We're going to the chapel.....

And we're gonna get marrrrrried... HA!!! so exciting. For those of you who read or dont read the blog!! Graham and I got engaged about a week and a half ago!! SOO excited!! SO i'm guess you're dying to hear how it happened or to see what the ring looks like. Well, most of you are on facebook and have seen it already.. but no worries. Pictures are present!!!

Well, I will start off by saying, Graham mentioned on a monday night that the church college group was going to have a game night. Normally I would be excited, but in this instant I was not. I had to work wed, thursday night. I got off work on friday morning, and went home to sleep for a little bit. I only got a couple of hours sleep. Off i went to do the daily grind. Get stuff for the house. Run around and do errands. Well, I went to my house and was working on stuff with my parents. They took off that afternoon to help out. We were working in the house and got caught up. Game night was at 7, but everyone was responsible for their own dinner. SOoo I like any other young person jumped at the offer for my parents to buy me some dinner. WE couldn't decide where in smyrna to go that wouldn't take very long. Well. We decided Good ole Red Robin would do for us. We headed over there, mind you it is now six o clock. I figured I could eat in thirty minutes then get to the thing a few minutes late. We ate dinner and had the usual conversation with the usual "Lindsey why dont you look reeeeally cute tonight.. Wear your black boots. I think that'd be cute!!". Of course I pushed away and laughed at the fact of wearing black boots to game night...

Little did I know, I would regret that decision. Food took forever. I ended up leaving at 630 and got home around 640... Wow crunch time. Still wasn't in the mood to go to the game night. Tired as all get out and i was disgusting. But oooo how that HOT shower felt wonderful. I stayed in the shower for probably a good ten-fifteen minutes. FOr anyone who knows me.. my showers are five minutes max on a slow day. SO yes I took my time in the shower.. and YES i enjoyed every minute of it. ANyways, by the time i got out of the shower, my clock screamed to me that it was 7:07. oops :) I rushed and grabbed clothes out of my closet. and threw a tiny bit of makeup on. I did straighten my hair. Left the house at 7:21 and was at Mallory's house at about 7:30. Not bad.

We played lots of games. It turned out to be a good night other than the fact that if we paused for any moment in time my head did a little head nodding action (ahem.. lauren west LOL).. I was about to fall asleep when good ole josh says "hey guys lets do a scavenger hunt.. i already have it set up." So we decided guys against girls would be best.. Mallory, Nikki, and I started to head out the door.. Of course competitive me (thinking this was a real scavenger hunt) tried to close the door on the boys and hold them back. ha. Well our first clue was something about the light shining on the place HE calls home or something to that extent. We immediately knew that the church was the first clue. We went to church and found the clue behind a light pole. I thought it was strange that the guys hadn't made it yet and we already had the second clue just about figured out, but nikki slyly made the comment "he probably started us out on different clues so we wouldn't run into each other". Ha good one girl. Fooled me. Our next clue was something like I shine light upon the athens of the south. PARTHENON! We were immediately in the car and on our way to Centennial park to get this next clue. We get there and are searching. meanwhile i'm thinking really josh???? the parthenon?? how big is it and how little is a white envelope.. WEll i didn't know this at the time, but Mallory knew where all of the clues were hidden. I think its kind of funny that she let me go around the whole stinking thing before saying "OOOO we found it lets goo.." . Yea no kidding you knew where it was and i raced all the way around the whole thing. Thanks!!!! Just kidding

Our next clue led us to the walking bridge. Just to fill you in on a little funny ironic tidbit, on the way over to the walking bridge, Nikki, Mal and I got into the topic of getting engaged. I know they were laughing inside when i mentioned the fact that graham and I had already talked about getting married and had narrowed it down to may/june. I kept on about how its making me nervous that i can't get started planning because we hadn't gotten engaged yet and that was only like 7 months to plan. Later on i was told they were about to die laughing. oops.

