On This Journey

LOA - 3 of my favorite letters

2008-10-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to me, after a long stretch of not updating my own blog. Tsk, tsk, I know. (And thanks to Maureen and others for the persistent nudges of guilt.)

I called work last night and requested an "LOA" - Leave of Absence. Not a permanent one like many of you are familiar with, but just one for the day. Bascially, I was asking for the day off. Because they don't do staffing in the hospital until about 5am prior to your 7am start, you don't find out if they grant your request until then. So, when 5:30am rolled around and my phone didn't ring, I shrugged off the warmth of my snuggly blanket and headed to splash some water on my face to the thought that I'd have to try again another day. I thought my ears were faking me out when my phone rang halfway through brushing my teeth at 5:36am. Of course, I ran to my phone - toothpaste foam in mouth and all - and heard the wonderful voice of the charge nurse at work.

Charge nurse: "Kristine, I'm giving you a 12-hour LOA."

Kristine: (shocked but giddy) "So... I don't have to come into work the WHOLE day?!"

Charge nurse: "That's right."

THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE GIFT OF TIME!

Usually, they grant you a 4-hour LOA, where you have to call later that morning to see if they still need you. So, I was definitely willing to take the LOA. And now, I figured, I had some time to blog and catch you all up.

Moving on.

Since I last blogged all the way back in May, much has happened, but I will limit to major events and illustrate with photos. :)

1. Survived an unusually painful summer of my adult internal medicine clinical rotation. Enough said.

2. Enjoyed watching Grace & Zane get married!

Our awesome life group!

3. Went on vacation to Hawaii for a week with my family.

At Black Sand Beach on the southern side of the Big Island.

Went to Kaulua Ranch to ride ATVs through the beautiful mountainsides where they film movies like Jurassic Park and shows like Lost.

Loco Moco! Mmmmmm..................!!!!!!!

5. Went to the OC fair, enjoyed some sinfully sweet treats, watched Junior gawk and oogle over a mop and savored every second of it.

I think Malena and I were too busy eating that we didn't get much more than this one photo.

7. Cut off almost 12-inches of my long locks and donated it!

Thanks to Paula Chisam for my haircut! I love it!

8. Got to hang out with my APU buddies and meet the newest member of our "extended" family, baby Peter. Congrats to Thu and Mathieu!

I can't wait until he fits into that sweater!

9. Got engaged! (I'll blog about the engagement story later!) Went to a bridal shop looking for a bridesmaid dress for Kathy's wedding. When Kathy saw a veil on the counter, she popped it in my hair and got this photo. Priceless.

Kat's idea for a photo - flippin' the engaged finger. Haha.

Not quite an engagement photo, but you get the idea.

10. Celebrated my 10-year high school reunion!

The Haps

2008-05-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

From time to time, a cousin will ask, "So...what's the haps?"

Filipino to English translation: "What's happening/What's going on in your life?"

A very brief photo recap.
Met up with Doris and Suzanne, two of my roommates from our days at UCLA, for some delicious Indian food at Shan's Restaurant in Little India in Artesia.

Went to a nursing research conference via NCEMNA in March (see previous post) and met lots of filipino nurses doing all types of research.

I ran into an old friend Sharee (front) who I also went to UCLA with. She's in the UCSF Master's-Entry level program to be a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and she's graduating this month! She introduced me to her classmate Renita, who's due with her first baby this month! Congrats, Renita!

Thankfully, I wasn't the only APU person there. Maisha was also accepted to be a Mentee for this year, and I was so happy to see her there... and so happy to know she's moving along with a healthy pregnancy with her 3rd baby girl! Little baby Nia will be due in August!

While in San Diego for the conference, I already knew I had to stop by the cemetary. If you don't know, my brother's girlfriend was died during a car accident in March 2007. The whole experience has been very vivid in my mind, and I was certainly fearful to confront my anxieties and emotions again by visiting her burial site. If you could, please continue to pray for my brother, Mae's family, and the people who have been affected, even now, a year later.

