So, nearly two months later...

Hey Everyone!

Okay, remember those questions?!  Man, God is good - get ready for the answer line up!

1. So where are you living now?

Well, I am currently living at home, I finally upgraded from a twin bed on my mom's floor to my own room, so that's a bonus.  However, my living situation is going to change starting next week, when I need to commute to Grand Rapids every day :)
 

2. So what are you going to do, now that you're done with school?

Well, I job hunted and studied for the NCLEX and went to Ky's baseball games and stood in two weddings and went on vacation in Kentucky and took a surprise trip down to Nashville and house hunted and shopped for furniture.  It's been a crazy fun combo of post-grad life.
 

3. Have you found a job yet?

YES!!!  I have found something pretty close to a dream job and definitely something WAY better than I thought I would get right out of college.  Starting July 18th, I will be working for Spectrum Health at Butterworth Hospital right downtown Grand Rapids as a POSTPARTUM NURSE, full time night (11p-7a).  That's right, I'm bypassing the "your first two years will be in Med/Surg, then you can move in to a specialty you like" phase, and just going right into the area of nursing I want to be in forever.  Last interview for the last available position, just because the manager "just hadn't found the right person for the job yet."  God is soo incredibly cool.
 

4. What kind of job do you want?

Um, see above, it's pretty much perfect :)
 

5. Where do you want to live?

This can also be answered!!  I am very excited about the opportunity to stay in the area.  While an adventure to another part of the country does sound fun, I believe this whole growing up and living on my own and starting a job that doesn't end or take a break every four months is going to be an adventure (and already has been) in itself.  I am going to be moving back to Holland and commuting to GR, which is TOTALLY ok with me. :)
 

6. Are you going to live by yourself, or with someone else? 

Great question... I actually am going to be living by myself because I BOUGHT A HOUSE! Yes, that's right, it was definitely something that I was interested in doing, and God definitely laid His hands on the decision, as the road to home ownership was a weird and bumpy one, but I am completely calm about the fact that I now have a mortgage and a house to keep up; I am super pumped about it, actually.  It is in Holland, just a little 730 square foot house on a 1/4 acre, and it's going to take a little fixing up, but it's ADORABLE, I love it, and am so excited to call it my new home!

7. Are you going to stay in the area, or go someplace else? 

Yeah, I think I am going to stick around here a little while longer :)

8. Do you have any future plans for grad school?

I am going to see how I like working on the floor as an RN, and go from there.  Again, I am excited to be right on an OB floor, so that I can get a feel for what it is like as a floor RN, as well as see the potential areas I am interested in on a daily basis.  If I were to go to grad school, it would be to continue in something OB-related, so I will watch the different possibilities, see how I would fit in that role, and make a decision from there.
 

9. Are you prepared to handle the responsibilities of being a grown up?

I sure hope so!  I think I have been doing an okay job so far, and I am just living and learning along the way!

 

So yes, little delay in posting - but here's why!!  God has been SOO good, and I am excited as I work out the final details of these next few huge steps in my life :)  Like I said, I start work the 18th (I PASSED MY NLCEX, btw, I guess that is an important part of starting work!), and I should close on the house the last week of July.  It's a little bit of a fixer upper, and I have a lot that I am doing by myself/recruiting my wonderful family and friends for help.

I will ALSO be starting a new blog called "Diapers, Drills, and Debt" specifically talking about my new job (diapers), my new house and its renos (drills), and how I am managing my mortgage and student loans the Dave Ramsey way (debt).  You can follow that blog here once it goes live.

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Andi

embracing the downtime

Hello again!

Well, my life has been a little busy lately, which is why my blog hasn't been.  A few minor things have occurred:

1. I turned 23! And I've decided that I think I am going to max out at 24 and not have any more birthdays (maybe 26 if I'm feeling ambitious)...

great birthday card from my 8yr old boy cousin :)

2. After 5 years of living in Holland, I moved back home...

all of my material possessions are chilling in my garage right now

3. I nearly rolled my Trailblazer on my way home from finals because I got a nail in my tire and it blew.  Hopies, remember orientation when your OA group took you through that scenario where as soon as you graduated college, you died?  Bah, I was a little freaked out...

