My Happy Place

My day has consisted of:

- Sleeping in
- Cooking a hot homemade breakfast (so much better than cereal!)
- Criminal Minds and a Lifetime Movie
- Washing my bedding --> don't you just love clean sheets!?
- Finishing off the rest of the laundry
- Cleaning out and organizing the fridge
- A shower
- And now a blog post followed by Netflix and dinner.

This might not sound like the an enjoyable Saturday to you, but a good cleaning/organizing day has done my soul well.  There is nothing like the satisfaction of laying down at night knowing the house is clean….at least for today anyway :)

My happy place.  Oh how I love Saturday's where I don't have to work!

How did you spend your day?

Under the Knife

(Ha! Ok so maybe it won't look like this..)

First of all let me say how excited I am to have my computer back!!! While a little break from technology was nice, I have missed this little gem of mine...even if it is considered "vintage" now. Don't ask.


Any who... Surgery is tomorrow.  Yuck.


I'm beyond ready to have relief from this pain but I'm not looking forward to having surgery. The whole thing freaks me out (thank God for anesthesia!!). I'd like to go ahead and be put under now so my mind can stop racing about the whole process.  This two week waiting time is not the best idea for someone who over thinks and gets anxious about procedures... Just sayin'!


...Enough thinking about that.


In other news, I booked my flight back to Haiti this week!  It was an exciting glimpse of hope that this will all be over soon and I can get back to doing what God has called me to do.  I've loved being at home, but I'm missing Haiti quite a bit and everyone I know down there.  So, March 4th I get to return to that land I love so much and I'm really looking forward to it!!  I'll still have some restrictions on what I can do but they are all things I can work with thanks to the wonderful friends I have in the area :)!


Ok back to getting ready for ignoring tomorrow...starting with lots of cuddling from this cute pup!

Surprise!

I'm home!!!!!!!!!

A few months back when I was booking my flights home for Christmas, I realized I could come home on the 19th for over $100 less than on the 21st (which was my original plan).  So, I went ahead and booked the cheaper flight but decided, with Erin, that we wouldn't tell anyone and surprise mom and dad by coming home early :)!  I almost ruined the surprise SO many times over the last couple of weeks, but we were able to pull it off!

Yesterday morning I packed my bags and headed to the airport.  It was a full, but fairly easy day of traveling.  Erin and Faith met me at the airport and then we headed back to the house.  I knocked on the door to be greeted by dad; mom stayed on the couch thinking it was Erin at the door until I walked around the corner.  A few tears and lots of laughs were shared.  It was a really fun and successful surprise! (Erin has a video you can see on Facebook or instagram!)

 Flying first class is awesome!!  I wasn't able to use the money I'd budgeted the last two months to take a few days off with a beach trip, so I put it towards an upgrade on my flight!  Have you ever seen so many buttons for reclining your seat in an airplane?!! It was awesome!

 I got to see a rainbow from above (top right), which was SO cool!  I also had to get warm with some Starbucks in Miami (I enjoyed some for you Jenn!) and then caught up on the latest celebrity news during my 5 hour layover.

 Sunsets are gorgeous from above.  I didn't get a really good shot of the beautiful colors on the other side of the plane, but it was breathtaking!  I'll pick a seat on the other side next time!  We also had a delicious meal on the flight home and then it was like Christmas opening all of my mail from the last two months!  (I LOVE getting mail!)

 Finally home and reunited my my family and sweet puppy dog!

I'm so happy to be home.  I thought it would be major culture shock or at least feel like a transition, but I just feel at home.  It was pretty awesome crawling into my own bed last night, brushing my teeth with sink water, and doing laundry today, but it hasn't felt out of place or anything.  I just feel like I'm home.  I'm so happy to be home.

Now to start the Christmas celebrations!! The next three weeks are super busy but I'm going to soak every minute of it up before I head back to Haiti!

Christmas is Coming!

