Celebrations

Today is quite a day for celebrations. I know what you are thinking...we just got done celebrating Christmas, and New Year's Eve isn't until tomorrow, so what could be today? Well, I shall tell you. Today is first of all my mom's birthday, second of all, my aunt and uncle's anniversary, and third of all my sister and brother-in-law's anniversary. Quite a big day huh? So, here's to all of you who are celebrating something today, may the Lord bless you and keep you from now until forevermore. I love you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KATHY AND ERIC!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KRISTEN AND HEATH!!

Family Time :)

I love family time. I love hanging out with my siblings and bringing up old memories and razzing each other. I love laughing and talking and playing cards and eating food.

You know how people always ask you what your favorite holiday/time of the year is? And the usual answers are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, etc. And usually that's what I answer, too. However, I have realized that my favorite time of the year is family time. It doesn't matter if it happens over a holiday (although the gifts at Christmas are a nice bonus ;) ) or if it is in the middle of August. Family time is a special time for me.

So, all that to say, my family is here! My sister, her husband, and their daughter drove up from Dallas yesterday and will be here for a few days. My brother and his girlfriend drove over from Ames yesterday also. As for me, I came home Thursday afternoon, right before all the bad weather hit. We all made it safe and sound, although I think we all were exhausted ;).

Today is my fourth day home and I already worked two 9 hour shifts. It was good to be back at work and see everyone again and get right back into the swing of things. But...I am TIRED. I am glad I have the next few days off to recouperate a little bit before working again.

Our tree looks much different than it did the last time I was home. There are presents!! Lots and lots! Lots of big ones this year. Hmmm...

Already my 3 brothers and Kristen have started a game of cards...Pinochle to be exact. We just finished an AMAZING meal...stuffed pork chops, carrots, broccoli, crescent rolls, homemade harvest grain bread and homemade applesauce. Yummy! I am really really full now. :)

One more week...

Til I get to go home for Christmas!! Yay! I've been a little under the weather lately and it has made me want to go home even more. Even though it is only a cold, I long for some of my mom's loving care. Granted, I would be consuming massive amounts of Vitamin C if I were home, but I also could perhaps weasle some jello juice out of the deal. You see, whenever one of us kids was sick, (like really sick, the flu and such) my mom would make us jello juice. Now, it is exactly as it sounds, literally just jello juice. Want the recipe? It's simple; make jello and don't add as much cold water as normal and instead of putting it in the fridge, pour it into a cup and drink it. It is amazingly good. And somehow it is only that good when you are sick and your mommy makes it for you. Anyways, I've been wishing that I had some jello juice and my mom these past few days even though it is only a cold. But I haven't had a cold in quite a while so I am not used to it. I remember now how much I dislike being sick.

It is weird to think that already two weeks have flown by and that next week will be the end of my first 3 week session. Overall, it wasn't too bad. It was kind of nice only having one class even though I had to go to 2 1.5 hour sessions each day of the same class (well, except for Wednesday). The first few days I was incredibly bored because we didn't really have homework yet and we had nothing going on for the sorority and I am used to keeping pretty busy. But things are picking up some and oh that reminds me! I haven't told y'all the news! Last Sunday, we had elections for Sigma Kappa. This past year I have held the position of corresponding secretary in the house. This next year...I am going to be President! I was elected last Sunday to be the new President of Beta Mu of Sigma Kappa. Woot woot!! Tomorrow I will get installed and then I will officially start in January (I think). It is still kind of weird and new to me but also exciting!

Well, I guess that is it for now. Oh and another random thing...it rained here today...and didn't freeze. Yeah, in December, in Northern Missouri, it rained. Crazy weather, huh?

The "5 THINGS GAME" The rules are to write 5 things under each of the 5 headings, and then tag 5 other people.

10 years ago...
1. I was 10 years old
2. I had just started playing the flute
3. I had, earlier in the year, flown to Florida with my siblings...all by ourselves
4. I was in 5th grade
5. I was probably really into Point of Grace

5 Things on Today's "To-Do" List
1. Go to class
2. Find my ID (didn't happen)
3. Buy a new ID
4. Train the person taking my position
5. Try not to be bored ;)

5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. cheese
2. Chex mix
3. fruit loops
4. chocolate covered pretzels
5. popcorn

5 Things I Would Do if I were a Millionaire!
1. Pay for the rest of my college
2. Put a lot away for later (my future family)
3. Give lots to St. Jude's
4. Travel
5. Help those I know

5 Places I Have Lived...
(umm...how long did you have to be there for it to count as living there??)
1. West Marion
2. Hiawatha
3. East Marion
4. Canton
5. ???

