Does anyone else ever wonder why our stomachs growl at us when they are hungry? What is physically making the noise that we hear so clearly?
My stomach growls a lot, though I know I am not always hungry. So, I decided to look it up. Here is what I found!
It happens when your stomach walls squeeze together in an attempt to mix and digest food and there's no food there. Gases and digestive juices slosh around in your empty stomach and before you know it- "grrrooowwll." Yet hunger really has nothing to do with an empty stomach but, instead, is a product of certain nutrients missing in the blood. Our brains contain a "hunger center," which functions as an accelerator, or as a brake, for our stomachs and intestines. Once necessary nutrients are lacking from the blood, the dinner bell is rung, and the stomach and intestines come rumbling.
Very interesting....
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
10 things I love about my life
It is easy to get caught up in everything that is "wrong" with our lives, and lose track of the blessings that surround us daily. It seems that when we are down or in a slump-of-sorts, this can be especially true. Maybe the best way to pull ourselves out of slumps and down periods is simply to remind ourselves of what we do have, rather than dwelling on what we do not have.
Here are 10 things that I consider true blessings in my life:
1. I am never alone, as I can always talk to my closest friend and supporter, Jesus Christ.
2. I have a family that loves me unconditionally, and always accepts me for who I am and where I am in life.
3. I married a strong, Christian man who knows how to handle me and all my wierd quirks.
4. My friends, though I do not have many, are true friends who genuinely care about me.
5. My body is healthy, despite the fact I do not always care for it the way I should.
6. I was given top notch education from the state of Texas simply because I am a U.S. citizen.
7. I found a job in my career field that will provide excellent training for the rest of my career.
8. We have never had to want for anything. We are financially stable and have always had anything I needed.
9. I have a love for music that allows me to escape from this chaotic world and lose myself in the lyrics and notes of a song.
10. I am the product of so many people, all who have touched me in ways I could never describe. I'm thankful that so many people have given a part of themselves to make me who I am!
Here are 10 things that I consider true blessings in my life:
1. I am never alone, as I can always talk to my closest friend and supporter, Jesus Christ.
2. I have a family that loves me unconditionally, and always accepts me for who I am and where I am in life.
3. I married a strong, Christian man who knows how to handle me and all my wierd quirks.
4. My friends, though I do not have many, are true friends who genuinely care about me.
5. My body is healthy, despite the fact I do not always care for it the way I should.
6. I was given top notch education from the state of Texas simply because I am a U.S. citizen.
7. I found a job in my career field that will provide excellent training for the rest of my career.
8. We have never had to want for anything. We are financially stable and have always had anything I needed.
9. I have a love for music that allows me to escape from this chaotic world and lose myself in the lyrics and notes of a song.
10. I am the product of so many people, all who have touched me in ways I could never describe. I'm thankful that so many people have given a part of themselves to make me who I am!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope you all have a very special Valentine's Day!
I know a lot of people think these romantic holidays are silly and way too stressful. I think they are important and are one of the easiest ways to show your special someone how much you love them.
1. The day is choosen for you- no guessing games are required
2. There are sweet, romantic, non-expensive gifts everywhere!!
3. It's not the gift, but the thought that counts. Simply remember the holiday, and try to make it special, and you can't go wrong!
4. To "make it special," all you have to do is tell your special someone that you love them.
5. If you love them already, step 4 should happen naturally and daily!
Everyone needs to be reminded that they are loved by someone else. Everyone likes to feel like they are special and valuable to someone else. That love and feeling of value can come from a spouse, a family member, or a friend. The daily pressures of life can sometimes get in the way of us showing love in our closest relationships and can get in the way of us feeling loved. THAT is why this holiday is important. It forces us to get life out of the way, and allow love and kindness to rule for one day out of the year. I LOVE IT!
Happy Valentine's Day!
XOXOXO
I know a lot of people think these romantic holidays are silly and way too stressful. I think they are important and are one of the easiest ways to show your special someone how much you love them.
