Beautifully Blessed

Eight years ago, I was given one of the biggest blessings in my life.

I was crowned Miss Houston County 2004.

Every year since then, I have been continually blessed by being asked back to emcee Miss Houston County.

I say that I am blessed to do this because of the people who put the pageant together every year. I am also blessed by getting to know the girls competing just a little bit each year. And then I get to watch the girls who win enjoy their year as a Houston County queen, just as much, and hopefully even more, as I did.

This is not a Toddlers and Tiaras kind of pageant. The little girls look like little girls. The older girls are not only judged by stage beauty, but in interview, written communication, and verbal communication - which is definitely the hardest part.

I was there on Friday night when the girls were going into interviews. Some came out disappointed. Some came out embarrassed of their answers. Others came out excited because they felt they had done well.

I remember these moments so well. The fear that the judges would ask me an off the wall question that I wouldn't know how to answer. The last minute "do I have lipstick on my teeth" check. The terrible realization right before you walk into the room that you can't remember your name.

And then the elation of a smooth interview. Five minutes that seemed to go so quickly, and I felt like I still had more to say. A friendship had been formed with the judges, and I knew they would be watching for me while I was onstage.

Or the heaviness of a bad interview. Five minutes seemed to drag on for hours, and I knew leaving the room that they didn't care for what I had to say or my personality. Knowing that it didn't matter what I did onstage, because I wasn't going to win.

Saturday afternoon came and went, and a new Future Little Miss, Young Junior Miss, and Junior Miss Houston County had been crowned. My feet were the size of footballs, and I was able to rest for about 40 minutes before the evening pageant began.

It's always fun to be back in stage hair and make up. Luckily, my BFFS3G was there to help me get glamorous. I can't tease my hair to save my life, so she whipped up some magic on top of my head. I love being dressed up in gowns, sparkly jewelry, and false eyelashes.

Somehow, some way, Jim Massey Formals had TWO dresses that fit my 36 week pregnant body. It was nice to feel pretty, when most times, I feel like a beached whale.

I always open the pageant by singing the National Anthem.

There's a rush right before the pageant begins. Nancy, the stage director, says, "We're starting in two minutes." The curtain is still closed, and I walk to my place in center stage, humming quietly to myself to find my pitch.

The lights go dark in the Civic Center, and Elisabeth welcomes the audience to the pageant.

Then the curtain opens...

I see nothing but blackness in front of me, blinded by the lights, but I know the audience is standing and all eyes are on me. I sing the National Anthem as dignified as I can, always feeling like I've sung the wrong words or left out a phrase.

And these girls from all over the county, bonded by jitters, zipper checks, and ripped panty hose, step out on stage to experience the most wonderful and terrifying three hours of their lives.

The crowd cheers when "their girl" steps into the spotlight. Some opening number dance steps are forgotten, but it doesn't matter. It's exciting. It's fun.

They rush off stage to change into their suits for verbal communication. One by one, they return to draw a word out of a bowl. They each speak on this word - it can be anything - what they feel the definition of the word is, what that word reminds them of, or an anecdote about that word.

It is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It feels like the word is written in Japanese, and somehow, you muster up some sentences that might make sense, or they might not.

And again, they rush off into the dressing rooms to change into their stunning evening gowns. Gowns of all different colors - red, blue, white, black - covered in sequins, crystals, and satin embellishments. For three minutes, every eye in the audience is on them as they gracefully walk across the stage. This is their moment.

When they step off that stage, it's over. There is nothing more they can do to convince the judges that they deserve the crown.

But it's not just a crown. It's a responsibility.

This year's onstage question was, "Please give three characteristics that would make you a good title holder."

Whitney, who would later be named Miss Houston County, said it best when she explained how being Miss Houston County is a job.

It is a non-paying job, but can be so rewarding if you let it be. It is a job that requires your weekends, your preparation, your loyalty. People know you as Miss Houston County, even when you're not wearing the crown.

For one whole year, you are a role model for little girls who aspire to be princesses. You are a representative for your area and those who live in it. You smile, you wave, you talk to people you've never met. You are always "on."

It's stressful, this glamorous job. There were times that I sat on the back of a convertible in a cute, but not warm enough outfit at 7am on a Saturday morning on a main street of a small town, and I wondered what the heck I was doing.

But it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Even now, I am recognized in Dothan as a former Miss Houston County.

