Weekly Wrap Up - Tragedy Happens

This week started out just like any other week in our home - calendar reviewed. Plans made for a couple of meetings and my clinical hours.  Monday started like any other day- but tragedy stuck Monday.  We lost a four-legged baby - Paco Joe.  

I have cried off and on all week - today I thought I was better, till one of the neighbors asked about him...the lost and hurt came flooding back.  I know it will get better with time, I miss this little guy.

 

 Paco Joe was a rescue, the city animal control officer called and asked us to take him, since no one could touch him.  We do not know much about his life before us - except that he was found in the backyard with 3 pit bulls - he bit the animal control officer who was there to rescue him.  At some point in his life he front shoulder had been injured, he ran with a beg-leg.

On the day we picked him up I had to wrap him in a towel to keep him from biting me. We laughing referred to him as our autistic son, he did not want anyone to pet him. At times he would get so mad if you tried to pick him up or another dog came near him, he would have an anxiety attack.

With all of his issues - we were his family.  When I sat on the cough he would lay on the back of the couch and nestle in my hair, of course if I tried to pet him he would growl and nip at me.

Life is fragile - be sure to tell those you love how you feel, hug you babies (two or four-legged).

I know Paco Joe is running free in Heaven

Praying everyone has a great week
~ Connie ~

 

 

Weekly Wrap-up - Treasure Hunting

Another week gone  - it seems like just yesterday I was putting away the Christmas decorations and now it is May.  It is true, the older you get the faster time moves.  I know that isn't possible, but maybe as we age time seems to move faster - our lives seem to move quickly, maybe we are moving to an end...or a new beginning.

 

This week has been an easy week for me - no courses to teach or clinical hours to complete.  All that changes tomorrow. I am teaching a community health course for eight weeks and completing my adult health practicum over the next 16 weeks, along with my 40 hour a week job.

 

Since I didn't have work to do - The Big Man and I went on a treasure finding trip yesterday. We drove over to Lake City, AR. A friend text me about an antique shop that had a china hutch.

We had a great trip - just me and the Big Man.   We found a couple of treasures

This china hutch needs a little love - but it will perfectly fit in my dinning room.

 

We currently hang our onions and potatoes on the wall in the garage, I am excited about finding this vegetable bin - all wood cost $12.50.

I also got to spend some time in my craft room.  I cleaned, rearranged and worked on a few project. Below are some knitted squares that were mixed in with some yarn that was donated to our church's prayer shawl ministry.  I got it washed and packed today - I plan on piecing them together into a throw.  

Life is always good when you get to spend some time being creative.

Plans for next week
Teaching Diabetic Self-Management Classes - Monday after work.
Humane Society Meeting - Tuesday after work.

Friday - Mayfest after work.

Saturday - Mayfest (NWTF booth and Hosting the Humane Society Pet Show).
Teaching Community Health
Starting Family Nurse Practitioner Adult Health Clinicals (Thursday and Friday)

Life is Good
~ Connie ~

 

 

Everyday Life - Weekly Wrap-Up

Weekly Wrap-up. 
First let me say - Life is Great
This past week was busy. Tuesday I drove to Mayfield Kentucky to meet with the Delta Regional Authority and the Army Medical Reserves.  My Hometown, Blytheville, Arkansas will be the site for a free medical mission in August.  The Army Medical Reserves will be providing medical, dental, optometry and maybe veterinarian services for nine days.  I am really excited about the opportunity for my community.   I am not sure how I got involved, actually how I got to be the coordinator of the project....but God must think I am capable. 

We spent the weekend in Texas visiting my Dad. My Dad did not know the kids (grandchildren) were coming.  My Son totally surprised him.

He had not seen King Jax (his great grandson) or his dad in 4 years.

 The trip was exhausting we drove 1200 miles in 3 days.  Just when I started to feel exhausted and put out with people (because I was tired) I realized I did not have anything to be grumpy about.

On the drive to Texas it rained on us for 5 hours - but God protected us and we arrived safely.

The clerk at the hotel was a great resource - she helped me find food for 17.

