Dinosaur Museum

Heaven and I took Treyton to the new dinosaur exhibit at the museum today. We had such a good time. We first went to the our local coffee shop for story time and then left from there for the museum. I'm going to share the pictures below.

These last few pictures are where he was playing outside after we left the museum. I think he had more fun afterwards! He's a typical boy. He loves to run and play. :)

Operating Room Tour

Today was a good day. We had our Operating Room Tour at the hospital. We had to put on scrubs and hair nets. We were able to see every operating room. They had a organ donation program, a open heart surgery room, eye surgery room, so many operating rooms I couldn't remember them all. It's so exciting and yet so scary at the same time. I'm going to share a few pictures.

I haven't taken many pictures of me since beginning the program. This is our casual uniform. It's my favorite. I really like the lab jacket. I'm still getting use to my glasses. I can't wait for the day I graduate in 2014!

Another Day Down

Ugh, I'm so exhausted. I have had a stomach ache and felt just bad today, an ache has been in the back of my head, not a real headache but a presence of one. It made for a long day. Too long. I can't describe in words how bad my legs ache and how glad I am to finally be home.

After I got home from school I had to go to the Dr. That took until 7:30 and then I'd promised Meadow a trip to Kmart to buy some new colored jeans, so we ate at Subway and then went shopping. I didn't realize how early Kmart closes so we had all of 20 minutes! lol But honestly, that was all we needed. She found what she wanted and we made it home before 10 pm.

Yesterday, while I was in class I had a phone call from Meadow's school. I had to leave the classroom to take the call. Turns out she'd thrown up at school and I had to make arrangements for her to get home. I hope I'm not getting that.

Ah yes, I did have to go to my lab instructor and talk about my skills. I did take too long on one of them so I get a retake next Wednesday.

Tomorrow is my operating room tour! I'm excited but praying I feel better!

So, it's off to bed I go tonight.

Sleep tight blog world. Don't let the bed bugs bite!

(I haven't forgotten that I need to share pictures of my desk and computer, I'll get to that this weekend!)

Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies

These look delicious! I am going to have to make these soon.

Cherry Chocolate Kisses

Servings: approximately 36 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened, but still cool*****very important!

1 cup powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons maraschino cherry “juice”

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

Granulated sugar, for sprinkling the cookies

36 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.

3. Reduce the speed to the lowest setting and slowly add the powdered sugar and salt.

4. Add the cherry juice and the almond extract until combined.

5. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

6. Increase the mixer speed to medium and add the cherries.

7. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place the balls on a baking sheet, approximately 2 inches apart.

8.  Using your thumb, gently press each cookie in its center until the cookie is about 1/2-inch thick.

9.  Sprinkle each cookie with a little granulated sugar.

10.  Bake the cookies until the bottoms are lightly browned, about 14 minutes.

11. Once removed from the oven, immediately press a chocolate kiss into each cookie’s center.

12.  Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Source: directly from: The Ultimate Cookie Book

I Survived!

lol I kind of have a feeling that I may have a lot of posts coming in the future with that title. :) Today was rough, I'm not going to lie. Harder than I had thought it would be. I was prepared. I was well studied and I knew everything I needed to know. But, having information in my head and actually doing it are two totally different things. God shown His favor down upon me today. He had grace and mercy with me. I'm pretty sure I made it through both of my check-offs. One of them I was pretty tight on time so I'm waiting to see how I fared. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch so to speak, but at the same time I want to speak positiveness over my journey.

Every day is one day closer to graduating. I'm so looking forward to that day. I'm still debating on what I want to do, I can't remember if I've mentioned it or not but I have been feeling led in the direction of oncology. I'm praying.

Update on our study: We went back to haggle on the black desk at Granny's Attic and we offered them $75 for it. The original asking price was $125. They made the call to the owner and I had decided I wouldn't pay any more than $75 for it. If she didn't take our offer then the green desk I shared before would be mine!

