My Weekend/Meeting Baby Alice

WAS GREAT!!!!

Friday night-work, zumba-good work out, shower. Then James and I went to jose muldoons for dinner and to the movies. The only movie playing at that time was Bounty Hunter....worst movie ever! Terrible plot, and just bad acting. Some moments were cute, but overall bad.

Saturday- I sent James' a text in the morning....no response. Called his phone...it said the message of this number has been changed, disconnected or you are receiving this message because we have no idea what is going on. So I called again same response. At this point I am like what the heck, because I knew we were supposed to leave early to go up to his family's and time is just going on and on.

So then a freaked out katie drives over to james' house and barges in the door. What is he doing just sitting on the couch. So I scared the crap out of him after he scared the crap out of me. Since I thought he was dead. :)

Then we drove up to brush, took the backway to get there, where he showed me his hometown and where he went to school and what not. We pet the horses, tried to get the kitties to come to us and just hung out on the farm and drove down back country roads. It was great.

Nothing more I love then being on a random road trip in the truck with my honey. Just talking. Listening to music and relaxing as we held hands.

At night we met up with James' brothers ben and john. Went out to dinner. Bowling with the boys and can I just say.... I had so much fun! Those guys are my favorite! It is nice that I love james' family! I officially beat james 2 out 3 games. Granted my third game I think just about everyone beat me cause I really stunk it up. But still fun nonetheless.

Sunday-church.

Then got to meet this honey

She was put in my arms and I instantly started crying.

I couldn't help it.

She is so beautiful. Truly.

I mean her little face and the crazy amount of hair she already has. :)

Ben and Melissa were just so calm and happy.

They just seemed very at ease to be parents and have their little baby alice in their arms.

I just love this little girl so much already. She is going to be so loved and protected by everyone in our little community. She already had a million people who love her and can't wait to watch her grow. It is going to be so much fun. And ben and melissa are truly going to be awesome parents. Because they are both so loving and laid back. It truly is going to be great to be a part of this little girls' life.

Can't wait!

Twirling :)

I am tired today. When I am tired I do things without really realizing them like....
twirling my hair. I was twirling my hair before I typed this post, without realizing it either.

What are things you do when you are tired or subconsciously??

It has been another long week.
Two longs weeks in a row with no weekend in the middle is exhausting.

I love that with my school schedule I am only in class one weekend a month.
However the week after my school weekend, I just feel soooo drained.

That would be this last week.

So tonight I will zumba
and then my honey is taking me out for a night on the town.

He is a good man, I love him!

Then tomorrow we are going up to spend the day with his family. Which is good I miss them and it has been a long time since I have seen them due to school, moving, and crazy busy life.

As much as I am tired and feel overwhelmed (if I really sit and think about all that I need to do and get accomplished) I still really am thankful for my life.

For the day. For my breath. For my relationships. For my mountains.

Enjoy your day. Cause I know I am going to :)

The

Quiet after the Storm....

This morning I woke up and it was chilly inside my room because I left the window open last night. I looked up and my skylight was covered with snow.

I opened the shades and smiled because there was a blanket of snow covered the ground, after yesterday it was almost 70 degrees.

I just laid there and watched the snow gently fall through the air.

I wanted so badly, to just lay in bed all day and be quiet.

Yesterday was horror. I went through a grueling 4 hour interview with a woman who has been through such traumatic abuse that it is the kind of stuff you only read in books or see in movies. I was beyond drained and had to fight back my tears that were brimming in my eyes the entire time of our interview.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look so professional in my line of work to cry, as it is your job to gather the story not process through it with the victim. However, the interview was just intense, I could not contain my emotions. Usually I can. I have grown accustomed to keeping myself in check. Something I had to learn, cause I can be a pretty emotional gal. Especially when it comes to people hurting, even worse children.

As I am reflecting about my last 24 hours a verse comes to my mind

Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Last night I laid on my bed next to the windows. I just listened and was still and quiet. I felt the cold wind on my face, as a storm was rolling in. The wind howled my sky light and it was great. I just laid there and watched the branches on the trees bend to the wind's direction. I probably laid there for an hour. Granted not so good for my homework, which was not getting done. But very good for a hurt soul, which is in the process of being healed.

My windows are great cause I am in an attic apartment and they are high and I can see everything. The other day in fact I watched the sun rise over the tops of the houses. I love those windows.

An interesting thing I am coming to discover about myself, is that I truly am strong.

I am a strong woman, who has been blessed with very specific characteristics for this job. It is a humbling thing because I know that God is all around me. It is not me, all Him. I prayed before I walked into my interview.

I felt like there were angels cheering me on. That for this woman we were bringing justice, finally someone was listening to her story. Finally someone was telling her they cared. Finally someone was just there to support her and hold her hand.

Finally a joy comes in the morning.

For this woman I prayed last night and this morning, that finally joy can come for her. After so much horror and darkness.

After your storms, whatever they are today. I hope that you can get to a place where you can be calm, still and peaceful and a quiet voice can sing over you like angels.

