Pawpaw

My grandfather ("Pawpaw") passed away a week ago today at the age of 72. He had been sick for a while, so it wasn't necessarily out-of-the-blue, but we thought he had much more time than he was given.  I won't even attempt to convey the pain I felt the evening of June 19, 2014 when our family gathered in that hospital room - no amount of words could properly describe it.

Losing someone close to you will never be an easy thing, and no matter how long you think you have, you can never really prepare yourself for their passing.  I am so thankful, however, for the Lord's timing.  

Just one week before, my sister and brother-in-law (who live in Louisiana) had decided to make a spontaneous trip to Chattanooga.  My brother (who lives in South Carolina) also arranged for a visit so we could all be together.  Sister and brother-in-law arrived last Wednesday afternoon and we got to spend several hours with Pawpaw. Brother arrived much later that night.  After I got off of work the very next day (Thursday), we got a call to come to the hospital as Pawpaw was headed there by ambulance. He passed before we made it there.

This truly was God's timing. He brought my family safely to town and let them see and hug Pawpaw once more before the Lord took him home. If it had not been for their trip, my family would've had to travel many miles and many hours - likely in hysteria - to make it here. Also, I am so thankful that I was able to tell Pawpaw that I love him one last time - that memory will stay with me forever. 

My first day back to work this past Tuesday was one of the hardest days I've ever lived. Rejoining life felt as though the world was starting to forget one of the best men it has ever known; life started to move forward and I just wanted to grasp tight and never let go of him. Now the stories we share are what keeps his memory with us; I have to keep reminding myself that his soul is alive and well.

It's a huge blessing to know that Pawpaw did accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I know where he is now and that he is healed and no longer suffering - knowing Heaven is where he now calls home somehow makes it easier to endure the pain of missing him. And honestly, that's all the pain is... missing his earthly presence. Unlike Christ followers, non-believers don't get to feel the peace and understanding that accompanies the death of a true believer. I cry because the world I know has been shaken but I can rejoice that my Heavenly Father has called my loved one home to a place where I will one day see his smiling face again - free from the oxygen cannula, free from worry, and free from pain.


I miss you every second, Pawpaw. I love you.

Bookworm.

I'm really into keeping a running count of stuff for the year. Last year it was the number of DvDs I bought. I got a Kindle Touch for Christmas from Daddy so I've decided to keep track of what and how many books I read this year. This should be fun and motivating!

This morning, I started reading the Hunger Games series again. I'm about done with the first book.. I sincerely love this series. If you haven't read them yet, please do! The first movie comes out in March - I hope it will be as closely related to the book as possible. I will be rather upset if they water it down. Here's to hoping.

Anywho, I'll start getting my list together of the books I want to read this year. Having the Kindle (to which my dad pre-loaded 1,500 books to!) will make it much easier to accomplish this goal.

Happy reading!

Veintitres.

I thought we could review my "resolutions" from the start of last year. I didn't do so well.
(accomplished, started and then failed to complete)


Things I would like to do in 2011:
-Finish writing my current novel or start and finish a different one.
-Vlog. At least take a legitimate stab at it.
-Read the all of the Narnia books and the rest of the HP series.
-Figure out what to do with my life. (Though, I just lump this along with the new job thing.)
-Read the Bible the entire way through.
-Solve a Rubik's Cube without the help of YouTube/instructions.
-Watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
-Increase my DVD collection to 560 (currently at 280) so it will be doubled.
-Find a new job.
-Complete BEDA.
-Fill every page of the journal that Padge made for me.
-Be more decisive.
-Move. To a different state entirely; or at the very least, to a new house/apt.


Oh well.


I will be 23 years old for 10.5 months of 2012, which sounds so depressing to me. I sincerely hope this year throws me a few exciting and unexpected surprises. 


I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Girl with the red balloon.

Oh, where do I start?

Well, I have a new job. I have been a pediatric ophthalmic technician for two weeks now. I absolutely love it! (Who would have ever thought I would say that I love my job? NOT ME.) On Dr. McCarty days, I do work ups for office visits and post-ops. My office got a whole new computer system a few months before I came on board, so there is a little more work to do in the computer than they're used to, but I am coping just fine. I really like that it's all in the computer. I find it enjoyable to work up patients; I get to put in dilating drops and use a tonopen to check their pressures (by touching the instrument to the eyeball; so cool). On Dr. Peterson days, I am a scribe, which means I go in with the doctor and type in and click what he tells me to while he is examining the patient. I was most nervous about my duty as a scribe; one, because this doctor owns the place and I didn't want to mess up and two, because it is so different from anything I am used to... and I'm not big on change. However, I started going in with him on Monday and picked it up pretty quickly, and I actually like it a lot. I do miss-type and miss-click at times, but he teaches as we go through the exam.

Dr. McCarty will see between 20 and 30 something patients in a day, so it's pretty steady. Dr. Peterson sees 60 something every time he is in the office, so it gets really busy. I don't get to sit down much when he's there, but it's alright because it makes the time fly so fast.

Anyway, I rambled on about it because I am so much happier now. I love the people I work with. They are way rad, man.

I woke up this morning with a semi-scratchy throat. I thought it was just from a night of the fan on medium and my snoring on high, but it has gotten so much worse throughout the day. A couple of people at work have gone through this too. I constantly had a cough drop in my mouth all day so I wouldn't break out into a coughing fit while I touched and breathed on patients. Sigh. I'm getting sick.

This past weekend, my siblings and I, along with my brother-in-law Mat, my soon-to-be brother-in-law Jacob, and my best friend Bubba, got to be in the same city at the same time! It's a rare but special occasion when such an event occurs. I wish the fun could have lasted longer than one weekend, but I'll take what I can get.

