malone beats walsh!!

1.  tonight we played walsh (our rivals!) in basketball.  and WON.  67-71.  amazinggg game.  and it's the first time that they have been beat on their home court--that was built 2 or 3 years ago.

2.  they had won 107 out of the last 119 games.  and we won.  yeahhh.  it was such a good and close game the whole time. oh, and we lost by 50....yes, 50 pts last year!  yikes.  so so glad i went.

{waiting for the guys to come back--they stopped at wendy's so we left haha. rachel, chrissy, me, katherine, kaylynn.}

3.  a guy from church, mike king, asked me on a date tonight.  he got my number, said he had been wanting to ask if i would get coffee sometime, and said he would be very interested in getting to know me more.  so, we're going to get ice cream this week.  i've NEVER had guys ask me out.....how come all these guys are coming along now?! haha.

4.  here is the hottest guy that went to malone.  how come there aren't more guys like this now?! haha. he is probably late 30's and married with 10 kids right now.

{meet jeremy...mmmm. }

5.  i am PROUD to be a pioneer :)

she doesn't hate me.

over the weekend, i babysat for the family that i have been with for so long.

over 4.5 years, actually.  

and what a blessing they are.

their oldest, aly, just turned 13 so they rarely need a sitter.

but they were off to columbus and wanted someone here in case of something.

the mom, jennifer, and i are pretty close.

i borrow her clothes, have watched her precious children (one of them since the week after birth--eleanora), and she was the first i told when i failed the OGT in HS.  not one of my best moments.

but we're close and i can tell her anything.

we got to talking about the situation this summer with the k-l's.

i thought they hated me and were on their side....i was way wrong.

turns out she stood up for me in front of them saying 'i have known ann longer than you have, and she would not do what you're accusing her of doing'. (it was made out by them that i had a big kegger party.  seriously?!).

she also said it was not OK for them to treat me the way they did.

it went on and on, and boy was it amazing.

just to hear an adult tell me that my side wasn't totally wrong.

cause in my 21 year old tunnel vision, do i just not think it's a big deal?

but to have it confirmed that they made it a bigger deal than needed was so weight lifting.

and tonight was clinical!

it was a bit on the slow side, but better than the alternative.

and i gave my FIRST IM shot tonight.  yessss.

right in the gluteus maximus.  

to my 20 year old pt. 

sometimes it's hard to see them cause i think: 'that could be me'

and why am i so lucky that i am not in that situation and that my environment, childhood, lifestyle, opportunities, morals, values, ect. all line up to that.

i don't deserve it.  yet am beyond thankful that this is where God has me.

as much as i can't wait for that day someday, i am not ready to give up this time in my life. someday.  just not yet.

ordered phil wickham tickets and PUMPED.

got to skype tyler.....so always a good day!

love her like crazy. 

{long day...glad it's over!}

and trying to not make dating/marriage an idol is proving to be hard.(er than expected).

o, christmas tree! and todd g. wisdom.

the day after thanksgiving we got our christmas tree.

it was so hard to find one everyone liked and it wasn't perfect.

but we found one!  actually two.

one for the living room and one for the dining room.

{ta da!}

{my mom wanted a really tall one.  can you tell?!}

then, last night we had michael and dangle over for the night.

we picked them up from the airport and i got new running shoes before that!

they had never decorated a tree before so they helped.

we also got to skype michael's parents and watches 'holiday inn' like we do every year.

it was a great way to end break, and i can't believe i'm back already.

seeing everyone at church today was amazing and i was again reminded why i love my church.

i got to talking to todd g. and we had a great convo.

somehow it went to marriage and how i was worried i wouldn't be married.

he was so encouraging and told me he knows i will be.

fed me lots of compliments, and told me not to worry about it.

then we talked about how it can often become and idol in younger christian women and how we don't want to do that.  also, i mentioned that because i don't want it to be an idol, i do the extreme and miss out on opportunities.

he told me that the worst thing i can do in the situation is make dating an idol....and the second is to not let anyone it.  boo-yah.  told me how it is. and was so so right.

and we talked about how to not do that--be on your knees EVERY day to the Lord about it.

he also told me how it was like abraham and isaac.  abraham waited years and years (over 90!) for his son.  and he kept getting impatient and God kept saying, 'in my time you'll get it.  trust me'.  then, when he had his son, he was told to sacrifice him.  how tough that would have been to give up something you've always wanted.  

