Thanksgiving: Day 18

Today was a really rough day.  It's amazing how much stuff piles up when you are out of the office for training on a Friday (the quietest day of the week in the Chemistry Department).  Anyway, I'm so thankful for my loving boyfriend, Ryan.  It was a rough day, but he was so sweet and kind throughout the day, even if I was snappy.  He even pushed back his work out time so he could come home and just sit with me and I tried to relax from the craziness of my day.

I don't want to get into too much of the mushy gushy stuff, but really, Ryan is my rock.  I'm so thankful that I have had him in my life for well over a decade (and as my sweetheart for a little over a decade).  He's my bestest friend.  He keeps me grounded and calm.  I love him so much and I cannot say enough how grateful I am to have him in my life.

Thanksgiving: Day 17

Today, I'm thankful for my best friend, Justin.  We met back at the Carnegie Hotel and we've been best friends ever since.  The inspiration of this post is the fact that we have spent just about all afternoon and evening together!  First, we went to a Phi Sigma Pi Initiate event, then played volleyball.  After the games, we set off to our annual tradition: Magical Night of Giving.

My first year at the hotel, Justin invited me to go to Magical Night of Giving at the mall.  We had dinner then shopped til we dropped (really, until Electric 94.9 announced the winners of all of the door prizes at the event).  Anyway, we have gone every year...dinner and then the event.  Tonight, we started off differently by shopping first then dinner second.  We had so much fun as usual and got many of the gifts that we needed to buy.  :)  We even managed to go into Kitchen Collection without buying a single thing!  lol.

Anyway, I'm very thankful that we have been friends for so long and I'm so excited to see what the future has in store!

Thanksgiving: Day 16

Today, I'm thankful for sweatpants and baggy t-shirts.  :)  Weekends are so nice because I can really wear whatever I want that's comfortable, even if it is just sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt.  I don't know what it is, but it's always so comfortable!

Thanksgiving: Day 15

I'm thankful for nurses.  No, I'm not a nurse and I never wanted to be a nurse, but I am very thankful for them.  Today, Ryan and I took a CPR/AED and First Aid training course that was led out by MSHA nurses.  Let me say, they did awesome, primarily because they were so patient!  There were a lot of questions asked the required the nurse to be very patient (yes, I do believe there are things as stupid questions).  Anyway, this is just one example.

I've met and worked with several nurses.  I have several friends who are becoming nurses.  The amount of knowledge, skill, and patient that they need is great.  Most of them are compassionate.  There were a few nurses that I worked with that helped me learn quite a few life lessons.  Had it not been for the doctors that I met while working at the hospital, I may have pursued my career path in medicine because I knew that I would have wonderful assets on my team, nurses. 

Anyway, so if you have an encounter with a nurse, be nice and say thank you.  They may or may not hear that very often.

Thanksgiving: Day 14

Today, I'm thankful for my singing voice.  Okay...here's the inspiration...Glee.  Yea, yea, I know, it's Glee, but I have enjoyed the show.  Granted, I never really wanted to be a Broadway singer or even the next pop star, but I do love to sing.  Most of my current friends don't know that I sing.  I sang in my middle school choir.  I would have continued in high school, but I had to choose between flute or singing and at the time, I wanted to focus on my studies in flute. 

Now, I mostly sing...in the car.  Adele, Joss Stone, Melody Gardot, and artists like them are in the genre that I like to sing.  There's a jazzy, blues feel to them.  I love that.  To me, that kind of music really showcases the artists voice (not the incredible ability of some sound studio technology). 

Anyway, watching the last episode of Glee just reminded me how much I love to sing and how I wish I was confident enough to sing more.  Unfortunately, I'm in an area that isn't conducive for individuals not pursuing a career in singing (or a student in general) to sing.  Oh well.  Maybe one day the university will actually start up that Faculty/Staff ensemble. 

Thanksgiving: Day 13

Today, I'm thankful for genuinely, kind people.  It's been a very rough week so far having students come to the office upset because they couldn't get into a class that they "needed".  However, occasionally, I'll get a kind student who is super nice, even if I couldn't help them right away.  I also have Brothers who are very kind, even if we disagree or even if I ask a ridiculous favor.  :)  So remember, be kind to people.  Ya never know what kind of day or week they are having.

Thanksgiving: Day 12

Today, I'm thankful for the fact that I have food in my fridge and that the reason that I'm hungry is not because I don't have a choice, it's because I'm too lazy to go get something to eat (or I'm trying to lose weight).  SAAC and many of the classes in Chemistry have brought in lots of food for the ETSU Holiday Food drive.  I talked with one of the individuals who is assisting in the organization of the drive and she said that she was so happy that our department has helped out so much.  She also said that there are over 90 people who have already asked for a Holiday basket from the food drive (the food collected in the drive is put into baskets and given away to faculty, staff, students, and other community members in need during the holiday season). 