I feel so disjointed right now (and I really really want to give my full attention to this music I just bought on iTunes), so forgive me for cutting you off from my other thoughts. If you're interested in what will be playing on my iPod: The Civil Wars and Elenowen. Both duos have amazing abilities. I'd kill for their talent.

Say a little prayer for my health. (Thank you if you did!)

I'll catch you on the flip side.

PSA: The Words and the Keys.

It needs to be said.

Parents, it's time to talk to your kids about being textually active. We've all heard the story of the Words and the Keys, and it is time to pass it along to the younger generation. We now live in a world where kids are starting to be textually active at younger and younger ages. If they do not practice safe text, it could lead to SGDs (Serious Grammar Defects). Having to live with an SGD can negatively impact your child for the rest of his or her life. In most cases, someone with an SGD will have a harder time in school, inhibiting their ability to obtain a decent job. SGDs will also prevent them from having normal social interactions with their friends. It is hard to take someone seriously when 'dey txt lyk dis'. In order to give your kids a great, well-rounded life, you need to take the time to teach them about proper punctuation protection. Let them know all the options such as commas, word control, and capitalization. Giving your kids a detailed education on the subject will protect them in the long run, making you a super hero.

Tradition in the making.

Hey, you. So, I gave blood again today, and while the nurse was painfully digging around in my arm with a needle, I had an idea. If you read this post from my first blood giving experience, then you know I followed up with an iPod type survey. I had the thought that maybe this should be tradition after the giving of blood. Why not, right?


Well, here you go.


If you woke up as the opposite sex, whats the first thing you would do? Well, I'd change my name to Leonidas. Because it's so manly. I can't imagine in what situation 'Cassie' would be an appropriate name for a dude.

Are you addicted to anything? Oxygen. I can't seem to go very long without it.


Has an animal ever attacked you? I have been mauled by caterpillars.


When was the last time someone made you laugh really hard? I only make people laugh when I laugh - insanely hard.


Do you find piercings/tattoos attractive? I sometimes find the people on which they rest attractive.


What's the weirdest thing you've ever licked? My palm. So I could sniff and judge the rankness of my breath. It's very effective.


When you wake up, what's the first thought that runs through your head? "Curse the sun!"


Do you actually believe Alaska is covered in snow? Bombe (Baked) Alaska is covered in fire.


Are you ever purposely irritating? Only when I have nothing better to do.


If you could make someone disappear, who would it be? Toby.


Look behind you, what do you see? A hole in my vision from the blinding light.


What's your fav thing about the opposite sex? That they are the opposite sex.


What would you be doing right now if you were kicked off your computer? I would browse the net on my cellular device. Because it's 2011.


Who do you want to be with right now? The South Carolinians that I love.


Are you fun to hang with? Depends on who you ask.


What country would you love to visit? Narnia.


What's on your mind right now? Physically, a headache.


When was the last time you went to a good party? My cousin had a totes awesome haunted house 12th birthday party. We got crazy.


Can you lick your elbow? I do what I want.


Do you like anyone you can't have? Mr. Darcy. 


What song is stuck in your head right now? That headache.


What do you think is at the end of the rainbow? Not rainbow.


If a blind guy started hitting on you, what would you do? I'd hit him back. 'An eye for an eye.'


Ever been in a fight? With my earbuds.


If so did you win? Always.


Done anything illegal lately? I threw a penny in the garbage.


Ever been in trouble for something you didn't do? Yes. I was spanked with a hairbrush (which broke in half by the way) because I looked similar to my sister. It was for something she did.


Are you hungry? A pinch.


If you could speak another language, what would it be? Na'vi.


One word to describe yourself? Female.


To describe your friends? Friendly.


What's the last present you've received? Black high heels to sell in my virtual boutique.


What would you rather have as a name? Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.


Could you outrun a bus? Buses can't run.


You and your friends are bored. What do you do? Stop being bored and start being awesome.


What's your middle name? Danger. 


What would you do if the world were coming to an end? Eat at Moe's.


Biggest regret ever? Having regrets.

Bananas and Circus Peanuts.

Funny story. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I was so ready to lay down that I was doing all of my nightly rituals at once. I grabbed the bottle and poured a huge swig of what I thought was mouth wash into my mouth. I strained the goo through my teeth and soon found out that I had, in fact, poured my face wash into my mouth. It does not have an appealing taste or texture. It was not a shining moment. In my defense, both the mouth wash and the face wash have the same exact flip top. I was trolled.

Awesome story. I was contacted by Pediatric Eye Specialists through my sister (who works at SouthEast Eye Specialists) and they asked me to come interview for a job. I went Monday and talked with the office manager and one of the doctors. I thought it went pretty well, but the office manager told me they were also considering two others for the job. Honestly, I didn't think I would get it because of the concerns they expressed when talking to me. However, this morning as I was getting ready for work, their office called and left me a voicemail offering me the job! I called her back right away and accepted.

Only now, I had to tell my boss I was putting in my two weeks notice. I decided to do it at lunch since we had patients first thing that morning. I was a nervous wreck for hours. I don't think I have ever been that stressed out. I guess it was rather silly to be nervous about that, but I knew what this was going to mean for Dr. Montgomery. For most of the four years that I have been there, I have been in charge of all things insurance. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but they really will have a tough time for a while without me... unless they can find someone with that type of experience. That's why I was so nervous and feel so bad for leaving. It's hard to do this to a boss that has been so great and understanding. On the other hand, I can't just stay there for her sake. I've got to get on with my life, and with the way it all worked out, I am positive this was God jump starting my next move. I can't wait to see what other changes and challenges come my way! If you wouldn't mind, would you keep me in your prayers as I start my job in two weeks? It will be much appreciated because this job will be a big change with so much I will have to learn. I'm a little nervous.

It's late. I'm sleepy. Goodnight, lovelies.