Maybe, just maybe

Today started out rather early for me, I was up, showered, hair fixed and out the door by 7:10 this morning. Why so early, you ask? Well one of my dad's employees has a son with cancer and he had to go to OKC for some tests today, his mom doesn't drive so my dad asked if I would be able to drive them down there. With my current employment status, I couldn't really say no and I am pretty familiar with the OU Children's Hospital where his appointments were. It is the same hospital my niece Kathryn had surgery and spent about a week at 4 years ago or so. I was impressed with the hospital back when Kathryn was there, today was no different.

As I spent some time on the oncology and blood disorders floor today, I got to see some really cute kids and hear the stories of why they were there. One girl was 4 and she was diagnosed with lukemia 2 months ago. Another girl was 2 years old, yes I said 2 YEARS OLD and weighed 12 lbs. and she has some rare disorder that only 24 other people have been diagnosed with. Her mom found out when she was pregnant with her that she was going to have problems and the doctor suggested she think about terminating her pregnancy, she said that was never an option for her, God gave her that special little girl for a reason. As I listened to her story I couldn't help but to tear up. They sent the girl home when she was 6 days old, with hospice and told her parents to just take her home and love her. The doctors didn't expect her to live long but she is now 2 and her mom is still loving her! Another little boy who was 14 months old had another disorder, that I don't remember all the characteristics of but its something he will get to live with forever and he was just adorable with big brown eyes and gelled hair.

So with all these stories, and my love for kids, I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe I need to be working in a childrens hospital or somehow with children that have possibly life threatening ailments. To see these little kids who are so sick, but yet so happy and strong just makes any little issue in my normal day seem so trivial. Yes at times it would definitely be heart breaking, but I believe you can learn so much from these kids and their families. I haven't yet figured out what I can do that won't require me to go back to school and be able to work with these kids so if you have any ideas I'm definitely open to suggestions, thoughts, and reflections on this post.

200!!!

So I have been bowling on a league for 5 years I guess now. Since I started bowling I have tried to do one thing, bowl a 200 game. I have come close, I have had up to a 191 but I have always fallen short of that 200. Tonight my first game was a 122, with an average of 131 that just wasn't good enough and I didn't bowl a strike until the tenth frame of my first game. Typically that is not a good sign, that means I will probably struggle the rest of the night, but tonight was different. We started the second game and I bowled alright the first couple of frames then I got a double (2 strikes in a row) then the next frame was ah then I got a turkey (3 strikes in a row). By this time, I'm doing the math and making a joke about getting a 200, so it gets to the 10th frame I get 9 pins, I pick up my spare and Gina said Nikki do you know what your score is right now? With one ball left to bowl I'm sitting at a 191, this means I need 9 pins to get a 200, I was getting a little nervous, but didn't let it get to me. I get up throw my last ball and I knock down 9 pins, so the game ended at an even 200! Finally after 5 years I got my 200, I guess I'm raising the bar a little and the goal is to get at least one more by the end of the season!

A scary thing that really happens

Upon occasion I like to watch the National Geographic Channel, its rather informative and sometimes quite interesting. Tonight there was a show on called Locked Up Abroad, it was about a lady who traveled from England to Ecuador to try to help a friend who was in Ecuador get his visa and all his paper work straight to go back to England and try to work things out with his wife. At least it was something to that effect. So it turned out the guy made up this story about wanting to go back to England and took a bag apart and filled the lining with drugs and when the lady went to get on her plane to go back home she got charged with drug trafficking and possession. That's just to sum up the hour long story I just watched about it.

It seems that you hear about these things happening to single women traveling to foreign countries from time to time. Maybe some of them know whats going on, but most of the time these women claim to have no idea what is happening to them when they are taken in by the police. After watching Brokedown Palace and shows like Locked up Abroad or even hearing about it on the news, its something I remember every time I travel to a foreign country. Of course I'm very cautious of not letting my luggage out of my site. But the story of the girl who went from Australia to Bali to go surfing who claimed the luggage handlers had put the drugs in her bag makes it even a scarier thought. Those are people you should be able to trust with your bags, not people you should worry about tampering with them.

So as a single female who travels to foreign countries alone, as I watch these shows I think what if something like that ever happened to me. The way these women are treated in countries where at times they can't even speak the language, it is just a terrifying thought to try to even fathom what they go through and how strong they have to be. I don't know that I could be as strong as they are, I mean I guess if you are put in the situation you just have to deal with it and rely on a strength much bigger than yourself. But spending years and years locked up in a jail in a country that's not your own, that doesn't speak your language, that you aren't familiar with the laws its just scary, I hope and pray no one I know would ever have to endure that.

Are the Lady Bugs coming back???

As I was sitting here watching TV tonight a bug was flying around my light, I thought it was a moth until it landed, turns out it was a lady bug. This takes me back to my freshman year of college, when our dorm became overtaken by lady bugs. These weren't your typical red lady bugs with black spots, they were more of an orange color with no spots and they were EVERYWHERE.

I had a friend that lived upstairs from me and Renana, one day she came running downstairs and into our room yelling Nikki help! help! I said "Sarah whats wrong?" she said "the lady bugs have taken over my room." I thought she was over exaggerating because she had a tendency of doing that at times, so I went upstairs and opened her door, and this time she wasn't lying. These stupid lady bugs were everywhere the light fixture was complete filled with them, they were all over the closet doors flying through the air and on her bed. It was pretty disgusting, from that day forward I have never looked at lady bugs the same way. She was scared to go in her room so I went downstairs and did the only thing I could think to do, I got the vacuum and just started sucking them all up. We continued to see these lady bugs throughout the spring and they really were all over campus, just not as bad as they were in Sarah's room that day.