.... We get to the walking bridge, and are walking up the bridge. We all notice that the guys had already made it. Josh camera in hand. Funny me still had no idea what was going on and even made the comment of "o look guys.. josh brought his camera.. probably did this scavenger hunt so he could take pictures down here.. and here i look disgusting".. Still nothing from the peanut gallery. As we reached the top, we were a little out of breath (kind of embarrassing to admit but hey we are real people right?).. We all kind of chit chat for a few minutes. then walk over to the edge of the bridge and i start to walk away and here comes the man of the night and leans over the bridge with me. Meanwhile onlookers (mallory, nikki, falcon, and adam) scatter. Josh starts snapping pictures (which i did not notice).. Graham tells me some really sweet things. He's always so sweet that I didn't really think anything of it. and YES everyone I didnt realize what was going on until he turned, got down on one knee and said "WILL YOU MARRY ME???"..I was shocked. My eyes started tearing up and all i could do was put my hands over my mouth in shock and whimper out a "yes". He got up and slid the ring on my finger and gave me a huge hug. WOW.. it was so amazing and perfect!!!!! Josh got some really good pictures so now we'll be able to share this moment forever and remember by awesome photos.

After i stopped shaking from being in such shock, I decided i would call my mom. one problem. NO PHONE!! i had left it at mallory's house. WEll.. i tried and tried for like thirty seconds but couldn't recollect my mother's phone number. The one i have probably dialed about a thousand times before. FINALLY i remembered it and got it dialed after three times of messing up dialing it ha. Told her. Which she knew and she told me my sweet fiance had asked for their permission wed night before while i was at work. She said she saw his car pull up in the drive and was like huh?? Larry, does he know that she is at work tonight?? Well they said yes.. then i called my dad on the road.. and i had to call many others and tell them. I was so excited. We went and saw his parents.. my sweet future in-laws and talked about how excited we were and everything and how perfect the ring was!! I mean perfect.. Never seen such a fitting ring for my personality and finger.. Loved it and he picked it out himself.

Graham actually told me that he bought the ring on OCt 22 or 23.. can't remember right now. HE went with Gant, his cousin. Gant proposed to niki, his girlfriend a week or two later. They came up for the weekend a week or two ago and i was able to look at the pictures from her engagment and through bridal magazines. Everyone thought that she had spilled the beans.. but no still no idea. Graham usually cannot keep a secret from me. He is not able to do that for some strange reason haha. Well he said he had been planning on proposing every weekend since he had gotten the ring but hadn't been able to .. Needless to say i am so very excited..

We have set the date for July 30 and will keep everybody posted

on details. Let's get planning!!! I will say I cannot wait to add Graham to my family and to be added to his. His family are all such sweet and special people. I can't wait. Agghh i'm getting married. This is so strange. But I promise this is almost over.. I will quit babbling. But... if anyone has any ideas... please let me know

I know i'm boring.. so what

SO i wanted to update everyone on my o so exciting life, but i realized.. I"m boring.. I have nothing to update!!! My house is same as it was. We've tried to do lots of work on it, But its just not getting done.> Too many obstacles have jumped up in the way. Nevertheless, I am super excited about it and can't wait to see the progress..

Went to the dentist yesterday morning *boring*.. and realized i have to have a crown put in which is EXPENSIVE.. so welcome to the real world.. mortage payment, crown, ... haha woohoo.. its awesome being a big girl!!! Just kidding.

I can't believe it is November.. THe month of thanks.. I am thankful for my family... they have been wonderful. ALthough I probably am not the best to them at times.. they are always there for me.. Love you guys a lot.......

Went to my house today by myself for the one of the first times ever... I usually have work buddies with me..but today i was riding solo... I went and painted some.. i did some work on the bathroom... I painted some windows and the door frame. I ended up with paint allll over my hands.. its inevitable!! THe whole time i was there I was freaking myself out thinking.. oooo this is scary and how there could be ghosts sneaking up on me.. Every noise I heard (which was a lot because of the ferocious winds), i thought was some eerie paranormal being. But no i was good. All i heard were walnuts hitting the roof. The branches hitting the side of the house... kids laughing and playing next door at the park.. the dog next door barking. This whole living by myself is going to take a while to get used to.. Especially since it is in my old old house!!!

