complete 180

This weekend I drove home and on the way, the snow was really coming down in the beginning of my journey and the roads were really slippery. At one point (I don't even know what happened seconds before this) i started slipping. i began sliding to the right. i must have tried slamming my foot on the breaks (it was just a reflex) and my breaks started to pump and then i started sliding to the left. i don't even know if i kept my foot on the break or what made me turn the wheel from right to left as i was sliding, but then all of a sudden...i was turning. towards the on coming traffic. until i somehow stopped after doing a complete 180 on the highway. luckily we were all going so slow that the cars coming my way were able to stop before hitting me. i was definitely lucky. i simply (well not so simply...i was scared as heck) backed up a little and did a turn to face the other direction on the road. the cars waited patiently for me as i began to drive 10mph scared for my life. legs shaking.

but i made it home safely. Thank you God.

and i returned to Amherst this afternoon. w/o having gone to the boat show with my dad.
sad :(
i pray we can go next year. it's our yearly tradition

i'm off to unpack/put clothes away/call a few friends.

Lent

maybe this year for Lent i wont abstain from anything.
i won't take away anything from my day to day.
like soda or junk food or facebook.

but maybe this year i will add something to my days.
something beneficial to my soul.
something i should be doing anyways but fail to do on a day to day basis.
something like prayer.
prayer for my family.
prayer for my future/wisdom.
prayer for a heart like Christs.
prayer for the things that actually need to be prayed for.
i should add a time in my day that i will pray.
no matter the circumstance, how i feel, what i'm already doing.
i will pray.

wish me luck.
i'm already a week late.

a few things i look forward to:

(i'm writing in font type Georgia. funny. why isn't there a font type Virginia?)
speaking of my name real quick...i (along with Alexandra) was told that my name is romantic. i thought that was funny.

ok, so i'm looking into the future and am going to think of a few things that i am excited about/ or wishing would happen some day. like...

1) having my very own dog. well puppy that eventually grows into a dog. gosh...if i could go out today and pick him/her up, i'd jump out of bed right this second. i want my own dog soooooooo bad. kind of like Mallory's dog Lola. she sends me pictures of her pup usually every week and i just melt inside. she is so darn precious and goofy looking in her own lil bull dog kind of way. she makes me want a bull dog. but more than that, she makes me just want a dog. a dog to: take for walks, sleep with me each night, snuggle with, give an endless amount of kisses to, talk to/cry with, laugh at. i wish i could get a dog of my own by this coming year but i feel like that is impossible. for where i am living and who i am living with (i will have 3 roomies and the facts of life are that everyone is just not obsessed with dogs like i am.) although i want a dog and kait wants a cat and we want them to be best friends. but most likely i won't have the money for all the expenses and i know it won't be as glorious as it sounds to me when he/she is not potty trained and pees/poops in the house and i need to clean it up. it will be frustrating but oh so worth it...for those times i mentioned above (like when it cracks me up doing the goofy things it will do!) so ya, i could go on and on but i really want a dog. maybe a golden retriever. or a bull dog. or a lab. or just a mutt.
2) nights without homework. oh how wonderful those nights will be.
3) suntanning this summer and spending some long days/weekends at the beach. preferably Ogunquit, Maine
4) someday going on a week long cruise to anywhere hot/sunny where i can swim in crystal clear water
5) abundant life, despite my circumstances and joy in Christ
6) a feeling of purpose, knowing that what i'm doing and where i'm at seems to make sense
7) a man to be my man. falling in love, a wedding, marriage, sharing life with someone, being a wife, wearing the ring.
8) children and being a mother
9) learning how to cook decently
10) a face that is acne freeeeeeeee
11) gracefulness
12) understanding. trust in God

and more. i'm done thinking for now.

it is impossible to study...

when i have the tv on mute in the background.
with America's Funniest Home Videos.

darn homework and studying!
my life would be full of so many more laughs right now if i could just be watching it...
what a stinker.

God, wanna grant us a beautiful snow day this week? I really wouldn't mind.
at all.
i promise.
truly.


Virginia

Fat Tuesday

Last night my roomies and i ate some yummy--
pink
chocolate chip
valentines day
pancakes.

and they were delicious.
thank you Lauren.
for the pancakes.
and for the other delightful valentines day items that were included in the lovely package.
like chocolates.
a sweet/funny note.
hilarious pictures (Beyonce and nuns- representing all the single ladies in the apartment)
and more chocolates.


boy, do i just love packages.
wanna put a smile on my face?
or hear me scream and scream like an excited little girl?
send me a package in the mail.
and i will forever be thankful.

Today is Fat Tuesday.
so says Jeff at least.
which means after Navs, a group of us headed to Dunkin.
in the snow.
to buy/eat donuts.
like people do on Fat Tuesday.
the inside was closed, so we drove through the drive through.
someone purchased two boxes of donuts and we ate them.
we all parked our cars.
got outside and stood under the tent-thingy that the Big Y carriages (i almost just said 'carts' but corrected myself) go under.
and we ate our donuts.
and then i watched as there were carriage races.
in the snow, mind you.
Jenn totally kicked butt...of course :) she's so athletic
and then there was a snow ball fight.
guys seem to have aim.
and i watched as they whipped snow balls at each other.
making them with their bare hands...not even with gloves.
and then me and jenn left.
but before that, got snowballs thrown at my car windows
at which point i thought one more hit would crack the glass.
and i wouldnt know what to do.
but we made it out alright.
and now i am off to bed.

