Spring

Birdy Birdy, In the sky,
What you doing in my eye,
It tastes like sugar,
It feels Like soup,
Oh My Gosh,
Its birdy poop.

Complete randomness, I know. I was googling once again to find cute ideas for my therapy session today and I came across this poem (No, I'm not using it in therapy). I literally laughed out loud when I read it though....probably because I've had a similar experience! I didn't taste it to figure out what was dripping down my face (uhh duh) but it did feel a little soupy?? Note to self: Don't walk under pretty trees on campus. There are usually pooping birds perched on them. I'm sure they sit up there all pretty in the tree just waiting for their next target. Deceit.

Today is simply AMAZING!! It's around 90 degrees probably the warmest day of Spring so far! Lubbock has just been waiting for days like this! I'm headed to the park as soon as my session ends today :)

To-do list:
1. buy a kite (awesome weather + Lubbock winds=perfect kite material)
2. cook something new for dinner
3. don't wait until 9 pm to cosume the recommended 8 cups of water

Inspiration

Let me just start by saying that I am LOVING my decision to follow speech-language pathology. Yes since graduate school there have been some weeks where I question my decision (e.g., like when my little client is sick, coughing literally in my face refusing to do an activity I worked extra hard on or when professors schedule big exams right after a break) BUT overall I know I am exactly where I should be right now.

Anywho....I literally just got back into town from a (no laughs) Speech Convention in Fort Worth. A convention where 4,000'ish speech-pathologists get together to reconnect with old friends/professors, get continuing education hours, pick up LOTS of free stuff, interview for jobs, buy fun new materials, etc...

Oh did I mention the free stuff?? It was ridiculous! I brought one bag and left with 4. I'm now sitting in my room overwhelmed. I honestly won't have to buy an ink pen for the next 4 years (unless I manage to lose them like Haley loses our coffee mugs?). Just glancing in my bag..... chip clips, ink pens, highlighters, a mouse pad, hand sanitizer, a crazy cool yo-yo (aka a "fidgit" in the speech world. Because sometimes kids need soemthing to "fidgit" with while in therapy....HA!), pumpkin mask, clown nose...and the list goes on. That being said.....I am officially a speech NERD! I said it, NERD.

Blah, blah, blah.....all the free stuff isn't why I am inspired though. It is because of the opening session with Dr. Patch Adams. Yup, Patch Adams himself people. I really didn't go into the session with many expectations but he had my full attention for the 1.5 hours (which is not the norm for me). If his words didn't grab everyone's attention his outfit did. He wore a gray/blue ponytail down to his hips, a fork earring, rubber duck tie, bright patterned shirt, rainbow clown capri pants, tall mismatched socks, and a red clown nose. Did I mention that this is an EVERYDAY outfit for him?? He travels around 300 days of the year speaking to groups and loving on people. Literally everywhere he goes whether in the states, another country, an airplane, an elevator....he wants to love on people. He said life is too short and humanity too important not to. If conversation doesn't come naturally with someone, he said his outfit always seems to help with that.

During the opening session he talked about how we so desperatly need to put the "Care" back in "Health Care." Here is a summary of what he is all about ...

• Laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process and therefore true health care must incorporate such life.


• Dr. Adams adds to his training as a physician, his experience as a street clown.


• In working with health and mental health professionals, he explores the relationship between humor and therapy using his unique blend of knowledge, showmanship and hands on teaching techniques.


• Says Dr. Adams, I interpret my experience in life as being happy. I want, as a doctor, to say it does matter to your health to be happy. It may be the most important health factor in your life

Seriously check out the amazingness: patchadams.org

Laughter, Joy, Creativity....Ummmm sign me up!

The idea of loving people isn't new to me....as a follower of Christ it is something I am called to do. It was just totally awesome to hear a very well-known speaker tell 4,000'ish people to start living self-less and LOVE people! How crazy cool would it be if even 1/4 of the speech-pathologists in attendence apply it?? We interact with people all the time....soooo many lives could be impacted. I just don't believe someone can have that much joy without Christ! And people are going to ask. They are going to want to know what you have that they don't. Then it's your time to shine baby. You have already been helping them physically....and now the door opens to help them spiritually.

