Company

In one week from today the world better watch out because I get to have lunch with one of my greatest friends of all time.  Seriously, the two of us being together may cause catastrophic things to happen. 

Heater and I have been friends since her Freshman year of college.  You see, she was lucky enough to be placed into my upper class-men suite.  Although, I will have to admit that I was quite aggravated when I found out there was going to be a FRESHMAN in my upper class-men suite.  So, my suite mates and I devised a plan to run said freshman off.  Because that's what you do!  Sadly, we didn't follow through with our plan because we actually liked our freshman suite mate.  She was quirky, and sarcastic, funny, she loved FRIENDS and she put up with us (especially our love for Kentucky Basketball even though she grew up in *GASP* Tennessee).  Thus began our beautiful friendship.

Seriously, we've become the best of friends.  Not many people get me the way Heater does.  I can tell her anything.  I call her when I have any problem.  In fact, I called her this week because I was spiraling out of control over something that was out of my control.  She grounded me.  Then calmed me down again when I started to spiral again.  Because that's what we do! 
So, let the countdown begin!!  Oh, and you'd better show up this time!  Not like that one time when you said you were coming up and then didn't because boy proposed!  Don't think you'll get off that easy this time. 

 

Weekend Away

Before hubs was hubs, he was called boy.  Boy and I always planned to go to the zoo.  We never made it there as Carissa and boy, and since we've been Carissa and hubs we've talked about going but never gone.  This weekend hubs surprised me with the idea of actually going to the zoo!!!  We needed a weekend get-a-way anyway, so he planned this trip for us!

So, for you enjoyment, pictures from our get-a-way. 

View of the city from the Levee.  It really was beautiful.  The night was crisp and clear.  It wasn't too hot or too cold.  Just a lovely night with my hubs.

This is pretty much a horrible picture of us, but it is the only picture of us together from the trip.  There's only so much you can do with an idevice.  

Mr. Tiger was just hanging out.  Aren't they pretty?  Sometimes I'm so amazed by the millions of animals God created.  How did he come up with such brilliant ideas? 

This little guy was precious!  He was a new baby at the zoo.  He would walk over to his momma and she would comfort him just like any momma would.  He played with that ball.  He sucked his thumb.  God love him!  I wanted to take him home. 

When boy and I were dating he sent me a stuffed one of these.  We named him George.  We talked about how George was ours.  George was the first thing that was "ours" together.  I remember joking about having George and thinking wow, he's "ours".  We have him together.  I remember Tim saying he was the first of many "ours" to come.  When we saw George at the zoo I had to smile thinking back to those days.  The days of dreaming about being together forever.  We have so many "ours" now, but George still sits on the guest bed.  If you come visit he will watch over you! 

These dudes were roaming free everywhere.  They were so pretty!  Mom shared that my grandpa use to have his chickens hatch peacock eggs for a little petting zoo in London.  I think I would have loved that.  There are a ton of neat things that I wish I could have done with my grandpa.  I think he and I were a lot alike.  I wish he'd lived longer.  I was 10 months old when he passed.  I never really got to know him.  I get little pieces of his life through stories.  I can't wait to see him someday. 

Horrible picture of me, but hysterical!  I love animals.  (I'm sure you hadn't noticed that.)  My mom called me Ellie Mae growing up.  Anyway, I had to feed the birds at the zoo.  Any chance I get to hold, feed, or play with animals I'm game.  I don't care what they are.  So, I snuck and bought a cup of food and I had these guys crawling all over me.  This little fella was on my finger and just before Tim snapped the picture he crawled up my arm, on my head, and then finally ended up here.  This is why I'm hunkered down.  He'd been on my head.  He was a sweetie though. 

And finally, the wildest beast of all.  My Millie cat.  Seriously?  Do you guys know anyone who lets her cat sleep on her head?  Tim snapped this while I was sleeping.  We pretty much sleep like this every  night. 

Giving It Up

The last two weeks have been rough ones.  Honestly, if my birthday celebrations hadn't been smooshed in the middle of it all, I probably would have had a nervous breakdown. 

You see, work has been crazy.  I don't talk much about work, there's too many laws about confidentiality that I don't want to touch, but we've had some major transitions.  If you watched our local news you'd know what I'm talking about.  :-)  Although these transitions are for the best, transitions are still hard.  There's a lot of growth and healing that need to take place.  This is making work a tough place to be.  Things are getting better each day and with a look ahead to the future I can see wonderful days coming.  This keeps me positive.  This makes all the scary in between times ok.

Grad school has been a nightmare!  I'm not going to delve into my despair of grad school, but I have hope that it will end soon!  May is just around the corner! 

My dad asked if we really had to "do" graduation again.  I've thought a lot about it.  I had no real desire to walk at my first graduation.  I did it for my parents sake.  I remember looking up and seeing my dad.  His face was priceless.  It was one of those moments when you just knew you'd made your parents proud.  I'll never forget that moment.  Nothing could have ever replaced it. 

This time I'll be walking for me.  I've worked really hard in grad school.  School isn't easy for me.  I struggled through middle, high and college.  I didn't have the best grades, but I worked really hard.  In grad school I've worked my buns off.  I currently have a 4.0.  I've been able to hold a full time job at one of the toughest schools in Fayette County.  I'm proud of myself.  So yes dad, we are doing that graduation thing. 

This week I've also had a dear friend who has been super sick.  I've known this friend since I was a baby.  We grew up in church together.  We had sleep overs, we had birthdays, we were best friends.  She moved when we were in middle school and I remember  being so hurt.  We wrote letters.  Long letters.  I still have some of them.  Then, we had e-mail and face.book to keep us going.  When she got married she invited me to be part of her special day.  When I started dating Tim we discovered she lived one town across the river in Indiana.  She's one of those special people that I don't get to see everyday, but I love dearly.

She had a baby last week!!  After they got home she became super ill.  After a rush to the hospital and emergency surgery she spent last week in critical condition, on a ventilator.  She was fighting for her life and all I could do is pray.  For days there was  no progress at all.  But, Thursday her sister finally posted that she was cautiously optimistic!!  Small progress!  Today, one week later, she posted that she finally got to hold and feed her baby! 

I've had to give a lot of things up.  I am a control freak!  I like to have my hand in things that effect my life.  But, these last few weeks I've had to give it up.  I can't control my work situations, so I have to make the best of them.  I have to choose to be positive, even when i don't feel like it.  I can't control assignments, and exams.  I have to work hard, I have to do my best, and then I have to realize that my best is my best.  I have to let go of wanting a perfect score on everything and just do what I can do.  I have to understand that sometimes I don't understand why things happen.  I have to understand that God is in control, and that he knows what he's doing.  I just have to let it go!

On this Saturday I am so thankful that some of these battles are over.  School is looking up.  My grad class only has one more "big" assignment and there are only three more to go!  My friend is feeling better each and everyday!  I am thankful, and I am so glad that God is teaching me to let Him have things.