GETTY UP

I'm doing this for YOU!!!

2010-08-23T06:17:00.003-04:00

Ok in all the crazy times I call my life I would like to say thanks to those whom actually read this bolg, want me to post more since I am such a slug at getting done sometimes...ok so a LOT of the time!!! I know I live far away but it means the world that you Jenn, Lindsay, and Annie still want to be friends. Lets face it we live in a world of the here and now. Neither of which I can be in your life so far away. I adore you all and thank you for call me friend and for not giving up on me when I am so far away!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not done yet!

2010-08-23T06:08:00.003-04:00

So May and June were a bit thight in the traveling department. I went to NTI in D.C. and then saw my family the next weekend in New Haven. Well after that I got back on a plane and headed back to Germany....for three shifts ie a weekend then got BACK on a plane for Cincinnati cause a dear friend Holly was getting married. WOW it was a tireing week. But Holly was a beautiful bride and I got to see some of my old work buddies!

Almost forgot the month of April!!!

2010-08-23T05:44:00.003-04:00

As a birthday trip for a good friend Maura we headed off to Cyprus in April! Oh the fun to be had!!!!

Maura and Ashby

Me entering the Mediterranean Sea for the first tiem EVER!!!!!

Peace out!!!! It was a great weekend!

The WONDERFUL veiw from our room!

As a birthday trip for a good friend Maura we headed off to Cyprus in April! Oh the fun to be had!!!!

Sarah's graduation

2010-08-23T05:40:00.004-04:00

While I was on this side of the pond I got to see Sarah graduate from Yale.

Good old U-S-A!!!

2010-08-23T05:20:00.004-04:00

The LRMC ICU sent me to NTI in May, ie I got to be sent for free to the USA!!!! Have nto seen this soil in just under a year!!!

Went walking around town and saw the sights!

The Changing of the guards was a sight to see!

All in all had a wonderful time there. I then took two extra days to see Sarah graduate from Yale. So a few metro stops and one train ride later I was in New Haven!

Can't keep me away from Madrid!

2010-08-17T17:13:00.005-04:00

Went and visited Kate agian in March 2010, also was good to see who YL has grown by leaps and bounds!

Went over to Toledo to see the sights. It all started out as a nice day....

Then Kate and I got rained out (man o man was that water cold!!!) but we did manage to keep our smiles!

The Next day in Madrid was sunny and nice!

Just in case you were wondering folks Spain does think of safety first....

Good golly Miss Molly the time has flown!!!

2010-08-17T16:55:00.004-04:00

Ok where to start.... no idea so I will just post in whatever order I find the pictures in my files!

FCK...no really that is the spelling, soccer game with a few co-workers in March 2010!

Really those first four rows are us Americans, you can tell by our goofy smiles!

As you can see we had a blast!

My peeps

2010-02-13T14:47:00.002-05:00

So with the stuff going on the news I thought I would show you the folks I love to serve. These are the folks I am honored to care for, don't ya just love 'em!!!

Starting the season off right!!!

2010-01-23T11:09:00.004-05:00

Getting my first real christmas tree....the boy scouts tied me into the car.....

The tree turned out pretty nice!!

At a Christmas market down at Ashby's house!

Dallas and I (also Kate) waking up after Thanksgiving!!!

November (one post at a time I am catching y'all up on Rachel's life!!)

2010-01-23T10:54:00.004-05:00

So this month I did a little run around in Paris, ENJOY!!

Free trip to the Alps anyone?

2010-01-23T09:56:00.005-05:00

* Rachel * raised her hand ....

All you have to do is present a lecture on TBI for The Army Europe medical community! Oh the fun!

Oct. was a good month!

Time sure did fly by..

2010-01-22T12:05:00.005-05:00

So I have been here a year now ... WOW! Looking back I can not believe that I have now lived here in Germany for a solid year! I have to admit the move was a HUGE leap for me. Both personally as well as proffesionally! I moved here knowing it was not going to be easy. Easy to be so far from my family, easy to be working with the military, or easy to care from 19 yr old amputate triple. And I assure you it has not be easy on any of those accounts. I have had my ups and downs, both personally as well as at work streching my knowledge of trauma to care for those assigned to me. After this last year working here at LRMC I can say that I have found a calling like no other. I deeply enjoy my work here. The soliders I care for and their families are an amazing group that I am honored to care for.

It was the hand of God that brought me here through the wounderful Shannon Wombel. (her and I pictued above). I would like everyone to know that though my two year contract ends in September I will be extending to continue my work here.

Thank you each and everyone for your support and love. There are no words to express how much it helps me knowing you still love me even when I am so far away !!!!!

September in Scotland

2010-01-20T04:00:00.005-05:00

Had fun in September in Scotland!!!! Went to Edinburgh and St. Andrews.

Hello from Scotland!!!!

St. Andrews

Edinburgh Castle

The last sunrise in Scotland

-Rachel

And we fianlly made it to August

2009-10-29T13:02:00.003-04:00

Since July was crazy and I was ALL over the place I decided to do little trips in Aug. With my friend Maggie I went on a little cruise down the Rhine and did this wine tasting thing.

Over all is was a wonderful weekend and I had soooo much fun!!

Love y'all

Rachel

Maggie's wedding

2009-10-29T12:27:00.006-04:00

The Happy Couple

Getting my hair

Maggie and I

I had the honor of being in a second wedding while home for a dear friend Maggie.

The sweet feel of family

2009-10-29T11:52:00.006-04:00

The dress rehearsal night we all went out and got a beer and just hung out all night!

We drink together

The Stovall's chatting it up!!!

Michael sneaking in a wee bit of texting.....while Mom and Haley have deep thoughts.

Teever's birthday but I think Michael wants a bite.....

The day after Sarah and Mike got hitched the cousins went to Kings Island to have some fun!!

