My Sister(-in-law)

It's so great when a new family member is also a friend.

My husband James has three younger sisters, Leah is the oldest of the three. Before we got married, Leah and I lived together with two other girls. LBH, we had some tough times, me and Leah. With the rest of their family out of the state, I wasn't very understanding about how James' getting married might have been upsetting to Leah. Really, the thing that solidified our friendship was her and Jeremiah's temporary break-up (they just celebrated their 2 month wedding anniversary) and the hours we spent discussing how bad of a decision he had made. I guess I'm good at commiserating.

Last night I had to say good-bye to Leah and Jeremiah. They left today for home (California) and we probably won't see them for three years since we're moving to Scotland. Tears flowed from places I didn't know I had. You know that term, "cried myself to sleep"? Did it. It's not so much the actual act of saying good-bye that gets me, but after the fact, when I'm left with only my thoughts and my husbands shoulder. This is the first good-bye in the string of farewells we'll have to make before leaving for Scotland, and I think it might have been the toughest.

Here's a picture I saw this weekend that I love. It's from Leah's Bachelorette party in October. Fun times. Leah's in the turquoise

I miss my friend Leah.

Christmas Weekend in Review

Friday: After work, went home and made some Puppy Chow (delicious chocolate, pb, crispix, and powdered sugar desert thing). Left at 4:30 to babysit for my boss' 11 year old son, 5 year old daughter, and 4 year old twin boys. Had a ton of laughs and didn't stop moving for 5 hours. The daughters funniest comment came when I put chapstick on and she said to me, "I know why you wear chapstick...because you're married." My boss and his wife returned from finishing up Christmas shopping and, surprise surprise, bought me a gift! Not just any gift, OMG, a ridiculously expensive gift. Seriously, I was, and still am, in shock. This was on top my Christmas bonus and being paid for babysitting. Such generosity, how amazing. Arrived at home to find my fabulous husband working hard to straighten the house: just because we're used to living in a construction war zone, doesn't mean the in-laws have to be.

Saturday: As you may have seen from a previous post, Saturday was consumed by cleaning. We slept in a little and then got tons of stuff done. It was great. James and I have discovered that when we join forces, our efforts are not just doubled, but multiplied. My mom stopped by to check out our new bathroom...Whoo Hoo! When we moved into our house we had one bathroom. Now, instead of a closet downstairs, we have a half bathroom! It's the best thing ever. It wouldn't have been possible without the help of my dad. He did all the plumbing and tons of other stuff to make our dream a reality. Now I regularly yell, for no one in particular to hear, "I'm going to the bathroom...DOWNSTAIRS!" After cleaning, I cooked dinner: Pork Chops, each with a slice of green pepper, onion, pineapple and a tablespoon each of butter and terriaki. Served with spicy rice and green beans. It was quite good if I dont's say so myself. Some of the in-laws (James' parents and his two younger sisters) arrived around 7:30. We ate dinner. Hung out with the in-laws, went to bed.

Sunday: Went to Sunday School and Worship service at Stony Point Church. Had lunch at Jason's Deli with a bunch of people. Had the California Club, it was good. Went home, got ready for Franklin Street Community. Constable preached similar sermon to the one he had preached earlier that morning at SPC, it was a good one. Drank a little coffee after FSC, left for my parents house for the Christmas Eve family time. Had yummy lasagna, got some great gifts, gave some great gifts, had a great time overall.

Monday: Had the best wake-up call ever: my sister-in-law and her husband were on their way to my house! They arrived at 10:30. Had Christmas morning time with the in-law's. Made breakfast for everyone with James. Hung out until it was time to go to my parent's for the BIG family Christmas, tons o' cousins. Tried to go to sleep at midnight. Lay awake in bed for 2 hours. Took some meds to help me sleep, but they didn't work. Got really anxious about all the stuff that has to be done before we leave for Belgium. Got a couple hours of sleep before getting up to go to work...blah.

A Cleaning Whirlwind

Today James and I are cleaning like mad people. For one thing, we've lived in a construction zone (and still do) for the past year, or what seems like a decade. And when you know everything will again get covered with drywall dust, paint chips, or sawdust, your motivation to do a thorough cleaning is lost. So since we're going out of the country for a month in January and in-law's are coming into town today, we figured it was a good time to git er' done (isn't that the most hick expression you've ever heard, it sometimes comes into my head but I refuse to say it out loud; I feel writing it is a little more acceptable, just this once).

Alright, that was enough of a break, I must get back to work...right after I sit here for a few more moments.

No more freedom of speech for me!

Last week, my friend Justin let me know that he saw a reference to my blog in Brick magazine in their blog watch section (good lookin' out Justin!). First let me just say how surprised and flattered I was. Maybe it's not such a big deal, but it was pretty exciting to me.

