Making Melonade

Why, oh why, did God choose ME to be His source of comic relief?

My mom told me that when I was a bay-bay and I had chickenpox, I ran around the house growling and acting like a monster. That is SO me. Now, an "adult," if I can so call myself, I have shingles (the same virus that causes chickenpox). God must have been having a rough day, and needed a good laugh. He remembered his old pal, J, and thought, "she can handle it. she's got a good sense of humor, and she'll definitely give me a good laugh." Well, dear heavenly father, I am NOT going to run around like a monster this time! Uh uh! No way! Ok, so I might have, just maybe, acted like I was going to attack my hubs last night with my "disease." He was scared and made me go wash my hands. Oh the joys of being a grown-up child.

The sun's in my heart

image via pinterest

Brrr! It is a cold, rainy Monday, but thank the GOOD LORD there is NO SNOW! There's some positive thinking for ya on a Monday!

image via pinterest

On another positive note, I saw the first signs of Spring this weekend. Flower buds! I'm not sure what they are yet, but they are sprouting, and I'm sooo excited and soooo ready to work in the yard again! Along the same lines, Mr. Mole (yea, remember him) has been busy this winter tearing up our yard. This spring and summer, I will not put up with his tricks. I will catch him, and put him in the neighbor's yard - 2 birds with one mole?

Whateves, spring is coming and if I think hard enough, I can remember what it feels like to have the sun shine on my face. {sigh}

Dem bones, dem bones

image via pinterest

Lord, help me. I mean, who seriously falls 4 times in one season!? No, I did not fall once, not twice, and not three times, but FOUR times this winter. Once on the driveway, once in a parking lot, once in a grocery store (dairy aisle to be exact) and once in a book store.

I have started going to a physical therapist because the pain in my back was not going away and I couldn't even bend over to touch my toes. I love my physical therapist. She is a kind woman, but she kicks my bootie every time I go in to see her. I'm paying her to hurt me, but it feels so good. Weird, no?

I'm not the only one falling either. The hubs tripped in the dark this morning and rammed his head into a door. I was sleeping when this happened, but heard the thud. No worries. He hurt the door more than it hurt him.

Happy Love Fest Day

image via pinterest

Seven years ago today I went on a date with my husband (then just this cute guy I had a crush on). Little did we both know that the first date would last for 7 + years.

I recall the "second" time I saw my husband. Our first greeting was at a frat party. He was a studly high school senior and I was a shy freshman in college. He got all up in my business with his "sweet" dance moves. I was not impressed and a bit overwhelmed by his enthusiasm. The classic definition of a meet cute, if I do say so myself!

Our second meeting, however, was only experienced by me. He was strutting his stuff happily down the streets of greek town. As he passed me, he had the biggest smile on his face. "I wish I knew him," I thought to myself. He reminded me of the Colbie Caillat song "Oxygen" - "I met a boy who had a dream making everyone smile." A week later, we "bumped" into each other at a campus event. He asked me out on a date 2 weeks later. Little did he know, he asked me out on the days of all days to ask a girl out - Valentine's Day. "What balls this fella has," I thought. While he does have quite some gumption, he also has a poor memory. This somewhat ballsy man actually didn't know it was Valentine's Day at all. Later realizing the situation, he quickly grabbed a rose from a local market to greet me with at the door. He also washed his truck and put his name in at the restaurant 2 hours beforehand. He has washed his truck and put his name in early at the same restaurant every year since :)

Happy Valentine's Day and 7 years, Hubs. You are a trip and know how to always keep me guessing. Looking forward to many more years of love and laughter.

A new day

After expressing yesterday's heavy emotions, I delivered a birthday present to a dear friend, worked out hard core, and shared some drinks with new friends. I am doing well. Please do not worry about this girl. But if you feel so inclined to send me flowers or gifts, I will accept them :)

On a different note, I am headed back home to my roots to celebrate three, yes THREE, birthdays! One is my little mexican chimichanga's bday, Mr. Miguel. He will be turning the big F-I-V-E. Oh, I remember turning 5. Got my ears pierced. Hurt like hell. Ho hum. The other birthday celebration is for my lovely cousin's baby girl, Maybel, who is turning one! WOW. And the last birthday celebration is for my oh so young cousin Zachy. Oh to be young again. Ha!

