Just in Time!!

I figured that I better post something now because I only have one more day in May...and I seem to have a 'one post per month' pattern...so, here it is! I don't really have that much to say right now...I've just been studying for my RN exam for the past month (which is in 6 days!!). I really can't wait to write it and be done with it because I'm getting tired of studying all day every day. I'll let you all know how my exam goes once I'm done!!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon.

Brier decided to plan a surprise visit and came all the way from Thunder Bay to see family and friends here. It was a lovely surprise. We (Brier, Robyn and myself) spent the majority of our Sunday afternoon being lazy. But isn't that what Sunday afternoons are for??

Also, for those I haven't told yet, I got a job!! I'll be working for the Niagara Health System, at the Welland Hospital, on the surgical ward (post-operative)...and I'm very excited about it. I'll be starting around the middle of June sometime. So, I'm looking forward to it and I'm nervous about it, but I guess that's normal!!

Reunion!!!

I always love reconnecting with friends I haven't seen in years! And this past week, I had that opportunity. My friend Lindie who I went to Capernwray with way back in 2001/2002 came to visit me for 4 wonderful days. I hadn't seen her for 3 years, but it felt like no time had passed, which I love because that is a sign of true friendship!

Lindie also knows Jocelyn from Capernwray in Quebec, so we hung out a few times and had a great time laughing and remembering funny stories.

Until next time Schmoopy!!

Done and Done!!

Hello my loyal blog readers!! Just wanted to let you all know that I am officially done school! Forever!! My university career has come to an end and now it's time for bigger and better things (and making some money too!!).

Just Because...

Update...it's about time!!

Well, my university career is almost finished!! I have one more week of classes and one more shift at my placement and then I'm done. Then I have 2 months to study and I write my RN exam on June 6th. I can't wait! I've been in the process of applying for jobs and deciding where I want to work. I still don't know...but I had an interview for one hospital, on a surgical ward last week and it went well, so we'll see what happens with that. It's so hard to know where to work or what area to work in, and I know that I can always go somewhere else if I don't like it, but it's still a hard decision.
For those who don't know, I am no longer going to Romania. I decided that it wasn't the right time for me to go. I will work for a year and hopefully go next year sometime. It's still my dream and I will get there, but it just wasn't right for me this summer.
So, who knows what the future holds. It's exciting to be done this chapter of my life and to be moving on to something new. It's scary too, but I'm excited to see how everything unfolds!!

The Sun is Shining!!

Who wants to be inside when the sun is shining, the snow is melting and it's a beautiful day outside?? Not me...and although I had plenty to do (homework), I jumped at the opportunity to go for a hike with my friend Jocelyn. We set out for the Niagara Gorge, and after a few wrong turns, we made it and had a fabulous hike!

I haven't had that much exercise in a long time and I forgot how good it feels to be active! I was definitley tired when we finsihed, but it was worth it! I can't wait until the snow is completely gone and the sun is shining everyday!

Oh, to be a KID again!!

First of all, I'd like to draw to your attention that I'm posting two times in February! This is a big step for me...so hopefully you all enjoy it!!

This weekend, Hillary came to visit me from Toronto and we had a great time. Whenever we get together, we are just like two little kids...always having fun whatever we're doing and always laughing. So, we decided to play in the snow since my backyard was full of it. We got all bundled up, grabbed our cameras and headed out into the backyard. Here are some pics from our fun-filled snow adventure:

Also, I want to wish my cousin ERICA a very happy birthday today!! Love you Geeka!!

Nothing New...

Almost a month has passed already?? Where have I been and what have I been doing? And why haven't I posted anything new? I don't know how time goes by so quickly. AND...once again, I have neglected my blog and all my faithful readers (well, i'm assuming I have faithful readers...although I would completely understand if you stop checking my blog since there is hardly ever a new post). I have found myself consumed with school work and hospital shifts... and sleeping when not doing the 2 previous mentionned activities. So...again I apologize.

I went to a job fair on the weekend for the Niagara Health System, talked to a lot of important people and got my name in there. They were doing on the spot interviews and I could have walked out of there with a job...but I wasn't prepared to commit myself to a job there just yet. So, it was a good experience and I made some connections, which is always important!

My friend Jocelyn and I are in the process of organizing our trip to Romania!! It's very exciting and I'm pumped that we're actually going to go. To be able to live out your life dream is so incredible and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Tomorrow I'm going to Jon and Heathers for supper and LOST starts again...what a great day it will be.

So...this was a very random post...but a post nonetheless...until next month!!!

Happy New Year...a few days late!!

I don't know why I always let so much time pass before I post something new...I always enjoy reading other peoples blogs but never post anything on mine. It's something I will work on this year!!

I started my new placement this week on the oncology ward at Credit Valley Hospital in Missisauga. It's a good 50 minute drive for me, which isn't fun especially when I have to start work at 7am...but I won't complain b/c that's the area of nursing that I wanted. I worked 2 night shifts this week which were definitely different, and surprisingly very busy. I got very tired at around 11:30pm, but once you get past midnight it gets better. And, I got to sleep for 2 hours, so it wasn't too bad. The drive home is tricky though...I think I'll have to find someplace to sleep in Missisauga after a night shift b/c I don't even remember half of the drive home the other morning b/c I was so tired. Yikes.

So, Christmas was good...I realize that was awhile ago, but I haven't posted in awhile, so just hear me out. I bought Claire these cool sunglasses for Christmas. She loved them and even kept them on her face for at least 5 minutes. We were all taking pictures and she just kept looking from one camera to the next, just loving it! She was pretty much the entertainment over the holidays, which I guess is to be expected. It definitely changes things when the house is full of baby toys, high chairs, exer-saucers etc. But it's fun and I love every minute of it.

