Thursday, June 30, 2011

Garth Brooks

True country music is honesty, sincerity, and real life to the hilt. -Garth Brooks
 
 
Courtesy of musicrow.com
I can remember the exact moment that I fell in love with country music.  I was in the third grade and it was the last day of school, ie outside picnic day.  On this day the whole school is allowed to have an outside playday/picnic.  It was so fun!  That year someone happened to bring a boombox to school.  Towards the end of the day, the song, "Two of a kind, workin on a full house" by Garth Brooks came on the radio.  That was it for me.  I was forever a fan of country music and I was in love with Garth!

"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." -Garth Brooks

In the sixth grade, my dad bought me tickets to go see Garth in Tulsa.  My favorite aunt flew all the way from New York to go to the concert with me.  I was so excited She was just as excited as I was to see him!  His concert was so incredible and full of entertainment.  He swung from ropes, smashed guitars, and flung water all over.  He sure could put on a show!  That concert is the best concert I have ever been too to this day!  Before this past weekend that concert was the best concert I have ever been to. 

Since then I have had many Garth sightings, since we live in the same town and all, seeing him (& Trisha) is not a rarity around here.  I have seen him at Casa Bonita, another small restaurant in my hometown, 5K road races, craft shows, and multiple times at the grocery store down the road from my house.  While I do not bother him when I see him, as most of us don't around here, I get star struck every single time.  It's so cool to see someone that you have idolized since you were nine, it's neat seeing him out and about and supporting the small towns.  And best part about it...he seems to be one of the most down-to-earth and genuine guys around and is so polite and friendly all the time. 

This past weekend Andrew and I were given this awesome invitation by my wonderful friend Alex to go see Garth Brooks in Vegas!  His concert at the Wynn Encore Theater in Vegas goes down as one of the top 5 things I will ever get to do or experience in my lifetime.  AMAZING!  Seriously incredible!


Garth puts on a show unlike anything you would ever expect and tells stories like you wouldn't believe.  I was in awe from the time he walked on stage until the time the show was over.  I had a smile on my face the whole entire time and could not leave the edge of my seat for fear of missing something.  I don't think I have ever hooted and hollered so much in my life.  His concert was over-the-top.  It was unbelievable.  So entertaining.  Stunning.  Incredible.  Amazing.  Wowzers.  Get my drift?  Trisha even made a guest appearance & sang 3 songs!  How cool was that?!?!  One of the best parts about the whole experience, well besides the fact that it is just him and a guitar, no bands or fancy smancy stuff that take away from the artist, is the fact that even though Garth is the number one selling solo artist in U.S. history, he seems so humbled by the love that his fans show him show after show.  He loves performing, loves his fans, takes pride in his family, and gives credit to God.  What an awesome guy!  I am telling you people, this show is a once in a lifetime experience.  If you have even the tiniest of all desires to go and see it, by all means, GO!!!  Like, I said, it is just Garth and a guitar!  And it is in-freakin-credible!!!

I can't wait to go back and see him again...right hunny?

A special thanks to Alex for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.  One that I will never ever forget!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

12 more months

After 12.5 years of grade school....I say 12.5 because when I went to school kindergarten was only a half day and well.. let's face it....it doesn't really count. All I can remember learning was which side of the chalkboard my left hand was on and which side my right hand was on. To this day in order to tell my left from my right I place myself back in that tiny classroom, facing the chalkboard to determine which hand is my left one. True story. And I know what you are thinking...yep I know...and I am a doctor?!? Sure am...good thing I work with children.

Hmm maybe I should have entitled this post "things I learned in kindergarten.". And I regress...

