Hello Again...

Did you miss me?! I have missed you friends, life has been and continues to be on the crazy side. I am so so blessed by wonderful friends and family that have really been my saving grace this past few weeks. Ash is doing so so well. She gets stronger every day, and I couldn't be more excited about it!
So I'm still in love with my church, and I really have learned so much! It is so much fun! I love it there, and I can't imagine what I did before I found Austin Stone!!!
So I'm pretty sure my car hates me, and 'little annie' as she has been called, wanted me to know just how much today while I was commuting on Ih-35. Now, sometimes she shakes a little...but I usually attribute this to the fact that I probably have never aligned my car in the year I've had it. This however, was not the usual "Oh, we are going to go over 70mph shake", No, this was very different! My car was not only shaking vigorously, but also spitting out white/blackish smoke from the back! My initial thought..."Oh God! When did I change my oil?!?!" Also, not something I love doing...I think its a big hassle, and I also think someone should invent a car that does this internally. I'm just sayin. So I quickly exited the STOPPED traffic, so that I could at least break down on the frontage road where someone would be more apt to stopping and helping me. So, still shaking...two stop lights later...my car miraculously fixes itself! Don't ask, so weird....so needless to say, I think I need to have it looked at, because although I think car flirting is fun...car flirting bc you are trying to tell me the smoke billowing from my car is blocking your view....not so fun.
Okay, can we talk about how obsessed I am with The Bachelor! Not literally, as Jason, for me..is just okay. I do love how much he loves his son, and I will say he is handsome, just not my type. I'm going to say I am more of the Travis Stork type. However, the show is a guilty pleasure for me! Sadly, I think Jason sent his wife home last week. But this is okay, because I'm pretty sure that Jillian should be the next Bachelorette, and that is just fine with me! Ultimately I think I will try out for The Bachelor in my lifetime, because I think it would be so much fun! I mean, cute boy...check! Fun girls....check! Amazing chance to just have fun...check check! Plus, I feel like this is just one of those things that would be fun to add to the list of things done in my life. Now while, their are a million other TV shows I would love to be on, I would potentially have the chance of leaving this one with a husband! Again, WIN WIN!:)
So Ash and I have been talking about moving...closer to home. Ash is going to have to move back home with my parents for awhile when she is able to leave the hospital. My parent's don't like that I am by myself at our house while she is in the hospital. I think they forget that I don't get scared by silly things like burglars, and not to mention my amazing escaping skills! Should the need arise, I feel like I am pretty descrete and awesome about getting out of the house. I mean there is a door right out of my room onto the porch...I feel like this is a plus. And I also have been known to sleep with my keys too:)

Oh The Things You Learn At Hospitals...

1. Blood hanging in a bag on an IV rack is still just as disgusting as when you cut yourself...except maybe more bc it comes in much larger volumes.
2. I'm totally a baby, and needles still scare me. Well let's say I don't get scared but, for a split second I think I may pass out...and then all is well.
3. Foaming germ killer should be found everywhere you go! Funnest stuff ever, and it smells good, and your hands get all soft....and not germy! Win Win my friends!
4. The masks you are supposed to wear should be re-manufactured so that they are easier to breathe through! Like I'm pretty sure I could have just taken it off, bc it does not serve a purpose when I have to pull it away from my face every two seconds so I can gasp a small breath of air before the nurses come back.
5. Parking Garages really shouldn't be that difficult to maneuver. If you go down the stairs on one side of the garage, but decide to take the elevator back to your car on the other side of the garage....you should still be able to find your car! I have never used such a stupid garage. Def. not user friendly.
6. I have the best friends in the world! Everyone has been so so awesome.
7. 38th street might be the cutest in Austin. I need to live here.
8. Gelato is my new favorite desert! Except that you have to scarily run across four lanes of traffic to get it...but if you are going to get hit by a car....I think right in front of a hospital is probably the best place you could be.
9. Hospital gift shops sell really random things at really ridiculous prices. "Here is your bouquet of flowers, planted in a hat?...." yes, a straw hat. Price: $45.00
10. Purple is an odd choice for a hospital room. Not what I call a uni-sex color. Just a thought.

God Knocked Us Down, So He Can Bring Us Back Up...

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been. My twin sister was diagnosed with Leukemia two weeks ago. It has been a whirlwind of a time for our family. She has already started treatment, and is on her way to recovery. I will say, I have never learned so much in such a short period of time. There is nothing more humbling, then being at the complete mercy of His plan. And that is just what we are, at His complete mercy. My family has really been thrown back into our faith, and it is being tested more than ever right now. I have been spiritual for a long time, but for my family, I feel like this has all been a big test. I have always been a beleiver in 'things happen for a reason', and I think God really felt he needed to get us to 'rock bottom' so we could rely on him and find comfort in eachother. Our family unit is so amazingly strong, and we have grown a ton. It is amazing to see all of the support that we did'nt even know was around. The amount of prayer that our family has received in this last few weeks is absolutely amazing. We have been so blessed, so so blessed with love and prayer from people. Some we didnt even know before all of this started. I am continually amazed by my sister. I really don't know where her strength comes from. I ironically had a conversation about three weeks ago with someone about God forbid I ever went through something like this, how I would be such a mess. I really don't think I could handle it. Ash has taken everything that comes her way with a smile. It is truly inspiring. I am so amazed by her will to get better and beat this Leukemia and I know she will be okay. I need her to be okay. I love her so much, and I have never appreciated having a twin quite like I have throughout this process. Ash started chemo last Tuesday and is on her way be being back to her old self. It is going to be a long journey, but I know we have God on our side.