I know this was a God thing because when I first started this study journey I only wanted to spend $75 on a desk. That was the number I had in my head.

The lady took the $75!

I thought I would be disappointed because I really wanted the green desk, BADLY! I wasn't disappointed though. God blessed me with this desk and it's really pretty. I'll post pictures soon. My new computer came in and we got everything all set up. Now, just a few more tweaks and it'll be done. 

Well, I have a drug dosage test in the morning so I'm going to keep this short and go practice before going to bed.

Be blessed!

First Day of Second Semester

It was hard. roflol. I have so much to learn before tomorrow. So much. Even with all the medication administration studying I've done, it's helped a lot, but boy oh boy. Sooooooo, if you're reading this please say a prayer for me.

It's just another Manic Monday. Oh oh! :) Bring on the Tuesday!


PHILIPPIANS 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

Pictures

Now the room still isn't finished but boy has it come a long, long way. I am still awaiting my computer desk, computer, and little surprise. But, here is the room so far.

First I am going to start with my grandmother's China Hutch. I've had this for a long time and have wanted to do something creative with it but didn't feel I had it in me to do it. I'm at a place now that I'm not afraid of making mistakes and I'm ready to be creative. I plan to sand this down and paint it a brick reddish color and distress it. I'm thinking I'll start this project in the spring. (Ignore Tony's equipment. We are in the process of making a new home for it. hee hee)

We've had this mirror forever, I'm trying to be a little creative with it. Above the picture is an oil painting hanging that my good friend Missy Cummings painted for me. It says: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all the work together for good to them that love God." I'm not sure about the sheer curtain. I have another one identical to it, so there is a possibility that I may change this up. (Tony and Meadow have their guitars in here too!) 

We cleaned up this corner well. I've downsized my homeschooling shelves and books. Meadow has a neat little work place here. Notice her One Direction posters on the wall. She has her own desk for homework and her own shelves (that you can't see for the guitar case) that she will store her sewing machine and supplies on. 

The color doesn't show here but the wall is a bright aqua and I have a lot of neat little things to add that will blend this bricky red color with it. I love these curtains. I bought them years ago from J.C.Penney when I was homeschooling. The table and chairs here are going to go when I find the perfect love seat, chaise lounge or oversized chair and ottoman. I think that will give them room more of a study feel. 

Here is the wall that my desk will go against. We debated not using my large map but I love it so much we decided to go ahead and make it a part of the room. Oh and notice the carpet remnant! Isn't it huge and nice? I love it. It's beautiful and great quality and feels wonderful under your bare feet. Oh and there is my dear hubby playing his guitar. :)

I will post more pictures later this week after we get my desk and computer set up. I'm very well pleased with my room. It's still plain, and it will be a process of adding little things along the way, I look forward to it.

Happy Sunday! I'm going to study.

Saturday Night Update

We worked on the study all evening. We cleaned it out and laid the carpet. It looks wonderful. I did a little tweaking and I can't wait to post pictures. Everything came together quick and nice.

We went back to Granny's Attic so that Tony could see the black desk that I had spotted Friday with Heaven. He made sure it was sturdy and he really liked it. For the price it's going to be ridiculous to try and wait for the other light green desk. So I'm going to go with the black one. I also found a neat surprise today to go with the desk but I'm not sharing until everything is in place!

The new computer should be here soon, so my completion date should be by the end of the week. Tony and I have really worked together well on this project. I would post a couple of pics of today's updates but I'm exhausted. I'll get to that tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, it'll be a long study day for me. School is back in session on Monday!

Working on the Study

I mentioned redoing my front room for my nursing studies. I spent the better part of yesterday hunting down carpet and the perfect computer desk. It was a hard task. Heaven went with me. We had the best day.

We started locally and went to Granny's Attic. We spent a long time checking out antiques. I found one computer desk prospect. It's black. Not my favorite but it was sturdy and had a lot of potential.