I may be 8 years older, and at the current moment, 50 pounds heavier (baby weight and then some), but the title never goes away.

I will always be a part of the Miss Houston County family.

And now we have a new member.

Congratulations, Whitney.

You blew everyone away with your beauty, your charm, and your personality. I almost squealed with excitement when I saw your name written on the line of the results paper.

It's hard to keep a straight face as the emcee when you know who the winner is before everyone else.

Especially when you know she's the perfect choice.

I am excited to watch your year as MIss Houston County. You will realize, if you haven't already, what an amazing blessing you have been given in that crown and banner. You will be an amazing representative for this pageant and the people of Houston County.

And then I go home. I wash off the make up, wash out the hairspray, put on my t-shirt, and I become me again. I snuggle up to the biggest blessing in my life, who tells me I don't need all the "stuff" to make me beautiful, although he told me at least 5 times at the pageant that I looked pretty.

And I realize that the blessings from the Lord never stop.

I was Miss Houston County for one year.

I am Mrs. Ben Parrish for life.

I am Brooke Allen's mommy for life.

Maybe one day, her daddy will let me enter her in a pageant, and it will be yet another bond that she and I can share.

And I won't ever stop telling her that she's beautiful.

Crown or not.

Things That Make Me Smile

If you don't know, which you probably don't (and in which case I will forgive you), Mom and I email all day long while we're at work. I usually call her on my way home if she's not teaching piano. And then we text all night long.

It's really bad in the summer because she's not working and we text all day long.

It took Ben a while to get used to this when we first started dating. But Mom is my best friend, and we tell each other everything.
Don't worry, I do know when to turn it off and spend time with Ben.

Anyways, I am saying all this to give you some back up information on this post (#101, to be exact). Mom was feeling a little sad today, which we all do sometimes, so I decided I would make her smile. I sent her 4 emails with lists of things that I KNOW make her smile - her happy thoughts.

You know, those things that make Peter Pan fly.

Anyways, it got me thinking about MY happy thoughts. So I thought I'd list them out for you.
And I'm sorry if a lot of them are food related. 7 months pregnant, here.

my warm and snuggly bed

my warm and snuggly bed with my husband and puppy in it

painting

chocolate cake

chocolate anything, really

The Eagles

Chick Fil A

sunset walks on the beach

coffee on the porch

office supplies

Sunday afternoon naps

playing with my baby cousins

online shopping

crystal footballs

a really, really great pair of stilettos

good hair days

Froot Loops

Channing Tatum

joy riding

a cold glass of champagne

pizza

waterproof mascara

John Mayer

fuzzy socks

Zaxby's fries

Drew Brees

cranapple juice

a clean kitchen

the smell of laundry

Washington DC

good Italian food

a fountain Coke

Gone With the Wind

my wedding rings

this little guy

furniture shopping

Pinterest

nail polish

professional massages

Taco Bell

October

New Orleans

Piggy

my favorite pair of jeans (that I will fit into again)

the way Mom's house smells

really hot bubble baths (temperature wise)

The Sound of Music

the Bravo channel

oatmeal creme pies

Chopped

crossword puzzles

And my FAVORITE happy thought - my little girl kicking away at my ribs the entire time I've been writing this post

WHEW

Keeping Up With the Parrishes should be more like Catching Up With the Parrishes.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Let me just take you on a little stroll of the past two weeks.

1. Tuesday (2 weeks back from tomorrow) we got a letter from the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

"We regret to inform you that the State Trooper class we were planning on having in June has been cancelled. You will maintain your position on the hiring list until further notice."

Or something like that. We threw the letter away.

2. Wednesday, my boss was let go from my company, due to a series of company wide events. My office flooded from tears.

3. Thursday, my mind was mush trying to do my job and her job.

4. Friday, I was told that we would be getting a new manager, a new assistant manager (which was my job), and I would be moving to the corporate office...in a week.

Funny how God works sometimes, huh?

5. 45 minutes after corporate folks left my office, Ben called me to say that he'd just received a call from the Birmingham City Police Department. He was to report the next Saturday in business attire and bring his driver's license.

6. We spent the weekend hanging out with my grandparents. They're too sickly to be alone and have sitters during the week. It was our turn that weekend. :) They're freakin awesome.

7. I spent Monday - Friday cramming 2 years of information into the new managers' heads. They looked at me like deer in headlights.

