GRADUATION

I graduate tomorrow!!!!!! I feel like its more than just school I'm graduating from. Life has been rather challenging this past while and I am becoming stronger by the minute and it feels great! I have to admit I am so gosh darn proud of myself. I have not slept a full 8 hrs in yrs, I have forgone my short term memory in hopes of remembering everything I have learned, I have puffy eyes most days and I have no idea whats in fashion but none the less I am fully clothed and walking and that is an accomplishment!

I am not going to my graduation because of practicality reasons (single mum 4 kids...) instead I am working which for me is great! What a better Grad gift than employment :) I still have one more milestone... The EXAM ! So here's to accomplishing a dream, one that many told me not to do, one that many criticized through the process and one that I knew all along was possible no matter the number of kids I had or how many sleepless nights, I knew it was temporary and the reward bigger then I had imagined.

E is for Exhausted

I am nearly done with nursing school.... I finish my preceptorship on March 21 and then classes until April 20.... and then study study study and write my exam on May 16. In between around and during that I still have to work, cook, clean, care and love my kids, pick up, drop offs and everything in between. It may sound as if I am complaining and.... I AM!!!!

I am tired and I cant wait for my school journey to come to a close and my go to work go home life to begin. I would not have made it through graduation, a divorce and everything else that life has dealt me in the past 6 months without my parents here and in Alberta. Their love and support keeps me afloat and helps me make it another day with my head held high. The support of my siblings whether it be through Instagram or a text means the world to me. The random cards from Sherwood Park Alberta make me laugh and bring a smile to a sometimes troubled day.

My friends :) You know who you are, you answer the phone when I call and listen and support me. You drop by with goodies to cheer me up and lend your ear yet again. My friends from Utah! I love you, my friends in Asia whom I miss dearly and feel grateful to still keep in contact with and all those in between Utah and Asia who bring me strength.

My co workers rock and are taking me to the Fox and Hound to celebrate the close of my preceptorship with my preceptor as it is his last day too.. He was chosen for a very prestigious position, we are both moving up!

Most importantly my kids! Without them I would not have the ambition and ability to press on, forgo sleep and snort when I laugh. They have taught me that hard work pays off, sleepless nights are temporary (sometimes they seem like an extended leave) and education sets you free.

Hugs and Love to all those in my life that are uplifting and dog gone awesome! And a heartfelt thank you to my churrins for putting up with my studying pooped out behaviour :)

L.O.V.E.

LOVE

L- Lots of time has been spent on homework, between Rylie and myself the mutual feeling is ''ugghh'' we need a vacation! On the plus side she is gaining self confidence and I will graduate from my program on APRIL 20th!!!!!!!!!!!

L- Lucifee cannot stop himself from getting in cat fights, and now that he knows I am capable of draining wounds and scrubbing scabs he will most likely not stop.

O- Open road and lack of directions on my part have equated into multiple un planned day trips up island!

O-Overdue! my house was overdue for some TLC, no longer being controlled with every aspect of my life I can choose to decorate and enjoy what I choose to enjoy!

V- Vicious is the diagnosis of diverticulitis however I am eating and feeling better now that there is no more gluten or corn in my diet.

Excitement for Power Rangers is an under exaggeration! Noni is obsessed and that is that!

E-Entertainment with cousins is the bomb!

E-Everything Hello Kitty is on Livie's mind!

LOVE DAY! 2012 My little nuggets were scheduled for a C section on Feb 14. 2009 (two weeks before actual due date) and they choose to come on Feb. 9 2009! and somehow they turned into this......

LOVE MY KIDS!

I love that I am learning to love myself again, I love my kids and all the joy that they bring, I love that I am nearly finished nursing school and I love that my future is in my control. I would be not 100% truthful if I didn't say that I am also terrified to raise four kids on my own, to assume the responsibility of a full fledged nurse, to get to know myself and walk into the unknown. With that said I am blessed with great family friends and co workers and four kids that keep me grounded.