BUT the Lord was teaching him that it's not about a SON or anything....it's about the Lord and that being enough.  

and i need to make sure that the Lord is enough...boyfriend/husband or not.

see?  i miss them and all their wisdom. 

{our pretty decorated tree}

so not ready for these next 2 weeks.

it's going to be awful!

praying i make it through.

happy thanksgiving. 2011.

happy thanksgiving all.

ran the turkey trot this morning with karen c. and we beasted it.

ran a 28:02 fiveK race after both of us not running for almost 2 months.

i felt so sick the last three-quarter of a mile.

me, bobby, molly, daniel, mom, and maggie all ran.

i am thankful for so much.

family, friends, a house, good food, laughter, and a family who values physical fitness....and some competition :)

some photos from a while back that were just posted online.  

love my friends.  don't know what i would do without them!

{lily, sean, colleen, ashley, rach, elizabeth, me, sara (cut out)}

 

i think this was for elizabeth's birthday.

either way, we had a fun night.

hope you had a blessed thanksgiving! 

go and be thankful for all you've been given.

scouting the goodwill.

today i babysat for the cowie's.
it was so good to see the kids.
sarah slept the whole time, but me and justin got to spend time together.



then i got my hair cut.  and it's a bit shorter than i wanted.
but i'm hoping it will grow fast like it usually does.
a new lady, named Heidi, who goes to my church cut it.
she is beautiful and so fun.

i also scouted the goodwill for some items to make some gifts.
doing some mod podge and can't wait! 
although i'll probably have to wait a bit of time till i can start that.

tomorrow we run the turkey trot--me, mom, bobby, molly, john, daniel.
haven't run in a looong time.....we'll see how this goes :)

malone's version of fun: a 5k at midnight.

last night, a group of people decided to run a 5k at midnight.  on the track.

yes...it was FREEZING out. we're that tough.

{me, kelsey and chrissy taking a photo op!}

matt m. {my co-leader for small group} and his friend started it.

and surprisingly, 24 of us showed up.

i feel i got sucked into it.  but it was honestly one of the best nights i've had in a while.

i ran with rachel w. and we just took our time.

{helllllo runnners.  i took a break lap to snap some photos.  jackie, chrissy and joey. love the first pumps!}

{some of the group.  the others left}

afterwards, jackie, me and rachel w. talked....till 2 am.

we talked a lot about boys and life.

it was some much needed girl time and fill-in from their lives.

i love both of them with so much of my heart.

{us before we walked into blossom hall lobby}

and finally...i'm HOME.

i babysat for a couple hours and then headed home.

on my way home, i stopped by the women's bible study.

we made care packages for children at the children's hospital to play with.

it was so nice to see everyone again--yet makes me feel kinda out of the loop.

then i drove home and watched dancing with the stars with my mama.

it was the finale, and boy was it good.

now i am off to bed.  and i can't wait to get a much needed haircut tomorrow!

{me and cam. haven't had many pics with him}

{the boys.  they went to their mom's scrimmage and showed some school spirit!}

random-ness

several random things:

--had time in the NICU observing this week.  was sooo cute to see the babies.  except all i could do is wash my hands and put a pacifier in their mouths haha.  the twins that i had as my first patients were still there and getting bigger!  i mainly got some good studying time in while i watched.

--went to see breaking dawn and it was WONDERFUL.  like, i can't wait to see it again.  we didn't get to all sit together, but that happens sometimes.

--was with the babies last night late and they're getting so big!  and starting to sleep less and less--i am foreseeing my babysitting days as getting a lot harder in the months to come!  but they're so stinking adorable i can't help but love them.  i got to put them down for bed and it was so sweet.  haven't put kids to bed in a while, but it's one of my favorite things.  not because they finally go to sleep (however, that is somewhat nice), but there is something so magical about bedtime.