After I got over the coolness of it, and I read the excerpt that was published, I began to get a little nervous. The portion of my post that was published was about a patient at the dental office where I work. I realized that I could get in some serious trouble if the wrong people read my blog. What with the whole HIPPA law stuff, I could potentially be looking at a law suite. Crap.

So I've just finished scanning previous posts I've written and did a little editing.

But thanks Brick people, for thinking my ramblings are worth recommending!

Weekend Edition

It's already Wednesday???

Friday: Worked until 12:30. Had to go to Short Pump (ugghhh) to pick up some Christmas presents that were being engraved from Penelope. Got a few grocery items/pet products at Wal-Mart. Bought some coffee at Ukrops: Blanchard's brewed by a local. I highly recommend it. It's not available at all Ukrops, but if it's there, it will be located near the produce in bins, you bag it yourself. I have the Holiday Blend, delish. Did some domestic things around the house (actually, I don't really remember what I did, but I'm sure it was house stuff). Husband and I put a coat of primer on the soon to be bathroom, it's amazing we both fit in there at the same time with a ladder and paint. Went to a Christmas party for the Sunday school class we help teach. Played some fun games with them, but because they are 9th & 10th graders, the games are 10x funnier.

Saturday: More house renovation stuff. Mostly painted the exterior. Which included climbing through the access hole in the ceiling to get on the roof. And then lying on the roof and leaning over to paint the very top piece of molding on the front of the house. Amazing. A woman walked by and yelled, "Women can do anything men can do!" Also while outside painting, a man walked by and asked for bread and bologna for his four starving children. We said we didn't have bologna, but would be glad to give him turkey, ham, or roast beef. His children are picky, they only like bologna. So he left with a loaf of bread, no cold cuts. Went to my office Christmas party at 6. Had a white elephant gift exchange. I took a jar of 4 large bait frogs that was about 2 years old. My boss ended up with it. Left around 9:30 and made it to my friend's house for their Christmas cocktail party. Had a fabulous time chatting it up with some lovely ladies. Had some yummy food.

Sunday: Slept in, didn't make it to Sunday School. Went to church for the worship service. Had trouble staying awake. Went home and took a nap while James played football. Made some food for the FSC Christmas potluck. Had James pick me up for FSC because my keys were left in the car (left NOT locked, there is a difference). After FSC and potluck, went home and painted the first coat of paint on the soon to be bathroom walls, a nice green.

Pets Are Wonderful Additions to Life!

Kristin over at Double Vision has had a couple of great posts recently about her dog (soon to be dogS). She's got a fun blog, you should check it out sometime. Here is where you'll see some of the negative feedback she's received on a recent post about possibly the cutest dog on earth. In support of her love for her dog (and sympathy for the mean emails she received), I'd like to tell you a little about our animals: Owen and Naomi.

Owen first came into our family in January of 2005. She was one of a litter of 6 that was left at the Richmond SPCA. Who knows how many breeds she's got in her. People have said she looks like any of the following: lab, pit bull, doberman pinscher, german shepherd, hound...you name it, apparently, she looks like it. Here she is enjoying a brand new bone. She can chew on something forever. I just bought her a new bone today since the other one is down to almost nothing. The bone in the picture lasted for months.
We love her so much, she just has to go to Scotland with us. Now let me tell you, it is not an easy thing to take an animal into a country that doesn't have rabies. If you take an animal into the country, they have to be quarantined for 6 months: not gonna happen to my dog. So there's this long process an animal must go through to bypass the quarantine. She's been through the process: she has a microchip, she's been vaccinated, her blood has been tested in a lab in Kansas, she will have more vaccinations, she waited 6 months...she's ready to go!

Naomi: We got her from a friend in May of 2005. I was having a really tough time choosing between two kittens. I left the room for a minute and was praying for some sort of sign to help me decide (sometimes I have a terrible time making decisions). When I returned, Naomi had jumped into the basket I would be transporting the new kitten home in; that sold me, she made it known that she was the one. She is a feisty one. At first, Naomi and Owen fought so roughly, we were afraid for Naomi's safety. But now, they are best friends. They wrestle all the time like they are the same species. Owen would never hurt Naomi, you can tell in the way he plays with her. Here she is as a kitten, so cute and tiny!
No, James is not trying to squeeze her with his humongous hand. Now she's bigger and getting more lovable by the day. Here's a picture of Owen and Naomi when they had only been sisters for a short while:
Naomi has also been through the necessary process to be allowed into Scotland, but we're not sure if we're going to take her. She can be a very anxious cat. When I take her to the vet, she has to be sedated. One time they had to put a muzzle on her to give her a shot! She HATES the car. I think the flight over there might be the end of her sanity. We are torn. Breaking the best of friends up and leaving our precious Naomi, or doing what's best for her. So now we are searching for a caretaker for two years, or possibly...(insert tears here) and new owner. The problem is, I don't think she would get along with other cats. So it's hard finding someone who would like a cat and who doesn't already have a cat. Any ideas?
Two final pictures:

Hope you enjoy your pets as much as we love ours!

