Happy New Year--2013!

Never have I been so grateful to leave a year behind me!  I have had a countdown to 2013 since September, and I am so glad to be saying goodbye to 2012 tonight, though I am not saying good-riddens exactly how I had planned.  I have been fighting a silly cold since right after christmas and am not able to visit my mom in the hospital.  My mom and dad will be ringing in the new year together in the hospital, and Zach and I will be ringing it in here at home, that is, if I can stay awake!

2012 has been rough for many reasons; countless health battles for my mother, countless emotional struggles that my family has had to overcome including the death of my my papaw, and simply watching my mom fight so hard every single day.  On top of that I have had long work/school days, my dad has as well making schedules complicated, my sister is likely VERY sick of her car and the drive from MI to IN, and Zach is likely sick of people asking him how he is doing and asking him about his grades.  My boyfriend moved across the country to SC and I miss him all of the time. BUT there have been GREAT things too...

Great 4th of July memories at the boat, great Seabrook memories, an incredible man I have truly fallen in love with, a family that I will forever be grateful for, a brother who is now driving an AWESOME jeep, a mother who has shown me what strength really is, a papaw who left this earth not before showing me what generosity is, a life of endless learning. 

I am really hoping for a 2013 that is full of health, prosperity, generosity in this nation, beauty, happy changes, and man and I living in the same zipcode!!!

My 2012 final thoughts is something that has struck me lately, which is how often people tell my momma to keep fighting, or to stay strong, and while I understand that these words are meant in good faith, they are actually quite inconsiderate.  Well I think they are, I haven't had the courage to ask her what she thinks because I would likely cry.  I think they are inconsiderate simply because it takes her strength to wake up, to move her legs from side to side, to move in her bed, when she has to ASK to get up, to take her 20+ pills twice a day, etc etc etc.  The strength she has is more than any of us have, and she already has that strength...AND that strength has nothing to do with the outcome of her illness.  She is fighting, as are the doctors, as is her family, but the outcome of her illness, her prognosis, if you will, should never be a reflection on her; and words like "keep fighting" or "stay strong" implies that she has the option to not do that for one, and two that the result of not doing that would be failure.  I'm sure people may disagree, but I feel that applauding her strength and incredible tenacity would be much more appropriate, I just don't think we as a culture know these things unless you have experienced it personally.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!! I thought I would share the pretty cute Google Decorations in celebration of our Earth. 

The more exposure I have to cancers, illnesses, and ailments, I am reminded over and over again of how much we have polluted our beautiful planet.  Our industrialization, greed, and thoughtless actions have led to a sick planet and lots of sick people.  So what do we do now?

Well, we change.  "Be the change you wish to see in the world".  So, stop buying highly processed foods.  For example, pink slime, which is in most ground chuck, fast food meat, etc, is waste meat sterilized with AMMONIA.  Yeah, that's a known carcinogen.  So don't eat it.  Use your consumer power and put your money where your mouth is.

Grow your own food.  Help and support the initiatives of others to grow their own food.  Buy local, organic produce. 

A nutritionist once told me to only eat foods that are either organic or have less than 5 ingredients.  It's hard.  Try it. 

Consider your carbon footprint.  How do you get from a to b?  Who do you take with you? How can you be more environmentally friendly to protect the futures of your children and mine?

#225: The beauty that is spring time.  Blooming flowers, more sunshine, bright skies.

#226: The realization that I have so much to be grateful for.

#227: Being done with my first year of grad school.

#228: ALMOST done with my first semester of students.  Here's to hoping the grade whiners fizzle out. 

#229: Lots of relaxation time with family. 

#230: Two naps in one day.

#231: Getting closer to seeing the man I love.  Three weeks is simply too long.

#232: Clean laundry after six + plus weeks of not doing laundry.

#233: Puppy Cuddles

#234: Yoga

#235: Doing downward dog with Scarlet.  For reals.

#236: Great breakfasts with friends.  Saying goodbye isn't my fortay...but saying good luck is :)

#237: Music to match my mood.  Country music can put words to my feelings and emotions much better than I can.

#238: Baby smiles, baby giggles, baby cuddles, and simply baby time.

#239: Knowing that my words do not suffice in my expressions of love.

#240: Days off to sleep in, cuddle, relax, shop, and eat.

#241: Chocolate.  And LOTS of it.

#242: Bright Spring/Summer clothes!

#243: Bikini Season.  It's so dreaded for lots of (superficial) reasons.  But I am excited.  It means boating season. 