8. Monday night - TORNADO WARNING - me, Ben, and Charlotte in the closet. Charlotte was not a fan. She curled up on a pillow and stuck her head under the rack of clothes.

9. Tuesday night - Charlotte's first injury. She cut her paw pad on something and we spent an hour trying to hold her down to clean it and wrap it up. Comforter to dry cleaners from all the puppy blood.

10. Wednesday, I take a walk around the corporate office after the monthly managers' meeting. Do I remember anybody's names? Nope.

11. Thursday, I called the State Real Estate Board. Too much time has lapsed since my certification. Have to take the entire 60 hour pre-certification course and license exam AGAIN.

12. Friday - TORNADO WARNING - Luckily, it bypasses us, but caused major devastation everywhere else.

13. Saturday, I worked my last work event at my old office. Packed my box and headed out. Ben called after his thing with Bham PD - has to take a polygraph test on one of the days we're on our cruise - AND HE CAN'T RESCHEDULE.

14. Talk to EVERYBODY at Carnival Cruise Lines. Can't get more than 25% of my paid in full money back because we're too close to sail date. Can't reschedule. Can't transfer the cruise to anyone else who pays me for the cruise. Basically, we're screwed.

15. Ben and I decide to cut our losses and spend the money we had set aside for spending money on our cruise. We went here:

TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY!!!!

4 wide finish at a 10th of a second finish. Unbelievable race.

Ha. Rednecks.

16. Monday - Today - Started my new job as Leasing and Marketing Administrative Assistant. I get to code bills, make marketing materials, and plan events. I am really excited. It's very different than what I've been doing.

17. 2 for 1 night at Publix! Cut my grocery bill basically in half. WINNING.

18. I've finished one glass of wine and am about to pour another before I settle into a few hours of real estate studying.

You can breathe now.

RANDOM TRIVIA FACT: Kate Middleton can no longer be referred to as Kate after the wedding. She will be "Your Highness, Princess William of Wales" or "Catherine." Stuffy royals.

I Wanna Talk About Me

It's time for my A to Z!

A to Z on Katie

A. Age: 24

Will be 25 on October 27th!

B. Bed size: Queen.

Ben would say I stick my butt too far in the middle.

C. Chore I dislike: Cleaning the garden tub.

That sucker is hard to clean!

D. Dogs: My sweet baby girl Charlotte

I begged Ben for a dog for a looooooong time, and she's perfect. :)

E. Essential start to my day: Bathroom and then shower.

Preferably a long, hot shower.

F. Favorite color: PINK!

I also have an affinity for orange and chocolate brown.

G. Gold or silver: Silver.

But my wedding rings are white gold.

H. Height: 5'8"

6' if you count my 4" heels I wear every day.

I: Instruments you play(ed): Took piano lessons for a long time. And took flute and guitar lessons for like a week.

And I sing, but that's not technically an instrument.

J. Job title: Assistant Property Manager

I LOVE MY JOB.

K. Kids: Not yet!

Yes, please!

L. Live: Birmingham

Not Dothan.

M. Mom's name: Sylvia

And I am her child.

N. Nicknames: Thonton in high school, K-Bear by Mom, and Boosef by Ben.

a.k.a. Homes, Baby, and Sweetheart when he's ticked at me.

O. Overnight hospital stay: Never had one.

But spent quite a few with Dad.

P. Pet peeves: Excessive noise and ignorance.

Noises are especially annoying when they are mouth noises: smacking, sighing, etc.

Q. Quote from a movie: If you're from Africa, then why are you white?

Oh my god, Karen, you can't just ask people why they're white.

R. Ranch or bleu cheese: RANCH.

Always ranch.

S. Siblings: Just my brosef!

And all my inherited siblings from marriage.

T. Time you wake up: Generally 6:30 - 7:00

Depends on how many times I hit the snooze button.

U. Underwear: A lot of Victoria's Secret.

And most of them are pink. :)

V. Vegetables I don't like: SQUASH.

And I'm getting over my weirdness with corn.

W. What makes me run late: Laziness.

Just about every day. Remember the snooze button?

X. X-Rays: LOTS.

Ankle, knee, stomach/intestines, thyroid, nose, and all those lady things.

Y. Yummy food I make: I'm a pretty good cook!

I make cajun pasta, homemade soups, and Italian chicken, Ben's favorite!

Z. Zoo animal to watch: I LOVE the monkeys!

But I never get to see them because Ben doesn't go to the zoo.

