365 Blog-Day 56

The weather has been crazy lately with thunderstorms, tornado watches and warnings, rain, lightning, thunder, and hail. Today after school we came outside and everyone was pointing to the sky. It was so neat looking! It looked like a bunch of cotton balls all squished together.

365 Blog-Day 55

Went to Highland this morning and heard Jonathan Storment speak and Val Durington sing "Arise My Love" and got goose bumps as usual. Ran into a bunch of friends at church and got to catch up a bit. Loved carpooling with the Kollie kids and getting those sweet hugs from my "brothers and sisters". Mariama always has a way to pull at my heart strings when she just reaches over and grabs my hand to hold and looks at me with those big eyes.

After church, I did a bit of homework while everyone else got Easter lunch ready-I guess homework isn't all that bad when you get out of cooking. haha Easter lunch consisted of ham, veggies, rolls, mac and cheese, green marshmallow salad (family favorite), raspberry tea, and strawberry angel food cake. Yum!

An Easter egg hunt took place with Katy's boyfriend James' kids (Hannah, Brittany, and JJ). It's fun having a younger crew to really enjoy this part. I had fun making sure they didn't miss any. The afternoon consisted of checking the weather to update the tornado warnings, watching the rain and hail, playing original Nintendo games that I gave Maegan and Caleb as their wedding gift, watching the Ranger's game, watching P.S. I Love You, and napping off and on. I finally got off the couch and drove home, but had quite a lovely day-so glad I came home-even if it was just for the day.

365 Blog-Day 54

Kay Lee and I slept in this morning, which was wonderful. Then, we went to Buzzbrews for brunch and all you can drink coffee. After brunch Kay Lee and I parted our ways as she headed off to The Ranger's game with The Morris' and I headed off to Mo's bridal shower with Katie. It was a delicious cookout at Mo's dad's house including all her family friends and school friends. We went to the Easter service at The Village and then had an Easter egg hunt, hopping contest, and egg decorating party. You're never too old to have a little fun--right?! :)

After the party, I decided to drive home to surprise the family for Easter! I didn't get home until midnight, but it was worth it to see the look on mom's face! I had spilled the beans to dad just to make sure it would work out, but he had kept the secret from everyone else. When I walked in the door, mom poked her head around the corner of the hall and said, "I haven't gone to bed yet just FYI" and I said, "um...ok...Happy Easter..." and then her eyes got really big and she said, "BRIANNA!!???" (She thought I was Katy walking in the front door) haha What a fun surprise! Katy came out of her room super confused at all the ruckus and then saw me and was like, "What?! What are you doing here?" Dad just stood back and enjoyed it all. It was so nice to sleep in my bed and know I was home for Easter.

365 Blog-Day 53

Kay Lee drove up for the weekend! We met for lunch on Friday after I had school. Then, we took the DART to the Dallas Zoo for only .85 cents! I can't believe I hadn't been there in the 2 years I've lived here--this place is great! It was huge! We spent about 2.5 hours there and still didn't see it all. Then, we went shopping at Plato's closet and Target. I was a little embarrassed that the employees at Plato's closet remembered me-haha. We ended the day with dinner at The Londoner (fish and chips and bangers and chips), free coffee at Starbucks for Earth Day (using our own mugs), and played a little guitar.

365 Blog-Day 52

It was my last day of fieldwork today until I go out on Fieldwork II. It is weird to be getting so close to the end of it all.

Tonight for dinner I met up with Marci and her family at Freebirds. Here are all the girls of the crew (Marci, Melinda, Ashleigh, Laurel, and me)

365 Blog-Day 51

Went to dinner with the gals again before home group at Corner Bakery in North Park Mall. At home group, we talked about christian community (from Timothy Keller's "Grace Changes Everything") and we planned my going away party and I realized how blessed I've been to be a part of such a real community of believers. Accountability, hospitality, and genuine living have been shared among this group. I had no idea that I would feel so at home at The Village and I know that it is because of God's hand in this group.

Megan, Sarah, Sarah Beth, and Me enjoying some hazelnut coffee (hence the reason I'm still awake right now haha)

365 Blog-Day 50

I told Michelle that I'd take her out for her birthday to any restaurant she wanted. Thankfully, she picked one of my favs and a classic--Chick-Fil-A. Our lunch date turned into a 7 hour shopping spree. Usually I would dread such a day, but we had so much fun driving in a complete circle around Dallas to look for boots and to shop at Plato's Closet. I have been so successful at this little place and I think that is part of the enjoyment for me. The company may have had something to do with it as well. I'm really gonna miss Michelle. We have had a way of finding each other over the years. First, we played softball together in 8th grade and then met again, after she moved to Slovenia for most of high school, when we had every single class together our first semester at ACU. Then, she moved to Dallas a little bit after I did and we have made time for get togethers frequently over the past 2 years.