Despite the fact that it is 80 degrees with a gorgeous breeze here today, Christmas IS in fact just around the corner and I can barely contain my excitement!!  Christmas means that I get to come home for a few weeks, see family, hang out with my friends, hold my sweet puppy dog, and just be home!  Oh I cannot wait!!!  So soon...so so SOON!!

Our little Haitian Christmas tree I absolutely adore!

As I prepare for my time at home, here is what I am most looking forward to during this little vacation from Haiti:

• Seeing my family!! 
• Holding my sweet puppy dog
• Seeing all of my friends and getting to be part of one of their weddings!! I cannot wait for the wedding weekend!
• Good food that I don't have to cook, dishwashers, and all the holiday treats that only come once a year :)
• Worshiping at Grey Stone - I miss my home church so much!
• Giving everyone their Christmas gifts!
• Getting a pedicure
• Washing my clothes in my own washer and dryer!
• Sleeping in my own bed
• Brushing my teeth with cold water from the faucet
• And walking around barefoot without getting grossly dirty feet :)

Before heading home though, we've got a pretty busy weekend ahead of us! HFMS is hosting the KOFAEL Christmas party this Sunday, which I'm also very excited about!! All of the ladies are bringing their kids, we're making sugar cookies for them to decorate, we'll have cake, games, and Christmas fun!  We are going to have a packed house but it is going to be SO much fun!  The ladies will also each get a special Christmas gift that Elisabeth is bringing. They are going to be so excited!!

With one of the KOFAEL ladies at the last meeting!

Well, I should probably get back to working on things here.  Christmas is SO soon!

What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?  

Thursday Thoughts: Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!  

Thanksgiving is one of my all time favorite holidays.  I love the time together with family, the reminder of how blessed we all are, and the food...I mean come on, who doesn't love the food?!?  But seriously, my absolute favorite part is getting to spend time with my family.  Un-rushed, relaxed, one-on-one time with family where our main focus is each other.  It's like Christmas without the presents, which almost makes this holiday better since no stressing over gifts is necessary.  I love the holidays!

How does your family celebrate?

My family always makes it a point to get together and enjoy a ridiculously large amount of food, combined with lots of reminiscent stories, laughing, and hugs.  On Thanksgiving day, we spend time with my mom's side of the family.  The location varies each year, but a pot luck meal is always to be expected.  My favorite items of this meal are the macaroni and cheese (I know, no surprise there) and my great-grandmother's cake (or at least my Aunt Missy's best attempt at it, which is just as good!).   This cake is literally to die for.   It's incredible.

Then on Friday, we head up to my Grandma's and spend the rest of the weekend with my dad's side of the family.  Since they live two hours away, we typically spend the weekend to make the drive and gas go a little further. The best part about this meal is Grandma's stuffing.  I like stuffing, but her's is a-ma-zing! Friday's dinner is also where I can typically be found laughing so hard my sides hurt.  I mean you put Pa, Andy, and the rest of the family in one room together and this is only to be expected (anyone that knows Pa knows what I mean).

I literally love this holiday, too bad it has to come and go so quickly.  However, in true thanksgiving fashion, this post would not be complete without a list of the things I'm thankful for.  So here goes:

I am most thankful for:

