#1, Friends, Sale

1. It's so good to feel you have that spot back!!

2. I know I just said it in my last blog, but having great friends to talk with is the best thing in the world!!

3. When you see a registry item on sale you really freak out to let everyone know about it!! It's kind of crazy what you do!!

Give, Honor, Market

1. It's hard not to get your way...but when it means a make or break thing it's better to give.

2. My Matron of Honor is an amazing woman. I'm so glad to have her in my life and call her friend.

3. Two words of wonderful amazement..... BOSTON MARKET!!! Yumm Yumm!!

Fly, Barrel, Bed

1. I have never driven over the mountains between here and my Grandma's house, today I DID IT...and I flew. I made record time!!

2. There is nothing like Cracker Barrel after a long drive home.

3. What's better than Cracker Barrel after a long drive?? My own bed!!! Oh, how I love my bed.

For One More Day

Well, in my short time here in Colorado, I was able to read one book and start two more. The book I finished, For One More Day by Mitch Albom really got me thinking and encouraging me to appreciate my Mom. If you haven't read it, DO!!

Albom, Free LD, Light

1. I was so excited to finish a book today for the first time in a long time. I can't wait to finish another!

2. One thing that is so beautiful about cell phones...free long distance. If I didn't have that, I would have a LARGE phone bill!!

3. When you are alone at night in a big unfamiliar house, there is nothing better than the automatic light. On at 6 off at 11...it's wonderful!!

St. Patty's Day

Today, as I was eating corned beef and cabbage, I was thinking back to all of my fun St. Patty's Day's and this too has been one of them. The last time I truly went out and celebrated was 2 years ago...in 2006. I got together with some of the old guys and we all went out to the local pub, O'Hares. I was smitten with a new guy at church, so I was on my BEST behavior, but the guys...well they had a great time, and it was fun to laugh with them.

Another fun St. Patty's Day was in 2001. Me and my friend Sarah embarked on a journey to be rebels and get our belly buttons pierced together. So, we went downtown without either of our familys knowing and did it. It took 3 days for me to tell my Mom what I had done, and boy was I scared to death. I'm so glad she was okay with it.

Another fun St. Patty's Day was in 2005. My family decided last minute to take a trip to Durango. I was thrilled to get out of dodge (why do I always need to do that around this time?) It was so much fun!! We spent the days watching March Madness and the nights playing cards. I experienced corned beef for the first time, and have been in love since.

Another St. Patty's Day I remember was in kindergarten. We walked into Mrs. Brownings room to see leprechaun footprints all over the class. We were in search for a pot of gold all morning. I had so much fun, and it stuck with me all of these years. 

I don't know what it is about me and St. Patty's Day...I think it's just my holiday of fun memories. I hope for many more in the future, and maybe next time, you will be a part of one!!

Corned Beef, Family, Crossword

1. My favorite thing about St. Patty's Day....corned beef!! It's so yummy and such a treat once a year.

2. Today I got to spend some time visiting with my cousin Carrie. I'm so sad we live so far away and don't get to see her that often.

3. One thing I love about visiting Grandma P...the crosswords every morning.

snow, Snow, SNOW, SNOOW!!!

Yay, it's snowing here at Grandma's!!! That's a joy I forgot....I miss being able to sit inside with a book, blanket and coffee in hand while I watch it snow outside. There is something exciting about the snow in Colorado. It's so pure...it's a joy!!

My Joys

Well, Jeremy I think has inspired many with his blog about lost joys. I know I wrote last night about reading, and how I have enjoyed getting back to this stolen joy. I also know it was my attempt to write about joys that I see everyday in my beauty blog. Life has taken over and I have neglected that, but it is my attempt to reinstate that in my life. Until then, here are some joys that have brought a smile to my heart in the past:

• The smell in the air after a rain.
• Cuddle Time!
• Seeing God in the "woah what happened?" moments
• A new pair of shoes
• Not feeling like I could get close enough to Jeremy
• Text messages through the day to know I can't get out of his mind
• Latch Hook
• Baking
• The birds singing in the morning, telling me Spring is on its way
• Another text message to let me know I'm still on that mind
• Dreaming of the future
• The smell of vanilla
• Singing outloud
• BoBo chasing the frisbee
• A trip to Abercrombie for new cloths
• Learning about the Women of the Bible
• Looking in the mirror and seeing a beautiful, smart, talented woman
• Getting up at 7 am, jumping out of bed ready to start my day
• Coffee in the morning
• Photography
• Cleaning my car on a warm afternoon
• Hearing I love you from the man I love, over, and over and over
• The ambition to learn to knit
• Driving through Corrales to clear my head
• Scrapbooking
• Holding hands with the one I love and feeling he would never let go

Joy, Ear Plugs, Birthdays

1. Last night, I was able to get back to one of my stolen joys...reading. I love to read and was always very passionate about it. Lately, I have been to busy and pre-occupied to do so. So, last night, when there was nothing on TV,  I went to bed at 10:30 pm and read until about 1 am. It was great to get back to my joy.

