The real me

Today is one fo those days where I feel like I need to reveal a little bit more about myself. I feel the need to be real. Some of these things you may already know, some of them may surprise you, and some may make you laugh. However, all of these things come together to make up part of me.

So here it goes, in no particular order...
-- I have a Father in heaven who loves me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place.
-- I like to wear pink. It makes me feel girly.
-- I like how I feel at the end of a run. I feel strong. I feel capable. I feel...sweaty.
-- My favorite place to do my quiet time is on my roof.
-- I know how to clog.
-- I've walked into a pole in the middle of the sidewalk. Seriously, it jumped right out in front of me.
-- I'm happiest when I am completely resting in the Lord.
-- In 5th grade, I was on an episode of The Children's Hour discussing how I dealt with the stress of school.
-- I don't like brussel sprouts.
-- I was sent to the principal's office in the 2nd grade.
-- In 3rd grade, I was sent into the hallway for "having the giggles."
-- I wish I knew how to play the guitar.
-- I love to go camping.
-- I enjoy wine and fruity mixed drinks, but hands down, my favorite alcoholic beverage is Highland Park Whiskey.
-- I want nothing more than to be in God's will.
-- I'm okay with being a geek. I really do enjoy studying the depolarization/repolarization of cardiac muscle cells.
-- Currently, my favorite song is "Where You Lead Me" by Mercy Me.
-- I was thrown off a horse while on a field trip at a dude ranch my junior year of high school.

Okay, I think that's 18. Yeah, I really can't claim to be a trend setter. Any questions? I'm an open book.

Pop Rocks!

After an amazing first day of class, I ran by Target to purchase fancy new school supplies. I got all the essentials...paper, folders, colored pens, etc...and I found Pop Rocks. I haven't had Pop Rocks in years. I'm eating them as I'm sitting here writing this. They're entertainment for my whole mouth!

Geeky stuff: If someone's pulse is irregularly irregular, think atrial fibrillation.

I'm giddy today!

So, I'm a huge nerd. It's okay. I've accepted it.

I'm so excited about school starting again today. I'm now officially starting my second year of medical school. Giddy-up!

Question #3

If you could only have one dessert for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?

And it continues...

Questions #2

If you could live any one day of your life over again exactly as it happened, which one would it be?

The "If" Game

One of my favorite games is the "If" game. A person's answer can speak volumes.

Here's question #1:

If you could witness any one miracle in the Bible, which one would it be?

What are these?

These plants were all over Mexico. They aren't banana trees or birds of paradise. Can someone help?

My cat ate my homework!!!

This is Miss Kitty. She's 8 years old. She doesn't like other cats. She doesn't like dogs. She pretty much doesn't like other animals. However, she does love humans...she wants to be the center of attention.

As beautiful and cuddly as she is, Miss Kitty also has a bit of an annoying habit. She likes to eat paper. Yep! I can't tell you the number of times I've had to reprint school work because, ahem, "my cat ate it!"

Pei Wei Fortune

Today's Pei Wei Fortune: One good turn deserves another.


I realize that it's more of a proverb, but what exactly does it mean?

Warning: This post is a bit geeky!

Most of you know that I've been in the lab doing research for the past couple of weeks. I have a new found appreciation for people who enjoy research and desire to make it their life's work because I definitely don't. I'm a clinician at heart. I see the benefits of research and think that it is very necessary but...please just tell me how to apply the new information to my patients.

Anyway, this is a picture of what I've been looking at through the microscope for the past two weeks. It's typhus group Rickettsia inside infected cells. Rickettsia is a small gram negative obligate intracellular bacterium. It uses so much of a cell's own machinery to live that it's almost a virus. Before 1900, outbreaks of typhus caused by Rickettsia determined most major wars. Anne Frank died of typhus. Interestingly enough, the major signs/symptoms are fever and a headache. How vague is that???!!!

My brother...

This is my brother, Kyle (and me). He's a senior kinesiology major at the University of North Texas. Yep, that's right...he's a screaming eagle. He's also getting married on Oct. 28 to Miss Jessica Leech. Oh my gosh! It's hard to believe that my brother is growing up. He's grown into a mature, responsible, godly man. I love him and miss him, so I thought I would share him with the world.

