Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

To begin I'm going to give the good things of the last few days.

Thursday
1. Had a good workout which allowed me to work off some of my stress from school.

2. Had another fun night studying/procrastinating by texting friends. :)

Friday
1. I passed my lab practical!  :)

2. Made it safely home from school.
-It wasn't the easiest drive home I've had but I still made it home safely. :)

3. Got an odd compliment from one of my brother's friends that made me smile.
-I was on the phone with my oldest younger brother, Sam, and his friend stole the phone and said, "Hi Veronica. Hi beautiful." He was joking around but being called beautiful is one of the best compliments out there so as joking statements go, that one is pretty awesome. ;)

Saturday
1. Had a good day at work.

2. Got a lot of housework accomplished.
-Housework is one of those awful things that is never really finished but I was quite productive so I'm happy. :)

Today
1. It's Easter.
-Easter is amazing. :)

2. Had a safe drive back to school.
-No mishaps. It was nice :)

So today ends lent which means today ends my lent commitment of recording at least two good things for everyday. I've really enjoyed blogging the good things of my day for the last 40 days. :)

Since last year I've recognized that there truly is a silver lining to almost every situation, even if it's very small. Everyday has good things in it, we sometimes just have trouble recognizing them.

This years lent commitment really helped me to recognize the good things in my life. I hope that my blogging about it has helped others to see the good things in their's or at least given them a good chuckle. :)

I'm not quite sure where my blog is headed now that lent is over. I will make sure I post at least once a week but beyond that I'm not sure. I will be sure to include a few good things from my week in my posts as well. :)

Thank you for reading. :)

Blessings,
Veronica

And sometimes you just don't want it to be Wednesday.

Can you believe it's already Wednesday? Usually I'm super excited but lately it's more like, "Crap, it's Wednesday, there is no way I am getting half the stuff I wanted to get done this week done by Friday." :P I'm so hard to please. ;)

Today went pretty well. Today I had multiple deja vu moments. It wasn't just one particular day I was having it for either. I think it was the weather that kept doing it. Something about spring weather imprints random moments in my mind. Does that happen to anyone else or am I just weird? :P

Since I did nothing but go to class, do homework, and study here are today's good things:

1. I had class this morning.
-This is the first time we have had a Wednesday morning class in weeks (it's been online). I hate mornings, I am so not a morning person but I love having morning classes. I'm weird like that but I am so much more productive when I have an outside force, like class that makes me get out of bed. ;)

2. Working on my SOAP note in the library with my awesome classmate. :)
-Working on annoying homework assignments is so much better when you have someone to distract you from time to time, to complain about the assignment to, and ask for help when you are confused.

3. Getting said SOAP note done before 7:30pm.
-I love it when I finish assignments early in the night. :)

4. Having a texting conversation with someone while studying.
-Texting allows you to procrastinate and be productive at the same time. Who doesn't love that? ;) Also if they make you laugh it makes studying less irksome. :)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

It's Been One Year

Well, it's been one year since my world as I knew it was shattered forever. One year that I never foresaw.

I'm kind of relieved that it's been one year. We've gone through every holiday and birthday at least once. We know how it feels to be without her and we have learned that we are able to go on.

For those of you who may not know, today is the one year anniversary of my younger sister's death. Constance was only seventeen and she wasn't just my sister but my friend.

I miss her more than words can say. Anyone who has lost someone they were so close to can relate and even those who haven't can probably imagine. I miss her everyday. Not a single day has gone by that I have not thought of her. I have gone through a myriad of emotions when it comes to her death. Sadness, betrayal, anger, I have felt them all. I still do.

The hardest days are, for the most part, not the big holidays or birthdays, but the everyday days when it just kind of hits you. It may be an object, a thought, a sight, a memory, a sentence or phrase, or something else that just brings the memories back. Those are the worst.

I hate living without my sister. I hate knowing I will never talk to her again. I hate that she is gone forever. I hate that it sometimes feels like the ultimate betrayal that she is gone. I hate that some ignorant people blame my family for her death.

