We arent in the city anymore...

Hi all

After a week of long days including a seminar from Dr Carey, an Australian OT whom is working with stroke sensory recovery from a training program perspective using neurological aspects. It was amazing to listen to and I would love to one day continue on with my education and also get my phd in neurology. Such a beautiful science. My classmates and I also did our first IN_HOME assessment for an 88-year old woman. We used the I-Hope to determine her barriers within her home. It was such a fun experience and it felt like a glimpse of being an OT. And lastly, I am working with a group of kids whose mothers are in a residence facility for recovering addicts. I get to create small groups for the kids and work on issues such as bullying. I really loved it and am so excited for the weeks ahead.

And after all this class and many hours of extra school work, my friend Diane celebrated her 24th birthday at hard rock and wild country.

yes, wild country which is on Horseshoe lane in a small suburb of Illinois. And it was a line dancing place.... to say the least it was a culture shock. I felt like I had walked into a movie like Hope Floats or some small town western movie.  It was awesome. After watching for a while my friends and I joined in and tried out some moves. It was so fun and funny. I even had a nice country boy ask me to dance. It was a blast!! And now back to home. PS it was in the 70s today! Beautiful and sunny. Oh st Louis sometimes I actually enjoy you!

Mike and Chelsea dancing

allison and I

my pre-dancing photo :)

as we walked in the view.

the outside.

love u all!!

LOVE

HAPPPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! 

Love is all around us.... spread love...

<3
amanda

Last week and next week.

We finally went to hockey on Friday after the longest week of my life. Rough week!!!!![ps that is an understatement] But classes are almost caught up after all the extra classes due to the snow days in the week before last. School is good and I feel excited for most of my classes. I have a home modification class which is awesome and neuro which is always my favorite. I am also starting volunteering for an organization that has a residence program for women recovering from addiction and their children. I will be doing small skill and task groups with the kids on Thursday nights. I am excited for this new experience and working on my OT skills.
Hockey was amazing!!!!! We yelled and screamed and finally finished the game in a 9 shot shootout. Sadly we [the blues] lost but I am excited for the next game. :)
Today was 60 degrees here in st louis. WOW right! After weeks and weeks of snow and ice and sing digit temperatures WE ARE ALMOST IN SPRING! Beautiful stroll around the center west end with my new shorter haircut [not too much shorter just 3.5 inches off].

BIG news! Emily is almost 13!!! Its crazy! I can not believe my baby sister is so old!!!

Ok back to reading lbs of reading assignments and to take 2 neuro quizzes before studying for a neuro quiz on wed and paraquad lab time on tues!!

ALL MY LOVE!
amanda :)

Weekends are so much fun!

Last night we were supposed to go to the Blues game but OH NO sold out so we got tickets for next week and I can't wait for my first Blues/hockey games EVER! But instead of hockey we went to dinner and piano bar- so funnnnnn.

And today ice skating and SNOWWWW

and now studying before the super bowl tomorrow:)

love u all and yes I do have school too! But it is Neuro and my major was most of the same stuff. ha

miss u all!!!

BIrthday weekend

I am officially 24 and by Papa's definition an OLD MAID! Thanks Papa! :)
But this weekend was by no means a weekend of an old maid... we played hard and rung in my 24th year with a bang. From sushi to cheesecake to atomic cowboy's reggae music to champagne brunch to baskets of fruit arrangements and finishing with pizza parties... I had a wonderful weekend. I am so blessed to have such beautiful friends at Wash U. I am so thankful to be surrounded by love and friendship. After losing Patti early last week I feared that I would not be able to overcome my heartache but my friends were there. They understood and gave me the best birthday ever. Keeping me so happy and full of joy. I am so blessed. My friends here are amazing and I can not wait to give them each birthday weekends just like mine!

Thank you to my beautiful Artner Grandma and Grandfather for their card and Papa & Aunt Alyce for their card. I am so blessed to have such a beautiful family!! Can't wait until March! :)

love and hugs
amanda

Heavy Hearts

Today started like a normal day.. woke up for my 8am class and proceeded to whine about the long hours of class time ahead of me. Worrying if I had all the powerpoints printed and the articles read for the lectures. However I had no clue what was coming. My mother messaged me information that broke my heart. Patti, my grandfather's girlfriend of many many years, had passed away the night before. My world stopped. I knew she had been sick but my beautiful grandfather is always so positive and I assumed she would recover just as she had done many times before. But she wasn't coming home this time. How could she be gone? It felt like yesterday that we all sat at the SRV house laughing about something or other. I felt like I had just picked her up from her house and it took many moments as she described every photo on her piano explaining each memory...and fed all the dogs but really what I remember most if how her smile lit up the room. Those memories will always be in my heart especially one Thanksgiving in San Fran when she wore her signature pink velor outfit. 

I am blessed to have know her. My entire family is blessed to have had her as a part of our lives. We met her many years ago and every year we saw the life and spark she gave my papa. They were a pair, they were so connected. They were comfort and love and companionship to one another. Each bringing the child out of one another. And most of all they took care of one another with everything in their heart. My family is grateful and I am grateful for the woman she was. 

I hope one day I find these types of bonds...to find someone who accepts you and loves you with everything they can. I will never forget you, Patti. You have always felt like another grandmother to me and I am so thankful to have been part of your life.

Love you Patti. Thank you for helping my papa and for loving him and for loving me. I am sure our Lord is holding you in his arms and finally you have no pain. 

-amanda

To Every Thing There is a Season
Ecclesiastes 3

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Back to school

after the most amazing four weeks of my life, I am packing to go back to the cold.

I couldn't even begin to explain the amazing memories I have made and the millions of joyful moments I shared with my loved ones. Everything from Newport rain storms, wine nights with Eskimo kisses, sister days, family baking, apples to apples tournaments, bff days filled with sunsets, fireplaces, soft teddy bears, Santa Barbara strolls, and oh so much more.

Last week I did my second fieldwork at Ronald Reagen UCLA Medical Center in the Adult inpatient Mental Health Unit. It was an experience but I learned so much about myself and where my skills may fit within OT. It was a hard week emotionally. I felt like I took home each client but luckily Carissa was my house buddy. I am very thankful for her!

Now I have to try to pack everything I bought over break into the same suitcases that I brought home in December.

all my love.
amanda