My poor blog has been neglected long enough. What with Tory graduating and starting his SJD, moving to a new place, getting a dog, getting a new job, and everything in between, I just haven't made writing a priority, much to my husband's chagrin.
But, thanks to my Dear Husband, I now have one less excuse for not writing on my blog - he just installed BlogPress on my iPhone. Which is really quite helpful, since I've had in mind for the past month or so that one of my New Years Resolutions would be to write on my blog - not just once in a while, not just often, but every day of 2011. More on that next year.
Happy New Year, everyone!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
31 December 2010
03 June 2010
Counting Your Blessings
The other day I had lunch with a dear friend of mine, which we pleasantly spent talking about our lives and what had been going on - good and bad. It was wonderful to hang out with her, and to be able to voice my frustrations to someone who understood where I was coming from, having been there herself many a time. It was also refreshing to hear her perspective. Since she’s had to deal with the same frustrations, she was able to give me some solid, Christian advice.
What struck me the most about what she said to me was something so simple that it’s often overlooked, namely: we are so blessed. It’s easy enough to get caught up in life’s frustrations, but in doing so we lose sight of how blessed we truly are. I realized that recently I’ve been living in “the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side” mode, instead of seeing how God has been at work in my life. I’ve been filled with resentment towards friends near and far. I’ve been disappointed with how little I’ve accomplished in my life. I’ve been getting frustrated all too easily, and pointing my finger at everyone but myself. I get angry too quickly, and worry too much about petty things.
The thing is, I think sometimes God allows worrisome things in our lives in order to turn us back to Him. Who said that life was supposed to be clean and easy? As a Christian, I am still called to trust God with all the ups and downs of life. After all, He’s always there to see me through it. And knowing that I’ll never be alone – that is a true blessing.
So, to remind myself of how blessed I am, I have, as Bing Crosby so sweetly sings, counted my blessings. Here are just a few of the things I am thankful for:
1) My Husband who loves me despite my flaws.
2) My Family who loves me no matter what.
3) The roof over my head and the food in my belly.
4) The job I have - even with all its frustrations.
5) The fact that I am able to wake up each morning and move of my own accord.
And, in the spirit of this post, here is Mr. Crosby himself. Enjoy!
Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
31 May 2010
Where I am vs. Where I want to be
I spent some time this morning trying to get caught up on things like Facebook and e-mail - which I have sadly neglected, much to my husband's chagrin. It's easy to see how people become addicted to facebook. I think most of my time was spent looking at friends', and friends of friends' pictures.
Here's what struck me, and perhaps it's even the reason I avoid facebook more often than not: I am a jealous person. I see the things my friends are doing and have done, and I think to myself, "I wanted to be doing that by now." "That's what I wanted to do." Whether it's going to Africa or anywhere else in the world, or flying, or exercising more, or taking classes, I keep realizing that there are so many things that I want to do that I see other people doing.
So I have to ask myself: what's the difference? Why is it that they have been doing all these great things, and I haven't? What is the difference between their situation and mine? What is it that has given them the drive to not only dream these dreams, but also the motivation to go out and do them, while I sit here at home getting bitten by the green-eyed monster?
Perhaps some of it has to do simply with economic situation. But that could easily be used as a cop-out on my part. At the end of the day, if you want something badly enough, you'll do what it takes to get it, and that involves - as the (pic) above so aptly states - lots & lots of work.
So, here's a list of 5 things that I really, really, really want to do, and some idea of the work involved:
1) Learn to fly an airplane. (will take lots of $ - need to earn the cash first)
2) Run a 5K/Mini/Marathon. (will take lots of exercise - need to make this regular)
3) Visit all 7 Continents. (will take $ and time - need to earn those greenbacks)
4) Hike the Grand Canyon. (will take time - need to schedule it)
5) Visit all 50 States. (will take $ and time - but only a few left to go)
I also realize that my attitude begs the question of faith, putting things in God's hands, and being content with what I have/where I am...but that's a subject for another post. ;)
24 April 2010
Best Video Ever
This is just awesome.
Whether you are tone deaf or a true music connoisseur, this is so much fun to watch. Do I like this video? Of Korsakov!
Enjoy!
Great review here.
Whether you are tone deaf or a true music connoisseur, this is so much fun to watch. Do I like this video? Of Korsakov!
Enjoy!
Great review here.
