Two more Sleeps

Until he gets here. Technically until they *David is coming too* get here, but on of them is a little more exciting than the other.
Yup that's right. At 3:40 on Friday, a nice shiny Delta plane will arrive from St. Louis by way of Detroit and 2 of my favorite people will be on it. I can hardly contain my excitement.

The past two weeks have been very exciting ones. First- my twin, Dena got engaged, read about it here. Then she flew into DC to spend a relaxing weekend with me full of junk food,Big Bang Theory and wedding dresses. We found the Perfect dress for her, you can see it here. Did you really think I'd post it online? What kind of twin would I be if I did that! :)
And while I was sad that she had to leave me on Monday she kept saying "I have to go so Jeffrey can come".

In all truth-I didn't really miss Jeffrey that much. Ok. That's a lie-let me expound. I did miss him, some times more than others, but I didn't miss him to the point that I couldn't have fun without him.
I mean come on, I live a hop & skip from Washington DC-who has time to mope about not having their boyfriend around? Not this girl. And while some nights I missed him a 10(we like to use the number scale) I never missed him an 11 or even a 20-that would just be ridiculous. My momma & Micah always taught me to be independent. Living in DC gave me a chance to prove to them, and to myself that I can be. Yup-sure can. And I feel great about that. And proud.

But there are always times where you miss people. Like today-today I missed Micah a lot. I missed him talking to me, I missed the way we used to spend every weekend together. I just missed going to Weezy's house and him being here. So I just put him in my CD player and sang-then I didn't miss him so much anymore.

Quite frankly-I think I deserve some kind of prize. I have gone 12 weeks without seeing Jeffrey. 12 whole weeks-that's a record. But I do think it has given me a lack of sympathy. So if you miss your boyfriend after being separated for a week-don't come crying to me! Because I'll just tell you to buck up!


Bottom line is this- My family taught me to be independent. Jeffrey taught me that it's okay to depend on someone. I've been away from him for 12 weeks and on Friday he'll be here. I hope I remember what he looks like...

The Saturday Morning Blog

You know how there's always that one perfect person in your life that can make any day better? And you finished each others sentences, and people always see you together. You get so close to their families that you'll stop by anytime "just to say Hi" and they call you daughter and you call them mom or dad? And people always get the two of you mixed up and call you the wrong name, and hand you the others test papers? No? -Oh there for a minute you probably thought I was talking about about a guy! Haha!~ Nope. It's my Twin.

Confession-we're not actual twins. Shocking. I know! Dena and I met at John A. in the Interp'ing program, and before we knew it-the above was happening. We spent M-Th together-all day! Yup.

Well fast forward to now. We've both moved out of So. Il one of us to FLA(that's Florida for those of you who don't speak ASL) and the other to DC. A few months back I got to fly to FLA for Dena's graduation(thanks Momma Cathy and Daddy Donnie)..see what I mean*
Then when I got to come to DC my momma decided to fly Dena here for the weekend(thanks momma). And the rest they say is history!

The Sunday before she came Dena got engaged to a great guy named Andy. You can read all about him here. So perfect timing for the Twins to get to hang out and look at wedding stuff too.I met Dena at the airport, with this wonderful sign. And I had three guys offer to be my twin before she arrived. I said no. Because clearly they weren't my twin!

That was Thursday night, and after being in the airport for 30 minutes or so. *I forgot to pay for parking and I couldn't remember where I'd parked* We headed home, and I missed three exits in a row-because of all the talking we were doing! Ooopsie!
I'm sure more stories will follow, but that's another blog. We're off to the National Kite Festival!

ME THANK-GOD FOR-FOR D-E-N-A TWO OF US BEST-FRIENDS ALWAYS

Step-Child

I am getting paid a relatively good amount of money to sit and do nothing, all because one person decided that I'm not good at my job. Thanks! I mean I could be out slaving around, interpreting boring meetings and trainings, but I'm not. I'm sitting at an office-in the AC looking for a great present for one of my besties. And you know what? The Bible tells me to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." So while I could be out-increasing my chances of possibly getting carpel tunnel-I'm sitting here reading my Bible and my Jesus books*those are my books that have something to with Christianity and I do so love it when people ask"What are you reading?" Because then I can say-"well actually..." *

So I'm going to continue "counting all my joy" when I have to go to the office. Because-this is the best paid vacation I've ever been on!