--this past week at bible study was awesome.  i finally am starting to feel comfortable with the group!  lots of funny things were going on, probably cause we were all tired from a long week.  and a girl came up to us and said she was new in the area and had been praying about a bible study group.  she asked if she could join.  her name was andrea and was super sweet! 

--was way productive yesterday and getting things done that were on my to-do list for break.  holla.  am hoping to get more done so that i have not much to do over break.

--i can't wait to go home!  only 2 more days.

--i found this trailer for the movie 'the vow' coming out in february.  this film looks phenomenal and i can't wait for it to come out.

--now i need to go do work.

--blossom hall thanksgiving was tonight.  such delicious food was served, and it made me more excited for thanksgiving! me, colleen, and kaylynn went.  we sat with several girls from our floor :) i ate WAY too much food, and then ran afterwards cause i felt so sick.

--ran into gabe in the library today.  i was scanning things, and his computer was RIGHT by the scanner!!  probably one of the most awkward encounters ever. yuck.

{thanksgiving dinner....a couple days early!}

--oh, and did i mention?  the babies are starting to become super smiley!  adorable?  yes!

{my sweet little man!  mr. p}

see?  sooo precious!

team edward....or team jacob?

last night we went to see breaking dawn at midnight.

it was so good....and by far the best one.

yes, the plot goes a bit...different...in this book, but still so good.

none of us could sit together cause we didn't get there soon enough.

it was packed and we were there 45 minutes early.

and only the very front row was open.

so we sat by ourselves.  not a big deal, but still a slight bummer.

{YAYYY!}

besides: friends who go to breaking dawn together, stay together.

{team jacob....or team edward....with backward 'e's haha!}

{all ready to go!}

and yes.  we did coordinate to wear a shade of pink.

and now i've wasted my whole day sleeping in.

SO so worth it.

happy friday!

we just chilled.

since break is just around the corner, the school load has been a little lighter.

it's been wonderful to not have so much to do.

although i should be trying to get ahead.

tonight, while babysitting, i was able to watch TV with a baby on my lap. 

and i didn't have to feel like i should be doing homework.

{i did do some homework when they were both sleeping, but that wasn't too long}

speaking of, those boys are just such a blessing.

i left today just in awe of how lucky i am to be with them.

i pray those boys learn to grow and love the Lord and pursue a relationship with Him.

{me and mr. p.  he didn't sleep too much today so he chilled with me.}

{Duke is abbey's favorite team--they won last night. so the boys are sporting their duke onesies}

tomorrow i'm going to see twilight at midnight.

heck to the yeah.

let's hope i can stay up!

i've been so exhausted, and hoping i am not catching something.

it's wednesday.

and officially in less than 1 week i'll be home!

circumcision and telephone pictionary

today shall be a list:

1.  saw my first male circumcision today.  all i can say is ouch.  i am glad i'm not a male.

2.  tonight at clinical we got out after 2 hours.  our instructor wasn't feeling good so she let us go.  but ashton was in labor and delivery and had a baby who {we thought} was going to deliver soon. since we all drove together, we waited for her....and waited.  from 5-9.  yeah.  stubborn little thing.  toward the end we watched live the mom's contractions.  it was pretty cool actually.

3.  while waiting for baby girl {named taylor} me, janet l., john d., and ashley s. had some really good bonding time.  we studied a little patho and then played telephone pictionary.  we were bellow laughing and there were times where we couldn't breathe.  it was hilarious--mainly cause we were tired and everything is more funny when you're tired.  but it was so nice to have that time with them....even though we all kinda wished we were back on campus.
4.  then, on our way back to campus, we drove to Dunkin Doughnuts to get their 'monday madness' coffee.  any size and flavor coffee for $.99!

5.  last patho exam before the final tomorrow.  it's a bit bitter sweet!  not ready for it exactly, but ready to be done with patho class...forever. 