...Fast forward to this past weekend...

I celebrated Junior's 28th Birthday ALL weekend long. (* Quick shout out to little Miss Emma Platt who turned 1 on May 3rd! Junior says she's a lucky little girl to share the same birthday as him :).

I took him out Saturday for a day of fun and relaxation. Went to IHOP for breakfast, then kayaking at Newport Harbor/Balboa (I'll get pics from Junior). Mike, our kayaking tour guide, was super fun and just awesome -- if you haven't been down there, definitely try it out some time. After, we rented some beach cruisers, then took the ferry to Balboa Island to have lunch at Amelia's (the lasagna was so delicious!) followed by frozen bananas at the original home of the frozen banana, Sugar 'n Spice (HIGHLY recommended!!!) Did some window shopping, riding our bikes, then headed off to Cloudmover Day Spa in Huntington Beach for a much needed massage. Then, off to dinner at Wood Ranch for some AMAZINGLY delicious Tri-Tip (Another place I HIGHLY recommend!), then dessert thanks to Great Dane Baking Co.

As if Saturday wasn't enough, the celebration and eating extravaganza continued Sunday. Enjoyed lunch, laughs, and a Laker game with Junior's hilarious friends at BJ's in Cerritos. Afteward, it was over to my family's house for a surprise party for my aunt, then to Old Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton to join Junior's family for pasta dinner complete with spumoni. Mmmm good.

Happy Birthday, Junior! I love you!

My Nephew Turns 1

2008-04-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

My cousin's "little boy" Cooper turned one last week. She informed me she would be having some of her friends and coworkers over for a BBQ luncheon in honor of his birthday. How funny!

Yogurt-Land

2008-03-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

Only recently have I taken to frozen yogurt, with Golden Spoon boysenberry in the lead on my list of favorite flavors. I'm not much into the toppings. I firmly believe a good frozen yogurt should be able to hold its own.

I admit to trying Pinkberry ONCE last year at the urging of my cousin who is voraciously smitten over this unique recipe of yogurt which may be generously accompanied by toppings such as Captain Crunch or fresh fruit. I was not impressed much by Pinkberry and really feel all the hype was not worthy of its taste. It was bland, and the only thing worth mentioning was the fresh fruit toppings, which were the only things I enjoyed.

So, tonight, I met with my I WILL group at Yogurtland in Long Beach. I was very hesitant, given my experience with Pinkberry, but I figured everything is at least worth one try.

Much to my surprise, I like it. Can't say that I'm C-R-A-Z-Y about it, but it is good. Lots of appetizing flavors of frozen yogurt, like Pineapple and Banana, even things like Green Tea and Cookie Dough. Like Pinkberry, they have extras like the Captain Crunch and fresh fruit. It's (somewhat) reasonably priced at $0.30 an ounce, but just be aware that it adds up. Bottom line: Frozen yogurt = less calories & less fat with lots of flavor.

BTW, for all your RITE-AID ice cream lovers (myself included), I've heard they raised their prices. $1.20/scoop. I never thought I'd see the day.

Thinking Ahead.

2008-03-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

(A picture of me with my nursing cohort and our significant others celebrating our RN licensure, Summer 2007)

A couple weekends ago, I went to the National Coalition for Ethnic Minority Nurse Association (NCEMNA) conference in San Diego. I left inspired.

When I'm in school, I have a tendency to become insular. I live in a bubble. I forget about what else is going on around me. My goals become short-term. My thinking stretches only to the next quiz, or to the end of the semester. No longer. I'm tired of this way of thinking.

NCEMNA accepted me to be a mentee for this next year, which means that they have paired me up with an AMAZING mentor, a doctorally prepared nurse researcher/scientist, Iris Padilla.

I am encouraged by her and many other wonderfully mature and visionary nurses to "keep on" to find develop my passions, talents, and abilities to do what I love and use this to care for the people I serve. I just got my RN license last year, and I'm only a year away from finally completing my master's degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner, but I'm inspired to pursue MORE.

