Life's UP's and DOWN's

...sigh... Joplin, Missouri.  Poor Joplin.  How much heartache can one town take?  Pretty much the worst tornado since the National Weather Service kept stats on tornadoes.  I just can't help but spend my free time on the internet reading articles, looking up pictures, etc... of the devastation.  It's like when there's a bad car wreck on the highway and you can't look away.  The images tug at my heart.

Going to college in Pitt, we used to go to Joplin at least once a week.  Pittsburg isn't exactly known for their shopping, restaurants, or entertainment, so we would always go to Joplin.  I have so many fond memories of the city of Joplin.  We still go there occasionally when we go back to Pitt.

It's just so weird to see pictures of familiar places in Joplin that are now unrecognizable.

But through all of this, I've realized one thing... Life has it's UP's and it's DOWN's.  The UP's are easy, enjoyable, and energizing.  The DOWN's are... well... exhausting.  It seems like a hard day at work leaves me mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted.

I look forward to sharing all of my UP's in life with Jason.  Those times when life is good, easy, and fun.  Those moments that reminisce about and can't help but smile and laugh.  It's so fun to share those moments!

Then there's the DOWN's... It's not that you WANT to spend those times with your significant other... but that you NEED to spend those with them.  When the going gets tough, it's just what I need to have Jason there.  There are times when I can't do it anymore on my own.  It's amazing to have someone there who will support, encourage, and help me in any way.  Whether it's listening to me complain about a bad day at work, or taking care of me when I'm sick, or going shopping with me two nights in a row to get supplies to donate to Joplin (because I need to do SOMETHING to help!), he's there for me.  And I know he always will be.

Jason always asks what I'm doing while I'm on the computer.  When I say "Blogging," his response is always "About how much you love me?"  Well, yes, Jason... This post is about how much I love you and can't wait to get married so I can spend life's UP's and DOWN's with you!