BIG NEWS!!!

Okay...I've got some big news for everyone. This is as big a news as when I changed from Art for a major to Nursing..... Are you ready???

Okay....

After I graduate college in December of this year I will be moving to Florida!!

What you say??!! But Amy...you love the mountains...you love the kind people of northeast tennessee....you love the comfort of home......why???

It's the same reason why I changed from Art to Nursing....a peaceful feeling, a notion from God to extend myself beyond my comfort zone. I have learned to trust the peaceful feelings and regardless of what the circumstances may be it will all work out.

Anyways, I called Rosie and Greg today to tell them the news and they are stoked! They just bought their first house and have been trying to convince me to move down to Florida for the past 2 years. Rosie already asked me what color I want my room in their new home!
Of course I'll take them up on staying with them until I find a place of my own *and a great job at one of the Gazillion hospitals down there!!*
I love you Greg and Rosie!!

I can't believe this is really going to happen!

The last week in May I will be flying down to stay with Rosie and Greg before we drive up for Geoff and Megan's wedding on June 7th. We will be looking around area hospitals and getting the inside scoop as to where the best place is to work.

Sheesh....how's that for news?!!

Praises at 3 a.m.

*Emmy kitty posing by my coffee mug**

lol The title says it all, I've got nothing but praises and it just happens to be 3 a.m. !!
No I'm not crazy *although some might beg to differ* but I felt lead to post a blog about how incredibly thankful I am for EVERYTHING in my life. Don't get me wrong...my life is not perfect by ANY stretch of the imagination and yes I deal with problems each and everyday. Working in a hospital will get you thinking about how truly blessed you are in many aspects of your life. Ie: I have eyes to see some AMAZING things God has created for us to behold...

*Tulip in my yard**

*Beautiful sunset @ Warrior's Park**

*Young couple in love: engagement photos I took**

**Angie took a photo of bro George and Neice Cadence*

*Rosie took this in a tulip field**

Arms, legs, feet and hands that allow us to move/bend/feel/create...

*me planting tulip bulbs**

*Artwork God has allowed me to create**

*My loving Emmy kitty who snuggles with me every day**

The ability to smell/taste/hear...

*awesome artwork from fellow artist**

*Carrigan eating pumpkin pie with mom**

*Cardinal in a tree in my backyard**

...These are just a few things to be thankful for everyday, PRAISE GOD!!

Gorgeous day!

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been about a month since I posted last. Life *as usual* has been a bit on the hectic.

Here is what's been going on as of late:

-Took my senior exit exam today, so I will be eligable to graduate in December

-Spring break last week from school...was soooo nice...

-Got my taxes done last week, in which I actually get money back this year!

-Making some connections with people at work to help start the art therapy program

-Joined a Patient Care Committee at work

-Designing mural for departments at work

-Making up ideas for the Mental Health Department's Patient Art Expo and Auction for the company I work for. *big to-do*

-Been doing well with eating healthy and exercising

-Lost a total of 22 lbs so far *only 20 more to go before Geoff & Megan's wedding!*

-Spend time with some buddies

-Finding new and exciting recipes to make!

-Praising God for the beautiful Spring weather!

Yeah....and that's only a LITTLE of what's been going on.

As ALWAYS...GOD IS AWESOME! I cannot even beging to describe how perfect His timing is. I find myself praying for His will in my life *instead of my own* constantly. Even though I may not know what will happen in my life...I KNOW it will be for His glory...and it will be perfect.

lol I'm putting together a project on Dialysis for a presentation I have in 2 weeks...and well it's been hard to try and design / develop an interesting way to present dialysis. Praise God for blessing me with a silly sense of humor and artsy-ness...

All I have to say is that there will be puppets...barbies...and lots of role playing......

Pictures will follow the next Post... lol

Anyhow, I hope everyone is doing awesomely! And have a lovely rest of the week!

Crazy Cats

Okay, for those of you who don't know...we have 8 cats. I know it sounds like a lot...and maybe it is, but I can honestly say that I love each and every one of them with their own individuals quirks and personalities.

There is nothing like coming home from a long day at work or school and being greeted at the top of the stairs by a fuzzy purry cat excited to see you. Or laying in bed getting ready to sleep with the soft purr of a fluffy cat curled up beside you.

Anyways, yes cats *and dogs* are awesome!

Here are some pics of our little 'darlings' that I've taken lately, enjoy:

Harry's new favorite bed...under mom's bathroom sink

One of our new cats Isaac, aka 'Izzy'

Big Timbo and Yoda snoozing in a chair

My all time new favorite cat picture
Yoda licking out of the toilet

*yes he has clean water to drink...he just prefers

this somehow...*

Freida kitty meowing for the camera

Tyrone, the exhibitionist...

Emmy kitty chewing on her favorite chive plant

A date with a T-Rex

After working the good ole' 3p-11p shift at work, and writing a paper until 3am...(insert a little sleep here) I went with Dad to the Gray Fossil Site/Museum on Sunday. *Operating on Faith and Coffee*

Here are the pictures: (Click to enlarge)

Outside of the Museum

Another view outside the Museum

The story of how 'Sue' was found and named

Dad face-to-face with 'Sue'

The actual 'Sue' skeleton to scale *with me in front*

Panoramic shot of inside the museum *click to enlarge*

Hmmm a deer...on my head

As dad stated, "Amy...because you were so good

to wake up early and come here with me....

I got you a 'Sue' stuffed T-Rex."

*I love my daddy*

BINGO...a dangerous game?

I apologize for the lack of posting, school has just started back and thus has been given all of my attention in the reading/writing areas.

I've got an AMAZING set of professors/classes/clinicals this semester. My clinical group for geriatrics was suppose to be meeting at a local V.A. hospital, but somehow we were moved to a local nursing home at the last minute. God being awesome *as usual* actually ended up blessing us with one of the most professional/cleanest/non-pee smelling assisted living facility I've ever been to. I don't know about you...but most nursing homes just have that rank pee smell to them..they are depressing and the people there are just dying to leave the place!

Well, at the facility I have the privelage of practicing at, not only is everything clean smelling an looking but the decoration and patient rooms are outstanding! I never imagined a place like this existed in the world!

*funny story time*

I was gathering information about my patient today in a little conference room just outside of the patient day room. Around 10 am we hear an overhead announcment that says.."It's BINGO time in the day room!" Naturally my fellow classmates and I were like..."Awww...BINGO...how sweet." Shortly thereafter we hear a shout from a lady, "HAPPY DAY, I got me a BINGO!" *and we thought it would stop there ...oh no...* Imagine you are at the recent Greenbay packers and NY Giants football game...and the crowd is going wild at the thought of a game in overtime....

We hear the lady's voice again, "I'm tellin' ya...I got a BINGO! Hear me?? I say WAHOO!! Don't make me come over there!"

WOW...it's SNOWING!

Okay, for those of you who do not know...we northeast tennesseans haven't gotten a good snow in a looooong time. Thanks to a local nuclear-ish plant we don't really get snow...and if we do get snow it does not stick. So you can imagine my surprise when I woke up to around 2" of snow on my back deck with more snow pounding down on top of it.
We officially have a 'Winter weather warning' according to the weather channel, in effect until 4pm.

Hmmmm I wonder if we get out of school today!! *as the child in me longs for*
I'll post photos later today.

Love you all!