Why Don’t I Ever Come Across Stuff Like This?

I was in the middle of cleaning the kitchen this morning when I received a text from Mark.  He’s working down in Medford for a couple of days, and apparently he saw this on the side of the road.I love it…..made my morning.

A Letter

Dear Mother Nature,

I get up just about every morning and I go walking with some friends.  I’m trying to be a little healthier and all that good stuff.  In case you weren’t aware, we go walking early in the morning.  That in and of itself is hard enough for someone like me who absolutely loves to be asleep at 6:00am.  So, here’s the thing…..when I come home from walking looking like this, it’s pretty hard for me to be motivated to drag my poor tired body out of bed.I was soaked….and yup, I mean soaked through every layer of clothing I was wearing.  That was a bit unexpected considering it’s the end of May.  Just saying.  If you could do a girl a favor and let up on the rain, I would be ever so grateful.

-Katie

Summoned

Well, it’s been a roller coaster of a couple of days.  A few weeks ago I received one of the most dreaded pieces of mail a person can get.  Jury summons.  I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal.  Every other time I’ve received my jury summons, I’ve called the night before and I didn’t have to go.  So, imagine my surprise when I called Monday night and I found out I had to report the the county courthouse at 8:30 yesterday morning.  Well…ok, I guess I was due and besides….how long could it really take?

After a really long day of jury selections, I was selected to be on a jury.  For a case that was expected to last for two weeks.  The defendant had over 30 charges against him, and it looked like it was going to be a very mentally and emotionally draining case.  There was a huge part of me that wished that I didn’t have to do it.  I admit, I didn’t have the best attitude about the situation.  I was going to have to dive head first into a world that was extremely unfamiliar to me. 

Today,  after sitting in the jury deliberation room for 3 hours, the judge finally called us into the courtroom.  He spoke to us for a few minutes and then announced that he was declaring a mistrial.  One of the jurors had shared too many of the details about the case with someone and the judge found out about it.  He thanked the rest of us and then excused us all to go home.  And all of a sudden, before we could really process what had happened, it was over.

As we were leaving the courtroom, we had to walk by all the victims that were there to testify against the defendant.  It was at that moment that I realized that I was really sad to be leaving.  Now that I don’t have to do it anymore, I really wish we had the opportunity to finish the trial….to give everyone involved a chance to share their side of the story and to be done with this process. 

It’s funny how, in a matter of moments, you can go from not really wanting to do something to wishing and wanting to see it through to the end….you know?

Bridgeport

Saturday was actually sunny and beautiful, which meant it was the perfect day to go out with two great friends.  The three of us worked together in Young Womens for years.  I like to think that we made for the coolest presidency ever.  Sadly, since we now all live in three different towns, it’s harder to get together to catch up.  So we headed out to the Bridgeport shopping center for a day of fun.  We ate lunch at an extremely tasty bakery.  I may have come home with a dozen of the most delicious cookies. Mark ended up taking the extras to the boys in his class at church yesterday. In a way, it was sad to see them go. But, it really was for the best. I didn’t need to eat them all myself anyways.
We also did some shopping.  Oh how I wish we had shopping like that down here.  I could wander stores for hours.  There’s just something so fun about looking at every single thing at the Container Store.  We also saw Letters To Juliet.  It was a cute, chick flick.  I loved that there were snarky bits of humor thrown in.  Win-win.

I had the best time catching up with Laura and Lennae.  Even though we don’t see each other very often, they are the kind of friends where you can just pick up right where you left off when you get together.  I love that.  Maybe it won’t take us six months to plan our next get together!

Not Really A Wordless Wednesday

This is proof of how terrified I am of roller coasters.  And any ride that goes fast.  And rides that have big freefalling drops.  Well, you get the idea.  It’s not the clearest picture…but it works.

Yes, I am screaming.  Yes, my eyes are totally closed.  And yes, I thought I was going to die.

Courage

Life is a funny thing.  I know and believe that things happen for a reason and that things will work out in the end.  But on occasion, when it seems like we are standing back at square one wondering which direction to go, that statement is easier said than done. 

So we found out last night that Mark didn’t get that job he was interviewing for.   This news was really disappointing for both of us.  We tried to stay realistic throughout the entire process.(which started last August)  But as we reached the end of the interview process, it was hard to not get excited about the opportunity.  We wanted it.  We hoped for it.  Now here we are.  Back at square one.

I came across this quote today and it has definitely stuck with me.

Courage isn't always a roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
-Mary Ann Radmacher

Life doesn’t always work out the way we think they should, and that's ok.  So tomorrow…..and the next day and the next day….we’re going to get out there and try again.  We’ll make a new plan and look for new opportunities.  All the while knowing that things will work out and be great.  Because it always does. 

The Magic Kingdom

We’re home.  After such a jam packed weekend, I feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.  Unfortunately that’s not going to happen.  Bummer. 

This was the first time Mark and I have been to Disneyland together.  Needless to say, we were a tad bit excited.  To make things even better, Alicia found us all a killer deal on 3 day passes to both Disneyland and California Adventures!  So, off we went.  We were ready to have the time of our lives.

We rode every open ride at Disneyland.  And yes, by we I mean I rode most of them and everyone else rode the ones I wouldn’t dare go on.  I know, I’m a chicken.  Oh well.  I don’t think I’m missing out on anything by not riding Space Mountain! 

 

Once we had seen all of Disneyland, it was time to head over to California Adventures for some more rides and fun. 

 

Mark and Steven were the two crazy ones who decided to take on California Screamin’….that big daddy roller coaster in the background.  It was huge.  And fast.  And had one part where you go upside down.  They. Are. Crazy.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Disneyland if you didn’t take pictures of practically every Disney character you come across.

 

We were lucky enough to stay with my grandparents while we were there.  They spoiled us rotten.  My Granny got up every morning and made us all french toast.  Yumm….we had to start our day off right! We also had a fun family dinner.  My Aunt Gayle brought the most delicious homemade refried beans, and I can’t wait to make them again.  I can’t stop thinking about them.

We were so sad when the time had finally come to leave the Magic Kingdom.  I’m so glad that we made the impulsive decision to go.  Especially since we went with them.  They are so darn cool.

 

It’s true what they say….it is the happiest place on earth.  And I totally can’t wait to go back.