5 Jobs I've had/Still have...
1. Babysitting
2. Kid's Kampus
3. Culver's
4. C-SC Dining Services
5. ???

5 People I'm tagging:
ummm....i don't know 5 people....and the people i do know have already been tagged...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Earlier this week, I was contacted by a friend of mine who wanted to know if I would be willing to help one of our sorority's alumna decorate her Christmas tree. I immediately agreed because I LOVE to decorate for Christmas! Christmas is by far my favorite holiday of the year because the Christmas season lasts for so long. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I start listening to Christmas music and we put up all our Christmas decorations as well as our tree. So when I got asked to help decorate another tree I was excited!

The tree was a fake one and was about 9-10 feet tall. There were four girls including myself and the lady the tree belonged to. One of the other girls and I put on at least a dozen strings of white lights after getting the tree all put together. Then, all four of us worked together to put the beautiful ornaments on. When we were finished, we were all very proud! It was a gorgeous tree and I wish I had taken a picture of it so you could see!

So, that was Thursday night while I was at school. Yesterday, Friday, I came home and that night the four of us (Mom, Dad, Kaleb, and I) went to the Hoffman tree farm to find our tree. It was EXTREMELY cold out so we tried to choose quickly. We found, with much help from one of the workers, the perfect tree. It is an 8.5 foot tall white pine that has a perfect shape and is amazingly full. My Dad had to cut it down slightly so that it would fit in our living room, but it still looks great! We found a new place for it in our living room. It used to almost always go in front of our window but this year, we put it in the corner next to our kitchen and we LoVe it! We can see it from the hallway, the living room, and the kitchen! So my Dad and Kaleb set it up last night to let it fluff down. It was fun to watch it slowly let its branches down and see exactly what it was like!

It reminded me of a flower that, when still in a tight bud, is not much to look at. But once the flower slowly opens up, it reveals its amazing inner beauty that could never have been guessed from looking at the bud. Strangely enough, I think people are like that, too. Often times, we are not much to look at or perhaps what others see is not acceptable or immediately likeable. Yet as soon as we start slowly opening up to people, they see us for who we really are, beautifully made in God's image. In the same way, we should not judge others before we get to know them, for perhaps their beauty is yet to be unveiled.

So, anyways, back to decorating! My Dad and Kaleb put 4 strings of lights, which added up to 800 lights. They say it is too many lights but my Mom and I say it is perfect! After all, the lights make the tree!! :) Then we went through the usual tradition of putting all of our own ornaments on our tree. Ever since we were born, my Grandpa and Grandma gave us an ornament every year to put on our tree. This happens every year until we turn 18. It is always fun to pull out all the old ornaments and reminisce of years past. Another tradition is helping my parents put up all of their ornaments since we are done putting all ours up before they are. It was slightly different this year because it was just Kaleb and I putting up our ornaments, when it used to be Kristen, Keenan, Kaleb and I putting up our ornaments. Even though Keenan is not living at home anymore, we still had his ornaments so my Mom and Grandma put his on for him.

Then my Mom and I set about to putting up the rest of the house decorations, which mainly consists of the various nativity sets she has collected over the years. I love looking at each one and seeing the differences between them in style and such, yet they all portray the same scene. It amazes me that a scene that is so widely seen and made so many ways has still stayed the same. It also amazes me that some still do not see the significance of the scene. The shepherds and Mary and Joseph are not simply greeting a new baby into the world. They are greeting God's Son. And yet, they are doing so much more as well; they are worshipping Him. For He was King then and is still King now. How often do we look at and admire nativity scenes yet miss the reality of what is occuring in each one? How often do we see without really seeing and understanding?

Well, I suppose you all want some pictures of our tree? :) Here they are...Enjoy!

Dad and Kaleb putting the lights on

Mom and I putting on ornaments

The finished product!!

(with our traditional tree skirt, of course, made by Grandpa Miskell. We love and miss you Grandpa!)

