Once a true believer
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me
I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you, too.
Some are calling you a prodigal
Some aren't calling you at all
But far away someone is calling you back home
Do you hear it anymore out there on your own?
i miss you. why did you have to leave? why are you breaking my heart? i miss your smile, your brother-like teasing, your laugh. i miss learning rugby. i miss calling you. i miss sitting around the house doing nothing. i miss piggy back rides and watching movies. i miss making sure it is Sprite, laughing about capture the flag and gym, multiple field trips, and our senior trip. i miss worshipping with you. i miss going to concerts and getting beat up. i miss you making me tea. i miss knowing you are just a phone call away when i need a shoulder to cry on. i miss knowing you are my best friend.
where are you? what are you doing this very moment? why won't you talk to me?
i miss you.
do you miss me too?
6.20.2005
sometimes i wish i was in the military.
sometimes, when i'm around those who are, i can feel a little bit prouder of my country. i can feel like there are people out there who are working hard and making sacrifices to protect everything that i love.
sometimes i wish i was the one living in the desert for a year, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one sleeping in a tent full of sand, the one dealing with unimaginable temperatures, a barren land with no trees or grass, a camp full of people who are far away from God and act that way. i wish i was the one berated for my faith, pushed to the challenge of defending my God. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was the one living on a 360 ft long metal tube with 120 other people and no privacy, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one breathing recycled air, crawling into too-small spaces only to get stuck for hours, eating boat food. i wish i was the one gone for weeks at a time, the one mocked for your Godly lifestyle. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was in the military, and then i become thankful that you are.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was in the desert, i would probably try going for a run and passing out, suffocating in the sand. i would probably become so irritable from not sleeping because of the heat and be in a continuous state of grumpiness. i would probably shrink back from hurtful comments about my God, instead of defending Him like you are. i would probably shoot myself in the foot with my M-16, or even worse, somebody else. i wouldn't know how to perform surgical crichothyrotomies (i know that's not how it's spelled but i can't figure it out), put IVs in or take care of mass casualties. i wouldn't know how to protect myself from mortar attacks or hand to hand combat against insurgents. i wouldn't know how to drive in a convoy or avoid IEDs. I'm glad you are doing it for me.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was on a submarine, i would probably end up sinking the thing. i would probably go crazy with no privacy and purposefully get stuck somewhere deep inside the boat where all the cables are just so i could avoid bumping into people all the time or talking to anyone. i would probably pass out from the smell of recycled air or get high from too much carbon monoxide. i would probably pack way too much stuff and it wouldn't fit under my bunk and it just wouldn't be pretty. i wouldn't know how to load tomahawks or torpedoes or how to fire them. i wouldn't know that missiles have wings...or maybe i would. i wouldn't know what all the little buttons mean or be able to know which cable is connected to what and which are broken and when. i'm glad you are doing it for me.
i'm not in the military. i don't know what it is like to completely devote myself to the Army or Navy every single day for years. i don't know what it's like to push myself past my limits. i don't know what it's like to live with a hundred other guys and see the same people every single day. i don't know what it's like to be yelled at or beaten up or emotionally and physically fatigued to an extreme amount. i don't know what it's like to live in barracks, eat in a military dining hall (DFAC or mess hall, whatever you want to call it). i don't shop at a PX or NEX or commissary. i don't listen to huge amounts of profanity, breathe recycled air, or have sand covering every part of me and my gear.
thanks for taking care of that for me.
i am proud of the Armed Forces that protect my country. i proudly wear Army and Navy clothing everywhere and put patches on my bags and stick a decal in the back window of my car. i notice Support Our Troups items everywhere i go and wear a bracelet on my wrist and put a yellow ribbon on the back of my car. i do it for you. it's my way to serve my country.
i am proud of you, proud that you can take my place to fight for my freedoms. i'm proud that you do so with confidence and grace to the best of your ability. i'm proud that you are devoted to what you do.
thanks.
sometimes, when i'm around those who are, i can feel a little bit prouder of my country. i can feel like there are people out there who are working hard and making sacrifices to protect everything that i love.
sometimes i wish i was the one living in the desert for a year, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one sleeping in a tent full of sand, the one dealing with unimaginable temperatures, a barren land with no trees or grass, a camp full of people who are far away from God and act that way. i wish i was the one berated for my faith, pushed to the challenge of defending my God. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was the one living on a 360 ft long metal tube with 120 other people and no privacy, so you didn't have to. i wish i was the one breathing recycled air, crawling into too-small spaces only to get stuck for hours, eating boat food. i wish i was the one gone for weeks at a time, the one mocked for your Godly lifestyle. i wish i could serve my country like you do.
sometimes i wish i was in the military, and then i become thankful that you are.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was in the desert, i would probably try going for a run and passing out, suffocating in the sand. i would probably become so irritable from not sleeping because of the heat and be in a continuous state of grumpiness. i would probably shrink back from hurtful comments about my God, instead of defending Him like you are. i would probably shoot myself in the foot with my M-16, or even worse, somebody else. i wouldn't know how to perform surgical crichothyrotomies (i know that's not how it's spelled but i can't figure it out), put IVs in or take care of mass casualties. i wouldn't know how to protect myself from mortar attacks or hand to hand combat against insurgents. i wouldn't know how to drive in a convoy or avoid IEDs. I'm glad you are doing it for me.
i laugh and praise God for you, because if i was on a submarine, i would probably end up sinking the thing. i would probably go crazy with no privacy and purposefully get stuck somewhere deep inside the boat where all the cables are just so i could avoid bumping into people all the time or talking to anyone. i would probably pass out from the smell of recycled air or get high from too much carbon monoxide. i would probably pack way too much stuff and it wouldn't fit under my bunk and it just wouldn't be pretty. i wouldn't know how to load tomahawks or torpedoes or how to fire them. i wouldn't know that missiles have wings...or maybe i would. i wouldn't know what all the little buttons mean or be able to know which cable is connected to what and which are broken and when. i'm glad you are doing it for me.
