Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunday Smiles


Don't be afraid, I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. He is risen!
- Matthew 28:5-6

Friday, March 25, 2016

InstaFriday


I felt like I needed to watch this movie while eating a steak and drinking a glass of Lagavulin, Ron Swanson style. If you haven't seen this movie, here's the *spoiler alert* for you: the first hour and a half, they build a bridge. The last 10 minutes, they blow up said bridge. The End.


There was some explosion in Seattle a couple weeks ago near where my brother lives. I asked him if he was okay. This was his response...


Went to a baby shower last Sunday for one of the girls at church. Lots of people I didn't know and a lot of stimulation for my introverted self, but it was a lot of fun. And there were 5 or 6 pregnant women there. So many babies coming this Spring!

Monday, March 21, 2016

Go Green

I really like St Patrick's Day. Maybe not so much the holiday, but I just really like green. So I basically celebrated all week. It started last Saturday. The Silky's parade on Beale street was last Saturday so we decided to have people over and hang out before going downtown for the parade. Jennifer came over early to help set up. We had balloons and beads and awesome St Patrick's Day tattoos!


Then people started showing up and we set up the food for brunch, yum! There was So. Much. Food. And it was all so delicious! After brunch, we decided to take a before picture (which is really more of a "during" picture). This is the whole group, minus Christy, because she doesn't believe in selfie sticks...


I stuck with mimosas for the morning, but there was also plenty of beer and Irish coffee. Then we decided to all take a shot of Jameson before we headed downtown. Because... Irish.


Our crowd thinned some before going downtown- something about being an adult and having other responsibilities or something. Christy dropped us off downtown before going home to spend a few hours with her husband. Gotta love night shift!

We watched the parade and cheered for beads- and candy- and I got a new koozie!


Then it started raining. I'm actually surprised that the rain held off as long as it did! But once it started, we made our way to Silky's to continue the celebration!





And met up with a friend while we were there!

Then we decided that we had enough of downtown and we Uber'd back to my neck of the woods to grab a drink at Celtic. It was about this time when I realized that I hadn't actually eaten anything since about noon. Oops! After one drink, we all realized that we're old! We walked back to my house, everyone gathered up their things and we called it a night!

Thursday was actually St Patrick's Day. I thought about doing the Breakaway pub run, but my friends were all being lame and it's only so much fun to run and drink by yourself, so I passed. Jennifer ended up coming back to my house after work and I made her take a picture of me because I matched the Snapchat filter!


We decided to head back to Celtic and meet up with the rest of midtown to get some drinks. Seriously, it was crazy! There had been a parade that afternoon and there were people at Celtic that had been there all day!

We flipped back and forth between NCAA March Madness and the Grizz game. And we decided to eat dinner this time. Then we were responsible adults and came home while the party continued late into the night...


This past Saturday, after a workout and haircut, I met up with a friend at Muddy's Grind House for some coffee and computer time. (Taxes for her, house hunting for me). They had a special Irish cream and beer cupcake for St Patrick's Day with Guinness stout chocolate cake with Bailey's buttercream frosting. Naturally, I had to try it and I was definitely not disappointed!

 
And that ends my weeklong celebration of green!

Happy green!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Sunday Smiles

Happy Palm Sunday!


Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed You from the house of the Lord.
- Psalm 118:26

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Sunday Smiles


Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
- Jonah 2:8

Friday, March 11, 2016

InstaFriday


Runner's feet. My feet are seriously disgusting! I am in major need of a pedicure! This was after the 10K and running for 6 miles through puddles and mud...


I made a prayer board and I love the visual reminder of prayers and seeing the movement of answered prayers. Brooklyn got a liver! And Steevenson is officially a Palmer! Praise God!


Early morning workouts are my jam. Pretty much anything early morning is made for me. I love the still and quiet of the mornings. But around 8pm, I start winding down for bed. I love mornings at the Kroc. I'm still trying to get them to open earlier though. It is time to renew my membership and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it or if I should try to find a new gym. Tough decision...


This past weekend was perfect! I went to the gym to lift Saturday morning but then I decided that I couldn't be indoors anymore. I went to Shelby Farms and sat by the lake for hours- reading and enjoying the sunshine. I love Spring!


When I left Shelby Farms, I decided to stop into the Humane Shelter and look at the puppies. They were all adorable and I'm counting down until I can take one home with me. Just a few more months...


The weather was still perfect on Sunday so we decided to patio after church. We met at Celtic for mimosas and the Grizz game! It was great! Love these friends!


House hunting has officially begun. It makes me nervous. It's a big commitment and, while my fear of commitment is better, it still scares me! But it's also a lot of fun. My mom met me after work on Monday to look at 5 houses. There were some cute ones. Now trying to make decisions...

New houses. Getting a dog. Changing gyms. So many decisions. Adulting is hard!

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Death is Hard

Yes, I know this is obvious. But it is hard; and it doesn't get any easier.

Last week, my aunt called to tell me that one of her friend's husbands was in the hospital. They live in a small town, so we he arrived at the local hospital, they sent him to Memphis. She asked if I would check on him and his wife and I told her yes. She told me that he wasn't doing well- that they were going to take him off the vent and decided not to put him back on it. I see this all the time. I knew what to expect and what I was walking in to.

On Friday, I went by to check on him and say hi to his wife. She was in the chair asleep. I know how hard it is to get rest at the hospital so I didn't wake her up. He was on CPAP and appeared comfortable so I kept going on with my day.

At the end of the day, after I had finished all my notes, I went back over to see if she was awake. She was so I got to talk to her for a little while. We talked about my mom and my aunt and family and school. She said that her children were on the way up and asked if I had time to wait and meet them. She understood how weak he was and said that once the children arrived, they were going to take him off CPAP. The chaplain had already been there to see her and he had music playing for her.* Of course, I waited with her.

