The girl who sat next to me

I'm not really sure about the exact date, but I do know that it was mid-late august way back in 1989, it was the day I started my first day of kindergarten. As I have heard from my mother many times, I was not very fond of her leaving me at school by myself. I'm sure it was just terrifying for my little 5 year old self to be left at some strange place with a bunch of complete strangers especially since I was pretty shy back then. Luckily we had to sit in alphabetical order and the girl next to me didn't want to be there either, and that's when we became best friends! I look back on my life now and wonder just where would I be if my last name wasn't Rush or her last name wasn't Rovenstine, because in either of those cases we wouldn't have got to sit right next to each other.

I look at a lot of different aspects of my life and think without her a lot of things probably wouldn't be the same in. I mean after all she is the one who started taking me to church with her way back when. From there I made some great friends who I may or may not have run into in life, I also went to a college that I most likely would have never even considered if I didn't go to the Wesleyan church. But it doesn't just end there a couple of jobs that I have had have come about by her mom, so I wouldn't have had those either. I mean I look at the people I hang out with every day and they are either Rovenstines themselves or people from church. Oh and I can't forget all the countries I have been able to visit just to go visit her, I mean how many people get go to Australia, Suriname, and South Korea to visit their best friend? Really how many people even know where Suriname is, or would dream of going there, but thats beside the point.

But with all this said I just wanted to say happy birthday to the girl who sat next to me 20 years ago. HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY DALENE!!!

New Shoes!!!

So my mom and I went to Dillards yesterday to shop a little and I saw some sale racks over by the shoes, so naturally I headed that way. Well I was looking at the racks and I saw this pair of shoes I thought were pretty cute, but thought I don't really need them, and what would I really wear them with. So now I will tell you these shoes are $90 shoes, but the box was marked $26.70 which is a really good deal. But if you don't really need them or know what you will wear them with its still a little too much to spend on shoes that are just cute (well for me anyway). But then I noticed there was a sign on top of the rack that said $9.99 but then on top of that there was a sign that said 50% off the lowest marked price. So I thought ok for $13 I can't pass these shoes up or for $9.99 which ever price they might be. so I decided to go ahead and buy them. So I'm walking up to the register knowing im getting an amazing deal with these shoes, regardless if they are $13 or $10. So I had the box to the lady and she said these are off the sale rack right? to which I replied yes. She was like this is such a good deal, and I said yeah I know. Then she scans the shoes and I read the price on the register. Much to my surprise it was 50% off of $9.99 so they ring up for $4.99, I was in utter amazement, these kind of good deals never happen to me! So hear is a picture of a pair just like the ones I got.

No Luck in the Animal Dept.

Well this past year just hasn't been the most lucky year when it comes to animals, the cute little puppy I posted about died last night. My dad let all the animals out to go to the bathroom about 6pm last night and about 15 mins later he went to let them in and couldn't find the puppy. So we all set off to find her my mom and I on foot and my dad on the 4-wheeler, well the found her south of the pond dam and she had been killed by what we would guess was the coyotes that run out in the pasture behind our house. They didn't tear her up but it looks as though they just grabbed her on the ribs and most likely collapsed her lungs, she then hemoraged and died poor little baby, she was a really sweet little puppy. Needless to say I think the coyotes are getting a little rediculous, to take this poor puppy out of the back yard in the middle of the day. I think we need to have a hunting season for coyotes if we don't already.

14 years already?!

So 14 years ago today was the Oklahoma City Bombing, it is hard to believe that it has been that long ago. I can remember that morning just like it was yesterday. I was in 5th grade and I remember all the 5th grade classes went to the library and the kids were told to get a book and go read and not pay attention to the TV. Well of course if you tell a kid not to do something they are going to do it. I remember seeing it on the TV and not really understanding what was going on (since were weren't supposed to pay attention to the TV and all), but I could read that it was in down town Oklahoma City, and I knew that whatever happened was really bad. I remember some of my family members who lived in OKC telling me how they could feel it 5 miles away.

Every April 19th since then I have thought about that day, its amazing how some memories can get burned into your head never to be forgotten. I wish that was the only tragedy that I will remember like that but Sept. 11 is the same way, I hope that there aren't anymore in my lifetime. I would rather reflect on happy times, not the sad.

New Puppy

Last week we were getting ready to go out to dinner when a tragedy struck, my mom was pulling out of the drive way when my dog Biscuit decided she wanted to go with her. Well Biscuit overshot her mark a little I suppose and she ended up under the back tire of my moms car, it was a very sad time at our house. My mom felt especially horrible since she was the one who ran her over, quite a few tears were shed from all of us I believe. My dad felt as though my mom was needing a replacement for Biscuit (even though she was my dog) and our other dog Sheba was just lost without her friend, so the search began. My dad called the people we got Biscuit from to see if they had any puppies and they had sold their last one, but he finally found some. This is what my parents ended up getting on Thursday evening. She is a Female but is yet to have a name.

