet! :) We got to go to the International Spy Museum. I highly recommend this museum (even though it's not free) if you like spy movies/books or mysteries. It's very fun and interactive. My "personality" was Gretta, a German astronomer. :) Being a lover of mysteries, this was probably my favorite thing we did!

Me & Mandy in front of the International Spy Museum

Another day, we rented a paddle boat and played around in the Tidal Basin in front of the Jefferson Memorial. Per Coast Guard regulations, we "got" to wear very cute life vests, which you'll see in the picture below. :) It was a little windy that day, so steering and paddling was a bit of a challenge, but it was VERY fun! Mandy was able to get a few more pictures of the Washington Monument (making the total somewhere near 20) :) while we were out in the water.

Me in the paddle boat in front of the Jefferson Memorial

The last day of tourism, Monday, we got to take a Capitol tour and then went to the Library of Congress. On the short walk from the Capitol exit to the Library of Congress, we passed a woman on the sidewalk trying to feed one of the squirrels running wild there. Amazingly enough, the squirrel bit her instead of taking the food. (shocking, huh?!?) :) The part that blew my mind is that she didn't learn her lesson from this pain and went back for more!!!! As we passed her & her friend, she was leaning down to try again. When we were a little ways down the sidewalk, we heard her yelping again in pain - from what I'm assuming was yet another bite from the squirrel. The phrase that came to my mind was: Bite me once, shame on you; bite me twice, shame on me!! Some fools never learn. :) Anyway, we went on (full of laughter & amazement at some people's stupidity) to the Library of Congress. (Kinda ironic if you think about it - leaving ignorance behind as we enter the Library) This is a GORGEOUS building!! Apparently, I have been there before - a LONG time ago when our family came up here on summer vacation. My focus that trip was counting ALL the stairs we went up and down (totalling around 2000?). :) So, not remembering this building, I was very impressed this time with the detail of the decorations. I read a great book by David Baldacci earlier this year (The Collectors) where one of the main characters worked in the rare books division of the Library of Congress. Because of this, it was especially fun for me to see this building. :)

Inside the main gallery of the Library of Congress

It was a wonderful week catching up with an old friend and seeing the sites of DC. What a fun way to start out the 29th year of my life! I can't wait to see what God has in store for me in the remaining 11 1/2 months of this year. :) Have a wonderful day!

Night Life

It's back to night shift for me over the next two weeks. So, I probably won't be doing much exploring/sight seeing during that time. Fortunately, one of my good friends from Texas was here for the past week, and we did "DC in Six Days"!! :) Much to her amazement (and VERY sore feet), I drug her around most of Washington DC over the past week and took hundreds of pictures. We saw the usual touristy stuff and some things I hadn't yet seen. I'll post some new pictures and funny stories later. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'd appreciate your prayers as I work nights for the next little while again!

Looking Back/Looking Forward . . .

I've been gone a year today! Last year, on Thursday, July 13th, my dad was driving me to DFW to drop me off for my first BIG ADVENTURE. It's hard to believe I've been travelling for a year already. I had such mixed emotions that day: fear, anxiety, sadness, excitement, hope, . . . I can still picture landing at Reagan, traipsing through the airport with my 100+ pounds of luggage to the rental car place, and then the real excitement beginning as I tried to navigate the roads of the DC Metropolitan area - NOT a task for the novice!! :)

So much has happened over the past year - good and bad. I feel like I've learned so much about myself and depending of God. My hope is that I've grown closer to Him through these experiences. I know I've learned a TON more about neonatal nursing, and much to my dismay, I've had to learn more about pediatric nursing as well. :) It's been a great adventure, and I'm so glad my friend at Medical City, Trina, suggested I try it. I've now had the opportunity to pass on the idea to a new nurse looking for an adventure of her own. God has blessed me with a wonderful church here in the DC area that I loved so much last year when I was here, I was all but giddy at the thought of getting back to it on my return 'tour of duty' here in DC. He's also put wonderful people in my life that encourage and teach me along the way. I've made some great, lasting friendships through my travels, as well as seen some parts of the country I would have probably never seen if not for travel nursing.

