all of it. . .

the last few weeks have been a whirlwind full of travel and friends and fun and sadness and joy all rolled together. i'll start with park city and 'the test' -

today i am grateful for

• a spontaneous dinner the first night in park city where the trainers started quizzing us about what and HOW we knew the information. it sparked a 2 hour study session with people i just met and had they been around, i may have finished college. it was so good! all night long i woke up and would spout off things in my head and fall back asleep.
• mike, our ceo, having us take the test first thing tuesday morning rather than waiting through his opening remarks.
• passing the test!!!!! one person did get sent home.
• a beautiful week in park city. 88 degree weather most of the time, a wonderful group of new friends to play with the rest of the week, safe and uneventful travels for all.
• meeting david in atlanta on my way back for our annual braves trip. brad, denise and the kids met us and we had a whirlwind time of pool, hot-tub, aquarium, mary mac's tearoom, ikea, braves, 2 buck chuck and laughs so loud the restaurant looked at us funny. apparantly i laugh the 'clubbing the baby seal' laugh when exposed to chlorine. it's happened twice now. very odd. i do enjoy channeling michelle, that one hurts the next morning, tho.
• home again and my bed! and my girls! and my flowers and my house!!!
• reconnecting with nicole, chandler and melinda for girls' night out.
• david and all his glory. he makes me laugh so much. however. . . . . (there always is a however isn't there?) it's now hunting season AND the braves are still playing. i'll see him at a funeral today - does that count as quality time?
• the support that carmen is and will be receiving during this horrible time.
• nicole and the support she has around her.
• michelle and dean's safe travels and way too much fun.
• michelle's reconnection with craig.
• michelle bryant
• kevin and cynthia and the baby!
• being able to meet eric and nicole in orlando in october.
• chandler becoming a citadel student - is that ca'dick' and since she's in her knob year, can we haze her? a girl at the citadel - and she said she wasn't a feminist. but a principal is ok.
• brantley boo and john wesley's birthdays
• tyler's birthday
• denise's birthday
• nicole finishing summer school. we'll have a nurse in no time!

sunday is carson's 3rd birthday and i've decided to join our church. chandler said, 'my presbyterian pagan best friend is joining the methodist church - i'll be there.'

my whole life i questioned my faith and my place and god or not. it was carson's passing that solidified my faith. not 'logical' thinking at all but a very emotional and faithful knowing that this is bigger than me. it was reassuring and comforting. and it was ok that i was angry and scared and crumbled. so i'm using sunday as an affirmation of my faith that yes, this presbyterian pagan best friend can join a methodist church and it all makes sense with god and me.