Hmmm. Irony.

Irony: at state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.

This pretty much sums up my life.  Like when you think you did well on a test, and you actually didn't.  Or when a guy that you have been out with and aren't going to continue to date becomes your home teacher or co-chair.  Or perhaps when you are getting ready to speak in front of a lot of people and you find out that your ex is engaged.  Or maybe when you are really hoping for a situation to work out and instead it tanks miserably. MY LIFE.

Pretty, depressing, but also pretty dang funny. Learning to laugh is the key to surviving! So, I will continue to laugh... LAUGH IT UP!! Quick, before you cry!

The Little Engine that Could

The Little Engine that Could had a good thing going when he said, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

I think I have reached point of no return. Nursing school might kill me if I let it. I am exhausted, I can't seem to keep up with the pace of this semester! I seem to have a paper due every week, more little projects than I can keep track of, and more things flying at me every day. Not to mention more drama from life itself. But, I keep my eye on August- the time when I take the NCLEX, or that scary national licensing exam for nurses. It will only get worse before it gets better, but it can be done.  

Epiphany!! HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO ME!!!

I know, it sounds harsh. But once we learn that we are the exception, and not the rule, we will all be able to sleep better at night!

I saw the movie He's Just Not That Into You this weekend! And, man, I thought that after having read the book several times I was cured (I know, I am totally lame). But I'm not.  I think that along with all the other morning affirmations you say in the mirror, I guess we must include 'He's Just Not That Into' as one of them.

 I bought the book in my younger days at the advice of my grandmother (yes, I know- pathetic! But my g-ma was pretty dang cool!) and read it. I have subsequently gotten back together with the guy that I initially read it to get over about a hundred times.  Then I came home from my mission and read it again, thinking it would empower me to find Mr. Right, when really I have done it over and over again!

For those who have seen the movie, I consider myself a cross between Gigi and Beth, though that's only a self appraisal! 

  The movie was another attempt to get my butt moving and continue to say to myself- 'He's Just Not That Into You!!!!! every morning, until maybe someday he (whoever that is) will actually be into me. For now, I have to do something about being pathetic!

I love... a few of my favorite things.

These are a few of my favorite things... my loves, if you will!!  If anyone else actually reads this stuff, they will enjoy that I have a broad range of interests! Enjoy!

This is a picture of Florence Nightingale, the nurse of all nurses! I love nursing and all it stands for. School is a different story, I'm not so fond of it, but I love nursing!

 

Best known as the boyfriend substitute!! Chocolate is one of my loves!

Birthdays! This cake was made for me by my friend Barb for my 25th birthday!!

I love birthdays!!

I love vegetables!! I once stopped dating someone because he didn't like vegetables!

 I love them! 

Sports. I love them!! I played softball competitively for years!! 

I love football, and my brothers keep me watching all the sports I can get!!

I love movies! Sleeping Beauty is one of the favorites, but I just love to snuggle up and watch a good flick!!

I am a definite bookworm! I love to read, and sometimes I would rather read than hang out with people. Thus, I read with a dictionary, and I love words! After learning Hungarian, I became a dork!! Oh well!

I love the mountains!! Whether I am hiking, running, snowshoeing or climbing, I love them!! 

I LOVE Evelyn!!!

Today's LOVE moment goes out to my favorite girl... Evelyn! She is the closest thing I have to a niece, my best friend's daughter! I love this girl!! She is almost 20 months old, now, and stole my heart from the first moment I met her! She is a bonafide redhead, and nicknamed "Peach" by her parents!! My brothers are in love with her, too! And, as an oldest girl, she has all the makings of a brilliant child!! I love you, Evelyn!!!

Putting on a show at dinner! What a babe!!!

Eating cake at our birthday party... Evelyn's birthday is three days after mine!

The girls together at Liz's wedding!! 

Thanks again, Barb, for these pics!!!!

I LOVE HUNGARY!! Szeretem Magyarorszagot!!

Today's post goes out to my favorite country in the world other than the U.S.- Hungary!! Man, I love that place!! I served my mission there from May of 2005-November of 2006, and yes, I speak Hungarian!! I love the place, the people, the food, and the language!! Bear with me, as there are going to be several pics!! I can't help it! I miss Hungary!!

Nora and Gabor are my favorite!! They weren't married when we started to teach them, but they were married on a Friday, baptized on a Saturday, and confirmed on a Sunday! When I left, Nora was in labor with Dominika, now two years old! They went to the temple and were sealed as a family a little over a year after they were baptized! This pic is from last October when they were here to visit for a NuSkin Conference. My family loved visiting with them!

Classic Mission pic! This is one of my districts- in Buda.

Szandra may be the whole reason I served a mission! Pictured here with Anna, who introduced her to the church, she was one of the first that I taught who got baptized!

 She is awesome! She joined the Church at 18, and is now getting ready to turn in her mission papers! I love her to death!!

This is an amazing fountain, made out of Zsolnay porcelain in Pecs, Hungary where I was a greenie. The porcelain is manufactured in Pecs, and said to be unbreakable (though I haven't tried to break the piece I bought there). It is very unique, this is the real color, the blueish green is absolutely beautiful!

If you can see it, this is the wall of locks in Pecs, Hungary, where I started my mission.  This wall has countless locks on it where couples, or even unrequited lovers have declared their love for each other by placing a lock on the wall. Some are engraved, others just plain, but there are no keys here! This signifies that love is eternal to them, their hearts, like missionaries' hearts are locked tight!!

This gorgeous yellow church is in the main square in Kecskemet, Hungary where I finished my mission. It is one of four churches in this main square where we used to street contact and chat with people. I love the Nagy Templom, as they call it!! 

The Hungarian Seal. It is a very symbolic rendition of what my favorite people have been through... the crown (now on display in the Parliament Building) is really quite a piece of history itself. The cross on the top is crooked just like in the seal... a reminder of all the many hardships that Hungary has gone through to be where it is today! 

Hajra Magyarorszag!!

This pic is of the parliament building in Pest! I was able to go on a tour, it's incredible inside and out. It sits right on the banks of the Duna (in Hungarian) or the Danube river, which runs straight through the heart of Budapest, separating Buda from Pest! I served on both sides!! I love Budapest!!!

In Pest, there aren't too many beautiful places.  This is called Erzsebet Liget, or Elizabeth Park. It is a run-down and tragic, yet stunning reminder of the Russian communist rule! Once upon a time it was incredibly beautiful and new, now just pretty!

This is in Budapest. The bridge is known as the Chain bridge, isn't it beautiful?

My Family!!

Today's post goes out to my family!!! I love you guys!!! This pic is when my bro Nick got home from his mission. It's woefully incomplete, but it shows quite a few of my family! 

LOVE, Love, love...

It's February... the month of nonstop red hearts, crazy cards, roses, pink anything you can imagine and my least favorite holiday! Why do we have to have a holiday to express our love to each other? Okay, my mom (an incredible V-day obsessor- she has heart shaped ice trays and pink hearted socks to name a few of her addictions) says that I won't always hate Valentine's day. I'm not certain I believe her, but I guess we can roll with it.  In honor of the month, this month's theme will be centered around LOVE.  All my posts will talk about the things I love!!

      In her honor... this one is to my mom! She is my best friend and my angel! She has taught me everything I know, and she has given up so much for me!! I love you, mom!! Thanks for being the best ever!!