2. Ear plugs are amazing, especially when the room you are sleeping in has a ticking clock. I'm sure glad that didn't keep me up all night!!

3. Birthdays are one of my favorite things in this world. I was so privileged to spend today with my Grandma on her Birthday!!

Not "normal", CC, Convictions

1. Today I embarked on a new experience. I traveled 7 hours over the mountains to stay with my Grandma. It is something I have never done, it's actually the farthest thing from the "normal" me. But, I did it, and it was a great eye opening experience.

2. I know there are those of you out there who love those energy drinks; to you, I say BOO!!! It's all about the Cherry Coke to keep you awake over the snowy mountains.

3. There is nothing like knowing what you want. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, but it also got me here to Colorado. I think it is important for people to know what they want and stand by their convictions!

Wanna Get Away??

Ever have those times when you just REALLY need a change of scenery?? Me too...so, I'm in Colorado. I have taken photos along the way of my great journey up here and I will post them when I get home.. You all have a fantastic weekend!!

Family Trees

There is a reason family trees look like this:

It is the point of marrying someone to break away and form a new branch with your new family. 

Where is my Head??

Today I have been running around like a chicken with her head cut off. You see, it is the deadline for my student teacher packet to be turned in. I had mine together with the exception of one VERY important test score. I know I have it here somewhere, I even turned a copy in to the school last December, so I know I have that copy and my original here somewhere. Problem....I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE. I have torn the house apart searching and searching for that dang sheet of paper. I finally decided to give up and cross my fingers the college still had a copy, which they did. So, I had to go over there and thankfully waited about 15 minutes for them to copy it for me.

So then....I had to get my advisor to sign the packet (which I didn't know), so I had to get in touch with her (which took forever cause her phone was busy for about an hour this morning) and wait for about a half hour at the college for her to get there. Rest assured...she did sign it, I did turn it in (5 and a half hours later), now I'm just praying everything they need is there!!! Now if I can find my head, my day would start to be a little better!!

Pot, Culture, Advice

1. How funny is the word pot?? Especially when you are referring to the toilet. What's even funnier is hearing people who never refer to it as that say, "Katie, can you get that?? I'm on the pot!" Too funny!!

2. It's hard to break away from your culture, but I'm so glad I did tonight. It allowed me to have a great dinner with the one I love...time we needed!!

3. Advice is the best thing in the world. It's just always good to have an open mind when you receive it, but it's nice to hear peoples side of things and hear their suggestions as well.

Surprise, Packets, Registration

1. I had so much fun surprising my baby at church...I hope he was excited to see me as I was to surprise him.

2. I have my student teaching packet together...wohoo!!!

3. I registered for my summer classes today. All I can say is it's a good thing I'm taking them at the graduate level, otherwise they would be full!!

The Problem With Fractions

Well, yesterday I started my last 8 weeks of class for this semester. This means....a new class!!! I was apprehensive about this class...the teacher brought his lunch and that is never a good sign. Usually that means we are not getting out at 12 like most teachers do. So, I hemmed and hawed in my head about how dumb and unfair and and and, but it turned out to be a great class!!! We were so busy with different activities that it didn't seem like I was sitting there for 5 and a half hours. We laughed and participated and had a great first day. I am really excited about this class!!! Only 5 more classes and I can STUDENT TEACH!!! WOHOO!!!

Pretty Girl

This weekend, at the Youth Quake, I heard a song that truly spoke to me, especially with all I have had going on in my life lately. I think all of us girls need to be reminded we are pretty and we are the reason Jesus died!! I'm not usually one to repeat lyrics, but here is the song that touch me by Fuller Still, I hope the words speak to you as well.

Pretty Girl, just smile for the crowd

But if you're dying inside, don't say it out loud.

You say you've got it all together, your whole life's in line

But you're not allowed to cry, because everything is fine.

And if you think you aren't lovely, you're just fooling yourself,

'Cause you know that you're perfect by the trophies on your shelf.