Well i'm tired of writing, and I've wrote nothing worth while!!! So i am gonna go!!!

Over and Out

Home Sweet HOme

So i went to this house this morning. I still get so excited when i pull into MY driveway. MY driveway :).. I wonder when that will wear off.> I'm guessing pretty soon. I love walking in to my beautiful kitchen (even though its not updated yet). I met with an interior decorator this morning. She was woonnnderful. I am trying to get lots of ideas from different people. So if anyone out there knows anything about redoing old homes, help a sister out!!! Send em my way!!!! As i walked through my house with the lady, we discussed different ideas for each room. As i left each room we just talked about, I got more and more excited. At one point, i stopped myself and imagined little ones roaming around throughout the house!! Ha i know farfetched. Other things have to happen first :) .. But.. I know that once i get this house more looking like a home, it will be mine and feel like mine. Its such a big step for me since i am a single (haha you know what i mean .. i have to check single on all the papers everywhere for surveys bc i'm not married..) young girl buying my first home. My first home isn't move in ready, but a big project. I am so excited about what the future brings for me in developing this house into my home. Im trying to enjoy every minute of it.. I have so many good ideas, but I now need to wait until I have funding for those ideas haa..

I have a confession to make also. I am OBSESSED with chicken minis from chik fil a. Its an addiction. Its almost like I cannot not go there in the morning for breakfast. I just love the taste of those yummy rolls/biscuits with the chicken and the sweet tea i get along with it. And yes.. I do drink sweet tea for breakfast, but only when I go to chick fil a.

Anyways. I have to work tonight, so I need to get to sleep. The clock is ticking and my brain is running full force right now. I am going to get some shut eye before I have to stay up tonight alllllll night. Love you guys and thanks for reading!! Peace

Phew. I told you I am horrible at blogging. I think i'm averaging what? a post a month.. Not too shabby ha.. Kidding. WEll I got my house, and I have been so constantly busy throught the past 8 days. The day of closing I was very very sleep deprived. I didn't sleep for over 34 hours that day. It was a looonnnng day. I have started to renovate the house, and am getting so very excited about it. Ive had numerous visitors at the house and lots of good ideas. I am mostly excited about being able to decorate my home!! I LOVE antiques, so i have been searching near and far for some good finds. If anyone out there knows of any good lil antique/junk stores, let me know!!!!

Work has been a lot different also. As of friday, I am totally on my own forever!!! I have been doing the night shift for about two weeks, and I love it. The big thing for me is trying to decide when to eat and what to eat. Its so strange to eat a bowl of soup at 1 in the morning and call that my lunch. I've met some great girls and love the people i'm working with. Its definitely different, but I am able to stay awake all night. *i was a little worried at first*.

So I was thinking today I want to start up making and selling my crafts again. If any of you need anything made or know of anybody who would like a cute bday present for a child or for an upcoming baby or college student etc, let me know. I love to make things and would love to get back into one of my favorite pasttimes!!!!!! I can't get enough...

So I know i've mentioned this before, but I really miss my spirituality. I feel like i'm' in a deep rt. i need something to pull me out. I think the perfect thing is a daily date with my bible. I always have a hard time reading my bible, because I feel like i'm just reading the words on the page. I dont know if i am actually "studying God's word " correctly. I guess

there is no wrong way, but we shall see!!!!! I am just so glad i have a family that is supportive and an amazing boyfriend who all are around me everyday. Love them.. LOve my nephew.. I was paying for my table the other day that i bought at an antique store. As i'm putting in my

pin number on the key pad, mason goes "lindsey, I love you

soooo much".. So sweet.. he's such a big boy. Can't wait to add another llittle purkey to the mix. This should be fuNN!!!!!! Well i hope to leave you with this verse that it will help someone...