6.  i am so thankful for the gift of life.  holding a baby and letting ashton see a birth are just amazing things. blows my mind.

7.  i need sleep.  badly.

8.  hoping to talk to wade soon about final Haiti details :)!!

9.  that is all i can think of.  so goodbye.

my new year's wish came true.

last night i went to the metzger's house and a bunch of us hung out.

we watched tons of boy meet's world episodes and it was awesome.

mike, matt, jeff, stephanie, rachel, kristin, jenn, mollie and myself.

and after, when everyone left--me, kristin, stephanie and mollie stayed and chatted.

a lot about boys and boyfriends.

and it was so encouraging to know that many of them are in my same boat.

and that we know God will be faithful.

and the last couple days abby and i have had great convos.

she is dealing with some hard stuff and my heart breaks for her.

she is such a blessing and i love being around her.

as i was talking to one of my besties, rachel w., she reminded me of something.

we spent New Year's together at my house last year and my wish for the year?

was to be able to go on my first date.  

who knew that would actually happen.

11.11.11 must be the luckiest day after all!

patho exam tuesday so stress is in full gear.

anxiously waiting for break.....and sleep.

11.11.11

well, they say that today {11.11.11} is the luckiest day.

so, why not have it marked on the calendar as my first date.

yes.  you read that right. tonight....i had my first date....ever.

i have been asked on dates before, but never went.

but tonight.  i went.  and i feel this was a big step.
his name is gabe lopez, and he goes to school with me.
he is hispanic.  just setting the mood :)

see, i have lots of commitment issues.

and i've been trying to work through them.

i have them for many reasons:

1.  i am scared of rejection.  the last time i let myself really like someone was freshmen year in HS {miles} and i got rejected.  not just by anyone, but for my sister.  that hurts.  and it's hard to get over that because i've never let myself like someone like that.

2.  with that, i also have a bad connotation when it comes to relationships....due to that memory.

3.  i haven't seen a good Godly relationship role modeled in my immediate life.  and my relationship with my dad has been rough.

no excuses, just trying to work through it all.

but i am good enough.  i am a child of God and loved so much.

i will find someone to love me just for that.

we had dinner at panera bread.

who goes to panera on their first date?  uh, me.

but let me be clear....it was not my choice haha.

  we had a good convo, nothing special.

one thing that caught my eye was that he doesn't really make me laugh.

ugh.  that's not usually a good sign.

then we went to el camps for some more food with some of his friends: amanda g., hope,  and jordan.

it was a nice time, but i totally felt like i was a bit out of the loop.

they all knew i was there with him.  kinda awkward.

some highlights:

--he made several flirty comments {i am 'adorable ann' and he said that was fitting}

--he asked intentional questions about family and such.

--he 'lies' about everything.  and when i believe it all, he says 'i'm just kidding'. uhh why can't you just tell the truth to begin with haha.

--he attempted to teach me spanish

--he said several times i should come to his hometown {philadelphia, PA}

--wanted me to hang out more, but told him i missed my girls.

  

i am hoping this is good in getting over my fear of relationships, because there is nothing wrong with going on a date with a guy--as much as i tell myself otherwise.

here are some pics of me getting ready. i love my girls:

{colleen doing my hair}

 

{and make up!}

{loove these girls}

 

{they're the best!}

it was an eventful day.

and i'm hoping that a lot was accomplished.

he has already txted me telling me how much fun he had.

but i'm tired and ready for bed.
and it's almost 11:11 pm.
so make a wish!

bible study, boys, beautiful drinks

today has been an exhausting day.

don't know why, but i'm beat.

last night i spent several hours with the boys who are precious.

they slept a lot and i got lots of work done......PTL!

then, i headed to a bible study at the church.  

it was on 1 peter, but this was the last week....fail. 

i'll pick up with them in the winter, hopefully.

the women were awesome, and mollie invited me.

she is such a sweet heart and i can't wait to get to know her more.

there is this guy, gabe, who has been contacting me a lot.

we had lunch last week, and he asked me to go out to dinner with him tomorrow.

so i'm going. and nervous as all get out.

but this is a step in getting over my commitment fear {cause i don't even like letting guys take me on dates......so weird.  i know}.

but this will be nice to talk to a friend, who happens to be a boy.

wish me luck.

and today i got coffee with amanda c.

it was nice to catch up and hear what's been going on with her--which is a lot.

i am so thankful for friendships.  i don't know what i would do without them!