So I couldn't resist...

I HAD to put some pictures up of my niece, Ainsley. I don't want to steal any of my sister and brother-in-law's thunder, so I just picked my two favorites. I took these pictures while I was at their apartment in Dallas right before Thanksgiving. Isn't she simply THE cutest and most adorable little girl EVER???

She is not quite walking yet, but she pulls herself up on everything and crawls everywhere too! She has her first two bottom teeth also!! :) They are coming up to Iowa for Christmas and I can't wait to see them all again!

Home Again At Last

So I finally made it home again. And yes, I mean school, as in Missouri, not Iowa. School has become my home, at least a second home for sure. It always feels good to come back to my room after the day and definitely after vacation.

Thanksgiving break was a whirlwind of traveling, food, family, cards, and occassionally sleep :). It was so much fun to spend some time with my sister and brother-in-law and niece! I thoroughly enjoyed it!! Houston was also a blast...in several different ways. There were a total of 16 adults, 3 kids under the age of 2, 4 dogs, and a cat. All in one house at some times. Three of the adults plus two of the dogs stayed elsewhere at night, but that means there were still 13 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs, and a cat all in one house. It was quite interesting!

I got to spend quite a bit of time with my cousin's son, Jacob who will be two in a few days. The last time I saw him was when he was 5 months old, so he was much different! I loved getting to know him more and playing with him lots! I also got to meet his sister, Kylie, whom I had never met. She will be one in a few days. And of course, I got to spend time with almost all of my mom's side of the family which is always lots of fun! We played lots of card games, had some AMAZING food, and even went to the zoo! :)

We arrived home (in Iowa) at about 2:30 this morning after a 20 hour trip that was supposed to take 18 hours. We ran into some bad weather and had to take it slow, but we made it safe and sound! And now I am back at school, all settled in and ready to tackle the last 3 weeks of the sememster!

VACATION!!

So I get a whole 10 days for Thanksgiving break this year! I'm so stoked! It will be busy and crazy and fast and I probably won't get the sleep that is much needed...BUT it will be lots of fun! I will be working one night at my favorite place ever...Culver's of course! Then I will be off to Texas! I will be spending a few days with my lovely sister and her husband and their adorable daughter (YAY!!) in Dallas. Then we will head down to Houston to join the rest of our family for a great big Thanksgiving celebration! I'm super excited to see everyone again and some that I have never seen (my cousin's daughter...she's almost one and I've never met her :( ). There should be lots of good food, laughter, card games, and good ole family fun! So, all that to say, if I disappear for awhile...you know why! :)

I will get you all updated on my wonderful vacation when I return...and there will most definitely be pictures of the adorable younguns. Hope you all have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for my family who always supports me and loves me and is there for me. I am thankful for God who loves me even when I don't deserve it. I am thankful for kids to make us all smile in the hardest of times. I am thankful for the sun, the stars, and rain. I am thankful for the love I have for kids. What are you thankful for?

Finals, Finals, Finals

So...I've had 3 finals so far...out of 5. And my brain hurts. A LOT. Two of them actually weren't that bad and the other one I think I did really well on, but I am just so ready to be done with this semester! It's very close...less than two days but it seems to be taking forever! :(

I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone though. It seemed like just yesterday it was September and I was asking myself how I was going to last another 2 1/2 months. But now it is November and I don't know where the year went! I am not quite ready for it to be winter, so I am always surprised when I actually have to wear a coat outside!

After Thanksgiving, we will be starting something new. We will have our first ever 3 week term at Culver-Stockton College. We will take a regular class (we can have up to 4 credit hours) but it will be condensed into 3 weeks! Crazy, huh? I'll keep you updated on how that goes. It should be interesting that's for sure!

Anyways, back to finals. I have one tomorrow at 3:30pm and my last one (yay!) is at 8am (yuck!) Friday morning. I am a little worried about my one tomorrow...it's precalculus. I've done pretty well so far but I tend to freeze on the exams. I would appreciate your prayers! :)

My kandid korner :)

Hey all! So i decided to start a blog to record some of my thoughts, feelings, and happenings in my life! I will be as candid (hehe, kandid) and honest as I possibly can. I will do my best to keep you updated on what is going on in my life at college as well as when I go home for breaks and summer.

Hope you all enjoy!