I don't know what God has in store for my future, - honestly, who really does? - but I believe I'm going to continue travelling at least for a little longer. I've been an East Coast Beach Bum for the past year, so I think it might be fun to try out some West Coast Sand. :) We'll see where God puts me next. Thank you for going on my journeys with me, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future! Most importantly, thank you for the continued prayer support!! I would be such a mess without your prayers! The other day, a girl at work asked why I was always smiling. I was able to say that I have a wonderful family and group of friends that love me and pray for me daily, and that helps me get through even the most difficult of days. You are a blessing to my life! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Silver Linings

I've always considered myself somewhat of an optimist. I can usually find the "silver lining" to a situation - a must some days in my job. :) Well, today I woke up a little irritated with life, and that makes it hard to find joy the in little things. On my way home from work this evening, after a bit of a rotten day, I was grumbling at God. Then, as He always does, He showed His love & faithfulness to me - tonight, in a literal Silver Lining! As I looked up to the sky, the sun was just behind a huge cloud. The entire top of the cloud was lit along the edge with rays shining up towards heaven. I wish my camera had been in the car with me so I could share the picture with you! Suffice it to say that it was BEAUTIFUL!! :) Talk about an attitude adjustment.

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger,

abounding in love and faithfulness."

-Psalm 86:15

Once in a Lifetime Oppportunities

In keeping with my nurse travel theme of "why not?", I decided to join the throngs of people watching the Capitol Fireworks show last night instead of just going to bed early. :) I am SO glad that I went! It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. As I drove home from work last night - mostly sitting in traffic :) - I looked out on the Potomac and was amazed at all the boats/yachts out waiting for the fireworks show. I've heard that sitting in a boat on the Potomac is one of the best viewing places for the show. Apparently, these people heard the same story! I had my camera with me, so I snapped a picture of all the boats. This view is from the ramp going from 395 south onto the GW Parkway where I got to sit for a little while. :)


Seeing all the cars parked along the side of the road - and some ON the road - as I drove home, I decided that I most likely wouldn't be able to find a place to drive to & park to see the fireworks. All the legal (& some not so legal) parking spaces were already taken, so I just went on home to get some food. I did notice some people walking towards DC, though. After I "refueled" and changed out of my hospital funk clothes, I decided to join the trek towards the district. Ever safety conscious, I took my ID, insurance card and cell phone (just for you, mom!). :) It was completely safe! I honestly believe that ALL the police officers from the area were required to work last night - sad for them, but good for me! It was only about a 20 minute walk to get to the Arlington Cemetery from my apartment, which is where I was going to watch the show. My pastor in college (Bobby), a true & longtime lover of Washington, DC, said his favorite place to watch the show was from Arlington Cemetery, which is just directly across the river from the monuments. Since I hadn't taken a purse or bag, I just walked right through the security check point, which saved MUCH time. I ended up getting an amazing view of the show from the side of a hill. Some people nearby had a radio or TV that was playing patriotic music loudly enough for all of us to enjoy - a nice touch since we couldn't exactly hear the music from the Mall. :) I took lots of pictures, and I attached a few of the better ones. I hope you enjoy them!

By the way, what you're looking at just below the fireworks is the Lincoln Monument, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol (left to right).

And, last but not least, my favorite picture! It highlights the Lincoln Monument. :)

It was truly the best of both worlds: all the pretty lights & sites with NONE of the loud booms!! I highly recommend doing this if you ever have the opportunity!!

Random Thoughts From Travelling

I went home this past weekend for my cousin, Lacey's, wedding. It seems that I almost never get on a flight that leaves at the scheduled time. Is it just me, or does it happen to everyone who flies these days. Well, Friday was no exception to that rule. :) Sitting in Terminal C at Reagan National Airport, I met some friendly people from San Antonio. As our flight departure time kept getting pushed back in 15 minute increments, we all got a good chuckle - mainly because there was no airplane at our gate. Yet they continued to say we would be boarding shortly. Boarding what?!? :) Now, I don't really pay attention to politics much (which makes me a minority in this part of the country!). So, when I saw someone sitting near me in the terminal that looked like a famous person, I sat there racking my brain trying to figure out who it was. I finally just asked the guy sitting next to me while he was snapping pictures of the poor man reading his paper with a camera phone. It turns out it was Sen. John McCain! :) Needless to say, I felt like an idiot!! Oh, well. One man from the San Antonio group decided that he was going to be my entertainment while we waited for a plane to arrive. He proceeded to give he his life story - as well as that of his 3 children & his wife. (hooray for me!!) At one point, he had gotten up to go check with the gate, so I took this opportunity to sneak away & get a LARGE cup of coffee. When I returned, I sat in another area, but he found me and picked up where he had left off. It always amazes me how much people share with complete strangers! I guess I'm just a more private person than most.