#244: Growth. 

#245: Love. Hugs.

Celebrate Earth Day however you want.  But think critically about how you treat your home.  And how you treat all of our futures. 

Easter Ache

I was able to spend a full Easter Weekend with this cutey...

Part of our weekend was spent in Dublin just chillin like villains, part was spent concert-ing in the cold outside, and part was spent with his family in Lebanon. 

What did we do during all parts of the weekend?  Eat.  In mass quantities.  It was gross.  And delicious.  So now I am feeling sluggish, icky, sick, full, and gross.  So what did I do today?  I ate more candy.  By the way...I never really eat candy, so it kills my body.  But anyways, yes.  Food. Lots of it. 

I am back on my workout regimine though and I am realizing more and more each day that I am expected to be in a bikini in less than three weeks.  WTF friends.  Maybe I should work out again.

#211: GSI offer came in today!  Yay for funding my education!
#212: My semester of craziness (not even comparable to the craziness I'll feel next year btw) is almost over! Yay for having a year of grad school and a semester of teaching under my belt!
#213: Facebook is creepy...but kinda cool sometimes.
#214: Moments of true connection with children.  Before school today, Anthony and I had quite the hugs, kisses and "i love you more" session.  It was beautiful.
#215: Incredible moments when I want to pinch myself to really believe that my life is my life.  I am blessed.  And grateful.
#216: Hope for warm weather this summer.
#217: Love. 

Happy (Day After) Valentine's Day!

I'm always a day late and a dollar short (Yay for using phrases correctly!).  But regardless, I hope you felt and experienced a LOT of love yesterday! 

Valentine's Day has lovers and haters...but I feel like I exist somewhere in between.  There is no need for a day to tell your loved one's you love them if you do that on a regular basis...but at the same time, it gives us an excuse to be extra lovey and extra celebratory!

But while you all thought it was Valentine's Day yesterday...it was actually this chicks birthday!  Happy Birthday to a truly amazing woman!  I love our coffee dates, our hang outs, our talks, and your hugs.  You're a great friend...and I am crazy about your life.  Thanks for allowing me to be a part of it :)


And look at this cutie!  It had been way too long, my dear Lisa.  Hope you know how much I enjoy smiling with you, laughing with you, and talking with you. 



#151: People love me.  A lot.  And that is an incredible thing.
#152: I love a lot of people.  And I love them passionately.  And want nothing but happiness for them ALL.
#153: Anthony told me I was the best Valentine.  And he tells me he loves me everyday I see him.  When a 7 year old loves you unconditionally...it kinda rocks your world.
#154: Gracious professors and supervisors make being sick a little less miserable.  Hoping for a speedy recovery so I can get back on the bandwagon of working hard.
#155: I'm so glad that I have been blessed with two parents who love eachother lots.
#156: I've been blessed by this one guy a lot lately.  And it's kinda the most magical experience I've had.
#157: My heart is full of gratitude and love.  I feel full with joy and full of smiles. 
#158: I love walking across campus and running in to people I know, love and miss.  Yeha....I loved seeing you yesterday!
#159: I have so many more years (decades) before I get to 1000...but I simply am so excited!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012 to all of my family and friends!  I had an amazing Christmas break this year and I couldn't be more grateful for those I got to spend time with!!


I was able to spend a couple days in Michigan with my family celebrating my brother's birthday and Christmas, a couple days celebrating Christmas in Ohio, a few days at the Houseboat, and several days celebrating the new year with friends in Columbus.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  I am excited for what this new year will bring, and I can't wait to share it with you!


Now I'm not a resolution making type of person, but I do have goals for every semester:
1. Work on maintaining balance in my life.  Saying no is not a bad thing.
2. Always be honest about expectations, desires, needs, and wants in professional and personal situations.
3. Enjoy every moment; don't wish away the months, days, hours.  Every breath is a gift.

4. Put my health as a priority.  Headaches need to be controlled! I need time to work out and time to eat. 
5. Do something I've never done before...like a 1/2 marathon in April...or something like that :)

#104: New experiences, new friends and new adventures.
#105: Watching my buckeyes lose in Columbus was sad.  But watching the game around hundreds of other buckeye lovers was amazing. 
#106: Planning for my first teaching semester is nerve wracking but exciting.  Appreciating all of the encouragement.
#107: Nothing better than friends being excited about my life.  I'm excited about my life.  I love my life.  And I couldn't be more grateful for that fact.

