Beginning the pack for Africa!

So after a somewhat sleepless night & the reality of my upcoming adventure

really starting to sink in... I have begun to feel super anxious! 

It hasn't quite hit me all the way yet but definitely starting to!!

Luckily I got to meet with some of my team members today...

being with them really makes me excited all over again 

& remember why I am doing this!

My team got together today to begin our packing!! 

Here is the load I got in the back of my car :) 

Mothers Without Borders asked each of us volunteers to try and gather

supplies to pack & bring with us to Zambia. We each collected various 

supplies & distributed out the weight in our luggage. 

We pack our backpack & carry-on for all our personal necessities!!

That idea kinda freaked me out because I don't know if I can fit all I want... 

but it's going to work out just fine I think!

Here are some pictures to kinda give you an idea of what was going on! 

Our team really did a great job & ended up gathering tons of the needed items!

We each ended up packing at least 50lbs of medical supplies, 

personal hygiene items, blankets, clothing, & etc.

The best part was trying to weigh our bags...

We would just have to weigh ourselves, then grab the bag, step on the scale, & figure out how much extra "poundage" there was :) 

Putting together these bags helped me realize how much of a 

difference my team is really going to make to the lives of the people of Zambia. Even though I am getting scared about this trip I know it will be life changing and worth all the stress & fear!! 

Thanks to everyone who has supported me & taken an interest in Mothers Without Borders and my trip to Zambia!! 

My Life Latley

Well... I don't love posting without having any pictures to share...

but here is another pictureless post!!

Hope it's not too boring!

Latley my life consists of one thing: work!

Between the hospital & Victoria's Secret I rarely get a day off!!

But it's all good :) at least i'm never bored right? haha

Working at the hosptial has really given me great insight into pursing a nursing career

and how to continue about my education.

I've decided for next semester to take my classes on the Weber State campus

& to take a Spanish class!

I am kinda excited about that - it's so frustrating to have patients that don't speak

any English & be unable to communicate with them at all!

So this Garcia has decided to step up her game & learn the language of her ancestors :)

I'm also about 90% sure that I want to get my bachelors in nursing...

Just depending on where i'm at in life.. but I think it's a pretty solid idea!

New Job!

I am pleased to announce that I have finally gotten a job at the hospital!

I am going to be working in the Surgical Unit. 

I know it is going to be intense & overwhelming but I am really stoked about it.

I am grateful to be gaining experience so I can assure that nursing is my dream job :) 

I ultimately want to be a neonatal nurse (work with the newborns)

but I think it is good to get a taste of everything to make sure that's what I want!! 

I am going to keep working at Victoria's Secret for now & try

to balance out my schedule.

It is gonna be nuts. 

I can't complain though because I have two jobs when there are people struggling to keep one. 

Heavenly Father has really blessed me!! 

Fun in Provo

On Saturday Amanda invited me to join her for a 

delightful trip to Provo to meet up with her good bud Kyle,

 attend a wedding reception & play with our cute friend Alexa.

We ended up getting stuck in traffic for FOREVER &

basically had to make a major detour out of our way to get back on track

for Provo. It was lame but worked out in the end :) haha 

Once we got to Provo we went to Alexa's way cute apartment!

As grateful as I am to be living at home I really missed the world of 

apartments & roommates!! 

We then met up with Kyle & who had his friend Dale with him

(gotta love small town cowboys) & had some lunch.

We saw the movie Land of the Lost 

which was weird, weird, weird but funny & entertaining. 

And naturally after that we went to Spoon Me!!

Next we went to one of Amanda's friends wedding receptions

and afterwards met up with some of Alexa's friends who took us to 

a comedy show at BYU. 

I thought that it would end up just being alright... but oh wow, it was SO funny!

The are a comedy try-out group from BYU called Humor U & they were great!

If I can ever find one of the the comedy routines I will have to post it

 because I laughed so hard I was crying! 

Here is a pic of me, Amanda, & Alexa after the show:

Needless to say it was a pretty great day. 

I have always loved going to Provo with friends but it was kinda different this time.

Playing with Alexa I got to see what campus life is like down there

and how much fun Provo is for a student.

That got me thinking....

maybe I want to look into nursing school through UVU?? 

I dunno. Just a thought for now! 

Fire, Friends, & Fun!!

Well since my last post...

I have started working @ Victoria's Secret (still training..) but it's pretty great.

I've never worked retail before so it's all new to me! :) 

Anyways! Here is a bit of the fun i've been up to: 

Campfire in Mantua! 

I know you can't really see the fire in these pictures but I swear it was there... haha

It was so fun to hang out with Alysia & Carlie and meet some of Mike's friends.

Some of them were pretty entertaining... just ask them about Good Ol' Brigham City.

Wow. They really love it up there. 

But it has been awesome being home so that I can play with these girls again!! 

They make me laugh!

Kiana Came for a visit!

Kiana came down & stayed with me to go to our dear friend Jameson's farewell

and boy did we have a hoot!! Amanda of course came to play with us too!

My kind parents took us out to dinner at the delicious Rooster's

And we of course had to sample what everyone got...

pretty tasty!! 

Then we went back to my house and decided to form the ultimate rockband:

The McNinjas

We really were a totally legit band!! We couldn't seem to get enough of it.

Rockband 2 just may be the greatest game ever invented...

Then we finished off the weekend by going to Jameson's Farewell.

Jameson worked with me & Kiana as a PLT member down at Snow. 

So us awesome three girls decided to venture down to Centerville & say our 

goodbyes to Jameson who will be serving in Serbia! 

Good luck Jameson!! I know you are going to be an amazing missionary! 

Updates!

Well, not too much has happened in the past little bit but here are some updates!

I am now re-certified in CPR so i've applied for some jobs as a CNA.

I am crossing my fingers to get a job in the maternity area in a hospital but i'll work with what I get :) 

I got a job at Victoria's Secret! 

Just as a fun little part time deal... who can say no to discounts there?! 

I'm also almost done with all my shots & such for Africa! 

I've been taking this oral vaccine for Typhoid Fever & yes it is as horrible as it sounds... 

but I know it is all going to be worth it! 

Time is soon approaching for me to leave for Africa & I am getting so anxious!! 

I will admit as the countdown to my adventure gets closer I get a little 

more scared but that's normal right!? 

In the end though I know everything will be alright. 

I've wanted this experience so much & plan to make the most of it!! 

Here is just a little picture of me and Amanda at

Spoon Me of course!! haha