Well, we did eventually get a plane and take off. It was such a pleasant flight! The skies were beautiful & mostly clear throughout the majority of the flight so we could see the landscape below. It made me think back to junior high earth science classes. Good memories! :) On the shuttle bus to get my rental car, a mom was trying to explain the basic laws of physics to her son - who looked about 8 years old! I sat there wondering why she thought this was so important for him to understand right then. It just struck me as a little odd.

Later that afternoon, I was able to visit with a friend and her foster son - a little boy who is very dear to my heart! It was so nice to see them. Once he woke up completely from his little nap, he showed me how he'd learned the motions to "Wheels On The Bus" - doing the wheel, wiper, and door motions for me as his foster mom & I sang the song for him. I won't go into detail about him and all of his struggles; suffice it to say that this was a MIRACLE! :) It was the first time that song had ever brought tears to my eyes. God knew exactly what I needed that day, and as usual, He provided in abundance!!

Friday night and Saturday, I had some quality time with family - immediate and extended. The wedding ceremony was one of the most precious I've seen. It was evident to everyone that God was present! What a beautiful worship service while two people joined their lives! I was so happy to have been able to attend.

Sunday, our Congressman, Rep. Louie Gohmert, preached the sermon at my parents' church. His sermon was about our country's heritage of faith. I've never really been too excited about history, but I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how our founding fathers were men of such great faith. My goal, after the service, was to meet him and thank him. Last year, when I was working up here in the DC area during the Christmas holidays, I sent him/his office a request to tour the White House & the Capitol while the Christmas decorations were up. Little did I know that this was a difficult chore. :) Nevertheless, his office came through and got me a tour to both!! As you probably know, I'm a HUGE Christmas fan. (probably an understatement!) This has always been a dream of mine, and Rep. Gohmert managed to make it happen. So, my mom and I found him, and I had the opportunity to introduce myself, shake his hand, & thank him. Needless to say, I was very excited!

After a very busy and fun time, I came back to Arlington this evening. The man sitting next to me on the plane was visiting DC for the 1st time with his wife and daughter (another Aggie). :) It was very fun to see the excitement on their faces at seeing the monuments for the first time. As unbelievable as it is, I've gotten to where I just drive by it all as I go to & from work not appreciating what a special opportunity it is to get to see it all. It reminded me of seeing everyday things through a child's eye seeing them for the first time. The awe & wonder is contagious! It's always good to be reminded of the little things in life I take for granted. All in all, I had a great weekend! I hope yours was just as wonderful! :)

Life Update . . .

Well, after having been thoroughly reprimanded about not writing anything here for a while, I decided to send an update. (Hi, Janna!!) :) I honestly didn't know when I last wrote on here, so I just checked. Not a whole lot has been going on since I went to the fun Fairfax Festival. I did get to switch back to day shift starting on Wednesday of this week, which is a HUGE answer to prayer. So, I'll hopefully have some exciting outings over the next few weeks since I'll be more awake. One thing that is different is that I woke up yesterday morning without my voice. Funny how even I (someone who's not known to be a big talker) take the ability to speak for granted! Not that I'm a complete mute, but I do sound more like a croaking frog than a human at this point. Hopefully this will be short lived. :) Some good news . . . I found out last night that one of my best friends will be coming up here for a visit in a few weeks to celebrate our 29th birthdays!! How fun is that?!? Well, that's about all I can think of "update-wise". Have a terrific weekend, and hopefully I'll have some interesting news next time!

Festivals

This weekend is the "famous" Celebrate Fairfax Festival!! In case you've never heard of it, don't feel too badly. I'd never heard of it until this week. :) Anyways, Fairfax is a city and a county near here, and they apparently have a big festival every year. I decided to go see what all the excitement was about today. Being on a strange sleep schedule lately, I got up (for the second time today - woke up starving at 4AM, ate some breakfast, and went back to bed) - around 1PM and headed west to the mall where you park & catch a shuttle to the festival. After walking around for a few hours, I'm still not quite sure what we were "celebrating". But, I did get to hear some local bands (acoustic, jazz/blues, and rock), which I loved! I also got a free souvenir cup from the Fairfax Water Company with fresh, cold ice water. Very nice since it was a little warm in the sunlight. They also had the normal carnival food and rides I've come to expect at fairs. Ben & Jerry's had a booth, also, which made me very happy!! :) I had actually planned to stay for the big concert which featured Smashmouth, but my bladder had other plans. The only restrooms were port-a-potties, which I don't use on principle! So, I decided to leave early and catch the shuttle back to the mall. Thankfully, I had parked near the Macy's, so I could use a real, clean restroom and do some shopping. :) All in all, a very fun day!