1. The day is choosen for you- no guessing games are required
2. There are sweet, romantic, non-expensive gifts everywhere!!
3. It's not the gift, but the thought that counts. Simply remember the holiday, and try to make it special, and you can't go wrong!
4. To "make it special," all you have to do is tell your special someone that you love them.
5. If you love them already, step 4 should happen naturally and daily!
Everyone needs to be reminded that they are loved by someone else. Everyone likes to feel like they are special and valuable to someone else. That love and feeling of value can come from a spouse, a family member, or a friend. The daily pressures of life can sometimes get in the way of us showing love in our closest relationships and can get in the way of us feeling loved. THAT is why this holiday is important. It forces us to get life out of the way, and allow love and kindness to rule for one day out of the year. I LOVE IT!
Happy Valentine's Day!
XOXOXO
Monday, February 13, 2006
Sweetheart
I guess Jesse actually missed me while he was gone! He has been super sweet to me ever since he has been home. Not that he is normally mean or anything like that, but he just seems very attentive and seems to want to spend time with me.
We hung out all weekend once he got home, and we talked a lot! It was like the ultimate "catch up" talk. It is strange how when you have not seen a friend for awhile, you can go out to dinner and catch up within a matter of an hour or so. Jesse and I were still "catching up" after 48 hours of talking!! For those of you who may know Jesse, you know he is not normally a talker. He will talk, but he is not the type of person who will sit down and give a play-by-play of his day. It can be hard to feel like you know what is going on in his life, because there is not a lot that he chooses to share. I felt very blessed this weekend that he kept talking!!
I'm glad to have him home again!
We hung out all weekend once he got home, and we talked a lot! It was like the ultimate "catch up" talk. It is strange how when you have not seen a friend for awhile, you can go out to dinner and catch up within a matter of an hour or so. Jesse and I were still "catching up" after 48 hours of talking!! For those of you who may know Jesse, you know he is not normally a talker. He will talk, but he is not the type of person who will sit down and give a play-by-play of his day. It can be hard to feel like you know what is going on in his life, because there is not a lot that he chooses to share. I felt very blessed this weekend that he kept talking!!
I'm glad to have him home again!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Rain
When it rains while I'm at the office, it actually makes me nervous. Normally I love rainy days- curled up in a soft blanket on the couch, watching romantic chick flics, and listening as the rain comes down on the roof. But when I'm at the office, on the 5th floor of a glass building, the rain hits the windows sideways, and its LOUD! And though I know that the building is not literally shaking with the thunder, sometimes I cannot help but wonder!
The irony of the whole thing, is that when you are at home in the rain, you do not care that you are "stuck" there because there is no where else you'd rather be. But when you are stuck at the office in the rain, all you want to do is leave! And yet you know in order to leave, you are going to have to run through the flooded parking lot all the way out to the very last row where your car is parked. Tough choice!
Rain, rain go AWAY...come again some other day! (Preferrably a day when I am at home!)
The irony of the whole thing, is that when you are at home in the rain, you do not care that you are "stuck" there because there is no where else you'd rather be. But when you are stuck at the office in the rain, all you want to do is leave! And yet you know in order to leave, you are going to have to run through the flooded parking lot all the way out to the very last row where your car is parked. Tough choice!
Rain, rain go AWAY...come again some other day! (Preferrably a day when I am at home!)
Alone time
When Jesse left on Tuesday, he was a little upset because he said I did not care like I used to. He said it was really sad to him that I did not even seem slightly upset, and Whenever we were first married and he would leave town, even for a few days, I always cried and made a big deal about being left alone. Even after a year and a half of being married (last Spring), I cried almost every single week when I left to go back to College Station and he stayed in Houston. Tuesday when I dropped him off, I did not cry.
I think I really needed some alone time this week. I know I have been really snappy and edgy lately, and maybe this was just what I needed. I needed a week to be by myself. To only worry about me. To do whatever I wanted to do. This all sounds very selfish...but plain and simple, I needed to be alone. We all need to be alone from time to time.