Some things about my husband.

1. His laugh is seriously the most amazing laugh I've ever known. It's one of the first things that attracted me to him. If I hear him laugh and I'm not in the room, I smile and am instantly comforted.

2. My feet get REALLY cold. Especially in the winter, and especially in our 100+ year old house. Every night he lets me warm my icicle feet on his warm feet as long as it takes for them to warm up. This is truly a sacrifice, you would agree if you felt my feet.

3. He doesn't really have a 'mad face'. If we're arguing, even when he's really frustrated, he never shows it on his face. Somehow, his face always looks calm and collected. I love this.

4. He works very, very hard. He also know's how to relax like a champ.

5. Almost every time I tell him I love him, he says, "I love you more." And if it's, "You're so cute" he says, "You're cuter." Not to always one-up me, but to truly show me how much he loves me.

6. He's so silly, and loves it when I'm silly.

7. Growing up with three younger sisters, he's seen his share of drama. So now, he trys to keep the drama to a minimum.

8. He loves his guy friends and encourages my friendships with my girls.

9. I'm 5'4'', and he's 6'4'', and it's perfect.

10. The only thing he's addicted to is Sports Radio. And maybe Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus.

11. He appreciates, and works toward, a clean house.

12. At this point in time, we are equally frightened of having children.

13. He loves our animals.

14. He forgives, and apologizes, quickly and easily.

15. He knows how to find good deals.

16. I can get emotional, he stabilizes me.

17. He truly enjoys hanging out with my family.

18. He puts up with me constantly commenting on his dental health.

19. He helps me be punctual.

20. He proposed as we were jumping out of an airplane. There's a video.

21. His first words to me in the mornings always make me feel so loved.

22. He loves Jesus. He knows how much Jesus loves him. James' love for me helps me see how much Jesus loves me.

My Weekend Review

I love my friend Valerie for many reasons. One reason is her love for and interest in her friends. She's made it known that she'd like to know what her friends have done during their weekends, so for her and anyone else who cares, I'm making this a weekly ritual.

Friday:
Worked until 1:00. Went home to play with dog Owen, eat lunch, and relax on the couch for an hour. Drove to Southside to Sherwin-Williams to get the help of James' friend Jesse in picking out MORE paint for our house, interior and exterior. Left with a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude for friends like Jesse. Got some gasoline. Drove home to see husband and spend some time with him before he left for his basketball game. (he plays in a church league). Did some laundry. Decided to make some brownies for Ross and Marks birthday party. Made a huge mess when getting brownie mix out of cabinet and a full glass bottle of balsamic vinegar fell, shattered, and splashed all over the place. Cleaned up mess. Left for previously referred to party at 8:45 (would have left earlier if husband had been there to keep me on task and motivate me to hurry like he so capably does). Had amazing time at party, enjoyed some beverages, didn't leave until 2:30, felt less like the old adult I'm becoming.

Saturday:
Woke up at 7:00am to Owen's barking. Had a killer headache. Drank lots of water, took some Ibuprofen and a B-Complex Vitamin and went back to sleep. Woke up at 9:00 to my phone ringing. My amazing dad calling to say he was on his way to help us do some more work on the bathroom we're adding in our house. 11:00 went to my friend Blare's house (BFF since 3rd grade) for her and her roommate's second annual Christmas Brunch. Had a very fun time, ate delicious food, enjoyed some great conversations with people I hadn't seen in a while. Felt really old after I had a 10 minute conversation with another 26 year old about electric vs. gas ovens. Came home, still exhausted. Used some Great Stuff to close some gaps in the foyer (where we tore out the plaster and will soon have new drywall). Took the blinds from the living room outside and used the hose and some soap to clean them (they'd been off the windows while we were renovating the room and had gotten dusty). Took them back inside while still wet since it was sub-freezing temps and they had already begun to freeze. Went to Lowe's with husband. Bought sink vanity and toilet for new bathroom, and a chandelier type light fixture for the foyer (originally $103, our price $20!). Went to Stony Point mall with husband to use a Gap gift card I've had since the summer, got a sweater and some jeans. Really wanted to eat at PF Changs, it smelled really good. Went home and ate leftovers, glad we didn't spend the money. Hung the blinds up. Did some more laundry. Went to sleep at 12.

