3 Months:( Is really quite embarrassing. Funny how sometimes life just takes off and it's everything we can do to keep up. I think for a few weeks I was not even successful at that, but now since life has started slowing down maybe I am back on track. The other reason I avoided blogging was the big event in life. Turning 30! What do you say to 30. I thought about the unavoidable day my entire 29th year. In fact I thought that I had accepted it's coming quite well and would be prepared to embrace the status change. After all, everyone kept saying that the 30's were the new 20's. Not to mention my 20's were not always the happiest days on earth. I got to experience events in my 20's that most people put off until their 40's, so really I should have had no problem kissing them goodbye. Yet, as the day kept creeping closer, I kept getting a squirmy feeling and really did not want to face the reality that yes, the old creepy song "Time Marches On" was in fact true. Now having been 30 for almost a month, my acceptance is here. I have some great memories from my 20's, some heartbreaks that taught me a lot, and moments I wouldn't give back for all the heartbreak in the world. I am now excited to see how my 30's will unfold. Perhaps less heartbreak, but maybe more. I plan to make more amazing memories and embrace all the changes God has in store for me. I don't want my 30's to be the new 20's, I think I am ready to enjoy them just as they were meant to be, the good old 30's.

Family

In less than a week my house will double in occupancy! I am so excited. I would be thrilled to have any visitors but these happen to be my two most favorite people in the world. The best part is they are staying long enough to actually get to spend time with and not just feel like you got a sip of something delicious and then it was whisked away. Which means I can enjoy every minute I have them around and not feel sad with panic that it will all be over too soon. I should try to curve my excitement and focus on what I need to accomplish prior to their arrival. I really only have two days to get ready because then I will go into a work coma and cram 50+ hours of work into four days. I hope that the rest of you will have as much joy and excitement in the next month and a half as I will. Here's to having a Happy Holiday Season!

Woops!

It was pointed out to me that I have been neglecting my blog. I would like to blame it on loosing our internet for two weeks but really that is just an excuse. I am finding it hard to blog because I have so much to say. Odd I know! I work at a job where you can't help but have all sorts of opinions and views, all of which are better kept to oneself or at least not shared openly on the internet where anyone could stumble across. So although I have plenty to share, I am becoming one of those crazies (or maybe not so crazy) people walking down the street talking to myself. Which just means that if you want my thoughts you will have to visit and follow me down the street. I recommend a few good classes in the art of lip reading because I tend to mumble at the best of times and I am sure my mutterings on sidewalks are not the best of times:) So trust me, when life is light and fluffy, or I have funny or slightly traumatic experiences, I will share. I would not want to deprive anyone of a good laugh or the ability to appreciate that no matter how bad they thought their day, they can appreciate the fact that at least they do not live Abbie's life. Lately though, things have been calm. It's a blessing not to constantly wonder what could possibly go wrong next. In a way, I may have transferred it all to my sister or maybe it has been seven years since I broke my mirror. In any case sorry for my lack of blogging. I will hope for some happy good stories to occur so that I have something to share.

Dan and I decided it was time to get away. I scooped him up from work and we headed to Garmish. It was amazingly beautiful. Such a great break from Hospital-ness. We of course are on a night schedule and had to go to bed shortly after getting there. I woke up at 3am but it was worth it to take a walk and watch the sun rise. Plus, the sky was clear for a few hours that morning and we would have missed the sun if we had slept in. My Dad would be so proud of all my 5am moments in life that I have had lately.

The Balcony

I think I could have gone flower crazy. After living in our dark apartment in Seattle, I was so excited to have access to light and fresh air. I have always remembered Germany as having lots of flowers everywhere and I was determined to try and add my contribution. Plus, it was so peaceful and relaxing to come home from the hospital and play in dirt organizing flowers. Now it is turning cold and certain flowers are starting to die off, but I am already planning which ones I will plant for next year. By the third summer here I might just look like a German house after all.

Am I done yet

So today I had a mock graduation... not one of those meaningful, I'll remember this forever moments in life. However, it did mark the finish of my "playing nurse" and means that next time I walk onto the ward, I will be the actual nurse. When I sign my name on a chart I will be claiming responsibility for that patient. It was Aug 2002 when the first seeds of this nurse life began. I was in the hospital with my mother on a three day stint. It was the first time my mom was told her cancer was terminal. I remember how one of the nurses was doing a terrible job and I had the thought "I could do a better job than her". Then the next day, another nurse came on shift and she was great. I saw how the nurse's had immense influence on how a day transpired for the patients. They could make a day or ruin a day. I kept thinking about the two different approaches of nursing. It took several months of these thoughts percolating before I actually uttered the words, that maybe I wanted to become a nurse. I remember telling my mom and her laughing because she knew how much I hated blood, guts and pretty much anything to do with medical issues. Still, without even knowing it she taught me how to be the best nurse possible. I wish she could know that I actually carried through with the thought. It's taken 8 years for my "nurse" reality to unfold and I hope that in honor of my mom and all that she taught me I will always strive to be like that second nurse, the better nurse.

Wanted: Visitors

One of our favorite things about the house is the fireplace. The first week we lived here, we camped out on the floor in front of it. We had no furniture so the built in bench on the side came in quite handy. As much as I liked having a fire to come home to, I am not quite ready for it to be so cold that we have to start one already. Yet, the weather does not seem to care how I feel and by this weekend I am sure we will have a cozy fire to sit and drink tea in front of once again. Fires do make the winter seem enticing and just looking at the picture makes me excited for snow with all the sledding and skiing, the mittens and scarves. But mostly I posted the picture to advertise... it's nice and cozy at our house, so feel free to book your next vacation here!