Written Randomness

Hospital Potluck

2008-04-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

I had my last day of work at CHOC on wednesday and it was very bitter-sweet. Everyone brought in great food and they bought me a cake to let me know that they were very excited for me. I learned so much in that place. Everyone has been so vital to my growth as a medical professional. The value of being in that unit for the last year has been priceless. I am very thankful for my time there and for the way everyone took me under their wing. I even got the Doc to bring me burritos, I was informed that he never brings anything to the potlucks. ;) Anyway, I start nursing school on the 5th of May and I am sooooo excited! Wish me luck and know that I am going to need some encouragement this summer. I don't get done with my semester till August 22nd, and I get married on the 23rd! CRAZY!

Yea For Babies!

2008-04-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my new little cousin Karlie! She is adorable. Karlie was born on April 19th and she weighed 7lbs and 6oz. This is my cousin Stacy and Jeremy's 3rd baby. They are baby making machines! I love them very much, their oldest girl is going to be my flower girl! Heidi will be awesome on August 23rd! Congratulations Franzini's!

Tagged!

2008-04-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Tagged by Sarah
4 Jobs I have had in my life:

1. Island's Server
2. Diving Coach
3. Cutco Knives seller
4. Game Management Worker

4 Movies I’ve Watched More Than Once

1. 10 things I hate about you
2. The Patriot
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
4. The War

4 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Yorba Linda, Ca
2. Norwalk, Ca
3. Corona, Ca
4. Riverside, Ca

4 TV Shows I Watch/Watched

1. Saved by the Bell
2. I Love Lucy
3. So You Think You Can Dance
4. Full House

4 Places I have Been:

1. Chile
2. Tunisia
3. Turkey
4. Rwanda

4 People who email me regularly

1. theknot.com
2. My Mother in law to be
3. David Torna (for church stuff:)
4. Charlie

4 of my favorite foods

1. Chicken Enchiladas
2. Chipotle Burritos
3. Garlic stuffed olives
4. Hamburgers

4 Places I Would Like to Visit

1. Israel
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. China

Things I am Looking Forward to in the Coming Year

1. My WEDDING!!!
2. The birth of Baby Imai
3. Starting Nursing School
4. A new family beginning

Now I tag Jenny Patey and Robin if you happen to look at this! :)

Who Knew...

2008-02-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

So I thought it was high time that everyone close to me was given the chance to see into the mind of a Unit Secretary for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I have seen more, learned more and gained more experience that I ever could have expected in only 9 months at this little unit. Here are just a few...
How do you tell a mother their child has a spongy brain and that they will have to live assisted their entire life.
How do you look a father in the eye and tell him it would be better for his life if you took him off life support.
How do you love a mother who is too young and has tried to kill her baby boy by using crack and then when she actually has him, she wants to keep him.
How does a mother let her baby know, when she is old enough, that she is the product of a rape?
How do you make the decision as to wether to keep feeding your baby or just let them pass because it would be easier just to let her go?
What do you say to the parents at the funeral for their 3 month old?
How do you keep yourself from strangling those parents who will have their child in our unit for no more than 10 days and put up such a fit, when others make our unit their home for months?
How do you keep yourself from getting completely emotionally involved?
Do I have the heart to be a nurse?
Can I look a mother in the eye and tell her that I'm sorry her child didn't make it?
Can I face the fact that just because my child is born well she may get in a car accident that could change her life completely?
Praise the Lord my heart can rest in knowing that this earthly home is NOT perfect. Babies don't make it, children fall in pools and lose most their brain, car accidents cause people to never function on their own again, surgeries go bad and take a life, mothers don't want their children, women get raped, Father's never show up to know their children, nurses show they care day in and day out no matter how hard it gets. I serve a God that will never fail and has promised me perfection for eternity. This place is not my home, I stand eternally grateful for the God of all creation that loves his sinful people and has saved us from the wretchedness that we are!! All praise be to Him as I begin my quest to be a nurse and serve those who are in need and let them know of a Savior that loves them.

Excitement!

