Nate and I... =)

Nate is one of my favorite bothers. We have so much fun together, either by saying crazy things or just being silly. :) He only embarrasses me some of the time. ;) I remember my last year of high school and we'd be upstairs in our rooms working on math and we would send each other silly notes, or I'd just come bother him and it would end up that nothing got done. :) I always got so bored then when I had graduated that I would still go and bother Nate, until Mom would get on to me because Nate wasn't getting any school done. :) I really miss being home to hang out with him all the time...I think he misses me too, but he's a guy and wouldn't say so. ;-) Love you Naters!

My "cute" brother. ;) Kay, Nate, and I were all talking on my bed when I said something and Nate of course thought I meant that he was cute... =)

He was pretending to be Gandalf. :)

We were dancing...crazy, I know. =)

Hmm...not exactly sure what we were doing here... :)

I do have a pretty good-lookin' brother. :-)

Thanksgiving weekend

Ok, so I do have an excuse for failing to post the last few days... :) Nathan, Kayla, and Adalie all came up on Friday and stayed till this afternoon. We had an awesome time and I really didn't want them to leave... :( But maybe I'll get home before Christmas.

We stayed up late on Friday and then slept in and didn't do a whole lot Saturday morning...laid around. :) In the afternoon we went to The Pinnacles, which is a really cool place! I really wanted to climb the rocks but we had no way of getting across the river and the sun was starting to set. I'll just have to go back. =) Enjoy a few of the scenery pictures... I'll get some others put up tomorrow. :)





This is my favorite! I love how it turned out. =)

I think I have a talent for writing random posts. ;-)

So, I worked today... Yeah, that's pretty much all I do. Working 9-5 is nice cause you don't have to get up early, but it's late enough when you get off that you don't feel like doing anything except lay around and eat chocolate truffles...yes, I've eaten quite a few. I should be feeling guilty, but I don't. ;-) I'll run it off tomorrow. Oh, and then I'm going to make cookies. Haha, I think all I do is eat and work! Ok, I do go running some. =) So the plan for tomorrow is to take Elisabeth to work, run, make (and eat) chocolate chip cookies, and go to Wal-Mart. :) Sounds like an awesome plan, doesn't it? :) Actually, I can't eat too many cookies cause I'm taking them to work. I think my partner might be upset if I didn't bring cookies since I told him today that I would have some for him. :) I love having an excuse to make cookies! =) We'll see how they turn out though since for some reason Elisabeth's oven has a thing against me...I'm pretty sure it hates me. The nice thing is it can't talk back when I get on to it...it takes it so well. ;-) I've figured out that most things in this house seem to hate me...the sewing machine, the oven... Oh, and the new table...it didn't like me screwing things into it. ;-) Thankfully, Elisabeth and Patrick don't hate me...and I suppose the dog doesn't either. =)

Well, most of you probably thought you knew what I was like, but now you're thinking, "She is the most random, strange girl ever!" =)

My ramblings...

Lately, I've been thinking of how God has been working in my life in the last couple months and how He has made me really smile through some storms. Have you ever had a bad situation and yet God has been so close that you're so happy even though your life just went a different direction? There are times I wish I could erase the mistakes I've made, but I've realized that God uses those mistakes to help me grow in His grace and to realize that He is all I need. "He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater. . . His love has no limit; His grace has no measure." I sometimes wonder at those who aren't saved; who don't have the confidence in a Savior who will always be there for them. How do they get through life? Wouldn't each day be a trial? And yet, I used to be exactly like that, "having no hope" and living each day in darkness. It wasn't until God opened my eyes that I was able to see, "I once was lost but now I'm found, Was blind, but now I see." "I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free..." I have never once doubted my salvation; I've had hard times but nothing that made me think I wasn't saved. "You have chosen the roughest road, but it leads straight to the hilltops." People can, and always will, disappoint me, but I have a Savior who will never disappoint me, who is never-changing, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."

"You're not alone, For I am here,
Let me wipe away your every fear,
My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
And I'm the One who's loved you all your life."

What to write...

Man, I have nothing to write about... how terrible. :) I would fill up my entire blog with pictures (cause I love them), but I don't have any pictures on Elisabeth's laptop. So...you won't be getting any pictures until I go home, which might be awhile.

Another long day is over with. We did one transfer to Scotland... woohoo, I went to Scotland in a day! Ok, so not really... it was to Scotland county which is close to Iowa. We were ten miles from the border. :) How exciting! It really wasn't that exciting to sit in the back of an ambulance for 3 hours though... Anyway, tomorrow I get to do a Day 13. Don't ask me what it is cause I have no idea... I'm assuming it's office work or something...not exactly thrilling but I guess my life can't be thrilling every day, now can it? ;) I crave exciting things; I'm not really into the boring stuff. =)

So...there's my nothing-to-write-about post. =)

Very tired Hill = very random post....