Then we went into Martinsville and visited a new shop called Green Living Resale. It was a neat little shop with used and antique furniture. I found a lovely french style couch/loveseat that would fit perfectly in the study but I'm not willing to splurge for anything until I've gotten my computer desk. No such luck at Green Living Resale. We went to Big Lots, Walmart, K-mart, Office Max, Riverside Flea Market, and several other little furniture marts to no avail.

We did hit the jack pot at New York Carpetland and found the perfect carpet remnant. I haggled and got a wonderful deal on a 12 x 11 piece, just right for the study.

Finally, after leaving Lowe's and picking up a few painting supplies I needed we passed one tiny furniture place. We turned around and went back. I found the PERFECT desk. I fell in love. It is a pale, pastel, light green. The personality is bounding. Here is a picture:

This picture does not do it any justice nor does it show the perfect color. The features are perfect for me. The only drawback is that when I began this venture I vowed to do it on as little expense as possible. This little beauty would set me back quite a bit. The price tag was $879 and it was on sale at 40% off which would bring me to the grand total of $527.60. I've thought about offering her $439.50 which would be half, but the reality is, we really don't have it right now. She did however offer me layaway, which is very tempting. I came home and done a search on this desk, it's a Stanley Furniture piece and I found it online for $2079. Can you imagine? WOW, this makes me want this desk even more!!!

I however, came home empty handed. While I'm determined to stick to my original pact and find something sturdy at a steal - I cannot help secretly hoping I find a way to get this little gem above.

We came home and painted. I simply LOVE the color that we made from paints we had at home.

Today we are putting down the carpet. I'll update pictures in another post soon.

We are getting ready to head up to Granny's Attic and check out the black desk again. I'm going to get Tony's opinion on it and then I'll decide. If I do go with the dream desk option I'll be laying it away and I'll have to create a make shift desk until it's paid off. :)

I love house projects. My next tackle is going to be the basement. Just to empty it! .....

Happy Saturday!

Jumbled Brain

Too much information smashed into one little head already. And today was only Medi Tech training for the COWs (computers on wheels) at the hospital I will be training in. It's scary and exciting at the same time. I love going to the book store and picking up new supplies for this semester. Thankfully all my books were purchased last semester so my needs list was very short. I picked up several study guides and I read them all tonight. I'm so thankful for these. They will slip right into my binders and make for great little reminders when you know something but it's just not coming to you.

Studying is what I'm doing. I'm continuing to plunge through my 30 sum page chapter in Fundamentals on medication administration, practicing drug dosage math and prereading my Pharmacology. It's going to be one doozie of a semester.

Last semester I worked in the nursing home, I'm so looking forward to working in the hospital. Lots of exciting things coming.

Heaven and I are going to the Farmer's Market in the morning. I haven't been in a long while and I'm looking forward to seeing what goodies they have.

Sky and her friend Becca cleaned out my classroom today so I'm going to put some time into painting and "redressing" the room into my study for nursing school. Lots of goodies coming for it. I also plan to distress a China Hutch that belonged to my long lost Nannie West this spring. I'm going to incorporate some earthy toned colors with accents of aqua and different hues of blue. Blue is my favorite color. Sapphire is my birthstone. I'm going to make Meadow a little nook (corner) for her sewing machine, supplies and new goodies she got for Christmas. It feels good to have this little project under way. I'm so happy with my home. I've got my bedroom exactly like I wanted it, my kitchen is done, and the den is done. So now on to my new study.

I use to want to move to badly. I always felt as though this house belonged to my mother in law. It took years for it to feel like home. We've been planted here since 1997. That is a long time to live in one place. I remember our years of renting and house hopping and it makes me even more grateful for our home. I love it here. The peaceful homey feeling. It's not perfect but it's our perfectness in it's own way.

