Questions From The Heart

Why is it so hard to be honest with others about what is happening in your heart and dreams? Why is it so difficult to allow others to see the "real" you? Why is living from the heart so challanging and sometimes emotional?

Why is sharing your struggles with a friend make you feel so vulnerable? Why is it easier to listen to other's struggles and give advice than it is to accept the advice or listening ear of a friend?

What makes one's friendships grow? What makes a relationship so difficult and distanced?

Why is challanging someone else so much easier than rising to face your own challange?

Just some questions running through my heart at the beginning of this week. Jewel

Another week-end in the life of Mr. and Mrs. ITF

Here is what happened over the weekend. Pictures will tell the story!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of the week-end. Hope you have a great week. Later, Jewel

Basketball Tourney

Our church league has a basketball team. The youth team is doing really well. On Thursday evening Mr. ITF and I went to the game. It was great fun and got me out of doing some homework! Then some friends and family went to eat at Burger King afterwards. (It did help that I had my handy fast food coupons along!)

Here are a few pictures of the evening.

The guys sitting on the bench waiting to play. (To those of you from Utopia notice the Utopian sitting in the center!)

Girl friends of mine that just happened to be at the game supporting the guys.

My beautiful sister with my crazy nephew. (Don't know where the craziness comes from!)

Notice my brother on the left hand side of the picture waiting to get the rebound.

The Utopian shooting a free-throw.

An action picture.

Mr. ITF went with me to the game, but looked like this the whole evening. He did say later that he caught a nap. (He must've been tired with all the noise!)

More sitting. My brother is number 5.

Christmas in February

It was really sad. About one week ago Mr. ITF and I finally put our Christmas decorations away for the year. Both of us thought about leaving the tree up for the whole year, but decided that it would be more fun to put it back up when the snow started flying again next year.

This is our "undressed" tree. Looks pretty sad I know

A Night in Paris

Here are a few pics from the valentine's banquet that the youth put on for the rest of the church.

Some of the guys that so nicely parked our cars for us and then got the cars again in the pouring rain!
The girls sold roses to the guys for their special someone and helped the guys serve the tables.
Some of my good pals.

My handsome bro
Pictures of the Eiffel Tower that the youth group put together. It stood in the center of the room. Notice how tall it is. It almost reached the ceiling!


They really did a great job. I think that we have the greatest youth group around!

This is the rose that Mr. ITF bought for me at the banquet!

Hurting Kids

I am almost finished with my Pediatric rotation and am amazed at the number of hurting children of all ages that I have had contact with. Some it was due to their own personal choices while others had choices made for them. Makes me really thankful for the "sheltered" life that my parents brought me up in. Now I know they were not perfect, but they sure came close.

Also now that I'm married comes the realization the probably in the future sometime Mr. ITF and I will have children and how will we raise them. A woman of much wisdom and I were talking about the importance of allowing your children the freedom to live life to the fullest. That means the freedom to make mistakes and learn what works in life and what doesn't work in life. I believe that this is very important to the development of the child!

If one would have a handicapped child of any degree, did you realize that in order for that child to really survive the world and achieve "normallity" the parents must challange and push the child to achieve? There must be no special treatment of this child or they will not excell to the potential they really are capable of! This I believe with my whole heart.

Now it sounds like Mr. ITF and I are expecting. I'm sure there are already speculations going through minds, but hence, the speculations must stop there, simply as speculations. Just for the record, we are not expecting!

I have the whole aspect of school tomorrow. I begin at the elementary, and then only the Lord knows. I may end up at the high school for several hours, then take the trek out to the boondies to the middle school. I really think that it's going to be a great day. I think that we may be doing scholosis checks. Guess I'll just have to see. Later, Jewel

Monday

I had to skip school today! I was not really impressed. But I could hardly stand up due to being so weak. It's been awhile since I was sick and now I remember why I hate being sick so much.

Guess now I'll have to make up the class work. The doctor put me on an antibiotic. I'll have to see how it works. I do feel better this evening in a way. I guess that could be because I slept all weekend. Did not know one could sleep so much and still be tired. Mr. ITF was a dear though taking care of me! He'd make a good nurse as long as it did not include anything gross!

He did keep me medicated though. Imagine that. I hate pills and he loves them. Guess that's why opposites attract! Well, gotta go and get more sleep. Jewel

This Weekend

Mr. ITF, dictating for Jewel:

I'm sick.

Tired!!!!

I think this past weekend finally caught up with me! I think that I still figured I was young and could handle anything. Wow, what an assumption! I worked for 12 hours on Saturday night, 8 hours on Sunday night, 12 hours on Monday night after 3.5 hours of class, and the last 4 hours of the night shift on Wednesday morning. Then I attended a hospital meeting and went back to school for 3 hours of class. By the time I got back from my 1 hour drive from my college campus I was so tired I could not even walk anymore. Mr. ITF had to carry me to bed where I promptly fell asleep even though it was on 5:30 pm.

Clinical has been going well. I think I will always love children no matter what shape they are in. This rotation with the children has been a real eye opener and I think will continue to be as well.

I have to get up early again in the morning. So I'd better get to bed. Later, Jewel