Thanksgiving: Day 11

Today I am thankful for our country's veterans, active duty military, and their families.  I have been blessed to be living in a country where individuals proudly serve the country to fight for my freedoms, even if they don't know me.  My grandfather was a veteran and my dad served in the military when he was about my age (feel free to click the links to see pictures of both of them in uniform).  I have also had the privilege to work with a Marine and be good friends with someone who served in the military (who currently works on the VA campus) and an army wife who has been so strong for her family.  Thank you all so much for all that you have done!

Thanksgiving: Day 10

Today, I'm thankful for lazy, weekend days.  These past several weekends and the weekends in the future are going to be very busy.  However, today I was able to stay home and just be lazy with Ryan and Butch.  I know, a short post today, but I just wanted to post about being thankful about lazy, weekend days! :)

Thanksgiving: Day 9

Today I'm thankful for smoke alarms.  I know.  This is kinda an odd thing to be thankful for, especially in this "time of thanksgiving", but really sometimes we overlook the small things.  Anyway, here's the inspiration for this item that I'm thankful for.  Mom and Dad went to Gatlinburg this weekend.  To make a long story short (plus it's really funny when you hear it from Mom or Dad over the phone), the inn keeper tried to start a fire with logs and newspaper...in a gas fireplace.  LOL.  Anyway, as expected, that didn't turn out so well and a log broke the glass door of the fireplace and smoke went everywhere.  Thankfully, a big fire didn't start in Mom and Dad's room and that the smoke detectors alerted everyone in the building.

Yes, smoke alarms are annoying sometimes and everyone loves fire drills (::sarcasm::), but I am thankful for them because they are really useful!

Thanksgiving: Day 8

Be prepared to laugh...Today, I'm thankful for Pinterest.  I resisted using Pinterest for a while when it first become a "thing" mainly because I didn't need another website to be addicted to.  However, I have gotten a lot of inspiration from it!  Recently, I made a dessert for SAAC's retreat that was a hit!  Thanks to Pinterest and one my my secret boards titled "Gifts", I already have some Christmas gifts done!  Speaking of Christmas gifts, if anyone wants to get me one (hehe), feel free to get anything off of this board.

Whenever I get my house, I have plenty of inspiration to decorate it.  If I build a house, I have plenty ideas!  Whenever Ryan and I finally get married, I'll have a ton of ideas for the dress, the ceremony, the reception, everything really.  :)  So, if you have a Pinterest, follow me and I'll follow you!  If you ever need any ideas for anything, Pinterest it! 

Just in case you readers haven't figured it out, all of the links are to something on my Pinterest. ;)

Thanksgiving: Day 7

Readers, by now, you should all know that I'm part of a Co-ed National Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi.  Today, I am thankful for my Littles.  For those who may not know what this is let me explain.  When a person wants to become a Brother of the fraternity, they must go through initiation.  To assist them through the initiation program and through assimilation into the Chapter as a Brother after Induction, they are given a "Big Brother".  I have been blessed to have a large family with many "Little Brothers" (otherwise known as Littles).

Anyway, I've been fairly close with all of my Littles.  My last two, Canaan and Mary Ann, are Littles that I probably keep up with the most simply due to proximity and because even after they completed the Initiation Program, we had lunch at least once a week.  I'm so thankful that even now I still keep in touch.  What's even nicer is that both Canaan and Mary Ann have been there for me to keep be grounded, focused, and even stronger in my faith.   :)

Thanksgiving: Day 6

Today, I am thankful for the fall leaves.  I'm not the biggest fan of cold weather; however, when I see the beautiful fall leaves, I can't help but smile.  The other day when walking on the sidewalk with Ryan, I wanted to go running through a big pile of leaves (he prevented me from doing so which was probably a good thing).  I'll be sad when they are all gone!

Thanksgiving: Day 5

Ok...prepare yourself...today, I'm thankful for my left and right brain. Some people may not believe in this theory, but go with it for me today if you are one of these people. 

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Anyway, growing up, I was fortunate to have people in my life that embraced using both sides of my brain (see image above for characteristics).  Many of my current friends may not know this, but aAlong with my traditional studies, I participated in musical education.  I started with the piano and was later classically training in flute.  I also participated in choir for a few years.  I painted all throughout high school and college.  One of my works is currently hanging in my office at work.

Anyway, back to where I came up with this as something that I'm thankful for.  This fall, I'm taking a sewing class on Monday evenings.  I've always wanted to learn how to sew and I always thought that Grandmama would be the one to teach me.  But going off to college kind of set that goal aside.  When Grandmama died, I got her sewing machine and all the things to go with it.  Now that I'm officially done with school, I have some time to learn. 