I love birthdays, especially when celebrated at Chuckie Cheese! There will be sugar highs, game playing, screaming, food comas, crying, and that's just all from me! Oh boy. You can bet there will also be kissing, hugging and drooling all over my adorable little nephew and niece...and my cousin. I love her to pieces, and I can't wait to smother her chillens with love, too. 

Me and my little chimichanga :)

Happy Friday!

Grace under pressure

image via Dr. Brene Brown

Fear. According to Dictionary.com, fear is 1. a  distressing  emotion  aroused  by  impending  danger, evil, pain, etc.,  whether  the threat is real or imagined;  the  feeling  or condition of being  afraid. 2. a specific instance of or propensity for  such  a  feeling. 3. concern or anxiety; solicitude. 4. that which causes a feeling of being afraid.

It's crazy how crippling fear can be. I can say this with certainty because fear has been occupying my life for awhile now. Scars from past relationships have built up walls around me giving me a false sense of safety. I'm learning, though, that in reality fear has been stifling me from experiencing love, living life to the fullest, making deep connections, expressing joy, practicing creativity and feeling like I belong.

image via Dr. Brene Brown

Vulnerability is a scary thing, but I believe it is one of the cornerstones of friendship. Vulnerability = fear (oh geez), shame and uncertainty. But choosing to practice vulnerability = courage and strength. I learned that this week when I broke down in my Bible study. I've been attending this Bible study for about 6 months now, and I've opened up here and there, but I've never really spoke about my struggle with depression and anxiety, especially during these winter months. I felt God pushing me to tell these women, and for about 20 minutes, I sat there wondering and practicing in my head how I could get out my prayer request without crying. No luck. As soon as I opened my mouth, tears streamed down my face. I think I might have even done the ugly cry. Fear immediately welled up inside me, but the response from these amazing women brought me to my knees. Love. Oh, the love that out poured in this meeting brings tears to my eyes. I have a difficult time asking for help, asking for love, asking for compassion and prayer, but these women gave it freely. Prayers, coffee dates, happy hour meetings, lunch dates were coming from all directions.

I am worthy of love. I can say this, but still struggle to believe it. It's all in God's timing. This is my journey. God's story for me. I'm choosing to practice vulnerability. I'm choosing to be fearless.

I read this on the blog Allora Handmade...a fave, and wanted to share:

i am enough.
that statement alone can and will change my life.
i am loved.
and i am worthy of that love.
i have so much to offer the world.
why do i shy away from that?
i can make a difference.
and i WILL make a difference.
i have a voice.
as i use it i will feel empowered and be able to empower others.
i choose happiness.
it is my choice, not something that happens to me.
my story matters because i matter.
i share myself, not a fabricated version of myself.
i am willing to feel a full spectrum of emotions.
i will not push out feelings i am afraid of.
i will share my gifts with those around me.
it is the least i can do with all i've been given.

Happy Fearless Thursday, my dears.

Fear Less, Hope More.

image via pinterest

Bedtime Routine

image via heidi burton

I have a new addition to my bedtime routine. After taking a shower, applying lotion to my face and legs, brushing teeth, taking meds and removing contacts, my new bedtime routine addition is to wrap myself in a robe and drink tea in bed with my eucalyptus candle lit. What a wonderful way to prep oneself for sleep :)

A looong winter's nap

{sigh}

How did we spend the Snowmagedon?

{yawn}

Oh ya know...

 watching the birdies play in the snow...

building tents, drinking hot cocoa and smoking stogies...

taking naps...

drinking hot tea...

and cooking up some DELISH-ous food.

Happy Friday!