A little inspiration

Lately I have been trying to read more and not just my textbooks (who am I kidding, I rarely read those!) but real books. Those of you who know me know that I am kind of into the Harry Potter series. So I've been trying to read those, but it's coming along kind of slow. I started reading them about a year ago and am just now on the 5th book. Anyway, I have also decided to start buying the books that I see at Barnes and Noble that I think would be a good read. I used to pass them up thinking I would get them later, but I would forget the names of them. So I just go ahead and buy them now. Instead of just reading one book now, I am in the middle of three. Oops. One of the three books contains some quotes in it that I really like. I have been thinking about life alot lately and these have really put it in perspective for me. I thought I would share some of my favorites with those of you who actually read this. So here goes:

"The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed."
-Sebastien Chamfort

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"Why cling to the pain and the wrongs of yesterday? Why hold on to the very things that keep you from hope and love?"
-Buddha

"One kind word can warm three winter months."

"Love-the more you share with others, the more you have."
-Mother Teresa

The Perfect Release!

So tonight was my first pottery class, and I'm not talking just a clay molding class. This was a real pottery class with the wheel and everything. I won't lie, I was a little scared going into it because I had never used a potter's wheel before. I mean I had taken art classes in high school and got to play with clay in there, but nothing to this extent. It was awesome! I absolutely loved it! The teacher was awesome and super laid back. There was only 3 of us in the class, Lindsey, Becca (one of our classmates wife), and myself. We had such a great time and decided that this was exactly what each of us needed right now. It is a great release for us.

Here are the results from my first class, pretty good if I do say so myself!

LA NUEVA BICICLETA.............

English Translation: THE NEW BIKE!!!

Heck yeah! That's right! I purchased myself a bright shiny new bike! I am super excited about it if you can't tell. I've been talking about buying one since........well probably since I moved to Amarillo and found out that my friends like to go to Palo Duro Canyon to ride. They have hounded me and hounded me to go. Even though I didn't have my own bike, they assured me that they had one I could ride. But guess what? "What?" Now I have my very own, that fits me very well. I'm pumped! We are going to the canyon on Wednesday, and don't worry I promise to take pics of my very first mountain biking experience. What an exciting week for me.......pottery class AND a new bike! Things better calm down because I don't know if I can handle this much excitement, let's just say it doesn't happen that often in Amarillo, TX.

Check it out!

An Emerging Artist.........

Yep that's me! Well at least I'm gonna try. As most of you know, I do not LOVE being in Amarillo. Now, don't get me wrong Amarillo is a fine place to live. But I don't think it's for me, at least not at this point in my life. Maybe it has something to do with STILL being in school, probably so. So that being said, Lindsey and I decided that we needed to do something to keep our minds off of being stuck here in west texas and of course school. We decided to take a pottery class, which neither of us have any experience in. But, we thought it would be fun and again a great "release" if you will. The class is once a week for six weeks. We start next week and can't wait. I'll let you guys know how it goes!

No school for 2 weeks!

Yep that's right! I got a 2 week, non paid, vacation! But that's ok, I'll take the time off. After Chris' graduation we spent the weekend in Conway with two of his best friends who just got married, Chris and Shelly. We were both exhausted from the previous week so we spent most of the weekend sleeping. Then, Monday morning we got up bright and early to head to Pensacola Beach, Fl. Both of us were super excited. We got to spend an entire week, yes that's right 7 whole days, at the beach. It did rain the first few days we were there, which was kind of a drag. I started to go a little stir crazy cooped up in our condo, but then the sun decided to come out and give us some beautiful days. We were finally able to go down to the beach and enjoy the beautiful white sand and ocean! We had quite a relaxing week, making sure not to overexert ourselves of course. We ate some seafood, hit happy hour, and went to a naval aviation museum. Neither one of us was ready to leave, but of course we had to. Chris and I returned to Arkansas and went to spend a night with his Nannie in Russellville before returning to his parent's house in Fort Smith. We spent the week being lazy and hanging out with his parents. At the end of the week we returned to Texas to hang out with my family in big Clarendon for the weekend. All in all we had a wonderful two weeks which went by entirely too fast. I am now back to school unfortunately.......but it is my LAST YEAR!!!! WOOO HOOO! I bet my parents are thankful for that!

Finally headed to Florida!

Crossing the Mississippi River.......getting closer!

Chris needed a nap.......this is hard for him to do while I'm driving, I think I make him nervous.

I was getting a little bored in the car.

After several hours in the car.......we made it!

A well deserved beer on the first night there!

I guess Chris deserved one too......since he drove most of the way.