Jet Lag

So I got into Daegu around 1:30am on march 4th, which would have been 10:30am on march 3rd back home. This was after leaving Bartlesville at 4am on march 2nd so I had been traveling for a good 30 hours with very minimal sleep. I would imagine between my 3 flights I got somewhere between 2 or maybe 3 hours of sleep total, if that much. So needless to say by the time I reached my final destination I was more than tired. I thought oh I'm going to sleep soooo good tonight and since it is time to sleep I really won't have much jet lag, well I was wrong. I did fall asleep quickly, but I slept for 2.5 hours and woke up thinking I had been asleep forever and I felt refreshed and ready to go. When I looked out the window and saw that it was still dark I decided it was not time to get up and with no clock near me I got out of bed and went and looked at a clock and discovered it was 4:45am. So I went back to sleep even though I really didn't feel tired at all. Then I woke up again, this time it was brighter outside and knowing we had to be somewhere at 9 I just knew it had to be time to get out of bed no it was only 6am so I still had another hour to sleep. Never has it been that I wake up before I had to, I mean I'm just not a morning person. Well I figured it was just my first night being in a different time zone and it would be better the second night, but no. For the first time in history I have woken up every day that I have been here before Dalene, before the alarm. Last night I slept for an entire 6 hours before I woke up, it was very exciting for me. I figure I will start sleeping normally when its about time to go home. I have traveled a lot and I don't think time changes have ever affected me this much, maybe being older has something to do with it I just don't know.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

In less than 12 hours I will be heading to the airport (gotta love those 6:45am flights) after about 22 hours, 3 planes and LOTS of people watching! I will be landing in Seoul then followed by a 4.5 hour bus ride to Daegu I will finally be at my final destination. So Dalene get ready b/c I will be there soon! Lets just pray I don't get stuck anywhere for two days on my way, We don't need a repeat of last years journey to Suriname!

A weekend in Skiatook

A couple of weeks ago my sister calls and tells me she and her husband are going to Vegas for 4 days. I knew what that meant, it really meant you are watching the kids and the animals for 4 days. The girls and I have had a pretty good time while the parents have been gone. Thursday the girls had soccer and gymnastics so I got to run them to practice and chill in the car for an hour, it was exciting really. Then I came home and made dinner which I thought was a pretty boring meal; pasta, corn, and cheesy garlic bread. Apparently the girls thought it was amazing though they told me they didn't want me to leave, they want me to stay and cook for them. According to them I'm the best cook in the family other than my mom. Oh I also made brownies and they told me I make the best desserts... they were from a box. I guess it makes me feel good that the girls think I cook good haha. But our time is coming to an end Laurie and Evan get back home tonight and I will make my way back to Bartlesville, its fun for a short time, but I'm ready to go back to my own bed without children.
this is a couple of the "little" animals my sister has, this is only 2 of her 5 dogs and they don't get any smaller!

Super Bowl

A little late I know but better late than never right?

A few people came over for the super bowl and might I add I was disappointed with the commercials those have always been my favorite part but when watching them I really wasn't impressed for the most part, with the exception to the Doritos commerical it was pretty funny. So anyway Becca said Nikki where is your camera take pictures for you blog, so here they are.


Everyone is looking so excited... Kristina Obviously didn't want her picture taken


Becca and Trent were having a little too much fun with the camera, shows how much everyone was really paying attention to the game.





Over all it was an exciting Super Bowl party as you can see, but it was fun!

New Years Eve

This New Years Eve was unlike any New Years I have ever had, this year I was at my little cousin Waite's wedding (he is only 14 months younger than me, but way bigger). This is a picture of Waite and I dancing. It's weird to think he is married, he shouldn't be married yet he is younger than me! It seems like we were just the flower girl and ring bearer in a wedding, its crazy! But the fact is I'm getting old. All it all it was a good new years, fun times with the family!

It's been along time...

It's been along time since I have done a number of things...

*Posted on my blog (I'm going to work on this really)
*Cleaned my room (be prepared to see the progress in an upcoming blog!)
*Gone on a trip (I'm planning on going to see Dalene in March!)
*Worked (after my trip I will begin to really job hunt)
*Had people over (I'm thinking Super Bowl party)
*Seen some friends from college (I'm going to try harder to see them)

Well this isn't much but its something, I will be posting more often!