Wow! Back on campus!! Yay!!! I'm so happy to see all of my friends again. My arthritis is really settling back down to the level it should be at. I was so scared when it was all flaring up so badly. I was concerned that I would not be able to perform my duities as a nurse... I was questioning God's call on my life and I was scared for classes coming up. I gave it over to God because I am sure that he has called me to Nursing. So, like I say about other things: if God has made me this way and called me to do this, then it's his problem. I wish I could just get that into my head and not have to constantly deal with it whenever a new problem comes up. Oh well. I know that because of those types of things I am kept on my knees before God always having to give up my pride and my priorities to Him because he knows ALL of my potential.
My schedule is pretty much long days strung together. The shortest day I have is Tue which is from 8-10 and then 11:30-1:30. That is, until they add another class at 10. Thursday, I'm solid from 8am. to 6pm with a half hour break for lunch.... fun! Heh, right. I can't imagine that my days are going to be even longer once I start clinicals in a month. Then I start working at 7am and get off at 3:30. One of the reasons my days are so long is that Tue and Thu I have choir from 4-6. It may be a huge time committment right now but I am really excited about the stuff we're going to sing... and the scholarship doesn't hurt. ;-)
Anyway, I have to get to studying. Maybe a nap is in order too... zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Why???
Argh. I've been having some serious flare-ups in the last couple of weeks. I dropped a piece of firewood because my thumb gave out on me and got like 30 tiny splinters all over my hand... I'm in pain whenever I climb a flight of stairs because of my knee... my wrist is killing me because of the caulking we have been doing on the house (now, why did that not happen when I was doing siding hauling planks of layered cement around a roof and nailing them in with a 5 lb. air gun?) my wrist even woke me up a couple of times last night... I'm completely unmotivated when it comes to working on the house and so my parents are really getting on my case and it's totally against my personality! I should be excited and a workaholic with a job like this! Where is my motivation? My spirit? My drive to work and serve?
I'm really concerned that this will spill over into school coming up in a week and a half. That scared me so much (along with the pain in my wrist) that I bawled while cleaning the baseboards in the master bedroom while my mom was right on the other side of the door frame and she still doesn't know. She really got on my case this morning saying that "you're a healthy young girl. Why do your wrists hurt so much when I feel only a little sore...I'm an old woman..." blah, blah, blah. I put off bawling until I got in my room because I'M NOT A HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN RIGHT NOW!!!! WHY IS THAT?
Why do I have to have arthritis already that sometimes I can't lift a half-gallon of milk? Why do I have to be so tired that my energy level overrides my personality and my real desires to work and succeed? Why do I have to be prone to degenerative joint diseases like arthritis? Why do I have to bruise so easily? Why are my joints so loose that I can hardly wash a window without becoming exhausted because my muscles have to work overtime to keep my shoulder in socket and wash the window at the same time?
I went to my mom this morning after my bawling... (I was hoping I wouldn't get all emotional on her because she always takes it as "Elizabeth being emotional and unreasonable" Why does she have to be so hard? I know I have a lot of the same personality but I can't understand why she has to be such a brick wall... Not everyone has the emotional control she has! Personally, I think my personality is more balanced than hers is anyway! Let's not go there...) ...and I told her that either she would write out a check that morning to send my test to Dr. Lloyd or I would. And she's like "why the ultimatum?" And I'm like "Duh! Because the test has been filled out and sitting on the table for the last several weeks! When is that going to be sent out? I need to know what's wrong. By now, the test results won't come back before school starts anyway.
She then got on my case about dragging my feet to take the pills she and dad thought I should take. First, I'm terrible at remembering something like that. Second, they're guessing using their experiences with aches and pains. I could consume what they suggest, wait 30 days to try and figure out whether they work or not, or I can get a test done in a couple of weeks and know exactly what I'm supposed to be taking. Real hard, isn't it???
Argh!!