During my lunch, I went downstairs to the Chemistry library to borrow the large table to spread out and work on my sewing class homework, cutting the pattern pieces on my fabric.  I had only cut a few pieces out during class (I have lots of pieces for my project) so I still had the majority to finish.  I laid out my fabric and the rest of my pattern pieces to find that it looked like I didn't get enough fabric!  I started to panic and then the two sides of my brain decided to work.  The left brain in me said there has got to be a way to lay out all of these pieces to have enough fabric.  The right brain in me figured out how to fold one of the pieces on the fold to give me just enough fabric to fit the rest of the pieces.  Thank goodness!  After about an hour and a half of laying out, pinning, and cutting, I finished my homework.  So, I thank my brain because without the logical and creative thinking, I would have been frustrated instead of productive. 

Thanksgiving: Day 4

Today, I'm super thankful for sick leave.  I'm feeling quite under the weather today.  I'm just bleh.  I think my body is just over run because of the awards banquet from Friday (that was a long work day), too much fun at retreat, and the volleyball games last night.  Thankfully, I have some sick time so I can stay home and rest.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be back to normal and ready to be productive!

Thanksgiving: Day 3

I am thankful for my body's ability to stay active.  As many of my reader's know, I've been trying to lose weight throughout the year.  I've been fairly successful so far.  :)  Part of losing that weight (at least for the second half of the year) is exercising.  Mostly, I've been doing yoga.  That has helped my strength and flexibility tremendously.

This month, I'm starting a couple of new things.  There are two reasons.  One, I need to vary up my exercising routine beyond yoga (even though I love it).  Two, I hurt my wrist last Tuesday at yoga doing the crow pose (I held it longer than I should have).  So, one thing that I'm doing is running.  I have always hated running, even when I ran track in middle school.  But I have so many friends who love running and are in great shape.  My friend, Justin, started running using an app on his phone and was fairly successful with it, so I've decided to try it for myself.  I've complete day one last week, but I'm starting over again because of all that's gone on.  Hopefully I'll be able to get running consistently.

Lastly, I'm playing intramural volleyball.  I played a couple of years ago on Phi Sigma Pi's team, so I'm playing again this year.  I played two games this evening.  We lost our first game (it was 7 against 4, which was my team), but didn't get creamed.  We won our second game! (7 against 5).  Now some of you are probably thinking, you have a hurt wrist and you are playing volleyball.  Well, I was planning to sit out on the games, but it turns out we had several people show up late or not at all.  To prevent our team from forfeiting and playing a fine, I played.  The second game, I was able to tape my wrist, so it doesn't hurt right now.  We will see how I feel in the morning.

Anyway, I'm super thankful for my body because I feel like I'm physically more capable of staying active than I was during my undergrad.

Thanksgiving: Day 2

I am thankful for Phi Sigma Pi Southern Appalachian Alumni Chapter (SAAC) and its members.  This weekend, the Chapter had our retreat.  It has been wonderful so far!  It's nice just to be able to get away from everything and just spend time with my Brothers.  Last night, even though it was super late, we were greeted by our Brothers, ate awesome food, and played cards.

Sleeping in was awesome today.  Yummy food, card games, and even talks about future events and what not have been the highlights of today so far.  I love being able to be a part of something even after I have graduated.  :)

Thanksgiving: Day 1

One thing that I've always wanted to blog about during the month of November is things I'm thankful for in honor of Thanksgiving.  However, I have always forgotten about it and remembered about half way through the month.  If you know me, you know that I don't like half doing things, so I never posted about it just half way through the month.  Anyway, I will post daily about at least one thing that I'm thankful for and I encourage others to do the same!  These are in no particular order and will probably relate to something going on in my life that day.  So here goes...

I am thankful for students.  Without students, I wouldn't have my rewarding, full-time job at ETSU.  I wouldn't have fantastic friends in the Philippines.  My days would be incredibly boring.  I would have never found my closest friends. 

I wanted to share a few experiences that have made me very grateful for students.  This past week, it was "Thesis Defense" week in the department.  There is one more this afternoon and another later in the month.  Nervousness was quite apparent this week, so I did my best to provide encouragement.  The best thing about the whole week is seeing those graduate students right after they have passed their defenses.  They all have smiles ear-to-ear and many with tears of joys in their eyes.  Like I told Ryan last night, I love having the graduate students in the department, but I lovingly tell them that I would only like to see them for two years so they can go on to bigger and better things.  Three so far have completed that last step toward graduation.  :)

My second experience that makes me thankful for students is with two of my fraternity Brothers.  Yesterday, I was able to have lunch with one of my Littles and coffee with another Brother.  Both are still college students, and one is graduating this December.  Being able to have deep, mature conversations with both of them made me realize how blessed I am to have both of them as friends.  

