Day 20 & 21: Something I Ate & Sombody I Find Attractive

Look at that hunk!

I missed yesterday so I'm doing yesterday and today. Yesterday I ate a Greek yogurt that I had given to my nephew to eat but he gave it back and said it was gross. So I ate it and it was actually fairly tasty. Because I was caring for four children from the ages of 6 years to 3 months old I never had the chance to eat lunch so I worked on this yogurt for hours, eating a bite whenever I got a chance.

And of course I find my husband attractive! He's a handsome baby faced hunk! haha :)

Day 19: My Favorite Thing from School

I'm not exactly sure what this means since in a few days I'll be posting a picture of my favorite SUBJECT in school so maybe this means my favorite thing ABOUT school as a whole? Not sure but I'm going to go with the latter. My favorite thing about my school is the fact that everything we study is saturated in our Christian beliefs and in the Word of God. Everything we learn goes back to the core of who we are in Christ and everything is taught and, hopefully learned, from a Christian worldview. I love how in my Hebrew class my professor goes through a passage of Scripture in Hebrew so that we learn how the Hebrew language is used and in so doing he teaches the Word and brings to light so many things that I didn't realize before. And I love how in my Roman World class (which is just a simple history class) we learn what ancient cultures believed, how they lived, and how they have impacted the world today and in so doing we see how God has worked and how all of these events play into His divine plan and will. I am so grateful for my Christian education.

Photo 18: My Town

Dallas, TX

 

Day 17: A Trip I'll Never Forget

Yes, I got behind. . .my bad. I forgot! haha
Okay, so, I went on a mission trip to Ireland a few years ago and it was awesome! I had always wanted to go to Ireland and when I got there I fell in love. It is so beautiful with it's old buildings, CASTLES, its green grass, rolling hills, quaint little country fields and roads. . .it was just awesome. I even liked the weather! I would love to go back again one day!

Day 16: A Photo from My Childhood

I loved baking then and now!

Me and my four younger siblings

Ah, childhood. Such a simple time of life. If only I knew then to appreciate it so much and stop trying to grow up so fast. But alas, you never know what you need to when you need to know it. . .you always learn better after the fact. I'm thankful for my childhood though and that I had two great parents who loved and trained me despite their faults and mine. And I'm thankful that God gave me six siblings to grow up with. It didn't always seem like a blessing but it surely was and still is. :)

Day 15: Me and a Family Member

This is me and my niece, Cilicia! She is the newest member of the family. I've only been able to see her once since she was born. :( I'm hoping to make a trip to Houston soon though! They grow up too fast!

Day 14: My Best Friend

Grace and I have been friends for four years. We've been through a lot together. We've laughed a lot, cried a lot, and have had many heart to heart conversations. I'm very thankful for her and love her a lot. She was my maid of honor in my wedding and now, on July 8th, I'll be in HER wedding!! It's been so crazy to see how God has kept us pretty close in step with each other. Any time I was going through something Grace wasn't far behind me or vice versa. And when that wasn't the case we always found a way to relate! I'm so happy for her and look forward to watching her walk through this huge event and begin the next chapter of her life. It's exciting! 

Grace's engagement ring!

A Wife's Fear

I woke up at 3:50am and immediately knew something was wrong. I felt my hubby's side of the bed and it was empty. I looked at the clock and went into panic mode. I texted him "where are you?" and waited to hear his phone go off somewhere in the house. Nothing. I then rushed to the window to see if his car was parked out front. It wasn't. My next thought was that something had happened on his way home from work. He was in an accident and badly hurt. Maybe even dead. My next horrible and less likely thought was that he was cheating on me. LOL I thought all of this in the time frame of a few seconds and then my phone alerted me to an incoming text. He had texted me back saying he was on his way home. I calmed down and went back to bed. I'm now mad at him though for working so late and nearly causing me a panic attack! :P

Day 13: My Favorite Movie(s)

Technically, I'm suppose to post a picture of my favorite movie; singular. But I have so many favorites that I can't pick just one! So I'm going to post a pic of the four that immediately come to mind.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Riding in Cars with Boys

I am Sam

Day 12: A Happy Memory

My wedding day is a happy memory of course! This particular picture though screams happiness and excitement. It is one of my favorites from that day. :)

Day 11: A Night that I Loved

Let me explain. Back in high school and the early years of college I used to hang out a lot with a fun family called the Willis'. They had four girls and I was pretty good friends with all of them at some point in their life for different reasons. I still try to keep up with some of them but because of distance and life, we're not as close as we used to be. But when we were, I would hang out at their house a lot and would sometimes spend a weekend or an entire week with them. This picture is just one of many nights that I slept over. Any night with the Willis girls was great fun and we shared a ton of laughs. Here I was in bed and Joanna surprised me with a picture, flash and all. I have many memories with these girls and I hope that I made as much of an impact on them as they did on me.

Day 10: A Photo I Like

This is a picture I took at the zoo. He was right up at the window just waiting to get his picture taken!