A doctoral education is likely in the future. I want to teach. I want to become a clinical expert. I want to know my community and learn how to navigate it. I want to meet others who are passionate about who they are and what they do. I am so hungry to do and to be MORE.

You Know You're A Nurse When...

2008-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

The Boys.

2008-02-06T16:58:00.000-08:00

Not one. But two.

Dog-sitting for the week while my aunt is enjoying her vacation in Costa Rica.

They make for great study breaks. :)

When did THIS happen?

2008-01-28T12:43:00.000-08:00

After hanging up my lab coat this morning, my name badge caught my eye. I thought, "When did THIS happen?"

I became an official RN last June. Over the past two weeks and for the next 10 weeks, I'll be taking on a new role as a Nurse Practitioner Student at a pediatric outpatient clinic in Santa Ana. This is the part of my nursing program at APU that I've looked forward to -- learning how to be an NP.

I saw my first patient last week - a 5 year old boy for his annual well-child exam. God always does good things through my anxiety and nervousness, and the experience turned out to be better than expected. I felt way more confident than I imagined. I think my experience in kids ministry with my 4 and 5-year old Big Dippers makes a huge difference in my interactions.

Many may not know, but I really have a hard time being around kids... like I'll do something to permemantly damage or scar them for the rest of their lives. I was originally reluctant to start serving in kids ministry, but felt a definite nudge from God to try it out.

So here I am, 2 years later, enjoying teaching in kids ministry (even though I still have my fears!) and a student at a pediatrics office.

BTW - we're in need of some awesome volunteers in Kids Ministry at Revolution. If you're willing, we'd love you!

Peppermint. EVERYTHING.

2007-12-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

I never thought I'd admit that I actually LIKE peppermint. The realization came some time between a Peppermint Mocha a la Starbucks and trying the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's via Trader Joes this season. I started tracing back my steps... how did I become so enamored?

For one, I never enjoyed using mouthwash...at least not the pepperminty variety. Eckh! Nor was I ever fond of the solo candy cane during the holidays. Double Eckh!

But then I recalled how I enjoyed the refreshing flavor of an occasional Andes mint atop a hotel pillowcase or restaurant billfold...
... AND the chocolate mints on my way out of Mimi's....

... AND then discovered Altoid's Dark Chocolate Peppermints (reasonably priced at about $2 at your local TJ's BTW)...
... AND of course favored the Starbucks Peppermint (soy) Mocha Latte over the Pumpkin, Gingerbread, or Eggnog (you can stop your groaning now)...

... AND curiously picked up a box of TJ's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's off the 8-ft tall display.

I'm smitten. Indulge me. At least it's only seasonal.

Happy Birthday. To Us.

2007-11-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

One year and two days ago, Junior and I shared a conversation that would change the trajectory of our friendship.

Though Junior started coming to Revolution early 2006, I didn't meet him until our mutual friend Emily introduced us at her birthday party over the summer. We saw each other Sundays, exchanged how are yous, and started to casually hang out. It wasn't long before he told me how he felt, which sent me (and Junior) into a flurry of prayer over the following weeks to understand God's direction and timing. Being in the middle of nursing school, it simply felt impossible to be intentionally invested in someone else's life.

It was clear during our conversation that evening that God was softening our hearts. We both expressed a desire to start a relationship centered on Him in order to learn and discover things together that might otherwise be difficult apart from one another.

Our dating relationship over the past year has been nothing short of God's glory. We've had our stumbling blocks, but Jesus has been our rock and foundation. What we've discovered together is how abundantly and unashamedly God displays His love for us though one another. We're both so grateful that this has exploded into a commitment of intentionality and uncompromising quality toward relationships with our friends, families, and coworkers. We're inspired to care for and serve one another in ways that may seem unconventional or outdated. And we're thankful that we seek, enjoy, appreciate, and love our Lord more as a result.

Thank you, God, for this relationship. And thank you, Junior, for your courage to faith.

i am a health professional

2007-11-06T22:42:00.001-08:00

I've been waiting for today all semester long.