Columbus!

#108: Columbus is an awesome city.  Not only because everyone loves the buckeyes there, but also because family life is HUGE there and there are SO many adorable, happy families there.  It's such a blessing to see smiles on the faces of little rascals.

Christmas Lights

I LOVE Christmas, people.  I love Christmas music, movies, decorations, and LIGHTS.  I love the season for so many reasons, and I love seeing other people celebrate the season as well.  It's such a joy.

Because of the craziness of my life, I seem to always be driving late at night...and that is such a blessing this time of year!  Instead of it just being dark and gloomy, the night sky is filled with Christmas lights!! I love it.

I'm going to Columbus later today to go to the zoo for the Zoo Lights.  I have never heard of such a thing but I couldn't be more excited.  I love animales, I love Christmas lights, and I'm excited about who I'm going with :)  Just one happy girl right now. 

#99: Smiles.  I smile ALL of the time.  Some people get annoyed.  But it's part of who I am. And I enjoy being smiley and happy.

#100: One hundred! Crazy to think how long it took me to get here, and how I am only 1/10th of the way done.  Couldn't be more excited about this crazy journey of looking at my life and finding more and more things I am grateful for.  Thanks for being a part of this journey with me!

A Whirlwind

So I'm on break.  But I'm not sure that it feels like it yet.  I've finished my entire first semester of grad school (YAY!) but I am still interning, I have been working lots, and I have been traveling lots too!

I am getting so excited for Christmas and the joy that comes from those few days where all of my family is together.  I am excited to see extended family, excited to see friends, and excited to relax after this Thursday!

Until then, it is crazy crazy.  And I'm STILL not done Christmas shopping.  Which is a whole other level of stress!!

I hope your holiday season has started off beautifully, and that you're looking forward to the celebration of Christmas that is coming up this weekend!

#95: Joy.  I have felt LOTS of joy lately.  It's been incredible
#96: Honesty.  I love when people are honest with me, and straightforward.  I like input, and I hate sugar coated input.
#97: Memories.  One of my great college friends started a Facebook note where she recounted all kinds of memories from our undergrad years.  It has been so fun to think about more and more funny things we have all been through.  It's beautiful!
#98: Love.  This time of year is so much more full of love than any other time of the year.  I enjoy seeing other couples enjoy each others company. 

Brief Update

Well finals week has descended upon us at the University of Michigan.  That means people are crazy, grumpy and tired.  I am most definitely included in that.

I will be done with my first semester of grad school in less than 24 hours and I couldn't be more excited.  I am looking forward to a few weeks of craziness: interning, lesson planning and sleeping.  Maybe working out, too.  We'll see.

I spent the weekend in Indianapolis and had TONS of fun, but became even more exhausted.  I am working on getting all of my work done now so I just have to turn everything in tomorrow and hope for the best!

 
Stay warm!

#92: Warm coats.  I own way too many coats, but they all have various uses, looks and warmth.  Thankful for them.
#93: Great friends, great family, a great life. 
#94: My internship has been incredible.  Challenging, difficult, frustrating.  But incredible. 

Bullying

I admitted a few months ago on Blogger that I love the Kardashian's.  Well since that post, KimK ended a 72 day marriage, KourtneyK got knocked up, and Kourtney and Khloe take NY 2 began.  Surprisingly, the Kardashian sisters have been involved in something incredibly positive in the past few days, too.

The Kardashian sisters went on Extreme MakeOver: Home Edition to support a family whose children had suffered greatly from bullying.  Though bullying has been receiving lots of attention lately in the media with the rise of bullying-related suicides, bullying is still both rampant and detrimental for children and youth.

Watch Jonah's Story.  He is full of honesty, brokenness, strength, and triumph.  His story is moving, powerful, emotional, and inspirational.  Join me in lifting his struggles and pain up to the One who can impact his life.

#89: I am grateful to be at a place in my life where I can be confident without being cocky, myself without being afraid, and free without feeling judged. 

#90: Celebrities are a confusing population to me.  They get paid to live their life, basically.  Though movie stars or musicians get paid for their goods/works, what made the Kardashians famous?  Despite this weird-ness, I am grateful that their fame and the fame of others is doing good in some ways.  Many ways, even.

#91: Christmas is upon us.  Though that means materialism, Hallmark, and money in many ways; it also means donating to those in need, making Christmas happen for families in need, and spending time decorating the house for the holidays.  I love this season.

