How wonderful

How wonderful...

... to be lounging in my pajamas before work. Usually the morning is a battle against the clock, a race to be on time. This morning I built in an extra 45 minutes of "me time." Chai misto in my hand painted mug, American Idol on DVR, oat bran with almond milk, and a morsel of breathing room. This is going to be a good day.

... to have amazing friends coming into town this weekend. I'm so excited to spend time with Kristin and Whitney, two of the most amazing people I know. Friendship is a beautiful thing that we should never take for granted.

... is it that I don't have to study!?! Tomorrow I will return to the dreaded E-floor, where I experienced the most intense academic interrogation during my two years of PA school. Only this time, I will be on the other side of the glass as I make my debut into the world of grading!

... are my niece and nephew?!!! Kaitlyn is 3 1/2 and just started ballet. She loves her tutu and ballerina slippers. Austin is 2 and is such a silly boy! He loves Virginia Tech and already watches Nascar with his Daddy. These little ones truly light up my life!

Mir vs. Moguls

I have enjoyed every second of this year's Winter Olympics! Technology has certainly been a luxury, with of online videos and DVR capabilities capturing every second and each highlight. I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that I head tears in my eyes as Lindsey Vonn mastered the women's downhill, bringing home gold for the US.

With great admiration and inspiration, I took off to the slopes on Saturday to partake in my own winter fun. My eyes lit up with excitement as I spotted a mogul course which lured me in for several hours. It was definitely a love-hate relationship with moments of humility balanced out by plenty of excitement and exhilaration. The biggest crash of the day occurred at 11:35 when my head hit the pillow for a solid ten hours of much needed sleep.

An athletic diversion

As most of you know, running is my passion. I haven't always been a runner, in fact I used to groan when my field hockey coach would make us warm up with a 2 mile run to "Bridle" and back. I thought long and hard about playing hockey in college, but my wish for flexibility made the decision an easy one. When I moved to Charlottesville, I felt like there were more runners than not. I laced up my Mizunos any quickly discovered why. I owe my love for this sport to the four years I spent running all over this beautiful town. One marathon, a dozen halfs, trail runs, night runs, quick runs, and long, I always looked forward to putting my mind and body on cruise control to break up the daily grind.

After running the Richmond marathon in November, my knees were asking for a break. So I've temporarily shifted my focus away from running to partake in a new athletic outlet. My weekly exercise regimen now includes weight lifting, racquetball, and soccer, and I am a complete novice at each. It has been both exciting and difficult to step out of my comfort zone. I must say that working out has never been so fun. It feels like I'm playing more than anything. I hope to spend the next couple of months savoring the endorphins and honing these new found skills.

Valentine's Weekend

Opening ceremony to the Vancouver Winter Olympic games....
Dinner party with friends, laughter, and good conversation...

Cheering on my Deamon Deacons and watching a nail biting game..

75-64 Wake is victorious, we are proud...

Sleeping in, delicious breakfast, makes for a pretty great morning..
Off to the circus to watch the funundrum, the tigers are my favorite..
Acrobats, strength, and flexibility... pushing the body to its limit..

Aromatherapy, deep tissue massage, one hour of pampering and relaxation..
Delicious dinner at a new restaurant, crab cakes never tasted so good...
Symphony brownies with vanilla ice cream, my Valentine chocolate fix...
Strategically positioned in front of the TV watching the winter games...
Pink polka-dot slipper socks, heart print pajamas, pillow calling my name...
Weekend of love, relaxation, appreciation.. love love love Valentine's day!

Thankful

thankful...

for the beautiful snow that fell this morning..

for a career that allows me to make a difference...

that I get to spend time this weekend with an amazing boyfriend and incredible friends...

for my Uggs that keep my feet warm and toasty..

for art and the beauty of expression...

that I have been able to travel and appreciate other cultures..

for Pandora, my "Colbie Caillat" station is the best...

for my new found love of soccer- so addictive...

for those moments when I feel so incredibly close to the Lord....

to know that there are people that believe in me..

for my health and appreciation for my body....

to say that my best friends are also my family members..

when I think about my childhood.....

for optimism..

for love,

for joy.

Dear Diary

If you were to snoop around my apartment, you would find (but not open) several journals lying around. I have always enjoyed the practice of reflection, a habit that most likely dates back to my 10th birthday when I got a "My Magic Diary" to store all my thoughts. I wish that I still had this little vintage electronic device, as I'm sure I would get a kick out of reminiscing over my deep dark secrets. I attribute my ability and patience to journaling to my slack approach with my technique. I am refreshingly not type A when i comes to the frequency, handwriting, prose, or selection of the journal itself. I use this particular electronic journal to share thoughts, stories, pictures, and updates for my family and friends. My pale blue journal is inscribed with the word "inspiration" and contains prayers, blessing, and reflections to the Lord. I have a whimsical "idea" journal which contains sketches, cut out magazine articles, paint samples, and anything random that resonates with me. This journal has absolutely no structure, which is definitely its best feature. Ad or course, I have a typical diary which unlocks the memories of my adventures, concerns, and outlook over the years. It's fun to skim the the pages and reminisce, as I read my own stories about college, PA school, and life as a professional young lady. I don't have any regrets, but do chuckle when I read about my worries and concerns. Why exactly was I so worried? My life is so blessed, and apparently those concerns didn't seem to matter after all. I hope this provides perspective next time the going gets tough. My favorite Bible verse, Psalm 121, best captures the essence of this revelation:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. "