When I'm alone I do not have to worry about what anyone else is doing or where they are. I do not have to pretend to be in a good mood and act cheerful if I'm not really happy. I get to watch what I want to watch on t.v. (if I choose to watch t.v.). I can get into my pajamas at 5:15 when I get home from work, and not worry that anyone will consider me pathetic for doing so. I only have to cook enough for one, and I get to cook whatever sounds good to me at the time.
On the flip side, when I'm alone, I find myself silent for hours on end, and when I finally do talk to someone, its like I cannot shut up. I come home to an empty house with no one waiting for me. No one is there to talk to me about my day while I'm starting to cook dinner. The laundry in the laundry basket is only mine, which seems kind of sad. The puppies are good cuddlers, but they are not there in bed to provide the extra body warmth under the cold sheets. When I'm alone, I am very much aware how alone I truly am.
Being alone is nice...for awhile. But the great thing about having "alone time," is that it eventually it causes you to crave "together time," which seems appropriate with Valentine's Day right around the corner. I am starting to miss Jesse, and will be thankful when I can give him a big hug tomorrow evening.
However, I'd be willing to bet that by the next time he leaves for an overnight trip, I will again be ready for more alone time! (You always want what you do not have- it is a strange phenomenon to me.)
I think I really needed some alone time this week. I know I have been really snappy and edgy lately, and maybe this was just what I needed. I needed a week to be by myself. To only worry about me. To do whatever I wanted to do. This all sounds very selfish...but plain and simple, I needed to be alone. We all need to be alone from time to time.
When I'm alone I do not have to worry about what anyone else is doing or where they are. I do not have to pretend to be in a good mood and act cheerful if I'm not really happy. I get to watch what I want to watch on t.v. (if I choose to watch t.v.). I can get into my pajamas at 5:15 when I get home from work, and not worry that anyone will consider me pathetic for doing so. I only have to cook enough for one, and I get to cook whatever sounds good to me at the time.
On the flip side, when I'm alone, I find myself silent for hours on end, and when I finally do talk to someone, its like I cannot shut up. I come home to an empty house with no one waiting for me. No one is there to talk to me about my day while I'm starting to cook dinner. The laundry in the laundry basket is only mine, which seems kind of sad. The puppies are good cuddlers, but they are not there in bed to provide the extra body warmth under the cold sheets. When I'm alone, I am very much aware how alone I truly am.
Being alone is nice...for awhile. But the great thing about having "alone time," is that it eventually it causes you to crave "together time," which seems appropriate with Valentine's Day right around the corner. I am starting to miss Jesse, and will be thankful when I can give him a big hug tomorrow evening.
However, I'd be willing to bet that by the next time he leaves for an overnight trip, I will again be ready for more alone time! (You always want what you do not have- it is a strange phenomenon to me.)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
I thought I should give it a try!
I have always loved writing in journals. Growing up I went through four journals, plus a prayer journal, filling up the pages with my thoughts, feelings, and activities. However, since college, I stopped writing in a daily journal. I think I felt that my life got boring and predictable, so why write it down? Nothing too exciting worth remembering...! But as my memory grows increasingly worse, I find that the only way for me to remember my life, is to write it down, and later re-read it. Not to mention the fact that I typically enjoy writing, and view it as an outlet for releasing tension, frustration, nervousness, and excitement.
Up until now, I have never let anyone, read my writings (other than Jesse, who received the prayer journal as a gift the night before our wedding). So I am going to try this public journaling thing, everyone refers to as "blogging," and see how it goes!
I apologize in advance for those of you who might attempt to read this blog...I lead a pretty boring life!
Up until now, I have never let anyone, read my writings (other than Jesse, who received the prayer journal as a gift the night before our wedding). So I am going to try this public journaling thing, everyone refers to as "blogging," and see how it goes!
I apologize in advance for those of you who might attempt to read this blog...I lead a pretty boring life!