Wow, what a day! Work was crazily slow...one call for eight hours. Yesterday we ended up getting two. Nobody wanted to be transported either... I think it has something to do with me, someone called the ambulance base today and when I answered they hung up. LAME! Surely, I'm not that scary of a person! ;)Ok, maybe I am. =) At least I'm happy about it. hehe, actually I'm just extremely tired. I really should go to bed, but what's the fun in that? Elisabeth and Patrick should be home soon and then I'm going to eat some pumpkin cake that's insanely good. :) Yeah, that's just what I need, sugar...and right before bed too. But sugar keeps me alive so I have to keep eating it. =) Just as chocolate keeps my muscles from dying... ;) Haha, sorry to those of you who didn't hear about my theory. :)

Ok, so I got quite a bit done today (before I got tired). I worked till 3, came home and rearranged my room, got ready for church, went to church and didn't get back till after 8. And then now I've been sitting here like a lazy bum... Isn't that a great day? ;)

I'm off tomorrow so that's awesome! I'll probably run in the morning, go to Wal-Mart, and then get some shots... Because life wouldn't be as great without a nurse sticking a needle in you. It's the little things in life. ;)

Sorry about the random, very weird post... but now you know what I'm really like when I'm tired, by myself, and my brain comes up with strange things. It really doesn't happen all the time.

A week with family and it's back to work...

I had an awesome week with my family! I wish I could've stayed for the weekend since everyone was going to be together, but I guess I'll just have to wait until Christmas. :)

Right now, I'm sitting at work being very bored. I got on shift at 3 and we haven't had a call and it's almost 8...amazing...that doesn't happen very much. It makes for a very long shift. Thankfully, Elisabeth let me use her laptop or otherwise I would be even more bored then I am. :) Mythbusters is pretty interesting to watch too. Did you know that it takes 8,000 pounds to force apart two interlocked phone books? Pretty fascinating stuff... =)

Well, this is probably the most boring post ever... my life is like that sometimes. =D

My twin

Elisabeth and I are eight years apart but we could easily pass as twins. Wherever we go everyone says how much we look alike, and then they ask which one of us is older... I hate that. Surely I don't look THAT old. ;) hehe. Ok, I don't mind it too much. :) I've been told that we look, talk, and have the same expressions. I don't think all that's true, but I guess I'm not one to say since I really didn't think we looked that much alike...until everyone would call me Ellie (Elisabeth goes by Ellie at work). When I'm working everyone hast to take a second look to realize it's not Elisabeth. It's funny when they start a conversation and then say: "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were Ellie." It's really bad though when they just come up and start talking as if we've been friends forever and I have no idea who they are... I've had that happen lots!

Family picnic!

Today we headed to Maramec Springs for a picnic and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. The weather had said it was to be in the 50's but it ended up being in the higher 60's and was an awesome November day. :)

I absolutely love this picture! We were all headed back to the van after walking around the park and I was able to snatch this of mom and dad. I think it's cute. :) They are the best parents in the whole world and I love them so much!

Josh had to work, but Janessa and Paige were able to join us. Paige is such a cutie and everyone loves holding her and taking her wherever she wants to go. :) Yes, we spoil our nieces, but that's what aunts and uncles are for. =)

I love these two so much! We're so silly, and sometimes mean to each other, but we have so much fun. :)

Not sure why they both have the same expression, but it's pretty cute. :)

Not exactly sure what their doing... :)

Yes, Nate and I are very silly...pretty much all the time. =)

SOO cute!! =)

Probably yelling about something. :)

Holding her ears... something Janessa always did. :)

Adalie is growing up way too fast! She's taller than me now... or maybe I'm growing shorter. :)

Aww, we're so cute! ;) hehe.

Well, that's enough pictures for now... =)

Boring day...

