Right now I feel like this:

'nough said.

I feel the summer slipping away...

I start feeling anxious when I look at this summer. I know I will have time to rest being up north practically alone. I know I will get rest there.  But yeesh. I -need- Punkin to come live with me.

I start my internship May 21st (yay... that's what I wanted!) and then travel back and forth between there and here every(ish) weekend until the June wedding (still haven't quite worked out how I'm getting there). And then back to the back-and-forth until the end of July when I finish. And then we'll pack up and move. And then I'll have a week to get settled in (or go see my family since I'm super homesick now and probably won't get to see anyone for a LONG TIME). And then I'm a nutrition-camp-counselor at a camp in Wisconsin. Then one week later I present about my summer experiences. And then I'll fly to Dallas (yay!) and then I'll start school. AGAIN. As if I had some magical break over the summer. I just got another email from a clinic I volunteer at asking for my availability this summer. HA. WHAT AVAILABILITY?

Did I stress you out? Because seeing all of this on a calender stresses me out.

I need to practice what I learned in church today. Be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Transformed meaning appearing (and being) totally different than I am now. That would probably be best.

Happy Birthday, Lovie!!

Happy birthday!! I can't believe you turned 21 today!! I hope you didn't mind being the baby of the family... because I know we all loved it. You were the cutest baby and kid growing up. "I'm going to tha theeeeeataaaaa"

You're still awfully pretty.

You've always been so loving... of animals, and now of people. I'm so proud of the advocacy work you're doing. You're going to make such a big impact on the world--impacting it person-by-person.  That means the world to whomever you're helping.

And Punkin was just wondering if you'll babysit her this summer because she'd like 5 cups of food a day.

And Rufus says you're his favorite Auntie and he wants you to come visit.

We love you, Stacy!! You're a beautiful, confident, independent woman, and I can't wait to see where this year takes you! 

I am a big picture person who only functions at finishing details.

I just realized that about myself today. I kind of like realizing that. I feel like I can embrace how unnatural details are to me.

Charlie and I are doing a marriage class at church.

There's some heavy stuff in there! Yeesh. It makes me so pensive. I'm sure that's a good thing.

This is tragic...

But I think it's worth a listen...

I miiiiissss you

I miss these women! I have the potential for seeing each of them this summer though!! Eek! 

PS... if you are not pictured, it doesn't mean I don't miss you! :)

Jonsi

P.S. Student Fees are RIDICULOUS!!!!!

stars

I almost forgot to blog!

I also forgot to mention I saw Ben Folds and Clay Walker in the Senator's office next to one I was having a meeting in. Apparently Alec Baldwin was there, too (must have been leading a different group), but they were all there advocating for the arts! You can read about it here.


I'm not gonna lie... I stopped listening in my meeting and kept staring out the door at Ben Folds. I felt star struck! :)

Public Policy trip to DC

So, I just got back from my trip to DC. I attended a Public Policy Workshop for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It was a -great- trip!

Four girls from my program were sent on a training grant--we decided to go early Saturday morning to sight-see!

The Washington Monument is currently closed to go to the top of it, but it was still fun to see!

We're thinking there are 50 flags around it

I found Louisiana at the WWII monument... there were so many veterans there!

A star for each fallen soldier

Another view

The MLK monument was pretty incredible... 

I wish we could all better live (and live better) by his words...

I really felt God here!

The MLK monument is incredible... but the Lincoln Memorial is just... so powerful!

We did about 12 miles of walking this day... but I finally got to see the White House!

I apparently didn't take ANY pictures at the conference except this one... whoops? But this is Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack... he was an awesome speaker!

Me and my Louisiana Dietitians in front of the Capitol!

Inside of one of the Congressional Buildings

As part of the conference, we had a day on the hill to advocate for some issues particularly relevant to dietitians! Here we are with Congressman Dr. Fleming of Louisiana 

And here with Congressman Landry of Louisiana 

And here with my Congressman! Representative Alexander

And there ends my trip to Washington, DC!

Well dear blogging world...

I think I may miss a few days.
I'm not bringing my computer. And internet costs $12 a day at the hotel we're staying at. So I really may go 4 days without checking internet. That's just CRAZINESS, I know!

I'm nervous.
I'm excited.
I'm anticipatory.
I've been thinking I may be so anxious about everything since maybe there's significance to it all. Like God-set-in-motion. So I will definitely be doing my share of praying and listening (in my spirit) while I'm there. Maybe my stomach will stop hurting by the time it's all over.

HELP!

