You Are Going to Want Me Around...

I am officially CERT certified. I can triage, stop spurting blood, open airways, treat shock, put out small fires, CRIB (lift heavy HEAVY objects), and organize volunteers in a disaster situation. BASICALLY...WonDer WoMan. Face it. You want me around in an emergency...really any of my fellow CERT certified sisters.

This is the CERTS in our humble beginnings, aren't we adorable!

Action shots of the CERTS at work putting out a fire. (yes the nice firemen let us do it over and over to get cute pictures!)


Here we are at the end of the final, yes we did have to take a final to become certified. Let's be honest it was hard and during the medical portion I think some of us wanted to CRY (yes, it was me). Disasters are no laughing matter. Like I said...we are WONDER WOMEN.



P.S. This was one of the most fun and rewarding things I have done. The final really showed me that I could handle it. I heart my CERTS!

Memorial Day

"Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness." (from the tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier in Philadelphia PA).

My thoughts have been focused for the last two weeks on FREEDOM, and my gratitude for everyone who has made sacrifices for the freedom I enjoy.

Sitting on Ellis Island and looking at the Statue of Liberty made me contemplate what they have meant to many immigrants coming to America for hundreds of years. But mostly what they mean to me. Love, pain, happiness, not waking up scared everyday, stability, the opportunity to grow and progress with out restraint. Freedom to have an opinion. Loss, sacrifice, understanding. Compassion.

My thoughts again were turned to the blessing of living in the United States of America when we were at Independence Hall and subsequently reading the inscription at the tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier in Philedelphia.

Along with all the men and women who have died in darkness for the freedom I enjoy, I thought of all the Mothers, Fathers, Children Husbands, Wives, Sisters, Brothers, Grandparents and countless others who have lost someone while they were defending our county. Those who have given and currently give up having their spouse, son, daughter, father, or mother at home with them everyday. For those go and come back, either whole or injured. Everyone who has served, whether they see any action or not, just the fact that they chose to face the possibility. Thank you for your sacrifice.

POP QUIZ

Statue of Liberty:

Question 1: Which picture is the REAL Statue of Liberty?
Question 2: Which picture is the cutest Statue of Liberty?
Question 3: Which picture is just Liberty?
Question 4: Who thinks D'Nell should move closer to the Statue of Liberty?


Picture A
Picture B
Picture C
Picture 4
Picture 7

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, tomorrow,
New York City tomorrow
It's only a day a way...

TOMORROW! TOMORROW
I WILL BE THERE, tomorrow
It's only A DAY A WAY!

I am singing this to the tune of "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie.

Reason #103

My Mom is Awesome: Reason #103:

Last year she made 50 quilts, 30 for her family and 20 for other people. This was also the year she had 2 hip replacements.

We received our quilts at our family Christmas party, anyone 8 or older received a quilt.

This year, she feels bad that the little kids didn't get a quilt, so she is making them one for their birthday. Oh! Did I mention their are over 15 kiddies getting a made to order quilt?

Each grandchild or great-grandchild tells her what kind of quilt they want and and she sets out to make it.

This is Lacey and Grandma posing with Lacey's "Dog" quilt. She was so excited!

Work In Progress

Above is my painting in progress. No worries, I don't plan on painting a landscape in all blue hues. Prof Saiki assures us this is the base coat. By they way, I love my professor. He is awesome and funny!

Since I started painting the mountains blue last week, I started looking at the world around me a little differently. I caught myself staring at the mountain trying to figure out the different colors we would be using to paint them. And then I realized...

You can look at a person and see the surface or you can look deeper and see that there are many layers of "color" that make up an individual. Isn't it great that we as humans have many different aspects and characteristics? I love it. This is something I find myself continually working on, seeing all the layers, sorting out the nice and not so nice, looking to see the good over the frustrating. Trying to like/love/accept individuals as a wonderful, messy, complete packages. Most importantly, learning about my many colors, to brighten the good aspects and blur the bad ones and to be okay with both.

Below, is my painting palette from my last class AND my attempt at an artistic photo.

I enhanced some of the colors using Photoshop Elements. I will learn how to use the program, I will, I will, I will. I think I like the opportunity to take great photos as much as I like learning to paint!

Get Excited!

Twilight in HD