Things that have made me tear up this week...

Alright...I'm really not much of a crier. Or is it spelled cryer? Nope. Crier. I never cried during movies growing up (except "My Dog Skip" or basically any other movie involving adorable golden retrievers and/or puppies). For example, my birthday party one year involved a big group of us going to Pearl Harbor. And I didn't shed a tear. I was almost abnormal.

I started crying more once I went to college. Not really sure why...things just probably seemed more real. Life was actually moving pretty fast and sometimes transitions can just throw me for a bit of an emotional loop. I was homesick for like a day, then moved on...but I think I just realized that there was no point in holding back tears for the sake of just holding them back.

Plus, I think it feels good to well up every once in awhile. But sometimes, even my own tears puzzle me. Now, for some examples (from this week...):

1. The trailer for Disney's African Cats: Kingdom of Courage movie. Especially frame 0:35. I mean seriously. How cute are those little muffins?! Now, I'm not sure why my instinct is to tear up about it. But alas, it happens. So I probably won't be able to see this one in theaters due to my potential watershed. Netflix Queue, be on the lookout.

2. A recent episode of "Kate Plus 8" involving koalas. This is most likely cause by the same thing that causes reason #1...whatever that thing is. I should clarify...I really don't like this show anymore. I did enjoy it at one time when they were all a big happy family renewing their wedding vows. But now I'm pretty much over it. Okay, tangent. Moving on.

3. Little baby Grace Briann. For those of you who don't know, I am now a volunteer at Sanford Hospital here in Sioux Falls and every 2nd & 4th Sundays (and other various shifts that I pick up), I rock little tiny babies in the NICU. Due to privacy reasons, I can't divulge any information about particular babies over the internet...but since the Cradle Roll available to the general public, it's fair game! Anyways, I had the honor to hold baby Grace for almost two hours Sunday morning. She seems to be quite healthy, but just arrived a couple weeks too early! She is super warm and cuddly and absolutely full of love. Her parents (whoever they are) are truly lucky! She cuddled into my chest and would occasionally yawn (and fart) and stretch her little tiny hands. This volunteering experience has truly impacted me. While I'm not one of the crazy, Grandma-aged baby rockers who constantly sing lullabies to the babies, I do take the one-on-one time I have with each little one and lift up some prayers for their tiny bodies. So, Grace, Tayrell, Braxin, Isabella, and all of the other babies and families that live on that floor, have been fighting for life much harder than I have ever had to...and that alone is worth some tears of joy :)

4. My toenail (or lack thereof)...I had it removed two weeks ago. And sometimes it burns. Like it's on fire. It hasn't happened for a couple of days, but still. It causes the tears to well.

5. The little boy who played Chip at the recent showing of "Beauty and the Beast" at the Pavilion. Seriously. He was so adorbs. Even ask Collin...or my dad. He had the cutest little boy voice ever and made me want to give him a giant hug. Also, I'm not a creep.

See, emotions and tears aren't always a bad thing. In fact, it might even be considered a GOOD thing if your happy tears outweigh your sad tears. So cry on criers, and I might have a tissue that you can borrow.