The Parental House

So, this is for Laura and Joelle and Nanny and Leslie. :)

Interesting Conversation

"That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither."
--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Lately I've pondered what it means to be Christian and what attributes are most closely associated with Christ and His followers. I think this quote embodies most of my conclusions. I've had some good conversations with family and friends lately that reaffirms why I believe what I do and why I choose to live the lifestyle I do. To me it is more important to be loving, kind, tolerant, open, friendly... than to be visibly "righteous" while inwardly critical, competitive, and ornery. While I'm entirely far from perfect, I am trying to be better. I feel like it's only fair to give other people that same benefit of the doubt--assuming that they are trying their best. We all make mistakes and who wants to be reminded of them constantly by people that are supposedly friends? I feel badly when I make mistakes, but it's not a feeling of "I'm never going to be perfect and now I'm a horrible, very bad person" but more of an, "Drat, hope that didn't hurt anyone... I'll be better about that." Off the soapbox (but still thinking and hopefully learning).
The end.
Oh, and just in case you haven't seen this:

Park City Shopping Spree

My friend Kelly came to town for a Conference (which is ironic since we MET at a conference, and by ironic, I really just mean an somewhat interesting tidbit of info) so I got some of my favorite people to come with me up to Park City. These pictures? I'm FREEZING. Good times. I got some shoes and a dress and spent the least I've ever spent up there. FOR ME. But I made Marianne spend oodles of money so I still did my part in supporting their business. :) I was super tired, as in almost delirious, so I even sang in the restaurant. Yeah. I don't normally DO stuff like that. Hmm.

From Nanny. (And courtesy of YouTube)

Mole Removal

I decided that since my head is starting to feel better I should make my face hurt (which, somewhere in the back of my head, ALWAYS makes me think of my brothers saying "it's killing me" and I'm scarred).

Skin cancer runs in my family and I've had nightmares of my whole face having to be dug out because I didn't have these moles taken off early enough. So. They're off. And my cheeks hurt so smiling is awkward. ha.

Oh! And my head is feeling lots better. I'm thinking in a few more weeks I'll be golden. Woot!

My family is too cool...

So, I think one of the reasons that I don't update this much is that there is always so much to catch up on. Here's some updates. I'll bullet them, because I just typed out all these procedures for work and now I'm in that mind frame.

• Dad got a job! He's going to Greece on Monday and will be there for a week (luckily, I had all the books for him. ha) and then in Chicago for a bit and THEN he'll be in North Carolina starting up a new food plant. Mom will stay here in Logan with Scott and Eric (who's going to be staying up here so I think I need a roomie for a few months. maybe.) to help her get the place ready to sell. If you know anyone with a burning desire to move to Logan--it's actually a really nice house and she's putting in new carpets and windows and all that jazz.
• Joelle and Stevan bought a house! Crazy. Really cute. I like it. Especially the pink bathroom. heehee They'll re-do that. But it's in SLC and in a really nice area.
• Matt signed up for an extra year teaching but will move up to New Haven and teach in a charter school--still through Teach for America and still in the ghetto, but it'll be HS instead of Jr High. He's so pumped about teaching. I love it.
• Josh and his cute family are heading back to Florida today and leaving all their newly bought snow gear. If you know anyone that needs any... :)
• Scott fixed my car yesterday. Old Georgia was having "issues"...
• Eric's meeting with an Air Force recruiter on Monday (I think it was Monday) and so I think I'm getting rid of some furniture... At least in May or so when I move.
• I am going back to work on Monday and have SO much policy to write. I've been thinking about my job and how I really get some pretty killer experiences. I think that's why I'm still working there. My goal this year is to really figure out where I want to be heading career wise and do what I can to be preparing for that. I like my job, but can't see myself doing it forever. I have three other goals: flossing (at least once a week) and reading scriptures daily without fail (sometimes I miss) and taking care of my head so I heal properly (I've had relapses and still am taking narcotics which isn't my fav).

Anyhow, I'll put some pictures on here, but that's the latest. Oh! And I'm STILL not allowed to exercise and am not quite sure how to not. It's weird. They said that as soon as I feel my heartbeat in my head I have to stop--apparently feeling that daily is a bad thing... oops. I guess cross country skiing was probably pushing it. ha.
Much love!

Update

I have been the worst friend ever (Jen! Sorry! I'm planning to call you TONIGHT.) because I still feel like ... well, the word I want to use is a swear word and while I'll think it, and maybe say it, I can't bring myself to type it. Let's just say, recovery from a six hour surgery is a bit worse than I thought. Though most of my besties out there are pregnant right now and can probably relate to the random bursts of nausea that make me not able to move or function properly. And waking up at 4 or 5 needing a percocet. ha. So, may need to get some more of those before I head up to Logan for Christmas with the whole family including all 5 cute nieces and nephews which probably means less relaxing. hmm. I do feel better after talking to a surgical technician friend of mine who said that most people feel entirely crappy for a good two months and THEN are so glad that they went through that, well, I'm going to type it, hell because their migraines really did get better as a result. So here's a picture of my new 'do. My forehead is still swollen and rashy--and my whole body is bloated and tired but I unfortunately can't live in a mumu. OH! AND the weirdest sensation ever: feeling your eyebrow regain feeling while in a swollen state in just one spot. Crazy. I'm good. And nope, there's nothing anyone can do, and really I don't want to mention it again or talk about it at all--so here's the only place I'll update. :) I'm a punk like that. Life's good anyhow. I mean, it's Christmas and I get to play all next week with family--just praying I'm up for it! Christmas cards are late this year too--sorry! But I love you guys!