I hope that your joy comes in the morning. That is wraps around you like a blanket and covers the chaos and horror like snow. It just calms everything down. So you can take a step forward. So you can take a deep breath in and move forward.

Flowers

These are the flowers I got delivered to me today at work. . .

from my boyfriend.

because I had a horrific day.

I did an interview that was beyond anything I have ever heard. A 4 hour interview pretty much took it out of me. After doing the interview I was so wiped that I just left the office and cried.

What some human beings are capable of doing to other human being is beyond me. Truly. Today was the first day that I can say I have never heard anything worse then that.

God willing this woman is still standing. I have no idea how. She is a saint and deserves the heavens above.

So today I will leave the office, drink wine and enjoy the day that has been given to me because you have to enjoy the good over letting the evil swallow you up.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Drink a green beer!

Hold a hand!

Take in a deep breath of the spring air!

Enjoy your day and wear your green or I am going to pinch you :)

03.16.10

How does this happen????

really?

on a plus note, I am so happy it is spring. I wore a dress to work with a flower in my hair.
It was so cold when I walked out to my car, but I was so determined not to wear a coat because it was spring. Mind set I tell you. Mindset.

So instead I scooted out to my car, then wrapped a blanket around my bare legs on my drive to work cause it was so chilly.

But today it reached 60, heavenly!! I am in such a good mood. Going to go pick up molly and take her for a jog cause I miss that pup so much!

Few Fun Facts

About my quaint, characteristic, unique apartment

1. I have run up and down the stairs many times in order to get dressed in the morning, due to the fact that my dresser is downstairs, and all my hanging up clothes are upstairs along with my "delicates" ;o) So I get half way dressed and think oh shoot I need to run upstairs again.

2. These stairs are not just any stairs, they are shallow, and steep and if you are not careful, you will hit your head going up or coming down. This morning I was walking down after just waking up and almost fell down the stairs and got a TBI. No bueno.

3. The shower....tiny. It is hard to shave your legs when you have to stand up, and what do you place your feet on to hold them up, you ask? nothing. Just lift up your leg and hold it in the air. I think by the time I am done living here, I will be a balancing contortionist. And since the walls are so thin it sounded like the radio my neighbor had playing in his bathroom was in my bathroom. I could hear everything, especially him singing :)

4. It is creaky and makes sounds from the shifting of an old house, and it is tiny and there are many unique characteristics about it, but it is mine.

Last night james and I played tetris and he ended the game when he said I was getting a little competitive, since he had been playfully pushed to the ground and punched in the arm for beating me. Me competitive....no. :o) All in good fun I say. But for the record I also beat him 3 times!

fyi

until I buy a tv next month

hulu has become my new best friend :)

Thankful

Here I sit snuggled into my new apartment, next to a window and the snow is gently falling outside. I am warm, comfortable and mostly peaceful.

As I sit here and reflect, I can't help but realize how much I have to be thankful for.

This group. Above.

Is my family. I am very blessed to have them in my life. They are the kind of people who step in when you need them. Life has been more then crazy. I have been overwhelmed and just sad from a major relationship in my life being drastically changed.

So what did they do, stepped in. The girls came over friday night and packed stuff into boxes and moved it over to my new apartment. Even mel who is like 41 weeks preggo and so beyond done waiting for sweet baby alice to come out, came and moved me. Not only on friday, but also Saturday.

These same girls who not only helped pack, transition, and move into new apartment, then laid hands on me and prayed for me and my time in my own space. To say the least I was humbled and overcome with tears. Each of them are precious to me. I feel blessed to call them my friends.

In fact the majority of them came to help me move on saturday. with their husbands. Who also are just a quality as the women they are married to.

This group has not only moved me once, nope not even twice, but this was the THIRD time!!!!!
That's right there is a sign to attest to just how fabulous they are!

There we sat with about 12 people all crammed into my tiny apartment. While the boys tried to figure out how the heck to get my stuff up the very challenging, as mike stated "perfect storm" of tiny spaces. The stairs are very steep and the roof is very slanted. Bad combo. I just felt so thankful and blessed.

I know some of you out there say that your small group is awesome. But believe you me, mine is better :)

Jen even made me homemade bread for my new home. What a doll!

We are not just a small group, but family. Who loves and steps in when we need it. I have been neglectful of others due to school, work, moving and life. But I can feel a new dawn coming. God renewing my energy and opening my eyes. Now granted the time aspect will still be challenging, but I can feel the beginning of stepping out of this hard time in my life.

I am also thankful for this guy.

It was so nice moving with him in my life. James drove up with his truck, parked, and just started loading stuff.

He then later, just told me to get settled and make the space my own.

He is a blessing to me for so many reasons.

He has patiently listened to my every freak out moment over the last two months when I am crying and saying I give up at life.

He calmly listens and gives advice, holds my hand, and tells me not to give up.

I love him and am grateful to have james michael kleiber by my side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night was my first night in my new place on my own. It went better then I expected. I kinda sound like a big girl huh? Well my life up until this point has not been completely independent, and now I am stepping out. Making my own path.

So last night I was reading through old journals, cause I think its important to know where you came from in order to understand where you are going.

