Spaghetti Squash

For Taylor's birthday, Mom Morris made us squash for dinner. I really liked it, so on our weekly grocery trip I thought it would be a great idea to get a squash for dinner - branching out, focusing on vegetables, the whole she-bang. TJ was pretty sure that we had eaten Spaghetti Squash, so we got one.

Yesterday morning I cut the squash open (cutting the countertop in the process :P) and put it into the baking dish, just like Mom's. But it was the wrong color (very pale yellow, almost white, and the one we had was deep orange) - first sign that something was wrong.

Mom said to bake it for about 30 minutes at 375, or until tender. So we threw it in the oven at 8 (the time we got home last night!) and waited for our delicious dinner. At 8:30 the squash still crunched. At 8:45 we decided to try it anyway - it was awful. Really, really awful. Even by 9:15 it was still hard and even after microwaving!

The most incredible part, though, is that it does look like spaghetti! We never ate squash at home growing up, so this idea of squash is totally novel for me. This squash looks like a pile of noodles and it comes apart that way when you eat it!

Maybe worth the excitement of having spaghetti in a skin, but the taste and the time was not really that great!

Cutthroat MBAs

I've heard jokes in the past about how MBA students are the cutthroat crowd - not the ones to mess with, and definitely not known for their compassion. I certainly shrugged the comments off, but after my team meeting yesterday, maybe I shouldn't have.

For two different classes I have to work with the same five person team. We were able to pick our groups, so I took my best whack at what would be a good one (though I confess we didn't have much time, at all, to get to know people).

Yesterday was our first meeting, and I left so upset! I think the first thing that set me off was during introductions when they asked me (and only me) how old I am and why I would think to go get an MBA. Sigh. It made me feel like I have to be fighting for validation already. I talked with Kale about it after and we came to the consensus that it won't be the first time I've had to fight to make people see I'm worth something. I also came to realize that this group will not give me warm fuzzies because they don't care about me as a person - and they likely never will. Maybe knowing that will make the next 12 weeks with these guys a little easier to handle, because after the rest of that meeting, I sure am worried!

My Friend Emily

I have the most wonderful friend in the world named Emily. Just writing that sentence brings tears to my eyes. I miss her very much (she lives on the other side of the country) and don't get to hear from her as much as I would like.

But Ems is just wonderful. We went to Spain together and there she was my lifesaver - she took very good care of me as I struggled heavily with anxiety. When she moved home and was married she opened her heart and her home to me even more - she and John always welcome me so warmly into their home, with breakfasts every Friday morning, late night cookie delivers, and loads of cards and support.

Em and John moved to medical school in Virginia and evevn there they welcomed me - John and I worked to plan a surprise trip for me out to help them move. It was so, so wonderful to spend a week with them and I was so grateful that they would let me sleep on their couch, even during such a hectic time.

Now, whenever Em is in town she takes the time to see me - whether it's a quick afternoon shopping for my wedding or dinner and a movie with our husbands. Oh, how I love her.

I think one of the greatest lessons I've learned from Emily is that people become who you treat them as. There are very few that treat me as wonderfully as John and Emily - speaking with them is so very uplifting, as they act like I am the greatest person they have ever known. Emily has a very distinct way of always complimenting me and making me want to be a better and more loving person. She teaches me great lessons about life and helping those nearby feel they are worth an infinite amount.

My love for Emily is very deep, though I am not confident I'll ever be able to portray that great love to her adequately. My prayer is that a Higher Source can help her know how grateful I am for her.

This is Really Hard

I had my first real day of class last night - 6-10. It was so hard. Class itself was fine, I even enjoyed it quite a bit, but it was so long and it was so late. I started crying when I called TJ right after class and then cried on my drive home. By the time I got home at 10:40, I was a wreck - TJ held me while I cried myself to sleep.

How do I know if it's worth it? How do I know if this is what I should really do and if it will get better? Is the cost, (physical, emotional, on our marriage, on work) worth it? I was still a mess when I woke up this morning and am sure of doubt and worry and concern. I feel so unstable and so afraid. How can I deal with all this?

First Day of School

Today was my first day of school. I was so nervous - I picked my outfit days ago (brown pencil skirt with a white button-up) and left work an hour early to be on time.

It went well. We started with a great dinner to initiate networking; I sat at a table with people that I probably would've liked, though I didn't get to know them because of the two people that I didn't like that talked incessantly. :) I'll need to choose different classmates to sit with on Thursday. The food was great and the caramel brownie delectable!

We then went to a presentation with all the guidelines, the expectations, the class statistics, etc. The average age in the program is 30 (I'm 6 years under) and average work experience is 5.5 years (if you count my full-time as an undergrad, I have 3). But they emphasized that we have a strong class, which I was very excited to hear.

We finished the evening off in the IT Department, where we were issued our laptops. I talked with several interesting people as we transitioned from room to room, and am confident that the program is filled with outstanding individuals. We will see how things progress, as I am more nervous now than when I attended class tonight.

A Loving Husband

I am so grateful for a loving husband. Today was my first day of school and I have been so glad to have him supporting me. Last night when I was very nervous he gave me a beautiful blessing that calmed me. Tonight after returning from class I was so overwhelmed - he just sat and listened and reassured me that he supports me wholly, no matter my decision.

I love my sweet husband so much and am so grateful for his parternship.

Hot Dog on a Stick Party

For some unknown reason, Moo always talks about hot dogs on sticks. For months now, TJ and I have been planning, in her honor, to have a Hot Dog on a Stick Party. Last week we made the invitation and took it home for all the girls and last night was the blessed event!

We drove up Mill Creek Canyon, which was so beautiful - every time I drive up a canyon (we can be to any of several within 20 minutes) I can't help but wonder why we don't go up more often.

Our wood was wet, so it took some time to get a fire going - good thing TJ was there or we'd have given up! We roasted hot dogs, marshmallows (turns out the girls don't like smores, just the marshmallows) and ate Moo's Greek pasta salad. It was so fun to spend time with everyone - enjoy the pictures!