Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 23rd birthday. I'm going to go out to lunch to a restaurant called Benihana. They cook the food right in front of you. I'll post pictures later today.

Jenni

I'm Back

I was able to get all of my homework done this week. I had a quiz in my Interpersonal Communication class on Tuesday and got 14/15. Last Saturday I went to the Twin Cities Book Festival for my Creative Writing class. I attended a book reading, which I had never done before. It was very interesting to listen to the author read a chapter out of his book. I also had a lot of writing to do that I finally finished this morning, including a detailed paper on the reading I attended.

I had a hard time staying away though. I think I'm addicted to my blog. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about it and want to write a post. Although I couldn't because every time I was on the computer I was writing for class. It did give me a chance to think about things that I want to post about, which is good.

Jenni

Blog Turns 1

Happy birthday blog! Today is the one-year anniversary of my first post. This blog has been the best tool for getting my feelings out and helping other people. Thanks for being a part of it.

I have a lot of writing work to do for my online class in the next week. Tomorrow I'm going to attend a book festival and listen to a reading. Then I have to write a paper about it. I also have to do my weekly discussion posts and two page journal entry.

I'm going to be taking a week off from posting on my blog so that I can keep up with my school work. It's going to be different because I have been blogging for the past year, but I need the extra time. Thanks for your understanding. I will still be checking my e-mails and any comments people make.

Jenni

October Birthdays

I had a really fun weekend. On Friday night my family celebrated October birthdays. There are so many of us with birthdays in October, that every year we have a party. On Sunday it was my aunt Sandy's 50th birthday (sorry I told the whole world Sandy). We had a surprise birthday party for her. We invited a bunch of people including college and high school friends. The only thing she knew was that we were having a "small" get together for her birthday. She had no idea exactly how many people were going to be there. It was very fun to see her reaction. I wonder what I should do next October for my mom's 50th.

Jenni

Without Help

The past three weeks have been long. I have nurses that work for me 24/7. They come for 12 hour shifts from 7 AM to 7 PM and 7 PM to 7 AM. Usually, I will also have a PCA from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM to assist in my morning cares and getting me out of bed. However, for the past few weeks we haven't had a PCA to help during the weekdays, only on Saturday and Sunday. I think we got a little too used to having help because it was very difficult and time-consuming for the nurses to do everything themselves. My mom came down to help out when I needed it so that the nurses wouldn't get burned out. Last Friday I met and interviewed three candidates. I chose two of them because the PCA that works on the weekend will be on maternity leave in two months. They are going to do a split schedule. One of them trained in on Friday and the other yesterday. It was very nice to actually have a PCA to help out. I can't wait to see what they're capable of starting tomorrow.

Jenni

Happy October 1

It's breast-cancer awareness month. My blog will be one year old in eight days. My birthday is on the 19th and I will be 23. Good month!


Jenni

Update on School

I am doing really well in both my classes. In my interpersonal communication class at school we have been talking about different emotions and feelings. This chapter has actually helped me to dig deep inside and let go of emotions I didn't know I had. On my quiz last Thursday, I got 15/15. For my homework tomorrow, I had to write an emotions letter that described an emotion that I have been unwilling or unable to share with someone else.

Jenni

Help Me Help Others

I feel like I have so much to give, but not enough resources to do the things I want to do. My goal in life is to help others. I understand that I am doing that with my blog and that just by sharing my story it helps people, but I want to do so much more. I see all the people hurting around the world; I hear all the stories of others who need help. It saddens me to think that I cannot do everything and help everyone.

There are people out there who have lost their homes, their jobs, their family and they have nowhere to turn. There are people with disabilities who need medical equipment, physical therapy, even remodeling done on their homes that they aren't able to get around in. I've always said that I wanted to start a nonprofit organization to help others in need. I'm just not quite sure how to go about doing that. If anyone has ideas let me know.

Jenni

I Believe...

I received this in an e-mail. I'm not quite sure who wrote it but I found it to be very true.

Subject: Things to think about

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born. A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived!
I Believe....That just because two people argue, doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe...That it's taking me a long timeto become the person I want to be.
I Believe....That you should always leave loved ones withloving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe....That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to findout a secret. It could change your life forever.
I Believe...Two people can look at the exact samething and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe....That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.
Be thankful for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Jenni

Another Picture

Above is a picture of my sister and I at the art show. She cropped it and changed it to black and white. I think it's a great picture of us. If you're wondering whose fingers are wrapped around my headrest they're my aunt Sandy's. I'm not sure why she was cut out. I'm sure she'll have a talk with me later about that one.

Jenni