From CA to MI and Everything In Between

I recognize the long delay between posts but I’ve been busy. In the meantime I managed to go to Utah for RJ’s graduation (plus see the whole family, play some cards, eat lots of great food and oh yeah, ski Snowbird in the middle of may), successfully take and pass to finals and an ATI pass test concluding my junior year, celebrate LJ’s graduation from Calvin, spend a whole day at the beach at Lake Michigan, enjoy the sun and lake of Big Star Lake at Laura’s cottage, become familiar with the giant, steroidal bugs and humidity that accompanies GR in the summer, and oh I forgot to mention job hunt (yuck). Unfortunately, I have yet to be successful in the job searching department but none the less I’ve really really enjoyed this summer so far! 

Basketball started up again this week for summer and I was very happy to be back on the court. It had seemed like ages that I had touched a ball but it had merely been a month. When you play year round, a month ends of seeming like decades. 

I have also started reading for pleasure again which has been great. I’ve read 4 books so far this summer and am looking forward to reading more. I have started a booklist and among those is Catcher in the Rye and East of Eden. 2 classics that I have yet to read but have always wanted to. Hopefully, I will be able to get through both of those by September!

Thanks all for now :D

A

I will be done with my junior year of college in exactly 18 days! I cannot believe it. Time has flown by but I am so anxious to be done with this school year. There is so much to be done before May 17th but I’m trying not to stress about it. Thankfully, I have a little vacay to Utah planned next week. Which is just what I need to rejuvenate before heading into the always stressful Finals times :( 

Due to the awesomeness of Academic Advising, my housemates and I decided to take a fun girls day adventure to Holland, Mi this past Tuesday. We ate at New Holland Brewery, shopped downtown, and went to Holland State Beach. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t nice enough to lay out. It was unbelievably windy! 

We decided to take a pic with this statue. Laura felt right at home. 

I LOVE these girls!

Soon to be seniors? WHHHHAAA

“Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now”

Whoo!

Can it be summer now, please? Thanks. 

Allie 

As I was reading a devotional, I came across this statement that really struck a cord with me: “happiness is something we wear on our sleeves, joy yields results. how do you sing a joyful song?” Often times through the detours of our life, we become consumed by the mountain in front of us, instead of choosing joy amidst adversity.  

“be joyful always. pray continually. give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

I cannot believe this year is coming to an end. Only 5 weeks left of my junior year? What? As the year begins to close, I have made the decision to stay in Grand Rapids for the summer and not return to Newport Beach. Although I’m bummed that I won’t be home, I am ecstatic that all my friends will be in GR. Now, if only I could find a job…. 

I’m loving the pediatric nursing rotation so far and can definitely see myself as a peds nurse in the future (which is only a year away!). There’s something special about providing care for a young child that really warms my heart. We’ll see what God has in store! 

My brother, RJ, is graduating from the University of Utah in May! I cannot believe how the time has flown. Thankfully, I will be there! I’m flying out May 6th and will be there until the 9th. I’m so glad I am able to go because I will get to see my family! Also, there might be some skiing involved and this girl is excited to get back on the mountain :)

Allie

Happy Easter! Today we are reminded of God’s unending love for us. Easter is a wonderful holiday because we can remember how treasured we are because of God’s sacrifice so that we may live! 1 Peter 1:3-5 says “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven- and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all- life healed and whole” (The Message). 

“We are His portion and He is our prize, 
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes…

And oh, how He loves us so, 
Oh how He loves us, 
How He loves us all 
Yeah, He loves us, 
Oh! how He loves us, 
Oh! how He loves us, 
Oh! how He loves”

David Crowder Band

He is risen. He is risen, indeed! 

