Can i get some privacy please!

So as most of you know Daniel and I live in an Apartment in Millbrook. Well This week was quarterly inspections. Since we have a small dog Daniel called the front office to see if they could tell us an exact time that they would be coming so that I could be home and have our dog put up. (Plus I really don't like the fact of strangers, not very nice ones at that, coming in my home when we are not there). They of course said they had no Idea when it would be and they could only tell us that it would be Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Well gets who gets to sit at home all day waiting on them to come....I didnt even get to go running at the park like I do everyday!! So Monday was a no show. I thought Tuesday was gonna be a no show too because they leave at 5pm and they still had not come around by 3:30. Well Daniel had a playoff game that night at 6:20 so I of course needed to be ready around 5:30 so we could leave. So I figure they aren't coming I might as well get in the bath. I got all my stuff together, got my bath poored, and got in and guess what??? Knock Knock Knock. Well since they have a key to the apartment I knew I had to hurry cause if I didn't come to the door they would come in thinking I was not there. Well my robe was in the other bathroom. Here I am soaking wet and naked (lol) running to the other bathroom to get my robe on praying that they don't walk in the door. If you have ever tryed to put on a cotton robe when you are soaking wet you cannot do it fast. Of course my dog is going crazy the entire time because I was not able to put her up in all the excitement. So I get my robe on and get to the door just as they are opening it. I explain that I was in the bath and they proceed to go around my home being nosy checking to see if anything needs replacing and if we are keeping things sanitary...lol . No joke! The manager looked through every cabinet, my refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, closets, everything while the maintenance man checked the fire extinguisher, and fire alarms. I felt soooooo completely violated...I mean my home was clean but why should I let a complete stranger go through my stuff right in front of me like she owns my stuff and not just the apartment. Anyway thats why we hope to be out of here soon. If the housing market will pick up and I can find a house I consider worth buying...lol then we can move. Anyway out of everything the only thing she could find is that two of my cabinets wouldnt shut all the way so they needed fixing. They have always been this way since we moved in and is not a big deal to me but she decided that it was a big deal to her and that she would send the maintenance guy there tommorrow to fix it. So I get yet another day of sitting at home and doing nothing. And guess what...the whole day goes by and I need to start getting ready to go out to eat before church and I no more step in the shower and Knock Knock Knock...Unbelievable...So I had to scurry once again for him to come in and say "Those arent even bad enough to fix. I don't know what she is thinking" and he leaves. AHHH!!!

For you to completely understand my frustration I need to tell you that this maintenance man is horrible. He never does what he says he is gonna do and every time we have needed something fixed, whether it was the air condition, water heater, whatever he has needed a how to manual and had no idea what he was doing. He told me over a year ago that he would order and replace a mirror in our bathroom that was burned when lightning struck our building and I have yet to see it. So I had absolutely no reason to believe that he would even show up to fix this.

I guess from now on when I want something I should call them and then get in the shower...lol

SOOOOO Worth the money!!!!!

Well I haven't written in a while so I figured it was time to update. I have been so busy lately. It has been insane. We are leaving to go to Gulf shores in about 3 weeks and there is so much I have to do before then! First of all, I have to get a tan. I am usually really dark but havent tanned in a while so I am laying out everyday until then. On top of that I have got to go shopping. I don't have a choice. Nothing fits! This is a good thing though. I have lost about 40lbs so far and 3 dress sizes so I am really excited about going shopping so that I wont have to go naked to the beach...lol..j/k. Also everyday until we leave I have to work out every single day!!! That is a must! I've been trying to keep a variety going between Tae Bo, Jogging, Walking, Kickboxing, Cardio Blast, and Pilates. But I am extremely motivated and I am not backing down..lol So anyways the real reason I am writing this blog is to tell you about my day so far today. For our wedding anniversary in May, Daniel got me a spa package certificate for Smart Skin Day Spa in prattville....BIG MISTAKE on his part...lol...cause I am officially going back once a month now. I went in today for my 1 hour full body relaxation massage. I get there and meet my massage therapist who takes me into this dark tranquil room. She tells me to take my clothes off and lay face down on the table and she will be back in a minute. I should mention there is soft music playing in the back ground. So I did what she said and climbed onto the table and since she didnt come immediately back I looked around a bit. There were candles everywhere and a fireplace (not lit of course) and rose petals around the room. Well she came in a got right to work. She did legs, back, neck, asked me to turn over, then did neck, face, shoulders, arms, hands, legs, and feet! Absolutely amazing....certain techniques just stripped me of my tension. I have never been so relaxed without medication. After she was finished she let me get dressed and then offered me lemon water and food and gave me a thank you letter with a coupon for my next visit. Oh and there will be a next visit!!
I am so glad that I did this! I felt a little wierd about paying that much for a massage when Daniel can give me one at home. (Thats why he had to buy it without me knowing :)) but let me tell you, this is nothing like what you get at home. These people are trained and know exactly what to do and how to do it. They have two other types of massages: deep tissue and hot stone. It is only $65 for a one hour relaxation massage which is so worth the money...I promise! I would probably even pay more. So I told Daniel on the way home that if he would send me there once a month then he will never have to give me a massage...Of course he jumped at that offer. So now I just can't wait til next month. I will be going back next week for the rest of my spa package...I'll let ya know how that goes.