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!!

I JOhn 3:1

Life change

So this may be a debbie downer post, but i'm gonna post it and get it off of my chest. Might as well. For the past five years of my life, I have had weight problems. I played sports in high school and ran my tail off ,but now out of high school and college, I have gained weight. I am uncomfortable in my own skin. I want to commend my cousin April. She has lost 114 pounds. She looks wonderful. I love her to death. Just seeing how happy she is and how she talks about how it keeps her motivated, wants me to try to do better myself. I think I am really going to try it this time. I always say well, tomorrow I will start, or "no sweets for a week". I always FAIL. Well today's the day. i want to win this stupid battle and get skinny and pretty again!!! here we go!! Short blog, but i wanted to share.

Life is short

Life is short. Changes can be made at the drop of a dime. The reason I say this, is because my 92 year old great grandmother( who was previously healthy) had a massive stroke last tuesday. Most of us call her Granny. Granny is 92 and lived on her own. She watched the braves game until 11 o clock the sat before it happened. My cousins found her at her home. She had suffered a massive stroke, and had been down for quite a while. I went down to the ER after work hoping to see her, but by the time i was able to report off my patients, they already had assigned her room and were ready to take her up there. I went ahead and went up to the room with the rest of the family. We all jumbled in the room ( maybe ten of us). It was heartbreaking to see her like that. Seeing someone you love totally in a different light than normal can be gutwrenching, and it was. I was on call, so i went into an open room and made a phone call to a patient. My dad runs in the room and says that something is happening to my uncle steve i have to hurry up and get in there. I hang up on the patient, and run in there. He is pale as a ghost. He had passed out, and meanwhile hit his head on the window seal. He had a gash above his eyebrow. We took his blood pressure because he didn't look too good, and it was extremely low. We took a second trip down to the ER. He was stitched up and sent home. I was walking to go see my sister at work, when i look over outside the ER and my sweet sweet boyfriend is walking in with a dozen daisies... My favorite. He is the sweetest thing ever. Such a charm. Well, everyday last week i spent my breakfast lunch and dinner with granny at her bedside. I worked on the same floor, so it was convenient. The decision was made to move her to hospice. It has been such an easy transition for all of us. The nurses and doctors there are great. It is a wonderful place to be. I hope that my granny will go on to heaven soon so that she won't have to suffer any more. At this point, it is just a waiting game. We're all "on call". When we hear the word, we will rush down to hospice to hopefully make it for her last breaths.

This whole experience has really brought a light to my eyes. My granny, the one i thought was so health and strong, is on her deathbed right now. How could this happen? It goes to show me that anything can happen. Life IS short. We all should live it that way. I think if more people thought they only had 24 hours to live, they would be doing a lot of things different. Why not do that everyday now? It would just make sense. It also seems that if we truly lived life as if there was no tomorrow, we would live a life full of NO regrets. Regrets such as not visiting granny in the past two or three months because of my hectic schedule. I should have MADE time for her. Now, it is too late for me to do that. My only plea is that people, OPEN YOUR EYES. God has given us all a wonderful plate (if you will.. of course i am displaying life as food).. We need to learn how to enjoy what is on our plate and not worry about other things. We need to utilize what God has given us.