When the kids arrived, I met them and we talked for a while. Then the nurse came in to give him some meds and the respiratory therapist took him off CPAP and placed him on binasal cannula. Then we waited. They took turns holding his hand and talking to him. Then we watched him take his last breath.

The nurse called the doctor to tell him and there was some confusion over whether the ICU team or the palliative team was coming, so I ended up borrowing her stethoscope and pronouncing him. (Which my mom found oddly sweet later when I told her and asked if I would pronounce her when she died...)

But guys, it was hard. Emotionally draining. Death is hard. But there is also so much hope in Jesus! Hearing his sweet wife tell him that it's okay- that he doesn't have to suffer anymore and can go be with Jesus was so encouraging! If our hope is in eternity, and not in this world, we do not have to fear death! As Paul said, "to live is Christ; to die is gain."

* I am now mentally making a list of my "deathbed" songs (Morbid, I know!) Blessed assurance, Good Father, In Christ alone, Be held, etc.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Sunday Smiles


Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.
- Psalm 145:3

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Seattle

I already blogged about the road trip, so now let's talk about being in Seattle! We got there on Sunday night and drove straight to my aunt's house. She had dinner waiting for us so we ate and stretched and then my brother and I drove to his condo. We unloaded his car, but were both tired so we didn't actually put anything away. I decided to go ahead and go to bed- because I'm old and have an early bedtime. My brother went over to a friend's house to hang out for a little while.

The next day, we slept in and then unpacked all his stuff and tried to organize some things. Then my dad and 2 aunts came over to see his place and we went to get brunch. I got chicken and waffles. It came with a bourbon maple syrup that apparently has such a high alcohol content that you can't take it to-go. It was delicious!



After brunch, my aunts left and my dad and brother went to fix his car. Then we ran a few errands, went grocery shopping, and picked up a few things for the house. Apparently Seattle is the greenest city. The recycling bin is bigger than the trashcan and you get fined if you throw things in the wrong container.

* My brother has asked me multiple times if something goes in recycling or compost.


We went downtown that night for a little shopping and then stayed at the condo that night. The next day, my brother had a few more things to take care of. We went by the gym that is right above his office so that he could join. I could totally get used to running to this view!


He joined the gym, stopped by the office to say hi and introduce us to everyone, and then we went to an amazing Thai place for lunch. We hung out at the condo that afternoon. I could tell my brother was starting to get a little anxious about work so he locked himself in his room for a while so he could get some things done.


His roommate was coming into town that night and then they were starting work the next day, so Tuesday night he drove my dad and I to my aunt's house and we hung out with my cousins for a little while and then we said our goodbyes before he left to pick Andrew up from the airport.

Wednesday was a pretty lazy day with family. My aunt and I took my cousin to school and then met up with my other aunt and another cousin and went to see my grandmother and take her some medicine. Then my aunt, cousin, and I went to the park for a run. I love looking at the different scenery and exploring new places through runs. And this view was pretty peaceful!


After the run, we went back to my aunts and put on comfortable clothes and laid around. Then we got out and ran some errands, but quickly made it back home to do nothing. It was a typical, dreary Seattle day so we curled up on the couch and watched movies. That night, my cousin and her husband came over for dinner and we just got to relax and hang out.


Thursday, my aunt and I took my cousin to school and went to see my grandmother. I ran in to give her her meds and she was upstairs doing a chair exercise class. It was precious! I talked to her for a second, promised that I would be back later, and then my aunt and I took the light rail to the market. It rained the entire drive to the light rail, but by the time we made it to the market, it had stopped. It was still a little cool though so there weren't many people there. It was perfect!

I took advantage of as many free samples as possible. I sampled all the oil and vinegars at OMG! Olive Oils. They were all so good! The basil garlic olive oil and the raspberry balsamic were probably my favorites. I also sampled some barbecue (that didn't compare to Memphis barbecue) and some smoked salmon that was amazing! Then we got the best frozen yogurt ever! I looked for some artwork, but didn't find anything. I ended up with a new coffee mug- and I got a Seahawks shirt, because obvi.


That night, my aunt, uncle, cousin, dad, and I went to a greek place for dinner. My aunt just ordered a bunch of things and we all shared. Everything was so good! My aunt and I shared a spiked coffee for dessert. The owner came over and made it at the table. There was fire and magic. It was quite the show. And it tasted amazing, but so strong!


After dinner, we went back by my grandmother's to hang out and say goodbye to her. She is hilarious. She's 89 and so feisty! She said that she is healthier than anyone else in the family. She is so witty and loves to push everyone's buttons. Before I left she told me that next time I was there she would tell me about the facts of life! Then she laughed and said that I could probably tell her a thing or two! Oh, granny!


We left early Friday morning. My aunt took us the airport. My other aunt was supposed to come with us. She was going to fly to Nashville to see her daughter, but she got sick and was feeling worse so she cancelled her flight. The flight was fairly uneventful. I got to see Mt. Rainer from the sky.

We had a layover at DFW so we got something to eat and waited to get home. The second flight was pretty uneventful as well. I listened to some podcasts and slept some and we landed in no time. My mom picked us and dropped me off at home. I had the weekend to catch up on sleep and some things before the work week started.


It was a great trip! It was sad saying bye to my brother, which is weird. We haven't lived in the same city since I graduated from high school, but it is still sad that he is all the way across the country. I know he's loving his job though and it's keeping him super busy! It was great to see all my family and spend some time with my grandmother. I'm already planning a trip back soon!