Maggie was not a fan of some of the big rides so we sneaked out and went to ride the swings.

Maggie and I eating dinner! I do love that girl!

Good luck boys!

When everyone got in to town earlier in the week we all hung out on the deck at my parents house.

Aunt Mary Jane, Ellen aka Aunt La La, Aunt Vicki and Aunt Sissy

I do love my family and they are sure as hell fun to hang out with!!!!!!!!! I love every last one of them...most of the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Events in July cont.

2009-10-29T11:40:00.006-04:00

Aunt Sissy threw a BEAUTIFUL bridal luncheon for the ladies of the wedding party as well as female relatives!!!!

We all had a wonderful time, thanks Aunt Sis!!!

Our group of ladies sitting down for tea!!

FYI it is hard to keep the pictures where I wanted them so I am just making a post for each event!

Events in July

2009-10-29T11:15:00.009-04:00

To get y'all updated faster....I think I will make a whole bunch of picture updates for tonight and then get some good writting in when possible. So here goes...

Got HOME in time for the 4th!!!

Threw a Spanish shower for my sister!!!!

Sisters

Sarah and Haley (our beloved cousin)

Sarah with a very good gift.....

Kendra and Sarah

Sissy, Me, Haley, Sarah, Kate and da Mom (aka Ellen)

Where has the time gone???

2009-09-27T11:30:00.004-04:00

Sorry I have not posted much as of late, it has been CRAZY busy here in my world.

July- Sarah's wedding, Maggie's wedding and coming back to Germany where the hospital was busy!!

Aug- still busy, went on a few day trips, had a birthday, Kate came and visited for a spell then went on to see her family!!

I will post the pictures from all the events I have done so y'all can see all the cool stuff I have seen!!

Just to show you HOW crazy it is here I've included a picture of me driving in Scotland (will get to that in a moment) on the OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I was sooooooo stressed at that time...but not enough to not smile for a close up!!)

Love,

Meeting new people

2009-06-19T11:18:00.003-04:00

I got to meet the first female four star General, Gen Ann Dunwoody the other day

June well what has happened so far

2009-06-19T10:20:00.009-04:00

June has been a good month for me. I have been here in Germany now nine months, yeah a number that does not escape me. So in nine months my new life here has grown into something I can be pound of. The work at the hospital gives me a great deal of pride in my profession. As some of y'all may know becoming a nurse was a bit of a leap for me. I was not the type of gal or person (just to keep it pc here folks) who has always wanted to be a nurse since they were small. I was just driving home from a friends house in TN one summer (I had already been at UT for two years at this point) when God and I had a little talk and I decided to become a nurse from then on.

Who knew that one little talk and a few years of school would have me living in Germany taking care of our Nations heroes!!!!!! I just wanted to thank everyone of y'all for your support!

And now for more pictures, come on its the real reason people visit blogs we love the pretty pictures and music!

Our town

Inch, Ireland

Maggie and I

Me on the coast of Ireland

Maggie and I at Ladies View point

On the border of Kerry and Cork Ireland

Driving the circle of Kerry

Too funny!!

I have tons more but these are some of the highlights of the trips.

May (wow I got behind again)

2009-06-19T09:51:00.009-04:00

So just in case you are wondering I am doing well. Have had a few weeks between now and the last time I wrote that were pretty heavy work wise. It seems to be feast or famine in the amounts of patients we have. Some days we have all locals whom have bogus chest pain (aka indigestion) that the our doctors here like to put in the ICU. Other days we are busting at the seams with vents, burns, blast wounds etc. I have learned to roll with it and am enjoying myself here learning new things each and every day!

Enough talk here are some pictures from the month of May;

Milan Italy

Me on Como Lake

Rhonda and I at Lake Como, Italy

A view of Milan from the top of the Domo

Rhoda and I on top of the Domo

Milian city center

Pray all is well with y'all!!!

Visitors

2009-04-24T07:00:00.003-04:00

We had some senators visit the Unit the other day and so we (just a few of us) took a picture with the Illinois Senator who happened to have had a son who was injured down range and was taken treated at LRMC. Just thought I would share. There were more people there but mostly this groups is nurses, doctors, techs and of course the Senator.

2009-04-16T05:09:00.005-04:00

So as my dad was in town so were my friend Rhoda's parents. So like any good kids who need to find ways to keep your folks entertained we took them to dinner together!!

Pa comes to town

2009-04-16T04:43:00.007-04:00

My dad came to visit me this past week or so. I was very excited to see him since really in January I don't recall much of our get together since I was so sick. I did have to work two of the days here was here but no worries he found things to do. Such as build me a shrunk!! On my days off we went to Heidelberg, Trier and then for three days went up to Holland.

Trier

Heidelberg

Holland

I have a million pictures of all the flowers and tulips but I will not bore you with them now. On a side note I accidentally erased every picture in Holland and Amsterdam till we were at the tulip fields, yes I was very sad!!! When my dad left yesterday he took the chip to see if he could recover the files ie the wonderful pictures I had taken. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

In review

2009-04-16T04:26:00.006-04:00

Let me think back and share with you my family all the things I have done this past month while I have stepped away from the computer.

In the beginning of March I switched to a new team, team 2. They work days which is agreeing with me ten times better than nights for my mental health. I adored my team on nights (team 4)and they will of course be my family here and I am sure I will stay in touch with them as time goes by. Working nights in Germany was a bit hard just due to nothing being open after six or seven. It was also a bit hard this winter since I really never got to see sunlight due to our geographical location in the world. All is well now and I am loving seeing sunlight. As I told my boss flowers need sunlight to grow me being the flower that is.

St. Patrick's day here is just as festive as it is in the states

I have had my first visitors here in my new home. The first being Flat Ava from Cincinnati

The second visitor being my father whom I will be so kind as to devote a whole post to!