I hope that this was not too sappy or boring for anybody, but It was on my mind and i wanted to share it. I hope that whoever reads this will get something from it. I know this whole situation has sparked a plug in me. Live life for God. Everything else will fall into place. LOve you and God Bless,

linds

OOEY GOOEY

Do ya ever wonder if what you're doing in life really matters?? Well today I had an a-ha moment!!! I had the sweetest patient. She was a first time mom having trouble breastfeeding. I stayed in that room for about thirty minutes trying to get that little man latched on. Finally, I succeeded. Well, she did, but with my expertise (ha).. Anyways, The whole day they were so sweet. Near the middle of the day, they decided to move to the Titan's suite on our floor. Its on the opposite end, so obviously I would no longer be their nurse. I would have to pass them on. They begged me to stay with them and be their nurse. THey also asked me to come by before I left that day. They were so cute!!! I went by and saw them right before shift change, and they were so sweet. They asked me to come back again and see them tomorrow since I will be there again. It just felt so good to have a patient think that highly of me to want me to stay and be their nurse and take care of them. It made me realize that these mommies really look up to my 24 year old non child bearing self to give them advice on baby training etc!! Its kind of neat.

Also, its kind of neat the knowledge that flows from my mouth when these mom asks me all sorts of questions. And when I say all sorts, I mean ALLLL sorts ha. For example, I got asked by a patient if she had to make a boo boo before she could leave the hospital. I said excuse me do you have to make a what??? She goes... you know... a BM? bowel movement? I had NOOO idea that is what she was meaning. So there ya go I have learned new slang. How to deal with grouchy patients, and screaming babies. I feel I have succeeded.

Meanwhile, this past week has been a little crazy. Dad had knee surgery a week and a half ago, and Tuesday after his post op appt had to be hospitalized. He won himself an overnight visit for a DVT, which is a blood clot in his leg. So this past week he has been giving himself injections and having to take blood thinners. He will probably be on them for a few months. After that, they will check him to see if they see any genetic issues. Just kind of scary!!!!!

Okay so I have rambled, so I am going to go to bed. i will be working my second of five twelves in a row tomorrow.. sheeeesh.> GOod night!!! :)

Full speed ahead

Well, I have been through a LOT this year, first the house, then graduating, then getting a job. It's all been a whirlwhind. I have had lots of ups and downs, but I have amazing friends and family to get me through it. I wasn't really going to tell anybody, but I dont really think anyone reads this anyways, so I'll go ahead and say it. I am in the process of buying a house as we speak. Can you say SCARY? Umm.. yes. I love love love it though. It is my dream home and just happened to fall into my lap by accident. That's how things are supposed to happen though.. right? yes.. Well to tell you a little about it, it was built in 1904. It is an old historic white sided home. Beautiful. I will have my work cut out for me in the next few years, but I am so looking forward to the day when i can say that my house is just the way I want. Many things have gone through my mind these past few weeks. Am I ready? Should I really be doing this? How can I get through this and own a house. Terrifying!! I have my wonderful parents, my sis, bro in law, graham and my aunt faye/uncle jerry and many more people who have given me support already.

I just figured out how to upload a picture of it.. So there it is.. 207 college street. Hopefully my future home. We've signed a contract and will hopefully close on OCtober 29th if all goes as planned. I know!!! Super soon. I am so excited to do it though..

On another note, I have been super stressed lately. (ha wonder why?). I just can't seem to shake it. I know i'm not getting enough sleep, but I guess that's part of being in the real world. You work work work and dont seem to ever get to rest!!! I mean yesterday for example, was a horrible horrible day. I was so overwhelmed and felt like I was about to have a melt down.. a good old fashioned two year old tantrum... But....... FINALLy last night I was able to come home from work (still on days for right now) and watch a movie and relax. It felt so good. I did miss hanging out with Graham, but he had homework and i decided to take this opportunity and grab it. Boy did it feel good.

Other good news is.... I'M GONNA BE AN AUNT AGAIN!!! I'm so excited. We won't figure out what it is until probably thanksgiving or so, but Leslie is due April!! We are so excited. Mason is about to have his world rocked to another dimension!!!

Well i will quite boring yoU!!! hope you guys have a blessed day!!!!

F-

So i give myself an F- in the blogging area. O well. I dont really think anybody reads anyways, so if this is just for my sole purpose of venting (or whatever i do on here) then let it be!!! Anyways, lots has changed. The house is done. Finally! We still have little things here and there that need to be finished up, but we have been in the house. all furniture is in here. It doesn't feel like home just quite yet. It feels strange, like i'm just staying here temporarily.

