Pages

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I said that I would post again when I became sane aka when my Micro test was over.
So here I am, just as much alive and well as I was yesterday, only less stressed, happier, and more relaxed.

Today I woke up early to study again and cram a few more virus lifecycles in my head before I headed to my test. I stepped outside and soaked in the beauty of Palos today. The sun shined for the majority of the day and it was very warm. Though I was apprehensive about my test, I knew I had a lot to look forward to when I was finally done! I struggled to pull out some facts during my test but now it's done. : )

Wednesday is 4 straight hours of Anatomy and Physiology. Yes, 4 straight hours- as if a Micro test wasn't enough science for the day. I didn't like the idea of missing out on a very pretty day while sitting in the top of the science center. We all shared our thoughts of how the big test went earlier today. (Molecule that directs Slime Molds, anybody?) I got to partner up with Caroline today and learned about the respiratory system. We got out of lab a whole hour early! This gave me time to get ready for yoga and celebrate that the Micro test was done!

I went to yoga by myself today. Dr. Colosimo started out with us holding our left hand over our hearts. I couldn't help but just think of all the parts of the respiratory system working under my hand. God made us so intricately! Seeing little alveoli in the lung and discovering bronchioles in cadaver lungs today reassured how majestic He is! We were also challenged to think of an intention during that time. I chose to stand in awe at what God has made each of us. I'm thankful that I get the chance to study all of our parts and how they work.

Though it was sprinkling when yoga got out I enjoyed hearing the wind as I walked to the BBC for supper. I also had a good chat with Sarah now that I wasn't preoccupied with Micro study sessions. We both held our breath through an episode of One Tree Hill in Tib22.

The only thing left to do tonight is a few Stats problems and Zumba!



Did I mention that the Micro test is over?


xoxo

Monday, February 27, 2012

Close to Midnight Snacks

This weekend I went out for dessert. TWICE.
Tonight I had bacon for a snack with my roommate Sarah at 11:30...PM!

I have the munchies everyday.

This past weekend there was not a whole lot going on at Trinity so my friends and I had our own fun. On Friday we drove around for a LONG time trying to find an open ice cream place that wasn't janky. We settled for brownie sundaes from At the Office where we almost got picked up by werewolf Jacob look alikes. They had long black ponytails and were 14 and a half? Who knows.

Saturday I spent a lot of time doing homework and the reward was a movie and dessert at night. Abby, Megan, Sarah, and I saw This Means War...which I would gladly see 20 more times. It was dramatic, funny, and romantic all wrapped into one.

Sunday I enjoyed church at Palos CRC for both an AM and PM service. I also got to skype my sisters at home while David is back at school in Madison and my parents are on vacation in Jamaica. I also got a phone call from Gram Smits. I very much look forward to those Sunday traditions.

Right now I am making a very long review guide complete with charts for my Microbiology test on Wednesday. I'll probably be more sane at 9:50 on Wednesday, I'll post again when the chaos is over!

xoxo

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Family Ties

Today my little calendar says "Make your dorm room feel more like home: Hang photos and place them around your room"

I feel like that little calendar never fails me. When I checked my mailbox today, I didn't think there would be anything inside. However, a pretty blue slip laid there, a package for me!
My mom said she wouldn't send me mail this week because she bought me a bunch of shoes while I was home this past weekend, so I figured my package wasn't from her. I hadn't ordered any books or clothes so this was really a surprise!

After picking up my package I opened it up and found all these goodies inside:

Mark, Andrea, Landon and Addie sent me picture, notes, crafts, and candy. Mark and Andrea have always been good role models to their nieces and nephews, I will never forget all times we played Pit and cards at Grandpa and Grandma's house back in the day.
This is the hardest semester of school I have gone through thus far, Andrea is one of the people who knows what it takes to get through a nursing program and she has always been helpful to me.
Landon, I really like the zebra the best! When I come home on Spring Break maybe we can make a jungle outside.
Addie colored a picture of a princess named 'anielle'
All of these new papers will be hung up and make my desk are feel more home-y.
A few nights ago, my suite was talking about how people change. The one change that college really brought out in me is my appreciation for my family.