Day 9: Baby Me

Happy

 Wasn't I a cutie?! Check out that hair! lol

I look forward to seeing what my babies will look like. I think between my husband and I they will be pretty darn cute! ;)

Mad

Day 8: Something I Enjoy Doing

Reading is one of my favorite things to do. I love a good book. My favorite authors are Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and Janet Oke. With Peretti I have my spiritual warfare. With Dekker I have my suspense, thriller, fantasy, and outright genius.  With Janet Oke I have my Christian romance and stories of women set back in the 17 and 1800s. Ted Dekker is probably my all time favorite because he is such a genius at what he does. He takes theology and puts it into an amazingly well written story. I highly recommend his Circle Trilogy.

For other book recommendations check out the left hand side at the bottom of this page.

Day 7: Something I Stand For

I was homeschooled and I am so thankful. I had the opportunity to attend a private Christian school full time but I refused to go and I don't regret it at all. Being homeschooled taught me to take responsibility and initiative. I learned how to work diligently and to the best of my ability. It gave me flexibility to focus on what I wanted to (or what my mother wanted me to) and I was able to learn things most kids in my grade did not. My mom likes history so she taught me and my siblings ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian history. Most importantly, I learned everything from a Biblical perspective and saw how everything went back to God and His divine plan. I was able to take co-op classes that challenged me to an even higher level of learning. I learned how to write well and to enjoy reading. When I was 15 I started taking dual college courses and when I graduated high school at 17 I had 30 college credits under my belt. Besides these educational achievements, I also learned how to think for myself and think deeply about things. And because I was with my mom so much I was able to watch her and see how to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. I learned how to do laundry (though I hated it), how to cook, bake, and clean. I learned how to raise children, how to change a diaper, how to take care of a baby and a teenager and all the ages in between. I value all of these lessons and I know that I would not be where I am today if I hadn't been homeschooled. I'm thankful to my mom for choosing this form of education for me and for being a teacher and an example. I know I didn't always make it easy for her but the older I got the more I appreciated the ability to learn and gain knowledge and to do it in a healthy environment like my home.  I look forward to teaching my own children someday and instilling in them the values, lessons, and Biblical truths that I have learned.

Day 6: A Photo of Someone I Love

My husband! Who else? haha I love him because he's very sweet, attentive, funny, smart, and is able to be sensitive without losing his manliness. ;) He's a little weird but that's okay...it's one of the things that makes him unique. :) I love him and I love being his wife.

Day 5: A Photo that Makes me Laugh

This is my niece, Cilicia. I took this picture at Christmas when she was just a few weeks old. Her crossed eyes and the look on her face cracks me up! Babies make the funniest faces sometimes! :)

My Personality Type

I took a personality test and these were the results:

Introverted 96%
Extroverted 4%

Sensing 68%
Intuitive 32%

Thinking 65%
Feeling 35%

Judging 95%
Perceiving 5%

I'm a ISTJ and you can read my detailed results at http://typelogic.com/istj.html

I find this funny b/c this is how I feel
sometimes but I don't hate anyone

These results don't surprise me; they describe me pretty well. I am very introverted. I don't like to be around strangers or apart of a large group of people. I prefer a few close friends than a whole crowd of friends. Looking people in the eye scares me unless I'm having a one-on-one conversation. I prefer one-on-one conversations but even that is hard for me. I am very bad at communicating verbally.

I am extremely realistic. I like to know facts. I experience things through my senses and see things through the truth I know. I have to break things down in order to understand the big picture. I love structure, schedules, organization. I function my life in only one way and it is very difficult for me to be thrown out of whack.

I think A LOT. I lose sleep due to my overactive mind. I think about everything. I think before I act or speak which is why it usually takes me a long time to say or do anything. This is why I love to write; it gives me a chance to think as long as I need to before bearing my mind and heart. I feel as well but thinking and feeling go hand in hand usually. If I think a certain way then a feel a certain way. I don't tend to express my feelings, I feel them and deal with them on the inside; but there are times when the emotions can't help but overflow. They build up after a while and explode. I've written about this before. I think it's because I'm mainly a thinker and don't know how to handle how I feel in a healthy way. I think sometimes my "thinking" and my "feelings" are at odds with each other and when my emotions are spinning out of control my mind is thinking "what are you doing? what's wrong with you?" There are plenty of times when my emotions win and I go against what my mind is telling me. I just don't know how to balance the two out and deal with my feelings. I hope I figure it out soon...it is very exhausting.

I like how blunt Simon is...
but people like Simon and I
need to learn to speak the
truth in LOVE!