I thank God every day that I don't wake up feeling sick which has been for every day this last week except for yesterday morning. So that's improving... but all this other stuff is just dragging me down physically, mentally, and emotionally. I won't even have the week before school starts to wind down because my mom's going to come pick me up when she can so I can go and work on the house some more. Why don't I care? I should be so excited about this. This is the best business opportunity since their internet mall (with which, they had a guy planning to invest 5 million but a guy who worked with my parents tried to cut a side deal and subsequently blew up our deal. That was after investing over 35 thousand of our own money out of pocket. That's bankruptcy #2).
I really should stop ranting. I feel like I want to go on but I know I'll just be repeating myself. Please take some time right now and pray for me. I know you won't remember to pray later. I'm just feeling so hopeless.
I'm really concerned that this will spill over into school coming up in a week and a half. That scared me so much (along with the pain in my wrist) that I bawled while cleaning the baseboards in the master bedroom while my mom was right on the other side of the door frame and she still doesn't know. She really got on my case this morning saying that "you're a healthy young girl. Why do your wrists hurt so much when I feel only a little sore...I'm an old woman..." blah, blah, blah. I put off bawling until I got in my room because I'M NOT A HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN RIGHT NOW!!!! WHY IS THAT?
Why do I have to have arthritis already that sometimes I can't lift a half-gallon of milk? Why do I have to be so tired that my energy level overrides my personality and my real desires to work and succeed? Why do I have to be prone to degenerative joint diseases like arthritis? Why do I have to bruise so easily? Why are my joints so loose that I can hardly wash a window without becoming exhausted because my muscles have to work overtime to keep my shoulder in socket and wash the window at the same time?
I went to my mom this morning after my bawling... (I was hoping I wouldn't get all emotional on her because she always takes it as "Elizabeth being emotional and unreasonable" Why does she have to be so hard? I know I have a lot of the same personality but I can't understand why she has to be such a brick wall... Not everyone has the emotional control she has! Personally, I think my personality is more balanced than hers is anyway! Let's not go there...) ...and I told her that either she would write out a check that morning to send my test to Dr. Lloyd or I would. And she's like "why the ultimatum?" And I'm like "Duh! Because the test has been filled out and sitting on the table for the last several weeks! When is that going to be sent out? I need to know what's wrong. By now, the test results won't come back before school starts anyway.
She then got on my case about dragging my feet to take the pills she and dad thought I should take. First, I'm terrible at remembering something like that. Second, they're guessing using their experiences with aches and pains. I could consume what they suggest, wait 30 days to try and figure out whether they work or not, or I can get a test done in a couple of weeks and know exactly what I'm supposed to be taking. Real hard, isn't it???
Argh!!
I thank God every day that I don't wake up feeling sick which has been for every day this last week except for yesterday morning. So that's improving... but all this other stuff is just dragging me down physically, mentally, and emotionally. I won't even have the week before school starts to wind down because my mom's going to come pick me up when she can so I can go and work on the house some more. Why don't I care? I should be so excited about this. This is the best business opportunity since their internet mall (with which, they had a guy planning to invest 5 million but a guy who worked with my parents tried to cut a side deal and subsequently blew up our deal. That was after investing over 35 thousand of our own money out of pocket. That's bankruptcy #2).
I really should stop ranting. I feel like I want to go on but I know I'll just be repeating myself. Please take some time right now and pray for me. I know you won't remember to pray later. I'm just feeling so hopeless.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Squatty and the Friendship song
So, like I said... Squatty and the friendship song...