Virginia's "Niagara Falls"

I went exploring today. Every Sunday, as I'm driving to church, I pass a sign for Great Falls. I never took the time to head out there last year while I was here, so I decided to go have a looksie today. Granted, it's no Niagara Falls, but it's pretty!

When I got there, I found the trail & headed out. Of course, I went the wrong direction. :) As I walked along, I kept seeing signs warning about the "strong undercurrent", but all I could see was calm water. I found this quite amusing. I walked & walked and ended up at the dam, which I thought was "the falls". Not too impressive, but since I'd walked so far, I decided to take a couple pictures anyway.

After I turned around to head back to the visitor's center, I realized what I'd done and went to see the real falls! It was so nice to get in the middle of nature, even though surrounded by city, and spend some alone time with God without the distractions that pop up at home. As I walked along the trails beside the Potomac, I was reminded of a poem all of my English teachers had on their walls:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Now, believe me, I'm NO literary (as most of you already know), but it made me think about life. (I promise to not get too philosophical on ya!) I've been on my personal "less traveled" road for almost a year now. (travel nursing) Many of you have asked me what made me decide to make this huge change in my life - knowing I'm not a huge proponent of change! :) Well, here are some of the reasons - some mature and some not so much!

1. Get to see different areas of the country


2. Learn how things are done in different NICUs - aka become a better nurse


3. Self challenge in depending on God and flexibility!!


4. People all but dared me to do this, and I couldn't let them win :)

Since I left Texas, which was a HUGE step out on faith for me, I've learned a lot about depending on God. He has continually taken care of me! So, as I come up on my one year anniversary of this new career, I'm asking that you pray with me about the next step. I'm praying for God to clearly lead me where He wants me to be, whether that be settling down somewhere or continuing with my current travel position. Thank you for your prayers over the past year, and I'll keep you updated on any new developments.

Happy Memorial Day!

Hug a HERO today!!

Back to the District

I had today off, so I went into the city. The weather was absolutely perfect! It was so nice to walk around for a few hours in the sunshine. Believe it or not, I actually saw stuff that I had missed when I was here for 6 months last year!! :) Here are a few pictures I thought you might enjoy.

This is the Jefferson Monument. He's SO tall!!

This next one is of the Lincoln Monument. (duh, huh?) :)

Lastly, here's another view of the White House. They were letting us get right up to the fence today. Later, as I saw Marine One returning to the House, I realized why we were given this kind of access. :)

Have a wonderful week!!

Things I've learned . . .

I finished my little road trip adventure this afternoon when I arrived in Arlington, VA. It's been a fun and educational adventure over the past week. I was talking with my mom this morning, and it's hard to believe it's been less than a week since I left Alabama! I've gotten to see & do so much, it seems like about a month! As I drove along, singing at the top of my lungs, I was thinking about some of the strange things I've seen & learned on this trip, so I thought I'd share them with you.

1. The term "speed limit" means COMPLETELY different things in different states. For Alabama & Georgia, it seems to be a goal that's never really reached. If you want to enter a highway where the speed limit is 65 or 70 going 40, it's perfectly fine. We'll just get out of your way or slam on the brakes so that we don't crash. South Carolina seemed to drive faster - driving at least the speed limit was the norm. Once I reached North Carolina, it seemed that the "speed limit" was really the "minimum speed required for survival". As I drove through a large part of Virginia today, I realized that driving ONLY 10 MPH over the posted speed only inconvenienced/angered about 2/3 of the people on the highway - as opposed to angering the entire population driving by actually going the posted speed.


2. If you ever want a large variety of miniature golf places in a small area, just go to the northern part of South Carolina on HWY 17. I must have passed 15 mini-golf places in as many miles!


