Five For Friday: March 21

It can't always go your way, right? That would be the theme of this week if I had to choose one. If I really owned last week, this week, it probably would have been repoed! Despite some definite downs, this week also had plenty of ups. And keeping with the theme of these Five for Friday posts, I choose to focus on those moments. So, let's see...

• I'm sick. After a few days of a pretty painful earache that turned into an ear and throat ache, I decided to find a doctor-something I've been dreading since we got here. (I know what you're saying...how can that possibly be good?) Well, the good part is that I found an awesome doctor. Since we are not military, we can't go to the doctor on post, but honestly, I think we're better off! I walked in to the office Tuesday without an appointment and never having been there before. Did they scoff and turn me away? Nope. There were a few people on staff (including the doctor) who spoke perfect English and they were super helpful. They saw me within an hour or so, which was surprising given the 'standing room only' situation happening in the waiting room. Plus when I was seen, there was no fooling around with questionnaires and what not. It was basically the doctor asking what was wrong, me telling him, and him saying, "Yes. That's correct." Out the door I went within 10 minutes with my "prescription" in hand. Let's use the term prescription loosely. It's more like a post-it note scribbled for the pharmacist to give you whatever medicine they've chosen. There is no dosage or directions for use on the package (but even if there were I wouldn't be able to read them, and Google translate only takes you so far).  The pharmacist will tell you how to take it at the counter, and you better hope you are understanding them correctly. The experience was quite different than I'm used to, but in a mostly positive way, and man those meds are great! 

• I've mentioned before how I am the assistant coach for the girls' cheerleading squad. I also told you last week how the head coach would be out of town and I'd be responsible for finishing the choreography and teaching the dance to the girls. Well, I've been living the song (and moves) for the past week. It's socially acceptable if your two year old busts out with the lyrics to 'Right Round', isn't it?! Please don't judge me. But I was able to check out a ton of cheer moves on Pinterest and YouTube, and I'm liking what we've come up with. All the girls were such quick learners and I think we are going to rock our competition next week. Wish us luck! 

• It is undeniably spring here in Germany. Spring bulbs are beginning to bloom and bees are buzzing. Plus, we're getting considerably less rain. That is my favorite part-the general dryness and blue skies. I saw this picture on Facebook the other day about a solar energy comparison between the US and Germany. It's depressing just to see how little sun Germany actually gets, but I don't know....you get so used to it that the sun just becomes a very welcome surprise. So this week, having almost every day of sun has been so great! Also, the first day of spring here was about 70 degrees and beautiful. It also coincided with International Happiness Day. Bonus.

Click the picture above to be taken to the article on mediamatters.org

          Everyone is getting in on the 'happy'...this is downtown Wiesbaden! 

  

• In addition to it being spring weather, it was also the beginning of spring sports. Which, for the Stinson girls, means softball season. Yay! The girls didn't get to play last year since we were transitioning from Virginia to Germany during that time. Seeing them out on the field this week, you could tell they missed it just as much as I missed watching them! We almost didn't get to attend the skills assessment due to some sport season overlap, but thanks to the aforementioned gloomy tendencies of Germany, softball was rescheduled so we could make it. Thanks, Mother Nature! 

• Two words: Thin mints.  (Apparently there is an overstock here on post. But don't worry--they are now 5 boxes lighter. I do what I can.) Call me 'Forest', but I don't think I need to say anything else about this.

The thing I learned while writing this post is that as bad as it may seem in the moment, there's always a silver lining. Maybe I spent Monday and Tuesday focusing on the bad, but my week ended on such a positive note. Plus, there's more to go! Josh comes home today!!

What are your five this week? Does it include spring weather?