My precious shredded tire. See how I'm holding the middle of it?

4. I was officially pinned as a nurse!

sporting my traditional nursing pin

5. I graduated from Hope College with a BSN in Nursing and a BA in Psychology - finally!

receiving my diploma from President Bultman!

6. We got Alli all packed and dropped her off at the airport so she could head off to Vienna Summer School for the month of May...

Alli in Hungary - "the motherland." this photo is courtesy of Alli's 
facebook, I only wish I was actually there to take the picture :)

So, now, FINALLY, I get some downtime to catch my breath and figure out what's next in life.  Doesn't that sound relaxing??

Yeah, not really.

While it is nice to have a change of pace from cranking out papers, wrapping up internship and research hours, and planning for the finals few days of school, my mind is not settled.  Sure my day may seem far less physically demanding, and that has been SO nice, but the ominous "future" is really starting to creep up on me.

So where are you living now?

So what are you going to do, now that you're done with school?

Have you found a job yet?

What kind of job do you want?

Where do you want to live?

Are you going to live by yourself, or with someone else?

Are you going to stay in the area, or go someplace else?

Do you have any future plans for grad school?

Are you prepared to handle the responsibilities of being a grown up?

I have a simple answer to all these questions:

bahhh!-I-am-not-really-sure-I-am-just-trying-to-figure-it-out-and-keep-my-head-above-water-at-the-same-time-and-I-know-God-has-a-plan-and-a-future-for-me-I-just-sort-of-wish-it-was-clearer-as-to-what-that-is-why-do-you-have-any-leads-suggestions-concerns-advice-or-information-for-me???

This is my life in a run-on sentence.

Don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate everyone being so concerned about my future, and I do feel loved when I get asked these questions (and it's been happening A TON lately).  I just often wish I had more concrete answers to deliver.

I am job searching, I am house hunting, and I am studying to pass my NCLEX-RN.

But I'm also going to Kylin's little league games, shopping for flowers at greenhouses, helping my mom out, working out in the mornings with my grandma, anticipating the return of Holland's farmers's market, prepping to be a bridesmaid in two weddings, and eating way more hot fudge sundaes than is healthy (as if even one hot fudge sundae could be!).

And I am just a little confused.  I totally think it is okay to be doing these "but also's," but for some reason I feel like they are clashing with the "prep for future" options.  My mind and my body is having a little bit of a hard time figuring out how to balance the "future" and the "right at this very moment."

Thank goodness I was at least partially prepped for this, albeit at the expense of a good friend's misery, as I saw this conflict play out.  And maybe misery isn't the right word; it's just a weird struggle to deal with, and it can go haywire one moment and not even appear to exist the next.

What the best way to handle this?  I know that totally living in the future "what if's" is not healthy, but does totally living in the moment seem like an escape route?  Am I avoiding "growing up" if I live into the moment too much?  Is there such a thing?

I guess I can be thankful that my mind is still churning rapidly, which means that it's not totally checking out and taking a HUGE test in the next 6 weeks or so won't seem like that much of a foreign concept :)  And I am thankful that I have little reminders and times of rest where I am able to find harmony between these two opposites.  So I know the balance is out there, it's just so difficult to maintain sometimes!

But I guess it's a whole new level of learning, one that I am thankful for, and one that I am going to make it through!

...and when I do have more concrete answers for you, I'll be sure to let you know :)

A few things I've been learning lately

• the Space Jam theme song is STILL a great song to work out to, thank you, iPod.
• the color from dyed flowers will drain from the plant back into the water if you put them in a vase
• losing control of your steering and riding the rim of hubcap while passing a semi at 70mph is not very fun.
• Irises can double as an Olympic torch.
• my arms are very inaccurate at measuring the weight of a suitcase.
• graduating with a class of 748 is very different than with a class of 19 (shocker there, I'm sure.) :)
• TOMS shoes are acceptable formal wear!
• words with friends is a super-addicting app
• Matthew 6:33, Romans 8:28, and Jeremiah 29:11 have whole new meanings after May 8, 2011.

