This is my Grams. She is hilarious, she is a complete goofball. She is one of the reasons I love to laugh. She made a house on a farm a home as a young girl, raising 8 kids. 6 of those kids were born by the time she was around my age, 25!! My Mom is 4 out of 8. I am 16 out of 35 grandkids. 10 great grandkids and growing, I mean not even half of the 35 are married. Although I get many a hint every time I go, in a loving way of course!

We used to spend about a week every summer and Christmas visiting the farm. We spent hours outside playing in the horse trough pool, climbing up on the hen house, up in the corn wagon, exploring the barn in the hay, searching and searching to find the prize kitten that always got away. We did endless fashion shows and painful to watch plays (yikes). Grandma made a stocking for every grandkid and puts thought behind every Christmas present. Thats a lot of presents, folks! She also is a fantastic cook, especially with the yummy delish sweets like pink frosted sugar cookies! YUM!

So, I totally stole this from Nat, so look at her more elegant posting after this, or do it right now! Grandma had a "routine" surgery a week ago and the worst of what could have happened happened. Very thankful for the nurses who took care of her and intervened at a very crucial point. Of course thankful for the surgeons and docs, don't get me wrong here. They do what we can't, but we do a lot that they don't.

Please say a prayer for Grandma and my Grandpa too! Instead of 6 weeks of recovery, she will have a longer road. And she is a go getter, it will be hard for the both of them. Times like this I wish I lived up there.

Can't wait to see them this summer at their 60th wedding anniversary bash!!

My BFFFFF, Sarah, visited on Spring Break this weekend!!! FUN! She stayed with me for 4 nights, 2 of which I was working and hardly saw her. Tuesday we went to Lake Eola and had a little lunch with many birds wandering around. I had my camera, but didn't take any pics. Afterwards we made the trek to the piercing/tattoo parlour. Yes, look closely, I have added a new jewelry and I love it!! I researched on my floor for the past 4 weeks, and saw several nurses who had various piercings, all of which had no comment from managment. So I did it! That night we had a lovely dinner with Ande, Kelly, Owen, and Scout!

Highlights: smoking cigars on the back porch, downtown Publix adventure (downtown adventure in itself!), hand holding during the piercing, the great music swap (thanks!! and you won't be disappointed), and conversations reminding me my worries and problems are legit and matter as do I. Thanks BFF!! We had our 17 or 18 year BFF anniversary this year too, didn't we? Or maybe its 16? I can't remember, I just try and gauge it off our sisters age minus a year or so. Long time!

Best Week Ever

My week in review in pictures. I know, thats pretty amazing!

Monday started with a Disney day with these girlies: Lauren, Catherine, and Anne Marie (from Covenant, on spring break with Catherine). I have to say it was one of the funner Disney trips I have had in awhile because it was with new people. I love going to Disney with different people! If you ever want to go, I am so game and will drop most anything to do it.

Everyone who knows me knows of my deep love for Michael Buble. I have been a fan for a little over 6 years, yes long before he was mainstream and cool. I went to my first concert 2 years ago and went this week, his opening show actually! I am so excited for July when we go again and have FLOOR seats!! My sisters and I had a great time and we came away with our awesome shirts.

Please, he is so great!

The day after Natalie and I braved Disney in the rain. Its not so bad when you have a good poncho. I started the day with a mildewy CHILDREN's poncho and was utterly soaked waist down. I didn't know it was a child's size until the rain was coming down and I put it on. Epic Fail! Too bad we have no pics, we both were so irked at the rain. But we experienced the Toy Story ride in Hollywood Studios and the meandered around Magic Kingdom for a few hours. Had some impulse buys like a cute Mickey hoodie because we both were freezing. I came away with a new poncho and a new mug, plus some fudge. Mmmm!

Saturday I completed my 4th River Run and came in at 1:35, number 6135. Thats 10 minutes faster than last year, 10 minutes slower than my first year. It was so much fun! I know, running fun? Races are really fun, especially when you have people to run with. I ran with these girls for most of it. My brother ran the one mile, or rather he sprinted the 1/2 mile and then walked the 2nd half crying the whole way. Should've listened to the big sis who ran an extra mile for him.

We look so rough, but thats 9.3 miles on our faces.

Best week in a long time. Lots of things to do and enjoy!

Dear Laundry,

Another week has gone by, and you show up again. Why is that? I am only one person, shouldn't it take longer for you to accumulate? No. You are evil. You are a product of the fall. I believe hell is an endless load of laundry to sort, wash, and fold.

I wish you had a Facebook and a dislike button. I would press it every time.

Not so affectionately,

Allison

This past weekend I was the camp nurse for a midwinter conference for jr. high students from various churches in the area. It was great! There were about 200 kids, plus counselors and staff. I was a little scared going in, but it was so cold that kids were not crazy. I had jammed fingers, sprained knee, bruised shoulder, a fever, and a kid I thought possibly cracked a rib or was just severely bruised. Nothing big like broken bones or anything like that, praise the Lord! I was constantly praying the entire time. I loved being there! I would totally do it again. They kind of asked me to do the 5 day summer camp, but we'll see what happens. I don't know if I would like doing it for that long with that many people.

The place we stayed was awesome. I had my own room, own queen sized bed. Nice! I hung out all week with the RUF minister and his wife from J-ville. They are awesome. I called up my little sister and told her she had to start going to RUF again.

A great weekend!! Not so great: I owe the government money for taxes. WHAT? That has never happened. I didn't have to pay last year. Ridic. I was really looking forward to getting a check and putting it to the last of my loan, because then they would be finished!!! And only to pay my parents back, then I could call up Dave Ramsey and scream, "I'M DEBT FREE!!!" Well, all too soon and it will be finished. Hoorah!

Here is the picture that characterizes my youthful years:

Melissa up front and center, me in the background, but Natalie popping in and making faces and being a goofball.

Christmas Day 2000

We bought a camera for our computer about 10ish years ago and thought it was the coolest thing ever. This was before the rise of digital cameras. Here we are gathered around the computer for a family picture, before we were complete at 7 people. Thats how we roll.

Well, I was originally going to post old and new pics, but couldn't find many old pics. This is me and Sarah in high school trying to be cute with our winter caps! We were nerds then, I think we are growing out of that, at least Sarah is! Hurrah for old friends!

Kristi the Magnanimous

This is Kristi:

She is one of my bestest friends. She is a former roommate and maybe soon to be roommate again! I love this girl! Here is why:

She is gorgeous!

She doesn't mind when I'm a silly goofball and laughs at me as if I am entertaining when in fact more often I am not.

She makes a pretty cool looking hologram.

She watches the Olympics with me, even cross country skiing and biathalon. If you can watch those with me, you are golden.

Kristi loves Jesus and has helped me to see His work in different areas of life. She is an encouragement to me in the daily struggles. When we met almost 4 years ago, I didn't think we clicked at all. Circumstances put us together as roommates for one year and I am so thankful for that! She is a beautiful person inside and out. Love you, friend! Thanks for being there and not leaving me yet!