Can you please help me pick out the outfit I'm wearing to my Capitol visits with Louisiana Congresspeople?

Black blazer, black dress pants, peep-toes of some sort

Different shirt

White shirt, blue dress pants, blazer

"I have to take another one?!"

This is the same at the dark mirror picture

This dress is too short, huh?

 I feel like I look better in person? But maybe that's a bad sign that I'm not crazy about any of the pictures? Please help. I need to look professional.

Look Me in the Eye

I have wanted to throw up for almost a week now.
I don't know if it's because I'm stressed? Or sick? Or in desperate need of enzymes?

What does one wear when she meets a Congressperson and takes a picture with him? I'm pretty sure I don't own anything like that. Not even the shoes.

I'm reading a book written by a man with Asperger's. It's amazing. I LOVE it.

Not to join in...

... on all the football gossip. But seriously.

Football season hasn't even started and 3 out of 4 of the teams Charlie and I cheer for are off to a terrible start.

1) The Saints. Sad. Drew Breesy better not have known about all that nasty take-out-other-men-mess.

2) The Hogs. SERIOUSLY. I'm glad Arkansas fired Petrino since he wasn't a nice man to begin with, but the whole mess just stinks.

3) They stole Tim Tebow from the Broncos! Now I have no reason to cheer for the Broncos and I don't really feel like being a Jets fan. I don't know anyone up there.

Come on, LSU. Don't let us down. You're all we have left.

Today is cold.

Brrrrr. I hate being cold. Good thing this was the warmest winter on Minnesota record. Or else we would have been in trouble.

I'm pretty sure next winter we won't be so lucky. I think Charlie is going to have to go crawfish for December-February.

I set up my appointment with Congressman Alexander today. Eeek :/ I'm nervous! I better start practicing my speech! (I ALSO probably need to work on my Cajun a little so he believes I'm from the South. No one here does...? SOO if THEY don't... there's no way he will.) I'll just throw in words like "OOo Sha" and "Crawfish" and "OOwa Lort".  Do you think that will convince him? haha

I didn't study AT ALL for a test I had this morning. I'm glad I didn't study. It wouldn't have helped me. It was open note. Yep. I could tell Charlie was concerned I kept avoiding studying.

I had to leave SPAM in a recipe I was trying to make healthier (I didn't actually MAKE it... just analyze a before and after). But sick. Seriously sick. It's apparently a Minnesota food! So an egg is one ounce of meat. One egg has 7 grams of protein. TWO ounces of SPAM only has 7 grams of protein. To me... that says the other half is fat and salt. I just threw up in my mouth.

I'm making some headway with my summer plans! I've officially asked if I can come to the Louisiana wedding... cross your fingers, yall! I'm really hoping they let me have the whole week!!!!!

i'm homesick.

Dear Darth Vegar,

Happy Birfday! I think it must be our birfday and that's why we have to wear this hat. Why else would we have to wear it?

I definitely think I have too many sisters.

This doesn't scream "manly". But I love you Darth Vegar. Happy Birthday. Love, Goof-Sky-Puppy

"I'm not wearing it!"

"You're mean. I'm just going to wiggle."

"I guess I'll do anything for food."

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Happy birthday, Mrs. Annie!!

You are such an amazing example of a wife and mother...

 I'm so very thankful you raised Charlie as you did! I know he learned so much about God and character from you!

You are passionate, a good listener, a lover-of-all-people, a so very wise!

And what a blessing you are as a Grandmother! Our kids are going to be so lucky! :)

We SO wish we could be there to celebrate you today! We love you!! May this year be your happiest year yet!

mmmm

Soooo one of my favorite foods is a 1-minute-brownie. I make them on occasion. It's just so easy and Charlie and I don't keep sweets in the house.

4 Tbsp flour
3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp water
MIX and microwave 1 minute.

Unfortunately, I did a recipe analysis on it today and it has 525 calories. That's a full meal. A fairly large meal.  Whoops.

So I made up another recipe, but it's weird ingredients, so I don't think it's very accessible for people to make.
3 Tbsp brown rice flower
1 Tbsp Flax meal
2 Tbsp Cocoa powder
2 Tbsp Splenda mix
3 Tbsp Soy Milk
1 Tbsp pumpkin puree
1 Tbsp Nutella

It's only 350 calories, and would only be 250 if I could bear to leave out the Nutella. It MIGHT work with regular flour... but eeek! I just can't make the original any more! Especially since it's so much better with an additional scoop of ice cream!

Sometimes

I really look forward to the day Charlie and I start a family.

BABIES