Looking Forward!!!

I have BIG news!!!! Yesterday, I received my official ACT score report in the mail!! My composite score is 21. Soooo I passed. :) (I even got a higher score than Maria..hahah...shhhh) What a relief to not have to retake it!

Second news....This morning, I applied to FAFSA and also BJU!!! Now I'm all ready to roll!!! AND I just heard from BOSS that my last day of school is May 8th....in just about 2 weeks! Needless to say, I'm a happy camper!!!

College is coming up soon....But for now, I'm working at Essex, TRYING to save up money...I would love to be able to buy a laptop before I go to college. We'll see. I also want a car, but that's not happening...YET!

Pretty soon, I should be working almost full-time at Essex....I'm hoping really bad that Maria, Jonny, and I can all work the same shift this summer (like 6-2), so we can coordinate our schedules and be together at the same time. That would be AWESOME!!!!!!

I have about 8 more hours of PE to do before May 8th. We've been bikeriding lately, and the other day we went about 10 miles on a beautiful trail nearby! I'm dying to go camping and get outside in the fresh air!!!

Have an awesome day, everyone!!

Whatever! haha

Long time no post....Life is good. Spring break just ended (we only had 3 days off anyhow!). I'm getting my PE hours in, which is great!! I have about 15 more hours to do...And we found a cool bike trail down the road, so I hope to go there on nice, sunny days! :)

I'm reading Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. It's fun to read!! So far, it's been fairly close to the movie, but I'm starting to read some new things that are not in the movie. I've been reading it out-loud to Jacob recently...I love doing that! It's fun, and besides it's good for Jacob to be doing something other than his computer games...I read The Hobbit a loong time ago (can't wait for the new movie to come out!), but this is the first time I've actually gotten into the LOTR trilogy books...

In just a few weeks Maria and Jonny will be home!!!! I'm soo excited, and plus Maria will be working at Essex again, so we'll be working "together"...at least in the same building...we'll probably see each other every now and then. :) it'll be fun! Hopefully we'll work the same shift...I'll most likely be working full-time pretty soon, so....

How was everyone's Easter?? And when do you all finish school? Let's roll, grads of '09!!!! :)

ACT...DONE!!

Yes, I just took the ACT this morning at KSU Salem....It was.....ok. I must be a really slow person, cause I was only able to get through HALF of both the Math and Science tests!! UGH But, I did pretty well on the English and Reading tests I think. At least the whole thing is over with! I canNOT wait to get my results back!!! I'll just DIE if I find out I didn't get a high-enough score....lol

Has anyone else taken the ACT?? If so, how did it go??? (Christina, how was urs????)

Well, I'll give you guys a break and make this post short, so have a great day!! :) Here's a really cool pic too!! These types of nature pics make me want to be a photographer!!!!!

God's Word!!!

Lately, I've been really struggling in my spiritual life....I've been falling back into my old sins and habits....And, honestly, it's all just because I haven't been reading God's Word! I haven't had the peace or joy or closeness to God that I used to have...I remember when God was working enormously in my life, and I felt soooo near to God. I would find myself talking to Him throughout the day about little things even, and I had the highest JOY possible just being in His Word and feeling His love....It was AMAZING!!! But for the past several months, my spiritual life has just been at a stand-still. Yesterday I decided that that was enough....I got right with God once again and finally read His Word for myself in the morning. I confessed and prayed for strength. Then I looked up verses with "delight" in them....It was sooo good to get back into the Bible....I had a pretty good day too yesterday, making an effort to talk to God in my heart...I also wanted to end the day with Him, so when I got into bed at around 10, I turned on my little lamp and opened up my old Bible that sits on my head-board...Then I noticed that I had opened up to the very beginning of Psalms, so I figured I'd read that since I love the Psalms!! I read chapters 4 and 5. They were very appropriate for what I was going through...And this might sound stupid, but I get kinda scared in my room at night...I know, I'm a big sissy! Well, I don't know how to explain it, but when I'm deliberately sinning, I feel like I'm opening up myself to Satan, and then, it's almost like I can feel an evil spirit in my room....And, the dark plus the fact that I'm alone doesn't help. (ok, and it doesn't help that I saw this weird TV thing about an evil spirit in a house....creeepy) BUT God's Word is the best cure!! I went to sleep feeling fairly calm....Actually, I almost fell asleep reading my Bible since it was pretty late AND I was lying down....

Well, this morning I woke up and had my devotions...I read Proverbs 3. (I am terrible at keeping a regular Bible-reading schedule!! help!) I try to take notes whenever I read, so it's easier to remember and understand....I also like to illustrate some of the verses or ideas....so I have these funny little sketches in my notebook ...haha Oh, and I got this brilliant idea of making a macrame choker with the words "mercy and truth" on it....inspiration from verse 3: "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck..." AND when I read verse 9, I remembered that I need to be giving God tithe since I'm actually making money now! :) God's Word is very practical, you know! I could go on and on about what I learned or just the verses that really stick out to me!!