Memory Symposium

My memories have served me well, captured in film my emotions and lessons learned are viewed often and reflected of in times of sadness and joy

Lesson- Own your curls, own your expressions and never let anyone crush your funny

Lesson- cake is meant to be eaten, even if it is for your little twin siblings

Lesson- There will always be at least one of four kids not happy and that is ok

Lesson- Blue eyes and pink frosting make for a sweet treat. I was happy happy in this pic I was embarking on a new chapter/marriage in my life and all seemed well. One thing that I have learned through this current time in my life is getting back to ''my happy'' is possible even if it is under different circumstances.

Lesson- Little girls are as gentle and kind as a cocooning butterfly

Lesson- Sometimes a beautiful cake is filled with frozen ice cream in the middle! As seems to be my luck with men :) Note.... must cut cake in half and ensure it is only frosting and cake!

Lesson- Pussy Willows not only won me my first art contest when I was 7 :) They also bring back memories of my childhood, which is a good thing.

Lesson- When the dust settles there are jewels beneath, you just have to give yourself permission to breathe and let be.

Lesson- Bundles of joy abound in hat boxes!

Lesson- Siblings are one of Gods greatest gifts

Lesson- This face made me a mother and continues to be such a strength and strong willed nugget in my life!

My Inner Magpie

Like the great Magpie I have a tendency to talk too much, squawk when unnecessary and search high and low for shiny things! In the hopes of not making myself seem identical to the Magpie.... you either love me or not so much!

They spend hours a day searching for trinkets to fill their nests and to the onlooker it seems they have collected junk and garbage. We each have our own definition of what sparkles and makes us tick, so here's a toast to the Magpies for still scavenging even though to some it is not a worthwhile endeavor, and here's to us respecting each others decisions and recognizing that we each have our own sparkle that we have a right to claim.

My Inner Magpie needs to thank those that are making it possible for me to claim my sparkle and graduate...

Mum, Dad, Jeff, my loyal friends (who have red hair:) , my fellow classmates who rock and answer my sometimes squawking phone calls! My instructors and co workers for their words of wisdom and support and encouragement, my blogging friends who I love from afar, my kids for smiling and collecting their own sparkle! The government of Canada for their programs and grants for single mums, my friends at church for their love, my Bishop and visiting teacher :)

Thank you to everyone who has been so gracious with your kind words, compliments and prayers, it means the world to me and is truly helping me accomplish my goal of surviving, healing and learning.

Love MagPie

p.s. heres my eportfolio that nearly killed me and yes I created it all by my lonesome! watch out google sites here I come https://sites.google.com/site/chelseasview/

Jack Johnson and I Are Better Together

Certain tunes bring out emotions for me, happiness, sadness, joy, floods of memories, you name it they remind me of the past present and what I hope for.

Jack Johnson seems to be a melodic mix of soothing meloncholy for the soul.

These past two weeks of clebrations have been bitter sweet... the kids and i had great times with family and friends and amongst ourselves. In my down time the sadness sets it and then I realize I have more homework than I wish to think about and I press on.

I only have a few more months until I have accomplished something I have wanted to do since I was young. I will be able to support my children, and live out my dreams, care and advocate for patients and show my children through example that an education is more than just letters on a certificate, it is freedom, intelligence and an ability to do unto others.

The beauty as I see it about education is that it comes in so many forms, you can educate yourself in gardening, baking and sewing, you can go to and University and sweat your way to a degree or you can master homeschooling your children. For me the importance of my continuing education is that I show my children that with knowledge comes the ability to be so much more. And no matter your circumstances it can be accomplished.

Here's a song that I love for obvious reasons...
Somebody's Chelsea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jHvJTlnUO4

Chasing Chelsea

Chasing Chelseas Thoughts has returned...
www.chasingchelseasthoughts.blogspot.com