I've built up a lovely collection of gorgeous red dishes. Some Paula Deen some not. My kitchen has one wall that I paint every so often when I bore of the colors. I started off with a Biltmore Estate shade of purple. It lasted about a year and I was ready for a change. I went with the bricky looking Paula Deen red and I love it so much all we have to do is touch it up. I have had no desire to change it since we've had it done. It's a cool shade. I have a curtain with a coffee house theme and it has the same bricky red and a touch of aqua in it. I'm really excited to bleed that aqua over into my study. It's going to be a great blend.

I have to say my favorite thing in our home is our fireplace. For years it was covered up by a board. I never understood why. Then one day inspiration hit me and I pulled that board down and cleaned and cleaned that fireplace. We carpeted that room and painted it a coffee creamer color and then added gas logs to the fireplace. Stunning it is. There is an old hand built fireplace mantel that adds just the right personality.

Meadow wants to go to Kmart when she gets home tomorrow to pick up some clothes. She wants colored jeans. I can't believe those things are back in! It's so 80's! I have to laugh. I remember those days. Even now I just don't care for colored jeans.

I sure love me some cow girl boots though! These are the ones Tony got me for Christmas......

I love them. They are Corrals and they are so comfortable. I've tried on everything from Ariats, Tony Lamas, and Old Gringos. Let me tell you, nothing compares to these. The soft feel of leather and notice the square toe. They are amazing. Only a few styles come with the square toe. I plan on ordering another pair in February that have some aqua in them. I haven't decided if I'm going to do all aqua or just accented aqua. I love them all. :) I highly doubt the aqua ones I've been looking at are square toed though. I'll have to go with pointed toes on those.

Well, I think I've rambled long enough. I've talked on just about any and everything just jumping around on no particular theme-oh yes- that's right- Jumbled Brain! That's okay though, my life is just like that, I love it that way. Never boring.

Special Moments

Today was a day of special moments. I get to keep Treyton for Heaven at least once a week. Today she went back to work so it was my day. He was a sweet heart all day. Of course he always is, but today was different. We spent so much time together, laughing, playing, goofing off. He was exhausted by nap time. He never resisits his naps. This in itself is a blessing.

How I remember the arguments and crying fits with my girls. Those were special moments too. :)

I hadn't intended to lay down with Trey but when he rolled over and laid that little head in the crease of my arm and touched his nose to my nose and closed his eyes I was mesmerized.

I was captured.

I couldn't move.

I took a breath, a long deep breath. I could smell his sweet babies breath.

Mmmmm, how refreshing. My all time favorite smell ever. The memories of my girls flooded me. Each one at different moments capturing my heart exactly like my little Treyton was doing right then and there.......How time flies.

I kissed his lips. He didn't move. I kissed them again. How sweet it was to be able to get his sugies without his protest of, "No more kisses MiMi!"

I cherished that moment. I took in every sound, every smell, every thing. The way my sheet and blanket wrapped around his sweet shoulders. The way he was lying on his side in my arms. The way his little chubby face was smooshed in my pillow.

Ah, another breath, another stolen kiss.

Bliss.

This was heaven.

There is NOTHING in this world like being a MiMi.

It's the greatest honor I know.

I decided I needed a nap too.

So I closed my eyes and slept with my grandson.

Thank-You Father for this answered prayer. I give You all the praise, honor and glory. I love You Father. You give me the greatest gifts. May I never forget the peace, the sweet baby smell, and the soft baby kisses from today.

Happy New Year 2013

May God richly bless and keep you this year! Seek Him desperately. 

Fulfill the call He has on your life. Prioritize. He is the Great I Am!

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve 2012.....almost 2013

Tony rented movies for the night. We are together but doing different things. I'm semi watching slash semi studying. I have med tech class this Thursday. So, I'm digging into medication administration and drug dosages math. Fun! Fun!

I say that but I mean it. Studying is hard but well worth it in the end. I'm truly living my dreams. They are coming true.

Today as I walked through the house I had such a sense of thankfulness. Thankfulness for my husband, for being a wife. It truly is a role that I enjoy. Thankful for my girls and being a mother, another role that brings me great joy. Thankfulness for our home, it brings us such safety and security. All of it together represents my lifetime dreams. Dreams that have come true.

