Its love that makes the world go 'round...

This morning, I woke up early and couldn't fall back asleep. I looked over at Dan, who was smiling in his sleep and then at a wedding photo on the wall. WOW! Exactly three years ago I woke up early, too. It was my wedding day, and I was so nervous/excited/jumpy/tired/jubuliant. That was a really great day, probably as good as they come. I had friends around helping me arrange my hair, my gown, my flowers... I had my family excited and all together in one place... I had meticulously planned the ceremony and reception and could totally enjoy it... And I had the best groom who wanted to marry me and live happily ever after.

Three years later, we are in the happily ever after stage. I made him breakfast and he gave me roses. These tokens of love don't happen everyday, but they aren't rare, either. I am just as in love as I was three years ago, or five years ago when we met. Perhaps even more now that we've had more time to enjoy each other's company.




In other news, I have a job interview tomorrow for a position teaching biology in Booneville. Its not exactly what I want to do, but it is a teaching job! I have to wrestle with the idea of spending a year learning how to be an effective elementary teacher (and spending quite a lot of money at that) and then teach at the secondary level. Hm.

Happy Memory

Here's a photograph from an amazing afternoon I spent with Mary and Amy, two fantastic women who have been incredible sisters to me. I haven't always had girl friends like I have now, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have these two in my life.

We three arrived in Hermann around 2 pm Sunday, though all in different cars and all with different Monday destinations. It was great to meet and have time to talk about the most important things in life: love, goals, beliefs, and memories. We enjoyed the sultry late afternoon heat and sat underneath a shade tree at Stone Hill. Ladies, anytime you need some Steinburg White, give me a call.

Not a Merry Mother's Day.

Sunday was a really tough day for me. I have mixed feelings about my motherhood. My baby didn't make it. My logical side says, "You didn't cause the miscarriage, you did a good job taking care of yourself during pregnancy". My depressed side didn't buy it.

I gave myself a lot of space on Sunday. I didn't go to church (baby dedication Sunday, blech). I stayed in my PJs for a long time. I let my parents-in-law see me cry. I took some space from our guests, and I let myself feel pain. When some nice people called to talk to me and shared scripture, I said, "I appreciate your kind thoughts. I really can't identify with praising God during the dark times and its hard to feel God's comfort now".

But, maybe than directly talking to God or hearing his voice or feeling his comfort, He spoke to me through others. My husband spent extra time with me on Friday night and through Saturday, showering me with love and affection. That was really nice. On Saturday, after a wet afternoon of gardening, Dan told me he'd been thinking about me and wanted to show me that he knows I have delicate feelings and am unique. He gave me an orchid, which is an exotic, beautiful plant that is finicky. My friends Hilary and Chris had a similar idea. They gave me an orchid, too! It was such a nice gesture.

Here are the photos of my new plants:

Spinach, Portabella, and Swiss Omelete, Dancing with the Stars Semi-finals, and Irises in my garden: Good things for the second week of May

You'll notice that in the title, I didn't include Finals Week as a "good thing for the second week of May". That's a no-brainer, right? Actually, I only had one final and one final project this week. What an easy finals week! I took the Teaching Geometry to Elementary Students final yesterday afternoon. It was a long test, and my pencil-gripping muscles are still recovering from the fercious way I attacked the questions. I will complete a unit on the Civil War for Teaching Social Studies to Elementary Students later this week. I have about four hours of work left on that one.

Now on to "The Good Things for the Second Week of May":

Good thing #1: Spinach, Portabella, and Swiss Omelete.
I got a wild hair this weekend and decided I should eat more protein. So I bought yogurts and eggs. Usually my omelets look like scrambled eggs, so I researched the technique. Nest time, I'll use a little less EVOO. I added frozen spinach, sliced Baby Bella mushrooms, and some 2% Swiss cheese. Oh, and I had some Jimmy Dean Maple Sausage, too. Woah, breakfast is something I have totaly overlooked as a favorite part of my day.

Good thing #2: Dancing with the Stars Semi Finals!

I love reality TV. I love sparkles and spray tans. I enjoy remixes of popular music and have a flair for ridiculous eye make up. Its obvious to see why I love DWTS. My favorite couples are on the show: Kristi Yamaguchi and some guy, Marissa from Hair Spray and her partner that looks like my friend Ben Niesen, Christian who has an injured forarm and his hot partner Cheryl B., and The Standard African-American Football Player and Edyta who wears the most creative and scandelous costumes. This is the first season I have voted online each Monday night. I am hooked. I split my votes: Yamguchi - 3, Marissa - 1, and Edyta and Jason - 1. I half vote for the dance partner, because they are fun to watch. Especially Tony D., who is the spitting image of Ben. Plus Spray Tan.

Good Thing #3: Irises in the garden!
Dan planted these for me when he found out they are my favorite garden flowers. They are taken from the Haid Cemetary in Berger, MO. I am not sure if I think that is interesting or bizarre, but they are so beautiful. We gave some to our neighbors, and now a little peice of Haid is all over our neighborhood. I think I like them because of the vivid purples. I also like the way the flower is divided into three carpels, and how the flower surrounds the style and pollen, protecting it and allowing it to be pollinated by the wind. (Plant Taxonomy Class, Spring 04).

Its a sunny, spring day and our tulips are blooming. Dan planted them for me two winters ago, and he said, "Bethany, remember I am giving you flowers for weeks this spring!"

And they bloom the first week of April. Since there are five varieties, we get about six of each shade, and the pop up about every ten days. Its like getting six different boquets! (well, not totally).

MU in Bloom

God gave me an awesome day yesterday. I had been sweating the small stuff, and then WHAM! Beautiful spring weather took my in by surprise. I decided to take a little walk on campus. What a great idea that was. Despite the construction and the blister emerging on my right heel (from cute, new shoes), I thoroughly enjoyed my walk.

Here are some of the images I captured on my afternoon walk:


left: The green light of freshly leaved trees in front of the J School archway. The lions in the archway are about 600 years old, and were a gift from China.


Rightt: Its time for sweetgum "flowers". What a cool way to reproduce.



I love the smell of cherry blossoms.
In the future, I want a house with a driveway or road lined with cherry blossoms. I will call it
"The White Way", just like Ann of Green Gables.

Above: These light pink blossoms are outside of the new Life Sciences Center on campus.


Right:
There are white cherry blossoms on red campus, near Jesse Hall.





Left: Here is a shot of Memorial Union, taken from the back of the Ernie and Lottie Sears Research Greenhouse.

Its so beautiful, and it makes me think of fairy princesses rather than academia.

But did you know that the Sears work in genetic research was monumental? They helped to discover how sun affects thymine dimers and put MU on the map in biological and genetic science.

Right: Here is a funky, poky flower. I don't know it's name.


Left: Here is one of the remaining "tulip tree" blossoms.

They were so gorgeous this year. I definitely want a magnolia tree in my yard one day.

This photo is on white campus, in front of Schlunt Hall.
I used to have Chemistry RSD sessions in that building, and they were so boring. I never appreciated the beauty surrounding the building because I dreaded the course content.









Right:
Here is a pink dogwood, outside of Stanley Hall.
I like how crisp the image is.

Right: Here is a little yellow flower bush, also outside of Shulndt and Stanley Hall.



I am so lucky to go to a school that has distinguished, monumental buildings. It makes me appreciate architecture, tradition, and history. How many other people have sat near the quad, thinking about their life and their goals, too? This place is significant for all MU grads.

Above: the Southern part of the Quad, without construction. The grass is such a lovely color.