The Cracker Barrel staff was very helpful - the oldest son left his sunglasses in the restaurant 2 hours away - they are going to mail them to him.

I am truly blessed - I need to remember daily to say thank you for all of my blessings.

I hope each of you have a great week

~ Connie ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posting from Texas

This has been a record year for me to see my Dad - two trips to Texas in 12 weeks.  It 500 miles from my house to my Dad's house.  Today we made the trip with my son and grandson.

It rained and rained while driving through Arkansas.  The sun finally started shinning in when we entered Texas.  Rain or sunshine - King Jax (Grandson) did kept himself busy with his iPad. Thankfully his Buddy Ben packed Jax snacks for the trip. He is a growing boy.

My Dad did not know that the kids and grandchildren were going to make the trip. We met Dad (Pee Paw) at 1 of 2 restaurants in Jewett Texas.  He was speechless when he saw the boys.

Pee Paw still doesn't know that my daughter and youngest son are driving all night to get to Texas.

Tomorrow is the Thompson family reunion. It has been 30 years since I attended a family reunion - I am betting tomorrow there is one proud 85 year-old Daddy/Pee Paw when he has his "girls" (me and my sisters) with him at the family reunion.

Family - you got to love them.

Check back to see more of our trip to Texas this weekend.

~ Connie ~

P.S.  I really need a run after being in the car for 10 hours.

 

 

 

Everyday Life

It has been another long week - work, 3 full days of clinical, and remodeling the kitchen has been a little stressful.  But, I have new countertops, new flooring, and new paint.

 

 

I still need to clean everything - my dinning room furniture has to be dusted - but I couldn't wait to hang the new art we picked out for the dinning room.

As the Big Man and I were shopping for new mattresses we found this print. Immediately we both said the same thing - this look like the spot where we trout fish at Mammoth Springs, AR. The tree leaning over the river and the cut in on the bank - this is our favorite place to get away from the world.  

I haven't trained much this week - but after talking it over with the Big Man, I think I am going to start training for the Pemiscot County Animal Welfare Society  5K.  I ran it a couple of years ago -

 Running  this time will mean more to me - the Caruthersville Humane Society has changed their name and they are now officially a No-Kill shelter.

Susie says - Thank goodness for No-Kill Shelters

I pray that each of you have a blessed week

~ Connie ~

 

 

 

 

Spring in Northeast Arkansas

As I was leaving for work this morning ~ I couldn't help but notice how colorful my yard is in the Spring.


Have A Blessed Day~
Connie

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An Ordinary Life with Blessing

As I sit quietly in the Study - I can her my men snoring away in the Den.  The Big Man, King Jax, and Jer Jer snoring in unison.  

 

I wonder if my children and grandchildren really know how much I love them and how proud I am of each of them?  Sure we have had our ups and downs but I wouldn't change a thing.  Each of them are their own individual person.  I know each of them has a big heart  and knows what it means to do the right thing. They would never leave a living thing (person or animal) in need. Sometimes I look at them and wonder how I got so lucky.  They didn't come with instructions but they turned out - not just good, but great.  I am blessed

                                                    My Boy's Playing Basketball Today

Recap of last week's blessing. 
Work was work.  I love my job but it has some frustrating points. I enjoyed the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Quality Conference.  

My clinical hours were awesome - I am beginning to feel more comfortable diagnosing children.  I am almost finished with my paper on pyloric stenosis. 

I got in 1 run and 1 yoga class this week. Both left me feeling out-of-shape.

I made it to the Humane Society meeting - I am officially in charge of the Humane Society Pet Show.

The Humane Society's New Mascot

As for the house remodel - the flooring is installed in the dinning room, the walls in the dinning room are painted - need to finish the trim and paint the kitchen... then we are starting on the patio. I will post pictures next week when I get the furniture back in the rooms. 

 

I did get a new toy this week -  

I can't wait to play.  I am going to teach myself to quilt.

I hope everyone has a blessed week

~ Connie ~

 

Training Tuesday - Yoga

Today has been productive day.   I did not get to run. I did get an hour of Yoga.