Well i started my job at baptist in the newborn nursery/postpartum, and i LOVE it. The babies are stressful, but fun to deal with. We have as many as ten a piece!!!! The day shifts are growing smaller and smaller in number. Night shift here i come!! It will be an interesting and different experience. Hopefully i will be able to adjust quickly!!

I have been so super busy with work, friends and trying to balance everything, but hopefully in the next few weeks and months, I will be able to get into a routine. I will have to say that I am really excited because I have started house hunting a little bit. I am not doing anything drastic right now, but I've been looking around nashville for my first home. We'll see how that goes! I'm pulled in so many directions! Unique historic home to fix up and be really nice, or a conventional home ready to move iN? Decisions Decisions.

WEll all is good in nolensville. Hope everyone is doing well. I hope i can get back to this thing soon!!!!

love my life :)

Well the house is still underway. No more cats in the walls. But we have the flooring in the house ready to be layed(spell) down. The wood is put in there so that it can get used to the temperature of the house etc... they sanded the dry wall today. So the next step is to pick out the paint that we want to use for our different rooms. I can't decide what to go for. I am thinking having the colors of brown, navy/blue and cream. Not a clue!!! We are hoping that we can hopefully get in the house by the end of july.. but we're not sure if that is just wishful thinking.

Today was a slow day at work. We had to find stuff to do. We are about to get slammed in the next few days at work... so it is like the calm before the storm. Tomorrow alone we are going to see about sixty patients or more. That is from 7:45 - 4:30 with an "hour" haha for lunch. that hour for lunch usually translates into maybe twnety minutes!!! Well anyways.. (i'm ADHD!!) Laila, my co-worker got flowers today at the office. all the ladies were oo-ing and aahhh-ing. After work, we were walking out to the car and i couldn't help but say "man... wish that i could get flowers like that!!!!" I walk out to the car only to open the door to a dozen red roses!!! With a card. The card is of two little kids in black and white about to kiss :) The flowers the little boy is hiding behind his bad are in color. The card was filled with wonderful things. I loved it and it was the sweetest thing ever. It made my day!!!! I'm so blessed to have a wonderful guy beside me!!!

Well, I feel i am getting more boring and more boring as i go.. but I just want everyone to be informed!!! I love you all!!! Goodnight!

WOW. i am a horrible blogger. Sorry guys. I dont even know if anyone is reading.. but our reconstruction is under way. Sub flooring.. check.. dry wall and mudding.. check. now onto the good stuff..w e have spent all weekend looking at cabinets and appliances etc. Funny story. So we have been keeping the cats out at the house. My parents go out there last night and were checking everything out. They hear the cats, but can't see them. Thinking they are scared and hiding, they look for them. After a few minutes they realize they cannot find them. so they follow the meowing.. welp, little did they know.. the cats were stuck inside the walls. The construction crew put the drywall up around the cats while they were inside!!! SO it was a hilarious little set back on trying to get them out of there. That is just a little insight of what we have had to do while this house is being rebuilt.

On another note, I took my NCLEX on monday. WOw i cannot tell you how nerve wracking it is to walk into a test that determines your career. You have to be fingerprinted and photographed to go in and leave, and you have to be videotaped while taking the test. can we say anxiety? Yes we may. IT was okay, but glad it is over. another section hopefully done ;)..

Tonight after work, i rushed over and had dinner with one of my good friends, adriana. We had MOE"S!!! Love it. Well then i went and met my other friend nikki and we went down to bridge stone arena for the nashville rising flood relief concert. WOW. that was amazing. The best concert ever!! There was everyone from zz top, martina mcbride, julie roberts, lee anne rhymes, faith hill, tim mcgraw, taylor swift, miley cyrus, billy ray cyrus, jason aldean, luke bryan, miranda lambert and carrie underwood. Those were a few that showed up. IT was an amazing show. I got to hang out with intern adam.. a personality on the radio here in nashville. It was fun.. AND best of all.... sandra bullock made a guest appearance. I was in the same room as sandra bullock!!!! unbelievable.