Sunday:
Woke up at 9:00, left for church at 9:45. Went to Sunday school (we help teach the 9th & 10th grade class) and then the worship service. Came home in time for James to get ready to play football with his friends at 1:00. Started making some lunch (Mrs. Fernow's Delicious Brunswick Stew...yum). Found more splashes of balsamic vinegar that I missed earlier. While waiting for lunch started using more Great Stuff. While on ladder, heard phone ringing. Saw that James had called, called him back. He had dislocated his finger and needed to go to the hospital. Turned off stove, Mrs. Fernow's would have to wait. Picked up James and drove to Henrico Dr.'s Hospital. The finger looked awesomely gross. Got to the hospital at 3:00. Saw the x-ray. Oh man, the bone was totally out of place. Dr. lady said she could pull it back in place without anesthesia. James said he wanted anesthesia, I said that would be best. Got the finger fixed. Left the hospital at 5:15. Picked up some pain meds from CVS. Drove to church for the congregational meeting. Listened to people talk about church business. Got home and ate Mrs. Fernow's! Did some more laundry. Watched A&E (Flip This House and Intervention). Went to sleep at 12.

Wow, recapping the week makes me see how packed it was, and appreciate all that I was able to do! Thanks Val!

the crazies were coming out in droves

Yesterday I came home from work and could not stop laughing about how crazy of a day it was. I mean, seriously, all the crazies were coming to the dentist at my office! (Wasn't there a full moon recently?) I'll just list them for you:

1. First patient of the day: very nice lady, hates the dentist so was IV sedated for her dental work. Not crazy at all, accept for the time she bit my boss (the dentist) so hard on his finger that he had to pry her mouth open (see the aformentioned IV sedation) and he was bleeding. No worries of disease, the skin was torn, but not the latex glove.

2. Second patient.

3. Third patient: 20 year old male who thought he was too cool and too smart for the world. The best thing that came out of his mouth: "I'm pretty much apathetic about this whole situation"

4. Fourth patient: Basically friendly, vary particular. After his treatment had ended, he stated his satisfaction by loudly proclaiming, "That was so effing fast, I can't believe how effing fast that was!"

5. First patient after lunch: While patient was in the chair, she told the assistant that she kept bumping into her chest. And to emphasize how it was easy to do, she lifted up her shirt to show all of her stuff to the assistant. Assistant's response later "Those things were bigger than my head."

6. Second to last patient of the day: After fracturing her crown and remaining tooth off at the gumline, she insisted the tooth be cemented back in place. (if she were to chew on cool whip, chances are it would break off again.) When told what treatment she would need, she exclaimed loudly, "Hell no, I aint' doin' that, you can forget about it! (Repeat 2x)"

7. Last patient of the day: Needed cavities filled. Dentist gave her anesthesia to numb the tooth. While we waited for the tooth to get numb (nobody wants a big cavity drilled on if it's not numb) we watched some television in the operatory. The patient exhibited her impatience and lack of concern for her own pain by stating to the dentist, "Am I going to have to turn the t.v. off to get you to pay attention to me?"

8. A paitent seen by a hygienist, whom I've seen before myself: When doing a cancer screening on head and neck of patient, he stated to her, "There it is, do you feel it? That's where I shot myself in the head." Apparently, this man (in his 60's) shot and killed his girlfriend and shot and wounded the man who was object of the girlfriend's cheating (in the crotch...9 times). This patient then attempted to kill himself, but failed. The hygienist asked what happened (when wondering why this man was sitting in her chair and not jail) and he said the man didn't press charges.

I know I'm forgetting something, but I think that pretty much sums up how hilarious of a day it was.

Delayed Reflections on the Weekend.

It's already Wednesday, but I'm just now reviewing the weekend in my mind, so here it is:

Friday: Went jogging. Bought donuts for co-workers at Rainbow Donuts. Worked until 1:00. Went to the Marathon/8K expo at the Omni to pick up the 18 running packets for all of my co-workers (why did I volunteer to do this? oh yeah, because I'm the only one who lives in the city, and everyone else thinks they'll got shot or mugged if they drive east of Boulevard). I thought it would be as easy as handing a list of names to someone and being handed 18 bags. I was very wrong. First find their name and write down their number. (See boss, also picking up packets, and ask him for help carrying tons of stuff.) Take co-workers #'s to a nice lady named Ethel who gave me timing chips and bib numbers. Take these timing chips (30 minutes later) to the man who scans them to be sure they are correct. Walk through the expo and want to buy lots of stuff, resist, but accept bosses gift of The Stick (it's awesome). Get 18 bags. Get the correct sized t-shirts for myself and 17 co-workers and put them in bags. Leave. Walk directly outside the Omni to the AMAZING parking spot I got even though there were THOUSANDS of people around, all trying to get into the Omni.

