Mother's Day

May 12, 2013

             

On a spur-of-the-moment decision, my mom decided to come for a visit for mother’s day. Every time we would talk on the phone I would go on and on about how beautiful the Duke Garden was with all of the flowers blooming. 

With fabulous weather, everyone else and their mothers had the same idea. Still we had a wonderful time walking through the garden as she continued to build on my plant identification education. After all my education started long ago as every summer my mom and I would walk through the garden in our own backyard.

Oh Spring

April 10-16, 2013

The things that I love most I have discovered I can easily forget about. Until, that is, the moment I realize I am surrounded and engulfed by beauty. Spring is one of those times when I forget the memory of what it is really like because I am consumed by the heaviness of winter. Then my eye catches the first bud on a tree. Suddenly my senses trigger something inside me. I know something is changing; new life is about to emerge.

As the days pass, I remember to observe, to notice the slight changes that are happening all around me: the first dandelion sighting, the vibrant colors of the red buds peaking through, the opening of the tulips, the blossom of the cherry trees.

In a matter of days a barren world comes to life. As I close my eyes and breathe in deep the fresh fragrances filling the air, I feel an overwhelming emotion as I remember how much I truly love spring.

This year I am blessed with the time to immerse myself in the joys of spring. The Duke Gardens has been my comfort in this time of healing. Everyday that I go I see the great amount of changes that are occurring in a matter of days. Everywhere I turn I see another blossom begging to be photographed.

May this nature log by a constant reminder to never stop noticing the beauty in life.

Weeping Peach

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood

Weeping Higan Cherry

Tulip

Fern

Alabama Snow-wreath

Bald Cypress

Eastern Redbud

Grace Allbritton - Japanese Camilla

Black Tie - Japanese Camilla 

Ashton's Pride - Camellia

Daybreak Yoshino Cherry

Dogwood

Chinese Fringe Flower

Kirishima Azalea

Fringe Tulip

Flowering Crabapple

Wisteria

Medical Leave – Blue Devil Dash

April 7, 2013

            

The healing seems to be moving slower than I do. I am getting better. This is true; however, being surrounded by constant temptation to do things I know I shouldn’t do is not helping my situation. Therefore, I decided to apply for medical leave from my job. This was a hard decision to arrive at as I know there are plenty of things I can do where my main position is sitting behind a desk. Still I think this is for the best in the long run. After all I have to live with my back for the rest of my life.  

So yesterday was my last day of work for 4-6 weeks. The first annual Blue Devil Dash was a good not to go out on, as we had perfect weather and a good first-time turnout. Congratulations to all the runners/walkers who completed something I definitely could not do!

This is No April Fools

It Finally Happened. I have joined a knitting/crochet group. There. I said it. I joined almost a month ago. I knew it would happen someday. How could it not? How do you avoid things that run deep in your blood? So deep, in fact, that I am bombarded on both sides of the family. Mom’s side: My mom, two aunts, and a cousin. Dad’s side: two aunts, a couple of cousins, and a grandmother that can crochet dollies in the dark. Not to mention my sister who has been crocheting for years and just decided recently to teach herself how to knit.

However, the thing that really pushed me over the edge here was purpose. I struggle to learn a new craft just for the sake of making something. A greater purpose is needed to provide inspiration and motivation. How about orphan children in a country you didn’t even know existed? Yup. That did it for me.

Now, here is the icing on the cake. What do these orphans need? Scarves. What is the first thing a person makes when the learn how to crochet or knit? Scarves.

And just to add some sprinkles on that icing: I didn’t even have to buy a crochet hook. Over all of these years I have lived out on my own and after all of those times I have packed and unpacked my car I managed to find a hook hiding among my craft supplies. Yup… It was bound to happen. 

[create]. [celebrate]. [chomp down].

March 31, 2013

Two months ago, Awake My Soul: A Contemplative Art Journal was released. This past weekend, Aletheia and I finally got to celebrate together this accomplishment. This book would not be in existence without the support of so many fabulous people. As a gesture of appreciation to all of those wonderful people, the release party began.  

 

Naturally, the theme of this party was all about celebrating creativity in all its forms. All the guests had the opportunity to create their own pizzas, their own floats for dessert, and works of art using Aletheia’s favorite medium: yupo and acrylic ink.

Orange Creamsicle = Amazing!

Pitta Pizzas

Art Creation Station

Rachel's Cafe and Creperi

The weekend was indeed a whirlwind as I left Durham on Thursday and was back at home yesterday. Still we managed to fit in some of the local Lancaster flavor. What will be the next cause of celebration? I hardly know, but I am sure it will be a good time!

The Fractured Prune Donut Shoppe

Mint Magic

March 17, 2013

The mint magic found right on Duke’s Campus. After two years, Laura and I get to enjoy a Shamrock Shake together. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to us!

Painting Party

March 15, 2013

I often wonder how hard it would be to become friends with people if I wasn’t plugged into a church? I have been very fortunate in all of the places that I have lived to find a church that I really liked after very little searching. Grace Church has a great community of young professionals, and I have been regularly meeting with a group of girls to walk through the workings of God. This time, however, was just pure fellowship as one of the girls shared her love of painting with the rest of us.

I didn’t realize until we started that most of the ladies had never painted before. I felt like somewhat of an odd ball as I brought a picture of what I wanted to try and paint. In the end I had a great time and just went with it. At this stage of life I am getting used to being the one who does things a little differently. This time, one other decided to join me. 