I was reading and that time in my life, I was in a very different place then I am now.

It was not as bright. I was in a job I hated. No community.

Today I am at a very different spot.

A community I feel privileged to a part of.

In a job that I absolutely love.

A man in my life who just fits with my heart.

A new beginning.

A new phase of life.

Just me and God.

I feel God beckoning me. Calling for me to follow him into the unknown.

This is also very scary for me. But exciting.

Being Skooled (I know I spelled it wrong :)

So last night I spent 4 hours in a coffee shop working on a paper. I thought wow! It takes me a little bit more effort to get my creative juices flowing now as opposed to when I was in my undergrad.

Life was easier when I was in college and all I had to do was school. Now with working more then full time, in the process of moving, relationships and life and then SCHOOL on top of that ….phew!

So I was driving home, after working on my paper, and telling James that I am coming to a resolved that even if I don’t get A’s on all of my assignments that I am ok with that. Because something’s gotta give here or otherwise I am going to spontaneously combust. I said so far in my research/social work stats class I have gotten 100% on my first 3 assignments. But I had yet to be back my first big paper to see my grade.

So I said I will put this new me being ok with not always getting A’s into practice mode.

I walked in the door and there my paper was, waiting for me to open it, to see what my professor had given me on the paper.

I walk over

Open it……

And guess who got a 97% on her paper!!!!!

So I don’t have to be alright with not getting a’s, cause I got one!


Now this post may seem like I am bragging, but I am not. Well maybe a little I am J, but really I am just proud of myself and since I am not facebooking right now I wanted to share in a non look at me kind of way, so this is my outlet. Life has been crazy and its nice to know that after being out of college for almost 5 years that I may still have the hang of this being skooled thing.

On another great happy note when I walked out the door this morning, the peak looked absolutely beautiful as it was snow covered, and all the trees surrounding it were also.
Like a white blanket was placed over them.

I tried to leave my house in time to make to chick fil a for free chick n minis for customer appreciation week, cause they are like crack in my mouth. But alas I didn’t leave in time to make it there. Sad :(

But I did get to see pretty mountains instead and for this girl that even better. I love my mountains. I feel so blessed to live where I do.

Moving

So apparently according to my friends I am not a good mover. Based on the fact that my wonderful k group friends have already moved me twice in the time they have known me and this will be the third time.

I was bringing stuff over to my new apartment on friday and james said, you know you are terrible packer. I was appalled and shocked, and said I am not! ;o)

I just don't see the point I guess, in putting everything in boxes just to lug it 3 blocks away and have to unpack it all. I mean you have to tape the boxes together, sort, organize stuff, and then unpack it all. As rather I prefer to put the stuff in my car, like a hanging shoe rack with the shoes still on it.

So friday night we went to a housewarming party for my friends, holly and collin
and James said something to the effect of me not being a good mover. And I was half way expecting my friends to say oh well she's not that bad.....they all said......

Oh yeah we know james, we already moved her twice.....

I was looking around, like really. So yeah I guess the concenus from those that know me and have moved me...is that I don't like to pack.

~~~sidebar...But on Friday night (@holly/collin's) we played a game of
find the hottest spot in the house....
and kevin found the spot, with a note in the OVEN...

that we have a bun in the oven.

HOLLY AND COLLIN are preggers. This always make me sooo happy when friends announce good news. I just get so excited for them. I love my community of friends I have. They are precious to me and we do life together.

However I do LOVE to nest.
I feel anxious and a little leery for this move. Cause I am going to be living by myself, and I have never lived by myself. I am very comfortable living with people, especially rachel.
She has been my partner in crime and rock for the last 150 years :)

So this new chapter is in the unknown section of my life story. However I am trying to amp myself up. I know it will be good. I know that it will be a time of growth for me, personally and my relationship with God.

The silence. The silence will be good. Especially since my life between school, work, internship, and life has been crazy crazy crazy as of late.

So here once again I am setting off on a (little scary for me) adventure with God. I feel like I did the day my mom left to fly back to MI and I was left alone in Colorado. All alone. On my own.

Surprising thing I found out....I am stronger then I thought I was.

Today

on this spring day I have fallen in love with this blog .

A story of real emotion. True people.

Moms, daughters, life, love and tradegy.

This woman's heart reflects my own and think she is similar to how I will be a mom.

Read her blog and enjoy as I have today.

My current mood is peaceful. I am listening to bette midler sing "angel of mine" from beaches. Will someone please buy me this soundtrack? :)
It holds childhood memories for me.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a personal note this weekend includes
packing stuff and moving into a quaint apartment
celebrating friends' new home
doing homework
and
writing papers

and hopefully laughing and drinking wine :)

hope you have a great weekend and it is more restful then mine!

Birds

Do you know what is the best???

Walking out to my car in the morning and hearing the birds chirping :) :)

I love that springs is around the corner.

Last night James and I grabbed dinner, went to a park, watched the sunset, and then listened to music play from his phone as we danced in the park.

I taught him the box step, we are real fancy.

It was a great evening.