There's a fire...

That is not in my heart but in my head. Sorry Adele, your song doesn't describe me except for the belting pitches in my ear from the phone ringing at work (...haha...) Whether it be a massage, great margarita, horseback ride or just walking & talking with my best friends, I've found out that every day I have to find that needed stress reliever. I have only accomplished 1 of the 4 I listed because I haven't had time or that great need of them but I have other ways as well to de-stress. The most popular of what a de-stressor is to me is just coming home and sitting in a quiet place and recouping from hub-bub of the day.

Working for Dr. Erwin has been a learning experience - mentally and spiritually. I've only been there for 2.5 weeks but every day, I get challenged by things that happen at the office. I have to use a lot of PATIENCE, KINDNESS, SMILES and DEEP BREATHS in the situations that I am faced with. Yes, I may get an attitude after I hang up the phone but every time I do get faced with a challenge I stop to think about why I SHOULDN'T act that way but rather, discover the ways God wants me to act. It is a test to my faith and a path He wants me to really challenge myself to act in a better manner.

Another challenge has been the post-graduation/future career decision... It has been lingering in the back of my mind since February as I have thought of SEVERAL possibilities on what I should do when I "grow up." Dr. Erwin and my co-workers have had open ears to my thoughts and feelings with what I'm thinking about. They are also super amazing with weighing options with me with a new possibility - Nursing and later pursuing Nurse Practitioner. That idea has circulated my cranium several times but rarely was given much interest to the rest of my body systems. I have looked into the prerequisites and whatnot to see if I would have a chance at applying and getting into schools in Texas. I do have a chance but I have to take Microbiology and Philosophy. That wouldn't be bad if I could take them at a small college/juco after I graduate at A&M. I dare take them since I have 15 hours left to complete before Graduation in December!!!

So after a calm horseback ride this evening with a friend's cousin, I came home to exclaim a new option that is really appealing to my head, heart and mind. If you have opinions or suggestions, I'm open to all. I love y'all for reading this and I hope to be posting pictures soon. I'm terrible at remembering to take them because it's either a big Nikon around my neck so I'm not in the picture or my phone...Yeah. I suck at remembering to just take pictures...sorry!

Rolling in deep thoughts...AC

Reasons V. Feelings

I told a friend tonight that "there's a reason for my feelings and feelings for my reasons..." when conversing about a decision I had made this weekend about a recent interest. Of course, we all know the saying, "Everything happens for a reason" but it's our reaction to event and our feelings that swarm us before, during and after that reason occurs. I hope I can make sense of that all now...

I have had a interest in a particular boy since I was 15. We dated for over a year and parted ways before our senior year in high school. I was busy. He was busy. It was a bad break up for me since he was my first true love. Hopefully, my parents aren't rolling their eyes about me putting my emotions and thoughts to y'all via internet but HEY! It's my blog... Anyways... We became friends again while I was away and he stayed in EC. Little to know, the boy would send me beautiful flowers the day after Valentine's Day this year and tried to rekindle the relationship. Long story short, I was putting all my heart, mind & soul (110 percent!) into trying to get this boy to really commit but I was only getting 10% back. I'm not going to badmouth him at all because he is a hard-working gentleman but...I'm gonna stop there.

Everything happens for a reason...

And that is why I have TWO awesome opportunities to take my mind off the heartache!

1 - I am currently working for Dr. Melissa Kainer Erwin, M.D., P.A. for the summer. I'm not sure how long I will be with her but it was a week today since I started. It's been a whirlwind of a week that's kept me busy all day, learning new things, problem solving, communicating, making friends, and coming home very tired and weary of answering another telephone until the next day. I hope that I can make her proud every day with the accomplishment of helping her and the staff as well as performing above and beyond what I thought myself could do in her office. She also has my brain gears turning about really going for the gold...as in grad school gold. So let's just I love it there and my parents love her even more since she's making those gears turn!

2 - I am a part of a diverse group of young adults who will be putting on a Young Adult ACTS Retreat in August. I had signed up to get picked for team earlier this year and prayed off and on about it. I'm very blessed to be able to team and collaborate with others on not only our faith but cohesion of ideas, personalities, and schedules. It's hard to put this kind of retreat on with college-age kids and slightly older. The team is made up of 19-28 year old's. I feel once we get more comfortable with each other, it's going to be a lot of fun and fellowship. I've been able to meet new people and work with friends I haven't talked to in a few years. It makes me really want to stop up my faith game to see what the Big Man upstairs has in store for me.

Everything happens for a reason...