I know my sister is in a better place. I know that she is finally, truly, and completely happy and fulfilled. Looking back I realize just how much Constance battled with her inner demons and that the inner demons finally won. It's good to know that if Constance can't be here with us that she is in the best place that anyone could be.

I've learned a lot over the past year. I've learned I'm a lot stronger than I ever thought I could be. I've learned who my real friends are. I've learned that there are a lot of people who care about my well-being. I've learned that it is possible to move on after a loss like mine.

One thing about life is it does go on. You have to keep moving forward because the world doesn't stop moving just because you think it should. I don't mean this as discouragement but the opposite. How great is it that we are able to move on with our lives? That we don't have to let one moment (or several) in our lives define us? We are greater than that. The world is greater than that.

Sometimes I get really down when I think about the fact that I have to live the rest of my life without my baby sister. Constance is gone. She won't be there when I graduate, if I get married or have children and I will never see her do these things either. It can be very overwhelming. I guess what gets me through it is that God  has a plan for me and there is always light where there is darkness.

This past year there has been a lot of pain but there has been a lot of love and happiness as well. My niece, Amelia, and my nephew, Gage, were both welcomed into the world. I found out I have some really great friends. I began my job as a community habilitation aide which I really like. I had a great summer working at camp and worked with some really great people. I began grad school and met a bunch of new, really great people. I have learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was and I hope that my experience can help someone else.

I really don't know if any of that above makes any sense but I hope it does.

I really don't want to end this note on a depressing note so I want to give you a recap of my day.

Today was a really good day for the most part. Field work went well. My friend and classmate came over for dinner and then we studied although we mostly just talked. To keep with my lent commitment, here are today's good things:

1. I did not have a hard time getting up for fieldwork this morning and I felt ready to face the day.

2. Fieldwork went well.

3. Having great friends.
-A couple of my friends texted me to let me know they were thinking of me to day. My friend who came over for dinner was a great listener and really helped me to smile. Thank you ladies. :)

4. That I have made it through the year and that I am stronger than I was before.
-Had you asked me before this happened how I would handle it I don't think I would have thought I could do it but I did. I know it sounds boastful but I am proud at how I handled it and I am proud of my family as well. It's been a hell of year but we made it. We have no where to go but forward. :)

If you are still reading at this point, thank you for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Is it really the last week of March?

Wow, March is flying by. Suddenly all those tests and projects that were so far in the distance seem so close now. :P 

Today wasn't bad. The hardest part of my day was probably getting out of bed. Although, I did have a really hard time staying awake in my upper extremity class. As a result, everything my professor said sounded like gibberish. :P 

Here are today's good things: 

1. My psychosocial class was really interesting. 

-That class is not my favorite but today it went pretty well. We had a guest speaker and she had us do some really cool group activities. 

2. My classmates.

-I know I've mentioned this before but my classmates are pretty awesome. I really am blessed to be in a class with such great people. Being in class with them makes my day brighter. :) 

Thanks for reading. 

Blessings, 

Veronica 

An Ironic Weekend

Yesterday was one of the best Saturdays I've had lately and Saturday marked the one year anniversary of the day that Constance sustained the injuries that resulted in her death three days later. Ironic, don't you agree? But, I don't want this to be a Debbie Downer post so I will focus on the good things about this weekend.

Friday 
1. Made it home safely.
-It was super windy when I was driving on the thruway but I survived. :)

2. I managed to get my online posts for my hybrid course done on time.
-I remembered at 10:50pm that I still had to do the posts that were due by 11:59pm. Finished with 6 minutes  to spare. :P

Saturday 
1. Work went well.
-My client and I got along really well. No major mishaps. It was good. :)

2. I got to meet my newest nephew, Gage. :)

 -Now I can be one of those annoying people with all the baby pictures. ;)

Look, isn't he cute? :) 

He noticed I was taking his picture. Doesn't it look like he's
saying, "What are you doing?" :P

Aww, look at Sam with his little one. :)

-I enjoyed babysitting Gage. He's really adorable. He has really intense blue eyes, I think they might stay that way. :) I even got to spend some quality time with Sam. It was a lot of fun.