Let me start again. After 12.5 years of grade school, 5 years at THE University of Oklahoma....I love Norman, OU and the amazing friendships I made there, and Bob...Stoops that is. I met my roommate and incredible friend Abby during my freshman year in PLC (presidents leadership class)...yep the girl that uses a chalkboard from kindergarten to tell left from right was in PLC. See dreams can come true. Abby and I were roommates for the next 4 years! We have some wonderfully crazy memories! You may remember this post.  I "officially" entered into a relationship with my one and only in between my first and second year at OU. More on that sometime soon. I went through rush my third year as an old lady and met another one of my best friends Alex while doing so. Alex and I hit it off almost immediately and have this bond that allows us to pick up right where we left off every time we are together. During my last year of OU I took human anatomy...with Alex...I mention this because this class is so stinkin hard at OU and it forced us to study all the freakin time, however some of my favorite memories come from this class/semester. I also found out I was accepted into med school that fall! Then came graduation and I was forced given the opportunity to enter into the next chapter of my life...med school. On that note..Boomer sooner baby!


Ooh boy...got off track again...anyhow... After 12.5 years of grade school, 5 years at THE University of Oklahoma, 4 years of medical school at OSU...THE state's medical school...wow what an emotional, physical, mentally challenging roller coaster that was. I think most definitely experienced my highest of high and lowest of low in those years. I met some of the most incredible people, have formed lifetime friendships with a few amazing women, became engaged and married my one and only, ran my first marathon, learned more than I ever thought possible...about medicine AND life...all in those 4 years...


During residency I have had one heck of a crazy ride!  I ran another marathon with my husband, took a few awesome trips to help me keep my sanity, have been through a handful of trials during the past two years and I have made some of the most awesome friends ever, oh how I love you girls!  I now have 2 years of residency under my belt and all that is left is 12 more months...looking back now there have been so many ups and downs, curveballs and fast pitches, hailstorms and tornadoes, torpedoes and missile launches...but there have also been lots and lots of rainbows and sunny skies.

"The way I see it if you want rainbows, you gotta put up with the rain" ~Dolly Parton
I must thank the good Lord for wonderful memories and life lessons. While I am very much looking forward to beginning a new chapter of my life, in 12 more months that is, it is very bittersweet. 

courtesy of: nature.desktopnexus.com

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Soul Surfer

This weekend A while ago, Andrew and I decided to go an see a movie, he let me pick...I chose Soul Surfer, and of course he agreed. ;)  What a great inspiring movie and reminder about how God works in mysterious ways.  "I can do all things though Christ who give me strength," and "All things happen for a reason, you just gotta believe," were common themes throughout the movie.  It was a wonderfully done true story about a family and a daughter who fight all odds and keep the faith with doing so.  If you need an uplifting feel-good kind of movie, I highly recommend Soul Surfer!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This movie and all that is stands for is a great reminder that God knows us, he knows our biggest faults and our best attributes.  He knows us personally and on a deeper level than anyone else ever could.  He has big plans for us, and allows us to find hope in Him.  He knows what we can and cannot endure and as hard to believe as it is, He never tries us beyond our strength.   

I hope when times get tough, when things don't seem the least bit fair, and when you are tried beyond what you think you can endure, you remember this verse or this movie and know that things really do happen for a reason, you just gotta have faith and believe.  

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Vegas Baby!

Andrew and I went to Vegas a few weekends ago to celebrate one of my best friends sisters 21st birthday.  My friend Alex is one of the best party planners around.  She's actually a nurse practitioner, not a professional party planner, but when she plans a party, they are awesome and full of neat little details.  You may remember me blogging about her wedding, it was incredibly planned and absolutely gorgeous.  Her sisters 21st birthday was planned the same way, full of details, a guaranteed good time, and weekend to remember for her sister.
We ate at the famous Hash House A Go Go one morning for breakfast.  It was delicious.  Andrews ordered this crazy chicken waffle.  If you look closely you can see the bacon that is cooked through the waffle.  Looks disgusting if you ask me, but he swore it was delicious.


We had a fun night out for the big celebration of Brit's 21st by eating mexican food, seeing the famous Vegas sign, watching the light show downtown, and hanging out at THE REAL CEASARS PALACE.



Yes folks, this is the real Caesars Palace!
On our last night there we went to the House of Blues for Dinner and then took a cab down to the Bellagio in hopes to see the light show.  However, due to the "wind" it didn't go off.  Bummer!



 I can't wait to see some of these people again very soon!  