Interesting

I love Ellen.  She is funny, makes me laugh, helps mornings go by, and stands up for some incredibly causes.  On her show the other day was this beauty of a commercial.  The commercial is actually from a new TLC show "Virgin Diaries" that follows couples who have "saved themselves for marriage".  Since I know several couples who have done just that, I find the show both interesting and a train wreck waiting to happen.  While the show sheds light on this ever-shrinking population, it is also making a spectacle of these couples, mocking them in a way.  Watch this video for example...

There were serious outcry's from this commercial in particular, so TLC released a new one that addresses some of the dialogue that the couples engage in where they discuss their reasons for waiting, their excitement, and their "plans" for the wedding night (kinda awkward, honestly). 

Regardless of how I feel about not having sex until marriage, which honestly I can't say my feelings on this are set in stone, I am kinda disturbed by how many people are laughing at this couples' first kiss.  I can only imagine the excitement that led to the kiss, and the embarrassment that they are feeling now...

Is it fair to make fun of these couples who take waiting for sex to heart?  I get mad when religious groups require such practices, so shouldn't I also fight for the rights of these couples to practice their beliefs in privacy?  Then again, they chose to put their lives on TV.  Did they chose the mockery or the exposure? 

So interesting!

#87: Grateful my life is not on camera.  Privacy is a beautiful thing.
#88: Country Christmas Special.  Beautiful, peaceful, and a great reminder of the joy in the season.

25 Days of Christmas

ABC Family does this great thing called the 25 days of Christmas.  Wanna know something really funny?  They have a countdown to the 25 days of Christmas.  Ie. a countdown to a countdown...

But it has begun! Christmas is a mere 24 days away! Are you ready? Do your shopping friends! Get your Holiday cards out!

But while we get busy with the Hallmark holiday of Christmas, let's also think about the true meaning of Christmas.  It'll mean different things to each of us, but to me, it signifies the birth of the salvation for this world. 

#84: Salvation through the life of a tiny little baby who came to this world to offer eternal life.  I may not really understand what this means, but I am sure to understand it one day.

Christmas List

Madre and sister yelled at me for days about making a list.  So I finally made my Christmas List.

It's hard to name things as I have gotten older because if I need something I simply go buy it.  Since I make my own money, I am in control of where that money goes and how it gets spent.  This is freeing for many reasons, dangerous for others, of course.

Living at home has equated to having very little expenses and lots of money to go shopping with.  Luckily I don't have much free time.  I am excited to go shopping this holiday season for my family.  I love to give.  I love to shop.

#81: I love Christmas.  I love the decorations, the music, the gifts, the food....
#82: Looking forward to Britt's Christmas Party.  Adult Christmas Attire!
#83: Looking at old Christmas lists.  I found one I wrote to Santa in first grade.  I asked for a basketball and erasers for my best friend Taylor.  Social Worker for life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving to my friends and family! I hope that you enjoy this holiday while also remembering what you are grateful for!  I am grateful for love, health, happiness, laughter, and joy.

#71: Moments with family members.  I may not see them all of the time, but the love I have for them never changes. 

#72: Opportunities to give thanks and say grace.  It's a beautiful way to thank our God for the blessings we have. 

Travel Day!

Today's the day of travel! After class I will be well on my way to Ohio to see my lovely family.  This will be such an incredible experience for our family since we'll be seeing my grandpa for the first time since he has been diagnosed.  My mom has been down, but my siblings and I haven't been able to make the treck to the little town of Chillicothe. 

I love family gatherings for so many reasons.  I am so excited to see everyone, to eat delicious food, and spend quality time laughing and telling stories.  I am also excited to go black friday shopping!!! I wasn't able to go since last year I went to the houseboat...but this year my plans are a bit different... :) :)

I hope everyone has safe travels!  Good luck dealing with any dilemmas that arise as a result of having so many family members together!! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN

Happy Halloween to the blogosphere!!! Check out the google home page before midnight.  It's so cute!!  I hope everyone got to see lots of adorable kiddos in their costumes.  They're the best part of halloween, hands down!  I celebrated the day with LOTS of intern work, lots of Halloween party prep, lots of Halloween partying for kids, and lots of busyness!  I am exhausted, but glad I got to see so many cute kiddos celebrate the day :)  How did YOU celebrate? I was a cowgirl, what were YOU?

#33:  CUTE KIDDOS!!!!

#34: Great conversations with friends I miss.  LOVING my drive convos with Leslie Pants.  Seriously.  They're fabulous.