Beach Trip!

One of my dearest friends, HB, who you have seen in a previous post, and I went on our first 'road trip' to the beach to visit my grandparents and see the sights. :) We had a grand time visiting my sweet grandparents, touring the town (HB  had never been there), drinking coffee, eating food, buying stuff, and having a picnic on the beach. :) 

We only had one truly traumatizing experience. Well, I had a traumatizing experience...As a younger child, I would swell up from mosquito bites (a lot), but for the most part grew out of it by age 10 or so, with a few 'swell ups' here and there. It just so happened, that HB and I had slept on my porch the night before our road trip and some mosquitoes enjoyed sucking HB's and my blood. By mid-afternoon the next day (the day we left for our trip), my right hand was swelling quite a bit, although the bite on my left hand was still normal...We arrived at my grandparents' house. My right hand was becoming alarmingly large, and my left hand was beginning to puff...Things were looking grim, but I was still optimistic; at least it was the weekend! Around 9:30pm, I went to wash my hands before getting a snack and glanced in the mirror. To my utter horror, there, on my nose, was a bright red mosquito bite. 

With dragging steps and a face full of horrified shock, I entered the guest-room, where HB was checking her phone. When I shared my news (or, rather, she saw my nose), she started roaring with laughter ("'A good friend will help you up when you fall. A best friend will laugh and try to trip you again."), although she was sympathetic.

Forgive the gruesomness, but here's what my hand looked like:

You can't really tell, but it was so huge I couldn't make a fist...

Now imagine that on my nose. Not. Good. 

Dear Grandmother felt my horror and dug through her cupboard, found some sort of topical medicine, and glopped it on the bite.  HB then stuck a band-aid on the medicated bite. I was still in horrified shock. Then we trudged  to bed. 

I was finally succumbing to the idea and was comforted with the fact that God had a reason for allowing all of this, and so fell into a restless sleep, imaging the looks on the faces of my fellow employees when I walked into work Tuesday. 

Thankfully, God graciously kept the swelling on my poor nose down, and HB and I spent the day sight-seeing, picnicking, and visiting (two massively swollen hands couldn't keep us from having fun.).

 

Grandparents fed us tons of delicious food.

We were a bit overwhelmed, having just went out for coffee and doughnuts.

And so, with full stomachs and happy hearts, we gave our hugs, bid our adieus, and drove home. :)

Summer Days...

I feel as though I've fallen off the face of the earth, even though it's been only a few weeks since I last posted.

With school coming to an end for Summer Break, I started working at the law firm I interned at during the school year. I confess that having two jobs is slightly crazy, and I may have entered the pass-code belonging to the doors at the law firm as the pass-code for the mailbox at church on more than one occasion. :facepalm: 

 

This week, I've been filling in for a legal secretary, and let me tell you, it's fun, terrifying, and boring all at once. In my free time (in between revising documents, entering time, creating new client files, and answering the telephone, placing calls, etc.), I've been working on a bulk mailing project. It takes up about 85% of the work day and I feel like I might start dreaming about typing names and addresses on a white background with a stiff keyboard that, for some reason, especially doesn't like typing "t." 

All in all, it seriously has been a blessing to have work, and work in such friendly atmospheres. 

On a glorious side-note, after being addicted (as in, no coffee in the morning = massive headache and grogginess) to coffee for eight+ months, I have now been coffee-free for nearly three weeks! It really was a pain to depend on a cup of brown liquid that oftentimes tasted yucky. 

It was only possible because I was sick one weekend, and decided that since I already felt bad, I might as well skip my coffee and suffer just a bit more.  I'd say God's timing for that cold/sore throat bug was just about perfect, since I had already been cutting down a bit. 

Hold fast to Jesus!

~Sonia

p.s. ...I typed this post up a few days ago, before the work week ended. Just thought I would mention that.  ;)

p.s.s. And, because I like to add pictures to my posts if at all possible, here's a picture of me enjoying the summer by sitting on our porch swing in my swimsuit after washing Sven.

So happy the weekend is here!!!

Downton Abbey Fashion Show

Pollywog (16), Sweet Pea (13), one of my dearest friends and I were excited to be a part of a Downton Abbey era fashion show. There were pictures of the actual event, but I don't have them yet. Hope you enjoy these pictures, though. 

 The lovely lady on the right is one of my dearest and longest friends.  Even with a 15 year time difference, we still make it work. Mind-blown? ;)

So blessed by her friendship. And our costumes were incredible (mine may look a bit familiar).

It was fun having two different costumes, although my sister Pollywog and I felt pretty scandalous changing from full-length 1890's dresses to 1920's flappers. I don't have a picture of Pollywog's other dress yet, but let me tell you it is one of the most gorgeous dresses upon which I have ever laid eyes.

 

'Model' poses. :P

Love these girls so much. Sweet Pea had the most adorable girls' basketball suit. 

I'm hoping to post more pictures soon, if they turn out. :)

Legal/Medical End of Year Ceremony

I cannot believe how fast the school year has gone by. Since last September, I have learned and grown so much. The Legal/Medical Office Applications program was such a blessing. I know that I could not have learned what I did myself. Between God giving me grace and my wonderful teacher, it happened. As a class, a few of the many things we learned included professionalism, proofreading, social and office skills, transcription, and legal and medical terminology. Many of us also became Microsoft Office Specialist Certified in Word and PowerPoint.
 
Last Friday was our 'End of Year Ceremony' for the program, and it was a blast. Had to share some pictures.
 

 

I had the tremendous privilege of giving a short speech on behalf of my class. :) Talking photos never look nice, but the presenting was so much fun that I couldn't exclude this photo. If that makes sense.

 

Receiving our certificates of completion.

 

 Some of the lovely ladies also in Legal/Medical.

 

 

 This girl is so sweet. <3

 :)

 

I am so thankful that God allowed me to have this incredible opportunity. Looking back, I know I would never have expected to be where I am today, and I cannot wait to see what He has in store next year.

Fantastic Sibling Moments Post#9: Black Death Flower...?

I got a new case for my cell phone today, and Mozzarella (14) exclaimed, "Hey! It's like a black death flower! I love it! Very inspiring."

I'm...flattered?

 

 

Fantastic Sibling Moments Post#8: Gubby Is Suave

The other day Gubby(10) walked up to me in the kitchen and the following took place:

Gubby: Let me see if I can pick you up.

I protested against it, but there was no stopping the little guy. He hugged me around the waist and lifted me up about 6 inches.

Gubby: Wow, you're light (proudly grinning).

Yep, he knows how to push a compliment both ways, essentially saying I was thin and calling himself buff all at once. The sneaky little gentleman. 

Love that kid. <3

On a side-note, I got a picture with a llama at a campus picnic yesterday. 

1890's Photoshoot

So, the historic site I volunteer at has a wonderful costume department which creates costumes for many different eras. For an event, I was fitted with an 1890's costume, which, aside from being a bit large, I absolutely loved. When my photographer sister, Clari, saw the costume, she grabbed her camera and snapped a few pictures.

I felt these pictures ware worth sharing, as they totally have an Anne of Green Gables feel to them. 


...Now to find a chick-flick buddy, some canned peaches, chocolate, and the amazing classic.