Giggles

There is just something about laughter, more especially the laughter of a child. We spent the evening with a family for our SNO youth group event. (Sunday Night Out) It was a lot of fun playing badminton with the kids. As I watched my husband jump on the trampoline, bouncing the kids high into the air and listening to them laugh, I got that little kid urge to get on too! I think I even said the words "I wanna jump too!" -Real whiny like a little kid! As we jumped and all held hands, and got dizzy, I just enjoyed the laughter. It was such a nice summer/fall night, cool, but not cold and the Fall air smells wonderful. Without a care in the world, I laughed and jumped and thought about how great being a kid is!

I love laughter and little kid giggles are the best!

Giggle today!

I am so Blessed

I felt I needed to have a happy blog...

Friday was a much needed break. Our friends got together to celebrateChantele's birthday. (a little late, but still) We went to the lake, and ate hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken. It was so nice to relax and talk and catch up on each others' lives. These are the friends I have had since my freshman and sophomore year. Wow-that seems like such a long time ago now. These are the friends that knew me when I came all the way from Colorado at 18 years old to a small Bible College in the South. The past 5 years have flown by, and friends have come and gone, but these are the friends that have been and will be with me through it all. They are blessings I thank God for everyday. The lake was also a great blessing to me. This has been "hell week" for me. VERY stressful, lots of deadlines and lots of emotions. Walking down by the lake looking out at the beautiful horizon not caring about anything at that exact moment, I was reminded of how great God is and how much HE is in control.

Yesterday was a good day at work. I worked with good people and laughed-A LOT! I love it when it's like that. I saw a lot of my "regulars" and I always enjoy that. I feel like I am a part of something. The buxhas been good to me and I really enjoy my job!

Last night Sam and I just hung around the house, did some laundry and picked up the house a little. Sometimes it seems like I can never catch up, but I look at my two bedroom, 1 1/2 bath townhouse and realize how great we have it. I fell asleep on the couch and went to bed at 10pm-very early for me. I am a night owl usually, but this year is getting to me. I might turn into a grandma and have to go to bed earlier and earlier.

Church was really good. I got to listen to the sermon today, which doesn't happen often because I am usually teaching downstairs during the service. I enjoyed Roy's preaching and was reminded of how simple it can be, but how difficult we can make church sometimes and how we argue over silly things. - Always a good reminder that humans can be so petty at times.

We spent the afternoon with Mike and Donna (our usually Sunday routine). I guess I should restate that-I spent the afternoon out with Donna and Mike and Sam stayed with the kids and played the wii all afternoon. I always enjoy spending time with them. They are a wonderful family and I am blessed by them every time I am around them.

Well, that was my weekend, and many of the blessings in my life. I needed this time to reflect and be reminded of how good my life is.

This Too Shall Pass

These words were said to me tonight and I can't stop thinking about them. "This too shall pass." What a simple saying, but it gives me great comfort.

Sometimes, when it feels like the end is so close and there's light at the end of the tunnel, life dumps even more in my lap. "This too shall pass."

Things are getting better, work at the bux is lessening, student teaching is wonderful and my research project, well, it's getting there. I keep saying things like "things will slow down soon," or "when things aren't so busy." I am tired of telling this to people and I'm tired of not being able to do the things I want to do. "This too shall pass."

There are so many things I want to be spending my time on, so many people I want to spend my time with, but there just seems like there is no time. "This too shall pass."

I'm really not this negative, this is just a phase. "This too shall pass."

Fall is Approaching

I was talking to a friend after church today about our busy lives and we joked about how thankful we are that breathing is an involuntary action. The more I think about how much is going on in my life, I am reminded to breathe. This next year is very full, and as I think about how it is already September, I begin to stress, but am still breathing.

I struggled at the beginning of the summer with grad school and figuring out if that was where I wanted to be. I think about those nights that I cried to Sam because I didn't want to do any more homework and I laugh. I laugh because at the time I saw no end in sight. It was just the beginning and I didn't know where I was headed. I can see now that there is an end and that I will be able to make it through. Now I am trying to figure out how it is already September, how I am 4 weeks into student teaching, how my research paper is almost half way done (in rough draft form) and how I only have 10 months left of grad school! Today I was reminded of the hope I have and the love and confidence of the people around me.

I am constantly reminded that God does not change and I take another deep breath and hold on. I came across a quote tonight that said Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured. I think I will fall asleep thinking about that.