365 Blog-Day 49

I'm really going to miss going on walks here at The Village. It is such an oasis among the concrete jungle. I thought I would hate living in such a big city, but Dallas isn't really bad when you find your own little niche like this place. The jogging/walking path around the ponds with ducks, squirrels, birds, walkers, runners, turtles, fish, fountains, docks, waterfalls, bridges, etc. are really a rarity in such a busy place. So glad I happened upon this place 2 years ago.

365 Blog-Day 48

Me, mom, Caleb, Maegan, and Katy at the love birds' shower. They got a bunch of really great stuff for their new home. It's always so fun to see everyone in A-town. It was a quick trip to Abilene and my mind was all over the place that I totally forgot to wrap and give Caleb and Maegan their present from me---duh! haha ;) Oh, well!

365 Blog-Day 47

Went to the kids' last soccer game today (JJ, Brittany, and Hannah). Then, had Maegan's birthday party. Dad grilled fish and chicken and mom made rolls and corn casserole and spinach salad and parfaits. Katy and I got Maegan these really cool sandals, called Sseko sandals. Read up on it on the website and hear about the cool story it is based on.

365 Blog-Day 46

Mo, Holland, and I at Holly's baby shower. Holly is one of our classmates who is due right in between our Fieldwork II sessions. Whew! Busy time of life for them. We had such a fun time at The Dallas of Arts Culinary School restaurant. The decorations were so cute and so were all the presents. Then, I hit the road, picked up Marci, and drove to Abilene for the weekend for Maegan and Caleb's shower weekend. When I got home, we ate at Lucy's Hamburgers. Yummy!

365 Blog-Day 45

Michael and I at our last regular season kickball game. Look for updates this week for the playoff game! Look at those muscles...tough stuff...don't mess with the Capital One team.

365 Blog-Day 44

Our new cafeteria at school has AMAZING sushi. I was never a fan of sushi until I moved to the Big-D, where they make it right. It is actually pretty tasty-even at school. Holland, Katie, and I are being goofy walruses with our chopsticks. Gonna miss these gals. Time is winding down with school.

365 Blog-Day 43

Today I finished my last project EVER!! I stayed up at school for 5 hours to finish it because I wanted to be done ASAP. It feels so nice to have it completed! I celebrated with dinner at Chuy's with Melinda and Marci!

Here is a view of our new campus for school on top of the 5th floor parking garage. So glad I won't have to deal with the parking situation ever.

365 Blog-Day 42

We learned about bowel and bladder incontinence at school today in our lab. We wore adult protective garments to get an idea of what it is like to have to wear them for long periods of time. We were challenged to get to the restroom in under 10 seconds using a walker. No one made it in time. I made it to the toilet, but forgot to lift the seat. It was a good lesson in empathy for the patients we will work with in the future. We also learned how to get up from falling.

Holland and me

365 Blog-Day 41

Today was my last day at the VCC (Village Country Club) Fitness Center. I have worked here every Sunday from 2-7PM for the last 2 years. This is my friend Arturo, who I met in the very beginning. He used to help me clean up the tennis courts at closing and still helps me close down the gym and pick up and clean up all the weights. He is a servant-minded, selfless worker. He has taught me a lot and I've enjoyed learning some Spanish from him. It has actually come in handy a couple of times when a patient on my fieldwork at school only spoke Spanish and was telling me that her shoulder was hurting. I knew what she was talking about and told my CI that she was having pain with her subluxed shoulder due to her CVA. Thanks Arturo.

Marci, Michael, and I got donuts for breakfast and then Marci and I went on a walk around The Village this morning. The weather has been beautiful lately! Michael made tacos and Marci made guac, so dinner was incredible. Then, we got to chat it up with Courtney on Skype and start planning out our trip to Seattle this summer. We're getting excited.

365 Blog-Day 40

I'm breaking the rules and putting up 2 pictures today. It would have only been one picture, but we couldn't fit everyone in. It was April's birthday, so after church we went to Peggy Sue's Barbecue and then went country dancing after that at Cowboy's Red River. We had a great time! I even rode a mechanical bull for 16 seconds! That's got to be some sort of world record-ha!