• My Savior.  I know I say this a lot, but I can never truly express how grateful I am to have a Lord that loves me so unconditionally that He would send His only son to die for me and you.   I'm so thankful that my Lord is not only unconditionally loving but that he is full of grace, mercy, guidance, forgiveness, and goodness.  I'm thankful that He pushes me every day to be better than I was the day before.  I'm thankful that he never gives up on me.
• My Family. This may seem cliche, but I seriously have the best family ever!  I'm so thankful that they love me unconditionally, support my dreams, push me to grow, and teach me how to be a better person every day.  I am most thankful however, that I am blessed to have a family that taught me to love the Lord and show me the importance of having a relationship with Him. They never give up on me and I can't thank all of them enough for that!
• My Friends. A few years ago I did not have a lot of close friends in my life, due to some very selfish decisions I made.  It wasn't until college that I learned the true importance of friendship and formed some of the best relationships a girl could ever ask for.  I'm so thankful that my friends support me through anything and everything, and that they laugh hysterically with me through it all.  I'm thankful that my friends are always there when I need them.  That they teach me to be more patient, understanding, and loving of all people.  
• Laughter. This may seem silly, but I thank God a LOT for the gift of laughter.  It is by far one of my favorite things in life.  The way it brightens your day, lifts your mood, and is oh so contagious.  You simply can't have a bad moment if it's filled with laughter.
• The simple joys in life. You know, things like a comfortable bed to crawl in each night, food on the table every day, an abundance of clothes in your closet, or the joy of enjoying your favorite items.  And then there's things like the way your heart races when you meet a guy you like, or the comfort found in a hug from a loved one, or for that high you get after a job well done.  There are so many little things in life we take for granted and today I'm reminded to be grateful for them all.
• Second chances. I love the freedom, forgiveness, and sense of hope that comes with second chances.  I've seen this recently in my life and it truly is an incredible blessing.  To give and receive forgiveness and form a stronger relationship from it, is an amazing gift that I am so thankful for.
• Haiti. You all know how much I love Haiti, so it's no surprise that I am thankful for the country, people, and friendships I've formed there.  My only regret is that I cannot wrap my arms around those sweet children in Haiti and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving in person; but I do send my love to them!
• Love. Love is the greatest gift any of us can ever receive or experience. It is the glue that holds this world together, creates bonds, and blesses relationships.  I never ever want to take love for granted, it's a true blessing!
• The unnecessary blessings in life. Like my car, iphone, computer, TV, music, movies, etc.  All of these little things that make life that much more enjoyable can be so easy to overlook.  It's easy to forget that they are blessings, not necessities.  I am thankful that I am able to enjoy all of them, but am reminded that they can be taken away as easily as they were given, and I'm thankful for that.
• Hope & Dreams. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am a dreamer.  Sometimes the things I dream up can leave me disappointed, but usually they remind me of how powerful a little hope can be.  When things get hard, I'm grateful to have that hope and promise of a future as written in Jeremiah 29:11.  I am thankful that the Lord gives us a hope and that we have everything to look forward to, even when things are really hard.
• My education. I am so thankful to have been born and raised in a world that allows education to be readily accessible.  I'm thankful that my parents pushed me to be more and allowed me the privilege of going to college.  I'm thankful that my education allowed me to explore my hopes and dreams.  I'm thankful for the opportunities that my education has and will continue to bring me. So many people in this world never get the chance to go to school, I am so thankful that I was blessed with the opportunity. 
• Our Freedom. I am so thankful to live in a Country where we are all free. I am beyond thankful for the sacrifice all of those who have or are serving our country give.  I can't thank all of our service men and women enough.  You may our world a better place, thank you!
• My sweet puppy dog. Again, this may sound silly, but I am so thankful for my sweet puppy.  I'm thankful that his cuddles, sweet face, and cuddles can brighten any day.  I love how he lights up when we get home, and always wants to be in the same room as us.  He is a part of our family and I love him oh so much!
• Everything. Literally, there is nothing I'm not thankful for.  My life has been beyond blessed.

Hope you all have an incredible, joy filled Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Quick Not me Wishful Wednesday

Hows that for a doozy of a title?! I guess I should've kept up with my posts this week!

Any who!

I have not been in a blogging mood this week.  Actually, I haven't really been in any kind of mood lately.  I've just kind of been stuck lately. In a rut of sorts.  An I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing-but-I-do-the-same-thing-every-day kind of rut.

Does that make any sense?   Probably not.