i'm not in the military. i don't know what it is like to completely devote myself to the Army or Navy every single day for years. i don't know what it's like to push myself past my limits. i don't know what it's like to live with a hundred other guys and see the same people every single day. i don't know what it's like to be yelled at or beaten up or emotionally and physically fatigued to an extreme amount. i don't know what it's like to live in barracks, eat in a military dining hall (DFAC or mess hall, whatever you want to call it). i don't shop at a PX or NEX or commissary. i don't listen to huge amounts of profanity, breathe recycled air, or have sand covering every part of me and my gear.
thanks for taking care of that for me.
i am proud of the Armed Forces that protect my country. i proudly wear Army and Navy clothing everywhere and put patches on my bags and stick a decal in the back window of my car. i notice Support Our Troups items everywhere i go and wear a bracelet on my wrist and put a yellow ribbon on the back of my car. i do it for you. it's my way to serve my country.
i am proud of you, proud that you can take my place to fight for my freedoms. i'm proud that you do so with confidence and grace to the best of your ability. i'm proud that you are devoted to what you do.
thanks.
6.16.2005
6.10.2005
The face that Moses had begged to see - was forbidden to see - was slapped bloody (Exodus 33:19-20). The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth's rebellion now twisted around his own brow...
"On your back with you!" One rasies a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds all his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together" (Col.1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on - he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm - the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless - the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthy foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being - the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot.
His Father! He must face with Father like this!
From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars across the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.
"Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped - murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten - fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk - you, who molest young boys, pedel killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp - buying politicians, practicing exortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves - relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?"
Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.
The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.
"Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!"
But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply.
The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied.
The Rescue was accomplished.
"On your back with you!" One rasies a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier's heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner's wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier's life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds all his molecules together? Only by the Son do "all things hold together" (Col.1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on - he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm - the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless - the nerves perform exquisitely. "Up you go!" They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthy foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being - the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father's eye turns brown with rot.
His Father! He must face with Father like this!
From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars across the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.
"Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped - murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten - fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk - you, who molest young boys, pedel killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp - buying politicians, practicing exortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves - relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loathe, these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?"
Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.
The Father watches as his heart's treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah's stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.
"Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!"
But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply.
The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied.
The Rescue was accomplished.
6.09.2005
It was wonderful and glorious and breathtaking and healing and laughter and changes and dreams come true and new adventures.
I had the best weekend ever.
He came on Thursday, in a surprise whirlwind of a blue BMW Z4 convertible, honking the horn in his uniform with the Beach Boys going full blast. We were off to get clothes hidden at my pastor's house (I got to drive!), then hung out at Sarah's 21st birthday party. He gave rides and even let Benjamin drive it. We stayed up till 5 in the morning, talking and laughing and jumping around with Sarah and Nate. Bedtime wasn't going to take away from this weekend.
Friday we took lots of pictures of the car and prayed and sent Nate and Sarah off to Indianapolis, then jumped in our hot car with the top down, blasting Rascal Flatts and on our way to the city. He'd never been. We drove down 5th Avenue and people stared and commented and whistled. We know we're fine. We returned the car, then went to Cosi for some yummy but interesting food. We walked to the Empire State building and stood in line for a long time but it didn't matter cause we are fun people. He got a military discount because he's cool like that. So we went up 86 floors and stood at the top for a while, looking around and taking pictures. We saw the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Medics, HOOAH!) but it was far away and took more pictures and wrote on the wall. We left and ran down flights of stairs and out to 5th Avenue to walk and window shop and see Rockefeller Center. We went to FAO Shwartz where I took a picture with a life-size giraffe! and then went to Tiffany's and Co. It's a good thing we didn't break anything in there! We looked around and examined all the huge diamonds and I tried on a small one that cost $8,000. It was a normal sized ring too! After we left Tiffany's, we made our way to Payless to find him dress shoes after going to Bergdorf Goodman and finding shoes for $2,900. We bought shoes and hurried our way to Tavern on the Green and ate in The Chestnut Room. We changed in the bathrooms so we would look presentable. The service was wonderful and the food incredible. We talked and laughed and both ate Asparagus Soup and Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was by far the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, and the most wonderful, most incredible experience of my life. After dinner, we took more pictures, then jumped in a cab and headed to Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was spectacular. Words don't even begin to describe it. I highly recommend it. Fantastic show. The characters sounded exactly like the ones in the movie, and the singing and dancing were amazing. We took more pictures, then walked around outside in Times Square all dressed up. We made our way slowly back to Grand Central Station to take the 11:22 train home, and in the bathroom a woman told me I looked stunning. :) We took the train back to New Haven to meet Mom, laughing and talking about the day. After we got home, we changed and ate some more, told my mom all about the day and showed her pictures. The whole day was wonderful and every moment a surprise.
Saturday we woke up early and headed for the triplet's house to babysit for an hour. We ran around the house like crazy people, screaming and laughing, played with Play-Doh, and colored at the kitchen table. After that we got ice cream for lunch at Praline's, then went home to shower and change. We took care of Callie (a puppy down the street), then drove to Hartford to watch a USA vs. Wales rugby match. It was amazing but also very confusing. We went with Benjamin, who explained lots of things and answered questions. His rugby coach and a member of his team in VA were there, and it was fun listening to them talk about the game. It was incredibly hot and sunny out though. After the game, the three of us headed back to my house and then went out for pizza at Tony's. We got pineapple and bacon. mmmmm. Benjamin left, and then he and I went bowling. It was lots of fun but he kicked my butt in two games, except the last one that we played left-handed. He was still quite impressive, bowling two strikes! And he said he would be horrible. I bowled three though. :) After bowling we went back to the house and watched Top Gun, then rolled into bed at 5 am again.