(April, Christy, Marci, and April's friends from work)

(Baron, me, Natalie, and Jessi)

The morning consisted of a blueberry muffin and coffee with dad on the front porch, shopping at DSW for 3 hours to get wedding shoes for the rents, Rusty Taco (yummmmm), a bit of North Park mall, and packing up another portion of my stuff to go back to Abilene. :(...

I'm getting sad about leaving Dallas so soon. Time is flying by way too quickly.

365 Blog-Day 39

"World's Most Awkward Picture"

Mom and I look huge compared to dad! haha We were sitting on the front of his chair, so we look like giants. Anywho...dad needed to get his suit altered for the wedding and mom needed to get shoes and jewelry to match her dress for the wedding, so they came for a DFW visit. We ate at Blue Goose Cantina and then stayed up talking and catching up. It was so nice to have them here and a great last minute surprise.

365 Blog-Day 38

Checked my mail today and met this little guy. He brought a smile to my face. :)

Michael invited me to play kickball with his work team and it was a blast! I played left field and second and was the power hitter (kicker). I think it was just the luck of the line up, but I thought it was kind of funny. Kicked a Texas Leaguer and another pop fly that was caught. We lost miserably, but it felt like elementary school again! It was a nice study break.

365 Blog-Day 37

Today was "One Day Without Shoes" that our school put on to raise awareness of people around the world who don't have shoes. I decided to risk all of the diseases that I might get from that school and walk around barefoot for the cause. They were selling TOMS shoes too. If you haven't heard of them, you should look it up. If you buy a pair of TOMS they will give a pair of TOMS to someone in need of a new pair of shoes all around the world.

365 Blog-Day 36

Missing my senior year college roommates tonight, so I decided to eat dinner while watching an episode of Friends. I watched The One With The Flashback (kind of fitting, huh?). But, it just wasn't the same without Kay Lee, Court, and Rach. It was fun doing this ritual again though.

I'm trying to find a new TV show to watch on Hulu since we don't have cable. I have already watched all of 24, Lost, and Grey's Anatomy. Any suggestions?

365 Blog-Day 35

After school today, we drove out to Arlington for another Rangers sweep! They beat the Mariners 6-4. We paid for parking today and got away with only $8 rather than $744. Made today run a bit smoother! ;) Glad I got to join the girls from school (and Joe ;). Megan got to come out for the second day in a row too! We had a great time and even jammed out to Josh Abbott on the way home! I love me some baseball and good friends.

365 Blog Day 34

Another great day! This one turned out a little differently than expected, but I was blessed in the meantime. As a home group, we decided to go to a Ranger's game. The game was a blast! I ran into a few friends from school (Keelie and Erin and Holland and her family), we almost started the wave in our section, we had good food and drinks, we danced and sang in between innings, and The Ranger's won 5-1. All of these things were expected. What wasn't expected was for us to come back to the parking lot to not find our cars anywhere. We led a group of Ranger's fans to the impound a few blocks away and waited the afternoon for our 3 cars. It was my idea to park where we did, so I was feeling extremely guilty and angry with myself. However, I was amazed with the attitudes of my friends. They immediately decided to not let this ruin our day together and shined Jesus to me and to everyone else at the impound lot. It taught me a lesson that the things of this world really aren't important.

Set you hearts on things above.

365 Blog Day 33

What a great day! Slept in, and then Marci, Michael, and I had breakfast by the pool. We then decided since it was a such a beautiful day that we would lay out. I got a bit of reading done and we all took a QUICK dip. It is still quite chilly. It took the breath out of us! haha

Tara and Alex came over for a quick visit in the afternoon and then we headed off to church. We had our normal Saturday night hang out, but it was at Jim and Kenner's this week (AKA Jenner or Jimmer or Kimmer's). We made our own homemade pizzas and watched some basketball. Their balcony has a great view of downtown and the sunset was gorgeous!

365 Blog Day 32

Went to dinner with Marci, Katie, Holland, and Brooke. We ate at Taco Diner at The Shops at Legacy in Plano. Then, Marci and I headed to Addison to pick up April and then on to Flowermound to a worship service at church. It was packed and they would have been violating fire codes, so we couldn't stay. So, we went back to Addison to drop off April and then back to Plano to meet Michael to go see Tangled at the dollar theater. It was a WONDERFUL movie! My new favorite! I just loved the story and the music. Even though we made the rounds around DFW, we had a great night anyhow.