Well for other thoughts:  I am so glad the election is over!  While I know the ridiculous whining, complaining, bragging, and everything else will probably continue on Facebook for another week or so, I'm still glad it's over!  I'm glad that the phone calls, annoying commercials, and the constant fighting/debating/complaining about the other candidate every where you look is over.  It'll be great once everyone moves past this and gets back to normal life! When I can look through my news feed and not see people bickering any more...oh that'll be a lovely day!

On another random note: For any of you that haven't been following my facebook statuses, I finally heard back about the position in Greensboro.  They still have not made any decisions as they are still finishing up interviews, so it'll be the end of next week before I hear anything.  I'm still praying constantly, trusting God will take care of it, and hoping that I'll get the position.  I appreciate all of you who are praying for me, please keep the prayers going!

And since it's Wednesday (and I really can't think of a good Not Me Monday or Quick Tip Tuesday post) here is the item on my wish list this week!

I am absolutely in love with these Madden Girl Zappa Booties from DSW.  For all of you ladies out there that have large calves, like myself, you'll understand my frustration when it comes to finding boots I can wear.  The ones that I REALLY want, simply don't fit.  However when I found these, I decided they'd be the next best thing!!  I'm not sure whether to add these to my Christmas list or wait until I get some money in and buy them myself.  I love them and already have a lot of outfits in mind to put with them!  We'll see how it all plays out, but one way or another these beauties will be making their way to my closet!

Oh and for the last random note of the day:  52 days until I'll be back in Haiti!! I cannot wait!!

Well that's all I've got for you today.  I'm going back to my doing-nothing-but-doing-the-exact-same-thing-every-day routine.

Quick Tip Tuesday

Did you know: that the wattage on a light bulb is not actually how much light it produces?  The number of watts only refers to how much energy the bulb requires to light.  The number of lumens in a bulb is what really determines how bright your bulb will be!

So next time you're wanting a brighter bulb, take a look at the number of lumens first!

Too Random for a Good Title

Whew.  It's been a whirlwind of a weekend!  These last few days, while they didn't seem to busy in the moment have worn me out.  After getting back from Haiti on Thursday, I spent most of my day Friday cleaning, doing laundry, and getting my life back in order here in the states.  I washed more clothes than I ever wanted to, did some cleaning around the house, and organized everything back where it goes.  Saturday I spent the majority of my day on the computer downloading, editing, and uploading pictures from Haiti.  I didn't think I took nearly as many pictures this time, but I ended up with over 200!  It's crazy how quickly pictures add up on these trips.  Erin made me dinner last night at their place, which was delicious, and we did a little catch me up on what needs to be done for camp this week.  Since I've been gone for almost two weeks, camp has arrived quickly and there is still a lot that needs to get done.  Most of it is small tedious administrative things, but they are all very important nonetheless.  Today was graduation Sunday at church so I walked for that, did some grocery shopping after church, made lunch, and cleaned the kitchen here at home.  I also cut up a watermelon because I have been dying to have some!  I'm so glad summer is here and all my favorite home grown items will be here soon!

Tomorrow it's back into camp full force.  We've got parent orientation night on Thursday, counselor training Friday and Saturday, and then camp starts next Monday!  I can't believe how quickly it's gotten here.  I am very excited to step into my new roll as assistant director and get to work with a different side of camp.  I love the kids and working with them, but I also love the administrative side of things as well.  I'll get the best of both worlds as the assistant director.  It's going to be a great summer and I can't wait for everything to get started!

On another note, I have decided for now that I am not going to move to Haiti, but instead keep doing short term trips.  I did a lot of soul searching these last two weeks, and have decided it is not my time to move there right now. While I still believe I will do long term missions there one day, I don't think that time is now.  When Dorothy challenged me with understanding the difference between a calling and having a heart for the need, I really began to realize that what I'm feeling is more of a heart for the need than a calling at the moment.  I absolutely love Haiti, I love the kids, the country, and the way of life there which is why Haiti will always play a large role in my life.  For now however, that role is going to be short term trips so that I can truly explore God's calling for my life and determine exactly where and when he wants me there.  I hope to visit different organizations over the next few years to truly get a wide sense of what options are available to me and where I will fit best.  Please keep me in your prayers as I begin this long journey.

