"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa
At this point in my life I kind of have two “homes”: the place where my family is and I grew up, and my dorm where I live the majority of the time. Leaving for college makes home a little funny because it doesn’t quite feel the same. But it’s home nonetheless. Though I live in my college dorm, my family is always where my home will be.
Home is . . .
where your childhood memories are.
where your family is.
where you’re always welcomed.
where it smells like dinner (or cookies . . .).
Home is awesome.
And now you get to look forward to better topics! Almost done with this challenge 🙂
Here goes: random facts about me you may not have known.
1. I am Catholic. Kidding! I bet you knew that already 🙂
2. I had tubes put in my ears twice when I was a toddler and I have vivid memories from both times (to that nurse: the knock out gas was totally NOT bubble gum flavored)
3. I dislike most rom-coms and am not a huge TV fan
4. I loved being in musicals and dreamed of being a Broadway star in my tween years. My Pooh Bear journal is living proof of this interesting time in my life when I was semi-obsessed with this.
5. I am always the one to have a camera ready and take pictures at events
6. I’ve never been to the east coast area except for the March for Life in D.C. twice. Someday I’d like to explore over there, but I have no dreams of traveling the world.
7. American Sign Language was the main one I learned in high school. Thankfully taking it at a junior college counted for college credit here, so I don’t have to take any more language classes. Whoohoo! Good thing because language is not my forte.
8. I am always more productive and motivated when I wear tennis shoes.
9. I love blogging late at night when it’s quiet, but it’s WAY too easy to all of a sudden look up and it be 1:30am. That hurts the next morning 🙂
10. I end lots of sentences with exclamation points or smiley faces 🙂
11. A couple years ago I accidentally stabbed myself in the palm of my left hand and thankfully have no serious repercussions from it.
12. I don’t like to paint my fingernails.
13. Someday I want to learn how to coupon enough to save a significant amount of money. But don’t worry. I’m not going to be on the extreme couponing show.
14. I very rarely get sick and don’t remember the last time I took medicine.
I love Valentine’s Day! Growing up we always made valentines for each other and would sneak out late at night or early in the morning to put them at the dining room table. When we woke up we’d be greeted by notes from our parents and siblings at our place. And candy too 🙂 Since coming to college I still send valentines home to the family and they still send them to me. And they’re all up on my wall!
This year I initiated a valentine-making spree here at school. It was a stroke of Pinterest creativeness, or procrastination. I can’t remember which 😉 We made one of these for each of the suites of ladies in my dorm (20 I think) and hung them on the doors:
On the back we wrote something like: “To the beautiful ladies of Suite X: Happy Valentine’s Day! You are loved! ❤ Suite Y”. It was fun to spread the love.
My evening involved movie watching and chocolate, which was fun. I haven’t been staying up very late on Fridays anymore since I go sidewalk counseling early on Saturdays. They had a single ladies dinner on campus that guys hosted, but I didn’t go. I don’t feel like I need to cry over my relationship status because I know I am loved by the people around me. If a significant other is someday added to that group of people, then so be it. Awesome. Everything happens in God’s timing. And this year it was time for chocolate 🙂 But let’s face it, everyday is chocolate day, right? Kidding!
What I don’t like about Valentine’s day is the humongous teddy bears and crazy balloons and all that jazz. Why? Because I don’t think you need a holiday to show people you love them. You should be doing nice stuff for people all the time. I’m certainly not a pro at that and am working on appreciating people more, but come on people. Do surprise nice things! Don’t wait for holidays!
I do appreciate when people use the opportunity to celebrate the goodness in their lives and the world. That’s nice to see. I appreciate nice notes. And you know what? Taking time to do the same for other people rocks too.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite things:
1. Nice people. They rock. ‘Nuf said. Whether you are opening a door, writing a note, taking time to do something thoughtful, or whatever – I appreciate you.
2. Babies. Surprise, surprise! Babies just give me so much hope. And their smiles and laughs are the best. You never know who they are going to become, and they love you unconditionally. Yes, I have a whole Pinterest board for their sweet chubby faces 🙂
3. Sunshine. Add a little sun to any day and it’s automatically at least 63.547% better. Maybe it’s the California in me, but sun just brings a smile to my face and a spring to my step.
4. Nutella. Does this even need an explanation?
Kidding! Promise!
5. The day after an awesome workout. Sweating along to awesome music is fun, but the next day is even better as you feel yourself getting stronger.
A Drop in the Ocean 