I think I can.

I have decided to take up using public transport. As most of you know, I live FAR FAR away from where I work. I also work in a place that thinks half of my salary should go to pay for parking. I have decided that something needs to change. I am going to start off slow. My first excursion will take me to Eden Prairie (aka West Egg**), where I will ride a coach bus directly to The U. Don't judge me, I need to start off small.
What you may not realize, is that from the time I was deemed responsible enough...I avoided the bus at ALL costs. I walked to school from 7th grade on. I never really cared for the yellow vehicle that made me sit close to people I didn't care to sit close to.
I have thought this through and have been talking it over with my coworkers for quite some time. I have a few people who can't wait to hear my stories. They are the same ones that think it is fun when someone accosts them on the way into work. Yeah, I work with some interesting people! One of my coworkers asked me the other day, if I had started riding yet. I said, "I am just nervous, what if there is nowhere to sit on the bus and I have to stand the whole way? I can't stand while someone is driving." His response was, "That's why you find the cutest guy on the bus and stand by him. Then, if you hit a bump, you fall in his lap and giggle and say OH, SORRY!!" At this point I looked at my coworker and asked the same question that you are all asking right now, "Do you even know me?" I had to remind him of the story at the grocery store. The day I slipped and rolled into who my coworkers have deemed my Mr. Right, and without making eye contact....got back up and walked away. This plan will NEVER work for me.

So, needless to say, look for some GREAT stories. I am doing this for so many reasons but mostly because my life has been a little blah lately and there is nothing like throwing yourself into situations that you have dreaded FOREVER to get you out of the BLAH stage. I'll keep you posted!

** West Egg= new money! C'mon people doesn't anyone remember The Great Gatsby??

One GREAT weekend!

Giving in...

Well, here I am . Life has been a bit of a blur lately. I honestly can't believe that it is already the 15th of April. My boys are back in town and I get to go to the game on Sunday. Can't wait to check out the new digs and see what everyone has been talking about for the last couple of years. I am a little nervous though, as the last time I went to an outdoor stadium, (Kaufman)(in April) I FRIED! When I came home from that trip, someone asked me "Where did you go? Kauai?". I had a t-shirt tan line for the whole summer and had to be in two weddings that year with strapless dresses...oh the joys of being pasty white!
So, part of the reason that life has been a blur lately is that I feel like there is a lot of stresses going on. Financially, I am not where I would like to be. I feel like this is a constant in my life. I want to be a wise steward of the money that God has given me and feel like I need a lot of work in that area. Health wise, I am also struggling a bit. I have had neck issues since I got in a car accident 6 or 7 years ago and they seem to be in a flair up stage. This causes a lot of headaches and neck problems. I am not a fan of taking drugs (yes I know...it's medicine) but sometimes I have to just so I can get to work the next day. Flexeril is a funny thing.
Faith wise, I feel God working...more and more. I couldn't be more thankful. I love my church (Substance, you should check it out sometime!!) and am so thankful for the amazing friends and family that God has blessed me with to continue in this area. It is all a work in progress. All I know, is that at the end of my life, I want to be able to stand before God and know this verse is true for my life.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
2 Timothy 4:7

Nothing else matters. All of the plans,goals,dreams and rules I have need to be guided and directed by that. May the way I act, the words I speak and the thoughts that I think....be guided by that plan.

Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 NASB

Happenings!!!

