Running

So there I was at the end of a pretty good day, when all of a sudden my day took a serious nose dive. So what did I do? I ran.  Well technically I walked.  Crying and running in a public place can cause serious damage as tears can inhibit one's ability to see clearly, thus resulting in the greater probability of running into someone. So I walked.

But in my head I was running.  I was running as hard and as fast and as far as I could.  I was running against time, and myself, and life, and the moment.

But running doesn't fix your problems.  Unless, of course, one of your "problems" is being fat.  I've convinced myself that this is in fact NOT one of my problems. Go ahead and laugh if you want.  I do sometimes.

As I "ran,"  I thought about how much I wished running actually could  fix my problems. Yes, it helped to relieve some of my stress and to clear my mind, but the problem was still there.  The only one who can fix the problem is me.  By first turning to God and crying out for help and healing.  And then by fixing relationships I've marred.  No amount of "running" can do that.  Only I can.

I'm kind of hard to live with sometimes.  At times, I can be a lousy friend; sometimes being friends with me is a lot like living on a perpetual see-saw.  Lots of ups and downs, and not really all that great. Probably not worth the hassle.

But I'm thankful for the friends I have that love me anyway. I'm thankful that even through the see-saw of my life, they stick by me, never leaving, encouraging me along the way.  Sometimes I'm even thankful for their kind slaps in the face to tell me I'm being stupid.  Or that I'm not listening.  Or that I need to quit living in a fantasy world and just grow up.

So I talked to God, and I talked to my friends, and I felt better.

You can't "run away" your problems. And you can't (yes, I speak from experience) fix your problems by watching a great movie while eating a bowl of caramel pecan frozen yogurt either.  But even though the problems are still there after having completed the running and the eating and the watching, I can definitely say I feel MUCH better!

Daddy's Girl

Today is my daddy's birthday.  A few weeks ago, I said that I have the best mom in the whole entire world (or something along those lines).  Well... that would be true of my dad as well.  I can honestly say that I have the best dad in the whole entire world.  I know, I know. You don't believe me because you think that YOU have the best dad.  But unless you're my sister, you think wrong.  Don't worry.  I don't fault you for your false thinking.  It's due to ignorance. You simply don't know any better.

Anyhow, I'm so thankful for my dad.  He is one of my absolute best friends.  Again, I know I say that about my sister Helen, and my mom too... but that kinda just proves my point.  I have the best family EVER!

I don't know where I'd be today without my dad.  He is so patient and kind and supportive; always ready to give advice, but also ready to pick up the pieces with you when you don't listen to or ask for his advice.

Best. Dad. EVER.

I'm thankful for my daddy because he gives really great hugs. AND he always knows when to give them.

I'm thankful for his fantastic storytelling abilities. Many of our friends (my sisters' and mine) will agree with this.  My dad, to put it simply, is the best at reading stories.  Our favorites include The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and the Junie B. Jones series.  I just LOVE that guy and his reading abilities, I tell you! :)

Best. Dad. EVER.

I'm thankful that he loves his girls.  That's all he got.  Four girls. No boys.  But I never EVER... not once... felt as if he wished one of us had been a boy. In fact, I'm not sure he'd know what to do with a son after having four daughters and a wife!

I'm thankful that my daddy can cook.  I'm thankful that my mommy can cook, too, but dad's specialty is breakfast. If it wasn't for my dad, I'd never have learned how to make a proper omelet. Or how to make sausage gravy from scratch. Or how to brew coffee the way it's meant to be brewed... STRONG. Or how to fry an egg. Or how to get Monkey Bread out of the pan without making a massive mess.  Or how to make a good chocolate chip pancake without smearing chocolate all over the frying pan.

Best. Dad. EVER.

I'm definitely thankful for my dad's sense of humor and his disposition.  I haven't seen him get mad in a very VERY long time.  He's always ready to join in on the goofy. I enjoy listening to him sing random songs like "Let's Go Fly A Kite" and "Blueberry Hill."  I love that we can shoot him a line from a ridiculous movie (i.e.- A Cinderella Story... or Holes), and he can respond in perfect keeping with the script.  So many people see my dad as a serious, quiet man.  HA! Boy are y'all mistaken!  My dad is hilarious. For reals!