3. The PERFECT time to visit Myrtle Beach, SC, is the last week of April or the first week of May. Beautiful weather, and no crowds. :)


4. There's a "Ni River" in Virginia! If you've never seen Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail, this probably doesn't mean much to you. But when I passed it today, I just chuckled to myself thinking of "the knights who say 'NI'!!"


5. The city of Durham, NC, seems to have two, completely unconnected Main Streets. And yes, I drove on both of them a few times looking for Duke University.
6. 
   At least two families in North Carolina have a lighthouse as a next door neighbor!
7. The majority of the people working the desk at the hotels have no idea how far Texas is from the east coast. When I checked in to the hotels in North & South Carolina (both of which I checked in between 2 & 5PM), I was asked if I had driven in that morning from Texas! Um . . . That would mean that I left at least at midnight of the night before. Did I really look that tired?!? :)
8. Lastly, but most importantly, I'm SO grateful to have a job that doesn't require me to live in hotels the majority of the time!! It's next to impossible to have a "jammy day" (which y'all know I'm a huge fan of) in a hotel.

Not important or life changing lessons I learned, but fun thoughts that fill my head. Speaking of apartments, here's a picture of my new place.

Thank you for going on this journey with me and reading through all of my rambling thoughts! I hope you at least enjoyed the pictures!! :) By the way, they're playing "Taps" across the street at the Army base - something I haven't heard since January.

FINAL LICENSE PLATE TALLY: Well, today I only saw one lonely Illinois tag, which brings the grand total to 13. I was amazed at the number of New Jersey plates I saw during my travels! Maybe next time I'll count those instead because I'm sure the number was at least 3 times the number of Illinois plates!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Raleigh/Durham, NC

Yesterday morning, I left the beach and headed north - getting ever closer to the final destination!! I drove up the coast a couple hours so I could see some lighthouses. (at least that was the plan) I did find one of them, the Oak Island Lighthouse.

Yes, that's a street lamp in front of the lighthouse. :) It's really very bizarre! This lighthouse is in the middle of a neighborhood! After success in finding this one, I set out to find the Bald Head Lighthouse, which is supposed to be just down the road about 30 minutes. Well, after about an hour of searching, I gave up and headed towards Raleigh.

Today, I set out exploring the Raleigh/Durham area. I first went to Durham, where Duke University is. There's a beautiful garden you can walk through there. The roses were in full bloom and smelling amazing!

When I finished with the garden, I walked around the campus for a while. Seeing all the hustle & bustle of this time right before finals made me SO GLAD that I'm through with that part of my life!! While in Durham, I also found the Bulls' old stadium, where the movie Bull Durham was filmed. The team doesn't play there anymore, but it was neat to see the "old-timey" stadium. Then, I headed back to Raleigh where I drove around downtown. I circled the capitol and snapped a few pictures.

Just west of the capital is the Oakwood Historic District. I drove through that area and looked at all the pretty houses that have been refurbished. I don't know that I'd ever want the stress & expense that comes with that kind of "fixer-upper", but they sure are beautiful once completed! I didn't get any pictures of them because I didn't think the families living there would appreciate someone taking pictures without permission. :)

That's the extent of my adventures here today. I had to get back to the hotel to do a little bit of work stuff. The good news is that my apartment will be ready tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be headed to DC tomorrow morning!! I've enjoyed my little adventures, but I'm ready to unpack and get settled in my apartment.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Myrtle Beach

When I left Savannah, I went over this HUGE bridge, and I ended up in South Carolina! :) (which was the plan, by the way - not another "Jenn Detour") I wouldn't recommend this particular stretch of HWY 17 North because it's mostly not nice places. Anyway . . . After a couple hours of driving and only one "Jenn Detour", I ended up at my final destination for the past two days - Myrtle Beach. What a gorgeous place!!!! If you've never been, I highly recommend it. If you have, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. :) I had originally planned to stay there just one night, but after I arrived and played in the VERY COLD water for a little bit, I decided I couldn't leave that quickly! So, I stayed a second night to be able to enjoy the water all day yesterday. Other than having to do a few hours of work on the computer for my next assignment (which I was a little upset about them bothering me on my play day!), I got to sit under an umbrella overlooking the beach & waves all day. Is there anything better in the world?!? Here are a couple pictures I took while there. The first is the sunrise from yesterday morning (yes, I get up that early without the aid of an alarm - sick, I know!)