Came home to my hard-working husband starting the first coat of paint on the exterior of our house...YAY! It's a beautiful bright light green, thanks Sherwin-Williams.

Went to see Borat, I don't even know where to start, so I'm leaving that one alone. Left movie, while taking 5 minutes in parking lot to decide where to go post-Borat, a police officer treated us (all 25+) like 13 year old punk kids and told us to "leave the premises". Short Pump is a foreign land. I love the city so very much. Here police officers have real criminals to chase and leave the rest of us alone. I pray I will never have to live in a suburb.

Saturday: Woke up 5 minutes before I was supposed to be meeting my co-workers at the office to give them all their race packets. Made it from bed to office in 8 minutes. Ran the 8K. Had to pee the whole entire time, it was very scary. Since I somehow missed the port-a-johns, I seriously considered asking an on-looker in the Fan if I could use their bathroom, but decided to run as fast as I could to the finish. Ran in a great time for myself, 41.50, 8.30 per mile, mostly thanks to my bladder.
Came home to wonderful friends and husband working on painting interior and exterior of house. Worked on the house the rest of the day. Ate McDonald's for dinner, no energy to cook or even buy decent take-out.

Sunday: Slept in, didn't go to Sunday School. Went to Wa-Wa for gas, coffee and breakast, yum. Went to the 11:00 worship service at Stony Point Church, listened to a great sermon on being a peacemaker. Was treated to lunch by my parents at the Hill Cafe. Took a nap since it was the best nap weather ever. Went to Franklin Street Community and talked to lots of great people. Had coffee and biggest chocolate chip cookie ever. Went back to SPC for congregational meeting. Went home, did some laundry, ate a quesadilla James made for me, made lunches for monday, used The Stick to massage my aching left calf, relaxed with husband and dog, went to sleep.

Marathon Training vs. Rainbow Donuts...Donuts Win!

Way back in May of this year, I took a big step for me and started training for the Richmond Marathon. I signed up for the Sports Backers Training Team program. First of all, I realized just how awesome Sport Backers of Richmond is, see for yourself. The training program was intense. We were assigned to a team with encouraging helpful coaches (who are volunteers), I made tons of new friends, I got into great shape, it was so fabulous. It was great having this goal that I was planning on working toward for 7 months, and working hard. Training for a marathon is truly like having a part time job. Don't do it if you don't have that kind of time, it will just end up being stressful, when it should be exhilarating.

And then, I had a seizure. Man, was that a downer. No worries, it's not that serious, I've had one before a long time ago. It's all under control now. But as a result I had to totally STOP training for over a month until I could clear it with my doctor that it was alright to start running hardcore again. I wish I could explain the angst I felt driving down Grove to and from work EVERY day and seeing people running freely (Grove, by the way, has got to be the most popular street to run on in the entire city of Richmond). The hard work, dedication, and love I had developed for running and training for a marathon had been cut short suddenly. I seriously went through some sort of withdrawal. So I got clearance to run again, but my Dr. discouraged me from training for something as taxing on the body as 26.2 miles until it was clear that my meds would be sufficient in prohibiting any more seizures. By that point, even if I had begun training again, attempting to catch up would have more likely ended in an injury.

Looking back, I can see how having to quit training could've been beneficial. Let's be honest, I don't have the time to train for a marathon at this point in my life. What was I thinking, adding one more huge thing? Knowing that everything happens for a reason, and that God's plans for me will only be for my benefit, helps to alleviate my sadness when I think about not attempting the marathon on November 11th. And I can see how training was becoming too high of a priority in my life, creeping dangerously close to the priorities that should never be surpassed.

Anyway, you're probably wondering what all of this has to do with Rainbow Donuts. Last Saturday we were planning on getting some renovation work done on our house and a bunch of our friends were out back roasting a pig, (see here for hilarious video from said pig roast) so I decided to take my friend Blare's advice and try out Rainbow Donuts. On my way there, I passed the Diamond and Sports Backers stadium. The parking lot of these locations is where the Long Training Run for the marathon training teammembers begins. During marathon training you have one long run a week. We (about 500 people) would all meet and run the same route together. Have you ever seen mad amounts of people running around Richmond early on a Sat. or Sun. morning between May and November? They are those crazy marathon trainees. I drove by a bunch of runners digging in to finish up a long run.

And I was buying donuts.