2008-02-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

So things are on their way!! Things are starting to happen and it makes me excited. Charlie and I registered the other day and we also took engagement pictures!! I am very excited about them. Matt Weybright took our pictures and I can't wait to see all the results. You can see some of our pictures at weybright photography.blogspot.com!! He is awesome you should check out more of his stuff!

8 Fun Things About Me!

2007-11-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

Sarah decided to tag me knowing that I don't keep up on my blogging, so I decided not to be rude and ignore her request...

1. I work in a Neonatal Intensve Care Unit, not many people know what that is, but just know that technology is amazing and if your baby is born too early, don't fear we have amazing facilities in the United States to take care of that.

2. I played the violin growing up and I miss it now.

3. I am dating a former Mr. CBU who is quite amazing.

4. Traffic is the best way to put me in a bad mood...sorry Sarah and Charlie!

5. I have some sort of crazy drem at least once a night.

6. I make coffee for myself every morning for my drive to work or for my Microbiology class.

7. I share a bed with my roommate Sarah. She steals the covers.

8. I want to be a nurse in a foreign country. (I am all finished with my applicaiton to nursing school!!)

Thats me. Now I tag anyone who happens to read this post because it may not ever be read! haha!

Happy Birthday My Turkish Arkades

2007-10-10T09:08:00.001-07:00

These are two of my great friends! One of them I live with and the other I don't get to see her often. She lives in Turkey. It is her birthday today and I want her to know that she is loved and that I really hope she has a wonderful day. I miss you Elif and I hope that your mom makes you some isli kofte for dinner and that you think of me as you eat it! I love you and Happy Birthday!!

This one's for you Chap!

2007-08-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to have one of these in the morning...they're back!!!

Lucky #7

2007-07-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well we reached our 7th state yesterday and it was on our 7th tank of gas and we saw our 7th friend while being here. His name is Scott Rank and I had the privilage of walking down the isle with him at Kim and Derek's wedding. He was a gentleman and told us about the windmill that we visited in this Danish town and he also took us to the Jasper County fair. I was very educated in 4-H while at this fair.

This little Danish town had so many corn fields so we had to stop and frolick through them.

Peyton Manning is a hero around here, a child made this lego man.

We arrived in Wheaton safely and we were able to get Melissa's keys and began to make her apartment a home.

It is so beautiful here and I can't wait to think of the possibilities that are going to arise for Melissa as she lives here. She is going to have a blast. This town is so quaint and everyone is so friendly! Go Wheaton!

Not only that but Charlie's favorite number is 7 and he wears it well!

Colo-RAD-oh!!!

2007-07-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

So Melissa had mapquested Starbucks in Utah, which was quite a pleasent surprise considering caffeine is few and far between there, and we went for our first of two trips that day. The rain greeted us in the morning and made for quite a beautiful drive out of Utah and into Colorado! The River greets you almost immediately entering the state. We stopped to take some pictures by the river right amid the beautiful Rocky mountains.
It was so good to see Nikki Quinby who had a delicious home cooked meal ready for us when we arrived. Sweet Tea, roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots and the company of a cat named Charlie! The Quinby's were incredibly hospitable and it was such a blessing to be in their home.

We took a walk around Greely Colorado and Nikki showed us Northern Colorado University where consequently Sarah's grandparents both went to school to become teachers! We took off for Nebraska this morning and we are looking forward to spending some time with Raj's family!!

Wild Wild West!!

2007-07-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

We started our roadtrip off on the right foot...Starbucks! I am so excited to be going across the country with these girls, one because they are so much fun and so easy to travel with, and two because they love their coffee. I just love me a cup of Joe in the morning. We began to make our way to our first stop along the way, Las Vegas Nevada. Connie and BLT's. Besides those being my favorite sandwhich, we got to meet Melissa's mom and spend a little QT with her.
But our Vegas stop would not be complete without putting a coulple of quarters in the slots. Casino Barceclona was next on the list. Lindsey came up big, she actually won 75 cents and then went and blew it all on the same machine...:) We then took our Starbucks trip number two. It is just really a comfort. It is nice to just sip on a cup of coffee. Lastly, we made our way to Cedar City, Utah where we are staying at the best KOA campground in Utah. High class! The party really started when Melissa and Lindsey went down to the discount Liquor store and bought some Bacardi and we ate pizza right here from the KOA store. We are having a blast and this is just day one. Tomorrow we will visit Nikki Q in Greely, Colorado. I can't wait to be driving through the amazing scenery!

