53. My Ceiling

When I first moved into my apartment, I immediately began decorating. I love having a room of my own and the ability to decorate it how I want. Someday I hope to have a sophisticated house with well coordinated colors and silverware and china. But for now... right now I'm 21 with the world ahead of me. And right now, I can decorate my room as crazy as I want. Because I've got no one to impress and no one to answer to.

Thus, my room right now is a blend of lime greens and blues and pictures and paintings and mirrors and frames and teddy bears and bulletin boards and quotes and cards and coloring book pages. But the best part is what few people notice. It's what I see when I lay down in bed at night. It's my ceiling. =)

Halfway through the year I bought some glow-in-the-dark stars and put them up. Brian decided they weren't enough and got me a bunch more. Now I've got stars and planets and shooting stars and all sorts of glowing space things. And nothing makes me feel more at peace than laying under them in the dark just before I fall asleep.

Today's Sunny Thing?
My Ceiling

52. Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Brian was over for dinner tonight and noted that our family always always always has Hawaiian Sweet Rolls around.

Then I realized how much I like them. =)

If you haven't had a Hawaiian Sweet Roll, you ought to try them. They make them in wheat now if you're a health freak like me!

Today's Sunny Thing?
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

51. My Eyes

My eyes... just one of hundreds/thousands/millions of things that I take for granted.

Yesterday I was babysitting for a 6 month old whose parents don't want him watching TV. However, like his mother, I don't like sitting in a silent house with a baby. SO I turn on the classical channel, which shows a slideshow of about 5 nature pictures and plays only classical music. It's quite the nice channel, actually. But that's beside the point.

The point is, that I was playing with the little guy and glanced up at the TV to see a simple picture that struck me somewhere deep inside. It was of a girl about my age standing with her back to the camera. She had her hands in her sweatshirt pockets, capri sweats and tennis shoes on, and a backpack on her back. She was standing on a cliff looking over the edge. The only thing we saw in the picture was the blue sky beyond her, a few fluffy white clouds floating by. But that picture hit me: I want to go there.

It took me a few years to truly appreciate all of the beauty in this world, but for some reason the Summer of 21 brought a newfound vision for it. The next picture was of someone sitting with their legs straight in front of them, ankles crossed, and mountains stretching in every direction. I wanted to be there too.

Today I went to the State park for a run. Now, our state park is questionable. Look one way and you see the coal power plant. Look the other way and you see the nuclear one. The lake will never have a green flag flying because of E.Coli in the water, and it's so murky that you can't see your feet more than 2 or 3 feet into it. However, today I was walking and all of a sudden the sheer beauty that surrounded me just hit me. I stopped. Literally stopped and turned to Brian and told him that I wished everyone in the world could feel the overwhelming sense of happiness at the beauty around us at that moment. It was wonderful.

So today, today I am thankful for my eyes. For the ability to truly appreciate all of the crazy beautiful things God had created and set before me to take in. I don't think I could ever get enough of it.

Today's Sunny Thing?
My Eyes

49. White Water Rafting

This week brought a full week of adventure for the family. Adventure Park in West Virginia, to be exact. Zip lining, paintballing, The Blob, huge lake toys, and white water rafting.

White Water Rafting was made the most entertaining by a few select people: 1) my mom, 2) Brent, and 3) Kyle.

1) My Mom
Anyone with a less-than-adventurous mother understands this one. I've gotta give her credit... she paintballed, swam in the lake, climbed the iceberg, rafted, swam in the river, zip lined, and probably faced every fear imaginable (except her fear of small spaces, as we were in some pretty huge spaces). However, her jumpiness and nervousness made for quite an entertaining adventure. =)

2) Brent
Brent, novice guide. He was our guide the first day of rafting when we were in our tiny Duckies, as they're called (aka blow up kayaks that you sit on top of, perched, ready to fall off). He was more entertaining the second day, though. He's newer to the rafting guide position and it's quite entertaining to watch. He dumped half his boat, spun in all sorts of circles, and basically left the rest of us laughing. =P

3) Kyle
Kyle was entertaining simply because he made fun of everyone else, including us. =) He's quite the experienced guide and thus, has earned the right to make fun of people.

Twas a spectacular trip. =) I'm SO sad to be back.

Today's Sunny Thing?
White Water Rafting

48. Monopoly

That age old game. Monopoly. Known worldwide, I'm sure, and loved by thousands. Millions even.

For my family, Monopoly is a game only played on vacations.

Years ago, we took a month long trip in the motor home, hitting several states, lakes, rivers, and, mainly, national parks. Early on in the trip we purchased National Park Monopoly. Ripping open the package, we eagerly searched the board for places we'd been. Flattop, Yellowstone, National Mall, Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, Petroglyph, the Great Smoky Mountains. Since then, it's lived in our motor home. And only in our motor home.

Every trip involves late nights of cut throat Monopoly. Monopoly in which we argue and bicker over Dinosaur, Valley Forge, Yellowstone, the Trails, and Free Parking (because yes, we play the out-of-the-book rules of Free Parking). Collecting $200 when we pass Go and celebrating when we avoid the tents and lodges and Yellowstone by getting sent to Jail. Paying each player $50 when we're elected Park Ranger of the Year and paying $115 for each lodge we've set up. Mortgaging properties to pay the $1200 on Agate Fossil Beds and sighing when we have no choice but to buy Edison even though the most it will earn is $48 a hit. Laughing when mom, with her two properties, ends up beating us all by making $2500 on Free Parking and trading for a Yellow Monopoly with Stephen (those lodges are a bitch!). Everyone getting mad at dad when he refuses to make a trade, mom frustrated that he's not using this "teaching opportunity" to its full potential. National Park Monopoly has been the cause of more than one swear word in front of the kids, several nights of going to bed angry, and lots and lots of teaming up against the previous night's winner (usually dad). Yet, every single year, we go back to it. Sarah as the tent; dad, the bear; mom, the cannon; Stephen, the canoe; Andrew, the hiking boot. Each night full of the promise of doubles, community chest, bargaining, trading, and losing.

Today's Sunny Thing?
Monopoly