!Buenos dias!

Sorry for the lame title, but in all honesty, today was a good day. After a meeting and a class, we have an extensive 3+ hour break before our assistive tech class. Debating on the necessary caffeine intake required to make it, we headed on a quest: to the Starbucks across campus. After we made it and indulged in a little (okay a lot) of coffee, I made the spontaneous detour to see my favorite Spanish professor (who is kind of dreamy in that I'm-extremely-intelligent-and-have-an-accent-to-die-for kind of way). It's been two years since I had class with him, so I wasn't really expecting him to remember me. When I got off the elevator on the 4th floor of Keezel, I was pleasantly surprised to find, not only had his office moved, but he was in it! I kind of peered in and did a double take to make sure it was him (it was!). He looked at me for a minute (or maybe like 20 seconds) before he realized who I was! That alone was enough to make my Woeful Wednesday wonderful. Then we had a great little conversation (in Spanish of course) followed by my mass amounts of giggling and hair twirling. Okay I didn't really giggle or twirl my hair, but I have to say I was really nervous to see him. All in all, it was a great little reunion and who knows, I may stop by again some time (I mean he did invite back). Did I mention he was my favorite professor? Yea. That accent, those dark eyes, and that tan skin definitely reinforced my desire to marry a Spanish man. Look out Spain, here I come.

First day of fieldwork

Today was my first day of our pediatric fieldwork. And mine was AWESOME!!!! I really love my pediatric classes, so having the fieldwork in place really helps reinforce all of the concepts that I've learned in class. Not to mention my site is AMAZING.

I think mostly I like this population, because I'm just a kid myself and I have three sisters of various ages that I've babysat and played with and know how to relate to.

On another note, I'm thinking of changing my blog name. I haven't come up, with anything serious yet, but some laughable contenders are The Tantalizing Tales of Tristan and Bitches in Stitches. haha laughable yes.

Quick thought or two...

One thing that I absolutely long for, and I'm being completely open and vulnerable here, is to find a husband, get married, and be blessed with children. A dream far fetched? I don't think so. But, it's something that I constantly think about. For instance, if I'm not going to meet someone at JMU (and btw I am completely 100% sure that I will not find someone here, but I'm okay with that), where will I meet someone? As a grad student in a class of 22 girls, my options are slim.

There's always church/bible study which is ideal. Even the gym wouldn't be so bad. Quite possibly the "bank boy" would make a delightful boyfriend. :) However, I always feel that there's a time crunch. And I've finally figured out what my problem is. I'm so invested in this idea that society has for me (- go to college, get married, go to college, get married) that I'm not thinking about the idea that God has for me.

I recently heard this quote, "Don't pray that God will put someone in your life, pray that you're ready for them when they come." Nice words. Guess where it was from? Millionaire Matchmaker, yet another "realistic" view of when you should meet someone. Though the words do speak some truth.

My big realization hit me last night after bible study: I don't need to be focusing on what kind man I'm looking for or even what kind of wife I'll be someday. I need to be focusing on what kind of woman God wants me to be. He has this perfect plan for my life and while it would be tragic (at least in my eyes) to never get married, He should be enough for me throughout my life. So my goal this semester is to focus on being the type of woman that God wants me to be - not who I want to be or who I think anybody else wants me to be.

I'll leave you with this final thought that has really inspired this new thinking:

"A woman is not born a woman, nor does she become one when she marries a man, bears a child and does their dirty linen; not even when she joins a women's liberation movement. A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be."

Yea.

A Day To Remember

It's amazing how a tragedy links people together forever. It's disheartening and sad that every 11th of September will be a day that no American will ever forget. My heart goes out to every family and friend affected by the tragedy as my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I remember being in 8th grade English class. I didn't even know what the World Trade Center was. And now I know, I will never forget it. The rest of the day seems blurry. I remember people's parents picking them up early for school, all after school activities were canceled. I remember walking into my house. I remember seeing the images replayed over and over again on the television. I didn't really know what was going on. Terrorism seemed so distant, I didn't even understand what that was either.

I remember hearing incredible stories, both good and bad. I knew that this day would never be forgotten. And even as I remember it now, nothing will amount to the lives lost and the families changed. I know there's not much that I can do, except remember.

Thank you to all the firefighters, police officers, and military for serving your country then, now, and for every tomorrow. The only hope I have for this world, comes from the hope of another.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. " Romans 5:5

Race Day Photo

Enlarged just so you can see it better. I'm a little proud still. :) 2:15:13.

I placed 2064 for my gender and my overall place was 4874.

Va Beach Half Marathon

I did it! I ran consecutively for 13.1 miles with a time of 2:15:13 to finish the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. It was literally one of the hardest mental and physical challenges I have ever completed. I had to get up around 5:30AM to get ready, make it to the race by 6:30 and then my heat was on around 7:25. I was nervous and excited. And thank goodness for the adrenaline and energy! I ran steady and passed a lot of people until about mile 10. That was the hardest part for me. I knew there were only 3 miles left, but it was so difficult to keep going. I had to tell my self things like "You can't walk now because you could have walked 5 miles ago!" and "There's only 3 miles left, make it to Mile 11 and then decided". Once I hit the top of the bridge on the way back (around mile 12) I knew that I could finish the race.

But it also had me thinking, there was no way that I could run another 13 miles. I don't know how marathon runners do it. Afterwards, I was and still am incredibly sore. But the accomplishment of the feat is so much greater than the physical pain. :)

I'm getting ready to sign up for another 1/2 marathon and am running a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks. A new hobby?? I'm thinking yes. There is nothing more painfully satisfying.

And so it begins...

Three days into school and I'm already exhausted. And this week has been a joke. At least for grad school. Monday we had class from 1:00 - 4:00 which actually went by kind of fast. Tuesday we didn't have class since that's our clinical day. Wednesday we had a fieldwork meeting (which my placement is awesome btw) and then our night class from 4:45-7:45. It sucks. It literally drains all the energy out of my day.

Today and tomorrow we just have one class both from 9:30 - 12:00 which is nice. However, still long. I just hope today goes by fast so I can go to Old Navy and Victoria Secret to hit the sales. Did I mention we're finally getting cable in our rooms???