Life is going smoothly so far and the traveling is picking up. Dad and I just did Holland and parts of Germany. I will be going to Ireland next month and possibly Barcelona come June.

Just me

2009-03-12T03:36:00.004-04:00

Yeah Just me, just thought I would pass a decent picture along. Love each and every one of ya!!

Rachel

aka Rockstar of Landstuhl

News links

2009-03-11T12:00:00.004-04:00

A video of what our process over here looks like

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1407952648/bctid1664436922

The Nurse

2009-03-11T09:51:00.010-04:00

This is a poem that sits in my front hall that was given to my by Mrs. Z whom I took care of while she was undergoing chemo for breast cancer. She was given this poem when she graduated from nursing school and then gave it to me when I graduated. I treasure it beyond words.

The Nurse

The world grows better year by year,
Because some Nurse in her little sphere,
Puts on her apron and smiles and sings,
And keeps on doing the same old thing.

Taking the temperatures, giving the pills,
To remedy mankind's numberless ills,
Feeding the baby, answering the bells,
Being polite with a heart that rebels.

Longing for home and all the while,
Wearing the same old professional smile,
Blessing the newborn babe's first breath,
Closing the eyes that are still in death.

Taking the blame for the doctor's mistakes,
Oh dear, what a lot of patience it takes,
Going off duty at seven o'clock,
Tired, discouraged and ready to drop.

But called back on special at seven fifteen
With woe in her heart, bit must not be seen,
Morning and evening and noon and night,
Just doing it over and hoping it's right.

When we lay down our caps and cross the bar,
Oh Lord, will you give us just one little star,
To wear in our crowns with our uniforms new,
In that city above where the Head Nurse is you.

*The picture above is "Night Vigil," by Robert Benney

Madrid

2009-03-04T17:17:00.008-05:00

I had the wonderful pleasure of going to see Kate in Madrid about two weeks ago. I must admit it was just what this gal needed. The sun was out, the temp was just right to walk around in a light coat and nice pretty scarf, what more can a girl ask for!! Not only for the reasons listed above but also to just to see a familiar face and just totally relax and be your self!! Also with the odd work schedule that we have here it feels like (esp with working nights) you don't really get days off. So taking a small vacations is how you make sure you keep your head on straight.

Here are a few pictures

Bowling with my homies

2009-02-18T11:36:00.005-05:00

So as a farewell get together for an AWSOME nurse Jeanie team four, my team went bowling and we had FUN!!!

Love y'all
Rachel

The next up date should be really FUN since I am headed to Madrid in the am!!

You are not alone

2009-02-02T22:38:00.008-05:00

In my line of work everyone knows you can't do it alone. Where I am now is no different, you need support.

There is an organization that I truly am humbled by and would like to make sure their support is appreciated. The Soldiers' Angels is whom I am talking about. They not only take the time to make care packages, have quilts for wounded soldiers, food and all the other items a person might need. They also take care of the staff. If we really needed something they can get it for us. Not only do they have material items in their arsenal they also have a huge heart of gold. I have seen a Soldiers' Angel sit and hold the oxygen mask while trying to make sure a Marine had a means to get a hold of his family. Their mottos is "may no soldier go unloved" and they truly do a good job of following this.

Being in the ICU I can be rather focused on my patient and not see the people at the desk or that come and check on the unit since really they don't talk to the nurses much. The SA are not of that habit though. They ask how you, yes you the nurse are doing, will wait till you come out of your room to talk to you no matter how long. I truly believe they really do want to know how I am. In all honesty I have met only two people from SA being on nights, that being said they put in far more hours than it seems humanly possible. I am unsure how "big" the staff is but they do get stuff done!

I am truly humbled by their dedication.

As many of you know I have done packages once a month for about five years sent to the troops down range and away from family. I just wanted to pass on this site to see if while I am here in Germany you might continue this tradition for me. Please Adopt a Soldier and send a few items.

http://soldiersangels.org/

On a personal note let me tell you why I think doing this is important and what for me it is like to get mail over here. It adds a little pep to your step as you walk to the mail room just thinking there might be a little slip in your mail box or a letter from a loved one. Then there is that moment when you see that you do in fact have a mail. If you happen to have a little white slip then that means there is a package and you go get in line to pick it up. Everyone in line is the same weather you are a young baby faced soldiers or a old high ranking official. Its not really the content of the box that give you the trill. It the sweet knowledge that someone took the time to think about you. I have yet to see anyone no matter how small the package or letter put it in their backpack. Nope you carry that box or envelope the long way to your car!!!!! That is how I see the whole scene play out and that is in Germany not further away like Iraq is.

Thank you for putting up with my looooonnnnggg post and please check out the site.

Love ya,
Rachel

The big event

2009-02-02T17:00:00.009-05:00

After New Years I got sick again...perhaps due to New Years. *shrug*

My cousin Louise was getting married and I had worked it out to be able to get home...for the weekend and see the big event. It was a surprise so she did not know I was going to make it there. The flight was pretty harsh since I was still sick, my tv did not work, the head set thing did not work, I had no leg room due to a metal box that was part of the plane under the seat in front of me and of couse my seat mate next to me was a teenage horror. After 24hrs of travel I got into the Springs and then went to bed so I could be ready for the weekend.

Over all it was a lovely time till I woke up the morning of my flight (Mon) with horrible chills, fever and feeling like a truck had run over me. Really I had been feeling pretty bad all night but I just did not realize how bad off I was till I tried to get out of bed. When I did get the clue that my fever was close to 103 I got my parents up and we headed to the ER in a CO snow storm. Come to find out after chest x-rays, sinus x-rays and a flu test *drum roll* had the flu and a snius infection.