As I was tooling through Facebook today during a boring meeting I ran across a post announcing a Yoga Class at the local gym.   I text the Big Man who encouraged me to go ~ it was just what I needed.   The class was relaxing and eye-opening.  I realized how out-of-shape I have gotten over the last few months.

So, my goal is to attend yoga class again next week.

As I was writing this blog - I realized I have options to practice Yoga everyday.

There are videos

There is YouTube

There are websites

http://www.myyogaonline.com

 

Do you practice Yoga? If so, do you attend class? Use videos, YouTube or websites?

~Connie ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putting God and Family First in a Blessed Life

As I sat in church this morning I thought wondering about tomorrow - wouldn't it be nice if we really focused on our faith everyday or rejoiced in our savior everyday.  Maybe some do - but I know I get caught up in my hectic schedule and sometimes the only time I have alone with my savior is just before I go to sleep...when all is quite.

I found this awesome picture at sometime...maybe on Facebook or Pinetrest.  It says it all. As I start next week - I am going to focus on the secret of a happy life.

I have to say it has been a busy day - after church and lunch, we cleaned the kennel.  Then cleaned us  up and headed to Jax's Birthday Party... King Jax turned 11 today.

King Jax and His Dad (our oldest son)
Today was also, our other grandson's birthday - Tyler he turned 9.  Tyler is spending the weekend with his Daddy (our middle son) who returned home form Afghanistan Thursday.  We get to see them next weekend

Tyler and His Dad (our middle son)

 

Next week as I try to focus more on my faith - I will work, complete at the least 8 hours of pediatric clinical, write on paper, grade a few papers, attend a 2 day conference, 2 volunteer committee meetings (Humane Society and NWTF) and start my training plan for a half marathon  - while the contractor lays new flooring in my dinning room.   

Living the Blessed Life
~ Connie ~

 

 

 



Learning something new

I had an hour free tonight so what would any Southern Girl do?
 I ran to my craft space and decided to try my new sewing machine.

Well I have quickly realized that I will need a semester (16 weeks) to figure this girl out.

Sewing machine check, instruction manual check, step by step video about the sewing machine check - here I go

 

Well video is worthless - so moving on to YouTube. 
What did we do before YouTube?

First video - how to thread a bobbin

Second video - how to thread the machine

Yea - sewing...opps I broke the needle.

Back to YouTube 

My Cheerleader - MeMe
She is waiting on me to learn how to use the machine so
I can cover that pillow she is laying on.

Third video -- how to replace the needle.

And I am, Back to sewing

YEA!  an hour later - a 4 inch seam on a scrap of fabric.

I win! well I win for tonight.

I can't wait to try the embroidery on this machine

~ Connie ~

Little Things Make Me Happy

Ok - so before we star our conversation just let me say, I am sorry it has been a while since I updated you guys on my crazy life.

Now, I have some great news ~ I passed my clinical observation today!  I am one step nearer to being a nurse practitioner.

I spent the last weekend with my nose in a book - but it all paid off today. 

 

I also got an awesome gift this week from the Big Man.

Saturday night I decided, after 14 hours of studying, that I wanted to do something creative - so I decided to whip up curtains for my craft space.  Only it didn't go as planned, my sewing machine is 30 years old, while setting it up the cord that goes to the foot-feed broke off. 

-

Sunday on the way home from church I was telling the Big Man what I did - he asked if Walmart sold sewing machines,  I said yes, and he drove straight to Walmart and bought me a new machine.

 

I haven't had time yet to set it up, but I have had time during a couple of meetings to pick out images I want to do - got to love Pinterest.

 

I can't wait to spend some time with my new toy

 It is the little things make me happy.

~ Connie ~

 

 

Time and Pinterest

It feels like forever since I sat down to share with my internet friends... I have missed blogging. The last few weeks have been filled with work, free clinic work (volunteer work), grading papers (more work part-time job) and assignments (even more work - post masters FNP).  Oh, and I have a grant funded project to get up and running in 28 days - where does the time go when you are living a blessed life?

With everything else on my plate I have had the urge to craft.  I didn't say I had created anything - I said I had the urge.  Below are a few Pinterest findings that have me wanting to craft.

