30 Day Challenge

The Christian radio station in Houston, KSBJ has issued a 30 day challenge to Houston area listeners. They ask that you listen to KSBJ and ONLY KSBJ for 30 days and see how God uses the radio station and it's music to change your life. I am taking this challenge and have realized that I am really benefitting from listening to more Christian music, because it helps me to remain more positive and patient throughout my day. My problem is that sometimes I find Christian music to be pretty cheesy, and that there's an awful lot of repeat play going on, so I get tired of the songs pretty quickly. So, I'm working on finding new favorite Christian artists, and exploring their music as well as digging out old favorites like Watermark, Smith Band, Bethany Dillon, and Ginny Owens to help me avoid burnout.
I also enjoy the way that the DJ's are encouraging people to choose ONE thing to change in their lives this year, and are constantly encouraging listeners to keep up the work in changing their habits. It really helps to have someone give you a thumbs up throughout the day when you're trying to manage money more wisely, or lose that weight, or kick a certain bad habit...even if they aren't physically there with you to give that pat on the back.
So, if you're not doing this already, tune in to 89.3 and enjoy the blessings that God has in store for your day!

Mental Health Day

Since my last post I've realized that it may come across that I'm an angry and unhappy CLS....which is not the case. I just had a rough day, and after taking a 'mental health' or personal day from work, doing some yoga, and just taking a break from the routine I'm in much better spirits. Next time someone calls me the play lady I won't be tempted to react with a greeting to their face from my fist! So to change things up I took said personal day, hung out with my roommate, took Willow to Petsmart, enjoyed hot chocolate with my mom at our favorite local bakery, and took Willow on a walk around a neighborhood lake.  Willow has been especially mopey since her cousin dog Manna had to go home.  We kept her for a week while my parents were in Austin, and she and Willow LOVE to play, so when Manna was gone Willow turned into one sad puppy. I got a few pictures of Willow's first Petsmart experience which was less exciting than what I expected from her. After walking down the toy aisle and discovering there was a puddle 'o pee on the floor, then watching an employee just wipe it with a paper towel I was disgusted and ready to leave the dog section. I headed over to the bird/small animal aisle and let Willow meet some new animal friends, including a HUGE rat!

She really like the birds, although I'm pretty sure they were terrified of her! Mass chaos ensued with birds flapping frantically to get out of their small aquarium sized home.

All this to say, I really do have a great job, and I hope that you don't think me ungrateful for the blessing I've been given in the form of my job. It was great to enjoy the sunset this afternoon since I'm usually at work when that time of day rolls around. My favorite time of day is dusk and I am really looking forward to the start of Daylight Savings Time. I wish we kept this in effect all year to allow those who work until the evening a chance to see the sun after we leave a long day of work. Can I get a A MEN?

She's the play lady...

I cannot explain in words how aggrivating it is when I hear an employee of our hospital walk by my office with a patient, and explain to the patient that yes, that office does look fun, and that girl in there....she's the play lady.
Please don't misunderstand, I love my job, and I don't deny that it's a blessing to be surrounded by bright colors, fun toys and (sometimes) cute children for 8 hours of my day. However, I think since most people don't know what a Child Life Specialist is, they make assumptions based on the fact that they see me carrying toys throughout the hospital and they assume I just wander around bringing happiness and cheer to all I see. I hope that I do sometimes, but these assumers do not know that these toys are distraction tools, because the child I'm taking them to is about to have a needle put into his arm, or he has been in the same bed for 5 days without seeing the light of day, or he's about to have surgery and is terrified of dying. They usually have NO idea that I sometimes have to go to the ICU and be the one who tells a child that their parent of grandparent is dying, and that it's time to say goodbye. They don't realize I went to school for 4 years and then compelted an unpaid internship to get into the field I'm in, and that I'm in a field that's probably way more competitive than their own. I have days when I just wish people would stop looking at me like I am running a daycare in the hospital, and that they'd realize I have a purpose for being here. However, I also know that ill children, death and pain are upsetting things and not issues that many people can handle on a daily basis. So, I smile and nod, agree with them that I DO have the best job on earth and keep walking. In my head though, I'm thinking Go ahead....call me play lady one more time....

Why I love Houston

I've been reading through some old journals from college recently and I am realizing how my life is not much at all like I imagined it would be 3 years ago. I was a senior and a half, looking for a Child Life internship and was dead set on not moving back to Houston. NEVER would I have considered moving back to Katy, if I were to intern in Houston it would be because I had NO other choice, and I'd pack and leave as soon as the internship was over. I was a girl dreaming of life in the big city, envisioning a cute little pad in NYC, and a life so adventurous people would dream of being me. Can we say egocentric? Yes.
Fast forward 6 months and I had accepted an internship in Houston, even though I had an offer for the same internship in NYC at a FREAKING AWESOME hospital! I wish I had been more adventurous, not thought about how broke I would be, and gone on to New York, but I chose to stay in Houston and intern at what would soon become my place of employment. While I quasi regret missing out on the experience, I also realize that unlike my internship in Houston, that hospital might not have offered me a job after I completed my hours, and I might be one of the many people stuck doing some 'other' job and dreaming of getting into Child Life. I am very blessed and it's not really easy for someone to get a job in Child Life as quickly as I did.
Fast forward two years later....(TIME FLIES!) and you will find me here. Living in the suburb where I grew up, the forementioned LAST place choice to be, and I'm loving it. I own a house, AT 24! I have been employed for 2 years now at a great hospital where I am given lots of freedom and responsibility, and have wonderful bosses who care about my professional life and personal happiness...not nearly what I hear from lots of other twenty something professionals about their bosses. I live 12 1/2 minutes from my parents, and get to enjoy dinner with them at least weekly, and I have the freedom to travel when and wherever I please.....once the mortgage and bills are paid :)
So, I decided to share with you all the things that have made me realize that I'm happy here and make me realize that I made the right choice by picking life in Houston over the imagined life in NYC, or any other big city for that matter. I've come to realize there are things I LOVE about where I live, and I want to share them with you.