I was not allowed to fly out till friday so my parents and other relatives had to continue on with their travel plans while dear Aunt Sissy and Uncle Teever took me into their home. I was taken care in style no worries and did get the flight back to Germany.

All in all is was a wonderful trip if only to see my family.

Espically to see them cut up the rug like they did!!!

A new year has come

2009-02-02T16:49:00.006-05:00

So one of the many reason I have been gone is I was traveling. The other reason is I have been really sick, I missed work for three weeks....yeah if you know me I never call off. To be honest one week I got stuck in CO with the flu and was not allowed to fly but other wise I had to call off and two times got sent home from work.

Lets start were we left off;

After Christmas comes New Years. Well my fever broke at about 0100 on Dec 31 and I got a call three hours later if I wanted to go to Amsterdam for New Years. I thought this was a WONDERFUL idea and went.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

A long time gone

2009-02-02T16:43:00.002-05:00

Just want to say sorry for not keep you posted and I am back on the blog train and you WILL be entertained.

My first Germany Christmas!!

2008-12-26T23:46:00.004-05:00

Life is pretty good here, though I would LOVE to see more sunlight I am getting along just fine. Christmas was fun, I worked both the 24th and 25th. The shifts went smoothly and I was glad to spend it with what is now my new family while I live here my new team!!! Here are a few pictures of the night
Some funny gifts

My team and me

Love ya all!!!
Rachel

Just an average day

2008-12-26T23:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in keeping y'all updated. I have not done much lately besides sleep, work and see one or two Christmas markets, no much really. A girl on my team named Rhoda went with me and here we are toasting to those back home!

Love you all!!
Rachel

It's coming on Christmas in Rachel's house

2008-12-09T18:47:00.013-05:00

Sorry I have been lacking in getting these post done with any consistency. Work is going pretty good I’m getting into more of a routine now with work and free time. Meaning I have less paper work that has to be filled out ALL the time. I am starting to really adore my home and neighbors whom have been so very kind to me. One in particular the Westerns have had me over for dinner last Sunday which was a real treat. They also have checked in on me and are a big help with my 101 questions about home care. OH and they mowed my lawn for me so I don’t get arrested here in Germany. So over all they are just wonderful people.
I have started to explore more German stores and shops. Found some cute little ornaments for my little fake tree that just lights up my life these days, no joke it’s a like a cute little night light!!!! I attached a picture below.

And with the lights on

I have finally worked through the red tape and now have my housing allowance on my pay check!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This really is a big deal since it just takes so long. So this means I can now start adding things to my house, like tables, chairs and other items that will make it look far less bare here. I went shopping at the German equivalent to Dillard's here today. Found some A-mazing boots to wear around town as well as a cute little change purse for my euros , so I can stop digging around in my wallet for the smaller coins!!!!!! Shelley was so kinda as to go with me (mentioned her in a post before), she has been here over a year and has been wonderful at showing me the ins and outs of shopping around here.

If you are reading this then I most defiantly call you friend and therefore need to know if you want anything for Christmas from Germany!! I have the Matt and Vic Stovall family done, all but Maggie so I need ideas. I need to know if anyone else wants anything, working on Russell too so a wee little help from Haley would be WONDERFUL! I love you all and hope you are having a wonderful holiday season with friends and family!!

I am keeping all of y'all in mind this holiday season by the ornaments I have collected when I have been with you on trips or just visiting, here are a few:

A trip to remember in New Orleans

A trip out to the west coast to visit a dear friend with another dear friend!!

And of course TN, got this up on Signal Mt.

This is how I am making sure each and everyone of you stay close to me!!

Love ya,
Rachel

Girls just wanna have fun

2008-11-30T07:54:00.005-05:00

So as many of you know I once had a bad "incident" if you will when I had my hair colored. Since then I have been VERY cautious about dyeing my hair. Well all good fears at some point need to end. So I crushed this one this weekend!!! I dyed my hair....Kate helped me but I feel it turned out really good.

Just thought y'all would want to know.

love ya
Rachel

Kate came to town

2008-11-27T11:40:00.004-05:00

So as many of y'all know Kate my BFF came to share some love this holiday season by visiting me for Thanksgiving. I picked her up in Frankfort, I did pretty good driving FYI, and then we went to Heidelberg to drop off Kate's room mate Anna. Since we were already in town Kate and I walked around town and took in the sights.

ENJOY and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss y'all and hope you are each having a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I just would like to say I am very very very thankful for each and every one of you. With out my good friends I would not have been able to take such a leap to this new job. I feel so supported and loved by all my family and friends.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

YOU *points* are what make me thankful this holiday season.

Love ya,
Rachel

New home, new friends and a Christmas market

2008-11-27T11:20:00.005-05:00

So I was waiting on a flight down in the ER and I started talking to a nurse down there. We started talking and come to find out she used to work in the ER at UC....yes the same hospital I used to work at!!!! Her name is Shelly and I have decided to call her friend now.

Here are some pictures of a Christmas market Shelley and I went to!! It was a ton of fun!!

Love y'all
Rachel

Snow falling on Germany

2008-11-27T11:12:00.003-05:00

So it snowed in Germany.....here are a few pictures.

ENJOY!!!

Just a heads up

2008-11-15T23:25:00.003-05:00

I am doing well at work, they think I am this amazing nurse which I get a kick out of since I am the youngest one there! On a serious note there is no way I would have this honor of moving here if it had not been for the amazing nurse who trained me! I owe them more than I can express. Each and every one of them had so much knowledge and lets not forget patients to train me!! I will write more on this subject later when I can collect my thoughts better and give them the attention they deserve.

I have discover how to use my web cam for evil.....

