WHO IS SPILLING THINGS EVERYWHERE!?

Yes, the title says basically explains the day I had. In my chemistry lab we had to work with micro amounts of dissolved compounds and because of that I was going to pick up the little glass applicators when the bottle was stuck to this paper... a paper that was also under all of the solution bottles... and yes I said all of them. This caused the bottles to overturn and spill all over the counter, the paper, me, and my assignment. Quickly uprighting the containers and composing myself I tried again to get the little glass applicators, by picking up the bottle... I think you can see where this is going. Lets just say that I was quickly turning red and becoming flustered when a guy in my class looked at me and said, "Bummer, I would just run!".

Well that is solid advice and I would have taken it except I still had not accomplished what I came to do, put the dabs of reagent on the slide! So this time making sure that I did not try to pick the bottle up I was able to get the glass applicators and then apply the reagent. I was in the clear... time to run back to my station! Just as I was placing the last dab my TA came up behind me and shouted, "WHO IS SPILLING THINGS EVERYWHERE!?".

This did two things, one it scared the living daylights out of me, which caused me to flinch and almost knock them over again, but it also caused my face to turn about 4 shades of red and there was no way I couldn't confess now.

Luckily I have the coolest TA on the planet and he let it slide. He also let it slide when I exposed my slide to the UV light and it quickly became apparent that I had spilled A LOT of the reagents on the top of the slide because the whole thing was black (it should have glowed green). Lets just say, I hope we never have to do that again!

SHOUT OUT for Scentsy

I am a Scentsy Independent Consultant and I absolutely love my job! I love that I get to have parties. I love sharing memories and stories that are brought about by that one fragrance. I love seeing the new items, and how people can get creative with creating their own fragrances by mixing bars. I love that I get to be my own boss, make my own hours, and work when I can and want while also attending school!

However, this October I love the warmer of the month the most! This is the perfect gift for literally everyone, and it is just in time for the holidays. Take a look!

www.caitlynhammersley.scentsy.us

Oh MAN so much has happened since I last wrote!!!

I the summer concluded with me taking a job selling Scentsy, which if you don't know is about the best product on the market right now in terms of candle type things. Really! If you don't believe me check them out for yourself... I insist! (www.caitlynhammersley.scentsy.us)

I turned 21, I am back at school and it seams like my time is not my own. I have 4 science classes with 4 very science labs. I have papers, tests, homework, reading, and lab reports coming out my ears! Then to balance a social life, ministry, and my own sanity is quite a juggling act! Luckily I have the best friends on the planet and a family that supports me to the end.

One thing that I have found to relax is a little show called Grey's Anatomy... maybe you have heard of it. I know that this is a complete shocker that a pre-med student is a fan of a medical show... but listen okay. =) My roommate and I have found that there is all of the past seasons available on Netflics, available to stream on the computer. This has now consumed all of our free time! There is one line from a show today that made me laugh. They were talking about how doctors are social retards, they endure 4 years of high school, 4 years of college, and 4 years of medical school. So when they finally emerge they have the social life that has not matured since 9th grade, and are all hopped up on medical and science findings. We are just awkward! That reminded me of this blog and how much I miss it. Please stay tuned for more because I am sure this semester is going to have a lot of great stories!

Mistake? Likely...

I have found that one of my all time absolute favorite things to do between classes is to sit down with the daily paper, scan through it and then do the Sudoku at the end. Coupled with a grande caramel white chocolate mocha and this is the best thing on the planet! So what could possibly make this perfect moment come crashing down? Realizing that I have made a mistake. You see in Sudoku you can only have a number placed once in any box, row, or column. Realizing that you have made a mistake is often when you see that there is the same number in any one box, row, or column and at that point it is often too late to recover.

Isn't it funny that this can be, in a way, related to life? Often when you realize that you have done something wrong it is too late to change the outcome. Any student can tell you about multiple times they sat in a crowded exam trying to remember the answer to some question, and then leaving and realizing immediately that they answered incorrectly. At this point there is nothing that can be done. The exam is graded, the grade posted, and the effects are going to remain with you through the semester.

So why should we assume people are to behave differently? The choices we make in any other context are final and permanent, and not rooted in emotion. Human relationships are highly personal, emotional, and connecting. They require each person to share pieces of themselves that are not often visible to everyone else. Second chances do not come around often so be sure to treat these relationships, wether they be friendships or romantic relationships, with intense care and thought.

I heard a quote the other day saying, "Don't regret a past decision, because at some point that was exactly what you wanted."

No experience was for nothing, your past makes you who you are today. Be proud of who you are move on in life and create new memories. So I challenge you, leave your regrets your mistakes, and your failed sudoku behind. God is powerful and if you really have made a mistake then he will give you a second attempt. But until then embrace what is around you now.

