maybe i asked the landscape workers for their water...no shame.

it was a short week, but it seemed longer than normal. they always do. this week i had a little scare when one of my friends told me she had to go to urgent care-when all was said and done, everything was mostly fine. thank God! it's funny-not funny, but the whole day i was thinking: what if the dr. says she can't drive...i wake up early, we could take turns picking her up and dropping her off if we need to...and while i totally would've done that, i'm thankful that is not the case! to follow that up, i had dinner with another friend, and i felt bad because i was on the phone for like..oh..25-30 minutes with a former colleague. i certainly didn't intend to be rude, but it was important information that i was gathering!

also this week, one of my people, whom i highly value, was 100% honest about something and it caught me a bit off guard. i understood the spirit behind what was said before we talked about it, and i knew that it was not said out of malice, so for that purpose i didn't take it personally- and while it was a little surprising, i appreciated the unfiltered honesty, because it eventually led to a couple of good conversations. it's those types of conversations that don't happen very often (because they don't need to), that lead to better understanding and in turn stronger friendships. for that i am #grateful

yesterday, friday afternoon after school, i began a conversation with olivia, but she had to leave, so we decided that we'd meet later for dinner to finish that chat. we were planning to go to the truck yard, but then decided on mi cocina, for the sake of better parking. plus, we were going to go there with nicolette awhile back, but those plans fell through, and she wasn't available last night-so we may make that a raincheck.

fun tidbit-when i arrived, olivia wasn't there yet, and so i found a spot to sit while waiting, and a girl-mid to late twenties got up from beside her boyfriend and came over and said, "jrob?!" obviously i immediately knew it was a kamper...and she introduced herself as melanie dickinson-i remember mel! she was tight with mags, and amy during one of my favorite years! so we caught up a little until olivia arrived. i love that era of my life and the relationships and fun that were built around Christ! there's a bond and it's like family. it's truly a small world! and honestly, i am a little surprised that i don't see more of my former kampers than i do around these parts!
olivia and i always have good talks. funny, fun, real. i love that she is authentic and factual.

it was like the heavenly choir was singing the halleluiah chorus over olivia, and me...just hiding over in the shadow! #oliviastealsthespotlight

today was a lazy day-just a lot of gray's anatomy. so good! then i finally decided to get up and exercise-walk. i had to stop at the tulips they are finally in bloom for a minute. and of course the trees are starting to bloom-proof that spring is finally here!  it was a warm day, and i am now feeling it on my face.

happy flowers!

happy tree! (i know, i sound like bob ross)

i did a loop around the college and then down through the golf community. i was feeling dehydrated...in fact it was so bad that i wanted to ask the guy washing his car if i could get a drink from the hose. i may have imagined myself cupping my hands under the bumper of his car, catching water to drink... i thought about turning on someone's hose at another house...i looked for water fountains at the golf entrances...i debated if i were to find a bottle with a little water in it, would i? finally as i was walking by some workers who were doing landscaping, i saw a 20 pack of water, and i asked them if i could have a bottle. i was so relieved when they gave me a bottle, and i started to walk off, and came back to get a pic (for this post-they probably thought i was flirting or something #nopenotflirting) so as i was walking away, i downed the bottle in about 10seconds-it was so refreshing!! #noshame

and then i saw this abandoned
baby in the road. who leaves
creepy babies on the roadside? sad

water for the damsel in distress

 i was talking with nicolette the other day and she showed me a picture from the beginning of the school year, and i guess because i don't look at older pictures often, i don't notice the transformation as much. so i found a picture from this summer and took one after my walk today; body image has never been a big deal to me, but i feel better than i have in years, and it's due in large part to eating right and walking. it's nice to actually be able to find clothing that i like and it's more fun to dress up.

last summer when i decided on a physical
goal-weight

finally reached goal weight and
ready to go back to florida, just need to
tone now

so, to sum it up, it was a week full of good conversations and 'epiphanies.'
best of the weekend to you!
julie