I have 11 days of work;two 4 day weekends and 1 full week of site seeing left in my city. I'm really going to miss it-but some days I'd give the Washington Monument for some fresh dirt *and I really love George ;) *

Dads

So. This weekend eventful, to say the least. First-my daddy came to visit me. Lots of fun. Not a lot of talking :) But lots of fun! Saturday we slept in(a must) then headed off to the Native American History Museum, saw a political protest, two bloomin' cherry trees and sampled the goods at Eastern Market.*We had smoothies*
Sunday, we slept in (notice a pattern?) and then we headed on across the big Chesapeake Bay Bridge to eat de-licious crab, flounder, and scallops.*Jealous yet?* Yeah. I know ;)
Then to the outlet mall, where dad graciously followed me into every store and bought me a Raspberry Truffle. Then back across the bridge, we stopped off at a huge tackle store. Dad bought some lures(with hooks) and proceeded to explain to me how he expected to just "carry them on the airplane". Yeah. I'm gonna mail them!

But mostly we've been just hangin' and going to Whole Foods. And he even cleaned up my apartment today.

Dads sure are cool. Earthly ones and Heavenly ones. And as my earthly Daddy sits and reads the paper next to me, I'm really thankful to my heavenly Father for picking him for me.

BitterSweet.

Oxymoron. BitterSweet. I don't know anything that is bitter and sweet. Most things are more of one than the other.
Like- realizing that 12 weeks in the city of your dreams is about to come to a close-Bitter. Having one last summer with all your childhood friends, and having two besties get married-Sweet.
Bitter-Going through culture shock when you go back to farm country. Sweet- Going to farm country where they have freshly plowed dirt.
These last few weeks have been a mix of BitterSweet moments. First I was just Bitter, but now I'm trying to find the Sweet. I know that God knows WAY more than I could ever pretend to understand. So I just let Him show me the Bitter and the Sweet. I'm not really sure of anything past tomorrow, and I think that's how God wants it.
Now each time I go out I try and soak up all I can. Today, I sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and just listened. I listened to the sounds of the city-Sweet. Realizing that I won't be about to walk out my front door, and see the monuments-Bitter.
I've been mentally compiling a list in my head-everything I do seems to be BitterSweet.

All in all- no matter how Sweet or Bitter, God always has our best interest in mind, and He always shows us the Sweet for the Bitter.

Time of your life...

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:3-6

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." Galatians 1:10

These have been the reason I got up every day this week. In my 22 years, I have had bad weeks...but this week takes the cake. And in this "worst week of my life" I have never clung to God more. Ok. So at first I cried, but never once did I cry out and blame God. Believe me-that tends to be my first reaction.
Personally I blame last weeks sermon about Suffering for jinxing my week! :) Not really, in fact reading Job last month-really helped me. Last Sunday I learned that there are three reasons for suffering. 1.Sin. 2.Spiritual Attack. 3.Test.
I haven't quite figured out what this weeks suffering was about, but I'm leaning toward number 3.
I'm sure by now you're wondering just what happened this week...well I'll give you the short version. This week I got told that I'm not good at what I do. That certain people aren't sure I can get better. And that if things don't improve, I might want to consider something else. Yeah. That hurt-a lot. And after I cried. I opened my Bible and read Prov. 3...so on what was the worst day of the week-I knew that I needed to show kindness and that my God would direct my path.
Then after that- I read that I needed to be strong and courageous. Then my dad, send me a text that told me as long as I pleased God. That was all that mattered.

So on the worst week I've had so far, as I sit in my apartment. I'm ready. I'm ready to face my hardest critics;I'm ready to only worry about pleasing my God; and I'm ready to be strong and courageous.

I'm also ready to "fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Phil. 4:8

This weeks theme song...
I'm hoping we'll sing it at church we I get back and by we, I mean Megan and I!