Because I have decided to put off moving to Haiti for a while, I am now having to start looking for jobs again.  I searched a bunch of different listings this weekend and applied for four positions.  Two of them are in Raleigh working for furniture companies, and two are in Charlotte as design assistant positions.  I kind of have my heart set on the two in Charlotte right now, as I believe they would both be perfect starting places for my career.  They were the first listings I've seen in North Carolina for entry-level designer positions, so my fingers are crossed that they are still available and I'll hear from them soon!  Please keep my job searching in your prayers!  I need to find a full time position soon!

Also on my last random note for the day, I weighed myself today and I have lost 12 pounds!!  While I did not successfully complete my graduation challenge on time, I am still pushing myself to lose the weight.  It is a difficult and long process, but I am up for the challenge!  Cassie and I are going to be work out buddies this summer and we will be getting a gym membership soon.  For now, I'll have to stick to my walks around the neighborhood and the last two guest visits I can make to the YMCA pool.

Home Sweet Home

We made it home!! After waking up at 6am this morning, 2 flights, and a 5 hours layover in Miami, we made it back to Raleigh around 7:30pm.  We were both so excited to be back, but also a little sad to say goodbye again.  We spent yesterday playing with the kids and loving on them as much as possible before we had to leave.  I gave them all lots of hugs and kisses, and promised I'd be back soon.  While I don't know how much they understood, I know they all know we love them.  Plus, they remembered us from last time, so we must have made a pretty good impression!  These last ten days have flown by, and while there were some bumpy parts, we all made it, had tons of fun, and would go back again!  I love those kids, I love Dorothy and the work she's doing, and I love that Country.

I am so grateful for everyone that helped us get to Haiti, and I'm so grateful for everyone that impacted our time there.  Huge shout out to Dorothy Pearce, Katie Benner, and Samuel Chery for all of their time and love they shared with us this week!  You are all amazing, and we are extremely blessed to call you our friends.  May God bless you in all you do!

While I was sad to say goodbye, I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.  There's no where better than home.  Thanks again to everyone!! I'll update more, finish the hospital story, and post pictures soon!  Sleep and laundry have to come first though!

Goodnight everyone and thanks again!

Haiti Day Seven & Eight: Beach and Sunburn

Sorry I didn't update last night, we were all exhausted after our wonderful day at the beach!! Katie got here around 9, and we headed out for the beach around 9:30.  We didn't hit any traffic on the way there, which is amazing for Haiti!  We did get to one street that was super flooded, which made for some interesting driving.  We had to inch, and I mean inch past a large truck which was a little frightening, but very impressive to watch Katie do.  We made it to the beach in a little over an hour, and as soon as we saw the water we all immediately felt relaxed.  We went into this little resort type place that cost us $20 to get in for the day. As we walked down the beautifully landscaped walkway, we could see the crystal clear water and were so excited to get in.  We ordered our lunch, got in the water, and swam out to these little floating piers.  It was gorgeous and perfect in every way! We came in, took some pictures, enjoyed our lunch, and then walked over to another little area where we could jump off the wall into the water.  It was amazing!!!!!!!   The best part however, is that all of these men were on row boats selling rides to the visitors.  Katie asked him how much it would cost and it was only 100 goude to ride, and to use the goggles to snorkel were another 100 goude which roughly converts to about $5 US.  He took us out to this gorgeous area with tons of coral to snorkel around.  We all got in and snorkeled for about an hour, looked at all the pretty fish, quickly swam away from about seven jelly fish, and just relaxed. I've never been snorkeling and it was breathtaking! It was probably the best day I've had in a very long time.  I've never been to a beach so beautiful or relaxing.