FUN FACT ABOUT ME: Apparently my car has "unusual" tires. I would buy the car that nobody stocks tires for.

Who am I?

Have you been watching/reading/hearing about Japan's tragedy?

I'm not. I refuse to.

As much as I typically lack in the sympathy area, the photos, stories, and news bits about the tsunami make my heart overflow with sadness and empathy.

And guilt.

Guilt?

Yes, guilt.

Guilt because I sit here on my couch on my day off from my relatively easy job.

Guilt because I know where my husband is because he just texted me.

Guilt because my family is safe in their respective places on this earth.

Because tomorrow, I will more than likely wake up again.

Because my house is sitting on dry land with the birds chirping outside.

Because I can go outside to my car and drive around any time that I want to.

Because the only errands I have to accomplish today are taking the comforter to the dry cleaners and folding a mountain of laundry.

Because I complain about the measly things in life that are so easily fixed, like my bank being idiots and not putting my paycheck in last night.

Because I know that my earthly father resides with my Heavenly Father.

Because I am safe, healthy, and happy, while God allows so many to not be.

Why, God, why am I chosen to live so easily? So carefree?

There are people in places who do not know where their mother is because she's been washed away by flood waters. They do not know where their next meal is coming from or when it is coming. They do not know if a guerilla soldier will bust down their door to rape and plunder in the next five minutes. They do not have any other way of life but crime or prostitution.

They do not have understanding of a merciful and loving God, only gods who do not exist.

Why am I chosen?

I have done nothing to deserve this life that I live. Sure, I was born into a family who has generally always been "middle class" by American standards. I am educated to work hard at my job to create this life that I live. I have a home, a car, a bank account, a family, a husband, a dog, and food in my fridge.

I live my life free of worry.

But I did not earn it. I was blessed with it.

Am I supposed to feel guilty for this?

I have no control over rain and floods. I cannot stop the horrible things that happen to people. It is not possible for me to provide a meal to every single starving person.

Is anyone else experiencing this guilt, or am I the only one?

Maybe I am more sympathetic than I thought.

All I can do is pray.

Pray for God to save a culture of people who, as a whole, do not believe in Him. Pray that He will work miracles for these people who will never give Him the credit for it. Pray that if there is anything I can do, no matter how small, that I will do it. Pray that those people who are there who do know Him will be able to reach more because of this tragedy. Pray that our own nation will rise against the wicked path that we are walking and again return to the God of creation.

And I will be thankful for this blessed life that I live.

Every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day.

My prayers shall be those of thanksgiving and praise, even when I feel like my small, cushy world has been turned upside down.

Because this small, cushy world is not mine.

RANDOM TRIVIA FACT: There are still almost 8,000 people reported missing in Japan, and over 5,000 already confirmed dead. This is one of the largest death tolls in natural disaster history, and it is not completed.

In the Meantime

"No Mom Talk Monday?"

I'm not a Mom, so I have no problems with this, considering the only Mom I ever talk about is my own.

Anyways, the premise of Courtney's "No Mom Talk Monday" post today was about some of her most vivid childhood memories. I think that's pretty cool, so I thought I'd relive some of my own...

This is a long one.

We had a baby-sitter named Michelle, who had a little brother named Woody, who was my brother's age. Our families were/still are very close. Whenever Michelle came to baby-sit us, Woody would come, too. Woody and Wes would disappear into Wes' room, I'm sure to play video games (or was this too long ago for video games?) or something...not this night.

Michelle and I were in my room (I'm sure playing Barbies or school or the like) when we heard this *CRASH* and a few screams. We ran into Wes' room to find blood all over the floor and Wes holding onto his face and Woody...crying.

Michelle rushed Wes into the bathroom and held his head over the toilet so the blood will drip in, trying to get the story out of a tearful Woody, trying to get in touch with my parents who were at a church banquet (before cell phones, mind you), and consoling a little sister who literally thought her brother was dying.

Turns out, they had been playing football in Wes' room and threw the football too high. It crashed into the dome light and busted it into a million different pieces...one of those pieces went right through Wes' cheek. Several stitches and a few scoldings.

Or the time that he jumped off the roof of the house (he did that a lot) and pretended to be dead. He scared me so bad he promised never to do that again, as long as I didn't tell on him.

Or the time that Wes and I got in a huge fight over who would sit front and center of the TV. I ended up cracking a broomstick over his back and he dragged me around on the carpet on my stomach and gave me carpet burns. He got a big spanking for that one.