It really is amazing how much the Bible affects our walk...Never underestimate the power of God's Word!!!!

SCRUBS

I got back from work today and decided to get a pic of my scrubs! So, here you are...Enjoy! oh, and in case you're wondering, I have a little Winnie-the-Pooh shirt peeking out from under my scrub top....It's just a habit to wear something under the scrubs...don't ask why! And I'm wearing my little kitchen cap. :) AND my Kermit the Frog top....hahaha And my weird expression.....

Work today was.....slow....I have soo much to do, and it takes me forever to get everything done!!! ahhhh, stress. lol it's not that bad....I'm soo happy that I work with nice, helpful people. :) Thanks, guys! (even though you don't read this blog...)

Well, that's it for now. I need to get a second top for work soon...This week I only work 2 days, cause I REALLY need to get on the ball with the ACT....I'm soo gonna fail....

Weekend at the Farm

I had an AWESOME weekend!!! Mom, Jake, and I drove up to MI for Grandma's 78th birthday! It was a BLAST!! We stayed with Uncle Ken and Aunt Michelle Deschepper and their three all-country boys (Kenny, Nate, Danny). Their farm is cool! They have lots of land and a pond out back. They've got cattle, steers, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, etc. They normally have pigs too. Anyhow, we had a crowd join us for the bday party: Tim and Cheryl Gross, Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary Wiggett, Uncle John and Aunt Debbie Labadie and their kids JD and Nicky, and Uncle Bob and Aunt Marilyn Labadie. It was almost a family reunion!! Just missing three of the Labadie kids and their kids...It was really nice, since we rarely get to see family! :) We're trying to make it a tradition to get everyone together for Grandma's bday! We did this last year too.

Ok, so, some things that we did....Well, we arrived right at supper time on Friday night. We ate, then we hung around and chatted in the living room. Then, we broke up the party and started to work to get the bday meal all ready....I helped peel carrots. But Jacob and Danny were starting to watch The Pacifier, and I really wanted to see it, so Mom told me to go watch it. haha...gotta love moms! :) The Pacifier is HILARIOUS!! After the movie....I can't exactly remember what we did...I probably hung around Danny and Jacob like I always do. Oh, we played 5,000 a lot...That was fun! (you know, like up-for-grabs, where one person throws the football and everyone else tries to catch it...) It was BEAUTIFUL outside!! Danny, Jake, Naters, JD, Nicki, and I ate outside on their porch for most of the meals. The weather was amazing... :) Ok, what else did we do....? Uncle Ken took Danny, Jake, and I to this cool "toy show" at Perry High maybe 20 minutes from them...It was in the gymnasium, and there were a bunch of tables set up with farm toys (mini farm stuff..very cool hobbie!), books, quilts, crafts, candles, the whole caboodle...And what was funny is that as soon as I walked in, I was like, "no way...I totally dreamed about this several weeks ago..." I'm not kidding! I had a pipe dream...weird. Ok, well, when we got back and some more family arrived, we all took turns riding Nate's four-wheeler!! Danny gave us all rides. lol BUT I wanted to drive by myself on it, but I wasn't sure where I could go exactly (their farm's changing a little...they've got new fences up for cattle, so it's different...), so I drove and Danny jumped on behind me. Poor guy, I gave him lots of heart attacks!!! hahah....it was FUN though!! We went back into the woods and into their big fields behind the pond...it was cool!! Then we had Grandma's bday party with Uncle Mike's wonderful cooking (yeah....NOT good for my diet...)!! Grandma was sooooo funny, I wish you guys could have seen her!! She was cracking us all up when she opened her gifts.....She was reeally enjoying herself! :) Then later that night, Danny, Jake, and I watched Africa Screams (Abbott & Costello...Yes, I love them!!)....I was laughing so hard....Good times, good laughs, good cries....

Sheesh, don't let me be so long-winded next time!!

SOS!! I've got this song stuck in my head......