Other holiday happenings:

Fondue Party at Briers

Tapas with Jenny and Amber

Games night at Kristie's

That's all for now...I'll try to update more often...and I know I probably say that all the time, but I will try!!

Alright, alright...I'll post something.

I apologize to my faithful blog readers...I know there hasn't been a new post in quite awhile, and I am on holidays so i really have no excuse! In all honesty, i've been lazy...and haven't felt like writing anything, mostly because there's not much to write about. But here it goes anyways!!

Here is what I've been up to lately, in no particular order:

1. I finished school for the semester at the beginning of December and had no exams, so i am currently enjoying my Christmas holidays, being lazy and not doing much of anything!!

2. Me, Brier & Shawn (my married friends who are home for awhile from Thunder Bay), hung out with our friend Melissa from Capernwray!! We hadn't seen each other since B&S's wedding, so about 2 years ago. We had a great time, had some good laughs and shared some funny memories.

3. I babysat Claire this past weekend. I wanted to take her out in the snow and make snow angels with her...but I decided against that because she had a cold, and maybe she's still too little to do that. But, she's still as cute as ever...here are some pics to remind you.

4. I found out my next placement for school. Next semester I'll be working on an oncology/complex general medicine unit. I'm very excited for this placement b/c it was my first choice. It will probably be a hard/challenging placement though because most people will have cancer, but I know there will be a lot to learn. The only downside is that the hospital is over an hour drive away...so i'll have some very early mornings!!

5. I've been thinking about going to Romania after I graduate to work in an orphanage. This has been on my heart and mind for many years and I'm excited to actually be able to have the time to do it. I'm very excited about this possibility and pray that everything will work out.

Here's what I'll be up to over the next few days:

1. Tomorrow night I have a Christmas dinner party to go to...complete with a $10 gift exchange which I still have not purchased...that's what I'll be doing tomorrow during the day.

2. Wednesday is Mom's birthday (the big 54!!) Corrie and Claire are coming for the day and we're all going out for lunch.

3. Then I'll be heading back to Kitchener with Corrie and Claire to spend the rest of the week there, keeping Corrie company and playing with Claire!!

And, I think that's all for now. I'm getting a cold and don't really feel the greatest right now...so i'm going to have some tea and head to bed.

5 months already!!

It's been awhile since I have posted pictures of my niece Claire, so I thought you'd all like to see what she looks like now. Everytime I see her, she is bigger and smiles more, and is developing her own little personality. It's so exciting to watch her grow, and to play with her and to take pictures of her because she's just so cute!

Wizards, hippies, pigs and much more!!

So, it was my friend Jocelyn's annual Halloween party on the weekend and I went as a hippie. It was actually a really fun costume and I was quite pleased how it turned out (NOTE: my 'poncho' is actually a blanket that's been in my house for years). And guess who the wizard is??...it's Heather!


Here are some more pics of all my friends for your viewing pleasure!!

There you have it. Another year of halloween costume planning done and over with! I wonder what I'll be next year??

What's been happening...

I realized I hadn't posted anything in awhile, so i figured I better soon before I get those 'new post please' comments!! Well, after the wedding my family from out west was here for an extra few days which was tons of fun! It's always a good time when we get together (which isn't often), so we made the most of every single minute, including a trip to the Welland Canal to watch the ships come in and Niagara Falls, as some had never been before.

My mom and 3 of her sisters

At Niagara Falls

My cousins Courtney and Leah

After everyone went home, it was back into full school mode and time to play catch-up, as I had been putting school off during the whole festivities of the wedding. I'm really enjoying my placement in medical psychiatry, contrary to what I thought!! It's really interesting and there's so much to learn there. We see so many different patients with really complex and diverse situations. So, maybe a career in psych for me?? I don't know yet, but I'm not ruling it out anymore.

This past weekend I went up north to Camp Crossroads to help cook for a youth leadership retreat. Heather and I both went up and had a great time in the kitchen cutting up fruit and vegetables, and making yummy desserts!! It was a nice change from the normal everyday routine we get used to here, being students and all!!

So, that's about all the updates I have right now. I"m in the middle of trying to put together my Halloween costume...no, not to go trick-or-treating, but for my friends annual Halloween party. I'm not telling you what I'm being, but i'll post some pictures after! Take care everyone...love you all!

Mr. & Mrs. Brubacher.

So, Jonny and Heather are married!! It was an amazing day, the weather was fantastic, and everything went very smoothly. Here are some pics from the day.

Life isn't fair.

In memory of Steve

November 24, 1981-September 14, 2006

This is not a happy post. I found out yesterday that my good friend Steve Dirksen died in a very tragic accident. He was living in Vancouver and went mountain climbing with Colin, but Steve slipped and fell. Colin couldn't see him and Steve didn't respond, so Colin had to hike back down the mountain by himself and call for help. Hours later, the search and rescue helicopter located his body. He fell about 900 feet. I don't want to make this about myself, but the feeling I'm feeling right now is the worst thing I've ever experienced and it hurts so bad. My thoughts and prayers are with Steve's family right now and with Colin who was with him when he fell. I can only hope that he didn't feel anything and blacked out before he knew what was happening. I still don't believe it at times, because this is the sort of thing that doesn't happen to you or your friends...but it does and I've learned how little we know about how long we have on this earth. I just wanted to let you all know so you can keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. This is a really tough time and I know it will be tough for a long time.

Photo credit: brandon thiessen