I think I will just get fat

Monday started my third week of being fit and running 2 miles a day with ab workout and extra leg work (lunges and squats). I don't think that I have ever been so motivated to run. It might be that I have two faithful running buddies. After a nice weekend I started Monday like any other, a little bitter, that just happens on Monday, right? Then out of no where my knee started to feel quite funny. Now I am flat on my back icing my knee. I have been limping around for a few days and my knee is kinda elephant-looking. I haven't wanted to stop running because if I stop I am afraid I won't be able to start again, but maybe this injury is a sign that I need to stop all exercise and become FAT! I guess I will see tomorrow.

Numbers on the clock

On September 11th 2001, the lives of many Americans changed. I am not sure that my life necessarily changed that day, other than the fact that I became aware of the fact that America wasn't the big invincible country that I had always assumed. But as I have grown and have learned more and more about the terrorist attack it has had a bigger impact on my life. The "image" that I chose is one that I see quite frequently, a clock that reads 9:11. It is strange how I always seem to glance at a clock only to see 9:11. The numbers, when on a digital clock, seem to beam brighter and say remember. My mind then floods with the images that I saw on the news that terrible day. The faces full of fear and confusion, the billowing clouds of smoke, and the broken towers. When I read 9:11 on the clock, I always seem to stop for a minute as I remember the shock and the sadness that I felt as though I am back in time watching the news reply those shocking scenes over and over in my head. I know that as a child, I wasn't able to fully grasp what was happening other than the fact that people were dying and it was sad. But the memories of what I saw that day on the news and the numbers 911 mean so much more to me and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Rent a Tattoo?

This is actually more like what really happens at a four hour review session...
(We made tattoos for each other and then needed a sign for marketing, so we used our textbook. And yes we spelled tattoo wrong, I am not sure why, but we did).



Four straight hours is a long time for a bunch of college students to sit and try to listen to a teacher's assistant jog the memories of the students in an American Heritage class. Lucky for me, I have a very entertaining roommate who came with me. We were also very lucky to have a roll of tape on the table with us. We took advantage of that and started to make funny little tattoos for each other. (We were staying occupied and quiet so that was good.) Chelsea's tattoo was a heart with "Karee" written inside. (I was going after those ones that say "I love mom" that you see all those "tough guys" on their log of an arm.)



After the tattoo business slowed down, we broke out the food and found more fun.



Chelsea thought the cookies looked like a Mexican wearing a sombrero so of course we had to make him a face. I am sure the other people at out table thought that we were strange or just sleep deprived.



As the semester is coming to an end, I have seen an increase in the amount of sleepy student. I am ready to be done with school for the summer, but not sure I am ready to leave all my new friends.

Sticky notes of love

I am just amazed by the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father. He knew I was having a hard time and He knew what I needed to get through.



Whoever these cream colored sticky note people were, are such kind and caring people who I am glad to know. They not only decorated my door with sticky notes of encouragement and love but they also left me some cookies that are delicious!

I am not sure exactly why they wrote some of the things that they did, but all of them put a smile on my face and the warm fuzzy feeling of being loved.



I am not sure who put the post-its on my door and I am sure they will never know how much the little words of encouragement meant to me, but it sure brightened my gloomy mood.











I wish I would have gotten a picture of the door when I opened it, because it looked pretty amazing. But I didn't want any of them to blow away in the wind so I hurriedly grabbed them all and brought a huge stack inside. I taped all the post-its inside my cabinet door (they will later be taped into my journal) to remind me how lucky and loved I am here! This is certainly what I needed to bounce back from a sad homesickness! I wish I could find out who it was that did this for me because I would like to give them each a big bear hug and a cookie!

Camping for a contract

Call us crazy, but we decided that we wanted to be the first to get a contract... so the obvious solution was to camp out three days before the contracts opened.



I am not sure who's idea it was to try to get into a competitive housing contract, but because we are we decided that we should camp out. "So wait, you are going to be homeless so that you can get an apartment?" Is a question that I have been asked when a friend found out about our plan. Basically.



I haven't even seen the inside of the apartments, but the outside looks pretty ghetto. I guess that is what I should expect for a college apartment that is so close to campus right? I am sure it will be great. But as for right now I am trying to get my self prepared for tonight when it is my night to sleep over... it is supposed to snow!

My Mommy Valentine

My wonderful daughter-
it's Valentine's Day
and these are my wishes for you...
I'm wishing that in the midst
of your busy life,
you can take a moment to relax
and enjoy your family and friends
who think so much of you.
I'm wishing you time
to look back on days passed
and realize what a difference
you make in so many lives.
And, I'm wishing you the excitement
of looking ahead
to all the good things
that are waiting for you
in the future.
Because your happiness
means so much to me,
I'm also hoping that you'll realize
what a gift you are
to everyone who is lucky enough
to have you in their lives --
and that includes me.
- P. Conrad

I love you Mom!

Missing Mommy

I feel as the distance between my mom and I has grown, we have grown closer together. I call her almost everyday. Most of the time, we just casually talk as I walk home or as she is making dinner. Sometimes I have to call her to get recipes because she is a really good cook. Other times I call her to vent when things aren't quite going my way. But really it is having there to talk to that makes the biggest difference. I am not sure she knows how much I enjoy our, sometimes short, phone conversations. And I think that I may take them for granted sometimes, but on days like today when I call her four or five times and every time I hang up knowing that I have the best mom in the world. And I would be lucky if I could be half the woman, wife, and mother that she is.