This summer, I really get a vacation! We are in Northern California for now, and Colorado later. My husband is working and going to classes in his field, and I get to come with, volunteer and plan for our move to the Chicago-area. I am really excited about it. :) and have been enjoying the beautiful weather and flora and fauna of Northern California (or is it the armpit? Berkeley, that is) It has also been fun meeting his college friends.

 Here are some primarily wedding photos (if you get errors viewing, let me know and I will send you an alternative link):

*anticipation (sorry for cutting feet off- wanted to focus more on facial expressions)

*aerial view *at reception, in traditional Vietnamese garb

*at Mexican Fiesta Celebration in DC, cutting cake *our freezer this spring (speaks more to my sense of a bargain than to our consumption of frozen dairy, although it was all consumed- by other people, too ;))

Some things I have observed lately:

*scent is underrated. What I experienced while having my mouth drilled included 'metallic,' 'chlorine,' and a really tasty Indian dessert. I am not promoting poor dental hygiene that may or may not lead to such an experience...

*music can really change the mood

*I can bake really yummy lasagna

*I wonder what the cleaning lady thinks of our stuff? Should we have put more things away/in the basement before she came?

*what does it take to be a good friend?

*what is this medicine doing to my body long-term?

...oh! and *it is sooo good to be able to swallow (prescribed) pills now- even if they taste the same as liquid, they don't linger nearly as much! 

Gracefully, according to Merriam-Webster:  "displa ying grace in form or action : pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, or movement"

In my words: to live life fully, energetically, full of hope- knowing that you can live freely and forgiven, even with all that you have screwed up (after repenting, asking God for forgiveness and making an effort to right the wrong/having a clean slate to make better decisions).

Hi.  today, i sit with an orchid at my desk.  It is growing a seedling, from a single stem, where two flowers are joined.

This sesame bread is just about the best thing I can imagine eating right now.  My body is a bit confused after the red-eye flight, where I slept maybe 3 hours.  It is 3 hours later due to time zones, which should work to my advantage when it comes time to sleep :)
I would call the trip a 'success,' if someone were to ask in such a way.  It was a great time meeting Dave's parents and high school buddies and we attended a beautiful wedding.  Beautiful in the sense that the people talking about the couple only shared touching, uplifting stories that made anyone want to have them in their life.  It was also held in a botanical garden, which is also nice and sustainable (many cacti- so I don't need to rant about how California takes so much unnatural energy to sustain their people's existence).
It is always nice going where you are welcomed, laughing and getting to know people better and spending time with and showing people you love.

A made bed in a clean room of my own is such a welcome sight!!  After two great weeks in Guatemala, it is GOOD to be home.  I don't quite have the energy to do much besides nap and type right now, but if I gain some before mid-morning tomorrow, I will write more.  In the meantime, I am packing for the Northwest to meet my female relatives there.  (I do not have a job like the nurse we met who works abot three months at a time, taking different posts around the country, maybe later on the world!!  and in between, can have up to two months still insured, even if not working!  --but it IS very important to me to get out there and explore and volunteer and see some familiar faces.)

 Anyway, take care, keep hydrated (sooo much hotter in this corner of The States) and take a picture!  (seriously, who ever says, "I wish I didn't take so many pictures.  I wish I couldn't be reminded of the times we had."?)

So what prompted me to update?  Could be my reaction to the movie last night.  Could be that I am awake and home for a couple hours.

My housemates and I watched PS, I Love You last night.  Before you run away, I will say that I will not babble on about details or spend too much time on it.  I had heard that it was too sappy, without much substance.  I think those reviews were written by someone who did not emotional connect with the characters.  I cried more than I have during any movie I can remember.  I might have sobbed, if I didn't try so hard to stay quiet for my friends.  It is so good to see reality.  Or in this case, what could be.  We all go through loss and fights and need to choose how to respond.  and the ends do not always tie together beautifully.  Our plans do not always work out, but we do not always know what is best for us.  How could we?  We only know so many factors and have only such a range of experiences to compare them to.

Anyway, life is good.  Dave and I are volunteering in Guatemala in one week for two.  So exciting!  my main goal today is to prepare- picking up some items to donate- garage sales, here I come!

I got the job I applied for at work!  The start date is pending hiring someone for my current position.  In the meantime, I have been working really hard to prepare things for the next person.  I want to train him or her well, and to not leave much work for them.  I have been working so hard, in fact, that I came to the 'big city=sooo busy + stressed-out' mindset.  Not so fun to experience, and I am sure others nearby will agree.  Good news: attitude is a choice.

All for now.  Enjoy your weekend!

Title says it all.  It's like a magazine subscription.  You may have been excited for each new issue- couldn't wait to get your hands on it- but then you decided maybe it wasn't all that interesting or there's one that you might like more...

Another scenario is that an outsider, maybe even a close friend or family member, sees that magazine that is just perfect for you, and they were looking for a birthday gift anyway... so the giftee maybe does enjoy the subscription... until the renewal bill comes.  Then the whole crisis of, "Is this what I really want to invest in?" happens.