So whats going on in the Rachel hood you ask? I work nights these days...that is to be re-evaluated come Dec/Jan. I am looking into day trips to take coming up. Especially for the Christmas markets that are all over Germany that people keep raving about. Tomorrow I am going to check out an auction on base for some furniture. As you can see from the pictures I don't have much so I am looking for a few good items. I will let you know how it all goes.

I have to get some sleep but I just wanted y'all know I am doing well and things are moving right along.

Love ya!!

I have color!!!!

2008-11-15T23:09:00.009-05:00

So my goods came (thank goodness) so I now have a splash of color in this gray and white house.

As you can see I still have plenty of unpacking to do. I need to build some shelves so I can hang my cloths and get them out of the boxes and suite cases that I have been living out of for two months. All in all things are going pretty good. I still have a few things to get worked out but its all good. In the end it all comes down to the pure wonderful feeling to be in my own bed for a change!!

Love y'all

And she is off...

2008-11-06T18:33:00.009-05:00

I have managed to see some new cities so far. One happens to be Heidelberg, which is about 45 min or more away from where I live. Here are some pictures of me and my new friend Maggie as well as the castle that Heidelberg is known for.

Will take more pictues next time!! I was just looking around so much I forgot to take but these few!!

Moving on UP!!!

2008-11-01T09:40:00.006-04:00

Hello to EVERYONE!!! I am happy to report that I am no longer going hotel room to hotel room. Packing up my few belongings each morning. As well as taking my little bag of food in with my each night so I had some cran juice to wake up to and a nice bowl of Cheerios so I could start the day off right. Below are the pictures of my little piece of Germany that I can now call my own.

The front oh my home

The back of my home with my little German rental car, named Monty (no idea why but its just how I roll)

The view out the windows to the front (top floor)

The view out back of my house (once again top floor but all the floors below have the same view since as you can see there is no house behind me)

The bath tube, ie why I took the house.

The den with the fireplace!!

My goods come in the am (FINALLY!!! FYI the Army had lost them for a spell and it make me kinda angry...kinda) so once they are here I will take more pictures so y'all can see a better "view" with all my things.

Love each and every one of you and thank you for all your kind words of support!!
Rachel

Volksmarch

2008-10-21T05:36:00.008-04:00

So I had a wonderful weekend last week (not this past one...I was at work and loved it) when a few of my fellow nurses invited me to go to a Volksmarch. This is something Germans like to do on Sat or Sun. There are the 5k, 10k and 20k. They each are followed by a small town festival with the usual fair. Well the one I went to on Saturday was followed by a bus ride and a wine festival. I had soooo much fun and bought a bottle of wine that is now sitting in my car for me to drink some day.
It was an all day thing and I had so much fun. The extra wonderful part was that the weather we nice and it was a truly beautiful day!! Here are some pictures!

Then on to the wine festival. We were on the Mosel though I can't recall the town.

Had a wonderful time and look forward to doing it again. Oh and another bit of news. Just this last Thursday I found a house. I will be getting the keys come Friday so I am hoping to get those up over the next week.

Love ya and will keep you updated!
Rachel

Nine to Five...well kinda

2008-10-07T11:52:00.007-04:00

So this past weekend I did start to work...kinda. Orientation is always a fun process especially when you are learning new computer system. I did pretty good and had a nice preceptor Cpt Dennis aka Bob who showed me around the place which was very nice of him. I did manage to take a few pictures, no really good ones but just a few to show that no matter where you are a nurse you still have to clean sh*t up!!!

Thought y'all would get a kick outta that!!

Any way!!

Weather has been pretty good, defiantly fall here but as I was house/apartment hunting I took these pictures of the country side. Oh and BTW no home for this girl yet. Please keep me in your prayers that I find a home. So far housing is pretty "tight" and I have not found anything I would let a pig live in....*shakes head*. My spirits are up and life is getting pretty good, gonna get a car this week so that will be WONDERFUL!!!

So here are some pretty pictures to look at.

Well I love y'all and hope to talk to each and everyone one of you soon!!!!

Rachel

Death by Power Point

2008-09-29T14:10:00.003-04:00

I kid you not, I think it could be an actual medical diagnosis. I have spent a solid week and a half it seems just being shown power point presentations on how things are done at my new job. Oh and I have now seen every security video and seen countless power point slide shows about knowing every measure I need to take both when traveling as well as just living out in the community to identify a terrorist. I really never knew that I would be come a CIA agent instead of nurse here, boy am I surprised!! (FYI this is all in good humor...or so I think)

I am being funny here...well only a little bit. I really do think that the Government should take out stock in Power Point ie Windows office. I have as of yet not worked a single hour as a nurse in my two and a half weeks here (though my neighbor has been her two weeks longer than me.....).

What I DO have to show for my time is an id card, health insurance, a ration card (no joke they DO exists), passed my health exams (hearing, sight and physical), passed a drug test (or so I think), I also have a drivers licence and a few more piece of knowledge on how to spot a terrorist.

It is not all bad really. I did get to look at apartments today, and have an idea on what kind of car to buy etc.

For all those wonderful friends and family that check this little blog I do what to let you know I am not homesick yet, though at times I do wonder what I have gotten myself into!! Those moment are fewer these days since I have gotten most of my computer training done (getting this computer training done has really become a milestone in my life. It is on some of the most ridiculous stuff I have ever come across!! but any who) which as now led my bosses to the conclusion that I can now....dun dun dun............WORK!!!!

Yes folks your read it right I get to actually work as a NURSE come Tuesday Sept the 30th in the year of our Lord 2008!!!!! I have to be there at 0630 (yeah that one hurts me to read too!!) and get my scrubs on and get report at 0645. I know that the excitement I am currently feeling will wear off by 0631 once I truly realize how early I had to wake up but for now I am pretty excited.

I will try to take a few more pic this coming week so y'all can have more to look at then my poor excuse for writing!