So in Conclusion everyone should have a professional massage at least once in their life!!!!

TruGreen Softball

So alot of you know that Daniel is playing on his company's softball team this year. I was a little worried since he didnt ask his doctor about his back before signing up but that's a whole different story.

So anyway he had his first game last Tuesday. It was a double header. All I can say about those two games is WOW. TruGreen was not good! LOL..Daniel and one other guy were the only ones who could catch and the other teams were awesome. So myself and the other TruGreen wives were sitting on the side lines wishing it was a coed team so that we could all show then how it is done..lol

Thursday's game was not much better. The guys fielded a little better but still they could not score a run to save their life. It was bad.

Last night they had another game. They played American Lubefast. Well what do you know the boys finally woke up and won a game. They didnt even look like the same team. They were hitting awesome and catching balls that were not easily catchable. I was so proud. I guess the embarassment woke them up.

Anyway the main reason I am writing a blog about this is because as most of you know I played softball for many many years. It has however been 8 years since I have played. I had no idea going into this that it was gonna have this effect on me. I realized I MISS THIS SPORT SOOOO MUCH! It is really hard for me to sit on the sidelines and watch and not play. I had not picked up a bat or glove in 8 years and this past weekend I did. :) First of all Daniel and I went to the batting cages on Friday night. I was a little worried that I would not be good after 8 years but I found out that it is like riding a bike. Once you learn it you will always be able to do it. We each hit 100 balls each and we had a blast. I of course was very sore the next morning. But holding that bat and connecting with that ball felt so good and so right. It took me back to my softball days, the smell, the feeling, and the excitement. It mad me sad. So TruGreen was having a practice on Sunday afternoon but Daniel felt he would get better practice if he and I played around for a while. I course this made me very excited. So Sunday after Church we went to Ruby Tuesday's with Jason, Myra, Jackson and the girls and then we headed to my parents house for some backyard practice. Daniel and I took turns hitting each other ground balls and pop flys (which catching is the same as hitting, like a bike) and then we just kinda threw the ball around. I can't believe how good of shape I used to be in the practice long long hours and play long games. I now was huffing and puffing (of course Daniel was not taking it easy on me..lol) But man I am out of shape. Anyway before we went home I got the bright idea that I was gonna try to pitch. As many of you know I was a fast pitch pitcher for many years and was even offered scholarships for it but turned them down..another sad story, but anywho I was pretty good back then if I do say so myself...lol....my fastball was clocked at 65mph when I was 12...i never had it clocked after that but I know it got faster. So here I am getting ready to pitch to Daniel with my dad watching of course. All the memories flooding back over me as I stood in the exact spot that I stood so very many afternoons practicing with my dad. Well so I pitched...and guess what? It was a strike! Yes! I continued to pitch for a few minutes and realized that hey...I STILL GOT IT!..haha....so now it has me thinking that I really want to play again. Daniel is trying to find me an adult fast pitch league, if anyone knows of one let me know, but I said that I was gonna go back to college full time so that I could play...lol anyway just taking a trip down memory lane and being sad. I can finally now understand why my dad was so involved in all of my sports. I know I will be that parent who is coaching little league and going to every single game and being so involved! I can't wait!

New Found Stress Reliever!

So I have recently started walking 3 miles a day. I want to work up to about 6 miles a day but Hey this is my first week. So anyway I go walking at a park in Millbrook. Not the one in downtown Millbrook, The one off of Deatsville Hwy. I go around 1:30pm and I am usually the only one there at the time. Once around the track is 1/3 of a mile so I walk around 9 times. This has become a new favorite pass time. Not only am I exercising and making my heart healthy but it gives me time for myself. I take my headphones and listen to the radio and just think about all the many things that are on my mind. It gives me a chance to really connect with my feelings while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. We all know that the sun gives you an incredible high. So anyways I leave there feeling so refreshed both physically and mentally and it is just so awesome. It gives me something to look forward to each day. So anyway just thought I would share my new stress reliever. It really works!

Life Quotes

I just wanted to share some of the Life Quotes that I enjoy or that have great meaning to me and help me through some things. Hope you enjoy!

1. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

2. If I can endure for this moment,whatever is happening to me.No matter how heavy my heart,or how dark the moment may be.If I can but keep on believing,what I know in my heart to be true.Then darkness will fade into morning,and with this dawn a new day, too.

3. Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow. ~Dorothy Thompson

4. Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill

5. Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

6. If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~ Anne Bradstreet

7.The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. ~M. Scott Peck

8. The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. ~ Thomas Paine

9. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. ~ Dale Carnegie

10. There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. ~ Peter F. Drucker

11. There are no gains without pains. ~ Benjamin Franklin

12. I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen. ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

13. Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try nothing and succeed. ~Lloyd Jones

14. Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly ~ Robert F. Kennedy

15. Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.

16. All love that has not friendship for its base,Is like a mansion built upon the sand

17. A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.

Words to get you through the Day.

Just wanted to share this with everyone. At church services Sunday night we sang a song that I had not heard before and It really opened my eyes. I think this could be one of my favorite songs now and if you are going through any trying time just sing it. It will bring tears to your eyes.

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus He came to love, heal, and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still the calm assurance, This child can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,I'll fight life's final war with pain. And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone! Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living just because He lives!

My College Drama

Wow! Has my life Changed since High School. Where do I even begin? Well let's see. I started going to AUM the fall after graduation. Nursing was my major. I was sooooo excited. For as long as I could remember I wanted to be in the medical field and I had finally narrowed down exactly where. I was going to be a nurse. I was going to help people. Well my first two years there were great. They were just my basic classes. You know Biology, Chemisty, Anatomy, all the stuff that you could learn in books. This time was a little hectic because I was planning my wedding to my High School Sweetheart, Daniel. Most of you reading this will remember him because I was with him all but one year of high school. We were married on May 15th 2004. (I'll write about that wonderful experience later). Well it came time to start my actual nursing school and I couldnt be happier when I received my letter in the mail that I had been excepted. This was such and honor you see because not everyone that had completed those first two years was excepted. So off to the bookstore I went to buy all the things I would need. Who would have thought it would have been so much. I needed a fork lift just to get back to my car. That night I was so excited that I opened everything and looked through every single book. By the end of the night I was so overwhelmed at all the material that I thought to myself " Shawna, are you really up for all of this?" I decided that I was and went on to bed. The first day of nursing school approached rapidly. I was very excited and nervous all at the same time. So after the first week of classes I was even more overwhelmed than I was before. The vast amount of material that had to been learned so rapidly was crazy. And this was way more serious than my underlevel classes. I couldnt just learn this stuff for the test and then forget most of it. I had to retain each and every single thing that I learned. I loved Labs however. That is when I got to do all the cool stuff like learn how to put an I.V. in or learn how to insert a Catheter. All the things you think of when you think of nursing. So to make a long story short I got through the first semester. It was tough but I was okay! And thus the dreaded second semester started. This was the semester that was known as the horrible semester and everyone knew that if you could make it through that semester that you could make it through the rest with a breeze. Who would have thought that the material you had to learn was double the amount of last semester? And that wasnt even the rough part. My much beloved labs turned into a nerve racking fiasco. This semester we started to work in the hospitals with real people. It was no longer the funny looking dummies in the fake hospital beds at the school. This was real live people with real live blood running through their vains. So the school labs turned into a place where you test your skills in front of nursing professors and one tiny little misshap got you lots more practice time in the pretend hospital and a big fat F for that week. If you passed you were sent off to the hospitals to take care of these live patients.

This where I started to crack. My first patient was one of the worst cases I could have ever had to start out with. This person had so many different problems that I wont go into detail about but it was the first time I actually realized that THIS PERSON'S LIFE IS IN MY HANDS!!! One little mistake made by me could cost them their life.Could I really do this? The pressure was unbeleivable. Why had I never thought about this before? Why was this happening to me now, after three years of nursing school? Well I pushed through and made myself keep going. There was no way I could quit now. So after many days at the hospital I realized something. This had caused me to change. I had shut myself off from my emotions in order to get through the day. I had hardened my heart in order to be able to treat a patient without falling apart and crying because of their situation. During the middle of all of this My Uncle died from cancer and I could not cry. I had trained myself to not cry. This was not the person I wanted to be. I wanted to be a nurse to help people not to stop caring. By this time I was a complete mess trying to figure out what I wanted to do. My husband saw how much I was tormented and he was soooo supportive. So needless to say after that semester ended I decided that Nursing was no longer the career path for me. So I changed my major to business, which is the complete opposite of nursing. I knew that really wasnt what I wanted to do but I needed a complete change. So I stuck with it for a few semesters.

I currently am not going to school. I keep thinking about going back and I will eventually I just want to be completely sure about what I want to do with my life. I cant afford to waste anymore time and money on classes that aren't really what I want. I am still young and have plenty of time to decide. I don't want to be one of those people who go to work everyday and hate what they do. TO BE CONTINUED.