I think I'm in love

I have discovered the steel drums.  This is the most fun I have ever had in my life with music.  Michael began playing them at the beginning of the school year with Paul, who has been playing for a while.  Tom Miller, a man for whom I have a tremendous amount of respect, directs and provides the pans for the ensemble, and they invited me to join the fun.

That is exactly what it is: SO MUCH FUN!!  All we do is learn and play reggae and calypso music and dance around.  What a sweet, sweet time we have.

Thanks, guys, for letting me be a part of this!

I swear he grew.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've seen Tim.  I finally got to give him a big hug last night when he and the guys drove back in from D.C.  The whole five feet tall that I am only reaches his armpits.  I definitely do not remember him being this tall!

This picture is him hunching and me on a rock.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm just smaller than I realize. 

Not that Big

I love that we don't have any control over the weather.  I love that it is so much bigger than anything we can produce or control that we live our lives accomodating or yeilding to whatever it brings.  

???

I feel so clueless and helpless.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

I got out of bed after another sleepless night and stepped outside to the amazing, refreshing scent that only a spring rain can leave behind.  The freshly cleansed air and the perfectly brisk temperature served as a perfect opportunity for several deep, relaxing breaths to properly prepare me for the day.

Isolated?

I suddenly feel so alone.  Everyone changes so much during this stage of life that when I stop and look around, those nearest me seem so unfamiliar.  Life and relationships are so, so different from just three years ago, and I feel as though I have so much catching up to do. 

I feel as if I have very little handle on life, and that the more I learn the less I know.  I think I'm okay with that, though.  

I also feel that I depend too much on others and that that is bringing me down. Regardless of how good intentions may be, or how hard I try to refrain from holding expectations, people let me down. 

I'll start tomorrow afresh. 

Good Ol' Fashioned Cartoons

My dad and I sat around watching and laughing our hind-quarters off to Tom and Jerry this morning. Classic. That old fashioned cat and mouse action is always certain to produce plenty of smiles.

This is the Life

I'm laying in bed with ice on my face, a GRE prep book on my lap, the dog at my feet, my bracket on my computer, and the games on television (I've only won one, thus far. Oops!). 

Besides the fact that I can't eat...this is the life! Heehee.

Oh hush

I would just like to tell my Nike mini to hush up!  Hee.  I think she strongly believes that I've turned into a couch potato--which I have.  But she should just stop making me feel guilty about it.  I'll be back on the trails when my incisions heal, so there!!

Just kidding, she really is the cutest, isn't she?

Training Hard for Us

Tony got to come home for a couple of weeks.  He has been in training since three weeks after the wedding.

I am so proud to be his sister, and I am so proud of my sister for living the life of an army wife.

It was so good to get to see you, Tony :-).

Humbled and in Awe

We read The Shack by William Paul Young for our book club meeting last night.  What an incredible time that was!  Thanks so much to those ladies for all that I learn from them.

Some words especially convicted me:

"All I want from you is to trust me with what little you can, and grow in loving people around you with the same love I share with you.  It's not your job to change them, or to convince them.  You are free to love without agenda."

"If you try to live this without me, without the ongoing dialogue of us sharing this journey together, it will be like trying to walk on the water by yourself.  You can't!  And when you try, however, well-intentioned, you're going to sink." 

"A bird's not defined by being grounded but by his ability to fly.  Remember this, humans are not defined by their limitations, but by the intentions that I have for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it meas to be created in my image."

I love, love, love hiking in our beautiful mountains!!

Weeee!

Finals done? Check!

Sun dress? Check!

Windows down? Check!

Music blasting? Check!

Spring break, here I come!!!!

Rejuvinated

What a beautiful day it was yesterday to spend in Boulder.  Tim and I were able to enjoy a wonderful breakfast, a walk around the town, and an adventurous hike through Red Rocks Park and on.  We took whatever trail called us, and ended up having to climb down a dry waterfall to return to civilization.  The weather was gloomy and chilly, but the clouds made for spectacular scenary, and and the giant snowflakes that were falling were perfect.

It is always so refreshing to spend time away from day to day pressures, and enjoy the adventure of getting lost in the breathtaking nature that surrounds us. 

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Goodnight

It was all too much today.  I'm going to bed.

Snuggle Up!

There have been more and more robberies (some armed, others not) in our neighborhood, and it's taking a toll on Jenae.  She can't help but be a little shaken as a result of her experience in El Salvador this past fall.  

I got up to go to the bathroom at 4 a.m., and as soon as I got back in bed, Nae came in my room, said she couldn't sleep, and asked if she could sleep on my floor.  I insisted that she come and sleep with me, so we snuggled up in my little twin bed and slept soundly for the next few hours.  

How sweet it is to have a friend like her.

Salutation to the Dawn

My goal is to start everyday this week looking toward the opportunity God has for me, and away from those things that discourage me.

"Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth,

The glory of action,

The splendor of achievement,

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow is just a vision,

And today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn."

~Kalidasa