So from broken atria & ventricles to ringing of the ears to rekindled spirits...no matter what, I just need to trust in the Lord, believe in myself, and keep striving for the better outcome whether good or bad things get in my way. I talk to a lot of friends about the different paths the Lord puts in front of us. It is our decision to chose the one that fits us best at the point and time. We may stumble but that's why we have Him to help us get back in the saddle. One of my favorite Christian songs is Walk by Faith by Jeremy Camp. I belt it out whenever I need a little pick-me-up. Do me a favor and look up the lyrics or watch it on YouTube or listen on iTunes - whatever suits you best.

Thank you for reading to my wordy fingers. I wish y'all a blessed Memorial Weekend and safe travels.

Gig 'em & God Bless - AC

Throw & Go, Baby!

Yes! That's been my mood lately. I just throw stuff together at the last minute and make the best of it! But what's the best of all is that I just found out I made a 4.0 this semester! WHOOP! Hard work is finally paying off! I may not be certain what I want to do career-wise but it made my GPA go up 0.1 and that puts me in a little better mood to try harder to get into and possibly apply for Grad schools. So I'm gonna try to keep throwing up the info, getting the A's and finish college in December with a BANG! If you want to hold me up to that, you're more than welcome to. Please send me bi-weekly reminders if you'd like to hold that responsibility. Haha...just kidding!

As for explaining the remainder of this weird mood, I had to throw around a lot of eye doctors to get in to see one...FINALLY...on Thursday before I headed back up to CS for Graduations. I started with Victoria...which led me to Hallettsville...thinking about my Doc in CS and finally gave into Dad's friendly pressure of using my resources for the EC clinic. Thank the Lord, I got an appointment that afternoon! I found out the reasons more my dry, irritable eyes that wouldn't allow me to wear contacts for more than 6 hours at a time = Giant Papillary Conjunctiva or as they call GPC. No need for explaining because that is Google's job. He sent in a Rx for anti-inflammatory drops and changed my contact solution to Clear Free. Opti-Free is chemical-based and can cause these sort of things after a couple of years. So Thursday I will be going a week without contacts and I'll probably try wearing them Friday.

Graduation weekend was throw & go as well! I headed up Thursday and we danced the night away at Harry's. Sad to say that was the only time I went this semester!  Friday I didn't sleep in but got adjusted by a new Chiropractor in the same office I've been going to for awhile. I wasn't displeased by my visit but I miss Dr. Dan. He's just a happy-go-lucky and health-oriented Doc. After I got home and changed, I headed over to the Skow's to help prepare lunch for Bryce & Tyler Socha's Graduation celebration. It was a great get-together with a lot of food and friends. That night I volunteered to DD a few to the Gates of North. Stacey & I didn't stay long but we did enjoy some amazing pizza at Antonio's. Shoot, it's graduation weekend. We don't count calories...oh but I wish I would've...I am feeling those extra calories this week. Oh well, no regrets. Saturday, Stacey & Megan graduated so I worked hard on their cake & cupcakes. I did the special Red Velvet recipe that Shelby & Courtney found and whipped it up. I haven't decorated a cake since HS but I did a pretty good job! Their ceremony wasn't until 2pm so I headed out for a lesson with Aubrey. Strutt was an amazing ride and our lesson was truly one of my favorites! We jumped a few different jumps and worked on staying out of the saddle until landing with the correct lead.

Sunday, we headed down to the River for Mother's Day. Wasn't really fair to Mom because she did a lot of work preparing all the fixing for hamburgers. Shelby grilled them and they were amazing. Meemaw impressed us all with an impeccable Lemon 7-Up Pound Cake! Didn't do much jet-skiing but my cousins had a great time driving/riding. I finally got a better go at backing up the stupid jet-ski trailer but it's still a small pain in my rear.

Well here's to y'all and another week of May. Hoping it doesn't go by too quickly because I have a lot going on this week!

Until next time and hopefully pictures...
AC

My Oh My!

It's been a semester! Sorry for my absence for 2.5 months. I know I could've blogged in that time but I was being lazy and have found two better time-taker-uppers called Pinterest & Twitter! Pinterest is an amazing site to share ideas for food, home, DIY projects, fashion, etc. Twitter is just as popular, if not more, than Facebook. I spend an equal amount of time on both but Pinterest wins for the most time wasted since it takes forever to get to the "end" of a page.

Let me just recap y'all from my last post in February...

At the end of February, I had a most of exams going on in the midst of trying to decide on a career. I chose not redirect my path from Physical Therapy to Athletic Training. Well let's just say it's changed many times since then...haha...Yes, I am very indecisive.

