eeeek!

For the first time since our wedding, I momentarily misplaced my wedding ring.

Last night we were at TCBY for 99 cent waffle cone Wednesday (thanks to Lisa B, who enlightened me about this spectacular special offer). I was wiping some fro yo mess off of my fingers which had dribbled out of the bottom of the cone when my heart skipped a beat. My left ring finger was bare. Where was my wedding ring?? The Husband, being of a calmer nature than me, smiled and explained to me that since the ring does not come off of my finger easily, I must have left it in the bathroom after I took a shower, shortly before we left the house. Right. Even though this made sense, I couldn't figure out why it would have taken me this long to have realized it was missing. I was still a nervous wreck. Not only was it my wedding ring, but it was an heirloom. I wanted to call The Cat and ask her to check in the bathroom to see if my ring was there, but obviously that wasn't going to fly.

Needless to say, we raced back home (well, at least The Husband describes my driving as so) and found it sitting on the bathroom counter, right where I always put it after showers in order to put on lotion. What a relief!

Pesky Skeeters

It never fails that in outdoor gatherings, I am either the only person to get bitten by mosquitoes, or, I get the most bites out of everyone. Unfortunately, I have a strong reaction to mosquito bites, which makes it difficult for me to enjoy the great outdoors as much as I would love to. My bites have swelled up to a range from about an inch in diameter (never smaller) to probably four inches in diameter (not an exaggeration). In addition to the massive swelling, the area(s) turn pink/red, get very warm, and if I have enough bites on my body at once (8 or more?), I feel dizzy and lightheaded (these symptoms are not to be confused with my unfortunate drinking allergy). To prevent such reactions, I've tried insect repellent, but the mosquitoes have braved the scent and bitten me anyway. I've tried wearing long sleeves and jeans, but the mosquitoes have bitten me through my jeans on many occasions. I've also tried constant movement at outdoor gatherings, where I look like I may have tourette syndrome. Nothing is fool-proof.

I don't know why the mosquitoes can smell my blood from miles away, or why they single me out, or why I have such extreme reactions. Perhaps it is my type O blood. Whatever the reason, it's really an annoyance that I could do without. I would love to have the mild (or nonexistent) reaction that most people have to mosquitoes.

Change

We cleaned the house yesterday and in the process I somehow swapped the placement of our toothbrushes in the toothbrush holder. After brushing my teeth last night, I realized that I had blindly taken "my" toothbrush from it's usual location and used it, without first looking at it. Can you see where this is going? Yep. I used The Husband's toothbrush. I guess things like this happen in marriage. You accidently use your spouse's toothbrush, acknowledge the mistake, panic for a brief moment, then move on. Now, had it been one of my brother's toothbrushes, I am sure I would have thrown a fit.

"At least I can adapt to change," The Husband said to me. Contrary to my lack of attention to the toothbrush I was using, he had actually looked and used his own toothbrush, despite its swapped location in the toothbrush holder.

Whoever said I always pay careful attention to details better think again.

Allergies/Quirks

I'm not allergic to much (that I know of). Of course, I sneeze a lot when I encounter dust, but I'm not exactly sure I would define that as an allergic reaction.

When I was young, I would break out in hives every time I ate a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. I could eat a jelly sandwich (which I often had packed in my lunch) or a peanut butter sandwich, but not the combination. To this day, I do not eat PB&J sandwiches, for fear that I will break out in horrible hives. My friends like to tease me about experimenting with a jelly sandwich followed by a peanut butter sandwich. I'm too scared even to do that.

Aside from PB&J sandwiches, I am apparently allergic to alcohol. In other words, my body is unable to break down alcohol appropriately. This means that after even just one drink, I turn bright red, and can sometimes become dizzy, warm, and lightheaded. It's pretty embarrassing, actually, and people often assume that it's because I'm a lightweight. But the truth is, I'm allergic to alcohol. This makes some social situations a bit awkward.

Mud Wrestling

Back in the days of my youth, every summer I would attend at least one summer camp through my church, sometimes two, and sometimes even three. In 1998, I attended Senior High Camp, CPYC (Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference), and PYT (Presbyterian Youth Triennium). I have some of my fondest childhood memories from CPYC and I hope that one day I'll make it back as an adult leader or participant. But one of my most vivid memories comes from PYT, which was held at Purdue University. The planned activities were amazing, and because there were so many people attending, it really enhanced each experience. During recreation time one afternoon, I remember we had this really incredible option to go MUD WRESTLING. It was probably the most fun and carefree experience of my life. They had several firetrucks parked on a large empty field, firing hoses and hoses of water into the air. This, of course, made the field quite wet and muddy. And there were young people everywhere, splashing in the mud, tossing balls, chasing each other, and perhaps there really was even a bit of playful wrestling among the boys. I did get a pretty bad scrape on my knee from someone accidentally shoving me onto the ground, but I really didn't care one bit. It was way too much fun!! I remember afterwards, my friends and I spent a long while hosing down all the mud caked onto our skin and faces. Unforgettable. If I ever had the opportunity to roll in the mud with a bunch of friends again, I'd do it in a heartbeat!!

Babies

Although I already have two (almost three!) very adorable nieces, I have yet to have a close friend give birth to a baby, and I know the day it happens will be a tearfully joyful day. Babies are such amazing miracles and I look forward to the day when I have my first, and when someone close to me does. My imagination probably does not adequately capture what it will be like, to get the phone call, hustle to the medical center and ride the elevator up to a room bustling with smiling family members and a tired but radiantly happy new mommy. It will be surreal, and probably even 10x moreso for my own child. It's something that I eagerly look forward to.

He is waiting

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagles' wings.
He crowns my life with loving kindness,
His triumph song I'll ever sing.
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold;
And when He calls me, it will be paradise.
His face forever to behold,
His face forever to behold.

-From "I Will Glory in My Redeemer," Cook

This is a verse from a song we sang in church this morning. I thought the lyrics were just so encouraging and uplifting and reminds me that God is calling us heavenward. It's easy to forget in the daily grind.

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:14