Sunday he finally got to go to my church and meet the people I've always talked about and worship and listen to my pastor. He wore his Gap khakis and a button down shirt just like always and I wore my striped skirt I had told him about. We shared a hymnal like old times and it made me happy. After church and sunday school we ate roast beef and carrots and mashed potatoes and bread at our house ( after he played the piano for me - but not long enough), then changed and packed up drinks and a bag and headed to the beach. We stopped by the Ridley's on the way and picked up Benjamin and Jonathan, and went to Clinton Beach. We played rugby (i tackled! and got tackled lots. even the famous layout tackle!) and threw the disc around and layed out in the sun and went for a walk up the beach. We got hot and attacked by bugs, so we left and went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream. I got banana and peach with Heath bar and strawberries. He got caramel latte and something else with Butterfingers. We went back to the Ridley's and he finally got to meet the rest of the family!! I was so happy. We had tea and pizza and watched the England vs. Australia rugby World Cup. England won. We said goodbye and went back to the house to watch A Walk to Remember (he hadn't seen it) and eat snacks. I was so glad he got to meet the Ridleys. I had told him all about them and I was happy he got to meet my other best friend.
Monday we slept in a bit then laughed and talked while he packed a bit. It was a sad day, but still enjoyable. Mom made waffles and bacon for brunch and we ate a lot, then went to Wal-Mart and printed pictures and bought him an electric razor. Time was drawing to an end, and tears fell randomly throughout the day. We had to leave for the airport in NY around 2:30, so at the house he said goodbye to my mom (he had said goodbye to Dad the night before) and Ashley and cried and packed and we left. It was an hour and a half drive down, and we thought his plane left at 6. God was kind though, and his plane didn't actually leave until 7:15. We sat and talked and cried together, and even laughed a bit. The bushes around the parking lot helped with that. :) Inside the airport, we saw two people from his unit, because the unit is stationed out of NYC normally. We hugged and cried and said goodbye, and I watched him walk away. It was hard and painful and lonely, but he had to do it. I watched with the families of the other soldiers, and they hugged and kissed and comforted me. We're going to look for each other at the airport when they come home. I sat in the parking lot and cried and cried and prayed and prayed. I drove the lonely drive home, and called Benjamin and Ashley and they came over to watch The Notebook. Ashley brought me Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Ben brought me chocolate. They are the best. He called from Minneapolis and then again from Wisconsin, then from his barracks. Thank you Lord.
He is gone now, 7 time zones away. He called from a stop in Ireland for the last time for a while, until they are climatized and in-processed.
I miss his laughter, his tears, his hugs, his joy, his stories, his playfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness.
I miss him.
Please protect him, Lord.
I had the best weekend ever.
He came on Thursday, in a surprise whirlwind of a blue BMW Z4 convertible, honking the horn in his uniform with the Beach Boys going full blast. We were off to get clothes hidden at my pastor's house (I got to drive!), then hung out at Sarah's 21st birthday party. He gave rides and even let Benjamin drive it. We stayed up till 5 in the morning, talking and laughing and jumping around with Sarah and Nate. Bedtime wasn't going to take away from this weekend.
Friday we took lots of pictures of the car and prayed and sent Nate and Sarah off to Indianapolis, then jumped in our hot car with the top down, blasting Rascal Flatts and on our way to the city. He'd never been. We drove down 5th Avenue and people stared and commented and whistled. We know we're fine. We returned the car, then went to Cosi for some yummy but interesting food. We walked to the Empire State building and stood in line for a long time but it didn't matter cause we are fun people. He got a military discount because he's cool like that. So we went up 86 floors and stood at the top for a while, looking around and taking pictures. We saw the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Medics, HOOAH!) but it was far away and took more pictures and wrote on the wall. We left and ran down flights of stairs and out to 5th Avenue to walk and window shop and see Rockefeller Center. We went to FAO Shwartz where I took a picture with a life-size giraffe! and then went to Tiffany's and Co. It's a good thing we didn't break anything in there! We looked around and examined all the huge diamonds and I tried on a small one that cost $8,000. It was a normal sized ring too! After we left Tiffany's, we made our way to Payless to find him dress shoes after going to Bergdorf Goodman and finding shoes for $2,900. We bought shoes and hurried our way to Tavern on the Green and ate in The Chestnut Room. We changed in the bathrooms so we would look presentable. The service was wonderful and the food incredible. We talked and laughed and both ate Asparagus Soup and Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was by far the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, and the most wonderful, most incredible experience of my life. After dinner, we took more pictures, then jumped in a cab and headed to Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was spectacular. Words don't even begin to describe it. I highly recommend it. Fantastic show. The characters sounded exactly like the ones in the movie, and the singing and dancing were amazing. We took more pictures, then walked around outside in Times Square all dressed up. We made our way slowly back to Grand Central Station to take the 11:22 train home, and in the bathroom a woman told me I looked stunning. :) We took the train back to New Haven to meet Mom, laughing and talking about the day. After we got home, we changed and ate some more, told my mom all about the day and showed her pictures. The whole day was wonderful and every moment a surprise.
Saturday we woke up early and headed for the triplet's house to babysit for an hour. We ran around the house like crazy people, screaming and laughing, played with Play-Doh, and colored at the kitchen table. After that we got ice cream for lunch at Praline's, then went home to shower and change. We took care of Callie (a puppy down the street), then drove to Hartford to watch a USA vs. Wales rugby match. It was amazing but also very confusing. We went with Benjamin, who explained lots of things and answered questions. His rugby coach and a member of his team in VA were there, and it was fun listening to them talk about the game. It was incredibly hot and sunny out though. After the game, the three of us headed back to my house and then went out for pizza at Tony's. We got pineapple and bacon. mmmmm. Benjamin left, and then he and I went bowling. It was lots of fun but he kicked my butt in two games, except the last one that we played left-handed. He was still quite impressive, bowling two strikes! And he said he would be horrible. I bowled three though. :) After bowling we went back to the house and watched Top Gun, then rolled into bed at 5 am again.