I Like Weddings...

2007-05-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ok is this not one of the cutest pictures you have ever seen? I went to my cousin Jason and Renee's wedding this last weekend in Visalia and I was quickly reminded that I really like going to weddings. I know going to so many can take away from how incredible a wedding truly is, but I just love them. They are never the same; people are different, smells are different, atmospheres are different, colors are different, sites are different, cultures are different, families are different, but each couple is joining as one flesh. This somewhat mysterious union that happens when two people are joined as one. Suddenly you don't have one family you have two, and suddenly you don't think for yourself, you constantly have someone to put above yourself (talk about acting out love) and we are told that we are now a part of that person. God is so creative and this is one of those ways he demonstrates His love by showing us just how He wants us to understand the grace, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, selflessness, and humility He has demonstrated towards us! I am so excited to be a part of so many weddings and so many unions and see so many people having a ball. This is my cousin Heidi. She was pooped. She had sat so nicely while we did her hair for about and hour and she walked down the isle while dropping her rose pedals and smiling all at the same time. That is tiring for a 3 year old. She decided to just plop right down on the grass. O to be 3. It was adorable though. I really love my family and it was a blessing to see my cousins join together in marriage. I am looking forward to another summer full of weddings and I will take in each one as though I did not attend 3 in the past 3 weekends, because to me they all are different, new emotions new smiles, new cakes :), new lives and new blessings! Congrats to: Kim & Derek, Shannon & Ryan, Tom & Shannon, Toni & Adrian, Jenny & Nick, Nik & Rachael, Lawson & Laura, Kyle & Dana, and Ryan & Jessica. Go get 'em.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA CARTER!

2007-05-16T09:35:00.001-07:00

Hope you had fun at Panera Bread!

Hum Drum...

2007-05-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

This was dinner tonight. I miss the caf. I know it hasn't been long, but that place just brings so many memories and such good food. I am grateful that I was able to eat in there for the last 5 years. It certainly has been worth it. Now I can resort to grilled cheese (which is still pretty good to me) and quesadillas. Both are good, but it lacks the variety and the company that the caf has. :( Thank you Lord for the food you provide. It has been a pretty slow day for me. Lots of studying and waiting for a friend to call. I haven't heard from her yet and I am kind of bummed because I don't get to see her all that often. My anatomy book is staring me in the face and I am doing all I can to avoid it. If anyone has any alternatives to the digestive system please let me know what you are up to! :)

Oh To Be Independantly Wealthy

2007-05-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

The day started out going to the Glen Ivy Spa! There were over 1,000 people there that day we were told. My Mom made the statement, it's like Wild Rivers for adults. You really get to just lounge around while people are there to make your day wonderful. You can attend Club Mud and just pound the mud onto your body. As you just soak in the sun, the mud dries and then exfoliates the skin leaving you with smooth silky skin. This is also an excuse for adults to play in the mud and not be frowned upon! :) There are about 6 different hot tub locations. One has mineral water, one has a saline solution, one is slightly colder than the rest and the rest are just hot. We also went under the sea to Ariel's grotto...:) We stood in an algae looking tomb and were slathered with Eucalyptus gunk. It was so slimy and felt so good. This too exfoliated our skin. Man so much exfoliation, I am not sure I even really know what that means. All in all it was pretty sweet to get pampered for the day and spend time with some people I really love. But the day didn't end there. We have a Spirit of Excellence Gala at Cal Baptist that raises money for student scholarships. The big whigs come and spend thousands of dollars in the austions to donate money to the school. I am not sure how much it costs exactly, but I think it could be in the range of $1,000 a table. The chefs at school are given a chance to get creative with their food creations and the school does an amazing job of hosting hundreds of great people. I had an amazing friend call me up and ask if I would like to be a guest and one of his friends tables. Oh' the places you will go. Sarah went as my date and once again we schmoozed. We had a blast exchangin stories and networking for Sarah's brother who may end up doing an internship with the gentleman we ate with! God is so good. What a serious blessing to be able to give thousands of dollars so that students can go to school. What would you do with that kind of money?!