A healthier, more rested version of myself has now gone in-depth about:

over-stimulation: I saw on the news how some families are making a concerted effort to unplug their kids.  to give them a break from the computer/video games and other electronics that pull them in multiple directions and are a lot to comprehend.  This made me think of my own life & how maybe I need a break, too.  My stimulation comes in other forms, too- but it seems like I haven't truly chilled out much, even with a recent vacation.  Today I was able to a bit, as I was home sick from work.  Don't know the diagnosis yet, but it's the fourth day of my voice being "kinda sexy" hoarse & I'm congested.  Drank lots of fluids & avoided milk products for the most part & am going to doctor tomorrow.

orchid (living like one): see above.  I thought I might have laryingitis, so I tried to not only drink water, but moisturize the air.  Don't have a humidifier, but worked around that.  Did you know that orchids like moist air?  That you should have water at the bottom of a pot, with rocks to keeps the roots at bay?

great Easter:  Went home to see my family and friends in the Midwest.  brought boyfriend with.  really felt loved and appreciated there.  also felt like a visitor.

what it means to love someone:  had interesting conversations regarding this.  thought a lot about it.  It's definitely actions and choice.  Words are important but mean nothing without something consistent backing them up.  it's not limited to liking every thing a person does (as if that's possible).

passive-aggressiveness:&n bsp; Suffice to say that I still have passive-aggressive tendencies.  I thought I was over it, like by acknowledging that it's not the best or least hurtful route to go, that I'd automatically be more direct.  Nope.  All is not hopeless- maybe recognizing and not liking it is a step in the right direction.

bonus topics
Vapo-rub: great!  used to like how it tingles and you can seemingly feel the air directly through the skin on your chest and throat.  Did you know it is good for other things as well?  I haven't tried it, but I hear it's good for sore muscles & if you put it on the bottom of your feet, it's supposed to relieve a night cough & cracked heels
vacuum safety: please be careful around cords.  I stripped my cell phone charger cord down to the wire because I vacuumed over it.

Not so much disconnecting as being without connection.  Yesterday, I left my cell phone at Dave's place.  As I was going home from work today, I felt like part of me was missing and this was only emphasized by not even having a pen in my pocket to note things!  If I'd forgotten lip gloss as well, I might have been done-in.  How much do we rely on such devices?  The lip gloss to me is a safety barrier from the wind and sun, a way to experience the world better, a way to perk up a bit & encourager for me to keep talking.  My cell phone has a safety to it as well- especially walking home in the dark, I feel like I can at least call the police if something happens or scares me.  I can connect to my wonderful people- whether it be to confirm, "I'll be there in 20 minutes" or "I miss you, too- look forward to being in the same state as you..."  Especially when there are exciting things to talk about, immediacy is so gratifying!  and relying on my memory instead of taking notes is a bit trying.  It is rather freeing being disconnected.  I should treat my cell like it's a landline, leaving it in a room when I'm at home.  Why should I need to answer a phone, just because it's ringing?  Remember the days before there were even answering machines, let alone Caller ID?  My life shouldn't be dictated by someone else's whims (I write as if I talk on the phone often).  It's so easy to rely technology, when I should be listening to God and what He's saying.  My cell phone is another way for me to push Him away- I really should pay attention when I make decisions I'd previously been at least wary about (I used to avoid having a cell phone at all costs).

It was also nice disconnecting from work.  Went with Melanie and her dogs to Myrtle Beach this weekend.  'twas sooo good to take naps, enjoy the ocean & her company! 

What does it mean when someone you baked a cake for throws said cake back at you?  or a cake, even a different one?  What if it is all virtual?  What if it doesn't even happen?  It's all something I'm considering, but likely will never happen.  Is it just a waste of time & brainpower?  As I think these things, I think of many hours of analyzing situations that have never occurred.  I can attempt to justify it by quantifying the amount of peace or sleep I had as a direct result.  I would have to counterbalance it with the amount I lost, lying there, unable to shut my thoughts off.

Then again, maybe it's just my 'I need a break from cleaning!' side babbling... ;)

Walking into the family home, smelling a certain cologne, listening to a song- they can all bring us to a distant time and place.  This time, it was a Switchfoot song- a part about "it's my birthday tomorrow... I was born this Thursday, 22 years ago..."  I listened to that song a lot the summer I turned 21.  That was over 5 years ago, and the memory is so fresh!

now I'm off to finish a list of things before socializing! 

This is an example of filling in the gaps- seeing what he had before and skimming through the rest.  I thought my friend was visiting Saturday morning.  Turns out it's tomorrow morning.  Haven't seen him in over two years.  Should sleep soon, with an early morning ahead of me.  Guess no pie.

... (Fairest Lord Jesus)
I'd like to think it's more than the start of a new day that wakes me up singing.