We did our first male and female pelvic exams.

YUP. It's official.

It went surprisingly well. Our standardized patients from USC have been trained extensively on how to critique your techniques as well as your interpersonal skills and language while you're performing your exam on them. I can't imagine how awkward it must be for them, because it certainly was (initially) awkward on my end. After the first minute or two, the discomfort subsided and I felt much more at ease, but could still feel some pearls of sweat rolling down my spine.

Today was definitely a confidence booster. I'm so thankful these people were willing to have us perform our first male and female exams on them. My future patients will definitely benefit from the experience I gained today!

Any takers?

YUM-O

2007-11-04T23:45:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about Rachel Ray, "YUM-O" means something to you.

Last Wednesday, my AMAZING friends from APU treated me to Indian food for lunch at Diamond Palace. YUM-O! I've been there once before and it was a welcome repeat! I'd HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you wouldn't consider Indian food a fav, it might make your list after trying this place. BTW, Trader Joe's has some pretty good pre-packaged Indian food, including naan bread to top it all off (get the stuff in the freezer section not the fresh stuff). My very first experience with Indian food was a tough one years ago, but I've definitely loved every experience with it since then!

I have no idea what Carlos was trying to explain...

...but he sure was trying to get his point across!

The few, the proud, the MALE nurses!

When I started nursing school two years ago, I asked God to provide A LOT of support. I'm so thankful that He has so graciously and faithfully provided these friends to come alongside me. I'm so glad we're not just classmates, but genuine friends! We've spent way too many hours wasting away at the library together, carpooling, eating Pho, and cracking jokes that only we'd laugh at. It has been an arduous, uphill journey to say the least!

Thanks, Joyce, Thu, Harold, Brian, Ryan, Emily, and Carlos! I love you guys!

expect the unexpected

2007-10-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

I have great friends. Last Monday night during our class, a few of my friends (*ahem!* - Joyce, Helen, and Carlos) organized a little surprise consisting of delicious chocolate cake with chocolate dipped Oreos on top (mmm...), plus juice to hose it all down.(I didn't have my camera, so the pic below is the closest I could find.) My entire class including my professor got to enjoy the fun with me. I received a really thoughtful card from all my buddies in the SCAN program - with whom I have definitely have walked many, many hills and valleys. Thanks, everyone, for remind me what a gift my life is!

I have a great family. I was pretty bummed by the end of class because of a miscommunication mishap with a paper we submitted, so needless to say, I drove home nearly in tears until my mom called saying she cooked a little dinner. My family knows I'm at class until almost 9pm on Mondays, so I was shocked to see a full dinner spread on the table, not to mention Junior, who my mom apparently called and invited him to join us.

I thought I'd celebrate with my family next week when our schedules freed us up, so it was a nice surprise to see what mom and dad whipped up for us that night. Chicken with mushrooms, salmon, asparagus, rice, and of course, a strawberry-vanilla ice cream cake from Marble Slab! (Frankly, Marble Slab is WAY better than Coldstone.)

...And the celebration hasn't quite ended! I went to Mimi's Cafe yesterday morning with my awesome friend Malena, who treated me to a yummy breakfast that included a Pumpkin Spice Muffin. It's only available seasonally, so that was a birthday gift in itself. (Thanks, Malena!)

My birthday wish as I blew out the candles was just for the safety of our firefighters and the people whose lives and homes are threatened or have been taken away as a result of all the fires across So Cal. Something to keep on praying about!

Twenty-seven.

2007-10-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

That's how old I am today. Ten years ago, I envisioned I would be completing my residency as a family practice doctor by this age (you know, finish college at 21, med school by 25, residency by 27). God has had way better plans for me!

Went to Washington DC and fell in love with the idea of being a primary care provider (not necessarily a doctor!)
Found a wonderful church family - Revolution Church!
Started great friendships with awesome people through places I've worked: a health clinic and physical therapy offices
Reconnected with old friends
Got to move in with my family and live life with them
Met an amazing man - my boyfriend Junior
Became a nurse and now working on becoming a Nurse Practitioner

...and this is just a small portion of my thankfulness list! Life is always better with God in the driver's seat!