Sunday he finally got to go to my church and meet the people I've always talked about and worship and listen to my pastor. He wore his Gap khakis and a button down shirt just like always and I wore my striped skirt I had told him about. We shared a hymnal like old times and it made me happy. After church and sunday school we ate roast beef and carrots and mashed potatoes and bread at our house ( after he played the piano for me - but not long enough), then changed and packed up drinks and a bag and headed to the beach. We stopped by the Ridley's on the way and picked up Benjamin and Jonathan, and went to Clinton Beach. We played rugby (i tackled! and got tackled lots. even the famous layout tackle!) and threw the disc around and layed out in the sun and went for a walk up the beach. We got hot and attacked by bugs, so we left and went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream. I got banana and peach with Heath bar and strawberries. He got caramel latte and something else with Butterfingers. We went back to the Ridley's and he finally got to meet the rest of the family!! I was so happy. We had tea and pizza and watched the England vs. Australia rugby World Cup. England won. We said goodbye and went back to the house to watch A Walk to Remember (he hadn't seen it) and eat snacks. I was so glad he got to meet the Ridleys. I had told him all about them and I was happy he got to meet my other best friend.
Monday we slept in a bit then laughed and talked while he packed a bit. It was a sad day, but still enjoyable. Mom made waffles and bacon for brunch and we ate a lot, then went to Wal-Mart and printed pictures and bought him an electric razor. Time was drawing to an end, and tears fell randomly throughout the day. We had to leave for the airport in NY around 2:30, so at the house he said goodbye to my mom (he had said goodbye to Dad the night before) and Ashley and cried and packed and we left. It was an hour and a half drive down, and we thought his plane left at 6. God was kind though, and his plane didn't actually leave until 7:15. We sat and talked and cried together, and even laughed a bit. The bushes around the parking lot helped with that. :) Inside the airport, we saw two people from his unit, because the unit is stationed out of NYC normally. We hugged and cried and said goodbye, and I watched him walk away. It was hard and painful and lonely, but he had to do it. I watched with the families of the other soldiers, and they hugged and kissed and comforted me. We're going to look for each other at the airport when they come home. I sat in the parking lot and cried and cried and prayed and prayed. I drove the lonely drive home, and called Benjamin and Ashley and they came over to watch The Notebook. Ashley brought me Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Ben brought me chocolate. They are the best. He called from Minneapolis and then again from Wisconsin, then from his barracks. Thank you Lord.
He is gone now, 7 time zones away. He called from a stop in Ireland for the last time for a while, until they are climatized and in-processed.
I miss his laughter, his tears, his hugs, his joy, his stories, his playfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness.
I miss him.
Please protect him, Lord.
6.02.2005
June already.
unbelieveable.
Sarah leaves tomorrow with her boy.
I miss the Florida family.
eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! <3
I am tan.
I have a burning, unquenchable desire to play disc. I miss it.
Just spent the night with Ash in the coolest house with the coolest dog besides Sally. He is a rottweiler/German shepherd mix and comes up to my waist and his name is Moses.
I am going to a rugby game in two days with Benjamin!!!!! You don't even know how excited I am about this.
Ken and Jen get married on July 3. I am waaaaay excited and can't wait to go and see everyone.
I love my life. <3
10/4
unbelieveable.
Sarah leaves tomorrow with her boy.
I miss the Florida family.
eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! <3
I am tan.
I have a burning, unquenchable desire to play disc. I miss it.
Just spent the night with Ash in the coolest house with the coolest dog besides Sally. He is a rottweiler/German shepherd mix and comes up to my waist and his name is Moses.
I am going to a rugby game in two days with Benjamin!!!!! You don't even know how excited I am about this.
Ken and Jen get married on July 3. I am waaaaay excited and can't wait to go and see everyone.
I love my life. <3
10/4
5.28.2005
i don't want to leave.
i am currently sitting in my sister's and my hotel room on the queen sized bed that i shared with my nephew last night. that was an adventure if i ever had one. have you ever slept with someone who wants to sleep right next to you but then proceeds to knee and kick and punch you? if you have, i truly feel your pain. literally. but i wouldn't trade it for the world.
basically, the last few days have consisted of sitting out by the pool, soaking up the sun and swimming with Tori and Evan, my niece and nephew. can we say tan? yesssss. food has also been a major factor, because i have eaten enough to feed three people. i did go for a two mile run last night, though. that helped.
Sarah and I are making t-shirts that say "Run for the sun. Leave the fakes behind. Summer '05." if you'd like to know what that means, feel free to ask, though i'm not sure you'll understand.
I'm off to eat breakfast with my nephew in the hotel lobby. they have the best breakfasts in Hampton Inns.
i am currently sitting in my sister's and my hotel room on the queen sized bed that i shared with my nephew last night. that was an adventure if i ever had one. have you ever slept with someone who wants to sleep right next to you but then proceeds to knee and kick and punch you? if you have, i truly feel your pain. literally. but i wouldn't trade it for the world.
basically, the last few days have consisted of sitting out by the pool, soaking up the sun and swimming with Tori and Evan, my niece and nephew. can we say tan? yesssss. food has also been a major factor, because i have eaten enough to feed three people. i did go for a two mile run last night, though. that helped.
Sarah and I are making t-shirts that say "Run for the sun. Leave the fakes behind. Summer '05." if you'd like to know what that means, feel free to ask, though i'm not sure you'll understand.
I'm off to eat breakfast with my nephew in the hotel lobby. they have the best breakfasts in Hampton Inns.