WHY DID OUR PARENTS EVER THINK IT WAS OK FOR US TO BE LEFT ALONE WITH EACH OTHER?!?!?!?!?

It wasn't all violent, I promise.

There is a really embarrassing home video of us and our "circus."

It was some sunny Saturday and Wes and I had been spending the day in the backyard. We decided to put together a "circus" for our parents. The "circus" consisted of Wes sliding down the zip line he and Dad had made from a crowbar handle and old wires and me...well, not doing anything talented but jumping off the 3 foot fence because I was MAYBE 6 years old.

We shared a playroom at one point. My half was COVERED in Barbies. We're talking giant house (built by my Uncle Bill and Grandaddy), at least 3 cars, furniture, clothes, dolls... He and his friend Blake liked to rip the heads off my Barbies and switch the heads around. (Have you ever seen a Barbie with her head put back on? She has no neck.) I would also find Barbie and Ken in...ahem...compromising positions.
He loved Erector and K-nex sets. The other half of the playroom was full of that stuff. He made a giant rollercoaster out of every. single. piece. of. Erector. set. We would get under it and pretend it was a spaceship/airplane/jungle jeep and go on adventures together.

We got to attend the same school when he was a senior and I was a 7th grader. We had the same lunch period. He embarrassed me on a daily basis...the only senior who would talk to his younger sibling.
He decided to entertain the lunch period by getting on stage in the cafetorium (look it up) and singing Limp Bizkit while his friends made a mosh pit below. I'm pretty sure he stage dived.

Then when he decided to run for Student Council president, he made ME his campaign manager to get the younger votes. I passed out these hysterical buttons with WCW wrestlers and stupid sayings on them that he and Dad had made. He won by a landslide.
You could purchase a "Candy Gram" for Valentine's Day for anyone in the school for $1. Mom made us buy one for each other. When they delivered his to my desk, it sat there on the corner of my desk, wrapped up in cellophane and curly ribbon. I took it home to him and presented it with glee. He turned red and admitted he'd eaten mine when he got the munchies in 3rd period. Mom made him march down to the drugstore (it was a very small town...one drugstore, one block away) and buy me LOTS of candy and a cute little dog stuffed animal with his own money. I still have the stuffed dog.

All in all, my brother is pretty awesome.

I lost my keys one weekend in Tuscaloosa, and Wes drove all the way to Montgomery from Dothan to bring my extra set, all so Mom wouldn't know. She does now, no worries.

He took me to lunch the day before I graduated high school and explained to me all the things I SHOULDN'T do in college.

He gave Ben a really hard time when he first met him. Kind of a "If you mess with my sister, I have really big friends and we will stalk you down and kill you" talk.

He spent my 21st birthday with me, which is the night that Ben asked Wes for permission to marry me. The next morning, he told me that Ben was a great guy and he would love for us to get married.

And then he walked me down the aisle.

Wes and I have been through so much together. We are 5 years apart and are just now getting to that "friendship" level, rather than just a big brother/little sister annoyance.

I love my brother and I consider him one of my heroes.

Thanks for being the greatest big brother in the world, Wes.

Even if you did put my Cabbage Patch doll, Fletch, on the blade of the ceiling fan and then turned the fan on.

Oh, and I apologize for locking you in your room in the house in Columbia so many times. I'm glad that you figured it out and switched the locks around.

RANDOM MUSIC MONDAY: This song will always remind of me my brother because every time we went to Pizza Hut, he would play this on the jukebox. :)

Welcome to Atlanta

So much to fit in just one post!

I may just break it into two.

Put your reading shoes on!

First things first, Monday night was our interview with the ABI (Alabama Bureau of Investigations) agent for the State Troopers!

It was a BREEZE.

He sat in the chair and told us about the Academy and answered all the questions we had.

He also said that Ben has a "squeaky clean" background and is on track to start the Academy in June!

I have NEVER been more proud of my husband as I was that night. After the ABI Agent left, I practically jumped into Ben's arms and cried like a baby. I am just so proud that he is seen by someone else besides me to be an outstanding man!

Sad day though, because he told us that we wouldn't find out if the Troopers are moving us until only a few weeks before he FINISHES the Academy, not before he goes. So, the waiting game continues.

After the interview, we hopped in the car and headed to Atlanta for our mini-vacay!