Look at all those margarita machines......yep they had Fat Tuesday's margarita's at one of the local bars.....can you say "Happy Hour"

My Pina Colada was very yummy!

The beautiful beach


As soon as it quit raining Chris and I went to the beach to take a little stroll!



At last, a sunny day at the beach!



Chris was trying to be artsy and take some cool pics....not too bad.

Being Goofy

Chris at the naval aviation museum

It was the home of the Blue Angels

On the fishing pier

One last pic on our last night there :(

GRADUATION....................

That's right a graduation........but SADLY not mine. Chris graduated on August 8, 2008. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the ceremony. However, it was quite a journey getting there.......I had finals that week, and to top it all off I had 2 finals on the day of his graduation. So, I had to arrange to take one of my finals early so I could possibly make it in time. I tell you what, it was one crazy week. Finals on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and packing to be gone for two weeks. Oh my! Needless to say I was a little stressed out. On Friday morning I got up early enough to get ready, do the last bits of packing, and study a bit. But, as I finished packing I started to worry that my suitcase was too heavy. I mean come on I'm a girl, I had to pack everything! So I call my mom to find out the weight limit, she doesn't know, so of course I go to the internet. By this time it is like 7:30am and my final is at 8:00am. Once I found out that they have a 50lb weight limit and a rather large fee if you go over, I frantically start to take out things that I think I won't need. After this frenzy, I get my suitcase all zipped up again and what do you know it's time to load it in the car and go take my final. No studying.....oops! The final went......well....okay I guess. Lindsey took me straight to the airport after the final, where I had plenty of time before my flight at 11:10am. By the way, it was my first time to fly American Eagle, I was a little nervous. So I get on the plane and am trying to put my carry on luggage in the compartment........of course I have stuffed my backpack completely full and it is too big to fit. Now I am trying with all my might (while trying not to break my computer that is in it) to shove it under the seat.......finally it slides under there. The flight wasn't bad at all, but I'm still not sure about those little planes. When I get to Dallas, because of course you must stop in Dallas or Houston any time you leave Amarillo, I have an hour layover in which I think I have plenty of time to eat lunch and change clothes. But, when I get off the plane I realize that I have to get on the sky tram and go to a different terminal. I finally get to where my gate is and go to the bathroom to get changed. As I walk out of the bathroom they are making an announcement for my flight to start boarding. What?!?! This means no lunch! If you don't know me, let's just say that's not a good thing. I get boarded on the plane, again wrestling with my bag and this time in a dress and heels, and my hands are shaking because I needed some food. I tell you what, as soon as I landed in Little Rock at 2:15pm I rushed to the nearest place to get a coke and a snack. But, I was finally there!!! YAY! Chris' sister, Ashley, and her boyfriend came to pick me up from the airport, in which I was very thankful for. We then had a 35 minute drive to Conway, AR to the University of Central Arkansas where Chris attended physical therapy school. The first part of Chris' graduation, with just his class, started at 3pm. We walked in for the last 5 minutes or so. At least we made it! The big ceremony with the whole school wasn't until 7pm, thank goodness. All of Chris' family was there to watch him walk across the stage to become Dr. Christopher Steven Walter or just "Dr. Bubba" as his family calls him! After the ceremony we all went to dinner to celebrate Chris' achievement. It was a wonderful evening and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it!


Chris and I after the 1st ceremony

From L to R: Chris' mom Peggy, Chris' Nannie, Me, Chris, Chris' Dad Steven, Aunt Brenda, Cousin Brittany, Sister Ashley, and Ashley's boyfriend Ben

Chris walking up to the stage............

And finally getting his hood and diploma!

Choosing a new adventure.........

That's exactly what I've been doing in the last week. We had to choose sites for our last 2 clinicals. There are 4 groups that choose from the three different campuses. And yeah we got to choose 3rd for the 3rd clinical and 4th for the 4th clinical. So considering this, I was a little worried about the options that would be left by the time we got to choose. However, it turned out quite well for me. I am actually super excited about both of my choices. So, from January 5 - February 27 I will be living in Fort Smith, AR for my neurological clinical. And yes that is where Chris is from. His parents are super kind enough to take me in for 8 weeks. I'm also just excited about being in a new place again. I like exploring new places and seeing what they have to offer. Then from March 9 - May 1 I will be heading to Houston for a pediatric rotation in the Harris County Scool District. I am pumped about getting to work with kids, and being in the school will be completely different than any other setting I've been to. So that's it, new places for me again. I'm starting to have trouble keeping up with myself, I can only imagine what you guys are thinking!