Written from Heart to Heart

I always feel a little bit disconnected from people who tell me that they don't really like to read. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with this. I'm sure, say an excellent basketball player, doesn't really get me when I say that it just isn't a game that I have fun playing. It just isn't my sport. I definitely enjoy watching it and loved cheering for it, but the ball and hoop just aren't my friends when I'm the player shooting. So when someone tells me that reading just isn't something they enjoy doing, that's alright. I, however, can't quite connect with that feeling because reading DEFINITELY is my thing. Ever since I was little, I have had a love for books. I can recall my mom encouraging the inner reader in both my brother and me as she lovingly took us to the local library and let me sit in the bean bag chair while reading those books that had very little plot and depth but were very readable for young minds such as mine. As a few years passed, she continued to feed this hobby by agreeing to buy us books at the bookstore if we were reading them. What a mistake on her part. If she still kept that up today, we would have broken the piggy bank.

Sometimes I pick up a book and am challenged by it. Whether it be a difficult plot, characters so unlike myself, or written in an old time style unlike today's language, I may feel that I fight my way through the chapters as if I were in a wrestling match. Now and then I might give up on it and put it down. This past summer I read a book about teaching reading to children so that they can truly learn to love to read. It really spoke to me when the author suggested that we teach kids that it's ok to put a book down and move on to a new one. Every book isn't a good book, and every book is not for me. I like that thought.

Other times though, I pick up a book and feel that I'm reading a letter straight from the author that was written just for a heart like mine. Yesterday as I sat curled up reading little anecdotes by an author about experiences in her life, I found myself laughing, smiling, and almost in tears as I connected with the feelings and dreams that spilled onto the pages. I love reading when you can't help but feel that after spending time in the pages, you've just spent time with a dear friend. I won't say that every book or even the majority of books do this for me, but that's what makes the experience such a treasure. Now and then, I find in the pages of a book a little gift written from heart to heart. It's those moments that make reading my kind of thing.

High Above the Stately River

I can't begin to tell you what a difference the warmer temperatures made in my life last week. I felt like a new person. My mood was brighter, my energy level higher, and there was a bounce in my step. One of my good church friends who is a fellow HC/Chi Omega alum told me that the nice weather kept drawing her thoughts to her college days. I can completely identify with her. There was nothing like a gorgeous spring day on Hanover's campus. My imagination jumps back to the picturesque campus filled with beautiful blossoming flowers, green lawns, and greenery and buds on the many trees. I have decided I am definitely going to have to make a trip down the interstate and pay good old HC a visit when the weather gets a bit warmer and stays that way.

Thinking back on my days at Hanover makes me appreciative of the ways that I am still connected to my college peers and Chi Omega sisters. It's funny how such a small campus can lead to so many connections and friendships beyond our undergraduate days. For example, I find it so neat how God led to me to teach in the same elementary school as my good friend and Chi Omega big sister. Furthermore, I keep in frequent touch with two of my closest Hanover friends even though one of them teaches in Cincinnati while the other is pursuing a medical degree in Chicago. I'm so proud of them both and miss them lots! I'm also fortunate to get to continue being roommates with one of the girls who I lived with for a couple of years at Hanover. We've grown a lot since then, but sometimes we revert back to the silly girls in Room 3 of our sorority. I also am really lucky to get to see another of my good Hanover friends on a fairly regular basis. M and I are two of those people who randomly met our freshman year and were simply destined to be friends. Finally, I still keep in touch with my wonderful Chi Omega family. I'm looking forward to visiting my sorority little sister in a couple of weeks to attend a concert by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The younger portion of our family continues our legacy back on campus and is soon welcoming another sister into our family. We can't wait to meet her!

The present is so wonderful and full of happiness, but there's nothing like a little walk down memory lane to appreciate the beginnings to such wonderful college friendships that continue into my life today...


(Initiation dinner freshman year with my sorority Big)


(A one of a kind friendship with my BGFs)


(The roomie and me)


(On graduation day with M)


(A perfect little family)

Heavenly Valentine

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! I think everyone has a love-hate relationship with this holiday. If you have a significant other, what a special day to show them how much you care. However, during years when you're flying solo, who really wants a reminder? Overall though, I must say that it's a bit commercialized for my taste, but I still embrace the opportunity to let my loved ones know how much they mean to me.

Several years ago, I ran across a simple yet beautiful valentine. In fact, the words of this valentine are perhaps more eloquent and meaningful than any the most distinguished poet could boast. At the time, I saved it to reference later and found an image of it today as I prepared to write this post.



I've never found a love so real, so pure, and so true as the love I have in my Savior. Thank you God for loving us each so much that you sent us the precious gift of your Son. Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow everyone! Spread the love! <3

Ice Princess

Today is ice day #3. I remember the days back in elementary school when we had several days off from school due to inches of snow and slick roads, but a sheet of ice such as the one still covering Indianapolis sidewalks, cars, homes, and even many streets days later is something unlike anything I've ever seen. I've had a good chuckle at the newscasters the past few days as they have talked about it from every angle until it seems there is nothing left to say about the winter storm. Nonetheless, I to agree that it has been a pretty big ordeal for our city and state.

Yesterday my roommates and I ventured out the front door in an attempt to clear our cars and take a look around. After a half hour outside, all three of us had fallen as had one of the mail ladies after a postal service vehicle got stuck. Nothing like walking on a street that could serve as an ice skating rink! Two broken ice scrapers later, we had made headway on our car windows. I couldn't believe the two inch thick ice that clung to my windshield. I'm still working on it or waiting for it to melt away. I am anxious to see what tomorrow will bring. Although three days off from work has been a pleasant surprise, I am ready to get back to it. There are only so many things to do at home after so many hours of free time...

If I thought our last snowfall had me wishing for spring and summer, let me tell you that this desire has only multiplied. I'm thinking thoughts of planting flowers, swimming, volunteering at church camp, and music. My roommates and I bought our country megaticket just the other morning. We are looking forward to seeing a number of oustanding country artists throughout the course of the summer including Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, and Tim McGraw. Bring on those summer days and summer nights!