Well i have probably fried your brains with all this small talk. I hope to add more later. I just wanted to make sure i wrote a little bit of something tonight!

Goodnight all. and God bless... as Martina McBride says.. "when i pray, it doesn't always turn out like i think it should, but i do it anyways."

PRAY HARD..

tired and exhausted ... ChecK!!!

Wow what a month and a half can do to one person. it can graduate someone.. turn them a year older. displace them from their home. rebuild their home and give them a full time job.. LOTS of changes.. but hey! i'll take it. Graduation was the highlight of may. Being a graduate now feels so good. NOW, i just have to pass my boards on monday and i'll be golden. I really cannot wait until i do not have to study for a while!

My birthday was last saturday, and my wonderful boyfriend took me to Arrington vineyards in arrington TN. We took a blanket and set up a picnic over the vineyards. Live music was playing in the background. It was a wonderful date!!! He even made the homemade chicken salad by himself!!!! It was awesome.. We both enjoyed it a lot. After Leslie and marc got home, we went to eat at cock of the walk on sunday. YUMMMM. loved it.

So the house is on its way. we're in the process of picking out flooring, colors etc. We are picking out cabinets at this moment in time. Its kind of neat to be able to pick out all of the stuff, but it can get overwhelming. looking at about 50 something different shades and styles of hardwood flooring is not my idea of fun! Anyways.. our contractor in charge is awesome. If anybody needs work done. i highly recommend him.

So needless to say through the stress, tears and many long hours, LIFE IS GOOD. Love you all who are actually reading this thing :)

Update

It is late, and i have no contacts in.. For this i will apologize in advance for any and every mistake i make. I just wanted to give a small update. We are picking out cabinets and flooring tomorrow. Dry walling should start tomorrow or at least this week!!! We're getting there!! The contractor has been awesome.. he does really well with showing us what will look good and what will look bad etc..

On my end of things, I take my boards next monday. I am super nervous at this point. A lot of people who i went to school with have taken it and passed.. NO PRESSURE!!!! Anyways, i have once again chosen my recluse ways for this one week to get this test out of the way and then i'll be free!!! YAY..

I am a professional house and dog sitter now ha. I am on my second job for the month. I house sit for my boss a couple of weeks ago, and now am at a friend from church's house watching their dogs and their parents dogs closer to the condo where my parents are. The dogs are so cute.. but HUGE. diego is some kind of husky, and the little one is a golden retriever.. ally. ( or so i think).

Anyways... all is good in the haislip household.. wait. not household ha.. but you know what i mean. ALl is good with us and we're moving right along. Hope this isn't too boring! i wanted to give an update but dont have much time or energy at this point!!

Goodnight!

Life according to ME!!!