Yup that is definitely a chocolate boot! Thanks CBU!!!

What's Neverland?

2007-05-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is my new place of employment! I will be the Unit assistant for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sounds important huh. Anyway, I had to go in today to get a physical and to get my papers on the benefit package I am being offered. I am really excited about working here, but I am definitely not in Neverland anymore. I had to go into the administration building where they handed me a portfolio of paperwork they asked me to fill out, then I had to go to another building where they asked me all sorts of questions about my health and I had to to a urine sample.

They could have warned me about that one, I had just gone to the bathroom not too long before that, I managed though. Then I had to go to the testing lab to get blood drawn to make sure that I don't have any blood born diseases that I might pass on to the kids. I then made it back up to where they gave me a few more pointers on the paper work and sent me off with a plethera of options of what to do. I am slightly overwhelmed at the moment, excited, but overwhelmed. I am looking forward to the change and taking on this responsibility, but it would be nice if we didn't have to worry about our criminal background, whether we are going to have enough money to retire (what is retirement anyway?), what person might sue us because of one wrong move. I want change, but I want change on an eternal level. Please pursue being uncomfortable for the gospel. Do you have the right fear in you when you think of sharing your faith! Don't be complacent in your job, know that we are skilled in different things for a reason, pursue truth, exercise it in love and know that you have the power of the Holy Spirit inside you.

Somewhere out there...

2007-05-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

Even though we might be upwards of 7,000 miles away I can't seem to do anything without a remnant of Charlie there! :) That is a ok with me. I decided to go swimming at the pool today, of which Charlie spent a great deal of his time here while in swimming and water polo, and some people were throwing the water polo ball in the deep end and asked me if I would like to join them. I am always up for something athletic so I did it. I am definitely not a fish, props to all you who can tread water, defend someone in the hole, catch a ball and throw it all at the same time. I really enjoyed my time in the water. Crystal said, I love athletic people. We may not be pro at any one thing, but we sure can give almost anything a try. It is so true, sports are a blast.

The second Charlie reminder happened when my mom asked me if I wanted to go to a play the little neighbor boys were in. Well little to my knowledge that this would be the play.

Kind of ironic if you ask me! As if it isn't already enough that he is gone! :) It really was a great production and I am glad I went. These boys are so cute. One was an oompa loompa and the other was a towns kid. They did a great job and I had a great dinner with my parents. They were glad we came because this family just moved about a year and a half ago so they treat us much like family since theirs is not close anymore. Anyway, all that to say, in a really great way, I miss Charlie.

Rosin and Softball...random I know

2007-05-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

In between learning about the histology (who really even know what that word means) of the digestive system and the physiology of the kidneys, my friend and lab partner Laura and I went to the women's softball game. Props to the girls for their win! They are, for the third year (maybe even the fourth) in a row, the region 2 champions. What studs. This is Candice Thomas, she pitches lights out. I want to give her some props because I know that she is a great softball player, but she is also a wonderful woman. She is so dedicated to all she does and she is full of character. Her abilities pale in comparison to the person she is. I am thankful to have served along side her and to have spent times learning more about her. Congrats softball girls.

This is Rosin. I went to Music Mike's today to buy a new one. Kind of a funny thing because I knew that I needed a new rosin, but what I had not realized was that the rosin I have is the same one I got when I first started plaing in 5th grade. It is kind of a funny thing, you get it nice and pretty and smooth, but you don't want it to be smooth, you want the residue. The poweder that comes off when you scratch the rosin is what makes your bow glide so nicely on the violin strings. I was told once that you want to see a dust cloud coming off of you when you are playing, that way you know you are playing hard! It felt good to have a rosined up bow and to set foot in a music store again! I am excited to play. Thanks to my sweet amazing boyfriend!