Has this ever happened to you?

I am now wide awake. I should not be wide awake at 11:40 on a Monday night, but yet, I am. "Why?" you ask. That's a good question. I was sound asleep, but my neighbor's car alarm decided to go off. So, now I'm awake...wide awake. Stupid car alarms.

I love going to the dentist.

Yes...yes...I know I'm weird, but I really do. I love going to have my teeth cleaned. I feel like my smile is bigger and brighter.

I'm becoming a q-tip.

As of late, I have been finding an ever increasing number of oddly colored hairs on my head. No, they aren't gray. They're white. I'm going to be a q-tip when I grow up.

Shotgun

It's been brought to my attention that some of my posts are a bit girly, thus...I'm going to attempt to man-it-up a bit.

Definition
Shotgun - the front passenger seat of an automobile
Calling Shotgun - act of claiming said seat

History of Calling Shotgun
This goes back to the days of covered wagons when someone actually sat beside the driver with a shotgun in hand to defend against bandits if necessary.

The Rules for Calling Shotgun
1. You must say the word "Shotgun" and another occupant of the vehicle must hear you
2. The task must be done before "Shotgun" can be called
3. You must be outside to call "Shotgun" - if you re-enter the building, you must recall

Miscellaneous Details
1. Putting your hand on the door handle works the same way as calling "Shotgun"
2. Sitting "Shotgun" before anyone has called it also works the same
3. If you lift the handle while doors are being unlocked causing the "Shotgun" door to remain locked, your privileges are voided for that ride
4. If the car is inside the garage, "Shotgun" cannot be called until you enter the garage
5. If multiple cars are involved, you must specify which car you are calling
6. The "Shotgun" position is considered abandoned if the occupant leaves the seat to perform a task unless it is at the drivers request

Exceptions
1. Significant others get automatic "Shotgun" privileges
2. Multiple calls must be solved with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors
3. If there is an owner-driver switch, the owner assumes automatic "Shotgun" privileges
4. For long journeys, "Shotgun" should be divided among all who wish to sit there

For further information on "Shotgun" rules, please consult www.shotgunrules.com

Then a miracle occurs...

This is my favorite explaination of how things work.

A is for Astros!

I’m so excited!!! I’m going to my first Astros’ game. I get to watch baseball indoors. I get to ‘Rock the Juicebox!’ Oh, the joy!!!

Did she really just ask that?

On my way to class this morning, I decided to swing by Whataburger for a diet coke. I pulled up behind a lady in a truck just in time to hear her say (as she was handing the worker the cup),

"I got coffee earlier this morning at McDonald's. Can I get a refill here?"

Odd. Really. Quite odd.

#2 Someone thinks I'm beautiful. (also #11)

Someone recently said to me, "There's something different aboout you. What have you been doing?"

I smiled and commented about being in Mexico for 10 days. I really wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, "Someone thinks I'm beautiful and that makes me feel all lit up inside."

It's an amazing thing when scriptures that I know in my head somehow make their way to my heart. While I was in Mexico, one of the local guys followed me around. He never said anything to me, but every time I turned around, he was right there. One of my fellow classmates decided to talk to him and, of course, ask him what was going on. The guy said that he thought I was beautiful but that he couldn't talk to me. My thought was, "Awe, that's sweet. He thinks I'm some sort of exotic foreigner," as I chuckled at myself.

Later that night, it hit me. This guy, this person, who didn't even know me...he didn't know my heart...thought I was beautiful and was so captivated by my beauty that he couldn't talk to me. How much more is my Heavenly Father captivate by me?! He formed me. He holds my heart. He has spent my entire life romancing me and calling me to Him. My King is enthralled with my beauty (Psalm 45:11). My King lights me up inside.

So, if the question on your heart is "Do you think I'm beautiful?"...the answer is yes. Yes, I think you are beautiful, but even more, your Heavenly Father is completely captivated by your beauty.

"The God who slung the stars across the heavens...the same One who shaped the mountains and valleys with the palm of His hand...the God whose very breath gives life...that God, the King, has always been taken with you. You have been noticed, He thinks you are beautiful, the glass slipper fits, the music is playing, and He's asking you to dance." (Thomas, 2003)