Embarking on an Adventure

In three hours, I head to the airport. In about nine, I fly out of the country.

I know I've been absent from this blog recently. It's not for a lack of gratefulness. It's mostly because my job has made me too tired to think enough to post. (At least that's the excuse I'm giving.) I'm rather grateful for that job though. :) But now, I have a unique opportunity to jump start my practice of gratitude.

As I said, I'm leaving the country. I'll be spending just under three weeks in Liberia, West Africa. I'll be with a team from my church, doing a medical missions trip. We'll be setting up a clinic in a remote part of the country and doing lots of diagnosing, handing out medications, and even some simple surgeries. I expect to go through lots of challenges, hopefully more than a few triumphs, and I hope that I learn a whole new meaning for the word gratitude.

I'm excited to come back and have lots of stories to tell. Please keep me in your prayers/thoughts/send me good vibes. See you all on the other side of this crazy ride!

Day 339: Cupcakes

I spent the day baking for a neighbor. Not that I'm not enjoying the benefits of having sugar close at hand...

Today, I am grateful for:
* spending the day in the kitchen.
* Doby.
* Hobo.
* a-mazing phone dates.
* assurance.

Days 337 & 338: Hero Journey

I am grateful for:
* getting to nerd out with Justin via text tonight. He's one of my best friends, but I don't get to talk to him that much, and tonight we've gotten to just be us.
* chatting with Clare these last few days. I miss that girl.
* Cupcake Wars. It's a new show on Food Network that I can see becoming rather addicting. I mean, it's cupcakes...
* a care package from Manda coming in the mail today. She's such a sweetheart. She knew I'd be missing P, so she sent me chocolate and kick ass CDs all the way from Sweden. It totally brightened my day.
* the plumber finally showing up today to fix the leak in the downstairs ceiling that we told property management about two freaking days ago. Nice guy. Good work. Rufus approved.
* phone dates. Getting to hear P's voice is never a bad thing.
* a lead on a good apartment complex. Granted, I'm not actually moving until September, but it's nice to know what's out there, and I've bookmarked the complex I like to check availability in a few months.
* packing peanuts. They're just fun...
* plans to bake cupcakes tomorrow (and mini cheesecakes). I have the serious urge to bake, so I'm pulling out two of my summer favorites.
* the neighborhood dogs. There really is never a dull moment.

Day 336: Support System

Today, I am grateful for:
* my amazing friends. I really have the most fantastic Chosen Family. They aren't afraid to be honest with me, but they also trust me as a person and make me think over things in a new way. I need that, even if it's just to confirm what I'm thinking. I've got the best support system a girl could ask for.
* my mom being so supportive. She's been good and realistic about the life that I have ahead of me, and she would never support something just to take the easy road, but she respects my intuition, and even when I don't like what she has to say, it's usually for the best. It's felt really good to have her in my corner today.
* P. I promise not to get too sappy here. Really, I promise. But today has been one of those, "I love you no matter what days," and it's been very reaffirming.
* P's parents. Yet another part of my support system. I think it's the greatest sign of trust/approval to say that you trust someone with your child's heart.
* unlimited texting. It makes the above support system possible without my having to live in a box. ...Which would suck hardcore in Arkansas weather.

Day 335: Panda

Today, I am grateful for:
* my grandparents' stuff coming today.
* nap time.
* having an "ours."
* how adorable Rufus is.
* relaxation.

Day 334: Good News

Today, I am grateful for:
* the amazingness that is knowing my plans for the future.
* getting to see the SYTYCD Top 11 tonight.
* Amy.
* my new cookbook.
* not being sad anymore.

Day 333: "It's arts and crafts time!"

Today, I am grateful for:
* a mother that puts up with my moping.
* seeing all the dogs this morning.
* epic amounts of napping today.
* Sophie and Rufus.
* possible February plans.

Day 332: Hot Springs

I'm back in Hot Springs as of tonight. And I'm incredibly mopey. I miss P. I miss Seattle. I miss my friends. I miss his family. And here I am...

I am grateful for:
* P.
* good friends.
* the sweetness of P's mom getting me a cookbook.
* fun recipes.
* a future.

Days 330 & 331: Ours

Today is my last day in Seattle before flying back hella early tomorrow morning. Every once in a while, the sadness creeps in with the reminder that I don't get to stay here, that it's just a visit. But I'm also determined to enjoy every last moment. I don't want to be so focused on tomorrow that I forget about today. Today will be an amazing last day.

I am grateful for:
* this trip.
* getting to see friends.
* getting to see P.
* seeing family, both my own and my future family.
* sunshine.
* hugs.
* laughing to incredibly hard this week.
* knowing.
* honest conversation.

