Relationships

(H) So very much has happened since my last entry. It has been quite a busy week and a half, eight days of which I watched the Larson’s three children. I feel ready for about anything now. After one trip to Peds after hours for Chase, an emergency doctors visit for Sarah, and an attempted break in, I now believe law school will be a breeze. I learned what I can handle..and that I poof my hair too often. Connor kindly informed me that something was “as tall as you with your hair stacked up.” What a doll.

Unfortunately, I missed out on much of pastor Herve, Kurt, and Julie’s visit. I was able to enjoy little bits of time here and there with them, all of which was a major encouragement. Kurt and Julie are an incredible couple with such compassionate hearts. I am thinking three people from Findlay need a change of zip code. Then there is pastor Herve. I cannot think of another person I admire more. Time with Herve always leaves me feeling as though I have spent time in the very presence of the Lord. I thoroughly believe Herve’s prayers of protection were used by God on Wednesday night to keep the house safe from a break in. Yet again, I am the one feeling ministered to and encouraged by our relationship with Herve. I cannot help but believe this is how relationships are created to be. If only I could be in Haiti with the clicking of red shoes.

I guess relationships were a focus of my week. I would like to give a special shout out to a few people who really helped me keep my sanity: Mom & Dad, Mel & David, Molly, Hailey, Jeff, Jake, and Nicolas Sparks. Clearly, the two at the end were particularly helpful.

Today was my second day of job training for Limerock Road. I am really excited about working there. Everyone is really friendly and the food is amazing. I’m sure I will look back on this a month from now and wonder what I was talking about, but for now, ignorance is bliss. Regardless..it feels good to be able to shop again.

Best Friends

(H)

This blog will be devoted to my best friend. Not only did she provide me with something to do on Valentines Day..aka a reason to shave..she wrote me an incredibly sweet card. Finally, I am the happy owner of a gift card to my favoritest store in the world..Victoria's Secret :) :) The wedding was beautiful and really fun. Andrew gave Molly and I the names of a few new bands..we fell in love with "Hey Soul Sister"..it is awesome and you should check it out! After enjoying some much needed time with the bestie..I decided to follow her to Jacksonville. She ate at a Jacksonville Moes for the first time Monday night..and it was really yummy. We obviously watched the Bachelor..and the tears were falling. To drown our sorrows, we ate at Cheesecake Factory for lunch..and split Snickers cheesecake..AMAZING! Then we went shopping..it was pretty much the perfect day. I am so incredibly blessed to have a friend that will write me notes on the bathroom mirror. Listen to me talk about pretty much the same thing all weekend. Feed me delicious banana ice cream..and basically make me feel like I am worth setting aside time for. Thank you Molly, for always being there for me. I love you to pieces and can't imagine my life without you in it.

Valentines ♥

(M)

With Heather being in Jacksonville to visit Molly I find myself oddly productive. There is no one to come into my room dying to tell me the latest story or try to make me leave to go shopping, be it a quick trip to the mall or online, of course we are going to the gym so it "only makes sense" to save the gas and combine trips. Instead, I've read countless blogs, pestered David to do homework with me, and watched the Bachelor. Even so, I have gotten done a lot, maybe it is the lack of Grey's Anatomy to catch up on.

With this, I wanted to write about my Valentine's day. On Valentine's Eve, Heather and I decided to start a fabulous craft project. It is totally Swoozie's worthy. If you don't know what Swoozie's is you are definitely missing out and need to google it. Like now. Those will be going out in the mail soon, and then we'll post pictures :) To celebrate Valentines, my best and oldest Valentines ever (my parents) got us two perfect gifts. Pink Crocs to wear jet skiing and in Haiti, and a pink hard case cover to make our MacBooks totally adorable. Then I was off to see Dear John with David and then have fondue and cheesecake. It was the perfect way to spend the day!

My room pretty much resembles a florist shop right now. David had roses delivered to my house over the weekend, and then brought another rose on Sunday. He had left a HUGE Hershey's Cookies and Creme bar under my pillow for me to find on Friday night. I'm a pretty lucky girl!

Hope For Haiti

(H&M)

This past weekend, most of the Atkinsons braved the cold to sell the awesome t-shirts you see above. We are raising money for a nursing clinic at Mission Possible's vocational school. They are the really nice extra soft cotton and sell for $12. As our northern rep (Jeff Mobley) can testify, we even ship them. Haha.

The real purpose behind the creation of these shirts is to remind you to pray. Please please please keep Haiti in your thoughts. The issues Haiti faces now will not disappear in the months ahead but will take years of hard work to rebuild what was destroyed. Haiti needs hope, and for now, all we can do is pray.

beauty for ashes
a garment of praise for my heaviness

i delight myself in the Richest of Fare
trading all that i've had for all that is better
a garment of praise for my heaviness
You are the greatest taste
You're the richest of fair

(Psalm 63, Isaiah 61)

Castles and Lamborghinis

(H&M)

Pay special attention, Hailey..haha.

This amazing wedding video blew us away. Castles + Lamborghinis = perfect wedding.

michael + chrystalle // a wedding is more than one day from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Great Day

(H)

Today was a very fun day. I went to lunch with my Mom & Nana..and totally blew my diet..thank you BJ's sliders. Luckily, I tricked Mellie into eating the other half of my lunch. I refuse to be fat alone. After that deliciousness, Brody & I met Lucy & Hailey at Kanapaha park. Despite Brody greeting Lucy with a nip to her nose, the afternoon couldn't have gone better. They chased each other up and down every hill..and around every tree they could find. Which means Hailey and I did too. For the climatic ending, Lucy entertained us all by diving into the swamp water. Brody thought she was really cool for doing that..and could not stop smelling her during the walk to the car. As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, Brody curled up for a much needed nap. We will definitely be doing that again soon..over a lovely picnic lunch! Thanks Hailey & Lucy, we love being friends with you two :)

The Men in Our Lives

Monday (H & M)

One of our favorite days of the week. Why might that be? Because we get to watch Heather's man..Jake Pavelka! In case the fates align and we ever get to meet Jake, we always watch the show on the elliptical.

Tuesday (M)

Luckily this semester I don't have classes on Tuesdays, so instead I go into work at UF. After a my day at work, I got back to my car from the bus, only to find a cup of flowers in my cup holder (including daisies, my favorite!), the new lady antebellum cd, and a note in my seat. I think Jake may have some competition haha. Of course I didn't actually get around to calling him back before he showed up. In true Melanie fashion, I was actually busy texting Heather back. Later that night I went to study for my first organic chem test at Tutoring Zone. It lasted a full 6 hours..how crazy is that?! Sadly, Krispy Kreme wasn't even "Hot Now" when we were driving by, making for a very depressed me.