For my favorite wildcats

I was getting my head in my academic game this evening.  Just reading away, I had my headphones on and I heard the little "bing" from Mail telling me I had something in my inbox.  I looked up expecting to get an email back from a student or something like that and this is what I saw:

This! From Russell. The subject line read: "I have more free time than you... :)"

You used it well Lawry! Let the laughter ensue!

Soarin'! Flyin'! If I'm trying, yeah, I'm breaking free!,

-MJ or Gabriella

Maybe March Doesn't Fit in the Spring Rhyme Because It's Mad

I've always wondered what comes before the "April Showers."  You know, "April Showers bring May Flowers," but poor March was always left out of the cute rhyme for the spring months, and well that's just not fair.  So this year, March decided to make a name for itself, and it decide to snow, in Dallas, in late March, and dump about an inch on the ground.  I was just shocked at the fact that even though I was 1,000 miles away from Bloomers, the snow followed me for one last hurrah (or "wallop" in the words of weather.com) .  Well, snow, you can try to knock me down and take away the warmth, but I think I'll just try to melt you away with fun pictures...

Like one of mi hermana! Who, by the way, was the cutest child, ever. My dad has this slide show of family pictures on his computer, and she's just adorable.

And one of the Spanntastic Two! Blake's face by the way doesn't reflect coldness so much as it reflects that she lives in Houston now, where winter lasts for like 13 hours. :)

I wanted to go to the playground because I thought the colors would provide a fun contrast to the pictures.  They do, but I wish it had been light out; it would have made the colors "pop" a bit more.

 

Blakey and I "enjoying" the only snow she's seen this season because of her current exile in Houston ;)

Bracing myself for "April Panic Mode" and hoping it brings "May Light Work Load,"

MJ

Find a nook, read a book

This spring break I made a much needed trip to the Promised Land.  No, not Israel (although, hopefully one day).  I went to Texas!  It was fan-flugging-tastic (this is a word Lawry uses now, he doesn't know what flugging means, I have a guess)!  Spent sweet time with the familia, with my future-Spann-tastic friend and with the almost-Leverenzi (edit: LEVERENZO)!  It was just nice to be home and recharge, I feel like I have the boost to thrive through the rest of the semester! Even though the week was a great break, I still appreciate all prayers for the rest of the semester! Anyway, my last weekend home, Lawry, fresh off a business trip to Seattle, came to visit me in Lewisville! Yippee! So, Lawry and I went on a day date to downtown Denton and ended up with a (sort of) hipster-like theme. It was a blast! Russell found this book about Tall Texans, or you know, himself. And, he found a really cool jacket at a vintage store! I ended up wanting something "new" too, so I bought some purple boots.  I heart Texas.

Get it, Lawry, tall, Texan? Yes.

Going places! I'm actually holding a book of Indiana hiking trails...

Russell practicing for his old man days

A tripod named Richard took this picture for us.  Richard and a self-timer named Steve.

Denton is a recommended day trip, lots of fun things! This book nerd spent half the time in the Recycled Bookstore, but there's also two antique malls: Antique Mall and Antique Mall II with everything from sarcophagi to samurai swords. There's a fun coffeeshop (you must get your coffee flavored or sweet, my americano wasn't so great, but Lawry's caramel latte was pretty decent), some good restaurants (we didn't visit, but we were told), and 2nd Street Recycled Vintage where Rusty and I bought out sweet "new" things!
After Lawry and I got back to the good ole LVT, it started snowing. In late March. In Dallas.  Crazy! Pictures from that to come later :)

In a Texas state of mind,
MJ

La la la la la la la la

So, I've been wanting to change my blog's name for a while now.  I didn't think it had the title of a famous blog, so in self-fulfilling prophetic effort, I set out to find a new blog name.  I thought about song lyrics, books I like, Spanish sayings, all sorts of stuff! Nothing seemed to quite fit.  And then, some things happened last week:

1) Spring.  I lurve spring.  I've always really enjoyed spring and this year's tough winter made spring that much sweeter.  With spring came the sun, and it is wonderful how the sun can put a smile on your face.  I don't mind clouds here and there and they can be beautiful in their own right, but the sun just invites you outside.

2) I walked into class last week and someone asked me how I was doing.  Last week was more or less hellish.  As a result of my weekend in Michigan, I had, well, A LOT of work to do in two and a half days. On top of that, I had to grade midterms. I think I got about 5 hours of sleep every night from Sunday to Thursday.  So, I responded to my classmate's question, "Ha, well, you know, it's hard, I'm uh, quite tired, but I'm doing alright, I'm getting through."  She then said, "You know, it's nice talking to you, you always have such a positive attitude." WHOA. I sort of sheepishly smiled, said, "Thank you," and sat down to prepare my presentation.

So, here's what I've learned. I do my fair share of complaining, just ask my parents, sister, friends, Lawry.  Good Lord, I can whine, but I do believe there is a big difference between happiness and joy.  Between the two, I'll try to keep choosing joy, and in that process I want to give that joy and love to others.  Sort of like how the sun (pun, pun, pun) shines on me and gives me joy.

Also, Sunshine Papers is much more famous blogger-esque. :)

Hunting down a bike,
MJ

P.S. - The blog title is from Dave Barnes's new album.  I just got it late last week, and it talks about this stuff too.  I recommend ;)