Charlie

2007-05-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

This is Charlie! He graduated from college on saturday with his bachelor's of science in kinesiology. He also left for Rwanda today and he will be there until June 8th. He joined around 20 other students at CBU to teach english and incorporate social justice plans to encourage the people of Rwanda to grow the quality of life in their country. They also go to share everlasting life in Christ Jesus. I post this because I want to ask that if you read this blog to join me in prayer for him. He is an amazing man who loves the Lord with all His heart. I want to ask that you will pray for his perseverance and his boldness in telling the gospel. I also ask that you pray for his passion that it would grow and that he would be given wisdom and understanding in how to lead his team and how to be a good teammate. I ask that you would pray for us as we are apart and that we would be given time and diligence to pray for one another and that we would seek to know how we can get closer as we are far away. Pray that we would not miss a beat as he is away. Pray for opportunities to encourage the students of the National University of Rwanda to have open hears about what the Americans have to bring to them through social justice plans and lesson plans. Pray that the team would not feel overwhelmed by the task they have before them but that they would be excited to teach and that they would know the power of Christ rests on them as they love on these students. Pray for unity, trust, boldness and consistency between these teams as they go. Thanks so much guys.

Journaling

2007-05-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I like to journal. I am not really a great writer of sorts, but I enjoy doing it. I like to put my thoughts to paper. It holds me accountable to different thoughts, prayers, ideas, goals, etc. that I have set for myself and I like to be able to go back and see how those things have been fulfilled or how I have changed. My journal is a reflection of my heart and sometimes it is easy not know where you are going when you forget where you have been. I wrote this poem in my journal almost 2 years ago exactly. It came at a time when I was realizing what it meant to be fully content in the Lord and in who He is and who we are in Him.

"I have hit the wall that is unforgiving,

It has caused me to quench the joy within.

My life is but a mere vapor,

But nothing compares to knowing you

It is a challenge to live day to day

And selfish thoughts become tiresome

You would think that would make it easy

To let you live my life for me.

I take my life into my own hands

And it doesn't make any sense at all

You promise me more than any man

Yet I am the only one on my mind

There are people starving in Sudan,

Cold people flood the streets in Europe

My prayers could be more effective

But there is no joy to replace the sin.

Forgive my heart, bring back the joy.

Build Character, make much of yourself."

It is interesting to me that these thoughts don't just happen at any one point in your life. Our sin is always sin, and it is always absolutely despised by our God. We always fall short, but we have a Savior. His blood has cleansed us and now, more than ever in my life, I am understanding confession and His forgiveness in a way that causes me to ache for grace! Lord thank you for your unfailing love and for showing me that resting in your grace brings freedom and joy.

Lab Table Talk

2007-04-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

On mondays and wednesdays I usually spend 3 hours and 15 minutes around a lab table with four other women. We listen to our teacher debrief us on what we are going to be looking at that day and then go to work. We disect cats and look at slides of tissues in our bodies. We started from the muscles and have made it all the way to the intestines and the veins and arteries that supply these organs with blood and the fumes of fermaldehide get into our nostrils and burn! But by sitting around a cold lab table we are forced to be in each others presence and spend time talking :)...I had two of the girls come over to my apartment here on campus to study about the heart and blood (complicated subject) and we spent a great deal of time just talking. I think one of them may come to church soon at Sandals and the other was such an encourager to get her to go! What a joy to listen to them talk and to listen to these girls recognize a difference in CBU! My desire to pursue nursing has been such a huge backdrop to learning more about the world and people outside of CBU...thank you for preparing me, but all of this equipping needs to be practiced! Thank you RCC for the quality of education and the opportunity to grow in ways that are necessary! Hope all that made sense...