2012 has been a good year for us. A time for growing closer. All of us. I feel that every relationship and every member of our family can say that this year we've considered each other more and that we've grown tighter, closer, and even more loyal to one another.

It's the year that all of my preparing and hard work began to pay off with my acceptance into the ADN program at DCC. It's the year I passed my dreaded first semester. I was so afraid of failing.

It's the year of great beginnings.

I pray that our feet stay on the path the Lord prepareth for us. I pray that He keep His loving, safe, secure hands around us. I know that He will get us through another year. Another great year. Together.

Bring on 2013!

Breakfast Bar Sundays

We set the clock and got up early this morning. My daddy, Heaven, Matt and Trey all met us here at our house around 8:30. We all went to Mt. Airy to Golden Corral for the breakfast bar. Breakfast is Tony's favorite food. He'd been wanting to go for a long long time. It was good. I'm more of a fancy restaurant girl. I prefer Carabas, Outback, Long Horn or little country places like Dixie Pig. I'm not much on buffets but I had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed my morning with my family.

It's the fellowship that makes the experience. I'm so blessed to have to the love and support from such a tight knit family. The spirit of love that dwells amoung us is beautiful. It's soothing to the soul. Refreshing to the bones. It lifts you up.

My Jesus is love.

He is my Savior.

He is my courage and my strength.

Do you know Him?

He's my very best friend.

My confidant.

He guides my foot steps and leads me along the path He created for me.

He's faithful.

In honor of Him we decided to ride out to one of my favorite places on earth (I have several). We rode out to Kibbler Valley. We rolled down the windows (in spite of Heaven's complaints of the cold) and we listened.

What a beautiful sound the river makes as it runs. The air was so fresh and crisp. It made me feel alive and rejuvenated.

We took a few pictures.

It had changed some since my last visit. New cabins, remodels, gazebos, decks, new fishing holes, camping spots. One day Tony and I plan to have a small piece of land there. Even if just to place a camper there right next to the river. I can't wait.

Down in that deep valley, in the deep crevice of those mountains, it's beautiful. It makes it hard to relate the comparison you always hear about being on the mountain top or being in a valley. The mountain top is suppose the greatest moment while the valley is suppose to be the lowest. For me, their beauty is the same. The presence of Christ is so real you can feel Him just as strongly in either place. Maybe that is the point, He never leaves us.

I love the Mountains.

I love the Valley just as much.

These scriptures are so beautiful.......

Deuteronomy 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

Isaiah 41:18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Seek Him, for He is seeking you. 

Here is a glimpse of the homes in the valley and some of the river, but these do not do the river justice. I'll take better ones soon.

I love how the parents set this slide up right next to the steps. What a neat idea.

 The water is so beautiful and my pictures-these pictures-do not do Kibbler Valley any justice.

 A privately owned picnic area.

 A beautiful cabin. I love this design.

 An older cabin.

 This is a neat little camp site. It's for sale. It's small but it's right next to the river. Tony and I have seriously discussed this as a future venture for us. We plan on getting a nice camper when I graduate from RN school and a place like this would be perfect for set up.

 The water again.

 Another private owned sweet spot.

 again.

 beautiful

 Cute cabin

 Neat rock, it hangs way over. The picture doesn't bring it to life at all. It's breathtaking in person.

 This is me standing under the rock and looking up to take the picture.

 It was cold, see the Icicles?

 Now this is a nice place.

 You see the mountains behind it. This place is beautiful.

 This is an older home being remodeled.

 This place is across the river. Very hard to get pictures of, but this is my dream place. I love this home. It has been remodeled but kept so original. I love the 'Little House on the Prairie' feel to this.

 Another Shot

 Again.

 This is beautiful but way to fancy for my taste.

 Another private owned site

 Again, another private owned site. I love the old cement table and seats.

 One of many bridges.