Hope you had the best 21st birthday ever Brit!!!



Monday, June 13, 2011

Refreshed...and Random

After a very LOOOOONG winter/spring working with sick children while also enduring personal trials and tribulations, I FINALLY feel refreshed, thanks in huge part to extremely understanding and very supportive colleagues/attendings, family, friends, and one awesome hubby.  I am so very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and also be able to work with such amazing people.  I don't know how I got so lucky, but it is such a great feeling to be able to be surrounded by people who truly care about others.

I feel like I can finally breathe.  I finally can find time to hang out with my husband, my family, and my friends and not be so exhausted.  I can finally catch up with life and it feels great!

As much as I hate change, I am actually slightly looking forward to starting a new academic year next month, moving forward, or should I say upward, in my residency program and getting closer to starting my career, 12 more months!  It's so bittersweet...so I am going to change the subject.

Andrew and I are in the beginning process of planning our one of our "annual" vacations.  As of right now we are thinking of going on a roadtrip up the california coast.  Maybe starting out at San Diego and heading up to wine country.  Anyone ever been there?  Thoughts or ideas?!??  I can't wait!  I am so excited!!!  I loooove vacations, especially ones where I get to spend 24/7 with my husband and only him.  Selfish?  Maybe...but I don't care ;)

I entered my princess dog Macy in a photo contest.  I am so eager to hear back I can hardly stand it.  I think she is the cutest dog ever and that it is a no brainer...but I guess I am a little partial...

In less than 2 weeks I am doing something that I am so excited about I can hardly contain myself....any guesses??

My dog Roxy is still a big ADHD psychotic freak-of-nature black lab.  Anyone want to babysit dogsit?

Another one of my friends had a beautiful baby girl a little over a week ago.  Thank God she is doing great and is as healthy as can be!  It's a baby boom around here folks!

Andrew competed in a cycling race this weekend.  He did pretty ridiculously awesome, but more on that later.  There were also some pretty awesomely ridiculous outfits sported.  Wow!  And that is all I am going to say about that.  You don't want a mental picture of redneck boys in rainbow suspenders running around in cutoff jean shorts daisy dukes now do you?

My favorite aunt and cousin are coming to visit soon!!!

One of my really really really good friends is getting married next month!  I can't wait!  Marriage is sooo great.

I really really want one of those steamer mops, anyone have one??

And I believe that is all the randomness that I can come up with for now...

Oh....and my niece Lexi loooooves me.

TTFN!  Ta-Ta For Now...


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Tulsa Zoo

Andrew and I recently decided to go to the Zoo on a whim.  It was a BEAutiful day!  Andrew says he has been to the zoo before, but he hasn't really ever been.  Is that not crazy to anyone else?!?  I told him when you don't remember anything, it doesn't count!  I can remember going to the zoo more times than I can count as a kid.  I have also went about every year since I have had to grow up.  Not sure why Andrew never went with me...

Anyway, we had a great time and Andrew snapped some great pics of the animals.  The only downside you ask...the sea lion exhibit is down until next year!!!  So upset!  That's the best part!  Dontcha think?!?  They are also building a new giraffe exhibit that looks to be pretty incredible.  It seems like they are letting you get up-close and personal with the ginormous creatures and even feed them.  Needless to say, I cannot wait till it is complete.  I loooove giraffes!

Enjoy some pictures of the incredible faces of the Tulsa Zoo.

















Sunday, June 5, 2011

Dear God...


Thank you so much for my Aunt Nicole & Uncle Andrew.  I love them soooo much!  They are the best aunt and uncle any girl could ask for. 

Love,
Lexi

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Smitten


My sister had her baby, and well...lets just say I am completely smitten with her.  She's a doll, so tiny and precious, and going to love her Aunt Nicole and Uncle Andrew so so much.  I can't wait to teach her all the ways to "irritate" people that my dad once taught me ;)
 

I only hope that I can be half the aunt that my favorite aunt is to me.

Only an aunt can give hugs like a mother, keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend.

Right now though, I am just trying to figure out how I can get my sister to let me keep her...

Any suggestions?