"And let us try, before we die, to make some sense of life. We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good - we'll do the best we know."

"We'll build our house, and chop our wood, and make our garden grow."

Today, I am full of love. Maybe it's because the sun has finally returned, maybe it's from spending the evening on the deck enjoying family & the dogs, maybe it's some sort of love-hangover from all of the friends (new and old) I've seen this week. Whatever the reason, my heart feels full - and I am grateful for it.

Today, I am grateful for:

• Candide, which closes tomorrow. I'm sending all the love I have to the cast and crew for a fantastic closing. I've said it time and again, but really, words cannot express how grateful I am to have met so many talented and warm-hearted people and to have worked on such a beautifully designed, directed, sung and acted show. I am honored and blessed.
• having met Stanley (who plays Candide). Not only is he a brilliant talent and a joy to watch on stage, but he is truly one of the kindest souls I have ever met.
• seeing so many friends this week, especially Sam. I can't wait until your next trip home, girl.
• sunshine, after so much rain. (Literally and metaphorically.)
• feeling confident that one day I will be living and working in Seattle, doing what I love to do. I don't know when or how, but there's just something in my gut that tells me it's going to happen.
• infinite possibilities.
• love, in all forms.

Day 329: Flashback

P took me to see a production of Alice today at EdCC. It's been way too long since I've been to any sort of theatre. Plus, we got to see Sarah, who niehter of us has seen since high school, so that was a pleasant surprise. And now it's off to introduce our parents to each other!

Today, I am grateful for:
* accurate clocks.
* theatre.
* adorable surprises.
* seeing Sarah.
* tonight.

Days 327 & 328; Jeggings

I am grateful for:
* getting to see friends.
* getting to introduce P to said friends.
* laughing so hard my abs hurt.
* the way P calms me down.
* getting to wake up next to him.
* P's shirt.
* love from friends.
* getting to hang out with the fam last night.
* laughing with Tina and Em.
* Dick's cheeseburgers.

Day 326: The Homeland

I'm in Seattle! P picked my mom and me up at the airport last night and took us over to my aunt and uncle's house, where we're staying for about a week. We stayed and talked for a while chatting and catching up before running off together.

Today, I am grateful for:
* being in Seattle!
* an amazing night with P.
* honest conversations.
* Dick's cheeseburgers.
* seeing people tonight!

I am so ready for an epic seven days.

Day 325: Flying Out

I'm at the Little Rock airport waiting for my flight right now. It's my least favorite part of flying since I don't want to start on my book yet or waste battery on my ipod, and I'm not actually on my way yet. But at least I'm here. At least I have completed step one.

P is picking my mom and me up at the airport in Seattle, and I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I want to see him as soon as possible, but I also want to be able to greet him properly, and standing in his arms periodically kissing him is not something I care to do in front of my mother. But oh well. I'm excited to see him.

Today, I am grateful for:
* feeling cute today.
* heading to Seattle today.
* peanut butter M&Ms. They're my favorite travel snack.
* good books.
* having a week with friends, P and family.

Day 324: Tamar

Today, I am grateful for:
* amazing books.
* bright pink Bohemian Rhapsody toenail polish.
* flying out tomorrow.
* P picking my mom and me up from the airport.
* Paula Cole.

Days 322 & 323: The Finnish Fortress

Today, I am grateful for:
* my adorable dogs.
* compromises.
* a great game of hockey.
* Manda being so understanding.
* being two days away.

Day 321

I always get lonely in the days before a Seattle visit. I wish I could be with friends or with Phil instead of isolated in AR. Today was definitely one of those days.

Today, I am grateful for:
* a virtual girls' night with L.
* the Ghost Bros.
* the Blackhawks.
* being close to a visit.
* knowing.

Day 320: Straight Buc

Today, I am grateful for:
* SYTYCD.
* tonight's phone date.
* a morning workout with Rufus.
* not caring that I totally fucked up my diet today.
* inspiring, amazing stories.

Day 319: Shirley

Today, I am grateful for:
* fish tacos.
* getting my hair done. It always makes me feel good.
* Andrew from Costco's Online Pharmacy. C.O.P. has been seriously fucking up my birth control, and he did a bunch of looking and tried like 50 billion things to try and make it right. He single-handedly restored my faith in that pharmacy.
* SYTYCD. Our girls' nights are back!
* P having a new phone!

Day 318: Finder's

Today, I am grateful for:
* a few days without my dad.
* a girls' shopping day with my mom.
* finding $60 that I didn't know I had.
* my new tee shirt.
* the Blackhawks being 2-0!