 

Cross Stitch

 Wouldn't these little rabbits be cute on a table runner for Easter?

Quilted Placemats

 I can see these simple quilted placemats in Spring colors.

It is sees odd to me that the more chaotic my schedule is - the more I want to run. 

 

Running

And, as if life was not blessed enough, we are doing some remodel work at the house. New siding, new entry door, new counter-tops, and a new patio (out door living space).  As I was mindlessly touring Pinterest I found an awesome set of plans for patio furniture. 

Patio Furniture

Check back soon- I will be posting pictures of the remodel.
~ Happy Saturday ~
I am off to write a paper, get some study time, and check on my students
~Connie ~

 

 

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Blogging

I have been rethinking my blog – I first started blogging as a means to help me stay honest with my training.  Well – training is another topic that I don’t want to discuss now, so let’s move on to where I see my blog going.

 I was posting Tasty Tuesdays and Training Thursdays. Life got busy and I have not been faithful with keeping that schedule.  Then I started thinking – umm, I should post about my four-legged children.  They are so much fun, and bring joy to our home… maybe the world needs to know you can live a healthy, clean, organized life with 14 (yes I said, 14) four-legged fur children.

Organized – I though at one time I would write about raising five (one was grown when I married the Big Man) - but I realized that most of what I did was common sense. And, scrapbooking – I love to preserve our family’s history.  But once again, life keeps me from doing something I love.

Maybe my blog should include how I am going to rebuild my life.   But, what life do I want?  Didn’t I create this life?  Isn’t everything I do, my choice? Wow – how did I go down this rabbit hole?

The purpose of this post was to ask questions:
How do you organize and schedule your blog?
Where do you find the time or commitment to be faithful to your blog?
~ Connie ~

 

A Balanced Week

This has been another busy week ~ but a little more balanced.   I have purposely been leaving work on time.   Every night I am greeted by this awesome face.

Chrissy Week 4 With US

I have been pushing myself to get out of bed in the morning so that I can spend time with the Big Man.  Saturday he cooked breakfast for us and we actually sat at the kitchen table to eat. 

Of course the Texas Dogs (Angle and Oreo) kept us company.

Oreo & Angle (The Texas Dogs

WWednesday I got a new toy ~ the Galaxy Tablet 10.1.  I am in love with it.  In the past I would have to complete my clinical logs after I got home. With the Galaxy Tablet I was able to work on my clinical logs while seeing patients – this is a great time saver from me.  I am also able to keep up with the blogs I follow, facebook, and read (The Nook App is Perfect).

Galaxy Tablet.

 

 

 For those of you new to the blog, last year I taught myself to knit.  I have knitted 7 scarves and have not worn any of them.  Today was the day - I wore one to church.  I can't believe how many compliments I got on my scarf.

 

 

As the week ends I am reflecting on where I am in my life - Why has God put me where I am? Am I in the right place? Maybe I should take a lesson from Shasha Grace (160 lb Mastiff) - if it feels right just do it.

 

Shasha - in the little dogs bed

Update on My Blog - I am working on updating my blog - using the tips from The Arkansas Women Bloggers "Kick Start my Blog Challenge"

 Check back over the next few days to see the updates.

~ Connie ~

Tasty Tuesday

No recipes today - I did cook tonight but it was a simple dish, Lasagna.  Whole wheat noodles layered with browned turkey, onions, green peppers and canned sauce. I added a little pizza mixed cheese between the two layers and on the top.

The Big Man usually cooks dinner since I use my evening to grade papers, complete clinical logs, or study.  Of course tonight he said dinner was awesome - well yes, but it was more awesome because he did not cook.

The Big Man

The Big Man had his first Quorum Court meeting tonight - I secretly think he is liking this new role.

Me - I lived through presenting my first webinar today. I spoke on telehealth and how the rural hospital system I work for uses telehealth. It was actually fun after I got passed being nervous.  I will post the link for the archived version when it becomes available.

I am a little excited tonight - I get my new notebook tomorrow and my Project Life Kit should be here..... Life is Good!

~ Connie ~