Before every meal we have to bus the seniors down to the dining hall because our lodge is at the top of a hill so we had to plan "pre-meal entertainment". Right before the last meal, Laura and I were "squatties" (where you are the face and legs of the character and someone else is the arms). Since the theme of the camp this year was "friendship" we did two little acts. The first was where I told the story of some of my best friends who came to an untimely end...I then break into emotional song of the Three Blind Mice. Laura then chastises me to use more of my vocabulary and breaks into another, wordier version (a trio of rodents with defective vision...observe how they motate...they all pursued the wife of an agriculturalist/ she cut off their tails with a culinary utensil/ in the expance of your existance have you ever witnessed such a phonomenon/ as a trio of rodents with defective vision (hahaha! So funny!) Perhaps you have to hear it to understand... ;-) )
Anyway! We then improvved to get to the point where we sang a duet of the Friendship song from a play put on at our church several years ago...well the problem came with the chorus. It goes "friendship, yes friendship/ we belong together on the good ship friendship/ tummies are for tickles..." So the plan was for Brittany (my arms) to tickle Laura... she didn't. She tickled me! So it was like I was tickling myself! I pretty much collapsed on the spot because she hit me in exactly the right place on my stomach. The seniors burst out laughing and it took several seconds for Laura and I to return our composure before continuing on. So we roll around to the chorus again...and Brittany does it again! This time Laura suggests we go to the beginning of the chorus and finish the song. When we got to the tickling part I did not let her have the chance again. I crosssed my arms over my stomach...which looks like someone unnaturally crossing their legs over their waist...weird, right? Well, it turned out hilarious and it was a bigger hit than expected. Angela managed to get the friendship song section on tape because she was too late to get the three blind mice section. Yeah...I'm pretty sure I'm going to see that tape again. She will probably show it the Sunday night we share about camp at church
Well, I wish I had time to share about everyone coming over this weekend, but I have to be up early tomorrow morning to go and work at the house.
Before every meal we have to bus the seniors down to the dining hall because our lodge is at the top of a hill so we had to plan "pre-meal entertainment". Right before the last meal, Laura and I were "squatties" (where you are the face and legs of the character and someone else is the arms). Since the theme of the camp this year was "friendship" we did two little acts. The first was where I told the story of some of my best friends who came to an untimely end...I then break into emotional song of the Three Blind Mice. Laura then chastises me to use more of my vocabulary and breaks into another, wordier version (a trio of rodents with defective vision...observe how they motate...they all pursued the wife of an agriculturalist/ she cut off their tails with a culinary utensil/ in the expance of your existance have you ever witnessed such a phonomenon/ as a trio of rodents with defective vision (hahaha! So funny!) Perhaps you have to hear it to understand... ;-) )
Anyway! We then improvved to get to the point where we sang a duet of the Friendship song from a play put on at our church several years ago...well the problem came with the chorus. It goes "friendship, yes friendship/ we belong together on the good ship friendship/ tummies are for tickles..." So the plan was for Brittany (my arms) to tickle Laura... she didn't. She tickled me! So it was like I was tickling myself! I pretty much collapsed on the spot because she hit me in exactly the right place on my stomach. The seniors burst out laughing and it took several seconds for Laura and I to return our composure before continuing on. So we roll around to the chorus again...and Brittany does it again! This time Laura suggests we go to the beginning of the chorus and finish the song. When we got to the tickling part I did not let her have the chance again. I crosssed my arms over my stomach...which looks like someone unnaturally crossing their legs over their waist...weird, right? Well, it turned out hilarious and it was a bigger hit than expected. Angela managed to get the friendship song section on tape because she was too late to get the three blind mice section. Yeah...I'm pretty sure I'm going to see that tape again. She will probably show it the Sunday night we share about camp at church
Well, I wish I had time to share about everyone coming over this weekend, but I have to be up early tomorrow morning to go and work at the house.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Senior's Camp
So last week was hecka hard because my brother and I worked practically full time trying to finish the siding on the other house before the appraiser came on Friday. We were up on the roof or on scaffolding the entire week with all the hot weather we have been having. It was FREAKIN' HOT! We got there at about 9, took long breaks from about 12:00-1:30 so we wouldn't be on the roof during the hottest part of the day, and got home at 5 or 6 every day. I haven't sweatted that much since Sophomore year when I had a volleyball coach who was like a drill instructor. Anyway, I got through the week pretty well though I had a hard time dealing with my "supervisor"
Neil knows how to do pretty much everything. He's had just about every job under the sun. But when he has to organize and multitask he is very illogical and inefficient. By Friday morning when he told me to move a pile of scrap wood for the second time that day (not including the unnecessary move the day before) I couldn't take any more. I called my mom on the phone and pretty much just complained to her and bawled. Yeah, it sounds kindof stupid but I was under a lot of stress trying to get this job done as well as prepare myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for ministering to seniors the next week. We got that worked out and I had a good talk with my dad afterwards about how to handle situations and what to learn from this experience.
