One of those mornings...

This morning I awoke with a migraine. Great. Probably because I have two tests this week... two WRITTEN tests this week. But, I can't let a "measly" headache get in the way of my productivity- I have places to go, things to do, patients to see... I have work to do and lecture notes to study.

So, I got ready early this morning and left for Parkland. Traffic. Bad traffic. Actually, when I finally creeped my way to my exit, the road I was intending to take was closed. Too bad I didn't know that one mile/20 minutes ago! Needless to say... I was late. Drat.

Eventually, one-detour-after-another, I did make it to Parkland. But, I still didn't feel well. I managed to endure the throbbing pain and nausea throughout my first 3 hour-long therapy sessions with only a few temple rubs. However, during the last session the pain was growing more intense. I calmly excused myself from the therapy room in search of my supervisor to ask her to take over for me, but she had left the office to meet another patient, so I returned to my patient. After glancing at the clock and seeing that I only had 15 minutes left, I decided that surely I could finish this hour with my patient. Well, that wasn't the case. I continued teaching a word-finding strategy when I felt the urgent need to excuse myself from the room so I could vomit. And that is when my supervisor walked in...seeing me leaning over a trashcan. Oh bother.

It was just one of those mornings.

(I'm hoping for a better one tomorrow!)

two new little sisters!

My favorite "roles" in life are related to family- I love being a daughter, a sister, and, now, an aunt! Living in Dallas, I have missed my family a great deal, and I have missed the "roles" I play within my family.
Two precious girls have been "adopted" into our church family, and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing the part of "big sister" again. These girls are not blessed with a wonderful Christian family with high standards and strong morals. They do not have an older sister who makes wise decisions worth emulating, so the home church ladies, including me, have adopted these lovely girls into our family! It has been eye-opening, and disheartening, to hear the everyday issues they deal with that are so foreign to me... at school they are bullied, threatened, sexually harassed, isolated, and mocked... at home they have few guidelines, low standards, harsh discipline, and a new phone number every 3 months. I cannot steal these girls and give them a new home with different and pleasurable experiences, but I can be a big sister to them and listen to them, serve them, love them, and speak truth over them. Pouring into these girls has been such a blessing to all of us! They are so easy to love!

slumber party!!

The ladies in our home church held a fantabulous sleepover this weekend! From ages 10 to 60ish! We played hours of Charades, Name-This-Dance-Style, and Hide-the-M&M's, drank very dark coffee, ate very dark chocolate (and M&M's), and laughed and prayed and talked til the wee small hours of the morning! I had women about twice my age keep me up til 4 am! There has to be SOME playing in this gal's life to maintain sanity!

My dear sister

As my wise mother predicted, my schedule has indeed led to burn-out. It's a holiday and yet I'm still thoroughly exhausted and dreading the days and weeks and months before me. So, in my dreary state, I headed over to my sister's house for some matte chai, chocolate cake, and a hug. My entire college career (with the exception of last year) my sister has been readily available to soothe my spirit with a warm cup of tea and her encouraging presence. She is the perfect medicine for a homesick heart and weary body. Ruby Grace has quickly learned the comforting ways of her loving mother with her contagious giggles and snuggly self. (Thank You, God, for nurse Amber!)

This semester may be the busiest yet...

Let's do the math...

- If I sleep 8 hours a night for 7 days a week (56 hours)
- If I drive on average 1 hour and 45 minutes a day for 7 days a week (12.25 hours)
- If I spend 1 hour each morning to get ready every day of the week (7 hours)
- If I attend class each week (8 hours)
- If I intern at Parkland 4 hours a day for 5 days a week (20 hours)
- If I allot about 1 and 1/2 hours to eat every day of the week (10.5 hours)
- If I read the assigned readings for my classes each week (13 hours)
- If I work in the research lab each week (10-20 hours)
- If I attend church events each week (6 hours)
- If I have 45 minutes of "Caryn Time" each day for 7 days a week (5.25 hours)
- If I visit my sister, niece, and brother-in-law each week (5 hours)

...then I have an average of 158 hours of my week accounted for, which means... I have 10 hours each week to buy groceries, run to the bank, visit the library, play Settlers of Catan with my friends, sleep, blog, read, play the piano, clean, or go on a very short road-trip. Hmm.... it is a good thing I don't do all of the assigned readings and that my professor cancels class- I just gained 6 hours this week!