So I'm not a writer, and I will never claim to be, but I have been asked so many times as of late about how I'm doing and people wanting updates that I figured, hey!! why not just blog! I've never done this before, so it may be a little bit squirrely at first. We'll see. As of May 1st, my family has been thrown a curve ball. The floods that affected Nashville hit really close to home (literally haha).. My house was fortunate that is was not totally destroyed, but it was messed up enough to displace us for a few months. It has been a whirlwind. That saturday we all got out of the house in time, but left poor Lucy at home. I, to say the least, was VERY upset. I cried and cried. That night, my dad called me and my mom to tell us the waters had receded and we were able to go back in the house. Not knowing what to expect when i opened that door, I held my breath. As i looked around, I saw mud everywhere. I've always said that i love being dirty and getting muddy, but lets get real people!! this was a little over the top!!! We had mud everywhere and water standing other places. Although the water didn't get above a foot (as far as we know) it did just enough to really put us in a bind. Within an hour, we had three shop vacs, friends, boyfriends and family over sorting out stuff, sucking up water and trying to just get stuff started. We had no idea what to do or where to go. These people have been a blessing to my family along with many others. Well, the first week was a little crazy. As many people knew, I was finishing up nursing school and trying to get all of my work done etc. I even had a final later that week or the next week. It feels like every day after may 1st, we had people over at the house helping clean up. It was amazing and thoroughly touching to see the way nashville responded to this tragedy. All of the stories that were told and seen through the media were heartbreaking. I think for a whole month straight after the flood, I could cry on command ha. The sincere generosity of so many people literally brought me to tears. That monday we had about ten more people over to the house to pack and pull out carpet and particle board.. wooohoo. NOT FUN! haha. We all felt about ten years older the next day. I don't think there was a non-sore muscle out there for us all!! That saturday, Woodson chapel sent out volunteers to people at woodson who were affected, bellvue, and other places. It was amazing. I was truly touched by the church familiy that i have. They all worked so hard and were so amazing. We got everything out of the house and into a storage unit it seemed like within an hour or two. After that, we pulled all the hardwood floor up and packed some more. We even looked out to see the grass being cut!!! I felt so overwhelmed by the love my church family has shown us. It is truly a blessing. I honestly do not know what people would do if they had not had a church family. A big question throughout all of this has been why do bad things happen to good people? my answer to this is: Bad things happen to good people because we have the resources to get back up on our feet. We are able to bounce back. Good people surround themselves with good people, therefore it is a little easier to get back on the right track. This shows as an example for the bad people. They should see what a blessing it is to be on the right track. Bad people don't have anyone to rely on during tough times, so why make them suffer more? I'm blessed with a great family, boyfriend, friends, church family, and work family and many more people. So its all been a whirlwind since then..

I have started playing church league softball on thursday nights. It was fun up until two nights before graduation!!!! I ran around the bases and felt my foot start hurting. I went the morning of my pinning ceremony and got x-rays.. STRESS FRACTURE! when it rains it pours ha.. so i was in a boot alll day up until my pinning ceremony. I refused to be pinned with a huge boot on my foot!!!! So i limped across the stage and got pinned. I also did the same thing for graduation. i wore the boot up until time to graduate and then i limped across the stage and got my diploma! That day i had an amazing graduation party and had the best time with all my guests! It was awesome.

In the meantime many people are probably thinking "where are you staying"? Well if you ask, we are staying at a condo in Lenoxx village. A church friend's father has a condo that he does not stay in but occasionally that he wanted to help out. We are staying there for right now. It has been close to the house, so we have been able to bounce back and forth. it is nice and cozy and a perfect place to lay my feet up at night.

Sophie? Lucy? the cats? well sophie is staying with my nana for now :( sad i know. I miss her so much. She gets so excited to see me. I love it. Can't wait until we can snuggle again in my own home. LUcy? well she isn't missing us at all. She is staying at my aunt and uncle's house. She has a friend, maggie,... their lab. Lucy has probably lost over ten to twenty pounds from being able to run around outside and play all the time!!! The cats are still at the house and haven't had a problem. Jack's kinda skinny now! and he was my fatty!!! !

So updates on the House:

As of lasty friday 6/4, the subflooring had been put down. The studs for new walls had been either put up or torn down. We have nothing in the house rightn ow.. Everything is in the storage unit down the street. We are having the electricians come out today and this week to get that all set up. We will have that inspected at the end of this week and hopefully dry walling will start next week!! We're so excited it has gone so quickly and so blessed..

Also, After graduating, I have accepted a full time position at Elite SPorts Medicine as a registered nurse to Dr. David Moore. I am monday through friday. Hours are great and i love love love my co-workers!! It is a great job and a wonderful position. I love it. Although i absolutely love it, I am hoping to transition in the next while into a full time position. I love the hospital and absolutely love the medical aspect of the hospital.