Married Friends

It recently came to my attention that beau has two good friends to discuss all marriage-related things with. I -- have zero. His one friend lives in the city and they meet up for lunch and chit chats during the workweek. His other friend from college also speaks with him on occasion. Both friends have gotten married within the last year, so it is an amazing outlet for him.

It never bothered me before, but now that I think about it, it would be nice to have someone to speak with from time to time. More specifically, someone in my age bracket.

There are very few people who I call friend-- who I would feel comfortable enough to share intimate details with. (That's the way it should be, right?) But none of them are married. 

It’s funny how I didn't feel the need for a married friend until recently. I have learned from early on not to share anything with others outside of my marriage. Wanting a married friend is for fellowship and not relationship bashing... Sharing similarities, general conflict resolutions and my feelings of short-comings, and even gaining suggestions on how handle certain issues that arise. That is why my unmarried friends will not suffice.

I pray that I am able to find a friend soon. Where? When? I have no clue.

All you married folk, do you have at least one married friend to fellowship with? If not? Do you desire one? 

Liebster Blog Award

I have been awarded the Liebster blog award by Eimile at Reflect. I discovered Eimile's blog through another blog a few months back. She is Christian, newlywed,  and studies molecular biology, like myself. I felt a connection with her right away and enjoy the tidbits she shares about grad school life and her faith. Thank you for nominating me for this award, Eimile!

Rules to the Liebster award:

1. Each person tagged must share eleven things about themselves.
2. They must answer the eleven questions the tagger has made for them
3. They must then choose eleven fellow blogs to nominate.  The nominees must have under 200 GFC (Google Friend Connect) followers and be told in a comment on their blog.  Choose as many or as little as you want.
4. Lastly they must then think of eleven questions to ask the bloggers they have decided to nominate.

** I too will be eliminating the last 2 rules as I have not discovered any newer blogs with a small audience in quite a while. **

1. I emigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica almost 18 years ago. And this was the first and last time I've been there since. The only known family there is my father, aunt, half-brothers and sisters and cousins. I would love to visit again with beau. 

2. I am highly observant and perceptive. I notice the small things. 

3. I am really starting to enjoy cooking dinners. Like I previously stated, I am extremely observant, so I learned how the basis of meal prep when I was younger just by watching my mom and sister in the kitchen. My favorite cuisine is Jamaican, of course, but lately I've been dabbling into pasta dishes and just different ways of preparing standard meals. Beau loves it!

4. I am a germaphobe/mysophobe. Not sure if this stemmed from all the things I learned about bacteria and viruses as a science major or the sheer fear of feeling miserable during the course of an illness -- just know that I have an unhealthy fear of getting sick from others. Like when a random person sits next to and lets out a brawny exhale? I think I'm all of a sudden exposed to tuberculosis. 

5. Every weekday, I enter to win Ellen DeGeneres' giveaway. 

6. ... And every Tuesday and Friday, I try for DSW's giveaways (on Facebook on Tuesdays and Twitter on Fridays). So far, I've won 4 times. 

7. Violent films before bedtime produces nightmares. Sorry beau, but the X-Men Origins: Wolverine did not agree with me at all. 

8. I would love to take on a hobby (aside from blogging). I have yet to discover my hidden talent. I desire the ingenuity for nesting and building things for our new home like these beautiful honeycomb shelves. 

9. Like many other blog "features" I've started and never completed, I failed on the Project 365 photo a day challenge. 

10. I admit that I have gotten a bit of baby fever after this post, especially with all the "mama blogs" (i.e. The Daybook, Love Taza, Kelle Hampton, etc) and vlogs (i.e. DearNaptural85, itsJudysLife, LefloofTV) I follow. However, beau and I are still waiting.  

11. It's amazing how much I have grown since starting this blog. I don't know if blogging has made me aware of this, or just the stage of life that I am in, but I love where I am now. The journey was hard at times, but that's what makes me who I am right now -- in this moment. 

1. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? 

-- Somewhere close to water -- either a shore or a lake. 

2. Do you match your socks? 

-- Yes. Always. But I wonder what it would be like to live on the wild side sometimes.

3. What is your favorite flower? 

-- I love yellow roses and hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months in Philly. 

4. What is a hobby you want to start? 

   -- Rollerblading

5. What is/was your favorite subject in school. 

   -- Math was my favorite in high school. I always aced exams and even got all the extra credit questions right. In college, my favorite subject was Immunology. I loved how hands on the laboratory course was and I enjoyed in-vivo experiments.

7. What made you decide to start a blog? 

   -- I wanted an outlet to share the random things I encountered and thoughts that I had. 