Just to let y'all know I am doing well, loving this new adventure and do miss each and everyone of you!!

Love ya!
Rachel

Oh what a swim!!

2008-09-16T10:18:00.016-04:00

Sooooooooooooooooooooo here I am in Germany!!! It was a long long long flight but I made it! Sorry it has taken me so long to write y'all the internet here just sucks! Here is a pic of me at Baltomore before I got on my flight to Germany...I was soooo tired and hot at this point!!

My sponsor Michelle was at waiting for me once I got my baggage and we then proceeded to drop my belongings off in my room and then started a long line of paperwork at different offices. I had to swear in with the flag to defend the constatution, that was fun. I may have to re-enact it so I can take some pictures!! Any way about the paperwork, I must say they do ask some strange questions! For example one questions is weather I can move and think simutanulusly.....ok then. Well I managed to get through a few more questions before I totally went looney from lack of sleep!! We then did a small tour of the base and then headed over to the grocery story ie the commessary. Over all not a bad first day!

Day two: I slept as much as I could, though I kept waking up every few hours, oh well. I got to meet one of my "neighbors" (he is in the hotel room next to mine), whom is also going to be a nurse in the ICU, and we went to lunch. It was raining most of the day so not too much to do. We did get to the libary, I got to buy some calling cards that WORKED, etc!!!!!! Yeah I tried to call my family on Friday but the dang cards would not work, oh well porblem solved now. Over all not too bad a day.

Day three: The sun was out and so I planned to do the same!! Its Germany here folks so every thing is closed on Sundays so Jack, the neighbor, and I drove to a city that is pretty close and walked around to see the train station, buses, what the local shopping was like etc.

Here is where I will be living till I get a place

I have spent the last few days working on paperwork, meeting some of my new co-workers and getting stuff done. For example today I got my badge, was inproccesed, had a hearing test, and got my drug test done. Really this is a lot by the standards around here!!! It seems to take FOREVER to get the simplest things done. Oh well its my new life and I am going to roll with it. I did get a cell and will be working on getting my skype downloaded, will let you know how it goes.

Love ya,

Rachel

BTW I cannot get the spell check to work sooooooo sorry about that!!

Bare cubbard

2008-09-07T11:49:00.007-04:00

So they came, they packed and then they loaded it all into a plywood crate and sealed it up. Yep the first part of moving is done and all my worldly goods are headed for a little trip across the pond. It all went far smoother than I ever thought possible, gives me a wee bit more confidence in this whole move thing. I now get to look forward to unpacking everything when I get my apartment in Germany!!!! Oh the fun I will have, or at least that is what I am telling myself, every little bit helps.

The count down is in the single numbers so I am pretty excited and am just ready to start this adventure.

Will keep y'all updated!

Love ya,
Rachel

Friends

2008-09-03T18:02:00.006-04:00

As this process unfolds I have come to realized that I have been especially blessed with friends who are the best!! I was very happy that I got to hang out with two of them today. Bud is moving also in the near future so I wish her the very best these next few months!! Lindsay is on a new journey already with her new husband and cute dog!! I adore them both and am thankful for the time I got to spend with them today!!

Love ya ladies!

Rachel

Moving right along!

2008-09-03T17:36:00.005-04:00

So today was D-day, moving day. I have been spending the last week working on getting my stuff ready for the big move, packing, sorting and the like. Well first off I never realized I had some many pieces of clothing, so I first got that all sorted out. I then decided to be all "organized" by getting the kitchen items divided to one area, den items to another, bathroom, bedroom etc, you get the idea. I took pictures of everything..... well I think it is just supposed to be expensive items but this helped me make a more complete inventory if I could refer to a pic for each item listed, wow this makes me sound really anal retentive huh!!! So the whole making a list and taking pictures took some time too, about a day really.

It seemed to be quite a drag, not to mention I went down memory lane WAAAYYYYYY too much when I was going through my room. Oh and on a side note thank you Kate for helping me clean out my room over a year ago or this would have been a HORRIBLE process!!!! In the end though I think I am thankful I went this extra step since it did make everything go very smoothly this morning when the movers came. FYI they all asked how many times I had done this since I seemed like a pro! *blush and mental high five*

So now here I am with most of my worldly possessions all boxed up and ready to be moved in the am. This is a huge relief and it kinda makes me think that I can take on this whole move by myself, quite a feet! Over the last week as I have been packing I have honestly had my doubts, it just seems like too huge a project/life change to be doing all alone and with no prior experience at something like this *waves around*. Amazingly today calmed my nerves just by how smooth it all went and how well I had been able to prepare on my own, by just reading up and finding resources with the information I needed.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me find the information I needed, answered all my annoying questions, calmed my irrational fears and have just otherwise "been there" for me.

Love ya!!!

Norah Nu

2008-08-31T16:25:00.014-04:00

I went camping one last time with my dear friend Amber and her family. I has so much fun and very thankful for the time we got to spend together. So while I was waiting on lunch I kinda made sweet Norah do a photo session and boy or boy is she a cutie pie!! So here is my favorite baby in the WHOLE world!!

Party!

2008-08-31T16:20:00.004-04:00

Here is some of my wonderful former co-workers who took the time out to come over to my house to play!!

I truly feel blessed that I have had the honor to work with such amazing ladies and nurses! Thank you all for coming by to see me one last time before I go.

Rachel

Jenn's Shower

2008-08-31T16:01:00.008-04:00

I had the honor and privilege of throwing a dear friends wedding shower a week ago. Since Jenn is getting married so far from her adoring fan club I just had to make sure she came here to see us all!!!! I cannot thank Jenn's mom enough for all her help and dedication to her daughter. She really went above and beyond to make sure Jenn had a special time while here in Ohio! Thanks Bev!!!! I won't go on and on and bore those that read this simple blag with too much reading, I mean I "read" blogs really for the pictures too!

