Winter is finally coming...

We had a really nice Thanksgiving here at our house.  My sister, Jamie and her kids came over for dinner.  I had to work the night before, so it was later than usual.  After, our family gathered together at my grandparents for pie.  It was nice to see everyone.  (My grandpa seriously needs to make more banana cream pie!)  This is Jamie and her daughter Ilana.

We went shopping at Wal*Mart on Black Friday.  There were some things that my mom wanted to get.  We started out at the midnight sales and were going to return at 5 a.m. for an external hard drive that I wanted, but mom wanted to stay and buy a laptop.  So, we stayed...all night...in Wal*Mart.  Yes, we are a little bit crazy...

This past week, I have been sick and had to miss church.  I really notice a difference in my week when I am unable to attend.   I work a rotational weekend shift, so it is important to me to attend when I can.  I haven't felt this cruddy in awhile and I'm hoping that this is my "one" for the winter.  (Usually I get really sick one time each winter.)

 

Snow is in our forecast.  For all of next week.  We knew this weather was too good to last.  Usually we have our first snowfall on or around Halloween and that didn't happen this year.  It was well into November before it even hinted at snowing.  Hopefully, the weather won't be too terrible and last too long.  Here's hoping...

 

Jamie and I are getting our stuff together to start our project 365 that Allison had suggested to us.  We are excited to do this as we both LOVE taking photos.  It will be a great way to show them to everyone.  I will post more when we get everything set up.

Stake Conference & Music

A week ago, my niece, Ilana, asked me if she could ride with me to the Kalamazoo Stake Conference.  This was held today in Battle Creek, which is about one hour and fifteen minutes away from where we live.  It was a great session.  At one point, they asked the youth, aged 12-18 to stand.  Having just turned 12 last week, I told her that that was her.  She was a little embarrassed to be standing, but it wasn't like she was the ONLY one standing.  :)  Overall, it was an edifying experience for both of us and I am glad that we went.  It was too bad that my sister, Jamie, had to work.

I have always been interested in music.  Specifically, the lyrics of a song.  I like to really listen to what they are trying to say.  One song I have been stuck on recently is "I've Always Loved You" by Third Day.  The chorus of the song is as follows:

Don't you know I've always loved you
Even before there was time
Though you turn away
I'll tell you still
Don't you know I've always loved you
And I always will

If you haven't listened to Third Day, you should.  They are one of my favorite Christian Rock bands.  Another song that I always have to listen to three or four times when I hear it is "Close Your Eyes" by Michael and Jeff McLean.

We popped the corn before we left
We had no cash to spare
His cousin ran that old drive-in show,
so daddy took us there

When the film would frighten me,
he held me on his knee
and said we'll get through this together somehow
and whispered tenderly

Close your eyes, this part is scary
Take my hand, it won't last long
You will love the ending, I promise
When this part of the story is gone

That drive in show closed years ago,
it's long since over grown
My car can barely drive through the weeds
to park there all alone

The movie of my life's become
more than I can face
and I'm looking for answers in places he taught me
to not be afraid to have faith

Close your eyes, this part is scary
Take my hand, it won't last long
You will love the ending, I promise
When this part of the story is gone

For love cannot be defeated
just like the sun, it will rise
Things will look so much clearer
if you'll stop

and close your eyes
Take my hand
You will love the ending I promise
when this part of the story is gone

Even though, it might look hopeless
You will see, that love wins the prize
and fears disappear, and you'll see much clearer
if you'll just close your eyes

Perhaps he was sayin'
it's easy a-praying
if you'll
close your eyes

 All the songs on the "Father and Son" album are good, but this is my favorite song.

Ilana's baptism

Ilana had her baptism this past Sunday. I had to work all weekend, but made it for that. It was a really tired day of work after that, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Lately, I have been sick and working a lot. Starting tomorrow, I have basic dysrhythmia classes. I also had to go to civil court and testify for a previous patient. They moved the court date after I had requested two days off for it. NOT fun!

In one week, we go to see the Jonas Brothers in Ohio. I am excited to get away and actually do something! I will post more pics from the JoBros Concert and Jordin Sparks, who is opening for them.

This week...

This week has been a crazy one. I got low census on Monday at 11 p.m., which normally would be a good thing because that means that I get to go home, right? Well, it threw my sleep schedule all in a tizzy and then I got headaches and a sinus cold. Not fun!! I'm still a little sick, but I got some Tylenol cold and sinus and things are looking better. It hadn't had a headache, the med room hadn't smelled like plastic balloons, and the kitchen hadn't smelled like sewer, I probably would've stayed on Monday because I had really good patients.

