Couldn't have said it better

It's been a long, interesting week for me personally.  Komen's defunding of planned parenthood, election of Karen Handel a few months ago, and I'm just now hearing word of defunding stem cell research has left me angry, disappointed, sad, and so conflicted.  I honestly have felt cheated.  I've had some pretty heated conversations with some over this issue and within myself trying to make sense of all this.  Yet, I've still been struggling with the words that actually describe what this has all meant to me.

Then I saw this.  This woman says it better than I ever could.

(She also gives a disclaimer, but I want to reiterate that there are some graphic, but real images within this video.  But it is a real look into breast cancer.)

Heroic Woman Speaks About What Breast Cancer Means to Her



So where do we go from here?  I'm still figuring it out but first of all, I pray, send good vibes, and love to this woman and all of those struggling with this disease and to those that love them.  Second, I really hope that as people, we can set aside our differences and continue to stay focused on helping experts find a cure for this and other diseases, like AIDS, lung cancer, Alzheimers, MS, etc.  Third, I will continue to support breast cancer research, but I am still conflicted as to how I can support Komen without some major, major changes in their organization.  Thus, I will be more focused on looking into supporting others like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Thank you to this woman and all of those who are fighting this and other diseases.  Hopefully, we (I) can do more to support you and take care of each other.  

Restart Button

Spring break is coming to a close today and I am so thankful for the time that I had this week. It wasn't a "crazy" spring break, rather uneventful by others' standards but absolutely glorious all the same.

Most of those who are very close to me know that the last months have definitely been strenuous on a intellectual, spiritual, and emotional level. However, sometimes it is the simple, most basic things that take you back to where and who you really are.

The tragedy in Japan was the cap to my week's reflections. I can only hope that all the people, friends, and family of those in Japan receive some relief soon.

It is amazing to me how touching base with my base, my family, brings in to focus myself and the priorities in my life--which is them. My time spent with my mom, my cousin and her husband and her daughter, the phone calls to my sister, my brother, and my Nana, lunch with my dad's girlfriend and emails with my dad, phone calls to close friends are some of the great things I got to do this week. Those are the highlights of my break, my exciting and eventful moments. So very thankful as we are reminded this week how very fragile those constants in our life actually are.

As we move through time, we definitely come up against some hurdles. It's not to say that the hurdles themselves don't matter and often they add something to ourselves and change us, sometimes in essential and important ways. I find, however, that for those times when I feel like I'm getting a little out of rhythm, these times with the people in my life--the ones who are always there-- get me back on track.

Thanks to all of you. I have some really cute videos of Miss Riley (who will be 1 this week!!!). I just have to figure out how to get them on here.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to everyone. I'm excited to let you all know that I finished my first semester back in school. There were definitely a few moments (especially in that last two weeks) that I wasn't exactly sure that would happen, but here we are :).

I am sad to report, however, that my Mamaw passed at the beginning of this month.


She always gave great hugs and made a mean pecan pie and her biscuits are something I try to recreate.

I believe that it is a testament to their relationship that Mamaw did not live much longer after Papaw passed. They spent the majority of their lives together and even though she wasn't always "with us" lately, I think she knew deep down that Papaw was gone. Now they are together again, they will both be missed.




So, Christmas is around the corner (this Friday). Here is a picture of Clover "helping" (see...eating) with the tree. We have already had our first snow of the season (CRAZY) and I am convinced that I have got to find some fur-lined pants for walking around campus all winter. Burr!

I am spending my first major family holiday away from my family this year.



I know that I will absolutely cry about it on Christmas, even though I am spending it with my boyfriend and his family (they are such nice people).

Before I go on with my own thoughts on this next step in my life, let me take a moment to acknowledge all the service men and women and also those doing other good deeds around the globe who are also spending the holidays away from their families. You all are amazing and are making the world a better place. Thank you for all you do.

Splitting up holidays is something that people start to think about and experience in their twenties. Many of us (my sister included) are also hosting their own holidays for our families. It kind of tugs at my heart sometimes to realize that we're the ones who are making these kinds of decisions and plans now. It's a lot of pressure, at times, and difficult to be the planners. Amazing how our parents accomplished this for years--and continue to do so today.

Sometimes there is such an urge not to grow up--to just be able to lay around and experience the holidays, knowing that the only thing I may have to do is help with the dishes or assist with making dinner. I won't have to decide what to make, who we should give presents to, what kind of service activities or donations should be given. Just dishes and stirring the pot.

The reality of it is, though, that I am excited to start my own traditions. I do especially enjoy making the food. Trying new recipes and cooking for others is something that makes me feel like I am able to give back and take care of those that I love. Which is why, just now, I've decided I really need to make something special this week...I'll let you know how that goes.

As for giving to others on the holiday season, I know that one of the things I can always improve on is the amount of service I do for others. Being out of the school system, I feel that I am missing this element lately. I am lucky to be able to contribute a little to a cause I feel strongly about and want to share it with you:

Share our strength works on ending childhood hunger.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I encourage everyone to do something a little special (no matter how little) for others this season (it can even be a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket or a few cans of food at a food bank). Enjoy your family, help others, and enjoy the holidays! Merry Christmas!

Begin here, begin now

Happy Memorial Day! I have to tell you that I am so excited to have this day off-- it was much needed. Thanks to all the troops out there, including in my own family. Thanks for all you do and all you have done.

Also- little shout out to my mother whose birthday is tomorrow. Greatest mom ever-- thank you, too.

So, this week was the conclusion to my young women book group at church. It was such a great experience. During our last session we ended by talking about what we feel like we have changed and what we still need to work on since being in the group. I think whenever we are confronted with this type of question, I think that our natural response is to point out the one or two things that we have put in to practice well and then a list of things we want to do better. I feel like I need to read the whole book over again (we were reading Heart to Heart-- designed for groups).

In response to this, one of the girls was talking about a sermon from a church in NY where the pastor was talking about how to take control of your life and get you to where you want to be (I'm still trying to find the exact one on the website so that I can read the whole thing. If I do- I'll post it). He gave 10 different bits of advice, saying that we ALL have a list of things that we feel we still need to improve/accomplish. The first two were "begin here" and "begin now"--basically, the short of it being that you can't go back and change anything and we are not usually in a position where there is absolutely nothing that we don't have going for us, but you do have to take that step. Life is going to keep going. It may be a small step, but then you take another.

I related to this a lot in that I feel like I go through these phases where I am ready to revamp how I prioritize my life. Usually this starts with a list and I decide that I will just "start over". I try starting eighty bajillion things all at the same time and then get frustrated when I tap out because I can't get a handle on it all. The reality is that we will never be wholly satisfied for where we are in our lives, nor should we be since we always will have room to grow to be a better person. This does not mean, however, that we haven't accomplished a lot or that improvement is out of reach (no baby and the bath water kind of thing).

So, I'm going to try to be a little more forgiving with myself (for example, I'm really proud of myself for sticking it out in a 9 month book group- yay!)and take it one improvement at a time (creating 1 or 2 more good habits- not 20) and begin right where I am, right now. That being said- I'm off to the pool for a little me time ;)-- happy day ya'll.