The next is of the "moon rise" last night. If it wasn't a full moon, it was really close!

I have to admit, the camera can't capture all the pretty colors I was able to see, but it can give you a general idea. :) I hope you enjoy the pictures!!

License Plate Tally: Another slow day. . . As I left South Carolina, headed to North Carolina, I only saw 1 Illinois tag. This brings our grand total to 12 so far. Only one more day of real travel, which will be on Friday. :)

Savannah

Well, I arrived in Savannah, GA, Sunday evening. It's a pretty drive across the state, and I was very happy to see the magnolia trees starting to bloom! Savannah is a quaint little city with several WONDERFUL restaurants. Sunday night, I had dinner at a little Irish Pub named Molly McPherson's (at least I think that's how you spell it). It was delicious, and the music was great. (Mom, it had mostly bagpipes, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for you.) :) Then, I got to walk around downtown a little before it got too dark. There are 22 city blocks solely dedicated to being parks in that city. It's so nice to be going along and see yet another area of trees, beautiful flowers, water fountains or statues, and park benches. What a fun place to live!

Monday morning, I got up and boarded my trolley tour of Savannah - with the senior citizen groups. :) I enjoyed getting to know the others on my trolleys. It was like having a bus load of grandparent substitutes all morning! (the only thing better was if it had been my actual grandparents) On the tour, we got to see where different films were made - like the bench where Forest Gump told his life story (The actual bench is gone, but the place where it sat is marked with a sign.) and the Six Pence Pub where Julia Roberts caught her cheating husband in Something To Talk About. They mentioned some others that were shot in Savannah (like Matt's The Legend of Baggar Vance), but we didn't see where they were filmed.

MOST importantly - at least in my Mema's opinion - I got to see The Lady & Sons. Actually, I stayed about a block & a half from the restaurant and didn't even realize it. :) I admit, I didn't plan too well because when I arrived at the restaurant when it opened at 11AM, the next seating time available for lunch was 2:15PM!!!! So, I took some pictures, looked in the gift shop, and went on my way - knowing that I wouldn't be able to wait another 2 1/2 hours before I ate. (sorry, Mema) The man who wrote the song Moon River was from Savannah - I didn't know that. They have a little restaurant/pub there named Moon River, so I ate lunch there since I love that song! It was fun.

After lunch, I hopped back on a trolley and headed to my car for my next adventure. Savannah is very pretty! My only recommendation is that if you want to actually eat lunch at Paula Deen's restaurant, be at the "host stand" there on Congress St. by at least 9AM!!!! :) (or eat a REALLY late breakfast!)

License Plate Tally: Not too exciting - only 2 new Illinois tags making the grand total 11 so far. On to South Carolina!!

Moving Day . . .

Well, my time in Birmingham has come to an end. It's truly a BEAUTIFUL area of the country, and I highly recommend that you visit the city sometime. The mountains (or hills - whatever they are), the trees, and the plants are gorgeous! And, the people are some of the nicest people you'll meet. I made some great friends while there. Although I griped about the specifics of my job while there, looking back I can see why God put me where He did. Once again, He knows better than I do! (shocking, I know) :)

So, in this small break between assignments, I decided to take a mini-vacation/road trip through the Southeast US as I slowly made my way up to DC. This evening, I arrived in Savannah, GA. I'm very excited to tour the city some tomorrow and hopefully at least get a picture of Paula Deen's restaurant, if not eat there.

License Plate Tally:

A long time ago, when deciding where to go on family vacation, my mom contacted the Illinois visitor center to get information on taking a vacation there. Unbelievably, the person working at the tourism bureau was not just shocked in her tone that someone was requesting information on visiting Illinois, but she actually asked my mom if we really wanted to go to Illinois for a vacation!! With that "recommendation" of the state, we decided to go back to Colorado that year on vacation - ALWAYS a good idea! :) The best part of that vacation was that when we arrived in CO, the majority of the out of state license plates we saw were from . . .
ILLINOIS!!!! They didn't even want to be in their state that summer! It was hilarious. So, it's been a running joke and makes us laugh every time we see Illinois plates.

Well, I got a good laugh as I drove today! In my 6 hour drive, I saw NINE Illinois plates!! The second most from a non-bordering state - the first being North Carolina (which is closer than Illinois). I called my parents, and we shared a good laugh. :) As I travel over the next few days, I'll be keeping a running tally of Illinois plates that I see on this site. (I know, the suspense is overwhelming. Just take a deep breath!)

