Morning Girl

When I was younger (probably between eight and ten), I read a sweet story called Morning Girl. It was about a girl who lived on an exotic island and woke every day to the sun. She loved the fresh air of the morning. She walked the shore , collecting shells for her grandmother to make into buckets. Every afternoon, she would crawl into an old fishing net hung between trees as a hamock. After a long morning of gathering and enjoying the fresh air and midst from the sea, she would fall asleep, relaxing and enjoying the world.

I loved that book. No wonder my mom bought it for me. I was that girl! Well, I certainly did not collect shells or get to take daily naps in a hamock along the shore...but I was her and I still am. Every morning I wake up ready to shoot out of bed (not with the sun rise, I only did that when I was little). I love the way the air feels and even looks in the morning. The air is clearer the sky is lighter...it's awesome! I love the renewed sense of energy. Getting up in the morning is the greatest! Now, on days where I wake up at 5:30 to go work a day shift after only getting 4 hours of sleep, I may not pop out so quickly but I note that my brain will never be clearer than those moments. It's sad but my brain power significantly decreases throughout the day. That's why, like Morning Girl, I need my afternoon nap. Most days I don't get it. But, oh man, when I do, I have a chance of functioning with a normal intellect into the night. What's weird is that I suck at waking up from naps. If someone wakes me, I'm really mean to them! I mean, like childish mean! I am always so groggy. In college, I would wake up from my nap, stumble out of my dorm room and into my neighbors' where I would just sit on the floor and gaze at nothing. It takes me a good hour to come out of nap mode. Whenever my husband is super groggy and slow in the morning (which can drive me nuts because it is so different than I function), I have to remind myself that I act the same way at 4 in the afternoon.

Mornings will always be more magical than any sun set. Yes, sunsets often have more colors, but the morning is just so fresh and so hopeful. It's beautiful. My favorite time of day! Above is a picture taken of a sunrise that I watched in Florida while on Big Break. So beautiful!

The Power of Optimism

Through the summer and now into the fall, I have focused on regaining the optimistic view I once had towards life. To make a long story short, stress and nursing school put a shadow over my bright (and perhaps too bubbly) of a personality. Sometime in the Spring of 2009, I became acutely aware of how this shadow, created 6 years ago, had snuck into my every day outlook on life. "Great things were for other people, nothing comes my way" -- truly turned into a life filled with just that. My husband and I watched our good friends truly enjoy life and I kept wondering what was missing. Was it money? Nope. I know enough to know that although tempting, money is never the answer. No. It was just the simple choice to enjoy life's moments. I challenged myself to say "Yes!" to new experiences. As a result, our lives are steadily picking up and my heart as finally returned to the characteristics that God created in me.

In July of 2009, Greg and I said "YES!", bit the bullet, and took a real vacation! We traveled to our nation's capital. We wanted to have a vacation that would educate us, help us grow as individuals, a couple, and in society. Washington D.C. was a perfect place, rich in history, beauty, and filled with beloved museums that made me feel like I was living in the Discovery Channel documentaries I have spent my life watching.

Our first night in D.C. was July 14th, our 2nd wedding anniversary and our 8th relationship anniversary. To celebrate, we "splurged" and went to an upscale seafood restaurant.We started with the most delicious crab ravioli with roasted corn. We enjoyed Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Greg ate this incredible salmon and shrimp with a corn, cilantro dressing. I loved my corn-breaded soft-shell crabs with shrimp, roasted potatoes, and artichokes. For dessert, we sampled three types of creme brule': Vanilla Bean, Pistachio, and Chocolate. As Greg would say, it was "Hands Down!" the best meal we have ever had and definitely shared with one another (Watch for further posts on learning how to cook...poor Greg). We followed our meal with a trip to the monuments at sunset. The Washington Monument was stunning. The WWII Memorial was beautiful (my favorite!). Night had settled as we climbed the steps to Good Ol' Abe. We sat at the top, looking out at the entire National Mall. The Washington Monument with the Capital in the background reflecting in, what else, the reflecting pool. It was perfect! The following three days we "Saw the crap out of the Smithsonian" (again Greg), somberly endured the Holocaust Museum, enjoyed the new Harry Potter movie, consumed the best nachos and margaritas at Tortilla Coast, a tex/mex restaurant recommended by George W. Bush (only recommendation I've ever listened to from him-indirectly through a guide book), walked the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and respectfully watched a funeral procession, where a teenage boy walked beside his father's riderless horse(emphasis on respectful unlike the other tourists who were taking pictures), and ended our vacation watching "Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian" at the National Air and Space museum. At the end of the week, our minds were cluttered, our hearts filled with love for the intended heart of our country, and our feet were killing us. The awesomeness of this vacation was even able to top the horrible flu that I endured for three days following our trip. Totally worth it!!!

After the vacation, we opted to lay low and enjoy daily moments. We had so much more fun over the summer together and our friendship and marriage has become so great. We are passionate about life again- thanks to prayer and the power of choice. I am naturally more of a optimistic go-getter person than Greg, so some mornings I ask him "Are you choosing to have a good or bad day?". He may roll his eyes but he says it does make a difference! This last week, we've focused on planning events and moments that we can experience and enjoy together.

We watched the Twins vs. Tigers at the Metrodome on 10/6. 12 innings of incredible baseball and intense fan stress. I am positive it will be the best baseball game I will ever watch and I am so glad I was there. When Casilla rounded third and crossed the home plate in the bottom of the 12th inning, the Dome roared as its own entity! The seats shook! There were hugs, laughter, tears. The Twins ran around the field, wearing their Division Champs Shirts. It was incredible!!! It was the first time I ever understood the expression "The Greatest Game Ever Played"- which I think is supposed to be about Golf, but I've chosen to apply it to this game. The Twins vs Tigers. Incredible! Awesome Day! GO TWINS!

So. Go Ahead. Say Yes! Choose to have a great day! Karma will change. Admittedly, it takes practice and Karma does take a while, but when it starts changing it's awesome! You'll love it!

Ok. Time to go make Tacos and watch Jim and Pam get married! YAY for Awesome Shows!!!

This is our puppy Lupin. He's Adorable!