Speech pathology...it is something that I love, something that I've invested a lot of time in...and I can use it to touch lives. I am inspired.

To-do list:
1. watch patch adams
2. live self-less this week
3. find a place to store all my free junk
4. run off the awesome peanut M&M's consumed on road trip (totally worth it)
5. buy a fork earring
6. buy hummus

Not-to-do list:
1. Set my alarm (the goal is to sleep as long as my body allows in the morning)
2. Unpack bags (considering I'll need them again in 6 days)

Sweet reminders

Today has been one of those days! The alarm went off and I just wasn't feeling it! It was so hard to convince myself to get up and prepare for the day. I have about decided that I have a love-hate relationship for 'breaks.' I love having the time away from class but it is so hard to find motivation to come back! Returning to a test and presentation the first day back from break is NOT my idea of fun. Oh and I discovered that I can't do a real push-up!! I was shaking like a baby....I'm sure it would've been pretty entertaining to watch. I was feeling a little sorry for myself, yes. I did not start the day off with the best attitude but by the end of it...I realized several things:

1. I didn't roll out of bed today thanking God for blessing me with another day. I opened the door to failure by not spending some QT with the one who makes my world go round! Note to self: Spend some sweet time with Jesus every morning.
2. I have this awesome opportunity that so many don't have...the chance to get an education. It's difficult and stressful, but there are people that would LOVE to be doing it.
3. A good friend reminded me..."this is the life I have chosen right now." I am going to live it up and focus on the perks. One major perk being that there is only like 36 actual school days left this semester!! Glass half full of chocolate milk baby!
4. The sun was shining today!
5. One of my classes was cancelled! Which was more than awesome because I had time to make a much needed attitude adjustment!
6. I actually cooked a real meal tonight. It wasn't the usual randomness like scrambled eggs with chicken strips.
7. I didn't wake up with projectile vomit like haley....that's always a plus!
8. I played hang-man for the first time in ages! I have almost decided that it should be added to the weekly to-do list.
9. Found my purple pen today! It made studying so much more enjoyable.
10. I'm getting to bed somewhat early tonight!

I came across a sweet reminder:

If God brings you to it,

He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Firsts

So I love journaling my thoughts, prayers, complete randomness, etc and my sister-in-law had this sweet idea to blog. I refuse to tweet (not going to lie....I do enjoy looking at them though) but I'm giving this blog thing a shot....

Excuse the Random "TITLE." I'm not even sure "Firsts" is a word but it makes sense in my head...so I'm going with it. 'Firsts' are usually always intimidating to me. Seriously. The list could go on forever but I'm considering going to bed early so I'll keep it short:

Just a heads up so there isn't confusion in the end...I'm skipping #1, it's so much easier to get my thoughts flowing when I skip it!?

2. First time to try a new food. For example, sushi....so intimidating I have still yet to try it.
3. First dates. Self-explanatory?
4. First time to fly alone. Flying is so easy when you have someone with you. It's like common sense right? But when you do it alone.....it is a whole new story. All the sudden you get off the plane and you are overwhelmed with choices. Signs everywhere for all sorts of junk you don't need(bathroom, shops, food, shuttles, tickets, other terminals). You just need baggage claim! Then, finally you see the sign you need and walk towards it. You know it is bad when you stand confused underneath the sign 'baggage claim' looking for the bags. They could at least put an arrow on the sign to point you in the right direction, right?? I didn't think it was common sense to know to go down 2 sets of escalators and turn to your right before you find the actual bags.
5. First grade.
6. First time to sky dive. Yes, it is on the 'to-do' list.
7. First speeding ticket. Moto-cops are evil.
8. First blog posting. Seriously. I considered googling "good first blog posts" but I didn't.