Let's just put this bitch in neutral...

There is something so special and sacred about reconnecting with old friends. The ones who knew and loved you before. Before titles, status, money, or significant others formed any part of the “adult identity”. No fancy introductions or explanations needed to impress each other. Just being together and enjoying each other again is enough. These occasions almost always have an unwritten requirement for reverting back to your kid self, which explains how poor planning and slight irresponsibility can make for an excellent camping adventure. Four people in four different places in life.

This last weekend, love and authenticity genuinely shined.

Reading preparation never hurts

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All good things must come to a beginning.

It seems to me that Spring is pretty much synonymous with change. Last year at this time I was busy perfecting my resume and interviewing for an ICU job at the VA. I was also preparing to graduate from college, travel to Africa, and move into my first apartment. I felt so excited to be on the edge of “grown up”. I figured that once all these changes took place I would be somewhat settled, stable, and extremely mature. So fast forward four seasons and here I am again in the middle of Spring in a completely different place and heading in a completely different direction. Wow. All I can say is that life is sweet and although entirely by default, I’ve discovered that life can be fuller, more expansive, and definitely more interesting than plans A, B, and/or C. Not that I don’t like having a plan, believe me I do, I just have a better understanding that my plans tend to take on themes such as “fluid”, “tentative”, and “changing”, especially as of late. Thank goodness right.

And I have stopped stressing about “following the right path”. What does that even mean? Life is about listening to our insides (I don’t like overusing heart) and doing what it is that excites, stirs, drives, and pulls us. Is it not God that places certain hopes, dreams, and passions in our heart that tend to resurface as recurring themes in life over and over again? If God is my maker, the creator of my being, how in the world could I ever make a decision in which God cannot make something good come from?

Lord you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold oh Lord, you know it all together. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it…
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them. Psalm 139

Flashback to '92!

When I was little, nothing could get my heart fluttering more than the thought of a trip to Flippos. Reserved for only the most special of occasions, Flippos had all the necessary staples for a dream birthday bash.

Giant roller skating rink- check.

Greasy snack bar-you betcha!

Giant DJ booth- heck yeah!!

Private VIP rooms for entire birthday entourage- double check.

At Flippos, you could forget about all your worries and just skate. Even luckier, you could travel between the rink, snack bar, even the bathroom- all with your roller skates still on! In addition, if you were comfortable and of course skilled enough in your wheels, you could participate in games such as limbo, hokey pokey, and the corner/bean bag one. So when it came to celebrating my 6th birthday party, let’s just say there was no question as to where the location would be.

You see, it wasn’t all about the skating and games. There was one special perk that only the birthday kid and a specially chosen friend got to enjoy, while the rest of the crowd watched from the sidelines. Sometime during the day, all skaters would be asked to clear the floor and the giant, beautiful, shining roller skate would come rolling out onto the rink. It was during this time that the birthday kid and special friend got to take a ride around the rink inside of the Giant black and white skate as lights flashed, Birthday music blared, and everyone cheered!

Oh to be six again. Wonderful would be an understatement.

better together

I first met Wally at the Redlands animal shelter one morning in late October. It was a little over a month after the sudden and tragic loss of my first born (r.i.p. Pedro) and I didn't think I was in any kind of a place to love again, let alone adopt. The shelter, being about a minute and a half away from where I lived at the time, had become a frequent place for me to go when my spirits needed a boost or I just wanted to give and receive love.
I would go and visit the dogs mostly, but this day I decided to venture into the cat arena for a quick browse. Well, as soon as I walked past his cage, the three little kittens inside went crazy! They were all climbing over each other and sticking their paws out of the cage trying to get my attention. They were the loudest cage in the whole place and they were crying out "pick me! pick me!". I couldn't resist picking them up. The first one was cool but he had a funky eye issue and the second one- well there just wasn't really very much of a connection with her.

Then there was Walrus. The best looking of the three, he had big bright eyes, the fluffiest of tails, and mischeiviousness written all over him.
I picked him up and he just purred. He melted my heart.

He looked at me like "Are you my mother?" and I knew I was.

umm hello. Is this thing on?

So I'm not gonna lie. Lately I've had a little extra time on my hands. And before this sweet season comes to an end and the inevitable whirlwind of life hits in all its glorious madness, I am gonna soak it all in. I am practicing the art of living and existing in the present. Yes I am optimistic and hopeful for what is around the corner, but I'm not there yet. I'm here. And I will probably never be in a place like this again, so I am just going to go ahead and own it.





So about this blog. Let's just say your guess is as good as mine.