Love & Loss

To say work last week was crazy would be an understatement. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, we all felt like we'd run a marathon. Not only was I trying to keep up with the ever-changing news on the stimulus, but I was also busy spending time with a friend who was visiting DC for a dental conference. This led to very little sleep and added stress to an already busy week. I couldn't have been more excited to leave the office and head to HH with Elizabeth.

We were in for a big surprise upon meeting her friends at a pool hall we'd never stepped foot in, and purposefully so. This place must have formerly been a truck stop. It was complete with men in cut-off shirts and a cigarette machine--do any of you readers know if this is still legal?--and I was completely out of place in my work attire. Nonetheless, Elizabeth and I made the best of the situation and enjoyed playing some pool, but I proved myself wrong in feeling even more excitement walking out of the pool hall than I felt leaving work.

Now for some love...Valentine's Day. I woke up and made heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes for myself and my roommate. It was cute and a fun way to start off our day. Cat and I then took off for Friendship Heights in a quest to find the perfect dress for her first official Valentine date. We spent hours searching and trying on dresses. I compared the experience to helping my sister find the perfect wedding dress, but actually found shopping for my 5 foot gf a whole new kind of challenging. Everything I would normally run from on a rack was exactly what she needed. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in finding her a new dress. As a last minute thought, I suggested we take a quick look at the shoes. I was immediately drawn to a purple pair of Jessica Simpson pumps that I insisted Cat buy to wear with a dress she had at home and our all-day shopping experience was validated with a five minute splurge shoe purchase.

I was forced to turn over my Valentine to her evening date, but I recruited a few guy friends to take Elizabeth and I out for dinner last minute. It would have been a shame to stay in on a Saturday evening just because nobody had asked to be my Valentine. The four of us had a great casual outing and then had Cat and Brock meet us for a few games of pool (a lot for one weekend, I know). Although my friends were much more competitive than Elizabeth's when it came to shooting pool, there was still a lot of love shared on Valentine's Day.

And now on loss...

I received a phone call from my sister last night. She had news that someone we both knew fairly well died while in labor with her third child. The baby also did not survive. This news was very saddening and difficult to wrap my mind around. I can't imagine how this father is to deal with the loss of an expected baby, the death of his lifelong mate, and the newness of being a single parent all at once. My heart breaks for him and those closest to their family, as I know their struggles are more than ten-fold of those I am feeling. This situation, along with the recurrence of my great friend Jenny's cancer, really makes me ask why such good people are forced to handle such difficult situations. Although I've witnessed the effects of everything happening for a reason, it doesn't make it any easier to digest.

Tonight I am attending a small group gathering of females in their mid-twenties from my church out here. I'm excited to meet some new people and to attempt growing in my personal relationship with the Lord. Fingers crossed this will be a good fit for me!