It's here. The LAST day of April. It's amazing to me how fast time passes. I remember thinking spring would never get here, then April, then May... and all of a sudden they've all come and almost gone. Well, except for May, of course. May comes tomorrow.

When I was younger we used to celebrate May Day. It was something we had not heard of, I believe, until we moved to Minnesota. You put together a basket of goodies. The goodies can be candy, little toys, flowers, or larger presents for those closer to you. Then you put them on the doorstep and ring the doorbell. The point is to run to your car before they catch you. If they catch you, they get to kiss you. When you're little it's great fun because you're typically the one running and you get to decide who you want to catch you, and who you really want to get away from.

After Minnesota we lived in New Jersey, and we tried May Day. After that I can't really remember trying it again. We always said we would but one thing or another happened. Since no one else was doing it, it was easy not to try to start a tradition but just pretend it didn't exist.

So, if you have time, go celebrate May Day! You don't have to run away from the door, but hiding and leaving the basket with thoughtful goodies and a sweet note could just make someone's day!

Lately, if I haven't been stressing out from school or upcoming changes, I've been completely content with life. Here are some things that are just making me smile.


Napping.


Daffodils.


Baby Elephants.


My birthday is April 25th and that's when we get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

I remember graduating elementary school, middle school, and high school. Each time at least one teacher would read us the infamous book by Dr. Seuss, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" Even at those younger stages I knew it was important. I knew it meant something. Each teacher was trying to inspire each student in a different way. Some would move on to be doctors, some to be famous, some to be teachers, some to be parents, and so on and so forth.

I'm not much older in years now. I graduated high school at the age of 18, and when I graduate college I'll barely be 22. Four years. They seem short to many. Some people aren't ready to face the "grown up world" after college, as many weren't ready to face the world after high school.

I haven't had the same experiences as many people. Getting married at the age of 18 helped me through many rough times, and made my experiences so very different from my peers'. I'm not saying that in a haughty way, or saying that makes me better or worse... I'm "just saying".

My college years have been filled with many of the same things: friends, drama, papers, projects, unwanted classes, strange weather, planning for the greater future, football games, parties, etc. However, it's not the same because I'm married. I didn't have to worry about boy drama, I didn't have to worry about a social life interfering with my homework, I didn't have to worry about what comes next. I was able to major in what I wanted to major in because I was married. After all, if I wasn't, English, Creative Writing wouldn't do me much good in the "real world", would it?

Many of my friends keep saying they can't believe they're leaving "this place". When they say "this place", they're referring to our college town/campus. They can't believe that they have to venture out to the next step: grad school, a "real" job, marriage... etc. They can't believe that they are finally venturing into another unknown. The four years or more spent at Appalachian State University (or whichever school they attended) went by too quickly for them. For me? It could have gone by faster and I would have been OK with it.

I'm not saying I'm not scared. I'm petrified. Expecting a child at this stage wasn't in mine and Clark's plans, but it was obviously in God's. We're moving, but we're used to it. Clark finally gets to take his turn and finish classes the "traditional" way. After that? Who knows. The thing is, though, we've been a part of the "real world" for almost four years. We've paid our bills, bought a new-used car, traded in the car for another one, filed taxes, and all that jazz. While some of my peers have done the same thing, it's different. Does that make sense?

I know I'm rambling. Bear with me.

This morning, instead of working on my Modern Theatre Literature and History paper, I was distracted going through old photos online. Album by album I found myself NOT missing it. I used to miss high school sometimes. How easy it was, the friends, the constant events, and so forth. Then I missed the sorority I had been a part of. The bonds, the parties, the drama.

But, now? I don't really miss any of it. And I am so thankful. I realize that I have so many glory days ahead of me; that the ones behind me don't really matter. They're a part of me, and I'll always remember... but I've changed so much. I may not be much older in years, but in other ways I feel ten times older.

Some people talk about high school being the greatest time of their life, some people say college, and some people say they're 20s. I don't precisely know what time of my life I'm going to define as "the greatest", but I feel like all I have to look forward to is the best yet to come. I don't want to live in the past, and I don't want to focus so much on the future that I forget where I am now.

I'm about to be a mom. It's the most wonderful and scariest feeling in the world. I've always wanted it. I don't feel like I'm sacrificing or losing anything by it happening earlier than planned. In fact, I feel blessed. I know that God wanted it to happen now, made it happen now, so I'm enjoying it now. It's not going to be easy, but nothing else seemed easy, either. Everything else was scary. Everything else seemed HUGE. But this? This is epic. This is TRULY life changing. I don't know how else to explain it.

I used to miss who I was because I thought I was "young" then and "old" now. I used to stay up late and giggle with friends and talk about boys and love being the center of attention. Now I go to bed early, talk to friends about my husband and hope I can understand their boy problems, and love making life about everyone else. Granted, I still love my days in the spotlight, but it isn't all about me. It's about my family and friends.

Some women don't want this feeling. Some women want to stay young, hip, career-oriented, and single (or at least, not married) forever. Or, they want all of it plus a husband who's the same way. I'm so not like that. There's nothing wrong with it, I suppose... but I just don't see how life can be fully satisfying without family.

I may never be published. I may never own horses. I may never travel to all the places in the world I want to see. I may never swim with dolphins, or ride an elephant anywhere other than at the circus. I may never own my dream house.

