So Much Life, So Little Time

After so many weeks of quiet from my end of the internet, I finally have a moment to write (and not for a class). Yes, I chose to do it here.

The beginning of school came too early for me this year, honestly. I was working every night at the MN State Fair, and the day after class started Mr. Wonderful and I had to move. We both started the semester really strong... behind in every class. We are actually caught up by now, but other areas of life have suffered. For instance, most of our belongings are still in boxes (especially kitchen things), and I haven't cooked a single meal in over two weeks (you're killing me, smalls!). The area of life that has suffered the most, though, is my time with my dear husband.

I know, wa, wa, wa, cry me a river, right? Well, not for me. I need that time; I crave it! My love language is quality time, and without it, there is little thought or feeling of love received from my end. I feel so alone. If life had a pause button, I would certainly be pushing it the next time my spouse and I are home together.

So, as I look at what comes up on the horizon, all I see are piles of homework and work shifts that begin after (or during) dinner and drag on until midnight. Maybe someday we'll have the chance to sit at home together and enjoy our new place, unpack boxes, and feel relaxed and at home. Not this week, though.

Okay, so there's my outlet for complaining. I'm having a hard time seeing the upside to life right now. Pray for me?

On the other hand, Mr. Wonderful and I are both gainfully employed, and I am back in school (even if it might be the death of me). Also, our new apartment is more affordable, and somehow we have more space! It's quite wonderful. I'm excited to make it home.

Also, it's 9/11 today, so I don't plan to only focus on myself. I never write too much about this day, because honestly, it's overdone. I don't feel that I was close enough to the incident to really make any calls on it. I have no gushing poem, no emotional essay, no exhaustive account of "where I was that day." Just this:

I am so grateful to those who were willing to risk their lives to save others. I am thankful to live in a nation that can be shaken to its core and still rise from the ashes fighting. I am proud to live in a country blessed by people who continue to try, even when it seems everything has been taken away from them; and for people who help heal and protect those who have lost everything. Thank you to our soldiers, the firefighters, cops, and police enforcement officers who train hard and risk their lives on a daily basis, and who are willing to risk their lives in a tragedy like the one that took place eleven years ago. You are uncommon people to come by. May God bless you and your families, and also those who were close to the tragedy that day.

Note to self: School will make me a better, more prepared writer for life's future endeavors. Be thankful for life's opportunities, others are frequently robbed of them.

Note to readers: Thanks for reading. Those tiny little spikes on my reader stats poll keep me going some days. It's nice to see that somehow, this might all be worth it someday.

Yesterday

These are photos from the day of my Sunny Day post. As I said, it was a sunny day and so my Prince Charming and I went on a walk to Como Park.

It's so beautiful! I'm taking my sister there in two weeks for some of her senior photos. I promise to post some more pictures then.

I just love it!

Yesterday was an eventful day in this house. I had a job interview in the morning for the school job I applied for, and I will hopefully know by tomorrow if I have the job or not. Keep praying! I am a little worried that I'm not cut out for the job, it really is a lot of work, but if I get the job I know that's God saying I can do it. I know it will be fine. 

After that, I worked on one of my books for awhile, then my husband came home and we went grocery shopping. Why is shopping so exhausting? We were both so weary when we got home. But, I still baked cookies! And they're so good. My husband tells me that I make the best chocolate chip cookies, not that he's biased or anything. But I have to say... I wouldn't argue with him. I even had to remind my father-in-law to watch his cookie intake, because his wife calls him a chubby-hubby and he's been working on his weight. 

I also made a delicious meal. Chicken and baked potatoes, with a cheddar cheese sauce. I'll tell you my secret for delicious chicken, which I simply cooked on the stove-top in a frying pan filled with a little water (to keep the chicken from burning to the bottom of the pan) for about 30-45 mins. Here it is: ginger, sage, and a very little bit of parsley. Add a dash of salt before you take it off the heat and it's perfect! The only thing dinner was lacking was a vegetable, which I had planned to make but totally forgot about until we were at the table. But the cookies make up for that, right? Well, we thought so.

Tonight is simply chilli and corn bread, which is one of our favorites around here. Mostly because of the corn bread. Whoever came up with the concept is surely at rest in Heaven.

Blog #6, done! Enjoy this beautiful day.