I'm not big on celebrating my birthday, but I suppose some people are. For example --

Junior brought over freshly brewed coffee and warm, yummy cinnamon rolls for me this morning for breakfast... which he made from scratch. He even made a banana cake last night after taking me out to dinner at Cosi. Cosi is huge on the east coast, so I was pleasantly surprised when they opened one in Costa Mesa. Bummer that Cosi ran out of fuel for their famous table-side do-it-yourself s'mores, but it freed us up to head out early so I could open my gifts, one of which I'm wearing right now.

They're super cozy. I got him a pair for Valentine's and have always coveted them. At least now I won't be tempted to steal his.

We'll see what the rest of today holds. For now, it's off to read, read, and read for class since I've got a midterm tomorrow.

fast forward

2007-10-18T22:27:00.002-07:00

I can't believe it's been about 1.5 years since I visited my own blog. A lot has happened since, but a few highlights to get you caught up:

Passed my board exam and I'm officially a registered nurse
Working my first real job... with benefits and everything
I've been in 2 different life groups, and just joined one this week (thank you Junior & Zane)... which reminds me of the next point...
I have an amazing boyfriend - Junior!
I absolutely LOVE serving in Kids Ministry at Revolution :)
Went for an unexpected but great trip to the Philippines with my family!

There are lots of other things that have happened, some great and some not so great, but we can tell those stories another time!

It's a little frustrating for me to think that I have such a hard time keeping up with a blog! If you're reading this, I need some encouragement - so let me know what you think!

where everybody knows your name

2006-03-27T21:09:00.000-08:00

I'm heading to Boston the evening after my last final on April 27. I'm glad I have something exciting to look forward to after such a looooong semester! And I'm definitely interested to finally see all the buzz about JetBlue's fabulous flight service. It'll be a breath of fresh air to be in Boston for a week before our summer semester starts full swing May 8.

My cousin lives in Boston. I'm quite impressed that she (finally) finished her PhD last year at Johns Hopkins and is now teaching/researching at Harvard. I've always looked up to her -- not just because she's stinkin' smart, but she's impressed on me the drive to constantly strive forward and be adventurous. She flew home before her graduation so we could celebrate. I was an absolute moron for falling asleep while she was giving her abridged dissertation presentation to our family; I'm not sure that she's forgiven me, but it sounds like she's still happy to receive me next month.

I've never been there before, so if you have any suggestions, let me know! I'm especially interested in places to eat and not-so-touristy places to check out.

TGIF

2006-03-10T01:55:00.000-08:00

what do you think?

2006-03-10T01:44:00.000-08:00

I was re-reading and thinking about my StrengthsQuest list of my top 5 strengths. Each person in my class took the assessment during our orientation last fall, and this is how I scored (1 being my biggest strength and so on).

1. Learner
2. Connectedness
3. Achiever
4. Harmony
5. Developer
------------------------------------------------

Learner
You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered--this is the process that entices you. Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences--yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the "getting there."

Connectedness
Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life's mysteries.

Achiever
Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by "every day" you mean every single day--workdays, weekends, vacations. No matter how much you may feel you deserve a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, you will feel dissatisfied. You have an internal fire burning inside you. It pushes you to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment. Your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused. But it will always be with you. As an Achiever you must learn to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits. It brings you the energy you need to work long hours without burning out. It is the jolt you can always count on to get you started on new tasks, new challenges. It is the power supply that causes you to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for your work group. It is the theme that keeps you moving.