Thank you to all those that came and wished Jenn well in her new life!

Love ya,

Rachel

All in the Family

2008-08-10T21:17:00.007-04:00

Wow I have fallen behind in keeping y'all updated!! Ok here goes:

So my time working at the U, only six shifts left, is getting shorter and shorter!!!! I have been doing my very best to get all my paperwork done so that I can move to Germany. I have gotten all my Household goods paperwork setteled (I bugged them so much that they filled the paperwork out for me). I was given a flight to head over to Germany, directly into a base for September. I contacted my boss in Germany and have a sponsor...kinda. She has told me I am going to need a military ID to get on the flight. So I then used my thinking cap and made some calls, sent emails out etc. WELL my dear friends I am not currently in possesion of an ID cause the Army does not classify me as empoloyed yet, grrrrrrate. I will cont. to work on this little subject in the next few weeks.

I found this all out while out in Wyoming on a family trip to the Teatons and Yellowstone. I had wanted to make this trip since I was in High School so accomplishing this was truly a pleasure.

The Grand Teatons

Fishing out on Jackson Lake with Haley and Russell

Yellowstone

Ma and Pa at the Old Faithful Inn

That is all for now folks!! I will do the best to keep up with this blog a bit better now that time is getting short!

Yours,

Rachel

On a side note...

2008-07-13T02:21:00.002-04:00

I got an email the other day and it was the official job offer!!! So now I have to make it to Germany by Sept 14th. I am sooooo shocked and then I was filled with an energy that has me walking on sunshine *breaks out in song*...sorry about that folks. I now have to hand in my resignation to my boss whom has been the BEST boss ever. I can only hope that as I continue on in my career I can have one that is of the same caliber. It will be sad to move away from such a great group of people but I think that I will be a better nurse because of it.

On a much happier note I have filled out a few more hundred pages of paperwork for the Government and now I have to go up to Wright Pat AFB to get my transportation worked out. I will iron out the details of moving EVERYTHING over seas, oh the joy. It is going to be such an adventure and I feel so blessed to travel it all with you.

I want EVERYONE to know that there is always room in my home for them and I would love it if every one of y'all would come visit me.

Love ya,
Rachel

For Laura and Seth.....and Kate

2008-07-13T01:53:00.009-04:00

So after Lindsay's wedding and then going camping with Amber and gang I headed down to TN to see the Sanders. It was an especially wonderful visit since Laura was finding out if she was going to meet a little girl or boy this December. WELL its a girl!!! As most of y'all know I am hardly with out my camera so I took a few snap shots for Kate since she is so far away right now, so here ya go!Waiting to go back..

Looking....looking, not really sure what they are looking at....

Ready Seth...its a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that we know who ya gonna call....

Well Kate and Meg of course!!!

It was a wonderful day and I cannot put into words how honored I was to be there. Thank you Seth and Laura for including me in y'alls big day. This little girl is going to be sooooo spoiled by everyone.

I wish y'all nothing but the very best!

Love y'all

Rachel

Fourth of July Camping

2008-07-13T01:40:00.006-04:00

I took a break and went camping with some friends over the Fourth.

my boots

Norah and I at the fireworks

I had sooo much fun even though it rained! The weather never matters when you have such wonderful company!

2min update

2008-07-03T09:55:00.006-04:00

Lets see how fast I can do this, hmmm ok everything that has gone on in the last month..

Took part in Kelly and JB's wedding

Went with Holly as she committed herself to Christ

Took part in Lindsay and Mike's wedding

So I guess you can call this last month two weddings and a Christ....sounds about right to me.

So in other news I have filled out all paperwork, signed my life away and been looking for apartments in Germany. Just a small rant here on one of said pieces of paperwork. Apparently 90% of the forms the government sends you are unable to be saved as you fill them out. You have to fill it ALL out then print right then. Well this can cause even the average bear to get burned out. For example I had to list all the jobs I have had in the last seven years, with the name and address of someone who knew me then as well as a supervisor name and address.......yeah. Well like most people my age this seven years covers my college years. Meaning that I had some random short jobs, the kind where you never even knew your supervisor name then much less now. Oh well I managed to get through it and give as much information as possible. They wrote me back today and said that I "passed" and they would be in contact with me. I just wanted to thank all y'all for your prayers and words of support. Have a wonderful day!!

Love ya,

Rachel

Roll with it!

2008-06-30T11:56:00.002-04:00

Sorry this is late but on Wed. I got an email that said they were officially offering me the job at Landstuhl all I needed to do was fill out a few forms and then a letter would come. Long story short this chick-a-dee is moving to Germany!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to fax a few things but other wise I took the job! I will write more later but I just wanted to let my friends and family know the good news!!!!

Love y'all!
Rachel

These boots were made for walking

2008-06-06T20:26:00.009-04:00

As many of you know I get excited about the smallest things and this post is one of them. As most of y'all know I have been presented with an amazing opportunity to move over seas and take a job as a nurse in a military hospital. I would still be working as an ICU nurse getting that thrill I love along with learning all kinds of new things. Well today the "manager" of this unit called me!!! I cannot explain how my mind went blank right after I found out who it was. The first question she asked was tell me about yourself......*tumble weed blows by*....

Though I am unsure how I managed to get the words out I did manage to tell her a few key facts about me, myself, and the nurse I am. I told her how I have worked for a year and a half as a RN in a wonderful hospital (though lets be honest it is the getto) and have had the privileged to work with some truly inspiring co-works. Little did they know I had hand picked them so that I could be the nurse I know God wants me to be. Their knowledge and skills I will forever cherish and hold close so that I too can become a truly wonderful nurse. I believe the interview went well over all and that I made a good impression on the person who could be my future boss

So about this job. The "manager" on the phone told me how there are so many different types of patients I might see while working there. I could have a balloon pump on a cardiac patient one day and the next have burn patient or a blast injury to the head. This job is going to challenge me in ways I could never imagine!!! I hope they want me!