Be thankful for your families too!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Draw Me a Map

For the first time all semester I feel like I can catch a break. Yes, there are still plenty of things I can and should be doing, but after escaping from Anatomy lab early today I just wanted to allow myself to breathe for a few minutes before starting my Micro homework and study for my Anatomy exam.

This afternoon I am looking forward to yoga. Due to my credit overload and rigorous class schedule this semester I haven't been able to attend yoga one single time this semester! I am still blessed with the opportunity to practice yoga every week in my honors class but after finishing a yoga practice I always feel so calmed. God definitely uses that time to remind me that He has my crazy semester in His hands. (By the way it's almost even mid-term!)

Also during my honors class we talked about the book one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp. The most touching words to me were that 'His love letter forever silences any doubts' I can't wait to read the rest of the book over SB! I have been struggling with the question of 'Why?' about life's events lately, and even asked Nathanael if more bad things are happening in our day to day life, or if I'm just growing up more to hear of these tragic events. No matter what the answer to that question is, God silences all doubts.

Draw me a map that leads me back to you
I don't know where to go, please tell me what to do
Help me find the road you're on, I just need directions home
Draw me a map that leads me back to you


He has the map to our lives and can direct us where we need to go. It's up to us to dig in His love letter, the Bible, and pray for that guidance on our life maps!

Where will you go when you follow God's map?

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Not For the Birds


My Micro test today was hard. I picked up a tutor request form on my way back from my classroom to my dorm.

So obviously Micro isn't my talent, but I have other talents that I can 'sing'.

Think of your talents and 'sing' them loudly today!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Making the Most of Monday

Today was a typical Monday. As my Microbiology prof would say, we got 'fire-hosed' with information about a bazillion kinds of bacteria today. With a test swiftly approaching on Wednesday, I will be making flashcards and review sheets to help me study.

Monday/Wednesday/Fridays are sciencey days-really embracing the inner nerd. Micro in the morning and Anatomy and Physiology in the afternoon. We FINALLY stopped learning about the endocrine system and have moved on to the digestive system so I feel like I am on track and learning easily again.

After I checked my simple stains in the lab and looked to see what my Anatomy grade was, I decided to pop into the Molenhouse and peek in my mailbox. Sure enough, I saw a letter tilted sideways and was surprised to see that a blue package slip accompanied it inside my little mailbox. What a good surprise!

Grandma Hoffmann sent a box full of candies and goodies. I was so enthralled about it that I am eating a Valentine's cookie in my picture. :)


It's time to buckle down and get some work done!

PS-My friend Victoria is heading into the jungle of Ecuador today. This is something I want to do on interim next year. Please pray for her during this next week!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Tastes from Home

I like to go home. Last semester it happened all too excessively. This semester I am trying to enjoy Trinity more, so when I'm not home, my favorite parts of home come to visit me. :)

This weekend was boyfriend and brother weekend. We went to the auto show together today after their arrival on Friday night. They only stayed one night, but I was enthralled to have my boys here.

Accompanying them on their travel from Wisco was this beaut!
.
Sometimes right back where you started from is right where you belong.

Aunt Karen, Joeli, and the rest of the Heuver gang must have heard of my breakdown of hate/homesickness last week and sent me an amazing valentines day care package. This is fortunate for me because it include valentiney stuff which I like because it's pink. They also included some fitting decor for my dorm.
Grandma and my mom also included food goodies and chocolates for Tibstra34. We are so appreciative of some actual End of the Trail chocolate in a girls life!

Tonight Sarah and I are finally watching Abduction and tomorrow will be spend getting ready for a big week next week-including a deathly Micro exam on Wednesday. Ah!

Hopefully I can post pictures of some of our favorite vehicles from today sometime soon.

Thanks again, Heuvers!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Seeing Through the Clouds

It's a happy day, people! I got a letter and a package from my mom that had encouraging words in, and some smarties from Academic Initiative-which reminded me of Addie.