So with that little flash back I'm now thinking, its Feb. and freezing outside, should there really be lady bugs out this time of year? I find it a little odd, but I would rather find a random lady bug flying around than say a scorpion in crawling across the floor which is another little creature we occasionally get to see out at my house.

Apparently I'm a Sailboat?!?!

Tonight was the Super Bowl, and oh what a great game it was... Ok so I didn't watch it hardly at all there were other things that had me side tracked such as being a sailboat. As with every year, at least as long as I can remember, I have either attended or had a Super Bowl party, well this year was no different. The Kaelber's had a Super Bowl reunion of sorts for our old small group that used to meet at their house on Sunday nights. Well the last time we all got together there were only a couple of children, but my how things changed quickly! Tonight there were 8 children ages 4 and under there, it was a definitely a good time. So with that said I'm sure you wondering what the whole sailboat thing is about. I was sitting in the floor playing with a couple of the babies, when along comes a couple of the other children. The oldest at the party sits on top of me and said Nikki you are a sailboat we are going sailing, she then goes on to say we need to get more friends on the boat. So before long I somehow had 7 children I believe sitting on top of me and apparently I was a sailboat, we went and visited some island and as children disappeared apparently that meant they jumped off the boat to go swimming. Oh how I love the imaginations of little kids, you never know what they are going to say or come up with it's just great!

Smooth Face

When I went to visit Dalene in Korea back in March I was told to "pack lightly". This isn't an easy feat when you are going to a foreign country for two weeks, or for me when I'm going anywhere really. I really haven't been able to figure out how people pack in two suitcases to go live abroad for an entire year but anyway... In my attempt to pack lightly, Dalene said don't worry about bringing shampoo, conditioner, face wash, etc. because I could just use hers. So great that was one thing I didn't have to worry about taking, well when I get there I use her face wash and it was amazing. I mean really I fell in love with this stuff, didn't over dry my skin my face was clean feeling I just loved it. So we walked down the street to It's Skin and I bought a tube to take home with me, well during my stay there I think I went back to the store a time or two to buy some gifts for other people, each time they gave me samples. I love free stuff, well I never really looked at the stuff until today, when I decided I should really use these little samples. So not being able to read the entire label, didn't stop me. So I washed my face with the sample face wash tonight and used some of the sample moisturizer, then I began to wonder are these whitening formulas? Because in Korea, they like to whiten their skin. But the fact is my face is incredible smooth feeling right now so even if it is the whitening stuff I don't really care because my face feels amazing!

2 weeks and going strong

Today marks the beginning of my 3rd week without drinking Dr.Pepper, for those of you who know don't me, that's a pretty big thing for me. But the best thing is there has only been one or two days that I have really craved a Dr.Pepper, so I'm feeling pretty good about this no pop thing. I did this my freshman year of college and made it three months, I'm hoping to surpass that this time. In those three months changing nothing in my diet or exercise, I lost 5 lbs. I hoping to have the same thing happen again this time or even more than 5 lbs. would be just fine with me.
I do have to admit, I still drink tea and the occasional coffee so I still get my Caffeine, but there have been quite a few days I have gone without either of those. Maybe I will begin to like to drink water through all of this.

Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing?

Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing? Where have I been? Growing up this was a common phrase my dad used to say to me, when he would say it I would just roll my eyes and say shut up. Now as I am two months way from turning 26, I think about those four questions and the only one I can answer is where have I been.

Who am I? Sure I can say I'm Nikki Rush, I have a college degree blah blah blah. But that really doesn't answer who I am, sure those are things that I can use to describe myself but really Who am I, this is the 1st question I ask myself.

Where am I going? Where am I going, I have no clue, as of right now the answer would be nowhere, but I can't live life going nowhere. There has to be a purpose there has to be some place to go but where, that would be the 2nd thing to figure out.

What am I doing? Yet again, haven't a clue. I have no job, I didn't grow up with this longing to be a teacher, a doctor, a zoo keeper, or whatever else people may grow up wanting to be. Yes, I always wanted to get married and have kids, but at this point in my life that isn't an option. So what am I doing, I guess I'm looking for a job, but I don't just want a job. I want something that I enjoy something that is fulfilling, but I don't know what that is. So I guess this is the 3rd thing on the agenda.

Maybe I will figure out what I'm doing before I figure out where I'm going, who knows but the point is. I have to do something with my life, and I need to find the answer(s) as to what that is. I guess the quest is on, now where do I begin?

The Hiatus is Over

Wow! It's been a few months since I have posted a blog. And it's not really because I've had nothing to blog about, just not much time to write something. So where do I begin... For my moms birthday this year Gina and I decided we would buy some plane tickets to Dallas since Southwest was having that 72 hour sale, I mean we couldn't pass up one way tickets for $25 so we were determined to go somewhere. So we bought three round trip tickets to Dallas for the first part of Dec. initally we were just wanting to go somewhere, but after looking at the dates and where we were going we declared it was a Christmas shopping spree. So we packed as little as we could into our suitcases packing suitcases inside of suitcases, we left with 6 empty suitcases and 3 packed carry-ons. We came home with 6 packed to the weight limit suitcases and three bulging carry-ons, all in all I believe it was a successful trip. There were even a few things we were unable to bring back with us, luckily my Aunt and Uncle who we hosted us were coming up this way and were able to bring the stuff to us. Gina and I decided we should make this a tradition, however it should be longer than 4 days there was just too much shopping to do and not enough time to do it.

While we were there my Aunt Penny treated us to the Ice exhibit at the Gaylord Texan, which I would highly recommend to anyone in the Dallas area around Christmas. This year's theme was the Grinch, Gina and I had a little bit too much fun I think. I mean after all we aren't really kids anymore, but we acted like it. I have pictures to put on here but they will have to wait till another day.

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!