Unknown Men in the Bathroom

My birthday always falls during spring break. Which is really fortunate because really, who wants to go to school on their birthday? Luckily, during this spring break unlike blizzarding years in the past, the weather was awesome, so it was a nice birthday gift from God! (I know I've been commenting on the nice weather and all the spring madness, and I know I sound like a flower-child, but I was REALLY ready for winter to be over).

ANYWAY.

Cody has this problem of never remembering my birthday, he does a good job at remembering it's in March, (which don't get me wrong, is a good start! :) but always insists it's on the 17th. Which, to his convenience, was on a Saturday this year. My younger sister was confirmed that Saturday at the 5:30pm mass, and Cody said to meet him behind Rarick Hall around 8:30pm for a "surprise". I had no idea what it was going to be, and he got me good.

When I got there, I called him to let him know I was parked out back. He answered and said that he was having car problems and to just meet him at his house.

When I pulled up, that eager guy was standing outside on the front porch. He lead me downstairs to a spotless basement! (that's right, let it be known there was a time in Cody's life his living room was spotless ). I was mighty impressed! I shared my enthusiasm with Cody and joked that if this was my birthday present, it sure was a great one.

It was about then, Todd came out of his bathroom! Followed by Nate...followed by Brian and Kevin! I was so surprised, and all I could do was do one of my famous laughing/freak outs.

That night was a blast, Nate had baked me a birthday cake complete with "269" candles, and Spiderman Easter eggs. We played some intense rounds of P&A, then went out to get our cowboy on at the Rose.

It was a great birthday, and I was reminded how great my life and the awesome people in my life are.

Daffodils! (that's a funny word...)

This week I've seen so much new life around me. I see daffodils bloom, one of the first flowers of spring, and trees begin to get that green "glow", as my former English teacher, Karen Madorin, once described from their tiny buds. It's incredible to think that only a few weeks ago, the earth was desolate where now flowers are blooming. It gives me hope for my own life and the lives of others. This year has been a difficult and trying one, I've been put through more than I expected I would. But the school year is almost over. Just like the spring that came so fast, ending the winter, so will this school year in a matter of weeks. I look back now on the winter, just as I know I will look back on this school year, and think, "That wasn't so bad" I thought a Nebraska winter would be never-ending and cold, but now, in the dawn of spring, it's hard to even remember that cold. I think we all have to remember that there will always be a spring. With it will be brought hope of a new start; a new life.