Leaving on a jet plane...

I passed my pediatric nurse practitioner boards and now we are headed to Europe! What an exciting week! It feels so good to be done with the stress of studying and to get to pack and prepare for this fun adventure with my hubby. Hopefully we'll be able to post some pictures and stories on this while we are traveling. If not, there definitely will be much posting when we get home!

Notre Dame and Chicago!

I figured that I should write about one trip before we embark on the other! In the middle of April, we went to Notre Dame for my cousin Kevin's ordination (I am now related to a priest!) and then headed over to Chicago for some fun (and a little PNP certification review class!). It was a wonderful vacation and it was great fun to see another part of the country. Here are some photos of our trip.

The magnolia tree outside the seminary at Notre Dame. Across the lake is the beautiful campus!

Me and my cousins, Nicole and Heidi! There were almost 90 people there to support my cousin, Kevin. It was like a big family reunion with lots of visiting, eating, basketball playing and relaxing.

On our VIP tour of Notre Dame, we toured the locker room and went on the football field. Think scenes from the movie, "Rudy."

Waiting for the ordination to begin in the grand basilica.

Grandpa Kolar and Grandpa Earl with the newly ordained Father Kevin.

Down on Navy Pier with a background of the Chicago skyline.

The "bean"... need I say more? Though it certainly was much cooler than I first imagined.

Our hotel room... brand new boutique hotel. Chet got asked one day in the elevator (wearing his normal dress of Carhartt's, a T-shirt and a Mountain Hardware vest, "are you going hiking?". There were lots of people in suits and ties.)

We went to the American Girl doll store. I found only the books of my first doll, Samantha. She apparently has been "archived" to make room for new dolls.

Chet went to a Cubs' game at Wrigley Field. Amazing field, great game, and a very sunburned Chet.

We went to the 96th floor of the John Hancock building to a lounge there. Amazing view of the city skyline at night!

Boat tour! Learned a lot and great views of the city.

Oh, Chicago! We had fun visiting you!

Handsome touring husband. Note the shirt from a brewpub around Wrigley Field... he went and ate there.

I love this man! Can't wait to go on our Europe trip and have more adventures together!

We leave for Europe at the end of this week after working a lot and trying to organize many details! I also take my certification test later this week and it is my birthday on Wednesday. Big stuff, but exciting stuff! Definitely more to come very soon!

Busy March Weekend

Last weekend, the weekend prior to Easter weekend, we had a whirlwind but very fun time! We got to do some new and exciting things, like curling with a group of friends, a baby shower for a special little one, a surprise graduation party for me, lunch with friends and a tile project with my brother! I am so thankful to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who love life and love others. The weekend was certainly a joyful experience (though a bit tiring by the end of it). Here are a few pictures from a few of those events...

Ready to hit the ice for curling.

First time throwing the rock... believe me it is harder than it looks!

Our group of curlers. Thanks to Josh and Bryce for setting it up!

Baby Hannah at her baby shower! Her mom was the one I mentioned in December who passed away from the brain aneurysm when she was 36 weeks pregnant with Hannah. Hannah is looking beautiful and is so snuggly! Her dad and extended family were all at the shower with her. She is such a blessing to her daddy.

Faith and me at my surprise graduation party! Chet set it up and completely surprised me! I don't have the surprise pictures... Adam does somewhere.

Sam totally helped Chet pull it off! And provided the delicious dessert.

Cathy and Maia made it to celebrate! Maia was hamming it up for the camera.

Josh, Chet and Alan... I must say that I am super proud of my husband for pulling off a true surprise party! I usually find out about surprises! (Also, note his facial hair... interesting, eh?)

Well, this is just a brief update. Easter was also nice as I was able to get it off from work. We just went up to my parent's house and had dinner. Chet has been a bit sick so he just slept on the couch.

This Friday, we head to South Bend and Chicago! I'm sure there will be lots of pictures of the family festivities for Kevin's ordination and our exploration of Chicago.

Lessons from baby plants!

I love how little seedlings grow. Mine are in a bright sunny window where they get lots of light, but still they all lean closer to the light, stretching to get more of it each day. How they know to do this, I do not know. They are drawn to it and get substanance from it, just as I should be stretching and reaching toward my "light", Jesus Christ.

I also love the new life that springs from nothingness. Baby plants sprout from a tiny seed that looks like it has no life in it at all into a tiny green start... just add water and sunlight. And then it is a joy to watch the plants change day by day, notice new leaves, or another one unfurling the soil above it. (And they are pretty cute little things too.) I am amazed by the care and detail God put into creating each of these little plants and how they know to reach toward the sun for their growth and strength. God is quite an amazing designer!

I think most of all, it reminds me of the God's promises to care for me and and the new life I have in Christ. If God cares for the tiny plants, starting from a seed, He must also, even more so, care for me, His precious creation who He sent His only Son. Perfect for the Easter Season, eh?

I love this passage, not only because it talks about flowers, but also because it speaks to my heart that worries often and God's promises in my life.

Matthew 6:30-34 (from the Message)

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers- most of which are never even seen0 don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep you life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Day Trip to B'ham!

Today, Chet and I headed up to Bellingham with our good friends, Kevin and Faith, for a little bit of an adventure and a tasty lunch. After hearing about how good the Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro is from my brother, Adam, we finally had a chance to eat there. It was great... great atmosphere and great beverages. I had their delicious root beer and the only disappointing thing was that we brought our growlers with us and they don't fill growlers with root beer because they run out of it so fast!

Then, for a little outdoor time, we headed over to Whatcom Falls Park to enjoy taking pictures, walking through the trails and admiring the falls. It felt good to be outside and to just relax.

What a delightful day! I can definitely handle a little more free time now that school is over if we get to do more fun things like this!

I'm done!

This afternoon I had the opportunity to present my master's project (about asthma and high school athletic coaches)! It is called the "final oral examination" and I'm glad to say that I passed! As a result, I am officially done with my master's degree and on my way to being a full fledged PNP. Yay! It is a somewhat strange thing though to be done with school again and to start looking for a new job... and to not have homework anymore.

Anyway, just wanted to document the exciting news!

Spring in February...

Today I was out in the yard working for a bit and was excited to find things growing! Look what I found!

Rhubarb... can't wait to make rhubarb coffee cake and crisps!

Bleeding hearts

A lilac... getting ready to bud!

Heather... beautifully in bloom.

Vinca minor... creeping over from our neighbor's yard.

I love seeing things grow! My next project is to move a huge pile of gravel on the side of our house and turn it into another gardening bed. Then Chet's hops can have more space to spread out and I can plant more fun things! Now... to finish moving that pile of gravel...