Whirlwind

{Flowers from my dad! So sweet.}

What a weekend! Full of love, in all kinds of expected and unexpected ways.

My (separated) parents drove up to visit--together! Honestly, I cringed when I first got the news. But by the time they headed back home Sunday morning, I was floored by their friendship and respect for each other. Really, it's an inspirational feat for any two people who've known each other for almost thirty years. I love my family.

Valentines Day with Jason was so, so much fun. We cooked dinner, we played with food ate fondue, played Scrabble in true romantical Matthews-er style, and throughout all of it danced around to embarrassing music (think Lady Gaga/Britney Spears). I swear, if I hadn't already walked down the aisle with this man once, I would've proposed to him by the end of the night.

In other news, I kicked off Saturday morning by missing a phone call from one of my very best friends, who was calling to ask for a ride home from the hospital. [He/she] had woken up in the ER in a hospital gown, hooked up to IV needles after a blacked-out night of drinking. I haven't felt so shaken up in a long, long time. I've cried myself to sleep two nights in a row imagining what my life would be like without them. I'm so glad they were taken to the hospital that night.

As much as I love to give advice, I've done a decent job so far of not doling it out here on this blog. I figured that might get annoying. But I'm going to make an exception, and this goes out to everyone who's reading (since I've already talked to little Mr./Ms. Scared-the-$#!%-Out-of-Me-This-Weekend):

Please remember that you mean THE WORLD to at least one, but probably several people. Think of who you love the most in the world, and treat yourself as you wish they would treat themselves. 

If you drink, please remember that max drunkenness does not equal best drunkenness.
If you aren't happy with your body, please be gentle on yourself and have patience to change what you need in a healthy way.
If someone gives you a compliment, take them seriously.
Ask for help when you need it, people love to help others-- they just need to know how.
Give yourself a hug every now and then, and keep squeezing until you mean it.

In other words, take good care of yourself-- if not for you, then for those who love you.