I am taking a leap out and hope all this works out. How wonderful would it be to be able to travel Europe for a year and make new friends? Plus I get to be on the same side of the pond as Kate which is a total upgrade.

There are some draw backs though. I get this funny feeling....ok so I read it somewhere that I am going to be filling out paperwork till my fingers bleed and then a bit longer. I have been going to web page after web page to see if I can get more info on my move and just really try to figure out how this all is going to come together. Let me tell you I my head hurts for all the acronyms I just read in the past hour alone. To tell you the truth I think they make up half of them there has got to be a better way!!! I know in the end I will become a ninja at all this but right now I do feel like I am the first one who has EVER done something like this, or at least the first person I have ever known that has taken this leap! I know I am being lead to a wonderful place and its all going to turn out just fine. So wish me luck!!!!

So with the hope of getting this job I have started to design my apartment, yeah I am THAT dorky! I will try to get the images scanned in that I am using and will try to post them.

So goodnight!

Rachel

mmmmm yeah its a no go

2008-05-31T01:30:00.001-04:00

I have tried and tried to post a slide show with the pictures from the Cali trip but I am sad to say I just don't have the brain power!! I will keep trying though.

California girl!!

2008-05-07T13:59:00.014-04:00

So as we all know I adore to travel and am willing to go just about anywhere! This past week I had the pleasure of going out to San Diego to visit my friend Jenn in her now home state. I have never been west of CO so this was a big deal to me. I went with a co-worker now friend Maggie and we had sooooooo much fun! Being the dork that I am I made it a goal to all the cheesy tourist stuff. We went to the Zoo, Midway ship, Sea World as well as going hiking in the Torrey Pines. Oh and you know I was at the beach as much as possible, werd g. I cannot tell you how wonderful everything was. One place we went was to see the Seals along "La Jolla" who were puping (having little seals) oh the fun. I will attach more photos as I edit them. I put in the pic where I am going after the Marine whom was "guarding" the Cpt. quarters on the Midway.

Jenn and I flying a chopper

Maggie and I at the Zoo

Well I will try to get a slide show together for y'all so you can see more of the pictures I took!

Love,

Rachel

Could it be...

2008-04-17T15:45:00.005-04:00

As I last posted I am at a fork in the road as to where I will be this time next year. Well prayers have been answered and an amazing opportunity came my way!!!
As many of y'all know I work at the local level one trauma center which also happens to be a teaching hospital for the Air Force CSTARS. These folks are on three man (both men and women- a doc, RN and RT) teams that transport the wounded from Iraq to Germany and then to the good old US of A. While these wonderful individuals are at my hospital they learn how we handle our head injuries as well as train in their spare time. So a wonderful nurse who was assigned to me and my patients told me about an opportunity to work in an ICU at a base in Germany.....as a civilian! I would get the experience that I truly want and I feel will benefit me to no end, as well as getting to travel to far off lands, ie over seas.
I did some research and the nurse whom I met on Wed, yes this just happened Wed, will give me her card and help me in the process. I am truly at a loss for words as to how all this has happened. I think my parents will be happy that I am not going to be placed in "harms way" and I get the trauma experience that I was working for by joining the armed forces with out actually having to join, kinda.
I am not sure what my plans will be once I take this leap but I truly feel that this is the answer God has given me to my prayers, as well as to those whom have shared this journey with me.

Love ya,
Rachel

Get 'er done

2008-02-19T19:31:00.001-05:00

Well this year looks to be a wonderful year!! With all that has happened over the last seven years its good and let me say a relief to have a good year. I am going to be going all over the world this year......possibley futher than some may think! So this year I will head to San Diego CA, Colorodo Springs CO, The Grand Tetons, Madrid Spain and any where else my life leads. I hope to see more of my friends this year since I will not have my head in a book as much as I usually do! Love me!!!! There are a few big questions I have to answer before this year is up. The biggest one is decidingwhat I want to do travel nursing or the Army Corps. I feel that I have been lead to this point though all the experiecens I have had up to this point. In the end I know God will guide me to what I need to do and as we all know I will be happy in whatever I do.

New Orleans

2007-12-09T16:50:00.001-05:00

So Kate needed to go to New Orleans in person to trun in her visa to go to Spain. What else were we to do but turn it into a five day vaction......we had fun! I've never been to New Orleans so this was something special. The city is still in bad shape since the flood but over all we had a wonderful time!

Our hotel room, Jackson Square and the oldest bar in America...it has not electricity.

Oh the places I've seen this year

2007-12-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

So this year has been wonderful and I really could not ask for more. I traveld to Texas, graduated, passed my boards, went to New Orleans to play and just jet set all over the great US of A!!!

I know those letters you get around christmas time are pretty dumb but I just HAD to do this. I dunno why really besides the whole thing about finally making it and dreams coming true and all that jazz but lets just roll with it. As you my friends know the last few years have had far more downs than ups, in fact most of you laugh when the song "when going through hell" comes on. Well I did make it through school and then I got my travel on. I guess next I'm going to work on a mission trip. We shall see what the next year brings!

Love ya,
Rachel

Laura's wedding!

2007-08-27T13:24:00.001-04:00

I had such a wonderful time and was honored to have been in her wedding!

These are some pictures of Laura's wedding on July 14. They all look so beautiful that it was hard to only post a few on here!

Love,

Rachel

I dunno

2007-03-13T17:12:00.001-04:00

I just thought I would start this blog as I begin my way in the world. I hope to be able to put my travels on here as well as updates for my friends.

Love y'all
Rachel