Unfortunately, because my skin sucks, I got fried to a crisp.  I tried my best to not get burnt, putting sunscreen on at least five times, but I guess the sun here doesn't mesh well with my skin. I'm hurting pretty badly today, and spent the majority of my day laying in bed with my straps down.  My thighs are burned, the sides of my legs are burnt, my back and shoulders are crispy, and it is just about miserable.  The heat here makes it 100x worse I think, and I really just want to lay and not move until it goes away.  Sleeping was next to impossible last night, I woke up every time I moved.  I'm hoping i'll sleep better tonight and I'm hoping icing it and ibuprofen will help take some of the pain away soon.  I hate being this burnt away from home.  Only two more days though, I think i'll survive if I keep myself covered in aloe and stay on ibuprofen all day.

Tomorrow we are going to do a little bit of souvenir shopping and get some paintings.  Meredith and Jess are really excited and I'm highly looking forward to experiencing their first shopping experience in Haiti!  We will get to go to the Apparent Project tomorrow or Wednesday afternoon with Katie.  I saw their organization on the special Oprah did when she came to Haiti.  I mentioned to Jess when we watched it that I would love to see it one day, but had no clue where it was. Come to find out it is walking distance from Dorothy's house.  I'm so excited to see it and get some nice handmade things!  If I can make it through these two days and not die from pain, they will be a lot of fun!

Here are some pictures as promised:

I am absolutely in love with Johnny!

The four of us on the roof enjoying the sunset.

Meet Lovena, the newest little baby.

I think i'll bring her home!

The view of the beach we visited.  How gorgeous is that?!

The view of the beach from the pool.

Have I mentioned how much I love this Country and these kids????  

Challenged by Words: Haiti day Two

It's been another good day here in Haiti! We got up early, ready to play with the kids, and then remembered that almost all of them were at school.  Oops!  We were all pretty tired so we stayed inside, loved on the babies, and made a birthday sign for Rosa.  Dorothy has two new twin girls, Sephora and Fadaphora, here now that are about 11 weeks old and absolutely adorable!! It's hard to not love holding a baby! They are both simply precious!  We also spent some time organizing various areas for Dorothy today, and sketching a mural on the wall outside for the kids that we hope to paint later this week.  Another team painted a small mural of a jungle and we got inspired.  Ours will not be nearly as impressive, but I think the kids will like it nonetheless.

At dinner tonight I found myself challenged by a few words.  We were talking about other missionaries working in Haiti, and where I thought I could see myself working here if I did make the move.  I expressed my thoughts to Dorothy about the whole situation, my concerns and confusions, and she simply replied with "Haiti is not the end all, planes fly both ways."  One of my biggest concerns with moving here has been about not enjoying it when I got here.  While I obviously know that planes will go both ways, it was comforting to hear that it is always an option to go back home.  I am not tied to a specific time frame and I can come and go as a please.  And if it turns out this is not the place for me, home is only a short flight away.

Also, while her and Katie talked about another missionary she said "Just because there is a need, does not mean God is calling you there.  A calling and a need are two separate things."  That also hit home with me tonight.  Am I called by God to be here or do I feel this push because I have seen and understand first hand the need that is here?

These are both things I have to think about and truly dig deeper to understand before I make my decision. I could use your prayers.

I am looking forward to the rest of the week.  We hope to paint the mural, spend lots more time with the kids, do some souvenir shopping, and we've even worked in a trip to the beach!  We are excited and ready to see what all God has planned for us in this trip!  I do really love it here.

Spring Cleaning Round 2

First off let me say that last night was a success!! We raised $300 which covered the last portion Cassie needed for her trip!  We were both excited to have that finished, and still have some extra to take with us to give to Dorothy!  Thank you so much to everyone who came out last night to support our trip, and thank you to everyone who has donated over the last few weeks!!  You all pulled through again and have blessed us beyond belief!