Summary of Job

Phew....Just got back from work, still in my cute Kermit the Frog scrubs. :) Btw, for those who are clueless, I just got hired at Essex, a nursing home down the road...I am a dietary assistant, working in the kitchen. I even get to take myself down in our van! (I LOVE driving) Anyways, so I had 3 days of training with Anna and then Larry, but today I was officially on my own for the first time (wow, I make it sound like SUCH a big deal...haha)

It went pretty well! Mary Jo and Ray were a big help!! They kinda kept me on track, and I rarely looked at my cheat-sheet. No time....lol I BARELY finished everything on time, even with Ray doing some of my work...BUT I'll eventually catch on. Soooo, if you all are interested at all, here's what I do (and sorry, but i'm not gonna explain everything in detail...):
1. Clock IN
2. Put a little "kitchen cap" on (anyone know the name?!)
3. Cut breakfast cards (tells what each resident likes/dislikes/eats/blablabla)
4. Gather/prepare snacks for residents
5. Portion cereals in individual bowls
6. Sweep and mop entire kitchen and stockroom
7. Take out boxes and trash
8. Bring in dinner lids
9. Put drinks on trays
10. Start tray line (Ray dishes up food, I put it on trays and tell him the names/dislikes of residents)
11. Record temps of freezer, milk cooler, two-door fridge
12. Set up breakfast trays for next morning (6 racks of varying amounts of trays--condiments, cereal, silverware, etc.)
13. Help dishwasher with putting clean dishes away
14. Take snacks down to nurses' stations
15. Help make silverware packets
16. Make sure things are closed up for night, lights turned off
17. Clock OUT! (drive home! yippee)

So, there, you have my job in a nutshell! There are a lot of little details to remember, but it'll come with time.

Tomorrow is my first Payday!! :) I think I'll just get paid for orientation, but at least it'll be something!

Oh, AND tomorrow there's a mandatory meeting at Essex at 10 am....And since my mornings are basically free, I'll be there! We just sit there and listen to someone talk and maybe do paperwork, is what they tell me....

Gotta get out of these scrubs! signing off.....

First Day of Work ON MY OWN

Yep, that's right...I'm heading off to work in a few minutes, and I'm hoping and praying I'll remember everything (I have a cheat-sheet!! lol so I should be ok)....Sooo, wish me luck!!

You know what the best part about this job is?! I get to wear SCRUBS!!! haha...I've always wanted to wear scrubs....don't ask why!

I'll tell y'all how it went when I get back.... :)

Going BANANAS

Sorry, guys, but I HAD to share this email I got....

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. I t can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school> (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat , sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe.... polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm off to get a banana for breakfast!! ;)

Morning in the Dentist Office

I just got back from a morning of dentist appointments...Jake and I sat around and read magazines while Mom had a check-up, cause she has a LOT of work to do on her teeth...(It was a loong wait, and there was this hilarious pregnant Southern lady with two little girls; love her accent!) Anyhow, Mom's teeth are really giving her problems... :( She has to get a tooth pulled and a root canal for starters. Thank the Lord for Caresource!!

I just went in for another check-up after getting my wisdom teeth pulled...My chin is still NUMB from the "surgery"!! It's annoying, cause I can't feel anything...no duh. But, the other day I noticed this weird bite on my lip. I must've bit myself pretty hard without knowing...The dentist poked my chin with a broken little "stick", but I couldn't even feel that it was sharp. Anyhow, I'm heading back to the dentist in one month. We'll see if it gets better! :)

School :) :(

We're starting the last 9 weeks of school today!!!! I have had a grand total of 4 courses my senior year (yah, lucky me!): American Government, British Literature, Computer Applications, and Art History. However, I'm currently only taking 2 classes: American Government and Art History. I completely finished Brit Lit (yesss!!!), and Computer Apps was only for one semester. So, obviously, school is very light right now...

The ACT is coming up on April 4th!! I'm trying to study for it and finding that I've forgotten almost everything I learned in math (Mr. DeMar can testify....lol He is a math tutor, and I feel dumb in his virtual class because I can barely remember how to add!) Pray that I will be able to refresh my brain and remember stuff for the big test!!!!! I'm a little nervous....

Well, that'll be it for now!! I need to do some "homework" for my job...I work 3 days this week!! It's awesome, considering I was originally only going to work one day a week! :) I'm still in training, BUT on Thursday, I'm officially on my own!!!

Replacing Facebook...

Welcome to my newest blog!!! I'm starting this to take the place of Facebook, which I unfortunately had to quit....even though, yes, I just got on several days ago! My dad had some issues with it, so I decided to find another way to connect with all of my friends!!! Please check out my blog when you have some time....I'll just be posting stuff that I'm doing and how life is going. Feel free to write as many comments as you like! And you also can email me at rayofsunshine17@sbcglobal.net. I'm a faithful emailer, and I'll normally respond asap. ;)

I would LOVE to keep in contact with everyone, so I hope to "see" you here!!!!

P.S. If you're wondering about the title of my blog....Rabies is one of my newest nicknames!! Ok, so I was writing my BFF and I was ending the email, and I was trying to write Rachel and RB's (another nickname...lol) at the same time, and it ended up RABIES! :) See the foam??? hahaha..Beware!!!