Birthday Blessing

It's my bday today and normally I HATE my bday. Not because I dislike getting older, but well I'm not really sure why... From the start today's been great though. I arrived at work with a "decorated" desk. It was full of post-its, the round pieces of paper from the hole punch, and other fun stuff. Of course treats were brought in and one of my supervisors made the BEST shortbread cookies I've ever eaten. I think I had 5, no probably more like 15 of them today.

All day long my phone kept getting texts and every time I checked my Facebook there were at least 3 bday messages from friends. Early this afternoon I got a delivery at work: some BEAUTIFUL flowers from my parents. Yep I'm a lucky girl when it comes to parents. Speaking of parents, they weren't able to meet up with me tonight because of work, but I did meet up with my aunt, uncle, grandma, and some cousins for a super yummy supper.

And the day's not over yet! Allie has been super cuddly all day and that makes me so happy.

3 weeks + 1 semester...

Or 166 days until I graduate. Graduation has been on my mind a lot lately. I know that I have a bit over 5 months left, but I am ready to be out of this limbo that I'm in. I'm doing the work of a full-time audiologist plus online courses, but I'm not an AuD yet. Although I have a (temporary) license to practice audiology, I still have to be supervised.

I feel like my whole life is in limbo lately. Besides the 166 days left until graduation, I feel in limbo with job opportunities for when I do graduate. I can't apply yet and have to wait until late January or early February to even apply. Yet I torture myself and look each and every week at job postings.

Another limbo: I greatly dislike Mtown. That is no secret. I'm still in limbo that I don't have a church here and the one that I want to go to is over an hour away. I can't afford to drive to Des Moines twice a week (once for work, once for church). I'm also in limbo that I don't have any friends here. I've tried. I don't know how to meet people my age outside of work, school, or church. I've gone to 2 different Bible studies and just didn't feel comfortable there. I felt I had to comply to their beliefs about the Bible, which is to take it utlra literally. Yes I believe the Bible is Truth (note the capital "t"), but that it needs to be read in the presence of the historical context as in the Bible is written FOR modern day Christians, but written TO the historical people.

So that's my limbo story for now. I know that limbo times are needed and something great is on it's way. I've never been a real patient person, which may explain these feelings.

Wisconsin Weekend

I went back to Madison for the first time since moving to Iowa in late May. It was a well-needed trip! Here's a quick synopsis:

Friday: I've written about Family Fusion before somewhere in this blog, but Friday night I met up with a family I used to baby-sit for and we went to Family Fusion at Blackhawk Church (www.blackhawkchurch.org). I LOVED IT! It was weird to not be involved anymore, but so touching to hug and chat with my former cast-mates after the show! You guys know how to make a girl feel wanted and missed! I should mention too that before going to the show the family I went with took me out to dinner at my favorite place in the Madison area: Hubbard Ave Diner. If you ever visited me in WI, I took you there! It has the best brunch, be even better desserts.

Saturday: Meet up with Sarah and Becky who were in my smallgroup, to go to the last outdoor Dane County Farmer's Market of the year. It was amazing! I got some pumpkin cream cheese bread and some organic sweet potato treats for Allie (who by the way LOVES them!). We also walked down State Street and I did a bit of shopping for Wisco shirts and a print of Union Terrace that I've been eyeing for months. I meet up with some other friends for lunch at The Great Dane. Yummy soup, fries, and their own Landmark Light beer were enjoyed by yours truly. After that I did some shopping at DSW; I had a coupon because it's my bday month. Got some sweet eggplant colored Converse. Super excited!
NERD ALERT! That night a few of my friends threw the second annual Harry Potter party to belatedly celebrate Halloween. Costumes were required and people dressed up as: Molly Weasely, Sirius Black, Barty Crouch Sr, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Moaning Myrtle, Bellatrix LeStrange, a muggle, a squib, and I was Ginny Weasley. We have an unwritten rule that a character cannot be repeated, so it's always interesting to see who's who.

Sunday: Becky made me pancakes and then we went to Blackhawk for church. I really, really, REALLY wish I could move Bhawk to Mtown. I know there are churches around that are similar, but it so cool that when you walk in the door with hundreds of other people, you still feel like a somebody and not just a nobody. After church I made the trip home.

It was a great weekend that I really needed. I think it's interesting that in Madison which is a large city, I felt like I knew so many people and felt like a somebody and how Mtown is 10 times smaller and I feel like a complete nobody here. I'm not trying to evoke pity with that statement, but am processing.

Allie's new obsession

I hate admitting this, but Allie has a fast food obsession. I know it's not healthy, but she doesn't get many treats and we've been working hard at her losing a bit of weight. So far she's lost 5 lbs and has maintained it, so a treat every once and awhile should be just fine. What is her obsession you ask, well it's Mc.Donald's french fries. Yep, the yummy golden goodness. Granted I don't eat there too often, maybe once a month but when Monopoly comes around I eat there about every other week.

How did this obsession start? Well one day I brought McD's home and she got a reject floppy fry and after that I was in trouble. Before you get to thinking that I order her a large fry for herself, she gets the reject fries from my order. You know the ones that are floppy, have brown spots, or are the itty bitty super crunchy ones.

Since I've talked alot about her, here's a pic of what Allie's been doing a LOT of lately:

With the change in weather we've had here Allie's becoming more and more snuggly. I can't say that I hate it at all!