I have to say it was pretty depressing. But only until I realized JUST HOW AMAZING RAINBOW DONUTS IS! I bought a dozen assorted donuts and a large coffee for less than 6 bucks! Not only regular round cake donuts, but bear claws and apple fritters and big cinnamon roll things, and a boston creme pie something, and, the most amazing donut of all...THE BLUEBERRY CAKE DONUT. This is definitely the most delicious pastry ever (the lemon blossom does run a close second, thanks to Paula Dean). Krispy Kreme who? If I'm buying, I will never sell-out to the HOT NOW sign again. I'm hooked.

Since your mouth is watering and you're dying to go, read carefully, it's easy to miss. It is located at Broad and Boulevard. You know where the CVS is? You know where the McDonald's is? Well, it's in between those. Yes, you've probably never seen it, it is truly a hole in the wall. It's connected to the same building as CVS. They're open until eleven or ten every evening, you have time! Go now!

Some awesome people at our church have put together a work day at our house on Saturday (we have amazing friends), and I will be making a trip to Rainbow Donuts early in the morning to have some tasty treats for all the hard workers. I'll probably drive by some marathon trainees running a long run route one last time before the marathon next weekend. And I'll think, "Hah! Sucks to be you because Rainbow Donuts are better than running!"

The Youth May Be Our Future, But The Elderly Are Our Heritage!

A patient I saw at my dental office the other day has left a huge impression on my heart and I haven't been able to stop thinking about her and her story.

We'll call her Mrs. Jones.

Mrs. Jones is 92, she was coming in for an extraction of tooth #20. Because of her age, and since someone mentioned she was coming from an assisted living home, I expected her to come with a nurse, as patients with similar status
usually do. I was somewhat surprised to walk into the waiting room to see a very well-dressed and accesorized lady who appeared to be a decade younger than her biological age...without a nurse.

Our inital dialogue: "Mrs. Jones, good morning! (I said in my best, "I know this is the last place you'd ever want to be but I'll try to make it as pleasant and enjoyable as I possibly can because I care about you and your teeth and I don't want you to hate coming to the dentist," voice.)
Her response: "Oh yeah, what's so good about it!"

She has a horrible time hearing with no hearing in one ear and limited ability in the other. I yelled in a voice you'd use to get someone's attention who was standing on the other side of a speeding train, and she still barely heard what I was saying. Her mantra for the first half of her appointment was, "I'm very mad at that Dentist." So as you can imagine, we got off to a rocky start.

She was very open and shared a lot of information with me. I learned that she used to work for a culinary company and she would travel around to many places, that is, until her then boyfriend decided they should be married and she should quit working (remember this was probably the 1930's). She told me how she used to be a very jovial person, how she enjoyed life very much. Now, to hear her explain, she has nothing to look forward to, only pain to endure, as she hopes and prays every day for God to take her away to heaven. She says the assisted living home she lives in is very nice, but nothing compared to the cute home she used to own. She doesn't partake in many of the activities they offer because she can't hear. Instead she sits with three other women and knits or does word searches. She seems to have a very sharp mind. She was sure to let us know that after she had an MRI done recently, they told her she had the "best brain they'd seen in a long time".

I stood there and listened to her talk about all that her life had boiled down to, not saying much since she didn't really hear what I said anyway. On the outside I was intensely interested, but on the inside I was partially listening and partially wondering when the dentist would come in and start the procedure because, after all, we run a tight schedule and don't like to keep patents waiting. I mean, it's not like I can form a lasting, meaningful relationship with someone I've spoken with once for 15 minutes.

And then, while she spoke of what her life once was and all that she feels she has lost and how she just wants to die, she began to cry. Not just watery eyes cry, but really cry with big tears. She said that most of the time she just sits and crys because of the constant pain that she endures, and her despair that God hasn't taken her home to be with Him yet. And my heart began to break, and I began to cry with her. At that moment, nothing else was as important as loving Mrs. Jones and finding a way to restore her hope.

Keeping the dental details to a minimum, her mouth pain was relieved, her worries were calmed, and she repeated at least 6 times, "I'm not mad at that Dentist anymore!"

But as she left, I couldn't help but think about how she would go to her "home" and sit in sadness.

I've been trying to figure out how to visit her without violating any HIPAA laws. As she spoke to me, a stranger, I was touched by the way her words flowed with such ease. All she wanted was someone to listen, she's had a life full of experiences and doesn't have much left except her memories. Which, in a way, are painful for her. She thought it would be best if everyone got Alzheimer's, that way they wouldn't know what was going on and could be happy in their ignorance.

I'm realizing just how important it is to spend time with and love the elderly people in our lives. Find out their stories, listen to the experiences they've had. Love those people in your life that don't seem to have a clue about what's going on in today's world. They may not, but they know a lot more about what it was like living in the past than we ever will. Imagine yourself in their position and how much it would mean to you to have someone spend one hour with you, just talking.