5.22.2005
i am so happy right now. i am currently talking to Megan and Josh online right now, and i miss them SO much. Megan is leaving for tanzania in 5 days and i am so jealous. i'm so proud of her for going. i am definitely going to write to her. i'm also really excited about seeing Josh sometime during the summer cause he lives 1.2 hours away from me and also about going to Wildwood in July to play ultimate. it is going to be awesome.
i went to a women's fellowship tonight at the Quinto's house, and it was so amazing being surrounded by so many strong women of God. Katelyn and Emily were there (obviously, it's their house) and Jackie and Mandi came. we had so much fun. and there was good food.
i went to the Ridley's on Saturday night after watching Dominick's baseball game (he's 7 - so cute), and hung out with Benjamin and the rest of the family. it was like being back home again. i'll definitely be spending a lot of time there this summer. i'm going to a USA v. Wales rugby game with Benjamin on June 4th and i'm so excited.
off to find something to eat and hang out with my cool family.
i went to a women's fellowship tonight at the Quinto's house, and it was so amazing being surrounded by so many strong women of God. Katelyn and Emily were there (obviously, it's their house) and Jackie and Mandi came. we had so much fun. and there was good food.
i went to the Ridley's on Saturday night after watching Dominick's baseball game (he's 7 - so cute), and hung out with Benjamin and the rest of the family. it was like being back home again. i'll definitely be spending a lot of time there this summer. i'm going to a USA v. Wales rugby game with Benjamin on June 4th and i'm so excited.
off to find something to eat and hang out with my cool family.
5.18.2005
well hello.
this past week has been a week from hell and i'm so glad it's over. it'started with the accident on the way back from school and just kept rolling along. oh well.
it's been nice to be home but strange indeed. i miss my friends from school so very much, and i can't wait to see most of them at Wildwood this summer. it's strange to not be able to just IM someone and meet them in 10 min to do something. to just walk up to shen and find someone to play a game with or watch a movie. i miss that. i'll miss basement next year. i'll miss megan being half a floor away, though being in a townhouse does have its advantages. watch out girls, i'll be on the couch more than you know! :)
i've learned that friends from home aren't friends so much anymore, except maybe the forever friends like ashley and dayna and the ridleys. it's harsh and sad to say, but that's the way it feels. they have their own little group, and since they see each other all the time, i guess they don't feel like they can reach out as easily to the ones who are back from a year of school. but that's ok. we hang out with ourselves :) i miss them and who they used to be. the friends i keep from home and the friends i made at school are keepers, encouragers of my spiritual walk and love of the Lord, focused on making themselves and the world around them better. i love that about them.
speaking of which, ashley is here and we're going out to enjoy the sunshine and make some of our own. :)
10/4
this past week has been a week from hell and i'm so glad it's over. it'started with the accident on the way back from school and just kept rolling along. oh well.
it's been nice to be home but strange indeed. i miss my friends from school so very much, and i can't wait to see most of them at Wildwood this summer. it's strange to not be able to just IM someone and meet them in 10 min to do something. to just walk up to shen and find someone to play a game with or watch a movie. i miss that. i'll miss basement next year. i'll miss megan being half a floor away, though being in a townhouse does have its advantages. watch out girls, i'll be on the couch more than you know! :)
i've learned that friends from home aren't friends so much anymore, except maybe the forever friends like ashley and dayna and the ridleys. it's harsh and sad to say, but that's the way it feels. they have their own little group, and since they see each other all the time, i guess they don't feel like they can reach out as easily to the ones who are back from a year of school. but that's ok. we hang out with ourselves :) i miss them and who they used to be. the friends i keep from home and the friends i made at school are keepers, encouragers of my spiritual walk and love of the Lord, focused on making themselves and the world around them better. i love that about them.
speaking of which, ashley is here and we're going out to enjoy the sunshine and make some of our own. :)
10/4
4.25.2005
hi.
i don't feel like updating. this journal is no longer a reflection of my life or the things that are important in it. importance cannot be put into words and i don't feel like making a lame attempt. the time needed to make this journal deep and thoughtful and a reflection of my emotions is not available to me at this time. so forgive me if this post is rather basic and uninteresting.
school is school, last day of classes is tomorrow. i have a bio test tomorrow, then finals start wed and i have one every day until next tuesday. a test every day except sat and sun is not fun. slowly but surely. unbelievable that the last day of classes and the end of my freshman year of college is upon me.
i am sad to see the year go, but willing to let summer come. half of my friends from here are graduating. half of the team will not be here - the better half, in fact. campus will seem empty next year. i will be left in the dorm while the half of the team that is left will be living off campus. i will miss everyone so much.
i was nominated to be captain of the team next year. we'll see how that goes.
josh toth came to visit last weekend. it was super exciting and fun. he is the only one from back home who has come to visit, besides my mom and jackie last semester when i was supposed to go home and couldn't. he is the only person besides people from school who has seen me play ultimate. it was so wonderful to have him come, and i'm glad he did. he is underway right now and i miss him but we are going to hang out lots this summer. and i get to go on his boat and get a navy sweatshirt and pretend like i'm in the navy.
the military facinates me.
we came in second at our tourney last weekend. we were down 10-4 at the half during our game against Binghamton A and came back to win it 15-14. it was the most spectacular game of ultimate that i have ever seen or played.
my left leg is twitching.
i must go. time is wasting. until next time.
i don't feel like updating. this journal is no longer a reflection of my life or the things that are important in it. importance cannot be put into words and i don't feel like making a lame attempt. the time needed to make this journal deep and thoughtful and a reflection of my emotions is not available to me at this time. so forgive me if this post is rather basic and uninteresting.
school is school, last day of classes is tomorrow. i have a bio test tomorrow, then finals start wed and i have one every day until next tuesday. a test every day except sat and sun is not fun. slowly but surely. unbelievable that the last day of classes and the end of my freshman year of college is upon me.