Harmony
You look for areas of agreement. In your view there is little to be gained from conflict and friction, so you seek to hold them to a minimum. When you know that the people around you hold differing views, you try to find the common ground. You try to steer them away from confrontation and toward harmony. In fact, harmony is one of your guiding values. You can't quite believe how much time is wasted by people trying to impose their views on others. Wouldn't we all be more productive if we kept our opinions in check and instead looked for consensus and support? You believe we would, and you live by that belief. When others are sounding off about their goals, their claims, and their fervently held opinions, you hold your peace. When others strike out in a direction, you will willingly, in the service of harmony, modify your own objectives to merge with theirs (as long as their basic values do not clash with yours). When others start to argue about their pet theory or concept, you steer clear of the debate, preferring to talk about practical, down-to-earth matters on which you can all agree. In your view we are all in the same boat, and we need this boat to get where we are going. It is a good boat. There is no need to rock it just to show that you can.

Developer
You see the potential in others. Very often, in fact, potential is all you see. In your view no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities. And you are drawn toward people for this very reason. When you interact with others, your goal is to help them experience success. You look for ways to challenge them. You devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow. And all the while you are on the lookout for the signs of growth--a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or of "flow" where previously there were only halting steps. For you these small increments--invisible to some--are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others are your fuel. They bring you strength and satisfaction. Over time many will seek you out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that your helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to you.

i made it through...

2006-03-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

Another week of school
Just completed the 9th week of the semester. It is flying by. It really is a lot of fun, but certainly a lot of work. I'm grateful to have friends to enjoy the ride with and God to give me joy in the process... especially in waking up at 4am a few days a week. Who knew the moon could look so awesome that early in the morning? Haha.

Watching 2 surgeries
We're in our first Med-Surg rotation at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and it has been amazing to say the least. We rotate through the OR once this semester and last Monday was my day. In the OR, I saw a laparoscopic gastric bypass and a laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. Thankfully, it wasn't bloody at all because laparoscopic procedures just involve a few incision sites and a camera so you can visualize the inside of the abdomen. This gives you a pretty benign picture of what it entails. Google it if you want more interesting photos. Pretty cool.

...and hopefully the next few weeks will be just as swell.

it's true and here's evidence

2006-03-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Even the Journal of the American Medical Association says so. Caffeine is OK, at least, in relation to your blood pressure, that is.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/294/18/2330

caffeine is a CNS stimulant

2006-03-05T01:48:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of last semester, we were asked to list all the drugs we knew for different categories (e.g. anti-hypertensives, anti-infectives, etc.). What topped my list under central nervous system stimulants was CAFFEINE. Now, at 2 AM, after 5 hours of studying, 1 cafe mocha, and 2 cups of green tea, I remembered I started this blog 4 months ago and I completely abandoned it in the midst of finals. I love caffeine. And from what I learned from studying today, caffeine is "not statistically linked to increased blood pressure." Thank God!

Today was a good day. I spent my morning enjoying breakfast with Maureen, Nicole, and Marianne at La Creperie Cafe in Belmont Shores. I love that place. I've been there 2 years in a row for my birthday, plus every month in between...no joke! I have the greatest friends -- Nicole emailed me the other week reminding me that we never got around to celebrating my birthday (which is in October), so we'd celebrate it today. Besides awesome food, we shared great conversation and laughs. I think I may have enlightened them with my profound knowledge of insulin, bedsores, and the like.

Aside from studying, I spent part of my evening at my aunt's celebrating her birthday. One of my uncles taped a few episodes of Dancing with the Stars . I admit, I enjoy the show and it makes me want to learn how to dance...and dance well! But after my family repeated the fact that Cheryl (one of the professional dancers) was Filipino about a dozen times and then busted out the karaoke, I knew it was time to jet. Studying sounded much more appealing.

God is good. Despite how crazy school can be, He always provides me with knowledge of how full and amazing my life is. I can't wait for service tomorrow morning -- new series! Oh, and Emily, my best friend from school, called me this evening saying that one of her friends in Cerritos has actually been going to Revolution on and off over the past month. She's hoping that I can figure out who he is and hopefully just chat it up. So we'll see!

time well spent

2005-11-09T00:30:00.000-08:00

5 straight hours of class wears on you. So my 3 hour nap this afternoon felt great! After finishing some homework, I decided to start this blog with many thanks to my good friend David Trotter.