Money Update

Here's an update on how our support is coming in for our trip to Scotland. For those of you just joining in, my husband James and I are moving to Scotland for two years to serve the children of a small town called Dornoch. Our church here in Richmond has a partnership with the church we'll be working with in Dornoch. We are sponsored by a mission organization called Mission To The World. We are raising money to pay all of our expenses while we are there. MTW has given us a budget that includes all or our travel, insurance, and living expenses. Here it is broken down, VERY SIMPLY:

One-Time Expenses: Needed in the bank before we leave to cover travel expenses, training, etc.

$29,000

Monthly Expenses: 100% of this amount needs to be pledged by an individual or group, before we leave. Total for two years:

$132,000

Yes, it is A LOT of money. No, we will not be making $60,000 a year while being missionaries. After all expenses are taken out, we will recieve a check for $1,200 a month, or 600 pounds, to cover food and unforseen extras.

Here's where we are currently, as a result of the love and generosity we've been so blessed to recieve from so many people:

100% of the $29,000 One-Time Expense RAISED!
35% of the $132,000 Monthly Expenses RAISED!

So we continue to raise support until we get to 100%. It's frustrating sometimes not knowing when we'll be able to go. But we know it's totally in God's hands, and we'll get there when He wants us there. Not one day earlier, not one day later.

If you're interested in finding out more about this adventure, leave me a comment and I'll be glad to get in touch with you!

Feline & Canine...The Best of Friends

When did YOU know that he/she was THE ONE?

The first day James and I talked about marriage was December 9th, 2002. After all that crazy talk we had worked up an appetite and ate dinner at Melito's, I had a juicy cheeseburger with a slice of grilled pineapple YUM. It was delicious. But the coolest thing about that day wasn't the meal.

James was the first one to allude to the "M" word. You have to realize, we are the people who thought we'd be single and loving every minute of it until very late in our 20's/early 30's. So this whole talking about marriage thing was almost unfathomable at the ages of 22 and 21. But we just knew that it was right, there's no other way for me to explain it. Here's his direct quote: "I'm in this for the long haul." I love it, it was perfectly stated. Those of you who know James know that this is true to his personality. No flowery language or poetry, straight to the point. I love this about him, mostly because I have the opposite tendency.

So there we were, talking about very minor wedding day things (by no means were we hiring the wedding planner and picking out china) and James had a request. He said that one of the only things he really was interested in having at the wedding was a bagpiper. At this, my mouth fell open and I was truly, for the third time in my entire life, speechless. For as long as I can remember, the one thing that I have known I just HAD to have at my wedding was a bagpiper. I guess it seems as though having bagpipes at your wedding is not uncommon anymore, but at that moment it was as if God was showing me his seal of approval by giving us this common desire.

At that point I didn't even care to read about Scotland, much less visit or live there! I think it's pretty providential that we had a Scottish flare to the day we began our married life together and would end up deciding to move there for two years. It's funny, the way life goes.

WARNING: Emotional Girl Ahead

My husband and I are rediculously busy with all the prep work that has come along with going to Scotland. We're raising the funds to live there, which honestly could be a full time job. We're doing some semi-major renovations on our OLD house in Church Hill to ready it for renting while we're gone, which could definitely be a full time job. Oh yeah, and we both work our real full time jobs (the one's we get paid for). Then there's all the stuff that we're involved with socially during the week that we just can't give up because we love our friends so much. And we need them and the stress release that comes from being with them to get through the craziness.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life and all the stuff that comes with it. I know there's a time for everything and this is the time for us to have a million and one projects going on at once because, once we have kids (Oh Lord please don't let it be anytime in the next three years) all that stuff will get pushed to the bottom of the list.

With all the madness, I sometimes forget to take stock of how I'm doing emotionally and mentally. In a way, that can be good. Leaving home, family, and friends for two years is overwhelming to think about and I could probably consume myself with thoughts about the good, bad, and scary things that come along with it. But it's a necessity every once in a while.

So apparently today was one of those days where the neglect of my psychological well-being would catch up with me. It was 11:00 am, I was on my way into the sanctuary at the church I've gone to since 3rd grade (so these people we're leaving are like family). In the span of 4 minutes I had interactions with 6 people. The context of those interactions centered around activities that James and I are a part of. And not just any activities, but things we either lead or are very involved in and devoted to. Activities, but most importantly, people that we will be leaving. By the time I sat down next to James I was holding back sobs. I waited for a song so everyone would be standing as I rushed out to get control of my faucet of a nose and tried to hide my red eyes to keep from answering too many "What's the matter?" questions later on.

Leaving is hard. I think the hardest part is knowing that life will go on without us, and there are so many things we'll miss. The replacements for some of our 'jobs' are already being lined up. People will get married, ladies will have babies, new people will come along and become friends with our friends, I might not get to see the new season of Project Runway...oh the list goes on.