i am sad to see the year go, but willing to let summer come. half of my friends from here are graduating. half of the team will not be here - the better half, in fact. campus will seem empty next year. i will be left in the dorm while the half of the team that is left will be living off campus. i will miss everyone so much.
i was nominated to be captain of the team next year. we'll see how that goes.
josh toth came to visit last weekend. it was super exciting and fun. he is the only one from back home who has come to visit, besides my mom and jackie last semester when i was supposed to go home and couldn't. he is the only person besides people from school who has seen me play ultimate. it was so wonderful to have him come, and i'm glad he did. he is underway right now and i miss him but we are going to hang out lots this summer. and i get to go on his boat and get a navy sweatshirt and pretend like i'm in the navy.
the military facinates me.
we came in second at our tourney last weekend. we were down 10-4 at the half during our game against Binghamton A and came back to win it 15-14. it was the most spectacular game of ultimate that i have ever seen or played.
my left leg is twitching.
i must go. time is wasting. until next time.
3.28.2005
i miss david ridley.
i miss jesse braswell.
i miss ruthie williams.
i miss chad meyer.
i miss crystal diaz.
i miss scott martinelli.
i miss megan day.
i miss kati leone.
i miss renya purificato.
i miss ella nobrega.
i miss keith gurgick.
i miss greg huegel.
i miss josh toth.
i miss dayna demarco.
i miss dan grundman.
i miss polo beaucejour.
i miss past summers, past mission trips, late nights, long talks, sleepovers, concerts, graduations, field trips, prank wars, bible studies. i miss when life was less complicated and stressful, when it felt like nothing could shake my world.
seems like a lot has changed in the past 6 months. my best friends are no longer the same, my walk with God has changed significantly in both directions, i have become friends with people i never anticipated and lost friendship with people i never anticipated. i can't wait till summer when i will have time to reaquaint myself with the above people, at least to some extent. i want to write letters, make phone calls, give a little extra of myself to make sure that we keep in touch. each one of those people meant a lot to me at some point in my life, and i want to make sure they know that i miss them and their friendship.
Easter was wonderful this year.
the Good Friday service was as powerful as ever, with the readings of the seven last words of Christ, and all the hymns and such. i watched The Passion with Ashley that night, too, which really put everything into perspective again. i'm glad it's not a movie you can watch over and over again, because it would just lose the ability to help me focus again.
Sunday i went to the sunrise service at First Baptist, and enjoyed it a lot. cold though. we had breakfast afterwords and i sat with the Powers family. they are so sweet and the kids are so big now. the service at our church was fantastic. there was this electricity in the air because He has risen!! and you could totally feel it. Everyone was dressed in their spring best, and sang at the top of their lungs on all the songs. it was really inspiring. afterwords we ate the famous Bennett Easter creations. They make nests out of rice krispie treats, and color coconut green and put it in there as grass. Then they put cadbury chocolate eggs in, and place peeps randomly. it's awesome. they've done it every year as long as i can remember.
Easter dinner was craziness. We had 22 people at our house, not including my family. The Mates, the Angerosas, the Schmitzes, the Wickens, Nate, and Josh Toth all came. It was awesome. I love having them over, because they all feel like family. They are here for practically every holiday (except Nate and Josh..this was their first experience). I'm really happy Josh was able to come, he's an awesome friend and i was excited to see him. I'm glad he didn't have to spend Easter at the navy base. The 8 kids under 9 were crazy, especially Olivia and her obsession with boys, but we laughed and tickled and wrestled and had an Easter egg hunt. It was a blast. After everyone left, Josh, Nate, Sarah and I went to the barn and then to Blockbuster to rent Man on Fire. awesome movie. We felt the need to be adult-ish after playing with the kids all afternoon and watching Disney movies.
I'm off to go to laundry and pack. I'm going to Liberty tomorrow to visit Benjamin and I have yet to do anything in the way of getting ready. sigh. busy spring breaks aren't really breaks at all, i've decided. i wish i could just stay home and chill here, but i promised i would go. We have a tournament on Sat, so the team is invading my house for the weekend, so no free time then either. I'm really excited about them coming though. We'll have fun squeezing 16 people into my house!
10/1 on the run.
humperdink says hi and he misses you!
i miss jesse braswell.
i miss ruthie williams.
i miss chad meyer.
i miss crystal diaz.
i miss scott martinelli.
i miss megan day.
i miss kati leone.
i miss renya purificato.
i miss ella nobrega.
i miss keith gurgick.
i miss greg huegel.
i miss josh toth.
i miss dayna demarco.
i miss dan grundman.
i miss polo beaucejour.
i miss past summers, past mission trips, late nights, long talks, sleepovers, concerts, graduations, field trips, prank wars, bible studies. i miss when life was less complicated and stressful, when it felt like nothing could shake my world.
seems like a lot has changed in the past 6 months. my best friends are no longer the same, my walk with God has changed significantly in both directions, i have become friends with people i never anticipated and lost friendship with people i never anticipated. i can't wait till summer when i will have time to reaquaint myself with the above people, at least to some extent. i want to write letters, make phone calls, give a little extra of myself to make sure that we keep in touch. each one of those people meant a lot to me at some point in my life, and i want to make sure they know that i miss them and their friendship.
Easter was wonderful this year.
the Good Friday service was as powerful as ever, with the readings of the seven last words of Christ, and all the hymns and such. i watched The Passion with Ashley that night, too, which really put everything into perspective again. i'm glad it's not a movie you can watch over and over again, because it would just lose the ability to help me focus again.
Sunday i went to the sunrise service at First Baptist, and enjoyed it a lot. cold though. we had breakfast afterwords and i sat with the Powers family. they are so sweet and the kids are so big now. the service at our church was fantastic. there was this electricity in the air because He has risen!! and you could totally feel it. Everyone was dressed in their spring best, and sang at the top of their lungs on all the songs. it was really inspiring. afterwords we ate the famous Bennett Easter creations. They make nests out of rice krispie treats, and color coconut green and put it in there as grass. Then they put cadbury chocolate eggs in, and place peeps randomly. it's awesome. they've done it every year as long as i can remember.