30 March 2010
There are no words for this
It's hard to know what to say, where to begin when a loved one dies. It's a feeling I haven't really had to deal with in my life up till now. I've had the odd great-aunt/great-uncle pass, and my mother's father died before I was born, but in my lifetime I haven't had to deal with a close relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, immediate family) passing. Until now.
Early (ish) Saturday morning, March 27, 2010, I received a phone call from my mother to let me know that my grandfather (my father's father), Weldon Keesler Hamrick, Sr., had died in the night. He had numerous health problems at the end of his life. His passing was not a shock, but can one ever really be ready when the inevitable happens? Apparently he had opted to try one more medical procedure to prolong his life, instead of electing home hospice.
The funeral was yesterday morning, in North Carolina where he had lived his whole life. My entire family was there. It was a big disappointment to me to be so far away and thus unable to attend. My brothers all got to be pallbearers.
Ironically, it's hard to know how to grieve. Obviously, he is missed by every one who knew and loved him. But we never lived close enough to get the full "grandparent experience" - it's a long drive between Indiana and North Carolina. It's easy enough to rationalize and say that it was for the best, he's not suffering any more, it wasn't a huge surprise, but these are simple platitudes used to cover over the dull ache that says "he's gone for good." Who wants a loved one to die?
It would be easy to dwell on the misfortune of losing a grandparent, but I would rather remember him alive - smoking his pipe outside, walking around the garden, his smile and laugh and the way he talked. The pictures I have from his operation when I was a baby and he was holding me in the hospital. The pictures of him as a young man, when he married my grandmother. The stories my grandmother always told about him - about her first memory of him, and about how she would come up behind him when he was sitting down and kiss the back of his neck (a habit I've also formed with my husband).
And although the death of a loved one sucks, death is still a part of life, and I am glad to know that my dear, beloved grandfather is now in a better place.
Early (ish) Saturday morning, March 27, 2010, I received a phone call from my mother to let me know that my grandfather (my father's father), Weldon Keesler Hamrick, Sr., had died in the night. He had numerous health problems at the end of his life. His passing was not a shock, but can one ever really be ready when the inevitable happens? Apparently he had opted to try one more medical procedure to prolong his life, instead of electing home hospice.
The funeral was yesterday morning, in North Carolina where he had lived his whole life. My entire family was there. It was a big disappointment to me to be so far away and thus unable to attend. My brothers all got to be pallbearers.
Ironically, it's hard to know how to grieve. Obviously, he is missed by every one who knew and loved him. But we never lived close enough to get the full "grandparent experience" - it's a long drive between Indiana and North Carolina. It's easy enough to rationalize and say that it was for the best, he's not suffering any more, it wasn't a huge surprise, but these are simple platitudes used to cover over the dull ache that says "he's gone for good." Who wants a loved one to die?
It would be easy to dwell on the misfortune of losing a grandparent, but I would rather remember him alive - smoking his pipe outside, walking around the garden, his smile and laugh and the way he talked. The pictures I have from his operation when I was a baby and he was holding me in the hospital. The pictures of him as a young man, when he married my grandmother. The stories my grandmother always told about him - about her first memory of him, and about how she would come up behind him when he was sitting down and kiss the back of his neck (a habit I've also formed with my husband).
And although the death of a loved one sucks, death is still a part of life, and I am glad to know that my dear, beloved grandfather is now in a better place.
01 March 2010
Winter Olympics Fun
I haven't been paying much attention to the Winter Olympics this year. I know, I'm a terrible American. Who knows, I might have even been rooting for the Chinese. ;) in fact, one of the only moments I witnessed was when this lady, Lindsey Vonn, won gold in downhill skiing. (I also watched the Canadian hockey team score their first point against team USA...)
But, in the spirit of the Olympics and all sports competitions, here is a tribute to the moments we didn't get to see.
[Link]
Enjoy!
28 February 2010
Breaking News
The news of the day is, of course, the devastating earthquake in Chile and its aftermath. Tsunamis have been expected across the Pacific Ocean, and recent reports indicate that Japan has, in fact, received some of the dreaded waves.
Now, I'm not usually one to make fun in a situation such as this, but I'm kind of baffled by 10-centimeter-high tsunamis. I mean, really? If I were the Taco Bell Dog, I'd be terrified.
27 February 2010
I'm turning into my husband...