As for the spring cleaning, round two is about to begin around here.  You see I've become somewhat of a neat freak in the last few years.  I'm not sure exactly what got me to this point, but it's become an obsession.  I find myself getting anxious and uneasy when things are not clean and organized. I also love how I feel after it's done.  Organizing/cleaning is a very therapeutic activity for me and oh so rewarding; hince the round two of cleaning.  I did my first round in my college dorm, where I donated a lot of clothes, cleaned out unnecessary items, and then did some quick spot cleaning.  I already keep my room pretty clean and organized so it doesn't take much even on my "big" cleaning days. At home however, things are not quite kept to my standards. I told mom this would be the hardest thing about moving home and that she should expect some organizing projects to be in her very near future.  Areas that I don't see or deal with everyday like their bedroom or the office, don't bother me as much.  It's the main areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room that are screaming my name!  I got my room all set up within the first 48 hours of being home. I can't sleep well when all of my stuff is in boxes scattered about throughout the house.  Then I organized my bathroom cabinets, the fridge, and the freezer.  On today's list is getting all of my stuff from the apartment that doesn't go in my bedroom, stored neatly upstairs in a designated spot for myself.  Then I'll be doing some vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and possibly organizing the laundry room.  I only have a few items left to do in my room, like hook my TV up and find a place for my jewelry so I intend to do that today as well.  I'd love to get around to organizing mom's closet, but that may have to wait until tomorrow! Let the cleaning begin!

Loving the pool

Yesterday was the first time I've gone to swim laps in probably over a year.  Lucky for us, we have a great indoor pool on campus built for swimming laps that we can use year-round.  I've been wanting to go, but kept using the excuse that I didn't want to go alone as a way to put it off.  So yesterday when Meredith mentioned wanting to go swimming I jumped on the opportunity.  We did have to go buy me a different tankini top for my bathing suit, seeing as how my current one is strapless, and a pair of goggles before we could go though.  It was a little expensive, but I told her and myself that we'd go enough times to make the cost worth it.  We figured the goggles were $13 so we had to swim at least 13 times this semester.  Haha I actually enjoyed it so much that I think we'll end up going way more than that.  Also lucky for me, Meredith has swam her entire life.  I know how to swim freestyle but that's about it.  She was able to show me some new strokes and tools to use in the pool for different exercises which will help a lot.

My favorite was probably the back stroke, and while I'm working on the breast stroke my legs seem to have a mind of their own.  She also showed me these cool things you put on your hands while swimming for strengthening exercises.  I did around 20-30 laps yesterday (I didn't keep a close count), and I can definitely feel it in my arms today!  I kind of like being sore though because it shows me I've done something and it's working.  As much as I like using the elliptical, swimming added a new and fun twist to exercising.  I had forgotten how much fun it was, and it's such a great workout!  Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be more efficient at these different strokes and my stamina will increase.  I had hoped to go swimming today but I couldn't fit it in with my class schedule.  Instead I plan to go to the gym after my last class today before hitting the road.

I'm going home for the weekend, which will also add a twist to my exercising routine.  We used to be members at a gym, but I think it ended.  Instead I think I'll either go up to Northern (my high school) and run on the track, or run through a neighborhood by our house with Coconut.  I think hims would enjoy that!  Or maybe Erin's gym will let a visitor come for free with her?  I'm not sure yet, but I'll figure something out.  Well that's all for now, I've got to head to class here in a few minutes, I just wanted to give a little update.

I plan to be back in the pool Monday afternoon, and I think more people are going to come with us this time!  Maybe everyone (including me) just needed a little push to get things started.

Home

Do you ever feel like you just need to be at home?  That's how I feel today.  Something about home makes everything feel right.  There are no questions about what you have to do next or what the next step in the road is.  Home takes your worries away when nothing else can.  Home for me is that safe haven where I feel protected, loved, and comfortable.  The place where I can lay my head at night and forget the worries of tomorrow. It's a place of serenity.  That's where I want to be today.  With these people: