dressing up.

things i like-
my room-mate as a dragon.
feeling not quite so sick.
watching my friends bob for apples...
and for that matter, toss eggs and jump around for sack races.
pumpkins.
dressing up.
(my top two descriptors by my staff were sexy peasant and forest maiden)
group pictures.
my staff.

these people make my life better.

(more pictures here.)

sniffles

i don't love being sick.
i don't love sniffles.
i don't love fevers.
i don't love my nose hurting because i've blown it too many times.
i don't love laying on the couch for 2 days straight.
i don't love missing clinicals.

but
i do love my room-mate who takes care of me.
i do love e-mails telling me i'm loved.
i do love naps.
i do love understanding professors.
i do love lots of different kinds of tea.
i do love friends stopping by to see how i'm doing.

apartment love

this weekend was just what i need.
rest.
the beach.
sunshine.
good food.
laughter.
and lots of people i love.

(more pictures here)

what i'm fond of

i am very fond of october.
i am also fond of my walkabout group.
here we are showing what some of our strengths are. =)

down & dirty

what did i do today?
climbed under my car for the first time.
on the ground.
and got dirty.
and had help changing my oil.
no big deal. =)

"w"

its been over a week since i made the decision to withdraw from my sewing class. i've never withdrawn from a class before and i was really reluctant to have a "W" on my transcript. however, i kept having it confirmed that i needed to not have that time commitment. it would require quite a number of hours in lab to complete my garments, which was making me feel stressed. but when i thought of not having that class, i just felt relieved. so, in the name of being a successful AAC and nursing student, i am no longer in sewing.

but i am thankful for the following:
to feel much more comfortable in front of a sewing machine
to have more time for nursing/res. life
to not feel as stressed
knowing my limits and setting boundaries
to be okay with a "w" on my transcript =)

like a river glorious

i'm slightly dreading this weekend. three 12-hour shifts in a row.
that's right. saturday. sunday. monday.
but in spite of the lack of sanity that i am sure to experience by the end of it, God has been giving me little nuggets, especially today. and it all just seems to say, "yes, i am especially fond of you, alison. i'll help you make it through the next few days. remember my blessings on you. remember how fond i am of you."

the sun is shining.
the clock tower sang to us, "like a river glorious"
martha and i sat on the big toy at the park, talking, while little children raced around us. and then we just watched the kids and laughed.
"come and get me gramma!"
"maybe you should have someone younger chase you."
"i'm not going down there!"
finding a hymnal in the practice rooms and having martha play me "like a river glorious."
walking martha home.
getting confirmation that my efforts aren't wasted.
knowing i have good people in my life. heaps of them, in fact, that continue to bless me beyond my expectations.

this hymn is so refreshing to me, and it is exactly what i needed today-
Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true

fall delights

ben and i went on a fall colors safari today.
not only was it delightful to hunt for fall colors, but he is also a delight. after saying good-bye to cash, it definitely cheered me up to hang out with benjamin.
here are more pictures of the excitement we discovered during our safari!

red rope fun

"i wish i could do today every day.
go out to coffee with rob, then hang out at chapters with my friends.
and then climb and hang out on a large red rope structure." -cash

but that can't happen, because God's called him to phoenix. and he had to return there today. =(
regardless of my current sadness, i am SO thankful for one of the best surprises i've ever been on the receiving end of. this weekend was such a blessing. but i can't wait for the day when i won't always be missing pieces of my heart. no matter where i am, there's always someone i'm missing. but this morning WAS fun. counseling class, coffee with martha and then climbing on the red rope christmas tree with cash and martha.

more team camo

just because we're not in the woods doesn't mean we have to stop hanging out...

my face says it all

i'm smiling.
my cup overflows.
camping with team camo was lovely.
cash is in oregon.
and life is good.
i LOVE these dear ones.