People always say that, after living together a while, spouses tend to become like one another. They start to develop the same habits, interests, tastes, and some even say they start to look alike. If that's the case, then I think we have proven the transformation doesn't take that long - 6 months, in fact - as evidenced by the fact that we are, presently, both on the computers, wearing brown sweaters, and changing our blog templates.
Too funny!
Too funny!
22 February 2010
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
It has been said that "silence is golden," and if that is the case then surely I have proven that by not having posted anything in almost a year.
This past weekend my husband was out of town, our first time being apart in the six months we've been married. The house was too quiet, and I missed him terribly, so I decided to go and read some of his old blog posts, the result being that I was inspired to update and re-vamp my own humble blog. I don't pretend to possess nearly the eloquence he does, but hopefully I can make this site a bit more entertaining. Perhaps I will even enjoy it so much that I will do a better job of keeping it up!
Right now I am sitting on the couch in our apartment in Tucson, AZ, listening to my iPod, the sounds of typing (myself and my husband in the next room - I'm blogging, he's writing a paper for class - what does that say about our lives?), the wind chimes outside, and laundry in the next room. The smell of coffee is wafting from the kitchen. There is definitely a sense of "home" here and now.
Tory returned home last night from a Moot Court Competition in Vermillion, SD. As I picked him up from the airport, I was reminded of all the many times in our relationship when we met each other at airports. The first time I came to visit him here in Tucson, he accidentally went to the wrong arrival gate, and I remember stopping at the bottom of the stairs in a state of confusion, looking around for him. I remember the excitement of seeing him arrive at the airport in Indianapolis, and the rush of emotion every time he was waiting for me when I arrived. There was a similar rush when I saw him walk down those same stairs I walked down, lo those many moons ago, and the cliché certainly proved true - absence does make the heart grow fonder.
The past six months of being married to him have been something of a roller coaster ride, learning what it is to be married, to be in love, to live with someone, and to have to stand up for what I believe when I disagree with someone who means the world to me. One thing that I have learned is that the decision we made to get married is ultimately worth it. There may be arguments, disagreement, sleepless nights, and exasperation, but he is the man I have chosen to spend my life with, as I am the woman he has chosen for himself. Surely, love is more than just the feelings and the passion we feel towards another person. It is also the choice we make to look past the deficiencies of our spouses and ourselves, and love each other all the more as we see each other for who we are.
So as I still hear the sounds of the laundry, wind chimes, and typing, I am increasingly thankful for the man God has placed in my life, and the fact that he is again safely at home.
This past weekend my husband was out of town, our first time being apart in the six months we've been married. The house was too quiet, and I missed him terribly, so I decided to go and read some of his old blog posts, the result being that I was inspired to update and re-vamp my own humble blog. I don't pretend to possess nearly the eloquence he does, but hopefully I can make this site a bit more entertaining. Perhaps I will even enjoy it so much that I will do a better job of keeping it up!
Right now I am sitting on the couch in our apartment in Tucson, AZ, listening to my iPod, the sounds of typing (myself and my husband in the next room - I'm blogging, he's writing a paper for class - what does that say about our lives?), the wind chimes outside, and laundry in the next room. The smell of coffee is wafting from the kitchen. There is definitely a sense of "home" here and now.
Tory returned home last night from a Moot Court Competition in Vermillion, SD. As I picked him up from the airport, I was reminded of all the many times in our relationship when we met each other at airports. The first time I came to visit him here in Tucson, he accidentally went to the wrong arrival gate, and I remember stopping at the bottom of the stairs in a state of confusion, looking around for him. I remember the excitement of seeing him arrive at the airport in Indianapolis, and the rush of emotion every time he was waiting for me when I arrived. There was a similar rush when I saw him walk down those same stairs I walked down, lo those many moons ago, and the cliché certainly proved true - absence does make the heart grow fonder.
The past six months of being married to him have been something of a roller coaster ride, learning what it is to be married, to be in love, to live with someone, and to have to stand up for what I believe when I disagree with someone who means the world to me. One thing that I have learned is that the decision we made to get married is ultimately worth it. There may be arguments, disagreement, sleepless nights, and exasperation, but he is the man I have chosen to spend my life with, as I am the woman he has chosen for himself. Surely, love is more than just the feelings and the passion we feel towards another person. It is also the choice we make to look past the deficiencies of our spouses and ourselves, and love each other all the more as we see each other for who we are.
So as I still hear the sounds of the laundry, wind chimes, and typing, I am increasingly thankful for the man God has placed in my life, and the fact that he is again safely at home.
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