January

Has been a relatively crappy month, I think.

Life, in and of itself has been alright....a little mopey maybe due to the general graying of my surroundings, but I'm still kickin through it.

Here's my depressing re-cap:

1. Sobuery (ha. sad that this is #1, but I'm not drinking this month and I'm not gonna lie, I miss having a glass of wine after a rough day)
2. RAIN (yes we had some nice snow, but all in all, it just caused a flood. I'm tired of having to debate whether or not I should run).
3. Worst case of my life at work.
4. General overall TERRIBLE work weekends. Yesterday I was there 15 hours with 2 massive transfusions. WTF.
5. My beloved running trail being wiped out.
6. Nursing school application stress (seriously....Noah keeps having to deal with me on the verge of nervous break downs every other day).
7. I don't think I've been very nice to people lately.
8. Hard chat with housemates, ending in my request to move out.
9. Amber is leaving my weekend and I'm depressed about it. Sure, it's to have a baby........which I'm STOKED about - but  can't you have your newborn and scrub in at the same time? Don't they like live on your boob? ;)
10. General, overall, lack of patience. I am quick to get frustrated lately.

Once I started writing that list I felt it necessary to make 10 points...........they got a little lame there.

BUT...there you have it. January has been kinda stupid, and we still have a week left?! All that said.........I've been working on this new concept of just being thankful lately. I'm always so thankful for all the good that I see and feel and experience, but lately I've been saying "thank you God for this day" even if it's been absolute bullcrap. Everyday despite it's potential for hardship is such a blessing. Everyday I am coming home to a warm house and a warm bed, and a full, satisfied belly. Everyday I have people that love me. Everyday I am blessed, so therefore everyday I am thankful.

This month will end, giving hope to a new/happy February. :) Linfield was my biggest stressful application, and it's finished, I have better gear for running in rain, and I'll be able to have that glass of wine soon enough. :) I've found a great place to live (thanks to my awesome home group!) and work is always going to be challenging......but my family there is like no other!

So - despite the hard stuff....I am still seeing the good. I am still filled with hope, and I am still loving life.

Thank you, God, for this day.

Off to work I go!

:)

What if today, we were just grateful for everything?

#11 - THEY MADE ME DO THIS! AHHHH BALLOONS!!!!!!! :) It was funny.

Love you guys.

2.0.1.1. - some highlights

Well my computer is still down for the count, but I'm hoping to be up and running with a new one within the month. For the time being I'm borrowing............ugh!

Life has been as busy as ever. It feels like every weekend that I have off, we're traveling somewhere. I can't believe we've shot through 2011 and are onto 2012! How'd that happen!?

I feel like I have 1000 things to say, ahhh I'm overwhelmed!!! Where to start?!...I've been working through a zillion different things lately. Nursing school applications are here again, and as I diligently write my essays (in 100 words or less, please identify a few challenges you have faced in life, what you have done to address said challenges, and your problem solving technique. Did you consult others in attempting resolve? Please explain thoroughly). DID I MENTION THE 100 WORDS OR LESS REQUIREMENT!? I can barely get out two sentences in that! Sheesh. SO.......I've written them all as lengthy as I've desired, and most recently, begun the painstaking process of cutting out the bullcrap, and getting to the point.

P.A.I.N.F.U.L.

Insert awkward segway here.......
I feel like the word "contentedness" has been popping up a lot in my life recently. Alongside that I see words like "fulfillment" and "abundance." They all go hand - in - hand, I suppose, but it's had me reflecting A LOT about what I'm attempting to pour into my ever so crazy life to get me at that "full" feeling. And it's funny (wrong word), what I tend to focus on. I won't bore you with the details, but the self-evaluation has been quite a wonderful one. It leaves me feeling hopeful, rather than burnt out. Filling my soul with God's love instead of unstable, rather selfish, desires has been pretty mind-blowing. Taking steps back, and deciding "nah....I'm not going to do 10 thousand things today, actually. I think I'll just go for a walk and pray, instead" has been exactly what I've been needing to do for the last like......................well forever. And I love it.

That's all really. I want to post some pictures of some 2011 highlights. Here's what I could come up with, with my limited picture supply:

These two ladies are my best high school friends! And they BOTH (both!) got married this year! AHH! SO exciting for you two!!!

....I played on a softball team?! And somehow we placed like 2nd? I don't think I did ANYTHING really to contribute to that....except a lot of yelling.

Captained my first H2C team! 3rd year in a row running with Candace!!!! Who also had my favorite baby boy! JACK!

Did lots o' canning........

As always....Christmas looked a lot like this. 

I went to Hawaii!!!!!!!! And met up with Corvallis folk? cool!

CRYSTAL IS WORKING WITH ME! I love her.

Went to an AWESOME fire lookout with some wonderful people!

Started dating this guy...dark pic I know. I like him.

Then he had a birthday. THAT was an event.

I caught our chimney on fire??

...and had some nice pics done with the sisters.

I'll leave it at that for now. Hope your 2011 was perfect! Here comes 2012. YIKES!

Shouldn't we hit the breaks, pull over to the side, and make sure that we are on the road that leads to life?

Love is an act of faith.

Song: One day, Matisyahu (it's literally been stuck in my head for like 2 weeks)