Questa è la mia vita: Logistics & thinking & bracelets...OH MY!!!

This past week has been all about preparing and tying up the loose ends!! My to-do list has been shrinking AND growing...However, there are a few things I want to write about:

1. ABSENTEE VOTING: It is no wonder to me why people do not vote if they cannot be there on the day and go to their voting place! THEY MAKE IT SO RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO DO THAT IT IS ALMOST NOT EVEN WORTH IT!!!! It took a series of like 10-15 emails (from like 3 different people), 3 or 4 things mailed back and forth, the most ridiculous taped together pdf file envelopes in the world, & annoyance all the way around. I have finally voted, but I would not be surprised if I was in that statistic of votes from military/overseas citizens (the category I fell in to for the absentee voting) whose votes did not count. They literally made it so much harder than it had to be, and I wanted to vote. I want my vote to count; does this do anything to assure me that my vote really does count!?!? Unfortunately, NO!

2. I have the greatest friends in the world. This past week I have received cards, emails, phone calls, gifts, etc. It is so encouraging to have such wonderful, loving, kind, giving, generous friends. It makes my heart so happy to know that everyone is thinking about me, praying for me, and loving on me from afar! I am beyond grateful for the gift of friendship!

A few stories:

The first is about my wonderful new bracelet. So the other night I was reading one of the Fulbrighters blog from last year and she said that she wore a bracelet that said, in Italian, "I'm still learning!" I thought this was a brilliant idea because she said it reminded her that every time she wanted to get frustrated with herself about not understanding someone or not being able to express herself, in Italian of course, that she was still learning. I was telling April about this and jokingly mentioned that if I had one it would have to also say, "i'm not failing!" I tend to equate not making an A+ or not being the best at something, with failure. So, I set out to figure out how to make this bracelet. I came up with some okay ideas, but then I received the most wonderful surprise in the mail. April had let it slip that she had a surprise for me, but I had NO clue what it could be. So, pictures are worth thousands of words:

The top part which says, "I'm learning"

The underside which says, "I'm not failing"

So, do you see that I have the greatest friends??

Theeeennnn...I got the CUTEST card in the mail from my best friend Erin. It was a card that I saw a month or so ago in World Market and I sent Erin a picture of it because it reminded me so much of the two of us. It is so perfect because one girl has on a blueish dress and the other a pink one; one has darker hair and the other has lighter hair; they are hugging; AND it says that another word for friendship is love, and I love Erin more than she knows! The card was also extra special because my niece, Molly, had chewed the corners of the envelope! I do miss my Molly Bug and my Maddie Patty!

Theeeennnn....I got a sweet card from Meagan today (Thrusday). So cute and had a post card for me from Louisville, which was perfect!! I am so excited that Meagan is planning a trip to come visit me. I was telling her today that my favorite thing about my friends planning to come visit me is that I will get to share that with just them. Whatever it is we do will be just our memories! Something that we will not have shared with anyone else; that makes it that much more special to me. I like unique and meaningful things, plus I am a quality time person; thus, this idea makes perfect sense.

Also this week I was able to skype with my Avery girls, which always brings a smile to my face, and then talked to Kelly on the phone! I also talked to Mrs. Malissa briefly, and I already miss my people like crazy!

3. Making memories and pictures (of course!):
My momma took off on Wed, Thurs, & Fri! We went to have coffee with my daddy and his best friend, and that was good because it was something they always do AND I had the best starbucks thing I've ever had in my entire life. MY FIRST SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA; OH MY GOSH...so it was nice to just sit and talk with them and laugh!

Me and my daddy!

Salted Caramel Mocha


Me and Mr. Frieson, my daddy's best friend

This week we also took Chili and Bella to Railroad Park so that I could take some nicer pictures with them. Words cannot describe how much I will miss my dog!!