ALSO, boyfriend and brother come TODAY.
The week of ugh, meh, grr, and ick has passed and the weekend of fun is almost here!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Hoarding Hate

As much sense as this doesn't make, the majority of my week falls before Wednesday. Mondays are Mondays, Tuesdays come with 5 classes, and Wednesdays conclude with Anatomy lab.

So believe it or not, the best things come after 4:30 on Wednesdays. My lovely lab partner, Anna, and I got out of lab early so I hung up pictures in my room and collected thoughts and was finally able to relax after taking the dreaded anatomy exam today. (That's a story in itself, meh.)

I was able to spend the past weekend at home, and when it was time to return back to Trinity on Sunday night, I kept thinking to myself, I don't want to do this anymore, I HATE school. From the few weeks of semester 4 of college I've experienced, I'm not enjoying a single bit of it. I was overwhelmed with my 19 credits and challenging classes. All I wanted to do was do crafts everyday and hang out with Grandma, Nathanael, and Addie. I was sad, miserable, cranky, stressed, mad, hopeless, and lost in a sea of homework.

Today the sun shone, and lifted my spirits. I realized that sophomore year is a bit of a struggle for a lot of people. As students we are getting closer to the real working world and have bigger responsibilities and don't goof of as freshman anymore. It came to mind that MANY other people are having the same debates I have been having and aren't enjoying all the parts of a higher education either. I think I am finally letting go of that bitterness and realizing that I can, in fact, make it through my years at Trinity and come out as an RN, BSN with a psychology minor...ay ay ay.

I got a big hug of love from Sarah's mom today- thank you SO much! It could not have come at a better time.

At supper tonight David also texted me saying that he and Nathanael are coming to visit me this weekend. Brother & Boyfriend roadtrip! How presh, right?! I'm already anxiously awaiting their arrival and am planning some fun activities. (Chicago Auto Show...they'll love it!)

One highlight of Wednesday nights is One Tree Hill, I think it's safe to say that half of Tib34 and half of Tib22 are merely obsessed with the final season of the saga that started 9 years ago! It's always good to get out of the room and spend time with some reallllllly great girls. (PS-where is Nathan!?)
So here's to letting go of the hate I've been hoarding!
xo

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Power of Prayer and Petitions to the Provost

Remember that post I wrote about how hard my anatomy class was? And that I was concerned about needing both a tutor and a translator? Here's a story about that:

After my first anatomy class I called my mom, hoping for her pity on me, her hard working, stressed out, nursing student daughter. When I told her my miseries about my anatomy teacher she told me to email the provost. So I did. I got feedback from Dr. Rudenga almost immediately, and she was concerned for the class and the college. She visited class a few times and encouraged Dr. Carlson, interim Biology chair while Boomsma is gone, to do the same. I prayed that we would either a) get a new teacher STAT or b) be able to understand this foreign lady and be able to understand the materials that we would have to teach ourselves for a lack of a qualified, professional instructor.

Now, 2 weeks into the semester and a whirlwind of emails, meetings, and phone calls, my old teacher resigned (as of Monday...I think she got fed up with everyone telling her to change her style of teaching..if teaching is what she was actually doing) and today the man himself, Dr. Boomsma, gave the lecture and did the lab today. The man is still officially on sabbatical but is giving up 2 days a week to teach us anatomy and physiology so we can be prepared for our future careers. He said that he didn't want our class to have to suffer another bad experience-doesn't that emphasize the heart this man has?! I hope you are picking up on the thankfulness of my heart for this guy-he is so passionate about Biology and I hope I can have that same attitude 30 years into my career in Nursing.

God has a crazy way of making things work out-and I'm glad He keeps reminding me that through experiences in college. He answered a lot of college kids' prayers and strengthened us to get through the few weeks of confusion we dealt with.

I'm also thankful that I got to spend time with quality girls tonight. I am thankful for Tib22...free tshirts at the basketball game, supper at the BBC, and a crazy episode of One Tree Hill made for a good night. I also had a good time with Sarah- ice cream and coffee were good items for the mood of tonight. :) The week is finally winding down!

I'm also looking forward to going home this weekend. Stay tuned for details of my planned projects and what I do with my friends, family, and boyfriend at home- can't wait!