Time.

I am the person that loves the New Year. It is the conclusion of the holidays, as well as a year full of ups and downs. The New Year, for me, symbolizes a new beginning, a fresh start. So naturally being the New Years lover that I am I have made some resolutions and one is to be more intentional with my time.

When you look at the average human life, 78 years, you really do not have that much time on this planet. Time is continuous, never pausing, never stopping, and always changing. So why do I find myself living for tomorrow? Tomorrow is never guaranteed and all we have is this moment, this instance. So I ask you this, if you were to die right now would you consider your life complete? What impact did you leave? Are you proud of the movements you are leaving behind?

These are all very profound questions and the only advice I can give toward the answer is this... What are you spending your time on?

To me it doesn't matter how much money I will make, the house I live in, or in fact where that house is. What matters to me is the lives that I have touched. Have I made a difference, have I helped to prepare those that will come after me? People are what matter and that is what I choose to invest my time and love into.

There is one blog that I read regularly and this morning I read something that has changed my perspective on relationships and people here is a few excerpts,

"Love is not a choice in life. Love is not something you can put on your priority list in life; for love is life...Could this be our problem? That we try to make Love #1 on our list when love is meant to be the list? Love is Oxygen. Choose to breathe." -Gordon Avery

I am choosing to lower my walls just a little and let people in, I am choosing to love and be intentional with my time. Will you?

http://gordonavenue.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/love-should-not-be-1-on-your-list/

Friends, Food, and FInals

Finals are a funny thing because they symbolize the beginning of the end. The semester is coming to an end and due to the stacks of class evaluations and reflections it usually sparks a chain of reflection among other parts of my life. The last week has been precious because I have had the chance to sit down with two women that I am close to and really evaluate the last semester, where I am with God, dorm ministry and growth group, as well as strengths and weaknesses in myself.

One thing that I have been learning the last few months is the importance of friends in your life. Now I don't mean friends that you sit to and talk with during classes, but true friendships. People that you can be real and honest with. People that you are not afraid to go to with your deep secrets. People that you are not afraid to ask to keep you accountable. These are precious and delicate, they need to be nurtured and cared for, loved and adored. Friendships like this are rare, and as my parents have said they are few and far between.

Food for thought... this semester my growth group discussed this very topic. Going to God and confessing your sins to him produces forgiveness. This is not really a new topic, it is discussed at almost every church service. The radical idea stems from a passage at the end of James. James 5:16 says "Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." You see, forgiveness comes from God, but healing comes from being open, real, and vulnerable with the people closest to you.

So I am going to challenge you to take a step of faith. Take a break from finals, grab your friends, grab some food and dive into a meaningful conversation. One that is going to mean something, one that will impact you in some way. Friends don't be afraid to be honest with your advice, don't be mean, but make the most of the time you have with each other. Also remember that sometimes advice is not necessary, being available just to listen is often the greatest gift you can give a friend. It's not going to be easy, but trust me in the end it will be worth it.

Good evening! Well it is nice to be both back here in Pullman, and back online. Let me recap for you what the last few days have been. Nothing. That's it in a nutshell. I have been laying in bed for the last 3 days, because the thought of moving was unbearable. I was sick with what I can only imagine was a virus that failed on the "sneak attack" approach. Let me flesh this out for you, and see if you find this whole scenario as amusing as I did.

So going back about 3 weeks ago I was driving in a car with 4 other girls, on our way to northern Idaho for CRU's fall retreat. The irony in this statement is that I am not a camper, my version of camping is one where we stay in a hotel with a hot tub. But never-the-less I was on my way to a camping filled weekend. In my spacious Jetta were 2 girls that were sick. Yes, we have started this trip well! When we settled into our cabin I noticed that there was one other girl that was sick as well! Great!

~Complete side note the rest of the trip was amazing. We learned that the great Jetta not only can road drive, but off road, go muddin' and swim! I also learned new cool country swing dance moves. As well as having a great time spending time with God and the amazing people that have been in my life over the last year.

After arriving home from retreat I quickly realized that my roommate had been attacked by this foreseen virus. Watching her be sick was awful because I could just sit and take notes of what was going to happen. [Mental reminder I have the worst immune system that will catch anything, and I live in a dorm...] 5 days. That was the length of time it took my roommate to recover and as she was beginning to feel better I began to praise because I was still feeling well! Went to class the next day and I was struck by the worst of the worst. Sitting paying attention to the lecture like any good student and then it happened. The girl to my left coughed on me... That was 3 days ago.

So I guess I got the short end of the stick since I am feeling better now, but I still think that the virus was not going to let me get away and its evil little being was going to attack in any means possible! If you are going to take anything away from this let it be that virus' are sketchy thing and are not to be trusted!