Lastly tonight, the Chemistry Department is celebrating our most outstanding students who have done well in their studies and/or demonstrated excellent teaching abilities.  Even though I do not have a hand in their education as far as teaching, I am so proud of each of these students.  Chemistry is not an easy subject, but these students have excelled in specific disciplines of Chemistry and teaching Chemistry.  I just think they are awesome!

So, if you see a student, encourage them, celebrate them, and be thankful for them!

Congratulations to My Daddy!

Today marks the end of a wonderful chapter in my Daddy's life.  Tomorrow starts a brand new, exciting one!  I want to dedicate this blog post to my dad.  Tonight, my dad will finish his last night shift at Vanderbilt and then he will retire!  :)  So, first things first, CONGRATULATIONS, DADDY!  :)

I remember when Daddy started working for Vanderbilt.  I was just starting middle school at Meigs Magnet.  At the time, I remember thinking, Dad's just getting a new job and that he would be working night shifts.  I wasn't worried about not seeing him in the evening because he got to bring me to school everyday and pick me up to bring me to Grandmama's.  Even in high school he was able to do that.  I remember fondly of the morning trips to East Literature Magnet School and stopping by Ms. Winner's for chicken biscuits.  :)

However, the first several years that he worked at Vandy, I did not quite understand the significance.  One of the reasons that I remember is the transportation to and from a magnet school which was in downtown Nashville, not in my zoned school.  Being able to attend this school opened so many doors for me.  But a major reason that he started work there was the tuition benefit that Vandy had for dependents of their employees.  Growing up, I always knew that I would go to college just like my daddy and my cousins, but I never thought of how I would afford to pay for it until probably my junior year of high school when Hume Fogg counselors started to nag the students to get working on those scholarship applications.  I was blessed to know that Mom and Dad had already thought about it and Daddy made the sacrifice of a "normal" work schedule so that both Christie and I could go to college without the extreme burden of student loans.  I was able to complete my entire four-year degree without a single student loan thanks to my daddy's hard work and dedication, and a couple of scholarships.  I'm not sure if I've ever outright said thank you to my parents for making this decision, but I am forever grateful.  I have always looked up to my Daddy for his commitment to family by working at Vandy and to all of the hard work he did and still continues to do.

Now, I am just so happy that Daddy gets to retire and have fun, work out (hehe), sleep, and just enjoy life without having to worry about working crazy hours!  What I'm looking forward to the most is being able to talk on the phone with Dad during the weekday nights!  :)

Daddy, I love you big bunches and I'm so proud and happy for you!

Resolutions Update

It's getting closer to time to start making new resolutions (I've got another couple of months or so), so I figured it might be time to do another update.

1.)  Start the Good Thoughts Jar.  I've been doing okay with this resolution.  I occasionally put something in my jar.  However, I don't do it everyday or even consistently once a week. 

2.)  Read the entire Bible.  I'm very behind.  I used the "Catch Me Up" feature on YouVersion several times because I've been bad about it.  I will say that I'm about 51% through the Bible.  According to my plan, I should have this finished in April.

3.)  Lose weight...a lot of weight.  So I gained a few pounds.  It's been harder without going to a doctor once a week.  I'm trying to stay on track, but it's been hard with staying busy.  I've still got about half way to go.

4.)  Be more creative.  Yep!  I took some initiative and I started sewing classes last Monday.  I'll have sewing classes once a week until Thanksgiving and I will have completed my first garment by then!  I'm hoping that maybe I'll have a side project when I'm going through the classes too.  I'm really excited about that.  Also, I've already talked to one of my Brothers about hosting a Pinterest party over ETSU's winter break.  I can't wait for that!
 
5.)  Cook one new recipe a month.  I'm not sure if I've done a recipe every month or not.  I know that this month I've tried two different ones.  One is a breakfast burrito for Ryan.  He said it was pretty good so I pinned it on my success board.  The other one was a recipe for wheat sandwich bread.  It was just...okay.  Not my favorite  and it was a little dense for me.  Honestly, it's also not really worth the time for the taste.  I'd rather use that time to make Grandmama's bread.  Next month I'm going to try a new recipe for SAAC's retreat this weekend.  I'll let everyone know how it goes!

6.)  Save some money.  Eh.  That's been interesting.  Ryan and I did sit down and make savings plans for the next few years.  We are on the right track.  I will say that using my Christmas fund with my bank is making life a million times easier for planning for Christmas.  I got started Christmas present shopping early! ;)

7.)  Drink more water.  Again, this resolution has now become a habit. 

8.)  Be more appreciative. Again, this has been difficult to track.  Definitely won't be putting a resolution like this again (one that's not really measureable).  Anyway, I believe that I've done a better job and making sure that I tell everyone that I appreciate their efforts or doing things for me. 

9.)  Take more photos, and not just photos of my dog, Butch.   I've been okay on this one.  I think I'm going to be keeping this as a resolution for next year. 

10.)  Blog once at least once a ...month. I'm still doing pretty well on this one! ;)