Gratitude

Send some rain, would You send some rain?

'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to thirst for You

How to bless the very sun that warms our face

If You never send us rain

Oh the differences that often are between

Everything we want and what we really need.

I did a presentation in college on this song to a primarily agnostic class my freshman year. The assignment was to find a song that represented who you were and demonstrated your outlook on life. I knew it would be received with glazed eyes and a skeptical professor but I still come back to its words several years later. (I wonder if the students who did their presentation on Teen Spirit could still say the same.)

I'm really seeking guidance on so many levels about the things we really need and those that are only desires.

Gratitude ~ Nichole Nordeman

The Best News

I left my office for one tiny minute today and came back to a big pollack that I did not remember being there when I left. I jumped because I was so startled which made my heart start beating pretty hard. Then he handed me a letter.

And boy did my heart start beating after that:

"Dear Sean,

Congratulations! Welcome to the Cox College Associate of Science in Radiography Program (Class of 2013). ..."

This is one proud wife :D

It Runs in the Family

** Warning: If you are more modest than I, you may be offended by the text below so just skip this post **

For the year before the wedding, I lost some weight because I was so very stressed. I didn't realize how much I was losing until now, coming up on a year after the wedding, because I have gained some serious weight since that time. Without going into all of the details, I learned that stress induced "stomach problems" kind of runs in the family (no pun intended. But I could come up with them all day long). After the wedding and the most stressful part of it - paying for it - was over, I felt fine! I could go the entire day without feeling sick, I haven't had to cancel going out with friends because I didn't feel good, and I have had so much more energy, which I have obviously put towards eating and not working out.

Grandma has been sick, but she's getting better! This has been emotionally stressful, but hasn't put me over the threshold yet.

Work has been at a pretty even stress level, nothing I can't handle anymore.

My house has absolutely been a mess due to neglect this past week, which really stresses me out. But no one has been over to visit so I'm not entirely worried about it.

We are nearing the last week in March; Sean is supposed to find out whether or not he will be attending radiology school in the fall either this week or next. We found out through the grapevine they've been trying to contact his last reference but she's been on vacation. Who goes on vacation in March? And how do we find that out through the grapevine but not whether or not he got in? This has been a major point of stress.

Sean texted me this morning: pipe just busted under the house, it's off the hot water heater I'm calling dad. This was ok, too. It's just a pipe, he caught it in time, and we will fix it tonight. No big deal. Right? 

Well, apparently not - that was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. We have no water at home & I've been sick all day long.

Which really stinks. (I couldn't resist.)

Five Question Friday

I realize that it has been nearly a month of Sundays since I've posted and it has really not been for lack of material, just a lack of material that I thought was appropriate for internet postage. My journal could have had a great number of entries over the last month, but I've been too tired for that so my brain has just been spinning.
It has been B.U.S.Y. around our house with weddings, birthdays, prepping for school and just finding time to be together. Grandma is now sick & in the hospital which I think gave everyone a great scare. I have had to face some selfishness issues and have been listening to the Nichole Nordeman station on Pandora pretty hardcore to keep what's important in the center. I know that I have thought about a time when gma would no longer be around, but I've never really had to face it and I did not like it one bit. I didn't think I had enough memories or heard enough stories, so last night I really tried to take advantage of our time together. She is always good for a sassy comeback.
That said, and since there hasn't been anything else to really share, I thought I'd do a 5 Question Friday which I've seen on several friends' blogs. Here goes:
1. Have you ever testified in court? For what?

Nope. I've only been to the courthouse to get our marriage license. In which case I guess I did swear that I was not marrying my cousin and that I was of legal age.
2. Do you still have your wedding dress?
I do. It's still hanging up where I put it the day after the wedding: in the utility room. I should probably have it cleaned and stored, but when you are planning a wedding "they" fail to tell you to budget for that.

3. Is there a special place you like to go when you're happy, sad, stressed, etc.?
I've started walking for exercise in the last month and have found some really great back roads to walk. Perhaps not always the most safe but it is very refreshing when I'm stressed or angry. When I'm sad I generally just want to be home and left alone and when I'm happy I want to be where ever Sean is.
4. If you have kids, do they sleep with you? If you don't have kids...will you let your kids sleep with you when/if you have them?
I don't have kids but as we start to think about kiddos, there have been a lot of "will we let our kids....." discussions. I did not sleep with my parents but I also never remember wanting to sleep with them. But my sister in law has talked a lot about sleeping with her mom when they were kids. OP sleeps at the bottom of the bed and it's crowded enough so I think it will probably be a no when the time comes.
5. Do you watch late night TV?
I don't ever stay awake long enough to watch late night TV. And if for whatever reason I happen to be awake when it's on, I'll be asleep by the end of the opening monologue.
 
That's all. Have a good weekend everyone!