The little man turns two tomorrow. I can't believe it. I still feel like it was just yesterday that I was sitting at the hospital, waiting for hours, to meet him. I can't wait until he turns about 4 and I can take him to Twins games and really explain the game I love so much to him. It is such a joy and honor to be a part of his life as well as the lives of my two nieces. Children truely are a gift.
I must say, I am pretty proud of myself this weekend. I killed two spiders!!! I did it without having to put on a hazmat suit or call for reinforcments. Growth is happening! Maybe soon, I will be able to kill a centipede all by myself.
Had some interesting patients lately. It's funny because I really do enjoy working with people. I think I do a pretty good job with them, and feel that the majority of my encounters with customers are pretty good. This week was in a world all on it's own. I won't bore you with the details but I will say that I am surprised that I only cried once this week. I have been praying EVERY day on the way in that God will give me strength. This may seem weird to you, but I have been super-sensitive since I was a wee little girl and I have come to appreciate that part of who I am. I was the kid who made herself throw up from crying SO hard when I was little. It always makes me laugh, when I remember how my dad would handle my tears. He would look at me and yell "WHY ARE YOU CRYING?". As you can imagine....this only made things worse.
The state of Montana has a hit out on me, I'm sure of it. In the past month I have inherited a Montana Indian Health Patient and a Montana MA patient. Again, I won't bore you with the details of all that this means, but I will say it is not fun. If you remember, my troubles with Montana started this summer. Now, it serves as a comedy reel for my coworkers!
Hoping life is treating you well. There are a lot of changes coming up for me and quite a few of the people in my life. It is a pretty exciting time. I am really trying to live each day with joy and intention. So far, there have been a few challanges but I believe that it is worth it. May the Lord bless and keep you!

A new chapter...

So, it's been awhile since I've bored you with the details of my ever embarrassing life. Well, the wait is over. I've been somewhat busy lately but mostly I have not really felt like posting. The weeks are flying by and I can't believe the snow is almost melted. This is honestly the first winter in a long time that I wasn't ready to be over. The fact that my commute time is going to be halved will be nice.
So, let see...lately I have been, spending time with my nephew...I get to watch him every Wed. night and I can't tell you how much joy that brings me. My brother and Anna have done a great job with Elijah and I can't wait to watch what comes next. He turns 2 in a few weeks! I feel like I've done a pretty good job of scheduling my life lately. I never really knew this before....but I am a planner. I like surprises in gifts and such but not really when it comes to my time. I think I need to work on that though as I feel like I have aged myself quite a bit by not being more flexible and "fly-by-the-seat".
I just have to say, that I feel SO incredibly blessed these days. I have some of the best friends and family a girl could ever ask for. I have quite a few friends with some major things happening in their lives right now. Some good, some scary but all important. I am praying for you all and want you to know that I am thankful for you in my life. God is good!
Church- this has been quite a challenging area in my life lately. I LOVE my church. I started going to Substance last July and can't say enough good things about it. The problem is, I don't have a lot of single friends that are looking for a church or who attend Substance. I have had to do something that was WAY outside my box lately....GO SOMEWHERE BY MYSELF!!! It has been a challenge, but one that I believe will help me grow. I signed up to be a greeter at church and have a training day next week. Hopefully this will help me get plugged in. You may have never thought it possible but situations like this bring out a side of me I don't really care for... "shy Abbie". I am sure I will do a lot of growing through this process, can't wait to see what happens. I will keep you posted on any stories that make my face turn red:)
Fitness- One of my new years resolutions was to run a race of some sort this year. You may or may not know that I ran cross country back in school but I was never very good at it. I am typically not one of those people that accomplishes a lot of goals and I am trying to work on that. I joined the Gym a month ago and am trying to work out 4 times a week. I am starting to enjoy it and think I will start out slow, with the Twin Cities 10 mile but hope to eventually build up to some sort of Triathlon....this will be a process!
Organization- WOAH!!! I am SO not organized and it is really starting to get to me. I am in the process of simplifying my life. I am getting rid of a lot of clothes and other junk. The problem is I have a HUGE apartment right now but will soon be consolidating to a much smaller one. I want to be prepared, so it is not such a struggle. I also believe it is time for me to break some patterns and create newer, healthier ones.
This will be all for now. The baseball season is officially upon us and I am beyond excited. I am no longer speaking to my brother though, as he got tickets to the first 3 games of the season in LA. Must be nice to work for an airline. Oh well, I will just have to do the cheering from home!!!

Reason number 375,937,281....

I love my nephew!!! Don't get all animal rights on me....the cat LOVES it!!