I'm back in Columbia (my second home), but I get to go home again tomorrow! :) I'm soo happy! I had to work today and then I go in again tomorrow. I was able to trade my van shift on Friday so I'll head home tomorrow after work and then stay till Saturday morning...then I have to be back at work around 2:30. Lame! I guess it's not that bad. :)

Work was very boring today... I guess that's a good thing. :) We had one emergency call and one transfer... I did almost fall asleep on the transfer. Thankfully, I had some gum and that helped a little...it's really bad when you're chewing gum and still falling asleep. Isn't the purpose of gum to keep you from falling asleep? :)

Well, I need to go stuff some clothes in a bag and head to bed... =)

Home! :)

I made it home! YAY! Now for an awesome weekend of fun and then it's back to work on Monday. We've not really decided what we're doing tomorrow, but I know I'll be spending lots of time with my nieces. They're getting so big! Abigail talks all the time now, Paige doesn't talk as much but she laughs all the time, Bethany is just adorable, chubby, and smiles lots. :) I'm hoping to put up pictures while I'm here, since Elisabeth doesn't have any on her computer...at least not any of the girls; so hopefully I can figure that out. =)

I did 5 hours of driving today. We had two transfers and I did most of the driving, which isn't too bad except that my back bothers me after I sit for too long. I think it hates me. ;)
The second transfer we took I rode with the patient and had an amazing time getting to know this elderly lady. We had a little over an hours drive and we talked the entire time. We talked about almost everything and I enjoyed every minute of it. Usually transfers can be very boring cause the patient sleeps the whole way and you end up falling asleep too...not good. :) I truly believe this lady was a christian and it was amazing to hear stories about her life and also how she never blamed God for the things that had happened to her. I was sad to hear that she hadn't been to a church in a year because she had no one to take her. I wish she lived closer so I could have the opportunity to spend more time with her and to be able to take her to church. When I told her that I would try and visit her sometime she sounded so excited and wanted me to come so that we could sit together on her deck and talk. :) I had no idea what my day would be like when I woke up this morning. I didn't think it could get any better since I was already going home; but God showed me that even a transfer can be a blessing in our lives. She is someone I will never forget.

No pain! =)

Today was the first day that I've ran without pain. It's a great feeling. :) The last couple months my shins (mostly just my left) have really bothered me every time I ran. It kept getting worse to where it bothered me even when I wasn't running. I'm not sure how it got so bad, possibly from running in balled shoes, harder surfaces, wearing uncomfortable boots almost every day for 8 hours; anyway, Elisabeth had some kinesio tex tape and you place it on your shin and it actually works! It's awesome that tape can make you feel so much better. :) So I am very happy that I'll now be able to run without pain.

Work was busy! Sometimes you don't get really anything on the van, but today I had six transports. I had a headache and was starving by the time I was done...but ibuprofen and crackers took care of that. :)

It's nine thirty and I probably need to get packed so I'm ready to head home after work. But packing is totally lame and I would rather just be lazy on the couch. :) Actually, if I sit here too long I'll end up falling asleep... not a good thing.

Two more days!!

Yay! Friday I get to go home! :) I love being able to go home even if it's only for a few days. Just have to make it through a van shift tomorrow and a 9-V on Friday. Woohoo! For those of you wondering, a 9-V just means a 9-5 shift at a certain base...and it means I may end up doing long distant transfers.

I was supposed to work today but instead I traded my shift so I could go with Elisabeth to St. Louis. We went to the mall, DSW, and managed to walk away without anything. Amazing. :) We had a good time though and that's all that really matters. =)

I'm a little bored right now. Elisabeth is working out at the gym (yes, I'm being incredibly lazy), and Patrick is working. So it's just me and the dog, who surprisingly enough isn't running around in circles like he's got his head on wrong. =)

1 month

I've been working for a month now. Time really goes by fast! I love working on the ambulance, there's always something new to learn and of course it's exciting to drive with lights and sirens. ;)

Today I worked the van and so I just take older people to either their home, rehab, or the tons of different nursing homes we have around here. I am getting a lot better with knowing my way around town; at least I know the main streets now. I still get mixed up though when I'm trying to drive back to the hospital from a call, but so far I've never gotten lost. =) Well...I take that back, my first transfer my partner and I got lost in Kansas City and couldn't find the ambulance entrance. They really need to put up signs that tell us where to go, it would be so helpful. It's a terrible thing to get lost with a patient in the back. Thankfully, the patients don't seem to mind...at least they've never said anything. :)

Kay, I hope that's good for tonight. =) I know you probably wanted me to write something longer but my brain is shutting down and I need to head to bed...have to work again tomorrow. :)

First blog...here it goes. :)

Ok, so I've never done a blog before and this could be a dangerous thing. :) I'm hoping it'll really help with my writing skills since I am totally pathetic at writing anything. So, those of you who care to read what I write, try to bear through and maybe I'll improve as time goes on. =)

The name of my blog is from a quote "Learn to smile through the storms". I think it's a challenge for us to always look on the bright side of things even though life gets hard and to smile through the storms. This can be very hard to do, but I have realized that the storms are God's way of teaching us something. The storms may be rough, but we have a Saviour who has promised to never leave us. What assurance we have knowing that our life is in the hands of a Saviour who is always there, and who never changes.