Sunshine

Today was a great day in the office! I don't say that very often so you know it must have been exceptional. It was a little bit stressful, but not the end of the world.

If only every day was a little bit like today.

Thank you God for the sunshine.

Pile It On

I have been feeling very overwhelmed by things these days. I feel like everything is going wrong at once, or just not going the way I planned. Yesterday started off bad and only got worse and then spilled over to today.

I woke up late and was frustrated because John wasn't coming to get me and we were late to church (which annoys me) and when he did come and get me, we argued about whether or not he could buy cleats for playing frisbee and football. Then I was really pissed off about the way our lunch turned out. I thought it was going to be this nice lunch with the Aaron and everyone else that was there and instead it turned into work. I really annoyed by some people and the comments they were making. I guess I just had a different agenda for the lunch meeting than others.

When we got home after lunch, I went into the bedroom to open the windows and found a large layer of mold all around our bedroom window; less than 2 feet from my bed. I was livid, to the point of trying to find out how we could withhold our rent until they fixed the problem. It turns out, I think we are pretty much liable, which is retarded because our apartment is not ventilated well and it is almost impossible to keep it aired out enough to stop the mold. AARRGGGHHH! So John and I started thinking of our options and that just got me all worked up. I really don't want to move again, but I want to be healthy and in a home that is safe.

Then every little thing started to pile on and make me more frustrated. Our printer won't scan anymore, our dishwasher was leaking water (but it wasn't even on), I installed the printer wrong and now it is really messed up, John isn't motivated to do his homework and our apartment was in shambles with crap everywhere. I just wanted to scream.

What should we do? Do we move or stay where we are because it is cheap and we don't pay utilities? Isn't my health more important than money? If we move, should we upgrade to a 2 bedroom in case we ever decide to have a baby? Can we afford a different apartment?

These are my questions running through my brain and distracting me from work. Please pray for guidance and wisdom for John and I.

Symptoms

I am still feeling worn out and completely exhausted from last weekend. I don't know if it is because I don't go to bed that early or what, but I am so tired all day long. I have also been getting really bad headaches at night. I wonder if something like mold is in our apartment and that is what is causing this. I don't know, but I am flippin tired.

Going to another SURGE event this week. Can't I just rest?

FOHO FO SHO

Heading out this afternoon to the beautiful Forest Home. I have been super excited for Winter Camp '08 until now. I am freaking tired and my body just feels run down. I think the adrenaline rush of the week and trying to get things done is wearing off. Hopefully, as soon as the kids get here and the other advisors, I will get that second wind, because man do I need it.

Have a great weekend and Happy Martin Luther King Day! Yay for no work on Monday!

"Mom said I could go to FO HO!"

A Night Out

Last night I went with Amy and Justin Souza to see Shane Claibourne speak at Bel Aire Pres. I thought he did a great job. It is amazing what this guy has done, from living in the inner city of Philadelphia to working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to visiting Iraq. His stories are amazing. If you haven't read his book, Irresistible Revolution, you should join me in reading it. I guess his talk was pretty much what his book was about, but it was very inspiring. His talk was entitled, "Have Less, Live More." The part that struck me the most was the video that he showed at the end of his talk. It was of his trip to Iraq. The video depicted a young boy laying on a hospital bed dying of malnutrition. The boy had survived a bombing and was also suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He lay in his bed quivering uncontrollably and a Sister of Mother Teresa stood stroking his belly. It was an amazing moment, but suddenly the boy became still and just stared into the eyes of the nun. I couldn't help but weap.

Still trying to process how I can have less and live more.

So long.

Taking Notes

I feel like I should be taking notes on how I want to raise my children and what I want to do and what I don't want to do.

Having children is still a ways away for John and I, but some of our friends are having kids and I am thinking alot about how I want to raise mine and things I want to do for them. If I don't write them down somewhere I will never remember when the times comes to have a child.

We just celebrated Kiley Lofgren's first birthday and they had a cute idea. Everyone had to write notes to Kiley and Karen and Jamie are going to save them and give them to her when she is old enough to understand and appreciate the things that were written.

John and I want to do something similar, but we want to write notes/letters to our own children every year on their birthday (from pregnancy on). We want to encourage them and let them know how much we love them.

Just some ideas going on in our heads, thought I would share.

The party is over.......time for laundry.

"Resolutions"

I have mixed feelings about the phrase "new year's resolutions." Sometimes I get excited to think about all the things I want to change about me and my lifestyle. Other times, just the thought of making changes scares and overwhelms me.

Last night something hit me. I don't know what came over me, but I have decided that I have a few "new year's resolutions" (or whatever you want to call them):

1. To eat healthier (this includes):
a. Eating in more often for dinner (using Dream Dinners)
b. Taking lunches rather than going out and buying fast food
c. Eating breakfast daily (at home before I leave for work or at work)

2. To exercise more
a. Use my gym membership (that I have had for a few years and used 3 times)
b. Start a walking club with the ladies at work

3. Read more (both the Bible and leisurely)

4. Save money and pay off loans (this is more of a life resolution than just one year)

5. Keep a cleaner house and do smaller chores more frequently rather than letting them all pile up and then doing them

If you are my friend, please help me to keep on track, keep me accountable by asking how I am doing.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2008! Cheers.