I just don't know what to think about the weather here. They say (and I don't really know who "they" are) that Michigan weather is hard to predict. I don't know if it is the same as other places and they just like saying or what. We are supposed to be getting a severe snow storm today. When I took the dogs out at 2 a.m. (yes, I was up at that time), it was raining. I just don't understand it. Maybe it's the going from warm to cold in a week that gave me my cold in the first place. (When I say warm, I mean above freezing.)

My mom got seven teeth pulled on Monday, so she hasn't exactly been feeling the greatest either. In four more weeks, she has to get nine more pulled and then dentures after that. It's a good thing though.

We had the dedication for our new building in church this week. It was pretty neat. The Stake President was there to do the dedication. Our branch has been waiting for a new building for a long time, so it was nice to finally get it. It is a beautiful building.
I took this picture from Brother Osbon's page. I haven't taken one myself. :) They had mentioned how during the construction there was a sign that said the future site of the "South Haven, Michigan Ward" and how that is a possibility. It was pretty neat.


I hope that everyone has a good rest of the week!!

Yeah for February!

Today is February 1st and we were excited because we had church in the new building. They were talking and some of the members have been waiting over 20 years to get a new building and now we finally have it. It is so nice. Especially since we don't have to wait to get into the Relief Society Room. That's really nice because I'm always early.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for my family. First, it is my aunt JoAnne's birthday. She will be 46 tomorrow. My mom, aunt and uncles would not let her by windows when she was younger to prevent the "groundhog" from seeing it's shadow. :) It is also my nephew's Alex's birthday. I think he's going to 11 tomorrow. Also, my grandmother is having surgery on her shoulder, so I'm sure that the family will be up at the hospital waiting for her to come out and eating grilled cheese sandwiches from the coffee shop. (It's a Danczyk family tradition that everyone who goes to the hospital and waits for someone else having surgery gets a grilled cheese from the coffee shop. They're delicious!!) It is supposed to be outpatient surgery, so she should be able to go home tomorrow. Lastly, my cousin Ronny is having an echocardiogram tomorrow. So, busy, busy, busy.

I'm not sure if I will be joining the family up at the hospital tomorrow because tomorrow is my first time working on the night shift. I work from 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. I am technically still on orientation. I am a little nervous. Not really, but a little. I have interacted with the night shift and they seem really nice and work well together, but I always get a little antsy when working with new staff. I'm sure it will be fine, it will just take me a few days to feel comfortable again. I'm going to try to stay up as late as I can tonight, so I'll sleep tomorrow. So, wish me luck!!

Crazy, crazy week...

So, I have been working a lot lately. Linda (one of my preceptors) told me yesterday that whenever she works with me, it is crazy. Hehe, I told her that last week that it is crazy everytime I work. We didn't get to leave at 7:30 last night, we had to stay until 8:30 to help the next shift. Not fun, after working 12 hours, you want to leave.

Other than that, it has been dang cold here. This was the temp when I got in the car at 9:45 this morning:

That is cold. It was -11 this morning before I got up. (After getting home at 9:30 last night, I slept in a little.) The cold doesn't do good for my "achy breakies" as I call them. I had some serious pain this week, and luckily, it happened when I didn't have to work because otherwise, I don't know how I would make it through 12 hours of work.

I also was attacked by my cat this week. He is our "scared cat" who is afraid of everything. Well, the dog was barking at nothing and scared the cat who tried to springboard off my face and cut my lip. (Which is a feat since he only has back claws.) I thought I was going to have to go and get stitches because it would not stop bleeding. Luckily though, it stopped and I didn't have to get stitched. Crazy animals anyway.

Our kitchen water froze one day. Then the next day, mom was cooking dinner and needed to add more water to the pan and shattered the pyrex dish in the oven from the cold cold water. It was in pieces and our dinner was ruined. I just said, "I cannot wait for spring."

I have to work the weekend, which I really don't like, but what can you do? This will be the third weekend that I haven't been to church because of work and being ill. On February 2nd, I start on the night shift. 7 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Hopefully, it will be better for me with my wacky sleep schedule.

On a lighter note, we're supposed to get 30 degree weather this week. Hurray!! That is almost above freezing. Who ever thought that I would be happy about 30 degrees. At least there is less of a chance that I will get stuck in the driveway.

Yep, that is my car stuck in some serious snow, and yes, I take pictures of everything. :) Photography is one of my favorite hobbies.

I hope that everyone stays safe and warm!!