ItAllWorkedOut: Well, Well, Well...Who do we have here?

Yes, it's been nearly two whole months since I've updated. That right there should give you a small insight to how busy I've been. Work. Football. CARES. Life. Work. CARES. Life. Play. And if you look at Brad's life, add a few "Schools" in there and it's every crazier. However, I don't really think we'd change a thing right now. Except maybe school! So here's a run-down of things...

August looked a bit like this:

CARES Visits. Work. CARES Event. Work. Bible Study. Eye appointment (got new glasses!). Houston Restaurant Week. Work Committee Meetings. CARES Visits. CARES Event. Trip to see the in-laws! CARES Event and Visits. Bible Study. Girls' Date with Leah. Week off so I could adjust to turning 27 years old. Dentist appointment with the best dentist in the world (yes, she reads this blog -- but it's still the truth!).

September thus far:

Work committee meeting. AGGIE FOOTBALL (win)! CARES visits and event. Work. Bible study. AGGIE Football (win #2)! Work. CARES event. Girls trip to Nashville to see one of my best friends since first grade, the lovely AND talented, Mrs. Miranda McKay Telford!!! AGGIE football (win! -- while I was away). Work. Workshop for work. Which leads us to today.

I know you wanted to see my calendar condensed into a blog post, right? Probably not. So let's give you some details and pictures :)

Work. I'm a Pediatric ICU nurse (for those of you just joining me...or that don't know me at all). I work at least three 12-hour shifts each week. But not only do I work at the bedside, I also don't know how to tell people "no" when they suggest I should be on committees. I feel like I can make a difference in our practice and in the care we give our patients so not only do I say "yes" to joining, but I also say "yes" to being the chair. Which brings me to lots of work. At work. And at home. Proposals, newsletters, agendas, minutes, email blasts, meetings with nurse executives. I complain a lot about the extra work, but I honestly LOVE every minute of it. I DO feel like our group is making a difference and I know it will make our hospital a better place for not only patients, but employees as well.

CARES. Where do I even start? I marvel in the fact everyday when I wake up from my "princess and the pea" bed* that God has given Brad and me the opportunity to be a CARES team. In the short two months we've been here doing visits and events, we've met some incredible people -- both Believers and non-Believers. We have had some crucial conversations and started some great relationships with our residents and office staff. (Which, by the way, we got a new manager about half-way through August and have learned that he and his family attend church. PRAISE GOD!) While doing all of this relationship-building, we have had a LOT of fun with our events -- breakfasts, ice cream parties, tailgating parties, labor day pool and pizza party, and a coffeehouse night where I used NINE sticks of butter to make all homemade desserts for everyone -- NINE!!!! It was all worth it. We actually have an event tomorrow so please be praying for us as we serve our community and seek out ways to pray for and help those that live around us.

LIFE. I'm super busy. Brad is super, SUPER busy. On top of work and CARES, he's going back to school at U of H and figuring out the magic formula of splitting up his time between four entities. The fall is always a little harder for us because we're such die-hard Aggie football fans and try not to miss any home games. When you had seven weekends of travel into the mix of everyday life, you get one busy agenda! Which is why this weekend, we decided to forego a retreat and just rest. Get some sleep. Take care of some things around the house. Spend time together...talking, sleeping, shopping, sleeping, eating, sleeping and going to church tomorrow.

I'll try my best not to wait so long to update next time. But honestly...I make no promises :) I WILL, however, leave you with some pictures of our lives the last two months...