But I'll tell you what: It doesn't matter.

I am so happy because I have a God that loves me and lives within me, an amazing and supportive husband, baby #1 on the way, and wonderful friends and family who love me. To me, those are the most important and wondrous things in the world.

"Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, y
ou’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!"

OK, so it's been a while. My energy has been up and down, mostly down. I am finally in my second trimester, and although my energy isn't quite where it "should" be just yet, I'm feeling a bit better!

Today I was feeling like I was missing something. Sometimes if I don't get enough of the healthy stuff throughout the day I tend to feel like I'm just lacking. So, I decided to make one of my own recipes, which of course meant I had to share it here!

These muffins are rather easy, and they are definitely worth it. I try to make them as healthy as possible, so whenever you can substitute whole wheat flour for unbleached flour: do it.

SUPPLIES:

- 2 Cups of Wheat Flour
- 1 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp of Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp of Salt

- 1/2 C Oil
- 1/2 C Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 3 mashed (very ripe, if you can) bananas
--> Optional: add 1/8 C of Milk

- 1 C fresh Blueberries

DIRECTIONS:

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Mix the flour, baking soda, powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, mash the bananas as finely as possible (I use a potato masher).
Add the oil, sugar, and eggs. Mix as thoroughly as possible. If the mix is too dry and hard to mix, add about 1/8 C of milk.
- Fold in 1 C of blueberries. You can add more if you want to!

- Use muffin liners or pre-grease the muffin pan. Fill the holes up at least 2/3rds full.
- Cook the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes. Make sure to check the center of a muffin with a tooth pick to see that they're completely cooked through. The recipe makes 12 to 18 muffins.

ENJOY! They are addictive if you're up for a healthy snack/breakfast!

Today you need to wear green. Otherwise you are in for bruises that may last for some time. Oh, joy.

When I was little I used to LOVE Saint Patrick's Day. My first grade teacher, while the class was at recess, turned our classroom into a disaster area and laid down green cut-out foot prints around the room. We followed the footprints, safely behind our teacher, and it lead us to a "pot of gold," which was really a bowl full of mini Hershey bars.

As I have gotten older, however, I think I've lost the "spirit" of the holiday. It seems that no one really knows the meaning of Saint Patrick's Day. Everyone just wants to use the day to get out of their lent commitments or have a party and say, "Kiss me, I'm Irish!"

I think everyone claims to be Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.

The original color of Saint Patrick's Day was actually blue. Apparently green grew more and more popular because of the shamrock, which Saint Patrick was said to have used to explain the trinity to pagan Irishmen. So, while Saint Patrick's Day in the US may be celebrated as one big party (as it is anywhere else as well), it's really a religious holiday celebrating the great works of Saint Patrick.

OK, enough with the history lesson.

Go enjoy some traditional Irish food, remember to wear green, and maybe you can pass some history on to someone before you pinch them.

I have not had a very pleasant week. Unfortunately, sickness has finally caught me and I've been dragged down by an awful cold. It flares and falls throughout the day, but in the end always catches up with me. I've been stuffed, coughing, and weary since Sunday evening. It definitely doesn't help my pregnancy fatigue!

Today I made it through my whole school day. This is definitely saying something, since I go from 9:30am to 5:30pm. I was dying. I came home to find dinner set and ready, prepared by my wonderful husband. He has a specific speciality that always shows itself when I'm sick: his homemade chicken stew.

I have to admit. This is one thing that he makes better than me. Of course, this could possibly be because I've never made it. He makes the stew completely from scratch and always throws something new in there. Today, apparently, he used a whole chicken to give it extra flavor. He used red peppers, carrots, celery, and red potatoes as the veggies. I know nothing about the spices, though. He refuses to share his secret.

Now, normally this chicken stew is served by itself or with easy-to-make bisquick biscuits. Today, however, since there was no bisquick, Clark made biscuits from scratch! He did use a recipe, thanks to the Better Homes Cook Book, but that is far more than I've ever done with biscuits! They are something I have yet to really work on, and he beat me to the punch!

So, after an amazing meal of homemade stew and biscuits, my nose may not be clear... but I am DEFINITELY feeling better!

I think the dry heat of our house is getting to me. It's at a point in our weather where we need some heat, but not a lot (which is why we've reverted back to using our base board heating).

Every morning I wake up with a stuffy nose and a scratchy throat. For a little while, it's hard to swallow water. Not fun. Nor, I imagine, is it healthy. The last thing I need right now is to get sick!

So, I've been looking into humidifiers. I've never been much of a fan. When I was little and my older sister and I shared a room we used to have one. I hated the noise it made, but it helped my sister at night. As we got older and eventually got our own rooms, I was thankful I didn't have to put up with the noise of the humidifier... but I guess I never realized just how much good it does.

I know absolutely nothing about humidifers, so I'm trying to do research before investing in one. I found this one on Target.com:

The Honeywell QuietCare Humidifier for $49.99. I think it's appealing to me because the name has "Quiet" in it and it promises it's relatively noiseless and can run for up to 24 hours with a clear and clean filter. Not too shabby, hmmm?

We shall see if I actually decide to invest in one. I think ultimately it will be good for my health, which I hope, in turn, means it will help my sleepy nights pass a little more smoothly!