3. The sun was out.
-Like I've said in previous posts, the sun just makes things better. :)

Today
1. Watching Mayhem commercials with my mom.
-I don't know about you but I love All-State Insurance's Mayhem commercials. If you ever need a pick me up, go to YouTube and look them up. They are hilarious. :)

2. My drive back went well.
-Not much wind. It was great. :)

3. The sun was shining today as well.
-I even went for a walk when I got back. I love sunshine. :)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Hooray for Better Moods!

So yes, I am still sick but I am in a much better mood. I have decided that on days I'm in a bad mood I am Becky Bitchface, Debbie Downer's cousin. But, have no fear, Becky Bitchface has left the building, at least for now.:P

Here are today's good things:
1. Actually having class.
-I know, weird right? I like having structure in my day and I was missing the bright faces of my very awesome classmates. I had break, then 1 day of class, then nothing for the past 2 days. I missed those guys! :)

2. The newest Lizzie Bennett episode came out today and it is amazing! :) :) :)


3. Finished my intervention plan that's due tomorrow.
-Do I know how good it is? No. Do I care? Not really because it is done. ;)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Blah

Blah, that's about sums up how I feel right about now. I have been under the weather the last few days and I just feel blah. I feel like a whine ass and I almost never act like that when I'm sick. I'm not even that sick but my fieldwork was cancelled yesterday and I didn't have class today and that lack of structure actually makes me feel worse because it's so hard to motivate myself to do anything.

So now that you all know what a whiny baby I am at the moment I should probably get to today and yesterday's good things.

Today
1. The new Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookie commercial is hilarious.
-Unfortunately, it's not on YouTube so I can't show it too you but keep your eyes peeled for it because it'll give you a good chuckle.

Today it is hard to come up with a second one. I am not in a good mood.

2. That it's the first day of spring.
-It may not look or feel like it but it is. I love spring so hopefully winter will hightail it out of here.

Tuesday
1. I didn't have fieldwork.
-Fieldwork is not so bad but my normal voice cuts in and out with a raspy one so it was nice not to have to speak to multiple people and have to worry about them asking me a bunch of questions.

2. I got my FAFSA for next year completed.
-Hooray for financial aid that gives me loans that allows me to go to college.

Sorry I'm kind of a bitch today. Hopefully I'll be nicer tomorrow. :P

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Welcome Back To School

Hey friends. Sorry I haven't posted in the last few days. Weekends are always hectic for me at home with work and going back to school and all that fun stuff. I feel a little under the weather so I'll cut right to the good things of the last few days, starting today and going backwards.

Today 
1. My psychosocial class went better than expected.
-We had a test and talked about clinical depression. Way to be welcomed back but it wasn't as bad as you might expect it to be.

2. The Lizzie Bennett Diaries newest episode came out today.

-What will I do when the show finishes up next week? ;)

Sunday
1. Stopped to see my grandfather before heading back to school and he was in better spirits than he has been the last few times I saw him. He's finally starting to feel better after his last surgery. :)

2. Had a safe drive back to school.
-It wasn't an easy drive for me because of the wind and traffic but the roads were clear and it was light outside. :)

Saturday
1. Watched this episode of project runway with my mom. Seriously hilarious. :P


2. Had a good day at work.

Friday
1. Enjoyed eating dinner and watching Big Bang Theory with my mother and two youngest brothers. :)

2. Got to see my super awesome BFF Lisa!
-Man, did I miss that girl :)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Crap, It's Already Thursday!

Ugh, it's already Thursday. :( I have not accomplished anything that I was planning on doing this week. Oops. Oh well. Life goes on. 