So, Union Gospel Mission Senior's Camp.... It was great! (UGM takes low-income seniors to a 3 day camp each year and my church has supplied the volunteers for the last 10 years. Attendance usually averages around 50-60 seniors with about 10 Spanish speakers. This year we had 45 English speakers and 16 Spanish speakers. The most Spanish speakers in camp history!) This is the fourth year I have volunteered there and this was definately the best year of all. Each year I have been the head interpreter (I was the only person in the group who knew ANY Spanish my first year) but this year I was there only as full time interpreter. That means I didn't have to lead a group of seniors as well as interpret during the devotionals. It was great. During the craft and game times I just had to interpret the instructions and rules and then I could relax while their team leaders took it from there. I then stood and interpreted for a half an hour at a time while the team leaders got a break. It worked out so well. I arranged with Angela, the coordinator from our church group, a nap time on the second day and let her know the problems I have been having with energy recently and she really respected that and didn't ask me to do more things than I could do (I have a hard time saying no).
I was also concerned going into the camp because I hadn't had time... or taken the time... to prepare myself for serving in camp because of working at the other house and plans for people to come over to my house from Aug. 5-7. Pretty much all I got in before starting ministry was "Lord, please correct any problems with my attitude, help me to be a good witness to the seniors, that I interpret well, and you would be glorified". It's amazing how the Lord works through broken pots. Though I was pretty tired during those days it never hindered my ministry or witness. I give the Lord all the praise and honor for the work and service he enabled me to do.
I really have to go to bed now because I have some things to do before people start arriving here tomorrow... otherwise I would tell you the story of Squatty and the friendship song. Let's just say, the song didn't go as planned but it was definately hilarious! I'm glad it got on tape. It was even funnier to watch it than be in it.... well, to bed.
Lata!
Neil knows how to do pretty much everything. He's had just about every job under the sun. But when he has to organize and multitask he is very illogical and inefficient. By Friday morning when he told me to move a pile of scrap wood for the second time that day (not including the unnecessary move the day before) I couldn't take any more. I called my mom on the phone and pretty much just complained to her and bawled. Yeah, it sounds kindof stupid but I was under a lot of stress trying to get this job done as well as prepare myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for ministering to seniors the next week. We got that worked out and I had a good talk with my dad afterwards about how to handle situations and what to learn from this experience.
So, Union Gospel Mission Senior's Camp.... It was great! (UGM takes low-income seniors to a 3 day camp each year and my church has supplied the volunteers for the last 10 years. Attendance usually averages around 50-60 seniors with about 10 Spanish speakers. This year we had 45 English speakers and 16 Spanish speakers. The most Spanish speakers in camp history!) This is the fourth year I have volunteered there and this was definately the best year of all. Each year I have been the head interpreter (I was the only person in the group who knew ANY Spanish my first year) but this year I was there only as full time interpreter. That means I didn't have to lead a group of seniors as well as interpret during the devotionals. It was great. During the craft and game times I just had to interpret the instructions and rules and then I could relax while their team leaders took it from there. I then stood and interpreted for a half an hour at a time while the team leaders got a break. It worked out so well. I arranged with Angela, the coordinator from our church group, a nap time on the second day and let her know the problems I have been having with energy recently and she really respected that and didn't ask me to do more things than I could do (I have a hard time saying no).
I was also concerned going into the camp because I hadn't had time... or taken the time... to prepare myself for serving in camp because of working at the other house and plans for people to come over to my house from Aug. 5-7. Pretty much all I got in before starting ministry was "Lord, please correct any problems with my attitude, help me to be a good witness to the seniors, that I interpret well, and you would be glorified". It's amazing how the Lord works through broken pots. Though I was pretty tired during those days it never hindered my ministry or witness. I give the Lord all the praise and honor for the work and service he enabled me to do.
I really have to go to bed now because I have some things to do before people start arriving here tomorrow... otherwise I would tell you the story of Squatty and the friendship song. Let's just say, the song didn't go as planned but it was definately hilarious! I'm glad it got on tape. It was even funnier to watch it than be in it.... well, to bed.
Lata!
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