Don't keep it all hidden away, I'm here to say you can be satisfied

Just give it up to the lover of your soul, 'cause you're the reason why He died, He says:

You're beautiful, too marvelous for words

You're amorous, so precious, it hurts

You're more captivating than the rest of this world, 

So when will you see that you're truly a Pretty Girl?

And the looks that you get, all the praises that you earn,

And the songs that you sing, oh, when will you learn?

Your hair is so curly, but you want it straight,

Well, at least that's one thing that you love, but you're still worried 'bout your weight.

Well, I used to be that Pretty Girl, suffering alone in my strife

Thought I was unworthy of love, until Jesus came and change my life when He said that:

You're beautiful, too marvelous for words

You're amorous, so precious, it hurts

You're more captivating that the rest of this world, 

So when will you see that you're truly my Pretty Girl?

Oh please won't you see all that I've got in store

For my sweet little baby who loves Me like crazy

You'll look in the mirror, and see things much clearer

Just know that through Me, you're much more than just a Pretty Girl.

Forgetting

Why is it so hard to forgive and forget? Why is it that we can be hurt or have our trust in someone broken and fight hard to not remember that time, but those times are still there in our mind? Why can we not get past incidents of the past? Why is it that when we hope something is worked out, we remember the time that work was busted with a new plan so we think it has happened this time? Why is is so hard to forget these instances and move on with new plans or relationships?

When we are hurt, when our trust is broken, it's hard to forget that. It's hard to believe that as much as we hope it will, this time WILL be different. Time will help us to heal this hurt, but when an incident happens recently and then happens again, we think back to that time. It is my hope that I will be able to wipe a clean slate every time and start over. It is my hope that each time, relationship or agreement will hold true, more than the last. Until then, I think I need patience...for myself and for those around me. It isn't easy to get over being hurt or having your trust broken. And each time a new instance comes up it will be hard to get over what happened in the past, but I am working at it. I am trying. And I just need patience.

What a Great Weekend!!

This weekend, Jeremy and I went with the Middle School youth from our church to Youth Quake in Denver. It was really an awesome time!!! We got to hang out and laugh like old times, I got to meet some great YE people, we had Chipotle....twice, we hung out every morning with coffee and breakfast. And that was just some of what we did together. I'm so glad we're "back", I really did miss us!!

The Dreaded Bathroom Key

Jeremy and I have our favorite coffee shop we LOVE to go to. Not only is it WAY better than Starbucks (yes, the Starbucks addict said it...) but it has a great atmosphere to sit and hang out in all day long....and YES we have done that before. There is a new problem I see though. Within the last month, the coffee shop has experienced some vandalism in their bathrooms which has caused them to keep the bathroom locked and those wishing to use it must get a key. 

I have been able to avoid having to do this...until yesterday. I finally had to grab that key and make my way into the facility. As I was in there, I got to thinking about that key. Do they sanitize it everyday?? Or are there nasty bathroom germs, as big as seals, sitting on that key and waiting for me to pick it up??

I'm not usually a germ-a-phob, but I was completely disgusted by having to use that key yesterday....

Me too!

Do you ever feel like you talk and talk and get NO WHERE?? Do you ever feel like you do all you can do to be noticed, yet still aren't? Do you ever wonder what things will be like in the future if they can't change now? Do you ever feel like you are nothing?

Me too!

cancer

Why is it that such a simple looking, two syllable, 6 letter word can mean so much pain, heartache and destruction?

It Has Sprung

Today, My Mom, Kelly and I were lining the envelopes for the invitations. While we were sitting in the dining room, we opened the window. Wafting through the small crack was spring. It smelled of fresh air that just filled the room with a sense of newness. The sweet music of birds chirping put a smile on all our faces. I am so excited for this new season. I hope it brings a new beginning to a winter that I am ready to put behind me. I'm so excited for this new season of life and renewed hope. 

Did you make the Most of It??

As much as I tried, my Leap day was less than stellar.

• I screwed up at work and put a sample in the freezer I shouldn't have. 
• I learned something that was supposed to be taken care of for the guest list wasn't, so I had that added stress.
• I ate my dinner too fast and gave myself a stomach ache.
• I am up way too late
• I think I'm coming down with a cold...at least I have a cough.

There were some good things that happened, it's Friday....I had a great time bowling.....I watched a fun movie....and I got to have a great breakfast with my Mom. Why is it that the bad always seems to outweigh the good though?? Oh well...I have another 4 years and I can try all over!!