Remember how I told you that my professor decided it would be a good idea to have a test on the Monday we returned? Yeah, have not started studying for that yet. I would like to take that test and shove it somewhere but I digress. 

Well here are today's good things:

1. Work went pretty well. 

-My client cooperated pretty well, everything went smoothly for the most part.

2. The Lizzie Bennett Diaries was good today. Well, in my opinion it was good. Lizzie always cracks me up. ;)

3. A five year old singing this song. 

The five year old is the little sister of my client. She knows the lyrics to a ton of songs. She's a riot. This song is apparently her favorite of Philip Philips. 

Thanks for reading. 

Blessings, 

Veronica 

Don't Like The Weather Here? Wait Five Minutes.

So today went much better than yesterday. The sun was shining, I didn't completely fail at interacting with others, and work went well.

I love it when it's sunny, it just makes everything better. It was sunny basically everyday between the day my sister died and the day of her funeral. If it hadn't been sunny I don't think I would have been able to handle it as well as I did. Sunny weather just kind of gives you hope and just brightens your day (literally and figuratively). :)

So I went to work this afternoon and the drive there was great. I was driving with my window cracked, my music on, and the roads were clear. While I was at work it began to snow on and off. About a half hour before I would otherwise finish, the parents of the family I work for asked me to get going because it was starting to get bad. I was glad they did because as it was I had to crawl home in my car and it was only probably going to get worse. Luckily, I made it home with no issues. :)

I cannot wait for winter to be over!

Here are today's good things:
1. Work went better than yesterday. :)

2. I may have drove home slower than my grandfather (quite a slow driver) would have driven in this weather but I made it home in one piece. :)

3. Today's drive to work was great. :)

4. The sun was out today!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Today I Failed At Proper Interaction With The Human Race

So today kind of sucked. Not because anything significant happened but because I kind of failed at interacting with the human race. Earlier today I got in an argument with my mother and my baby niece was driving me crazy. At work tonight I could not get my client to cooperate so I had to go get her mother to help me. I just felt kind of off with 99% of my interactions with people today.

As I said, this day sucked. It's not one for the record books but it just was a bad day. The weather was rainy and gross which didn't help. Neither did the fact that I managed to dehydrate myself again and I still haven't adjusted to daylight savings time.

Well enough bellyaching, tomorrow is another day. Time to list today's good things.

1. This song came on the radio just before I pulled in my driveway after work and helped cheer me up.

-This song is awesome, plain and simple. ;)

2. Living in the middle of nowhere has it's perks.
-Blasting the song from above and dancing in my driveway would not be as socially acceptable if I had neighbors. ;)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Spring Break So Far

Hello Friends,
Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, It's been kind of hectic. Since I haven't really did anything interesting I'll skip the play-by-play and just get to the good things of the last few days, starting today and going backwards.

Today
1. Today I didn't have work or classes. Double win!

2. Had a fun afternoon with my mom and my niece.

3. Found out my niece likes not only my taste in music but also me singing to her.
-This was pretty exciting because my niece was really starting to get on my nerves this evening. She was kind of chilling in her exersaucer and I was on my computer when I started singing to a song I had playing. Her attention perked in my direction and she kind of smiled so I picked her up and started singing to her and she was smiling and in her baby way joined in. So far I know she likes Bruno Mars, Gloriana, Eli Young Band, and Lady Antebellum. ;)

Sunday
1. Managed to get up and get to work with minimal issues despite it being the first day of daylight savings time.

2. One of my kitty's cuddled with me in my bed last night.
-Anyone who is an animal lover knows how awesome it is to have your pet cuddle with you at night. :)

Saturday
1. Work went relatively well.
-Anyone who works in human services knows you have good days and not-so-good days. Since it was my first day working in a couple weeks it was nice that it went relatively well.

2. Took the long way home from work.
-It was a nice day so I decided to take the long way home. It's nice to drive through the wooded areas sometimes. :)

Friday
1. Classes went pretty well. I felt like I had a decent understanding of what we were learning.
-In other words I wasn't completely lost.

2. My drive home went smoothly.
-Didn't hurt my car, didn't almost hurt my car, didn't have any big issues merging with busy roads, didn't have any bouts of road rage. :P

3. Got to see my family. :)

4. Got to see my kitties. :)

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Two Labs and Then I Can Head Home!

Today wasn't too bad I guess. This morning's lab went well and this afternoon's class was okay.

I had aspirations of being super productive the last couple days so I didn't have to do any work over break. My body had other plans and decided to be really tired today and last night so that didn't happen but that's okay. The only thing I really will have to deal with is studying for a test that is happening on the Monday we come back (how cruel is that?).

So here are today's good things:
1. Getting enough ambition to do my laundry.
-I was going to just leave it till next week (kind of yucky, I know but I can be quite lazy) but now I have nice clean clothes instead of a smelly hamper full.

2. I go home tomorrow!!!!!!!!
- Just have to make it through 2 labs first. I cannot wait to not have classes for an entire week!!!!

Blessings,
Veronica

It's Hump Day. Almost Time For Break!

Hello again to all my friends. I'm glad you came to play. Our fun and learning never ends, here's what we did today:

(Ten points if you can name what small children's TV show that came from!)

Sorry, it popped in my head when I was trying to figure out how to start this post. ;)

Today wasn't too bad. I didn't have any physical class and got myself out of bed at 8:30am, so that was nice. I watched/listened to today's online lecture while playing solitaire and did my forum post by noon. My day did not look like it was going to turn out well when I was reminded of a sore spot from last year and began to get very angry and upset. Luckily, I decided to go work on my SOAP note in the library which helped the anger and sadness to pass.

Some might say that I'm not dealing with my grief but I am. I just choose not to let grief and anger mess up my day at 1:00 in the afternoon. As the saying goes, life goes on and the easiest way for me to move on and deal with my grief is to not let it consume me by moving forward with my life. Essentially the Toyota slogan has become my life slogan.

So after I went to the library, I worked on my SOAP note for I don't know how long until it was done. In that time, I convinced my classmate to come to the library to work on her's too so I had company. It also gave me the incentive to stay until I was finished rather than say never mind and come back to it later. Since finishing I have managed to go to the gym, eat dinner, and watch NCIS. :P

So here are today's good things:
1. Not having my day messed up at 1 in the afternoon.
-Thank God that I had something to work on and was able to go to the library to work on it. Something to occupy my over active brain and a change of scenery usually do the trick. :)

2. Embracing smiling. :)
-I love to smile. I love being happy. I love making people happy. I had a friend tell me today that I smile a lot and I said that it's because I like smiling better than frowning. It's one of those things that is kind of obvious but it's the truth. And although smiling can't heal everything, it can do a lot to bolster the spirit.

3. Two more days of classes and then break!
-Woot Woot!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

Tuesday's are Tiring :P

So this semester we have fieldwork once a week, for me that day is Tuesday. I don't what it is about fieldwork but my partner-in-crime (aka my classmate who is at the same site) and I are always exhausted when we are done for the day. I hope this is not foreshadowing how I will feel after every work day. :P

That being said, since returning from said fieldwork, I did not get much accomplished. Therefore I will just cut to today's good things:

1. Fieldwork went really well today. 

-My classmate and I each interviewed a client (a requirement for class) and it went well. I enjoyed learning about the client I interviewed and I think he enjoyed being asked. He didn't even find the more intrusive questions (about grooming and such) that I was required to ask. He did fall asleep on me during the interview  which was pretty funny. It began with him closing his eyes but still talking to me but then when I asked the next question I got no response and had to wake him up. The lunch staff who witnessed this and I got a good laugh out of that and he denied having fallen asleep which made it funnier. 

We also found new ways to interact with our two ladies who have dementia. Dementia can be very frustrating for all of those involved so finding ways to adapt activities for these clients and finding activities they like to do can be very fulfilling. 

2. Only 3 more days till break!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings,

Veronica

It's Monday.

It's Monday. Does anyone out there who deal with a M-F work or school week actually like Mondays? Probably not.

Actually today wasn't too bad. Learned not to drink Fuji Apple Watermelon Vitamin Water whose cutesy name is Attention.Vitamin water doesn't usually have caffeine but apparently, this one does. It has 87mg of caffeine in it, that's more than mountain dew. I didn't know this before I drank it so my body was not happy with me. At least I made sure to combat it with lots of water so my body could recover quickly. :P

Classes went well. I actually did my reading so I knew what my profs were talking about, always a plus.

Tonight I went to a lecture on civic engagement and human trafficking. A depressing topic but it was an interesting lecture. Learned more about the topic than I knew before.

I'm just kind of tired which is contributing to me being kind of down tonight but mostly I just miss my little sister. It'll be a year March 26.

Nevertheless, here are today's good things:
1. Actually knowing what is going on in class for the majority of class.
-Everyone always says that I'm smart but the truth is that I am constantly confused in class and have to review things multiple times, sometimes many, many times, to understand the material.

2. I have some really great friends.
-Knowing that there are people, besides my family, out there that give a damn about me means more than I can say.

3. Break is coming up!
-Only 4 more days till I get to go home!

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,
Veronica

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Not sure if that's a good title but it kind of explains how you have some good days and some bad days and some good/bad days. 

For example, today is a good/bad day. It went well for the majority of it but it's taken a nosedive in the last couple hours. Not because anything significant happened but because there was a cumulation of a bunch of small, on there own almost insignificant, factors that made me go from being in a really good mood to being really pissed off. So needless to say, I'm not exactly the friendliest person as I write this. I won't bother listing why I'm in a bad mood because like I said, it's a cumulation of a bunch of small factors. 

Since I was too lazy to write a post yesterday here are both Saturday and Sunday's good things.

Saturday

1. Went to the farmer's market. 

-I love going to the farmer's market. This week I bought chocolate cherry almond butter, chocolate coconut meat butter, and cranberry creamed honey. Yummy. :)

2. Was pretty productive homework wise. :)

Sunday

1. Had a good workout at the gym.

-I know that I probably sound like one of those annoying people on FB who always talk about how they went to the gym but it really is a good thing from my day. Going to the gym often improves my mood and gives me more energy, keeping me from being a perpetual sleepy Debbie Downer. ;)

2. Finished my reading for class tomorrow. :) 

I think my bad mood is preventing me from coming up with other good things. ;) 

Thanks for reading. 

Blessings, 

Veronica 

Hooray It's Friday!

Guess what? It's Friday and you know what that means? Of course you do :P

Man do I hate having 5 days of classes. It's too much like the real world. :P But in all seriousness it is an adjustment to make from last semester where I only had 4 days of classes.

It's Friday, Friday, I'm chilling out on Friday :) I am seriously the most boring person on earth because I love Friday nights where I stay in and do nothing. :P

I'm kind of hyper at the moment, might be the cappuccino I drank tonight. Might not have been the best decision but what can I say, it was good. :)

Here are today's good things:

1. Guess who didn't fail her exam in her upper extremities class? That's right, this girl. :)
-Don't roll your eyes, I really thought I had failed that exam.

2. Had another good workout.
-I wasn't even going to go to the gym but I somehow got enough omph to go and I'm glad I did. A good workout helps with your serotonin levels and your heart and I prefer being happy and healthy.

3. Rocking out to my NSYNC radio station on Pandora.
-As I told the mom of the family I work with, I really do dance around my room like her 5 year old and I love the boy bands from my childhood. :)

4. It's Friday.
-No classes till Monday. What kind of insane person doesn't love that?!

5. One more week until spring break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Can you tell I'm excited?

Okay that's enough craziness for one post.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings,
Veronica