Something to add to the bucket list: 

road trip with my sister.

Until Next Time,

Andi

Little Red Corvette

Okay, I can't help it - every time I hear this song, I crack up.

Maybe it's because it's considered the horniest song ever written.

Maybe it's because Prince can hit higher notes than I can.

Maybe it's because my mom always tells me the story about how her youth pastor spent one Sunday School explaining how terrible the lyrics are.

Maybe it's because I really just want it to be about a Corvette.

Maybe it's just because it's a whacked out song.

Regardless, for one strange reason or another, I have heard this song EVERY DAY this week, not kidding.  I heard it for the first time while I was out shopping, and started laughing in the middle of the store.  Maybe that would be a tad bit embarrassing, but my life can be pretty awkward on a regular basis.  Also, I was have a tad bit of a crappy day, so hearing myself laugh was encouraging and uplifting, so I didn't even care.

Day two it pops up on the radio, and again I am laughing and reminded of how it turned my day around the day before.  Oh the random, strange joys of life!

By day three, I am feeling like quite the confused heathen because

1) I am laughing when this song plays, and its message it completely terrible.

2) What are the odds that this songs keeps playing?

3) And of course, it's during Holy Week... extra heathen.

Day four, I decide that this is too much of a crazy coincidence not to share with you all :)

Oh, Prince...

Random things I've been learning lately

• Part of being an effective researcher is knowing when to sit in the pillow pile and read Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
• Snowmobile helmets and crockpots belong in the same cupboard in the Springett household
• Alli cries at EVERY TV show, "Swamp People" is no exception.
• My mom knows who Adele is - YES!
• You can tell if a couch back is made of real leather or just vinyl by whether or not there are seams on the back of the couch.  
• Vinyl = one long sheet, Leather = seams from several hides.
• If you need to be asleep by 10:30, don't live in a dorm room.
• However, community bathrooms are helpful if you accidentally forgot your toothpaste.
• Organs are not desirable wedding gifts.
• Vicodin is larger than Ativan.

Something to add to the bucket list:

own a Corvette.

(an actual one, don't get any sick ideas)

Until Next Time,

Andi 

Hyacinths and Promises

Why hello again.

I wish you could smell these through your screen.  

Really, I do, because they smell ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

...and they bloomed just when I needed them too.

I think it is so awesome the way God works.  I started this blog as a way of creatively jotting down my raw thoughts, as a way to bring insight to some of the amazing things that are going on around us that we often are too busy to notice.

Well, who would have thought that I would need this blog more than anyone else.

Remember that hiatus I took in February?  I mean, it wasn't too big of a deal, considering I had only posted twice before then, and clearly I haven't proven myself to be a very consistent writer since, but there was a break in there.  Now, it's not that I didn't notice the amazing little things during that time, because I did, but there was a lot of hurt going on then that seemed to overcast them.  Like I said before, I grew a lot and learned so much about myself during that time, and the repercussions of that month are still working in me now.

However, this is a blog about happiness.

But, as I have been reminded again this past weekend, you can find so much happiness and truth in pain if you let yourself be open to it and patient enough to find it.  There's a take home message to every circumstance,  a blessing behind every experience, a sunshine behind every cloud.

"Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either"

- Golda Meir

But we don't have to go at it alone.

Which bring me back to the hyacinths. (did you miss that transition? let me explain...)

I bought these hyacinths on Tuesday, after my housemate Melissa and I finally decided that we need to spruce up our house, since it was currently still experiencing post-Christmas blues.  We all had been so busy during these first few months of 2011 that our house was feeling attention-starved, I'm sure of it.  So I decided to go all out and buy this hyacinth plant from Meijer for a whopping 6.99, excited to have the wonderful spring smell to be wafting through the air shortly.  I yelled "I have hyacinths! They're one of my favorite smells!" as soon as I got home.  Then, after explaining to Izzy what a hyacinth was (love you anyways), she was very excited as well.

Now, while a may know a little bit about flowers and plants, I still wasn't sure when this plant was going to bloom, but I didn't think much of it, I just knew it would be worth the wait.

Then Thursday happened. Well, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday happened.

Let's just cut this short and say that Thursday wasn't the prettiest day of my life. So much so, that I canceled my plans for Friday, went back to Bangor, and just hung out with my thoughts and my mom all weekend.  Those repercussions from before kind of got a second wind this past weekend, and I needed time to process.

Sunday afternoon rolled around, and I decided that I would be okay to head back up to Holland, get back into a routine, get ready for the week, etc.  I was a little downhearted about the fact that I would be the only one in my house when I got in.  But, soon as I walked through the door...

BOOM.

That spring smell hit my nose like the sweetest fresh breath of air.  For a split second, all I could think about was the goodness that was now filling my house, and all my worries and fears and sadness were gone for a pause.  It was wonderful.

Which lead to a spiral of thoughts about how wonderful things actually are.  I remembered how excited I was for this moment to happen, and how it was here.  Yes, I wasn't in the best situation right now, but there was still so much to be thankful for.  Yes, I felt alone - but really I wasn't.

That hyacinth had promise to bloom and bring a sweet fragrance, and it came at a time when I would most appreciate it, because not only did the smell bring a smile to my face, it reminded of something much deeper - that God has promises abounding for me as well, and His promises are worth the wait.

I am one stubborn creature, and am starting to learn that I am a little bit of a control freak.  I was reminded that I don't always know what God has up His sleeve, but I need to hold on to His promise, because He promises what is good for me.  It's tough for me to swallow, but at the same time, I know that once I allow myself to let go, God will hold me safe in His arms.

So yeah, who would have known that "the little things in life" would be teaching me so much.  That my greatest insights to life would happen from a cheapo plant from a grocery store.  

I'm okay with that, though.  It's cool.

Random things I have learned lately:

• I am never going to stop learning.
• Chobani yogurt is the cheapest at Hardings.
• Silver glitter TOMS are appropriate to wear with ANY outfit.
• but don't buy "Bobs," Sketchers rip-off Toms shoe...
• Deep fried macaroni-and-cheese tastes better with ketchup.
• John 13:7

Something to add to the bucket list:

memorize the book of James.

Until Next Time,

Andi

Mid-week weekends

Hey Everyone!

I survived my first two days of internship!  They were actually quite fun, I really like my preceptor (and she's type b - HUGE relief!), and it was a good working environment.  There system at Zeeland is a little bit different than what I am used to from my previous clinicals, so that is going to take some getting used to, but overall I am really looking forward to this experience!  Such a huge blessing, and so far has been way less intimidating than I thought.  I even had doctors complimenting me on how shiny my danskos were.  This place is great.

However, since I was at internship Saturday and Sunday, and I went to bed like an old woman around 9 each night, I didn't have a weekend.  Which was kind of scary considering I had a test Monday morning.  However, that all went well, and I took the test and didn't do too bad.  Then the most wonderful little surprise showed up.

I have a mid-week weekend!!!

This is something that I am really excited about taking full advantage of during my internship.  So far today I have done the following:

• woke up at 7:30 (couldn't help it, by body is adjusting to this new grown-up schedule way more easily than I anticipated)
• however, stayed in my bed until 11:30 (it was beautiful! so relaxing)
• went to lunch with my mom (and she paid! always a bonus)
• bought a "bobble" - a water bottle with a filtration system right in it - from Student Congress, with all proceeds going to Dance Marathon (it was for the kids!)
• worked out at the Dow (and ran into my old Health Dy teacher's class - super fun! just like old times, except for I didn't have to wear the annoying watch and heart strap - score!)

And now I'm writing in my blog, and gonna go tanning with my friend in a little bit. I think I'm really going to LOVE mid-week weekends - so far, it's been a blast!

Things I've been learning lately

• Apparently, iPhones are the coolest thing since sliced bread. It's probably true.
• Blue is a good alternative for green.
• Coffee shops are the busiest on Monday afternoons. Seriously.
• "bobble water" tastes really, really good. Like, smart water quality. I'm not messin' around.
• It's okay to be 97 and your favorite food is still a cheeseburger.  In fact, it's quite precious.
• There is NO alternative for Jet's deep dish pizza with pepperoni and light sauce.
• Coming home from a 12 hour shift to a clean room is one of the best feelings ever.
• "You have to have a stash of cash or your hospital will fall apart. Seriously, keep a stack of 20s somewhere."

Something to add to the bucket list:

create a signature recipe.

Until Next Time,

Andi 

...and we're fighting back with love!

 Hey again!

Okay, so apparently, February didn't happen. WHOOPS! 

Truth of the matter is, February very much happened, it was filled with events that made my mind run at a 1000 miles an hour and stretch me beyond my limits.  I grew a ton in February (unfortunately, not physically - I'm still dreaming about the day I reach 5'6"... I know, I aim high, right?).  But in so many other ways, I have been learning and growing and struggling and crying and making progress.

I could probably write for hours and hours about February.  After all, it was a full month, and a lot went down.  However, part of progress is the ability to keep moving, and that's what I am going for here...

The last half semester classes officially started yesterday - whoa. This means I am done with my practicums and am now heading into INTERNSHIP!  Ah! I am basically going to be a nurse (albeit in training, to some degree) for the next 8 weeks! Am I ready for this?

Like I said, February had me questioning a lot of things, and has really worn me out.  But today I was at the Dow on the elliptical (a big deal in itself), trying to clear my mind with a little music and some sweat.  I was a little disappointed in my iPod, because normally my shuffle does a pretty good job at picking out work out songs, and I just have to weed through the slower ones every once and a while.

Not today. Today, for some reason, it was LOVING all of my Joshua Radin, Brett Dennen, and Phantom of the Opera.  I cannot work out to that, sorry.  I was starting to get frustrated with flipping through so many songs, not really having the clear-your-mind-and-go workout experience I was expecting.... then, BOOM, it was there.

Audio Adrenaline's "Undefeated" popped up.  Never heard of it?  Clearly you didn't go to a little Christian school and graduate with a class of 19 and you weren't allowed to play secular songs for your warm-up music for games.  And clearly you don't still have your old school 1st generation video iPod anymore, and upgraded to something slimmer and cooler, and therefore you don't have all of your high school music on it anymore.

Clearly.  

I made those warm-up CDs, and Audio Adrenaline and Toby Mac were my saving grace in high school.

Which brings me back.  "Undefeated" was one of the songs I put on my jr/sr year volleyball warm-up CDs.  Take a quick look at the gems written in this song:

Trouble always finds me
Everywhere that I go
A cloud above me
Like a kite upon a string
Here in the valley, the valley
I know there is a mountain top
Where I can stand and sing

We are undefeated
And we’re still believing
In the one thing that has gotten us this far
And we can’t be beaten and we’re standing on the shoulders of the ones who went before us
And we’re fighting back with love!

Love conquers all

Love conquers all

Love conquers all

Needless to say, I stepped it up on that elliptical.  Partly because somewhere back in my mind, when I hear that song I know I am supposed to be on my toes running around as best I can.  And partly, because the words of that song were super encouraging to my heart (the next song on the playlist was "I want you to want me"...ugh, the irony! but that's for another time) Anyways...

