Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

In case you haven't heard:

MALLORY GOT MARRIED!

Last week was the wedding and reception and Mal and her hubby are already back in Idaho. My big sister is now a wife and I must find a new partner in crime. We are happy to have another Jeff in the family. Welcome my new brother-in-law. I hope you know you just inherited a little-sister-moocher. You've been warned. :)

At the wedding I was humorously made aware that I am the only single one left. We did a sibling picture with the brides family and all was dandy. My brother, two sisters and I all smiled happily.
Then they added the sibling spouses. As one by one the spouses came, I was pushed farther and farther to the side until I wound up on the end all by myself, behind one of my bros-in-law. Of course everyone giggled and they pulled me towards the middle so I didn't look so pitiful on the end. And in the background I heard my brother singing "One of these things is not like the others."

Maybe this should have made me feel bad because of the lack of romantic love in my life. But all I could think was "Suckers! You have to be adults! I still get to do whatever I want!" Not the most meek thing but, being the only single sibling remaining, has kindled the vagabond spark in me. I know eventually someday I'll get married and have a family, and be really happy doing it. But seeing my siblings and many of my good friends take on lifestyles where they now are accountable to spouses and children makes me want to live up my single days! And travel the world and do humanitarian service, and just be free!

As of last Wednesday I am the last original Goldie Girl. There are two current Goldie Girls (my wonderful sister-in-law and me), but of the original 3, I'm the only one left. And for some reason, this gives me the overwhelming desire to RUN from men and be a free free Goldie. And keep the last name that matches my hair so well. Oh, I just never want to grow up!

Woes of a Quality Timer

Have you ever heard of love languages? You know... touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, and gifts. Well, I'm a quality timer (and a little bit words of affirmation). The intent of sharing this is not to express to you how you can best show love for me (although, might be a perk). My intent is to complain. Imagine for a minute an individual. To this individual, time with other people means a lot. And this individual spends most of their "free time" alone. Sad right? Pity me!

On the plus side, I went home last weekend!!! It was great! AND I'm going home AGAIN 11 days from now. Woot! Saying this just gave me the realization of everything I have to do in 11 days. Yikes!

Life is busy, life is full, life is good.

P.S. I love swing sets, and sunshine, and ice cream.

P.P.S. It's true, girls really do just wanna have fun.

Wishing Well

The other day I reached into my coat pocket and look what I found:

One time, my dad told me that every time we find a penny, it's a little reminder that God is thinking of us. Thanks Dad :)

Mmm...

I love when at the end of a day, you stick your face into a pillow with freshly washed sheets and get a whiff of heaven :)

I Love My Dad

Often these words get stuck in my head:

"I love little baby ducks, and good ol' pickup trucks, and tomatoes on the vine."

And then I think of my dad singing this song in my wonderful childhood years. And I always leave that memory with a smile.

How can we....

Love life when its painful, and it hurts, and you just want things to be happy, and whole, and good?

Because tomorrow is always a new day with great potential for good. And each moment has potential to be brighter than the last. The Lord will put the right people in our life when we need them the most. And there is always a way out of the sadness that tries so hard to surround us. It's just a matter of finding it.

And most of all, when it feels like you matter to no one in the world, sometimes not even yourself... you do. You matter. Who you are makes the biggest difference in the world. Regardless of what messages are being sent to you, from how many sources, not one life of those who know you would be the same without you. You are needed. You are wanted.

You matter.

The Latest in Tourette's

Tics are funny things. They move around the body through out life and change without warning or reason. One year they will be arm tics, the next abs, the next neck, or all at once. The first few years after my Tourette's kicked in I did a lot of facial tics and biceps. The past few years haven't been so bad with shoulder and ab tics, and the occasional neck tic.

Surprise! The past few weeks my tics have moved again. And they are all centered in my lovely head. I'm back to facial tics, and lots of them. And I have some major neck tics. I've never had tics where I've needed to bang the back of my head against something, so that has been a new experience. My poor roommates are probably going to get sick of the banging sound coming from my room. It seems as though the best way to relieve this tic is to sit on my bed with my back to the wall and hit against it. As you might imagine, my neck is tired and my head hurts.

Another surprise! I'm developing vocal tics. It started as an odd whimper and has turned into to some weird grunts and HAs.

On the plus side, my neck is going to get really strong.
So if you see me making faces at you, or hear me whimpering, just know that the dopamine in my brain is having a party. No worries.