1. Houston weather----Yesterday and today I've awoken to B-E-A-utiful 75 degree sunshine mornings! The day before yesterday it was in the 40's and I pulled my winter coat out for the first time this season. Tomorrow I might have to get it out again as it's supposed to get SUPER cold overnight. Super cold for Houston anyway. I'm a pansy and I know that while I enjoy the cold, I'm over it in about 3 or 4 days, and that's the longest we really see it here. Also, I can wear skirts pretty much year round here.....MY FAVE!

2. The Stars at Night, Are BIG and Bright!
Especially in my back yard! I live on the edge of town and behind my backyard wall is a wide open space, acres and acres of it! It's quiet at night, and I can see beautiful stars!
3. Lots of short trip options! 2.5 hours to San Antonio to REMEMBER THE ALAMO! 3 hours to Austin- nightlife, or sibling time, whatever I feel like! 3 hours to Louisiana, where you can gamble, although I have to admit I've not been bored enough to make that trip yet...3 hours to Waco, my alma mater and fun shopping! And of course, 3.5 hours from Lake Travis, my favorite summer spot!
4. My family is here. I'm less than 2 hours from all grandparents, I get to watch my favorite little cousin grow up into a little lady, and lets not forget those Sunday family dinners, usually courtesy of the gravy train! Sarah aboard!!!!!!
5. Houston Astros---we all know I am NOT a sports fan, but there's something about rooting for the home team, and remembering the summer my little brother taught me all about our team that just makes me long for summer games. And of course the Friday night Fireworks at Minute Maid Park!
6. 4th largest city= LOTS TO DO! I may not always have the adventurous spirit to go and try out all the options, but Houston offers a wide range of choices! There's antique shopping in the close by small towns, shopping galore, and I'm only 45 minutes from down/midtown so I can meet up with my fun 'city' friends from work on the weekends for a girls night out! Or I can hike 1.5 hours to the beach on a pretty Saturday to soak up the sun and look at the dirty ocean....
7. Houston's Texas Medical Center....what can I say? It's inspiring to work for a hospital that is challenged so much by the multitudes of other hospitals in the area. We're surrounded! There's so much knowledge floating around and while it's sad to have so many sick people in the world, it's exciting to realize how much hope we have in modern medicine. Also, it's nice that if I'm ready to switch jobs I have a choice, lots of cities only have 1 children's hospital, I've got 4 hospitals and many locations to choose from!
8. Finally, it's just home. I know this city, and I have memories here. I've come to realize I'm a girl who needs a good amount of routine and familiarity in my life. Sure I like being spontaneous, and LOVE traveling when I can, but there's something about coming home to a place that you know. It just feels right.

5 Stars for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

Sunday I had the chance to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular tour in Houston with some friends from work. I was really excited since I had never seen the Rockettes perform and they are the stars of the show, so we snatched some awesome seats thanks to a Memorial Hermann discount, and headed to the Toyota Center for the 4 PM show. I didn't really know what to expect other than a bunch of high kicks, a flying Santa, and maybe some good music, so I was in for a treat! I HIGHLY encourage everyone to see this show next year if it comes to you, or if you can get to it in NYC, it was amazing!!! The Rockettes started out as reindeers in their first number, complete with lit up antlers and red noses! The show had an awesome band, OF COURSE, it's the Radio City orchestra for crying out loud! Singers were good, and the acting was pretty good for the most part. I was really impressed by the little ballerina girl in the show, and have to admit that Santa got on my nerves. The actor played him well, but I can only take so many ho ho ho's...Santa hosts the show and goes through all his favorite things about Christmas, from a tap routine the Rockettes do through the 12 Days of Christmas, to a pretty impressive ice skating duo, to an incredibly impressive March of the Wooden Soldiers, also starring...the Rockettes. I don't know how to post videos, but go search you tube for a  video of this awesome number where they fall domino style. I can't imagine how strong these girls are, they must be supporting the weight of 4 or 5 girls ahead of them, and they do it so precisely! Everything the Rockettes do is sharp, together, and beautiful, they are really very impressive talented dancers and I secretly dreamed of being one as I watched them do each routine. They do WAY more than impressively perfect high kicks, and they show you throughout the show that they are skilled in tap, ballet, jazz, and many more styles of dance! I cannot say enough about how wonderful they are! It also helps that they have really shiny pretty costumes!
The thing that most impressed me during the hour and a half show was that they ended it with the Christmas story, with a narrator reading the entire story from Caesar Augustus taxing the land, to Mary and Joseph trekking to Bethlehem, Jesus being born a King and detailed explanations of who the wise men were and why they brought the gifts that they did. I had already enjoyed hearing them say Christmas so often throughout the show considering the world has become so lame and eliminated that word from our November/December vocabulary. Yes, it is the holiday season, but the reason we have a holiday is because of CHRISTmas!! So, extra gold stars for the Radio City Spectacular for reminding all of it's viewers why we celebrate this time of year. This was a really cool set to watch as well, including a live donkey, two live camels, and lots of wise men and shepherds in astounding costumes! They did it and did it well!
So, if you get the chance, do not miss this show!