On March 19th, Laura and I began our spring break adventure 2010. It was by far the best spring break ever!!! We started the trip by driving 2 hours to Detroit equipped with “she’d be california” playlist and all. We arrived at Zac & Patti’s who so graciously took us to the airport and took care of Baby for a week. DTW was not nearly as crowded as we thought it would be so to buy sometime we enjoyed a nice dinner at TGI Fridays then boarded our plan. Due to minor delays in DTW, when we landed in Dallas Laura and I had to run to our next gate, which of course was at the complete opposite side of the airport. We made it just in time and we’re relieved once we finally made it to LAX at 3am EST. Wow, we were tired but ecstatic to finally be in California. Mom promised to take us to her “secret” accessory shop in downtown LA for cheap shopping early the next morning so despite jet lag, we got our lazy butts out of bed and met up with LJ and her mom! Of course the weather was wonderful when we were done shopping so we did what we later became amazingly good at, and hit the beach! Newport Pier (19th street), Balboa Pier, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach were among the list of beaches we hit this past week. Believe it or not, I think I spent more time at the beach this past week than I did all last summer. Sad, I know. A trip up to Pasadena to visit my best friend from home, Lizzie, was in order. We did some shopping in downtown Pasadena, ate fro yo, toured APU, and capped off the trip with some In-N-Out. Can’t go wrong with that. Other than the beach and shopping, the rest of our spring break was spent out in Palm Desert where we really felt we were living the life. The weather was in the mid 80s so we spent the days lounging by the pool at the LaQuinta Spa and Resort :) yeah, it was great! What an adventure! Saturday was our last day in Newps, so we hit Cabazon outlets on the way home, went to In-N-Out, took a walk around Crystal Cove, went to Mariners Church, had one last homemade meal, and capped it off with Golden Spoon. It was an AMAZING spring break and a ton of fun being home!! Unfortunately, it was back to the grind of school :( We took an early (7am!) flight back to the Mitten, and guess who was on our flight? Willie Garson (Stan Blatch from Sex and The City), it was our one celebrity sighting so Laura and I were kinda excited :) Laura and I had a very short layover in Dallas, TX so our bags didn’t make it on the next plane. Luckily they were delivered a day later. whew. It was great to reunite with our other housemates after a week apart and regroup and share the adventures of spring break! 

“A Day at the beach in Corona del Mar…”- Rascal Flatts

Laura and I like Cactus Berry Fro Yo :)

Thanks for a great vacation, Mom and Dad!

Wow, the past few days have been a whirlwind of schoolwork, exams, clinicals, and of course, Carissa’s 21st bday! To celebrate, we had a 70’s inspired birthday party (cleverly named “flower power”-because of Car’s endless love of flowers) on Saturday night. We had an great time and Carissa definitely felt loved. Unfortunately, then came 3 nights in a row with <5 hours of sleep each night. If you know me at all, you know that I don’t function well on little sleep so this was definitely a struggle but worth it in the end. Monday morning, I headed off to my last OB clinical at St. Mary’s and cared for a wonderful patient who had probably the cutest newborn ever. It was a great way to end a rotation that I really enjoyed. Then the studying began! I’ve spent the past few days with my nose in the books, taking final exams, and the dreaded PASS test, so needless to say I was elated this afternoon when I finished all my tests and could officially say “I’m on SPRING BREAK!” Now if only my friends could hurry up and be done…. 

These next few days are filled with evaluations, an interview, and PACKING! Laura and I are taking off to Detroit Friday afternoon to catch our Friday night flight to LAX stopping in Dallas. We are both so excited for this week coming up (especially for warm weather and the sun)! Updates on SBX soon :)

“Consider it pure JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” James 1:2-3

Over the past 6 months, I have been shooting, lifting, doing push ups and abs, and playing basketball but I’ve truly forgot the soreness that comes with running. I haven’t just ran in nearly 6 months and my body is feeling it today. However, it feels great to work out when I want to, not when I have to. It’s somewhat of a reminder of what life will be like in 1 year when I am no longer able to play basketball and have to work out like a normal person. What a weird experience that will be! 

It’s funny how only a few days without seeing the basketball team can make you really miss each other. I figure, we’ve spent the past 6 months together every day for 3+ hours a day, so when that gets taken away, you begin to miss one another. Therefore, an Olive Garden reunion became a must! 11 of us “regathered” for dinner last night which was so fun. We’ve decided to meet up once a week for 1/2 appetizers at Applebee’s (yes, the bball team knows how to eat!). I think everyone is looking forward to it. 

My OB rotation is coming to an end and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’ve really enjoyed working with pregnant women and infants and think that I could be a Labor & Delivery nurse, but postpartum not so much. However, what I am really looking forward to is working in the pediatric unit :) As of right now, that is the path that I am leaning towards and this next rotation can either validate that or totally make me change my mind. The great part about OB coming to an end is that it means spring break is coming up very, very soon! I’m so excited to go home for SB ‘10 and even more excited that Laura is coming with me. I really need a break from school and SB couldn’t come any soon! A quick trip to Palm Springs and 78 degree weather, yes please! And the quicker the better! :) Countdown=8 days! Unfortunately, 2 final exams and a PASS test stands in my way. Time to memorize what seems like thousands of drugs and their use as well as numerous pregnancy complications! oh boy, can’t wait (not!). Back to the studying….

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Philippians 4:13