Life lately...!

I am loving every single thing about being at home right now. Not only did I go mullet hunting at Wal Mart with my little sister and her friend, but today all four of us piled into the truck (which has a back seat, but really shouldn't its pretty small) and went antique shopping. We went to (literally) every antique store within 20 miles of our house and finally my mom found the desk she wanted which is actually a "Librarian's Table" and was (of course) at the first antique store we went to. After loading the table, covering it with blankets/towels and strapping it down in the bed of the truck, we went to Sam's Club (think Costco). Most of you know, I love shopping... even if its only groceries. But now that we had this new computer desk, my stepdad spent a good hour looking at computers before deciding which one he wanted. Kalli and I ate hot dogs that were 87 cents and gulped iced tea since she gave up pop for lent.
After tasting a scrumptous sample at the end of every aisle, we found my parents again. Each of them pushing a cart, my stepdad's with a computer and printer and ink and other electronic stuff and my mom's with groceries -- fresh strawberries, salmon for dinner, milk, and frozen chicken... we paid and piled back into the truck and my parents gave each other a kiss. Kalli and I immediately voiced our disgust, "Ewwww!" she said, "Get a room!" was my response. But in reality, I'm thankful to have them as a demonstration of a loving marriage. They told Kalli and I tonight about their engagement, which took place about 10 feet from where I'm sitting right now 18 years ago on the first day of spring. I just loved watching them walk around downtown between antique stores today holding hands, and I love hearing the entry way door slide open and my stepdad cheerfully announce, "Honey, I'm home" upon entering the house after work.
Anyways, we're leaving the house in less than 5 hours to go to the sunrise service at Mt. Rushmore, our Easter tradition. The Spurs play tomorrow afternoon, so I'm sure we'll all sit around the fireplace and watch the game, just like we watched the Celtics the other night. Then I'm going over to my grandma O's house to learn how to make her dumplings (well try to learn... German food is difficult, and my grandma never measures ANYTHING). Should be a great Easter, I hope all of you are having restful breaks!

how i get through

3 of my most valued possessions are purple scrap paper notes that my mom wrote Bible verses and prayers on and hid in my car, Bible, and random other places before my trip, a letter from my stepdad that he wrote I think when I left for college and my copy of my best friend Erin's testimony. Without these three things, and the three people who wrote them to me, there is no way I would be determined enough to continue through hard situations. I don't think they will ever know how much I appreciate them.

First, a scrap of paper that my mom wrote "God is sending His angels to protect you until we see you again. Love you! Mom, Kerry & Kalli" on one side, the other side has bright red lipstick lips with Hebrews 13:5 written on it. Or the half heart smeared with the same red lipstick kiss that says, "May you be blessed in your work and play today. I love you Kimmee!" on one side and Colossians 1:3 on the other. My mom is truly the most amazing woman alive. If you can't tell by how often I talk about her, I think she is pretty great. When I worked at the hospital over the summer one of the nicest things someone could say to me was "You remind me of your mother."

Now, a couple lines from the note my stepdad wrote me: "...I just want you to know of the joy & pride that I share because of the special person that you have become. You remind me so much of your mother - and coming from me you should know that there is not a higher compliment I could give someone." and also, probably my favorite line of the letter "Don't marry a jerk...I assume that you will always remember the other advice that I have already given you - like don't eat yellow snow." My stepdad is probably the smartest person I have ever met. He can fix just about anything, he is calm under whatever stressful situation I throw at him (speeding tickets, driving my car off a cliff, the house getting TP'd, broken things on my car, needing money, helping me with calculus problems, I could go on) and I know that I am always just a phone call away from his comfort whenever life throws me a curveball.

Erin's testimony is something that we had to do as an assignment for Bible class freshman year, and who would have thought that it would become one of my most valued possessions. Whenever I miss her I am comforted by knowing that she is in heaven waiting for me. Her testimony is ready for me to read, whenever I need that affirmation that I will see her again. My favorite part is how at age 16 she was able to say "Having God in my life is something I never want to lose...Yeah He has given me a run for his money, and he has put me down some hard paths, but...He was always there when the big stuff happened and I felt like I had no one to turn to." This is such a somber reminder that every single time I am faced with a difficult situation and try to prove that God is failing me, his faithfulness is simply revealed to me in a new way.

This quarter has been tough. I am worn out. My body is aching for relaxation but even laying down doesn't relieve the tenseness of my muscles. I am sick of working on group projects and papers and presentations and studying for tests, but I know that someday I will miss the nights I have spent in the library until the turn the lights out in 5W and the giggles I get from sleep deprivation during Dr. Knutzen's biomechanics lectures. Relief is on the way. I'll be home, in the presence of my incredible family in just 16 short days... but who is counting.