This weekend I am going to Cedar Point with the VT Family!

By "VT Family" I mean:

Mike - Dad-in-law
Brenda - Mom-in-law

Josh - Bro-in-law

Brooke - Sister-in-law
Alyssa and Kirsten - Nieces

Tim - Bro-in-law

Meghan - Bro-in-law's gf

Nick - Bro-in-law
Jenna - Bro-in-law's gf

Kristen - Sis-in-law

Kyle -Sis-in-law's should-be-fiance

So yeah. Andrew's extremely excited to be riding all of the amazing rollercoasters. And I am too, I suppose...it's just that I haven't had a weekend for two weeks now and I dearly love my weekends. The quietness, the still moments, the second cup of coffee, the snuggling on the couch...

"You always need margin", my mom says. The blank spaces between things. I love margin.

I should not complain, though. Life is good. I spend too much time complaining, actually...I'm tired, I'm lonely, I don't like doing homework, I don't have enough time to go grocery shopping...

I'm actually sick of hearing my brain complain. I'm working on training myself to be thankful.

For my working legs. For dry and warm clothing. For my husband. For the opportunity to be educated. For the money to go grocery shopping!

I will train this brain to be happy! "We're gonna traaaiiin you.

Speaking of thankfulness, I found another thing for which to be thankful...concerning my husband. Not that there aren't a gazillion things to be thankful about concerning him.... :D
Here it is:

In general, "things" pop into my mind constantly. Funny pictures, ambitious ideas, strange commentaries, eye-opening realizations...and when I'm with Andrew I am completely free to open my mouth and spew said "things". He might respond with a laugh or a nod or a word of advice...or maybe nothing at all. But he listens. And he doesn't think I'm stupid or unimportant. He HEARS me.

You might laugh, but I really want to be heard. You'd be amazed at the many times when people just DON'T hear me! My friend Bethany says that I have one of those voices that just blend into the background. Bethany loves me so I don't feel insulted by this...just informed. It helps me realize that some people might just honestly not hear me. And it helps prepare me for those terrible moments when I start speaking and then someone else talks right over me. Oy vey.

But anyway...I appreciate Andrew because he truly listens to me and values what I say to him. That's...wow. It's just so cool to have someone like that in your life. My mom is like that too.

People probably think I'm odd because I always bring up my mom at school. I realized that this year. "My mom always says that...", or "My mom used to...", or "My mom thinks that..."

I think that's a compliment to her...it means that I value her opinion and that her actions have made a lasting impression on me.

See? I'm not that messed up. Let this be an encouragement to all first-born PKs...there is hope. Just MOVE OUT. And you will be better friends with your family. :P

(Kidding!...sortof.)

Word of the last-couple-weeks:
Snarky.

I really really really love that word. Snarky.

That's all. I'm going to play puzzle games online until Andrew gets home.

Spring Break!

Two years ago, a certain girl couldn't wait for spring break to be over, so she could get back to school.

That certain girl no longer exists...an older, wiser one is in her stead...and good heavens, if only Spring Break could last forever!

Andrew took this past week off, so we could have a mid-semester vacation. We went to South Haven for a couple days and stayed a really cute bed and breakfast, called 'Martha's Vineyard'. South Haven is quiet this time of year, as is Saugatuck, but we enjoyed the peace and quiet very much!
The week went slowly, thank the Lord, and it was so refreshing to do absolutely nothing for a while. Of course, we visited my family a couple times (we went to see 'Blind Side' on Friday-- excellent movie!!!) and went on walks, and watched a few movies.
Last night, Andrew and I MADE ourselves go bowling with a couple of our friends...we both felt too lazy to go out, but we were so glad we did! Andrew, it turns out, is a decent bowler...and I, it turns out, am not. ;)

Now, tomorrow's Monday. I have a project to finish before Tuesday, two journals to write before Thursday, a musical to practice for before the performances this weekend, a funeral to attend, a form to fill out for student teaching, a presentation to put togethere, excuses to find for my trumpet teacher...etc.
It's the last half of the semester, and it's gonna fly!

I do have a couple fun ideas for my trumpet recital next fall. I think the theme will be 'A Few of My Favorite Things'. :)

Life is good, whether busy or not...and God is always faithful.

Love and liquid soap (in Leah style),
~Briana