{at starbucks....my crib}

{the starbucks cups.  cuuute}

it's almost the weekend!

my best friend is legal.

this past weekend was my best friend's 21st birthday.

i can't believe that in 8th grade when we met, these days seemed so far away.  now they are passing us by!

she is in chile and so we got to skype, and talk at midnight her time.

i can't wait to celebrate with wine and girl time when we're both back.

{the birthday girl!}

then, we skyped last night for a loooong time.

and i'll tell ya.  it was such an amazing conversation.

we talked about some deep stuff.  some much needed stuff.

we have different religious views, but she teaches me so much.

we talked about how i have commitment issues due to things in my past, and same with her.  and we were able to try to process through that. 

and we also talked about other serious stuff like marriage and how there aren't many 'happily' married people now a day.

i wish the conversation didn't have to end, but it was getting late.

it was just so so good to talk to her.  i miss her so much.

and honestly?  we haven't had one of those super good convos in a while.

we haven't seen each other in person in almost a year now, so it's hard to have those deep converstaions when you're just skyping.

it was a blessing, and made me miss her so much more.

{both of us together...kinda}

 

then i got to be with the boys tonight.  they are getting so big!

they are so cute though, and still sleeping a lot.

which i am sure won't happen too much longer.

{cam cam}

{p man}

{sleeping the same way.  how precious}

i'm exhausted for some reason.

which is not good cause i have clinical soon.

i just need to sleep...for like a month.

how nice that would be.

refuge of hope.

this morning, me and two of my students, haylee and nik, helped volunteer at a men's homeless shelter {refuge of hope}.

i had never gone before, and it was one of the most rewarding things. 

the people were just wonderful.  and i had a great time. 

i would totally help more if i wasn't a nursing major. uggh.

then i just studied, and studied.

but julia and i are so so good right now. 

what a huge answer to prayer!

tomorrow is my best friend's birthday.

and i so badly wish i was with her to celebrate.

she's been my best friend since 8th grade.  that's a long time!

pretty uneventful weekend. 

more studying to come. 

theory exam on monday!!  yikes.

but good news.  we get a extra hour of sleep.

that makes me elated!!

shane and jillian

so i know i've mentioned that the church i've been going to, parkside, has been a big blessing.

well tonight we had a get together.

it was all the 'college' aged kids got together at our leaders, shane and jillian's, house.

we played 'fish bowl'--which they learned from scott and christina!

i was rule nazi and didn't do a great job...but i tried!

and then we played some mafia. 

i was for once part of the mafia!  

but apparentally it was super easy to tell and i was like the 3rd person out.

fail.

my student melissa went, too, and we had a great talk coming back.

she is a big blessing, and i am thankful she has been joining our little parkside group.  

shane and jillian have a son, simon, who is adorable.

he totally was attached to me and wanted me to hold him.

it was so good to be around the little guy.

i miss my little dudes.

speaking of, today i heard from rachel k-l.

actually, i txted her first.

i have NOT been able to stop thinking about them.

so i told her i was thinkin of them and hoped they were well.

she replied, and then i replied and asked what was new.

her response made me feel mixed.

rory has been promoted to kindergarden {from pre-k!} mid way through the year. and he is also reading 3 lettered words.  say what?!

my little man is getting so big.

and aubrey is laughing at funny things.  nooo way! 

it made me so sad, yet so happy.

i'm thrilled to hear they're doing well and life is going on.

but i'm heart broken that i wasn't informed of these things earlier.

my heart hurts without them.

and it's been really hard lately. 

but maybe this will be a good step in the healing process.

i can at least try to make it that....right?

