Thoughts About Life

I'm a nurse manager at a nursing home.

I was in a meeting a few weeks ago and we were discussing a resident who had stated she was ready to die...

{Side note: I hate death.  I think it's stupid...}

But that's an understandable statement for a 90+ year old woman, right?

Well, it surprised me when the other staff members in the meeting started responding, "Well yeah. I can understand that... I think about how I want to just die all the time!"  Actually, they went all the way around the table with each person echoing the same thought.

And then it got to the point where I was the only one who hadn't said anything.

And I said nothing.  I just sat and thought.

Thought about how sad that was.  Thought about how frustrated I've been with my job lately.  How the things that I work really hard at, and spend countless hours doing -- how they seem so pointless.  How each day blends into the next.  How sometimes I feel like weeks are passing me by and I'm in a type of trance... because there's so much to do and so much to worry about.  And how life can feel so overwhelming and so monotonous sometimes.  It's just the truth.  Sometimes life sucks.

And it's hard to stay positive.

But, that conversation got me thinking...

About how much I love life.  How much I have to be thankful for.  About the times when I feel like my soul could burst because life is such an amazing and beautiful gift.



I ran across this quote the other day.

-- She said she usually cried once a day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short.  --Brian Andreas



I feel like that... a lot.

Isn't that the truth, though?  That the times when we feel so sad and overwhelmed are when we are somehow missing out on the beauty in life...

Like being upset with someone you love, or being so busy you can't do that one thing you really love to do {the thing that makes your soul feel full}, or being so distracted by the craziness that you don't take the time to stop and appreciate just how beautiful life really is.


Please, please, please...
Today, stop and smell the roses with me : )
It will make us feel happy, like we should be.

Friday Night Extravaganza

So my Friday night started off pretty good.

Let me elaborate...

Yup... a mocha coconut frappuccino and walking aimlessly around target equals a very happy Rachel.

Whoever decided to put Starbucks inside Target was a freaking genius  : )

So, now I'm back from my excursion and my plans for tonight are wonderful...

Phil's at work so it's just me and the dog at home, enjoying some of the following:

• California Pizza Kitchen - Garlic Chicken Pizza

• SoCo and Simply Lemonade

• Endless episodes of Lost on netflix

• Pinterest, pinterest, and more pinterest

Sounds like a pretty satisfying evening to me.

Hope your Friday night is as relaxing as mine!

Special Treat

My sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin all came out to visit last night and stayed the night with us.

We browsed pinterest together, watched some sweet youtube videos, ate sushi, made sopapilla cheesecake and cinnamon french toast, and went swimming at the pool.

It was nice : ) I'm glad they came

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In other news...

I went to the opening night of Harry Potter a few weeks ago.

It was amazing.

Listen to this quote --

"The stories we love best do live in us forever.  So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."  --J.K. Rowling

Goosebumps.  Every time.  She is so cool.  And I am so glad she chose to share her amazing story of Harry Potter with us : )

Then I saw this on pinterest...

Pinterest is addicting.

That might be an understatement for me.  It is mind-blowing. hahaha

Look at all of this...

Butterbeer Recipe

And that's just stuff on my Harry Potter board.

Amazing.  There are no words...

Just a big smile on my face.

Have a beautiful Friday!

Long Day

Today was a Monday to surpass all Mondays.

Yes... it really was that bad.

But, now I am home.  Relaxing, eating, drinking, doing a little bit of cleaning, cuddling with the dog, watching old episodes of Lost, browsing through some pretty sweet blogs.  So... it's better now.

Just got home from a few days camping at Higgins Lake.  It's one of my favorite places.

Every July, we go up for 12 or so days with my Dad's family.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, etc. The first year I went, I was 3 months old.  And I've been every summer since.

There's just something about it that I love.

Another year has passed and I feel so thankful that my family is able to come together and enjoy each other's company.

They've been going for 30+ years... and I hope it continues at least another 30.

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I guess that's all for now.  Have a beautiful evening.

Monday Night

Hello all.

Just hanging out tonight.  Phil cooked me dinner.  We went for a walk and then got some iced coffee.

Pretty good night.

Listening to this song...

I love it.  I'm not even going to elaborate at all because I think the song says it perfectly :)


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Other exciting things...

My little sister got engaged a few weeks ago : )

Super excited for her. The wedding will be next summer.

So, I've been looking at wedding stuff.  Dresses and decorations and wedding blogs.  I wish I could get married again...

To Phil, of course : )

Found a pretty cool site - greenweddingshoes.com

I especially liked this post.

I love weddings.  I love love. 

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And, to continue with the random theme of this post, here is my dog...

Yes.  He likes to dress up like a gangsta.

Ok... maybe not.  But I like him to.  

He lets me bug him... he's a good dog.  I love him.

Goodnight!!

The Office

I am slightly addicted to this show.

You should be too : )

Randomness

Just laying around tonight.  Relaxing after a long day at work.

Windows are open... enjoying the warm spring breeze.

Laying on the couch, browsing through pictures of beautiful things.

Here's a few...





leaf ring



bernese mountain dog puppy

bolthouse farms mango lemonade -- yummy

whitney bed from pottery barn -- love it, want it



grand haven pier -- yes this is just minutes from our apartment : )



phil wants to can strawberry rhubarb jam this year -- oh my

seriously? i want her hair. i want her cardigan.

rainbow cake makes me smile

can't have a post like this without a pioneer woman meal -- short ribs in tomato sauce
i would love to experience this

Have a beautiful day!!