March - Started off with Mom's birthday on the 2nd.
Participated in my 1st Eventing Show and came home with a 5th place ribbon.
Met with an advisor at A&M Rural Health School.
Went to COSTA RICA for a entire week to celebrate Jace & Natalia's nupitals. And you think our weather is hot down here...Nope, it was a constant sweat fest down there. But it was amazingly beautiful and breathtaking with all the vegetation and animals. I slightly conquered my fears of heights with zip-lining, repelling and Tarzan-swinging but I was still scared sh*tless (pardon my French) almost the entire time. Yes, Mother & Father, that word belongs in this post!!
Upon returning, I started a GRE prep course even though I am still not sure I will take the GRE. And that was a hard and long class that took up 2.5 hours twice a week for month. I think I became slightly brain dead within that time because I had so much going on!
Attended the Huffines Discussion. It is a research program based in my department that brings in 8 different distinguished people from around the nation to talk about their research and how they could or are changing our society.
Went with a group of girls to try on bridesmaids dresses in Austin for a friend's wedding but I am sadden to say that I will not be a bridesmaid because they called off their engagement.

April - Signed up for my online class at WCJC for the summer.
Came home for to EC for 2 days to celebrate Easter with the Bram side of the family - it's always so nice to sit and just talk with some of our not-much-older cousins with their kids running all around.
Upon returning to CS to sing at Easter Vigil and Sunday. Mom & Dad came up to celebrate with church and a very nice Sunday buffet and continued celebrating Shelby's 21st that Monday! Shelby had a test on Tuesday so we couldn't get crazy until Wednesday and let's just say the Piano Bar night at The Tap treated Shelby the right way for a 21st celebration...if you know what I mean?! hahaha
I also celebrated my horse trainer's daughter's 1st birthday Easter Saturday afternoon. Kids grow up too fast!
I dropped the Anatomy class I was retaking because I wasn't going to make an A. So that put me down to 10 hours...
Taught my 2nd yoga lesson at A&M; 1st as a TA and finally decided to sign up to get my yoga certification.
Chilifest was a success. Friday, I drank some beer and stood far away from getting beer slung on me. The music was awesome and upon returning on Satuday, it was a nice overcast day but we were covered in dirt and surrounded by friends so I had fun but still don't think it's my cup of tea.
Went to a Dressage schooling show with Strutt and won 1st place on both of my tests. Our scores didn't improve but I feel I've become a better rider by learning different techniques between jumping & dressage.
Got a little anxiety with registerring for my last semester of classes at A&M. And because of that, I had to get forced into 3 of the 5 classes I needed, so I was a nervous wreck for a couple of weeks, hoping that I would get the class times I wanted. I finally did..last week...ugh!
Shelby & I sang at Brooke & Chad's wedding and it was just a beautiful sight from the beginning of the afternoon to the late of the night at the ranch, where their reception was held. Thank the Lord I got smart and took boots to the ranch because the sod got soggy & muddy...
A few of my girlfriends & I went to La Bodega for a shaker date and ended up having an eventful evening from tequila to shopping to karaoke at Paddock Lane. Sad to say we didn't win the $50 singing contest.
And the next morning, the Hangover monster attacked while I took my last Athletic Injuries exam. Yes. I didn't want to go to NG so I could study but I only needed 20 of 60 points to make the A. So I rebelled and luckily, I came out on the winning side and made a 56/60! But never will I take an exam hungover AGAIN!
The last Saturday in April, I surprised Emily by traveling down to HBU to watch her last softball game in Texas. Glad I did because they didn't have a great outing at their conference tourney in Georgia and are waiting for a bid to their national tourney.
I turned in my Exercise Physiology take-home Final and am still waiting to find out what I made in the class. As of now, I have all A's in 7 of my 10 credit hours. Just waiting, hoping & praying my e-mails and talks with my prof and hard work on the final pay off!

So I've moved home for the summer in EC. I will be working part-time at The Crossing with Miss Sallie. I am hoping to help coach Summer League Volleyball and Little League Softball. I'm working on putting together some summer workouts to keep me off the couch and not bored with just running in the summer heat. I also made team for the Summer Young Adult ACTS retreat, which I am super stoked about! But am counting down the days until Scott, Cassey, (extra ticket for whoever) & I attend Nickelback's concert June 2nd! It's going to be one of the highlights of my summer!

Sorry this blog was long but I was just trying to cover the bases and hope to blog at least once a week throughout the summer with some pictures. Yes. I know my blog is very boring and sad without pictures but I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures!!!

Love y'all - AC