Oh Happy Day!

Guess what?!?! We just booked our honeymoon!!! I am so excited. Wedding plans are going along great. I can't believe it's less than six months now. Tim is amazing. Everything is great. I'm very excited!!!!! (As if you couldn't tell by all the exclamation points)

Jamaica here we come!

Moved and Moving

Do you know what it's like to stand almost exactly in the middle of over 40,000 people united for a cause? After the weekend, I do, and it is an awesome and amazing feeling. Saturday my mom and I competed in the 15th annual Susan Komen Race for the Cure, a 5K walk/run that raises money for breast cancer prevention, research, and treatment. I thought it would be fun and a good way to spend a Saturday morning with my mom. What it was, however, was almost beyond words. As we began the first part of the walk, all you could see up the hill in front of us were people walking. If you turned around, you saw the same thing...as far as you could see, nothing but thousands of people walking together to make a difference.

My mom was diagnosed in December of 2004 with breast cancer. She's been a survivor since that moment. While I will never forget the phone call that told me she was sick, I will also never forget how beautiful she looked Saturday morning in her pink Survivor shirt, pink boa, and visor. She was radiant amongst a group of people, most of whom have been touched in some way by breast cancer. It was almost impossible not to be touched by the women around you as you walked. Many walked in celebration of survivors; many walked in memory of those that did not survive.

I wish I could put into words the feelings that I felt standing there and watching my mom. I wish I could make sense of the overwhelming emotions that came out of nowhere Saturday morning. Mom and I didn't really talk about it too much--we would cry if we did. We just celebrated the fact that she was there and she was in remission. I cannot imagine how lonely going through a disease like that could feel. I cannot imagine the fears and frustrations and everything else that goes through your mind. But, my mom is strong and she is a survivor. I am always proud of my mother, and was so proud to walk beside her Saturday morning.

One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life. That is a staggering number, and one that needs to be taken seriously. The Komen foundation is the fulfillment of a promise between sisters, and they are doing amazing things. If you are ever asked to support this cause, please do so. Chances are you or someone you love deeply will be affected by this in your life, and you will want to do something. If you are able to do a walk, take the time to do it. You will be changed by what happens there.

It was an amazing weekend, overall. Mom and I spent the weekend in the Radisson on the circle in Indy and did some birthday shopping and just hanging out. It was great.

Simple Things

I was still bummed about the whole Twelfth Night thing yesterday evening, but I'm doing a little better today. It's still disappointing, but I'm okay with it. I'll just have to find other things to keep my brain busy. At least I auditioned, right?

Tim came over last night. That was a surprise, because I totally did not expect to see him with all the Easter stuff going on this week. So, I went to sleep happy because I had seen him.

This morning, I had a funny comment on my blog from Meagan. If you don't read her blog, you should. It's both funny and thoughtful. And her comment, with a GRRRRR made my morning!

I don't really have a lot to say. I just didn't want there to be a sad blog on top still.

I want to put a new picture on my blog, but don't have a URL for any of the ireland pictures...hmmm...

Get Used to Disappointment

The above comes from one of my favorite scenes in the Princess Bride. I think it's a great movie and I love when Mandy Patinkin's character realizes that he can't be in control of everything and know everything. And then he gets hit in the head, which is kind of funny!

So, I found out today that I did not get cast in Twelfth Night. Even though I am not terribly surprised, I am a lot more disappointed than I thought I would be. Part of my frustration comes from the fact that I really do feel like this is a gift I was given, and I have no outlet for it right now. Community theater is hard to break in to, this I know, but that doesn't lessen my disappointment. The girl that was cast as the lead knows nothing about Shakespeare an admitted to me that she did not understand it. But, she has done a lot of community theater, so I guess that is what matters. I knew there were no guarantees, but I still wanted to do it so badly. The only real avenue I have had for theater lately is not even something I want to be involved in because I am so tired of the politicking and the constant bickering. Not to mention there has been nothing for me to do there in over a year.

I guess I was looking for a creative outlet and a way to get involved and express myself, and it simply isn't happening. Oh well. I guess I just need to get used to disappointment, at least where theater is concerned, for awhile.

Daylight Saving Time & Other Random Thoughts

(above: Malahide Castle, Malahide, Ireland)

Changing the clocks for the first time in my life was fine. No big deal, really. But, I'm still getting used to this whole it still being light at 8:30 at night and it back to being dark when I wake up thing. Overall, though, it's not been a big deal.

I cannot believe we've been back from Ireland for over a week now. It's gone so fast, much like the trip did. Seeing Paul & Abigail and everyone was great. Hanging out with them and seeing their life now was fun. Spending a week with Tim on vacation was amazing. We did so much in such a short amount of time. Dublin is a cool place with lots to see and do and I'm looking forward to going back sometime, with my mom, with my friends, with my soon-to-be husband...it will be great!

A dear friend is getting married in August. It's fast, but I'm very excited for her. It's going to be a big change in her life, both the marriage and then becoming a full time missionary, but God has been working on her and grooming her for this her entire life, so it will be great! This is, apparently, the year for marriages!!

I'm back to dieting. I've realized how easy it would be to get an eating disorder--being sick with a flu-like bug for a day and realizing you can live with little more than toast and water does that--but I also know that I like food too much for it to be a problem.

I auditioned for the MCCT Production of Twelfth Night last night. It was fun and a much better experience than my last audition. I would really like a part, but am trying my hardest not to get my hopes up. However, with Jason out for six weeks and Tim getting really busy, it would come at a good time. We'll see. Hopefully he'll be able to do auditions tonight, despite the sometimes rainy weather, and then he'll be able to cast.

You should pop over to my friend Kellie's blog and read her entry about tofu. It made me laugh really hard. Who knew it was a pet?!?!

Life is good. Easter is next weekend. The Komen Foundation Race for the Cure is the weekend after that, and then I'm hanging out with my beautiful bridesmaids so we can order their dresses and have a good time the weekend after that. I pretty much have the next 4 weekends (not including this one) booked. Nothing like keeping busy, right? It's six months and 2 weeks until we get married...I have a feeling it's going to simply fly by!