Today!

YEEEEEEEEHAW!!! Welcome back to America! :)

Crystal is having her third, and hopefully last, shoulder surgery. Good luck!! I wish I could be there today!

Not much in this world is free.

Birth control is taken for a few different reasons. Some take it to prevent pregnancy. Some take it to help with acne. Some take it to help regulate their cycle. Whatever the reason, the side effects remain the same:

-dizziness

-headaches

-breast tenderness

-nausea

-mood swings

-blood clots

I experienced the best (free) birth control while at work today. Six children, under the age of 8 (or so), screaming and running around during breakfast. Not once did a hear a "shhhhh" or "Please, Johnny, sit down and eat your food." If I didn't know any better, I would have thought the parents were deaf. I'm sure everyone has seen a family like this one, and knows what I'm talking about. Maybe today was just an off day for this family, but I'm not taking any chances.

I'm grateful the only side effect today was a little bit of a headache.

3 Months Old!

She's getting so big!! I don't think she could be any cuter!

I love you, String Bean.

Less is more.

I'm not a fan of people who constantly need/beg for attention.

Like my mom always said, "Less is more."

I think that goes for just about everything, and everyone.

Pudding, anyone?

I went on a date this weekend.

I met this guy, who shall remain nameless, a few months ago through a mutual friend. We went to dinner (along with three other couples) and then went to our friend's house to play games and finger paint with pudding. When I found out we were finger painting (with pudding!!!!!!), I tried to keep an open mind. (Everyone knows if you have a bad attitude from the get-go, it's not going to be very enjoyable.) We played Catch Phrase while the pudding was chilling.

Then it all began.

Everyone started painting on their own pieces of paper, except us. He had the brilliant idea of sharing a piece of paper and doing it together. Romantic, right? After a few swirls and hand prints on the paper, I was about done. (It wasn't as fun as I remember it being in Kindergarten.) Just then, he said, "I think this would look better.....HERE!" slap! There was pistachio pudding all over my face; he then went for the vanilla. Really? REALLY?! I was shocked. I got him back with chocolate pudding, and after a few minutes of this "food fight" (and too much touching), I was ready to leave. We played another couple rounds of Catch Phrase and then I let him know I was ready to go home (since I was covered in pudding).

This was our first, and last, date.

I will never agree to fingerpainting again.

Lessons Learned

The last few weeks have been rough, to say the least. This time of the semester is always difficult. It feels like every class adds an extra assignment (or two) at the last minute, and all my tests are scheduled for the same day. I have been rather unhappy with my job, I am easily irritated, I've been grumpy and short with people that I care about most, and who do the most for me. Needless to say, I have not been a very pleasant person the last few weeks.

Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from my dad telling me his brother, Kent, was in the hospital in Las Vegas. It seemed pretty serious and no one sounded very hopeful. Thankfully, a few of us girls heading to Vegas for the long weekend. We drove down late Thursday night and headed to the hospital Friday morning, where we met my dad in the ICU waiting room. They were just finishing up a procedure on Kent while we waited. The nurse then came in and told us he was gone. It felt so unreal-I think we all sat there for a minute in disbelief. I will never forget the way I felt that morning. I am so grateful that I was able to be there to comfort and support my dad. Having my friends there meant so much to me, and I know my dad appreciated their support, as well.

Life isn't perfect, and I know I'm not going to be happy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And that's ok. We are supposed to struggle and have trials-the way we respond is up to us. We're in charge of our own happiness. I, although it's been tough, am grateful for these obstacles in my life. I know that the Lord will never give me more than I can handle. It's easy to forget that promise when you feel you're at your lowest low. It's so easy to get discouraged and I feel like I am easily tempted during these times. I can't blame my bad attitude on unfortunate circumstances, or other people. There will always be something unexpected that doesn't go according to plan. Just when life feels close to perfect, I am sweetly reminded that I'm here to learn a thing or two.