But most of all, I'm thankful for the spiritual leader I find in my dad. I'm thankful for his example.  Sunday school teacher, deacon, Sunday School superintendent, janitor (not officially, but still...), Youth helper, fill-in speaker, song leader, even actor.  He does it all.  One of my favorite memories from childhood (and even now) is walking into my parents' bedroom and finding my dad sitting on the edge of the bed reading his Bible.

I'm thankful for my dad because he has given me a very good picture of my Heavenly Father.

I couldn't ask for more than that.

Happy Birthday to the BEST DAD EVER!!!!

Reading "The Lorax" to us all. 

And yes, he DOES do all the voices best.

PS- I love you, dad!

Oh, Baby!

Growing up, I always wanted an older brother.  I used to dream of my parents adopting an older brother.  I would see my friends interacting with their older brothers, and I would get so jealous sometimes.  Finally, when I reached high school, my wish kinda came true.  I kinda adopted two guys from my church: David & Nathan to be my honorary older brothers.  I must have good taste because I now have the best brothers in the world! Anyhow, now that I've gotten that little explanation out of the way, I'll get to the purpose of this post.  

Last night, I got the opportunity to go to the hospital and visit my new "nephew!"  Ok... I know he's not really my nephew, and he probably won't even see me that often, but just like his daddy, he'll always be family! So here he is... baby Jacob William!  Soooooo cute! :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I have the best mom in the whole entire world.  I know you probably would disagree with me on that because you think YOUR mom is the best, but believe me... mine trumps yours. I have never in my life met a more easy-going, happy, content, godly, practical woman in my life. I'm so thankful to call her my mother! 

I'm so glad my family was able to come up to Ankeny/Des Moines for the weekend!  We had so much fun celebrating together!

Here are a few pictures of our fantastic weekend:

Hu Hot... delicious!

Mommy & Me

My parents

"Look! I'm a walrus!" 

My silly sisters... 

My Family (Minus Lindsey & the girls)

The Valentine's Day Blahs

I usually love Valentine's Day.  As a hopeless romantic, I'm usually all for the hearts and flowers, chocolates and love songs, but for some reason this year, I just wasn't feelin' it.  I can't pinpoint the exact reason.  Perhaps it is that I haven't had one of my mom's strawberry jam-filled heart-shaped sugar cookies yet.  Or maybe it's that I'm 22 and still single.  Could it be the fact that I'm a helpless victim in a one-sided love affair? Or the fact that I'm the villain in another one-sided love affair?  Who knows.  It's probably a combination of all these things.

I had multiple date offers, and had accepted one.  I was to go to a movie with my fabulous friend Shelly after work. But when I woke up yesterday morning, I just wasn't feelin' it. I didn't feel the greatest, and I had a list a mile long of things I needed to get done before my parents arrive this weekend.  I had every intention of cancelling, but then I realized that if I was going to be miserable on this marvelously sappy day, the least I could do was make sure that those around me were at least having a good time!  So... I went.  And had a DANDY good time! Shelly also brought me a single rose and a box of chocolates to work earlier in the day, so that helped me get in the mood for celebration, too.

After the movie, I had one last Valentine to deliver.  I had already delivered Helen's (she got a bottle of children's grape flavored cough/cold syrup, a bag of honey flavored cough drops, and three mini sharpies) and Shelly's (a box of theater-style M&Ms).  So I stopped at Olive Garden on my way home to deliver my last Valentine to my dear friend Thomas.  A bag of dark chocolate Hershey's kisses... and a hug (the real kind).

I then came home and finished off the remains of a half gallon of Blue Bunny White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie ice cream while watching the Valentine's episode of Glee.  All in all... I guess I didn't really find a cure for the Valentine's Day Blahs, but at least I made an effort, right?