Good to be up and running again!

I've been without my blog these past few days, and I didn't realized how attached I was until I was unable to access it.  My brother was updating a few things for our family blogging, which is much appreciated.  I always email or call him with any questions or concerns I have about the blog or computer stuff.  It's great knowing that someone else is willing and able to help me out.

My trip to UT was good.  I loved seeing the family and spending some time with my parents.  Here's cute picture from Henry's Blessing Day and Oscar's Birthday of some of the grandkids with Dad.  That was a very special day.  I loved seeing everyone over the break.

I have enjoyed being back in the sunshine, though.  I played hooky one day last week and started my break a little early.  We had a couple days off to attend the state PA conference in Sedona if we wished.  I opted to stay in Mesa and have a little Sarah time.  I spent a much needed girl night with my old roommates.  We ate the usually but tasty cheese crisps, gossiped about the love and latest heartbreaks, laughed about old memories, and talked about some exciting upcoming events (but I can't divulge those details just yet).  Over the week, I went to the park with Gidget, another park with Max, the Easter pageant with Rachel and friends, a Hawaiian festival in Phoenix with Daina and friends, a lunch speaker/seminar on "Body, Mind, Spirit," a spring training game with a bunch of classmates, dinner and a movie with Amanda and Amber, and one short night studying.

This was my first experience of spring training.  We saw the Cubs play the Padres.  It was tied 2-2 until the end of the ninth inning.  Go Cubs!  That was a great day tailgating, playing washers, enjoying a kosher dog, answering trivia questions, and relaxing on the grass!

I loved listening to the speaker.  Dr. H reminded me of how crucial my role as a provider can be and how beneficial my compassion to healthcare can be for my patients.  Those small moments of encouragement change my perspective long enough to penetrate my heart, touch my soul, and give the added assurance that I can make a difference.

I definitely took more Sarah time than was initially planned, but it was productive and much enjoyed moments of school-free/stress-free time. However, as the day began early this morning, I realized just how much I am going to have to rely on those cherished memories of freedom over the next intense ten weeks of school.  My professors keep saying that the program is going to get easier, but they're really lying to us.  Each quarter we have harder classes and more classes.  I hope I find way to keep my attention during our 9-10 hour days, and then a balance between these classes, studying afterwards for those long lectures, and then of course the normal events of life (laundry, budgeting, groceries, dating, sleeping, family, etc.).  With all this stress, how am I ever going to get rid of these tension knots and knee/back pain?  Speaking of which, I better get on the go with the start of this weeks "to do" list, and maybe that will relieve some of the anxiety and anticipation of this upcoming quarter.

Snow Goose Festival

Since I'm home visiting my family for my school break, my sister, Amie, and her husband, Mat, and I decided that we should check out the famous Snow Goose Festival.  Neither Amie or I had ever been out to see this big event, even though we grew up right by it.  We research about it and got all excited to see this big festival.  We went to Leo's and got a shake beforehand (which was crazy of us because it's FREEZING here!).  Then we drove the 10 miles or so out to the Res (Sherwood Shores way) and passed a few cars on the way.  Some cars were parked down by the Res, looking at some birds, but there weren't very many of them.  We kept driving down the dirt road, and low and behold there is a BIG RED GATE.  What was that doing there?  And when did they put it up?  Obviously, it has been a while since I've been out to the Res and especially that way.  So we turned around and drove back around to the main entrance of the Res and out in the fields were about a hundred birds.  We parked, walked into the Res picnic area (yes, we climbed through the locked gate), and briskly traveled to the other side of the parking lot.  The Res was bare except the white caps rushes quickly past us.  It was an unexpectedly cold, cloudy, and windy winter day, and my sweater was not keeping me warm.  We made it to the fence and saw about a hundred or so birds in the fields.  Not quite what we were hoping for.  We jetted back to the car with disappointment in the air, but nonetheless, an experience to remember.  The picture below is what we were hoping to see!  Maybe another year!