Have a terrific week, and hopefully I'll have some good pictures for you later.

I love fish!

As far back as I can remember, I've loved watching fish. It's so very calming. I've even had some, starting with Melody Sr. & Lelopy Sr. (yeah, I made up that last name). I think I got them for my birthday before 3rd grade. I don't remember them lasting that long after I gave them some nice warm water to relax in after cleaning their bowl - that eternal relaxation! :) Hence, Melody Jr. & Lelopy Jr. came home soon after. These lasted a little longer having learned that fish prefer cool/cold water to warm. My next fish adventure wasn't until high school when I got Beauford, The Goldfish. He became part of the Poe family sometime after we moved to Livingston - I think between my junior & senior years. He was by far the longest living, non-mammal Poe family member! He went to A&M with me and lived until the spring of my (first) senior year. By then, he'd outgrown two fish bowls (a one gallon & a 3 gallon) and lived in a 10 gallon tank! He was a legend and even made it on my 1st roommate's homepage. :) After loosing such a close friend, I took a hiatus from fish ownership until nursing school. One of my 2nd Row Ladies study buddies from nursing school bought a Beta fish, and he was so pretty, my roommate & I decided our apartment needed one, too. So, off to Wal-Mart one night (probably after 10 or 11 PM so we could see all the strange people that appeared in the night time Galveston Wal-Mart . . . a story for another time!) we went in search of a beta fish. We found one, and named him Bruno. Unfortunately, Bruno didn't last very long, so we then brought home Herbie. Betas are some of the prettiest fish with their deep colors! But none can compare to Beauford, The Goldfish!

All that background was to explain why I would drive 2 1/2 hours just to go to an aquarium. :) I was off today, so I decided to head to Atlanta, GA, home of the "world's largest aquarium"!! It was probably the best one I've ever been to. (& I've been to lots) It was a little pricey, but well worth it if you like to watch fish. (If you don't, why go to an aquarium?) I'd definitely put it on my "MUST SEE" list of things to do if you're near Atlanta and have a few hours to kill - like when you're waiting for a ballgame to start. :) The first picture is of a Beluga Whale. They look like giant, white dolphins. I probably stayed at this exhibit most out of all of them. These massive mammals were so graceful and beautiful to watch!

This next picture is of a Hammerhead shark swimming above me as I walked through the tunnel.

And last but not least, some pretty, colorful fish.

I hope you enjoy the pictures! Thanks for reading my ramblings. :) Have a wonderful week!!

Softly Call the Muster . . .

Every year on April 21st, Aggies around the world gather wherever they are to remember and celebrate the lives of our Aggie Family Members who have lost their lives over the past year. It's a beautiful and touching ceremony. It always reminds me to live each day to the fullest and to let those I love know what they mean to me. I am so blessed by the people God has chosen to put in my life! What a privilege to get to be part of the incredible Aggie Family with its traditions. Have a wonderful weekend!

Virginia Tech

My heart goes out to the students and faculty of Virginia Tech! Having lived through a campus tragedy while at A&M (although no where near this magnitude), I know it changes the campus forever. I truly believe the ONLY way to survive such tragedy is to go running to the arms of the Great Comforter - Jesus! He knows sorrow, and He is the inventor of healing and forgiveness.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, . . .

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

HOPE

Because He lives,

I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives,

All fear is gone.

Because I know

He holds the future,

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives!

-Bill & Gloria Gaither

Isn't that reason enough to have hope no matter what you may be facing? How great that we serve a living God who is in complete control of everything. I hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday, and that you continue to celebrate this hope that we have in Christ all year long!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Well, it's that time again - for me to decide where I'm going next. I have a little less than a month left here in Birmingham, and I've decided not to extend. (I know - not a shock to anyone.) :) This hasn't been the most fun assignment (as far as work goes), but I know God has put me here for a reason. I've met some wonderful people. It's been a great time of relaxation and rejuvenation! My future options for work (as it stands tonight) are Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD), Children's (Washington, DC - where I went before), and Duke (North Carolina). Each location has its pros & cons. Please pray for me as I seek out where God wants me to go next!!

Happiness is . . .