also!  julia and i had a convo today.

it did not go as i kinda planned, but the outcome has been so much better.

like, oh my gosh!  this is how i thought it would be.

today was normal and we acted like friends.

she was able to say some thing, and so was i.

it was good to be on the same page.

i am praying this lasts and it's not just a one day kinda thing.

but either way, i am thankful for that one day!

it's late and i'm so so tired.

but i am beyond blessed, and i need to remind myself.

thanks, God, for the amazing gifts you've placed in my life.  i truly don't deserve any of them.  help me to put my hope, faith, and trust in You alone. give me patience, as You so graciously show to me.  and forgive me for the times i am not patient with You.  i love You so much and am so thankful for the things, especially friends, you have given me.  thanks dad.

and in honor of the boys i'm missing so much.

{feels like so long ago}

{my heart is right here in these three hands}

roommates.

i'm going to be honest here, i am struggling.

i am struggling with my living situations and having a heart after God in all the matter.

i am irritated, annoyed, and just flat out feel disrespected.

i feel i'm trying to be so selfless, but no one cares.

so yesterday i had dinner with kayla r. 

and our conversation was so encouraging and helpful.

i am finding i am not the only one who had felt this way.

i tried to seek council, but it's so hard to know what to do.

i am trying so hard to be a good roommate.

so why will she not talk to me?

why does she ignore me when i walk into the room and ask her about her day?

i thought i was going to be living with spiritually strong women.

how could this happen......again....

i am just discouraged and confused and not sure what to do.

but at the same time, it's not my place to say much about it.

i'm trying to stay humble in the matter and am in need of prayers.

today in the CE class it was so so good.

they talked and communicated and i loved it.

josh shared that 1 in 3 babies are switched at birth.

to which we said that could not possibly be true!

so we got in a huge discussion about it and it was filled with laughter.

then we figured out that 1 in 60,000 are switched at birth.

so we laughed some more about that.

then we all went to Chipotle tonight.

i hit a few {or maybe several} curbs and they made me aware! haha.

we spent an hour waiting on the van, because van 5 which we were supposed to take was gone.  like MIA.  so we waited for someone to help us and get us another van.

so haylee went to change into warmer clothes, and in the mean time we got a van.

then, we forgot haylee!  and we almost get there to discover it.

so we drove back.

then at in the freezing cold weather cause it was packed inside.

we had great conversation and 9 of my students came.

 success?  i'd say so!

then tonight was bible study.

and those women i admire so much.

they are so spiritually wise and i hope to get to that point some day.

we talk about giving thanks, even in the hard and horrible times.

the best best friend.

tonight i got to skype with my best friend.

and i tell you.  i get off the phone with her and always think:

' man, i have the best best friend ever'

cause i truly do.

she just got back from hiking the Inca Trail and seeing Mochu Piccu

i am so proud of her!

but we talked about life, and i asked her opinion on my friend gabe {who has been pursuing me}

we talked about my insecurities.  and how they need to leave.

we talked about how my family and siblings played a lot into that.

and how i come across as being confident but deep down i'm so not.

i just want to run when someone is interested.

and i don't know if it is cause i've never been treated like a Godly man should treat a woman?

or maybe that the it is just so rare that when it happens i am just so weirded out?

lots of hard questions and trying to realize some things.

she told me i was not allowed to 'f' this up.

then at the end of our awesome conversation, she says:

'look at me.  right in the eyes.  you are wonderful.  and beautiful.  and anyone who gets you is so lucky.  you are not going to get rejected.  you need to let someone love you.  cause i can't be the only person in the world who gets to love you'

she just made me feel a million times better.

then we messaged her mom to see if she thought gabe was cute haha.

tyler's comment is that he is cuter than the last boy i was crushing on.

she is such an amazing friend.

sometimes it's hard cause our religious differences.

but even through it all, she is such a blessing.

and has taught me so much.

i can't wait to see how she challenges me as we continue to grow old.

fun fact: today is a rare palindrome.  11.02.2001.

score.  happy hump day!