Easter dinner was craziness. We had 22 people at our house, not including my family. The Mates, the Angerosas, the Schmitzes, the Wickens, Nate, and Josh Toth all came. It was awesome. I love having them over, because they all feel like family. They are here for practically every holiday (except Nate and Josh..this was their first experience). I'm really happy Josh was able to come, he's an awesome friend and i was excited to see him. I'm glad he didn't have to spend Easter at the navy base. The 8 kids under 9 were crazy, especially Olivia and her obsession with boys, but we laughed and tickled and wrestled and had an Easter egg hunt. It was a blast. After everyone left, Josh, Nate, Sarah and I went to the barn and then to Blockbuster to rent Man on Fire. awesome movie. We felt the need to be adult-ish after playing with the kids all afternoon and watching Disney movies.
I'm off to go to laundry and pack. I'm going to Liberty tomorrow to visit Benjamin and I have yet to do anything in the way of getting ready. sigh. busy spring breaks aren't really breaks at all, i've decided. i wish i could just stay home and chill here, but i promised i would go. We have a tournament on Sat, so the team is invading my house for the weekend, so no free time then either. I'm really excited about them coming though. We'll have fun squeezing 16 people into my house!
10/1 on the run.
humperdink says hi and he misses you!
2.20.2005
alwayshis86: friday night we went over the Schmitzes for dinner and sometime during the evening Bailey came up and shouted out "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT BE AFRAID"
alwayshis86: and Andrew thinks kisses are for girls, babies, and married people
alwayshis86: so i grabbed him and kissed him all over his face and he's like " it's like we're married"
i miss my church! i'm glad jackie keeps me updated.
by the way... Bailey is 2, and Andrew is 4. :)
alwayshis86: and Andrew thinks kisses are for girls, babies, and married people
alwayshis86: so i grabbed him and kissed him all over his face and he's like " it's like we're married"
i miss my church! i'm glad jackie keeps me updated.
by the way... Bailey is 2, and Andrew is 4. :)
2.11.2005
I sit here once again in Big Al's across the table from Jesse Braswell with the remains of food and drinks strewn across the table, our laptops out and sometimes getting work done. He is studying for a big chem test tomorrow - Marples was here earlier studying for it too, but he had to leave a little while back. I am studying for Literature of the Western World. At least I am trying. I probably could have gone to bed an hour ago, but I am still here. All I have to do is memorize 605 words for my essay, yet I can't really do it for some reason. I'm not really in the mood. My test isn't till 1:15 tomorrow. I have plenty of time.
We just had an amazing conversation. Those always seem to happen in the wee hours of the morning, don't they? I am worried, stressed, contemplating not being a vet and changing my major to French.
Not really. Don't worry. That would be scary.
I told Jesse this, since he is making his way to medical school, at this point, and knows the struggles that I am going through as a first year biology major. I'm not really sure when I realized that I was so discouraged about vet school. There are several reasons that I don't really feel like talking about right now, but if you want to know, ask. I'd be happy to have you pray for me that way.
Basically, this is what Jesse told me: you should first determine what you want. If you want something badly enough and if it's in accordance with the will of God, nothing can hold you back except for doubt. God is faithful and will help you through the tough times--the late nights, the desires to quit, the overwhelming feelings, the loneliness, and God will put friends in your life that are more than willing to help you. It is very easy to get discouraged, but you should do what you want. it sounds like it could use a lot of prayer. God tells us that if we lack wisdom or direction, pray, and He will grant it to us.
I was like WHOA.
I've realized that I totally don't spend enough time in prayer. At all. Ever. I get too distracted by things going on that I just don't make time for it. I need to have a set time a day that I will spend in prayer. EVERY DAY. Like a date with God. I think I'll do it. Anyone willing to keep me accountable?
God is so faithful and working in my life, even when I can't see it and am ignoring Him. Somehow He pushes through and opens my eyes and helps me turn back to face Him.
Thank You, Lord.
We just had an amazing conversation. Those always seem to happen in the wee hours of the morning, don't they? I am worried, stressed, contemplating not being a vet and changing my major to French.
Not really. Don't worry. That would be scary.
I told Jesse this, since he is making his way to medical school, at this point, and knows the struggles that I am going through as a first year biology major. I'm not really sure when I realized that I was so discouraged about vet school. There are several reasons that I don't really feel like talking about right now, but if you want to know, ask. I'd be happy to have you pray for me that way.
Basically, this is what Jesse told me: you should first determine what you want. If you want something badly enough and if it's in accordance with the will of God, nothing can hold you back except for doubt. God is faithful and will help you through the tough times--the late nights, the desires to quit, the overwhelming feelings, the loneliness, and God will put friends in your life that are more than willing to help you. It is very easy to get discouraged, but you should do what you want. it sounds like it could use a lot of prayer. God tells us that if we lack wisdom or direction, pray, and He will grant it to us.
I was like WHOA.
I've realized that I totally don't spend enough time in prayer. At all. Ever. I get too distracted by things going on that I just don't make time for it. I need to have a set time a day that I will spend in prayer. EVERY DAY. Like a date with God. I think I'll do it. Anyone willing to keep me accountable?
God is so faithful and working in my life, even when I can't see it and am ignoring Him. Somehow He pushes through and opens my eyes and helps me turn back to face Him.
Thank You, Lord.