8. Sweet or Savory? 

   -- Sweet! but I love a good savory meal! 

9. You just realized you have an extra hour, what do you do with it? 

   -- spend time with my beau. I feel like I rarely see him during the week. 

10. Who is your favorite Old Testament character, and why? 

   -- Oooh! I like this question... I have loved Zipporah (Moses' wife) since I was a child. Initially, it was only her name that I admired, but later on, I admired devotion to her husband during the Exodus and the Hebrew custom of circumcising their sons even though she was of a different origin than he was. 

11. What is the most exciting thing you've ever done? 

   -- White water rafting, for sure.

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Have you ever wanted something so bad, you're afraid it won't come?

Do you wonder if you're not getting said thing because you don't want it for the right reasons, even though you are certain that you do?

Have you ever wanted something so bad, you've imagined several different scenarios of gaining it?

When will it happen?

There is a time and a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

..... Though sometimes, fruition falls into our hands.

Alphabetical Questionnaire.

I am taking full advantage of Spring BREAK. I haven't done much work, although I have midterms and lab reports due next week. Rochelle from Rochelle Approved posted this fun little questionnaire last week and I wanted to participate. You know... since I'm on break and all. ツ

A. Age: 23
B. Bed size: Queen at home; twin at school.
C. Chore you hate: Washing pots
D. Dogs: I’ve never owned a pet.

E. Essential start to your day: Devotion! Prayer and reading a passage of scripture from the Bible.

F. Favorite color: Various shades of green. I like other colors too, but I wouldn’t say they’re my favorite.

G. Gold or silver: Gold. I think it compliments my skin tone the best.

H. Height: 5’7”-ish
I. Instruments you play: In middle school, I played the clarinet. I would love to take that up again… seriously.

J. Job title: Student, soon to be Research Scientist I or II (I hope!).
K. Kids: None

L. Live: in Philadelphia, PA. Currently residing in Connecticut for graduate school.

M. Mom’s name: Bev
N. Nicknames: Gel, Jelly beans, Persimmon (Percy), and Beaker (Beaks).

O. Overnight hospital stays: I don’t think I have stayed overnight in a hospital.
P. Pet peeve: Pre-mature anger and exaggerated sneezes, among others.

Q. Quote from a movie: It’s really hard to pick just one favorite movie quote. Luckily, I’ve been harvesting movie quotes for a few years now. Here is one of my faves: "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is" -Forest Gump-

R. Righty or Lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Two older sisters, named Opal and Dahlia.

T. Time you wake up: Around 8:30am.

U. Underwear: I used to wear an undershirt (camisole/tank top) with every outfit, even in the summer heat.

V. Vegetable you dislike: Asparagus and okra.

W. What makes you run late: Hair mishaps and waiting until the last minute to shower and get dressed.

X. X-rays you’ve had: Breast (ultrasound).
Y. Yummy food you make: I make a lot of yummy foods. Specifically, my shrimp fettucine alfredo and pan seared pork chops are really yummy.

Z. Zoo animal favorite: Pandas, peacocks, elephants, tapirs, and any primate species.

**All but two photos are from here. Others are my own.**

Can You Send Me an Angel?

Source

Sometimes I feel like I don't belong anywhere
And it's gonna take so long for me to get somewhere
Sometimes I feel so heavy hearted
But I can't explain 'cause I'm so guarded


But that's a lonely road to travel
And a heavy load to bare
And it's a long long way to Heaven
But I gotta get there....


Can You send an angel?

Can You send me an angel

.... To guide me?
~"Prelude to a Kiss" by Alicia Keys

She gets me sometimes!

Questions

What is it about us as humans that make us want to bring up the past of others? Is it a coping mechanism for when we’re hurting to make ourselves feel better by making someone else feel crappy? Is it that we’re so hurt and cast down that all we can think about is negativity? Why is it so hard to forget the past?

What is it about us as humans that makes us so spiteful? Does it make us feel good when someone else hurts? Does it all of a sudden makes us feel better about ourselves? Or are we REALLY trying to let others feel the way we did when they hurt us?

Why are we as humans so fragile? We get cut easily. We bleed easily. We ail easily. We cry easily. We die easily. Is it because our bodies are made of clay? Simple dust of the Earth. Tread upon by humans and animals as if it’s nothing. Easily washed away with water. Yet the dust of the earth so essential for life. It yields fruit to nourish our bodies… just as we do to help those that we love. But, we still continue to tread upon it and destroy it with pollutants and garbage…. Just as we do to each other with our words and our acts of hatred.

How did we get like this?