60 Years of Marriage

2007-03-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here is most of my family on Christmas Day, 2006. These are the product of my grandparents and they are quite amazing. Two weeks ago we celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. These two people have seen so much and been through so much in their lifetimes. My grandpa was in World War Two, and my grandma stood by him through all of it. My family just seems to get bigger and bigger, and as it does, the intimacy in which my grandparents have with all of them stays the same. Everyone that becomes a part of our family begins to feel at home right away because of their servant attitudes. I love them so much. They have so much love and they have so much compassion. They want to see our family happy and serve each person in the same capacity. I am so blessed and I am so honored to have watched for 22 years of this marriage and to see them be faithful and to encourage us to do the same. They honor the Lord in their relationship and they have the utmost respect for others around them. I am blessed by their examle and can't wait to be a part of more anniversaries to come. :)

One Sweet Sunday

2007-03-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

This Sunday Charlie and I attended Sandals Church, and boy am I glad we did. We were blessed to watch as Sandals sent out their very first short term service team to Africa, listen to a sweet sermon by Pastor Matt about prayer, and we also watch 3 of our friends get baptized that day. I am so proud of Kimmy as she has strived to be an agent of change in a very large church and has truly desired that the Lord would humble her through it all. Pastor Matt brought it about reverence for the Lord as we pray. We must exhibit with our bodies what we are saying with our mouth, we must give Him praise as we pray and know that if He never answers another prayer again that His work on the cross and resurrection is more than we ever would have deserved, and we should be moved to repentance when coming before Him. I sat and more than twenty people were Baptized in the name of Jesus and made a public proclamation to live their lives for Christ. This is such a beautiful thing to watch people come to Christ, admit they need a savior, and humble themselves in front of loved ones and peers and state that they are a new creation living in His shadow. I am thankful. Thankful to know Christ and to know that He lives and that He moves among His people here and now. Thank you for your authenticity Sandals.

Sandals Worldwide

2007-03-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

This is Kimmy. (Isn't she so cute) She is the Global Outreach coordinator for Sandals Church in Riverside. I think she is pretty amazing and she is such a professional with what she does, she has been there for less than a year, but already she has made this job her own and she has poured much of her sould into serving the people of Sandals Church. This tuesday she is leading her first overseas trip to Botswana and I am so excited for her. This is something that she has worked so hard to do and she truly desires to see the Lord be brought more glory through what she does. I am glad to be praying for her as she goes and as she is there and as she returns. Thank you for the example that you set Kimmy, you are a blessing in my life!

Ode to Anatomy

2007-03-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

So I want to go to nursing school. I am currently taking 2 classes at Riverside Community College...funny cause I already have my Bachelor's in Administration. I am in Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry. In other classes I could get away with not reading the text book and coming up with my own ideas about the goings on of Management, but with these classes you either know it or you don't. If you don't read the text book you are not going to get very far. If you don't spend time memorizing the terms and the body parts you will fail. The great thing is that I had a nurse tell me that none of her nursing classes were as hard as the anatomy classes and so far I have done fairly well. That brings me hope that I will be able to make it through. I must say though that we were truly given so much thought by our Creator. He made us so incredibly complex and He made each of us unique in the most slight ways that make us look completly different yet so the same. Everyday I am more and more amazed at the way He made us with such intricate detail and that same God loves me and pursues me with His truth. For that I am thankful! Thank you to all the people who have spent their lives trying to figure out the way we work and what we are made up of because I know that I would not have had the brain power or the patience. I get to benefit from their persistence and hopefully care for others as I exercise this knowlege.

2007-02-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

I want to introduce some very important people in my life. I truly love these people and they have meant so much to me. Sarah and Becka are just two of about 10 women in my life that walk with me and stretch me and love on me. I am truly thankful for them. I have been blessed with a family that loves me. My sisters mean the world to me and I have never questioned whether my parents love me. They have shown me support and they are there when I need them. Charlie is my amazing boyfriend of 5 and a half months! He has and is teaching me how to live out the love of Christ through our relationship. I am incredibly thankful for the way he treats me and for the way that He leads me to love Christ deeper. I have been blessed!

The First One is Always a Bit Hard

2007-02-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

This is my first true post on this blog...as you can see, about a year has passed since I created this blog and I think I am ready to blog fairly regularly. It is my prayer that this blog will bring honor to my Lord Jesus Christ and that I can be as honest an upfront about that in the ways that I write. I'm not real creative, but maybe this will help me to express some of my thoughts a little better than I would out loud.

2006-02-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

I decided to jump on the Blogger bandwagon. Hopefully this entertains others as much as I think I am going to enjoy it!