I hope to go back to Kibbler Valley soon. The next time will be planned and I will be sure to take my good camera, my Nikon D7000 and my zoom lense. These pictures were taken with my small point and shoot Olympus that I keep in my purse. It's a nice little camera but it doesn't capture the detail my Nikon does.

So, that's a wrap to my breakfast bar Sunday.

It's time for me to go and start studying, I see lots of medication administration in my future.......

Sleepy Saturdays

This semester my escape has been Dawson's Creek. We've never had cable television and never watched a lot of T.V. We do however have Netflix. So, I decided to find a old show that was complete that I could watch alone and on my time. The one draw back that I found with this was that I would often escape to Dawson's Creek when I could have been studying more. I knew that I really needed to finish the seasons before school went back next week.

 I stayed up until 4 a.m. finishing it last night. The last three episodes of their last season, season 6, were so good. I cried for over an hour while watching. It was so bittersweet because once I'd finished the show there was like a piece of me was gone. I was happy with the ending though. Very satisfied.

I slept in today and Tony being such a sweet man came to wake me around 12. My sleeping schedule over the holidays reminds me of my homeschooling schedule. I always revert back to my night owl lifestyle when left to my own free will. It has its pros and cons. Tony fixed me chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Savannah had her friends spend the night last night. Her boyfriend came over today and we all watched movies together. I fell asleep in the floor, under my heating blanket, and just woke up. It's 7 pm. Talk about a wonderful nap. I slept hard.

Lazy, sleepy Saturdays.

I love them.

Laid back, nothing to do, surrounded by family and friends.

Hmmmm and now I'm hungry.

Starving in fact.

I think I need to send the kiddos out for more take out.

:)

Thank-God for Sleepy Saturdays.

It's Friday Night, I Guess that Makes Alright.....

You're daggone right it does! Friday night. We had dinner date plans to go to Mexican and then on to Honduras to hear our sweet friend Marcie sing. But, as the time drew near for me to get ready and I sat here on my comfy couch, under my soft, warm, heating blanket-a gift from my dear hubby-the chill in the air convinced me that we needed to stay in tonight. Thankfully, Tony felt the same way. So here we sit at home together in our nice warm den watching T.V, me blogging and waiting on our take out from Mexican. Now that's a dinner date. Kiddos are out and about and the house is quiet. That is something you really come to appreciate when your youngest-3rd child- is 11.

Winter time.

Christmas break.

Relaxation.

Warmth.

Togetherness.

Peace.

God is so good to me.

Thank-You Father. Thank-You for Friday nights. Alone at home with the hubby.

I don't think there could be a better date night, in the cold winter.......

Christmas 2012

We had an awesome Christmas. Wonderful family time. This year we had a new appreciation for each other. It's hard without Nannie and Papa West. It's so different. But I looked around the room and seen their legacy. Such a huge legacy. Then I looked at sweet Landri and my heart was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's healing touch. I'm so thankful for every member of our family, and every spouse, and every friend. I'm thankful for every moment, every memory. I cherish my time with them.

Yes, Christmas was awesome this year.

I've enjoyed my off time thoroughly. It took me a few days to wind down. I was so stressed coming out of last semester. I have a lot of peace going into this one. I do have a lot of studying to do which will commence on Saturday.

2012 held many events for us.

I was accepted to nursing school. Savannah Sky spent a month in Ethiopia and a month in Uganda. She also graduated. A whole year early. Who would have ever dreamed? Landri was diagnosed with a brain tumor and then healed, never having to go through radiation. Tony and I enjoyed our 19th Anniversary. Heaven turned 22, Savannah Sky turned 17, Meadow turned 11 and my sweet Treyton turned 2.

I'm really looking forward to 2013.

I have some Christmas pictures but Meadow's camera is missing in action. Hopefully it'll turn up soon.

Looking forward to the New Year!

Mimi's Little Man

I sure do love this little guy......

and he sure was happy with his no sew Mickey Mouse blanket his Mimi made him and his Mickey Mouse sippy cups his Mimi bought him.