My "musical tulip swing"! I went back to the Birmingham Botanical Garden this morning. The tulips were in bloom!!!! :) I stopped by Starbucks for my candy coffee treat and headed down the street to see the pretty flowers. There just happened to be a "porch" swing (minus the porch) right by a huge grouping of tulips, so I sat down, turned my music on, and swang. I'm not sure how long I sat there. I watched some chipmunks or squirrels (not quite sure what they were) playing in the big trees around me. It was such a great way to spend a few hours on my day off - combining several of my favorite things: coffee, tulips, music, swinging, and people watching. I did walk around the rest of the garden eventually to find even more of my special flowers scattered around. I'm sorry I didn't take my camera with me so I could share the beauty with you, but take my word, it was truly beautiful!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sadness in Aggieland . . .

Well, as I understand it, my Aggie basketball boys are out of the running to win this year. I've never really enjoyed basketball. To me, it's like the intermission between Act 1 (football) and Act 2 (my beloved baseball!). :) I certainly never understood brackets and seeds (which until only a couple years ago, I thought it was "seats" - like "1st or 2nd chair in band")! But, as the loyal Ag fan, I actually watched parts of a few games this season. Shocking, I know!! I'm so proud of my Aggies for getting SO FAR this season. They've come a long way since I was a student; it's unbelievable!! I hope they can appreciate all that they accomplished this year and leave with a feeling of success, not defeat because of a loss. I'm sure next year will be great, too. And who knows . . . I may actually watch an entire game?!? Gig 'em, Ags!!

Happy Springtime . . .

Have a wonderful day!!

Huntsville, AL

Well, I decided to go visit the Space & Rocket Center at NASA Huntsville today. It's about an hour & a half north of Birmingham. It was pretty fun. For those of you who don't know, I absolutely LOVE space and looking at the stars. I'm actually the science nerd that watches the NASA channel. :) This space shuttle is named Pathfinder. It has never flown into space, but it was used for practice a long time ago. I think they said it was built there in Huntsville. They also had several rockets to look at. I'm always amazed at the size of these ships and the fuel tanks! The next picture is from the Huntsville Botanical Garden. It's a grouping of 3 trees. (I think they're dogwoods, but I'm not sure.) The picture just does not do them justice. It was breathtaking! The gardens were very pretty, but I was a little disappointed at the lack of tulips. :) I guess it may still be a little early, but I was hoping! They have a hope garden there in honor of patients fighting a battle with cancer. Each spring and each fall they select 3 cancer patients to landscape a section of this garden. The patients get their picture and a brief bio on a plaque in their section. In the center, there's a bubbling little brook with benches around. It's probably one of the most peaceful places I've visited in a long time! On my way home, I had to stop at the grocery store, so I picked up a bouquet of tulips & gerber daisies. I'll get to see my tulips even if the gardens don't have them! :) It was a very fun day.

Road Trip #2!!

Well, yesterday morning I headed out on my 2nd official Alabama road trip! (Very Exciting!) :) I had to run a couple errands around town, and then I headed south on I-65 (towards Mobile). I wasn't quite sure what I was gonna do there, but I felt like driving. I love driving long distances! It's such a great time to sing at the top of your lungs with your favorite songs or to have a solid couple hours of prayer/worship with God. Well, being in the car for probably 8 or 9 hours yesterday gave me opportunity for both! (a few times!!) As I neared Mobile, I saw an exit for Pensacola, FL. I got to go there several years ago with a college retreat and remembered how pretty the beaches were, so I took the exit. About an hour later, I arrived at the beach and got to walk along the edge of the water for about an hour. The water was beautiful & clear, and the sand was so white it was almost reflective! I found a spot (in the shade - no sun screen with me!) to sit and watch the water until someone nearby thought it was a good idea to feed the seagulls. I've NEVER understood why people feel it necessary to feed those poop-machines! So, when the birds started dive bombing around where I was, I decided to get back in Roony and head someplace else. I headed west on I-10 towards Mobile. I'm not sure if I ever actually got into Mobile, though, because I had to exit and take a LONG detour to get some gas. Instead of winding my way back to I-10, I found a highway that I recognized went through Montgomery & near Birmingham. I hopped on and headed north, which was fun since it was different scenery from my trip down. I found my way back home by around 10PM last night. What a fun day! By the way, the picture is looking back where I had just walked through the sand. The water washed up before I could snap the picture and blurred my toe prints. Oh, well!