Fat Tuesday.
the same thing that happened to me last year, happened to me this year.
last year i had planned on giving up facebook for lent.
but didn't hear that lent was starting until the night before.
i was SO not prepared.
i havw given lent some thought this year, but have not decided on anything to give up yet.
i already gave up facebook. not for lent though
so i might as well keep that going
this time it will be much easier considering i deactivated it and will not receive all the emails.
but i am just not prepared for lent to start tomorrow.
i'm thinking i should give up soda cause i know soda is something i am addicted to.
but i just bought a 12 pack of diet cherry dr. pepper on Sunday
and have about 10 left
with that being said...maybe i'll start lent a few days lent

or
maybe i'll think of something else to give up.

night,
V

Dear God,

i can't seem to gather my thoughts and actually focus right now.
i can't seem to pray with passion or with belief.
but even in my disbelief, will you hear my unformed prayers.
and will you be present with my Auntie Debbie in a way that she has never experienced before.
i ask that you'd be with her in a way that she can feel.
take away some of her pain.
comfort her with peace.
and please show her your love for her in such an immense way, even in this terrible time.
let her look into your eyes and see a glimpse of your love and care and concern for her.
be her strength, i ask.

and do just the same, if not more, for my uncle Al and cousin Brianna.
draw them to a place that is so near to you.
hear their cries and their prayers.
show them your unconditional love for them, and let them see you do indeed care.
help them to see you in this time.

and do above and beyond my stupid, unformed thoughts and prayers. i pray your will is done. but admit i am not sure i trust in your will and your ways. will you open my eyes, big time. to see the bigger picture and to see where you are working and how you are working things out. will you be softening my heart, that way i can believe in you more and trust. will you forgive me for my lack of trust in you, and for my lack of passion for anything about you. will you forgive my heart for all of its ugliness.

i ask for this in Jesus name.

Hidden Treasure

The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 13:44

Sweet n Buttery Pickles

YUCK!

you know what i do sometimes?
i spend more time than the average person does...
looking for PICKLES!
why?
because i usually come home with the wrong kind (by accident.)
despite my time wasted making sure this does not happen.
this has happened to me on more than a few occassions.
you'd think by now i'd know exactly which pickles to grab.
that way, i can
come home.
make a chicken salad, pickle, & chip sandwich.
and be satisfied.

but what happens instead?
i go to the grocery store yesterday.
spend more than a minute looking and staring at the pickle jars.
eventually grabbing and walking away with the kind that i think say something about them being dill.
i do not read the jar twice because after all, this is always my problem.
so i assume by now i know which ones i am buying for sure.
turns out i should have read again.
i come home from class today, to make my chicken salad, pickle, & chip sandwich.
which is just not the same without a perfect pickle or two.
it's usually not even worth eating without a pickle.
that's how much i think a pickle makes this sandwich.
anyways, i make my wrap, slice it, and take a bite.
kind of disappointed and not quite sure why.
how could it taste anything but perfect?
i thought it tasted a little sweet, but not thinking it could be the chicken or the pickles, i tasted again thinking
"hmm...maybe it's the wrap? i never use wraps. maybe it's a little different."
only to taste again, recognize that disgusting pickle taste that i hate.
run to the fridge. open to the door.
and what do i see?
"sweet bread n butter' on the label!
all that to say...it bummed me out! i spent like 3 bux on those stinkin pickles.
all a waste.
i just hate the taste of them.
who wants a pickle that tastes like anything but dill??
what bumms me is that i have done this before!!
i need to read more carefully, even when i think i am specifically reading more carefully.



so what did i do?
i tried being clever.
not sure it is going to work.
i had just used the last pickle from my correct pickle jar and unfortunately had already dumped all the juice into the sink.
(no i did not/do not drink it)
BUT i did have another brand of dill pickles with one more in it.
and an almost full jar of juice.
so i dumped my sweet n buttery pickle juice down the sink.
rinsed off all the remaining juice on those bad boys.
n poured in my left over, correct, pickle juice.
you think it's gonna work?

i'll have to wait and find out. i'm praying so.
worst case scenario...they taste sweet n buttery n dilly.
n then i throw them away.
knowing that i tried.

truly,
Virginia

my voice is no longer.

I have lost my voice.
Well, not really.
I didn't misplace it or anything.
It has just run off on me.
Temporarily, i hope.
Cause i will need it again soon.
Like when i have to babysit tomorrow.
and when i have to go into the classroom on Tuesday.
and when i will hang with Macy n Shane this week.

Please come back to me.
you can be gone for the day.
but be sure to come back.

Love,
V

Fortunately, Unfortunately Poem

Fortunately, I enjoyed a yummy taco dinner last night with Chelsea
Unfortunately, I was craving ice cream afterward
Fortunately, Big Y is open until 11pm on weeknights
Unfortunately, that means I dragged Rach there at 9:30pm
Fortunately, they had plenty of ice cream to choose from
Unfortunately, that made it almost impossible to narrow it down
Fortunately, Edy's Girl's Scout cookie ice cream were 'buy one get one free'
Unfortunately, that means I did indeed buy one and got the second one free
Fortunately, that means I got a good deal
Unfortunately, that means I will be eating ice cream for the next two weeks straight
Fortunately, I am loving the taste of Thin Mint and Semoa ice cream
Unfortunately, I am going to gain some extra pounds this week

written by:
Virginia

scales lie.

if you are not smarter than them.

if you want to be deceived by a scale...
(like i was)
place it on a bathroom rug.
weigh yourself.
and believe you are a few pounds lighter.
unfortunately, i learned the hard way.