Waiting - The Dr Report

February 27, 2013

I am reminded day after day that waiting is never easy. When one wakes up in pain every morning with no name to give the problem, the torture seems amplified. A few weeks ago, my answer finally came. On the 12^th, I sat down with my MD and looked at my MRI images. After walking through the report, the doctor looked at me and asked how I was functioning as well as I was with three disc problems in my lower back. The worst bulge located between my L5 and S1 vertebra, which was pinching my sciatic nerve on both sides causing the pain in my legs.

Now with the problem identified, more questions  bubble to the surface as I wonder what role this is going to play in my future. I have had two injections in efforts to decrease inflammation and thus lessen the pain.

As much of what I do requires the ability to lift and do other physical activities, I can only hope that my recovery will be swift. However, most things that happen suddenly don’t go away in the same fashion.

I can still hope. 

Crimpin' Crazies

February 16, 2013

Walking into the office on the day of the climbing comp, I arrived early to set up the registration table. I figured there would be a few people that would sign up for the comp on the day of but I wasn't expecting many, as the weather slide into the yucky category. With supplies in hand, I started to set up the table. Less than one minute later, two people ready to register approached me. This may not seem strange, but this was a Saturday at 8:30 in the morning on a college campus. Plus, only just over 30 people had pre-registered for the comp.

10 minutes later, the floodgates open and a steady flow of people hit the registration table. With one awesome student worker helping me, it seemed that those that pre-registered were few and far between. Before we knew it, the wall was buzzing with activity as our number of competitors doubled! A fabulous turn out is always makes all the work seem well worth it.

New Bling

January 31, 2013

Being a D1 school, Duke has a group of top-rate athletes playing on the fields, courts, and in the pools. In the 2012 London Olympics 9 individuals were there representing a total of 5 different countries. From those representing the US, two were head coaches, one was track and field, and two Olympians, Abby Johnston and Nick McCrory, were on the diving team.

I have always been a HUGH Olympic fan. The music, the patriotism, the athletes’ stories, the unbelievable performances, and of course Bob Costas keep me glued to the TV for hours. The sport doesn’t even matter. During the Olympics I become a fan of whatever is on!

Now, I work in the Athletic department. As is such, working at a University like Duke has its perks. One of the perks came in the form of a monthly celebration called TGI. Lunch is provided as the athletic staff gets together to watch a game or do some other sports related thing. This month, we got to watch the diving team practice and were given the chance to jump off the 10m platform if we wanted to.

After the diving team practiced, we also had the opportunity to meet the two diving Olympians and, you guessed it, touch, hold, feel, and wear an official Olympic medal! Yes, it is solid and yes, it is heav-ee!

As I posed with the silver medal, I couldn’t imagine the amount of weight around Michael Phelps’ neck when he has all of his medals on! 

Published!

January 30, 2013

 The book has finally arrived! Let the celebration begin! For those of you who want a copy for yourself (or a friend) – head to www.accordingtoaletheia.com to order today!

The Cyst-er

January 23, 2013

The quick and unusual onset of my condition caused the normal functions of life (walking, showering, cooking) to be more difficult. Although my range of function has been improving, the process of doing all of these things is quite exhausting. Not one that asks for help easily, my mom offered to come down for a while and help and I didn’t refuse.

In the past, I have had issues with a cyst that appears in the tailbone region aka a Pilonidal Cyst. Because of my other condition, I have been laying down a lot, which caused my little cyst-er to flair. I have managed this in the past with a heat treatment. Well, this one reared the ugliest head yet, as a trip to the ER was called for to get it drained.

During this time, I wasn’t really feeling the pain in my legs as my bum-chum trumped it all. The draining process took it all to another level!

During one of my wound-repacking sessions, a doctor told me a story about a woman who went through the same thing I did shortly after the birth of her child. She said that when she compared the two experiences – delivering a child and cyst slaughter – the pain during the draining process was much worse.

So, as I waddled slowly out of the doctor’s office I thought two things: as my mom had both me and my sister naturally I always figured I could do it too. Now, I knew that I could.

           

God’s hand was definitely at work in this as while my mom came down to help me recover from one condition, she was there to walk with me through another one. Thanks mom for being there!

Awake My Soul

January 16, 2013   

        

For Thanksgiving I went to PA to visit a friend. While there, she told be of this book she wanted to write that would take 52 pieces of her art work and compile them into a journal allowing people to sit and reflect on one painting per week for a year. Looking for a creative outlet, I jumped on the chance to offer my help by doing the layout for the book.

            So for the past month and a half emails have been flying back a forth between us as the project progresses to completion. Finally a printed version was ordered to start the editing process. Here we are going through the edits via skype. My mind baffled by what technology allows us to do these days!

This has been an awesome learning experience, as it has pushed my creativity and caused me to continue learning and stretching. The deadline is fast approaching. I look forward to its day of completion! 

Start the New Year in Bed

January 3, 2013

             

The New Year did not start out as I thought it would. I thought I would experience a new sense of freedom as a debt free woman (eat that student loan!). Instead, I find myself unable to stand up or walk without feeling unimaginable pain. The cause has yet to be discovered or pin pointed. All I know is that before this, I only thought I knew what pain was. 

2012 Stats