As we pulled into Atlanta, my mother called to tell me a friend of mine from some time ago was killed in a car wreck with her 15-month old son. A few tears spilled out for her husband. More on that in another blog post.

We checked into the Loews late Monday night and had a wonderful evening, minus the neighbors that came in the room next to us banging around at 2:30am.

The next morning, we woke up to no hot water in the room and had to switch rooms to take showers. No biggie.

Then we headed to Johnny Rockets for lunch!

YUM!

I love the nostalgia of Johnny Rockets. It just makes me feel like I've stepped back in time.

After a yummy lunch and Ben was armed with a milkshake, we headed to the Georgia Aquarium! I've already been here once, so I won't bore you with pictures of fish.

But it was so fun and I am always reminded of how big our God is while looking at these HUGE and tiny fish. Not a single one the same.

And then the chick that works at the Aquarium asked if I knew what I was taking a picture of as I snapped away at the catfish.

I'm from Alabama. I know what a catfish is.

After we finished up at the Aquarium, we took a quick cookie break in the park.

Then we changed clothes, figured out we'd left Ben's tennis shoes, my motorcycle boots, and Ben's Northface in the hotel, called the hotel and they said they had not found them (they since have), and headed to the LAKERS v. HAWKS GAME!!!!!!

The Lakers are Ben's all time favorite team and Kobe Bryant is his all time favorite player. I rule as a wife and bought him these tickets for Christmas!

We were in the presence of greatness last night as we breathed the same air as these champions. Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum. Pau Gasol. Ron Artest. Phil Jackson.

JULIUS FREAKING ERVING was sitting courtside.

A dream come true. My husband was on cloud nine.

Gasol and Bynum both double-doubled.

Kobe Bryant broke Moses Malone's record and is now listed as 6th on the all time scoring chart! We got to watch that!

On top of that, the Lakers WON!!!!! It was a great game and we were exhausted afterwards.

Then, we yelled at Wells Farchovia on the phone for about 2 hours because they told us we didn't have any money in our account when we did and we were stuck in downtown Atlanta with our car in a parking garage.

Thankfully, the Lord sent us an angel who gave us $10 to get out of the parking garage.

We finally got home last night around 1:00. The worst/best mini-vacay of my life!

RANDOM TRIVIA FACT: Apparently, there are no CVS/Walgreens type quick stores in downtown Atlanta.

All Things New

Lord, grant me patience.

I'm not going to go into stinky details, but I will tell you that it has not been a fun week in the Parrish household.

Ben and I have been at each other's throats all week. We've been putting a lot of pressure on each other and the bottle exploded.

On top of work, home, Charlotte, time, and everything else that strains us, we forgot about marriage.

We both have so much to work on.

I tend to blame Ben for my problems, when it's not him at all. Ben has to have patience with my while I sort this out.

Ben has some stuff he has to work on, too, none of which are easy obstacles to overcome. I need patience to wait for him and support him while he tries.

Lord, heal my heart.

A lot of really awful things were said to each other on both accounts.

Actions were taken that need to be forgiven.

Somehow, we became people that we aren't, and it's created a rift between us that feels like a giant canyon a million miles wide.

It's amazing to sit right next to my husband and yet feel so distant.

Our hearts need to heal and forgive each other for the mistreatment we both caused for each other.

Lord, thank your for your constant commitment and our many blessings. Remind me daily of these things, especially when I am feeling less than confident.

Yesterday, I felt like a rock rolling down a hill.

I started out fine.

Then, I got that gentle push downwards.

So, I started rolling.

The farther I got, the faster I went.

Then, I would go SO fast, that I couldn't keep up with myself, so I started flying.

I literally made myself sick from the worry.

But, I am so blessed.

I am blessed to live in a home, have food to eat, and a car to drive.

I am blessed that I can pick up the phone and call my mom when I need her.

I am blessed that I have a husband who loves me despite my faults and shortcomings.

I am blessed to have a God who created me to be me.

Lord, thank you that you make all things new.

Today is a new day.

I will choose to be positive and forgiving.

I will choose to love my husband the way I am commanded to.

I will choose to express myself rationally and like an adult.

I will choose to be the best ME I can be.

Praise the Lord for brand new days.

RANDOM TRIVIA FACT: I heard on the news that a 400=pound lady somewhere stabbed her roommate in the middle of the night for eating her Girl Scout Thin Mints. She really loves her some Thin Mints.