It's so cool to know that a song that was used to motivate me 5 years ago can come back around at just the right time and motivate me now.  It's weird to think that this is the final stage in this glorious, rigorous, tiring, but wonderful and growing process of college.  I have been molded and shaped and prepared for this task before me, and now I get to start carrying it out.  It's strange that in a few very short months, I am going to be done taking classes at Hope and preparing for my NCLEX and passing on to the next phase of life - eeek!

And it's weird to think of how many times I have been redirected for the better, yet I still struggle with surprises in my life.  When will I pick up on the fact that God has a plan?  I need to work on standing on the shoulders of the ones who went before me - and fight back with love.

Thanks, Audio A.  Thanks, people still reading this entirely too long blog post.

And thanks, God, for the continual reminders that I am Your daughter and you've got my back, no matter how many times I fail.

Random things that I've been learning lately

• um, read above blog post :)
• chobani greek yogurt is absolutely delicious!
• carrying around dry erase markers in your backpack is actually extremely resourceful.
• carrying them in the same pocket as your sillibands makes you look like a 3rd grader. oh well.
• sillibands are still SUPER cool. just FYI.
• it is worth your money to buy brand name tissues.
• Adele? who is she? and why did I not know about her earlier? Oh my goodness!
• whiteboard checklists make doing a ton of homework more bearable.
• REO speedwagon should make a comeback just like Train. It'd be grand.
• "It'd" is an acceptable contraction in English grammar.  I just double checked.

Something to add to the bucket list: 
get something published. 

Until Next Time,

Andi 

holding hands and sharing life...

Okay, I am really scared that by merely stating the following words, they are going to rapidly become untrue, but I am going to run the risk anyway: this semester seems pretty easy, and I feel like I have a ton of time on my hands.

WHAT ON EARTH!?!?!  When does that ever happen?  And during the last semester of my college career?  Did God think that after 9 brutal ones, the 10th semester should be a breeze?  Reminds me of those punch cards that you fill up then finally get a free drink.  I am doing rather well academically right now, it's a welcomed change of pace.

I am loving my clinical.  It's community nursing, so instead of walking up and down the halls for my experience, Trooper, my trusty Trailblazer, and I have been spending a lot of quality time together going to home visits and different clinics and health clubs.  It's organized chaos, but I'm finding that I love all the troubleshooting and flexibility it involves!  It's fun to do teaching and listening and helping people piece together action plans that are going to better their lives.  I have the coolest major, no doubt.

All of this free time is also giving me the opportunity to catch up with people in my life - sooo nice!  As wonderful as my friends are, and as understanding as they have always been about the mass amounts of homework I always seemed to have, I have really appreciated the chances that I've had in the past week or so to talk to people about life.  It is so refreshing to hear others' perspectives on different situations and be blessed by the strengths that they're bringing to the table. so cool.

I think that's really what I've been learning the most about this week - how rewarding and wonderful it is just to jump into real conversations - no holding back, no testing the waters with your toes, but just diving in.  And let me tell you, I've been diving, doing cannonballs, and pretty sure I've even been able to a backflip or two.  I'm slowly, but surely, becoming a conversation-plunging acrobat.  God is so good.

Random things I've learned lately

• Sea otters hold hands while they sleep so they don't drift away from each other - precious!
• Hope nursing students really are holistically competitive - grades, patients, and dance marathon lip sync competitions...
• I am Blue Lagoon > Lemon Parfait > Boysenberry > Folkloric.
• Dancing in your car while driving is ALWAYS a good idea, even if your friends walk by and shake their heads at you. A real friend dances with you.
• I'm pretty sure "Just Dance" for Wii could cure depression.  Seriously, I've witnessed its powers, even the most stubborn person falls in love with it after one song.
• American Girl dolls are waay cooler than Magic Attic dolls.
• All it takes for someone to learn is for someone else to believe that they can learn.
• Being a doctor doesn't mean you understand how to educate and being a student doesn't mean you can't significantly help change someone's life for the better.

Something to add to the bucket list:

be a medical missionary.

Until Next Time,

Andi