BUT...We're moving to a new place to meet new people and have experiences that we could never have here. Some people can only dream about being able to do what we're doing. It's so very exciting and challenging and awesome and...scary and overwhelming and sad. But how cool to be able to feel all these emotions at once, difficult to manage, but pretty amazing. Makes me feel alive.

Living in Scotland for two years...what an adventure! It's gonna be incredible, as long as I can get there with my sanity still intact.

In Denial.

Denial is such a strong defense mechanism.

A new patient came into the dental office where I work the other day. Protocol for first visits and regular check-ups is a head and neck cancer screening on every patient. This gentlemen was 44, married, and your normal hard-working middle class guy. When my dentist was performing the cancer screening (which includes looking and feeling around the head and neck for anything abnormal) he saw some obvious pre-cancerous cells on the inside of his lower lip. This is when the patient reported using smokeless tobacco for many years (I think around 20). After the dentist went over all the patient's options and recommended having the area biopsied to determine if the cells were actually pre-cancerous or cancerous the patient replied:

"We're just not going to go there. To be honest with you, I'm not quitting (using tobacco) and if it is cancer, I don't want to know."

Have you seen what could happen if cancer in your mouth results in surgery?

And he's so young.

What's your REAL age???

Here's where you find out what your biological age is based on your health history, physical activity level, and seat belt habits, as opposed to your birthday age. Or Oprah can help you with a shorter version of the same test.

I like Oprah's version because it says I'm actually...19.7, instead of 26! Barely even legal. The greatest thing is, consuming alcoholic beverages makes me one year younger!

MMMMMM...Mary Angela's

We (me and husband) just got back from enjoying a very delicious dinner at Mary Angela's. It's quickly becoming one of my most favorite "regular" restaurants. We don't go out to eat very often, so when we do go, it's usually reasonably priced and somewhere we know is GOOD. Usually it's Joe's Inn in the Fan (please don't ever waste your time going to Joe's Inn on the Southside: yuck). The last two times we've been out to dinner (which makes it a "regular" place for us) it's been to Mary Angela's

I am a calamari snob. During college I waited tables in a restaurant in Williamsburg. The food was better than you can imagine, seriously. No really, you've never had a steak this good, I'll challenge you. And the calamari...my mouth is watering as I type, I promise. I've eaten calamari at many restaurants; if it's on the menu, I try it. That being said, you need to try the calamari at Mary Angela's.

Top it off with a pitcher of Yuengling and Calzone...I'm sufficiently stuffed.

I Suck Spit For a Living

Yes, that's right...I suck spit out of people's mouths for a living. Every day, from 8-5, sometimes the hours are longer. No, I'm not employed by the city of Paris to french kiss people in public to bring back the romanticism of the city (yes, it's true they really have done it!). I'm a Dental Assistant. My job includes many responsibilities, I could list them for you, but when it comes down to it, basically I have to keep people from choking to death on thier own spit while the dentist and I shove our hands and many instruments in and out of their mouth. Excited about your 6 month check-up?

I began my career in the Dental Industry when the Insurance Industry was sucking the life out of me after 2 years of working with some of the most boring material ever: insurance policies. Eventually I plan on becoming a dental hygienist; MCV didn't want me the first time I applied to the program. Now I know the right people, and we all know that's the main thing that helps you get ahead in this political world.

I love teeth and I love my job. No seriously, I love it. I truly enjoy going to work. If working as a hygienist didn't pay a gajillion trillion bucks more, I'd be an assistant for the rest of my life. The office I'm working at now is the third dental office I've been employed by...best office ever. First two dentists I worked for=horrible. Current bosses=awesome. And really, my job is not stressful at all. The most stressful part of my day comes when the satellite (for the t.v.'s in EVERY operatory) isn't working and we have to listen to the radio. j/k, sorta. Actually the most stressful aspect of my day comes when the seemingly thousands of women I work with are on estrogen overload and create unnecessary drama. That's probably the worst thing about working in dentistry, not enough men to balance out the craziness of us women.

Some of my patients can be pretty annoying too. I mean, I know visiting the dentist is no cake-walk, but really people...get a grip. If you hate it that much, you need drugs...and we offer a variety to make your experience as pleasant as possible for you (and us).

I kinda like gross stuff, which I think is an important quality when I'm required to look at people's mouths all day (a.k.a. the dirtiest part of the body). My favorite procedure's to assist are any surgery's: extraction, placement of titanium implants, bone grafts, tissue grafts.

Now that I've established just how strange I really am, let me encourage you to go to the dentist: nobody likes smelly breath, and clean teeth keeps it to a minimum!