No DNA match required

When I was in elementary school, Lisa and Steve joined our church. All that Lisa wanted was a little girl, but she didn't have one (yet), so she adopted my sisters and I. She babysat us, she invited us over to her house to make crafts, she gave us holiday gifts. When I was in middle school she finally had her little girl, Kirsten. My older sister would babysit her, and sometimes I would come along. A year and a half later came little red-headed Callie. And for some reason Lisa and Steve and Kirsten and Callie adopted me as part of the fam. I was over all the time. I loved them more than anything in the world. They took me with them to disney world when the girls were 2 and 3, and later they took me with them on a cruise to the Bahamas when the girls were about 6 and 7. I was just part of the family. My freshman year of college they finally got the baby girl they had been hoping to adopt, and they traveled to China to pick up their Cassie. The end of this summer they will be going up to pick up their other daughter, Mary, who is over there just waiting for the paperwork to go through.

Lucky for me, I'm still just part of their fam. I get to cuddle with the girls and bake brownies with them. I get to help put them to bed and then stay up watching tv or sitting in the jacuzzi with Lisa. And now that the girls are bigger--they made a special trip just to visit me!

This past weekend my mom, Lisa, Kirsten, Callie, and Cassie came for a visit. It is so much more fun to go to the swimming pool when you have 3 awesome girls with you! It's wonderful to just have snuggle time on the futon, it's wonderful to hear about what's happening in the life of an 11 year old and have her tell you that she always misses you, and it's just wonderful to have fun with people that you've always loved and have always loved you. I can't wait for them to babysit my kids someday!

Callie (11), me, Cassie (6), Kirsten (almost 13)

Old friends!

A few weeks ago my wonderful friend Ashleigh came with Grandma Lois to stop by and have some lunch with me on their way to South Carolina. It is always good to spend time with old friends!





Ashleigh and I have been friends since 4th grade when we were both in Mr. Sipple's class. We actually met in 1st grade when we were both called on to come up front during a Smokey the Bear presentation, but we didn't even realize that until years later. Ashleigh and I were best friends in middle school and stayed friends in high school even though we didn't go to school together. We were roommates freshman year at CNU and have stayed friends ever since!




So Ashleigh and her grandma stopped by and took me out to lunch and we also stopped in at a cute coffee shop. It is always refreshing to catch up with people that knew what was happening in your life when you were 10 years old. I'm so thankful that Ashleigh and I have stayed good friends even though we've both changed a lot since our days at Grafton Village Elementary, and hopefully we'll be able to laugh about our childhood stories even when we are old grannies.

Just another frustrating day at the surgery center

Conversation I had at work today with an old woman waiting in the lobby while her family member was having foot surgery:

lady: Can I turn this tv to channel 2?
me: We don't get any local channels, we only have satellite, but you're welcome to scroll through and find something else you'd rather watch.
lady: Oh, well I just wanted to see the news or something on channel 2.
me: We don't get any news channels, but you're welcome to find something else you'd like to watch.
lady: Well it's almost time for my Soap to come on channel 2 and I think the news comes on before it.
me: Aw, well we don't get channel 2, I'm sorry. But you can find something else if you'd like.
lady: Oh. No. That's okay. I just wanted to see if we could watch channel 2.
lady sits back down in lobby.
10 minutes later--
lady: Can I change this channel at all??? I didn't sleep at all last night and now this coffee is making me antsy.


Conversations like are why I will be insane before the age of 30.

Gboro Year 1

A year ago today was my first full day living in Greensboro. The day before was crazy: loading up the uhaul (with the help of dearest Amy P. and also a strange boy that was wandering around and wanted to help). I was scared out of my mind to drive the Uhaul to Greensboro and then back to Raleigh, but I managed to do it without killing anyone. Then I drove back to Greensboro in my car and came back to a strange (and sketchy) apartment cluttered with boxes and furniture. I remember that I was so tired that night I just curled up on my mattress without any sheets or anything and slept that way. I hardly knew anyone in Greensboro and I didn't have any job prospects, but I was glad to be here.

And I still am! Greensboro has been such a great year! I found a job a month after I moved here, I've found one of the best friends I've ever had in sweet Lisa, I'm the proud mother of two guinea pigs that I adore, I do lots of grown up things, and life is good. I like it here so much, and am SO EXCITED at the though of NO UPHEAVAL and having to move again this year, that I went ahead and renewed my lease 3 months early. Hahah. There are still plenty of challenges and still not-good things, but Greensboro year has been a good year for growth and for settling and for not feeling pressure to do things or be something specific. I think Jesus knew I needed a break from life when He sent me to Greensboro!

So here's to looking at least another year in Greensboro!