2.08.2005
i don't feel like updating, ok?
sometimes you just get into a place where there are more important things then writing in an online journal. sometimes you are in a place where all you want to do is update. i am in the former right now.
once i can once again feel my brain, i will update.
ashley - i love you and miss you horribly. we need to talk.
sarah - i think we need to have a date. let me know when you are free. i love you. give snow a kiss for me.
jackie - i'm sorry, this is the best i can do. too much work. i love you.
love you all. miss you all. need encouragement and prayer. you are the best ones.
sometimes you just get into a place where there are more important things then writing in an online journal. sometimes you are in a place where all you want to do is update. i am in the former right now.
once i can once again feel my brain, i will update.
ashley - i love you and miss you horribly. we need to talk.
sarah - i think we need to have a date. let me know when you are free. i love you. give snow a kiss for me.
jackie - i'm sorry, this is the best i can do. too much work. i love you.
love you all. miss you all. need encouragement and prayer. you are the best ones.
1.03.2005
ok so i know i haven't posted in a while, but come on. it's vacation.
finals went well for those interested. i studied 18 hours straight for biology, mostly with Jesse. we spent the night at a booth in big al's, drinking tea and coffee and eating butterfingers. and studying...me for bio and him for micro. he even made me tea to pick up on my way to my exam after i went to the dorm and showered. isn't he the best? he takes such good care of me all the time. even when i ask him endless bio questions. I ended up with an A- in the class, so i am very very happy.
being home is so much fun, i don't want to leave. i miss the people at school but not the work or stress or being away from those i love. i have spent a lot of time with david, ashley, benjamin, sarah and jenn, and my parents, and i don't feel like leaving them. it's too long until easter, i've decided.
had a really good time bowling and watching a movie and talking with erik last night. it was good to see him and catch up.
i have been sick for the past 4 or 5 days, not really anything big, just a stuffy nose/sore throat/headache type thing. it gets on my nerves.
jenn, evan, and victoria came for the week between christmas and new years..we had a lot of fun just hanging out at the house, having snowball fights, shopping, taking the kids to the barn, and doing puzzles. i miss them so much. we went to Yankee Candle and a butterfly house on friday, which was a lot of fun. butterflies kept landing on me, so i was happy. they still made me a little nervous, especially the big ones when they fly right in front of your face. i love butterflies. the kids got to see snow for the first time, it snowed out of the blue on monday, so it was cool. we made snow angels, and then the next day we took Evan tubing at Powder Ridge.
Christmas was good, had the Angerosas and the DeMarcos over for dinner in the afternoon, then went to see Meet the Fockers. not worth it. opening presents in the morning was uneventful, except hard without Grammy. it was so hard to see where she sat and to find no presents with her name on them. we all sat at cried at one point in the middle of the morning, just remembering her. I miss her a lot.
New Year's Eve we had Dayna, Chad, David, and Ashley over, and we all played Cranium, watched TV, and worked on our puzzle. it was quiet but nice with the people i love all around. then Sarah and I said goodbye to Jenn and the kids after midnight and made our way down to the Ridley's to spend the night, and all day Saturday. it was so relaxing and love-filled. i love their house..it really feels like my second home. we watched movies and stayed up late and ate lots of yummy food.
benjamin leaves on thursday, and i'm not going to see him till May. : ( unless I go visit him over spring break, which i am planning to do. so maybe it won't be till may.
i think that's about it for the updates. Saw Erin, Carol-Anne, Kristen, and Bill tonight. it was good to hang out and see them again..i don't think i've seen them since crosswalk.
i'm out.
10/1 on the run.
finals went well for those interested. i studied 18 hours straight for biology, mostly with Jesse. we spent the night at a booth in big al's, drinking tea and coffee and eating butterfingers. and studying...me for bio and him for micro. he even made me tea to pick up on my way to my exam after i went to the dorm and showered. isn't he the best? he takes such good care of me all the time. even when i ask him endless bio questions. I ended up with an A- in the class, so i am very very happy.
being home is so much fun, i don't want to leave. i miss the people at school but not the work or stress or being away from those i love. i have spent a lot of time with david, ashley, benjamin, sarah and jenn, and my parents, and i don't feel like leaving them. it's too long until easter, i've decided.
had a really good time bowling and watching a movie and talking with erik last night. it was good to see him and catch up.
i have been sick for the past 4 or 5 days, not really anything big, just a stuffy nose/sore throat/headache type thing. it gets on my nerves.
jenn, evan, and victoria came for the week between christmas and new years..we had a lot of fun just hanging out at the house, having snowball fights, shopping, taking the kids to the barn, and doing puzzles. i miss them so much. we went to Yankee Candle and a butterfly house on friday, which was a lot of fun. butterflies kept landing on me, so i was happy. they still made me a little nervous, especially the big ones when they fly right in front of your face. i love butterflies. the kids got to see snow for the first time, it snowed out of the blue on monday, so it was cool. we made snow angels, and then the next day we took Evan tubing at Powder Ridge.
Christmas was good, had the Angerosas and the DeMarcos over for dinner in the afternoon, then went to see Meet the Fockers. not worth it. opening presents in the morning was uneventful, except hard without Grammy. it was so hard to see where she sat and to find no presents with her name on them. we all sat at cried at one point in the middle of the morning, just remembering her. I miss her a lot.
New Year's Eve we had Dayna, Chad, David, and Ashley over, and we all played Cranium, watched TV, and worked on our puzzle. it was quiet but nice with the people i love all around. then Sarah and I said goodbye to Jenn and the kids after midnight and made our way down to the Ridley's to spend the night, and all day Saturday. it was so relaxing and love-filled. i love their house..it really feels like my second home. we watched movies and stayed up late and ate lots of yummy food.
benjamin leaves on thursday, and i'm not going to see him till May. : ( unless I go visit him over spring break, which i am planning to do. so maybe it won't be till may.
i think that's about it for the updates. Saw Erin, Carol-Anne, Kristen, and Bill tonight. it was good to hang out and see them again..i don't think i've seen them since crosswalk.
i'm out.
10/1 on the run.
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