Mine is ridiculous. My life, that is. Actually, I'm not sure "ridiculous" is quite the word for it. It's just....never boring. Yeah. let's stick with that.
I have a sort of philosophy (if you can even call it that) on life that goes something like this: Plan to do everything feasably possible that you desire to do and even though you won't get to do most of them, you'll end up doing at least one of them. It's really quite simple...I just try to do everything and end up doing at least one or two cool things and I'm happy. If you don't try, you won't get anywhere.
So basically I'm telling you all that to say that I, unfortunately, will not be moving to Virginia.
This was a big blow because I had already settled on a roomate and church and spent a lot of time and money applying to the school that I was set on going to up there.
However.
God has taught me and shown me some beautiful things through this particular disappointment (which honestly wasn't that big of a disappointment simply because life is an adventure and it's actually pretty exciting to go with the flow).
1. He took care of my future roomate: the day I called her to tell her the news, she said she had a very good possible new roomate. I was ecstatic.
2. I love my church here. The one part of moving that I dreaded was leaving it and now I can actually settle in, get involved, and join.
3. I've been missing out on a lot spiritually and recreationally since I started to plan this move: Having moved so much in my life, I've developed a sort of defense mechanism that goes off as soon as I find out I'm moving. Basically, I shut most everyone living in the same town as me out with the messed up rationalization that "if I'm not close to them, it won't hurt as bad when I leave". As a result, I become very anti-social and miss out on much needed fellowship, not to mention ministry opportunities. It's a very selfish mindset that I very much need to bury for good. Needless to say, I got convicted about that shortly before I knew for sure the move wasn't going to happen and then God kind of nailed me again after the fact when I suddenly realized I had about 2 friends in Greenville that I'd actually spoken to in several months.
Since all of this has come about, I've been very blessed to quickly form new relationships and start to rebuild old ones. I was blessed with a part time job at a very nice gym and in return I not only get a paycheck but a free membership. This has opened the door to lots of great new friendships as well as chances to minister. I recently met a lady the age of my mother while using the elliptical machines and we ended up talking the entire time we were both working out. She seems to be very lonely and the Lord has not let her off my mind since that day. I've been praying about ways I can possibly minister to her and have come up with some good ones that are completely outside my comfort zone but I think are probably just the things I need to do. Pray for me as I try to get back in touch with her in the next week or two.
Let's see, other happenings....
Plans for Bolivia are going extremely well. I can't say I've never been this excited b/c I think I probably was somewhere near this level as I was planning to head to Turkey...needless to say, I'm pumped.
I just got in contact with a new gal at Hospitals of Hope who is really really nice and helpful. She's going to try to get me in touch with some other people that will be in Cochabamba while I'm there so that should be cool. I'm not going to lie, I'm getting a bit nervous about this trip. Yes, me, the crazy traveler is NERVOUS! impossible, I know. I'm not so much nervous about the travel part, although that's going to be hilarious I'm sure..knowing my luck. I am nervous about being spiritually ready. I feel so completely small, which is probably a good thing, but I just don't feel like an adequate vessel for the Lord to be using. I'm so glad that, despite the fact that I am inadequate, He still chooses to use weak people like me...for whatever reason.
I've started clinicals for this semester. We're working at a nursing home that is hell on earth...and I don't use that term lightly. It truly is probably the most awful place I have ever beheld. I can't even begin to go into detail but I hate it. I left Monday wanting to either throw up or cry over how these dear elderly people are treated on a daily basis. I really will consider shooting myself if anyone ever tries to put me in a place like that. I have the dearest patient though and due to confidentiality laws, I can't really talk about her but she is sweet and we have a good time. There are some wonderful residents at the home and I just have fun talking to them. Other than that, it's just a lot of feeding, bathing and changing briefs. Not really fun, but it's worth it knowing you're making someone's life that much more comfortable.
Other random highlights in the life of Gwen:
-I'm ready for summer and for a couple of beach trips
-I'm considering getting another parakeet when I get back from Bolivia
-I now have a personal trainer who is an ex-special forces marine. Needless to say, I'm getting my butt kicked.
-I get to start learning how to take blood in a week
-I will need a roomate around September (if finances allow)
This poor blog's put up with me for that long.
let's see how many more years, trips and other fantastic happenings I can cram into it.
I just attending my first "spinning" class.
No, not spinning in the domestic yarn/needles/wheel sense. No no. I'm talking spinning in the 1 hour of sheer pain/dizziness/death sense.
Let me put this in perspective for you: I have not worked out since before I got mono...basically like August or something like that.
I recently got a small part time job at Pivotal Fitness and as a result, got a free full membership to the gym. My friend Amy called me tonight and asked me if I wanted to go to her spinning class with her and I agreed thinking "heck yes, I'm totally all over this stationary bike thing".
Oh my.
Was I wrong.
I got my butt whipped. And I say that in the most literal sense possible. I literally cannot walk or sit down. It feels slightly worse than the time I went horsebackriding for 2 hours straight.
I think I began wishing for the rapture about 15 minutes into the class and when the hour was up, I got off the bike and nearly fell to the floor b/c my legs were the consitency of noodles.
I don't think I've felt so wretchedly out of shape in years.
Thus begins the awful first couple of weeks of getting back into shape...bring on the advil and 8 million gallons of water baby.