A Humbling Experience...

Today at work, I had some spare time to talk to Faye, one of my favorite residents. She told me a few things I don't think I'll ever forget.

As Faye sat in her wheelchair, in her half of the small room, she looked at me with a smile and said,

 "I believe I am the luckiest person alive."

I probably looked at her with a strange look, because she went on to say "You don't believe me do you?" She was right. I was thinking to myself, how are you lucky? You're confined to a wheelchair at a nursing home and spend the majority of your day solving word searches by yourself. 

I asked her how she was lucky. She laughed and said, "Look around! I have such a beautiful room. I love my bed. I love all of my [stuffed] animals. I get to sit here, and do my puzzles all day long. Not everyone still has the mind to do these things at 82 years old. Oh and do you see that window? What a beautiful window it is. I'm amazed every time I look out of it. I have such a great view. Earlier this morning, I looked out the window and said, 'Thank you, God. Thank you for giving me this window to look out everyday.' 

Don't you see Shelby? I've got the world by the tail!"

Sitting next to Faye, I was humbled and instantly filled with gratitude. I can do so many things that Faye can't; however, she's the one expressing an ample amount of gratitude. She realizes that it's a blessing to have certain things in your life, and she doesn't take a single one of them for granted.

In short... she's absolutely right. She is the lucky one.

Welcome to the Real World, Shelby.

What is Summer Break?? 

I'm just now realizing that Summer will never be the same. 

No more, care-free, work a little, play a lot Summer.

Guess that's what my parents meant when they said I'm an adult :)

So let's see... I got a job at Grace Living Center in Norman as a CNA. It is really a great facility, and after my first full week I am finally getting the system down. I work from 7am-3pm, Mon-Fri, which is exactly what I wanted, and I really do like it. The only thing I would say I don't like... are the other employees!! Some of my co-workers love complaining to me about someone else not doing their job. It gets annoying after awhile... especially when the people I work with are a good 15 years older than me. It's not my job to worry about what the other nurses on my hall are doing, it's my job to take care of the residents.

 So quit complaining, and do your job! Other than the immature adults.. I really enjoy it. The residents are some of the funniest people I've met.

Life is great. It really is. :) 

I had a wonderful 19th birthday a few weeks a go with the family, and I'm really soaking up all the family time. Mother's Day yesterday was fantastic. We went as a family to my Grandma's grave, which was really nice to see, and after church, all of my grandparents came over to the house and we ate, ate, and ate some more. :) When they all left, the kids and I decided to try out our new trampoline.. 

AND.. since it was Mother's Day.. we Skyped BRANDON!! 

ONLY 2 MONTHS & 12 DAYS!

Besides working, I'm hoping to get started on a few projects for my apartment next year; however, time always seems to get away from me. I'm enjoying every second of the Play-off's, watching my Thunder boys play, and I'm getting into my late Grandma and Great-Grandma's genealogy work. I have found so many cool things & I have only scratched the surface! It's a lot of fun.

Although this Summer isn't quite a "break"right now, it's going to be great no matter what. I'm missing my roommates from BYU, but.. it will be August before I know it. So I'm going to stay busy, and not wish this Summer away... There won't be another one like it. 

On the Home Stretch...

I am officially done with my first year of college.

Shocking. I know. I can't believe how fast it went by. I loved every second of it. The best thing that happened all year was finding my 5 awesome roommates.

It would have been a completely different year without them and I can't wait until we have an apartment next year! Made lots of memories this year but now...

...SUMMER is here.

My Summer will be full of working, working, and.. more working. I have a couple different interviews set up for different CNA positions, and I'm really excited. I think part of the excitement is because it will be my first "real" job. Not that working at the farm wasn't a real job, trust me... it was most definitely a real job, but it will be good to have something on my resume besides a business with my last name on it.

Besides working, the majority of my time will be spent with the fam. I love being out of state for school, but I hate missing out on my brother and sisters growing up. I mean Megan is already 16, and Austin is turning 14 this summer!! It's insane! And let us not forget little Miss. Sydney. Besides the 3 kids at home, my big brother is coming home in July. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him. This will probably be the last time all of us will be living under the same roof and it will only be for a few weeks. We're all getting so OLD! :)

Life goes by fast. Don't waste it stressing over things that, in the long run, really don't matter. I think that's one of the biggest things I've learned this year. When things don't go how I think they should, I remind myself to put things in perspective.

"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."

See ya soon Oklahoma.