I'll say it, I'll admit it, I judge. I form opinions and make judgments and stick to it. It is very hard to get me to change my mind once it is made up. Actually, no one can make me change my mind. I have to think about it and then change it myself. I am very loyal to the way I think and view things. I have a hard time perceiving things from a different point of view. I try to hold firmly onto the things I know are absolute Truth and Biblical but I admit that sometimes I get my own opinions confused with absolute truth. I know I need to have more compassion and be more gracious when people think differently than I do. That is very hard for me though because I'm often appalled when I find out someone thinks differently about something that I am so sure is right and true. I find most people stupid and incompetent but I'll be honest in saying that there are plenty of times when I'm stupid and incompetent too. As much of a tragedy as it is I am human just like everyone else. Trust me, I'm still coming to terms with that.

I know I may come across as snobby and prideful but I don't want to. I'll let you in on a little secret: I struggle with self-esteem. I may say things that insinuate that I think I'm better than other people and honestly sometimes I do think that but when it comes right down to it I know that I am not. I know it and I struggle with it because I'm a perfectionist and want so much to do what is right and handle everything with maturity and wisdom all the time. I try too hard and fail and fall hard. I seek for balance but a well balanced life would be perfection and I am far from that.

Overall I enjoy being me and what I always go back to brings me hope. The Lord loves me and never gives up on me and He's given me a husband who does the same. There are many things that I can improve about myself and with the Lord's help and guidance and the years of experience and learning that still await me, I hope that by the time I die, despite my sinful nature and hard personality, I will have lived a good life.

Day 4: A Photo of a Place I Want to Visit

St. Peter's Basilica and Ponte Sant Angelo

I love to travel so I'm pretty much willing to go almost anywhere. The two top places of my choice though would be Rome, Italy and Jerusalem, Israel. I have always wanted to visit both cities which are rich in history. Maybe someday I'll be able to go but for now I'll just enjoy these pictures. :)

Rome

Jerusalem

Day 3: A Photo That Makes Me Happy

This is my family. I have two wonderful parents, three sisters, three brothers, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, three nieces and one nephew. Being apart of a big family has its ups and downs but I wouldn't trade them for the world!

Day Two: A Picture of Me a Year Ago

Taken December 31, 2009

30 Day Photo Challenge

 Yay! Something fun to do!

Day one: a photo of you today.
Day two: a photo of yourself at least a year ago.
Day three: a photo that makes you happy.
Day four: a photo of a place you’d like to visit.
Day five: a photo that makes you laugh.
Day six: a photo of someone you love.
Day seven: a photo of something you stand for.
Day eight: a photo of something you enjoy doing.
Day nine: a photo of yourself when you were a baby.
Day ten: any photo you like for any reason.
Day eleven: a photo of a night you loved.
Day twelve: a photo of when you were happy.
Day thirteen: a photo of one of your favorite movies.
Day fourteen: a photo of your best friend (s).
Day fifteen: a photo of you and a family member.
Day sixteen: a photo from your childhood.
Day seventeen: a photo from a trip you’ll never forget.
Day eighteen: a photo of your town.
Day nineteen: a photo of your favorite thing from school.
Day twenty: a photo of something you ate today.
Day twenty-one: a photo of somebody you find attractive.
Day twenty-two: a photo that you associate a good memory with.
Day twenty-three: a photo of something you want to do someday.
Day twenty-four: a photo of what you want to be when you grow up.
Day twenty-five: a photo that inspires you.
Day twenty-six: a photo of your favorite subject in school.
Day twenty-seven: a photo of something you are looking forward to.
Day twenty-eight: a photo of something/somebody that made your day.
Day twenty-nine: a photo of your favorite person from history.
Day thirty: a photo you find beautiful.

So today is Day One: a photo of me.

School & Baking

*phew* Things are finally starting to slow down. The time line was eventually memorized and the exam taken. I received a 100 which I'm very thankful for but I'm even happier that it's over! Now I have more time to focus on Hebrew again. I don't know what it is about this semester but it has been hard to keep up with everything. I don't have too much longer to go though!

In my Principles of Teaching class we do a lot of group work. I like the class but I don't like working in a group. It's not that I don't like people or that I can't work with them, it's just that I work better on my own. I feel constrained, held back, by working in a group. I have more freedom and more flexibility by working on my own. Having to work in a group has been challenging. It's especially challenging because we have to come up with a Bible lesson and then teach it together. I find this difficult because you've got three or four different people with different personalities, different views of Scripture with different theologies, and you have to somehow convey the Bible lesson using certain principles. I'm big on not reading into Scripture and making it say what you want it to and it's hard to keep to that when you're working with other people who think differently than you. I enjoy the opportunity to teach and learn how to teach better but I'm not loving the group experience. I can't get out of it so maybe by the end of the semester I'll be more comfortable with it or at least learn how to work in a group better. It is a good way to learn how to work with different people though.


I have really been into baking lately. I have made three new cake recipes this month. I made a banana cake for me and Kyle's six month anniversary and it was good! I iced it with buttercream but I think next time I'll use cream cheese. A few weeks ago I made a chocolate marvel cake which was delicious! The chocolate icing had a bit of a mocha kick to it that was, well, icing on the cake. ;) Last week I made a strawberry cake with cream cheese icing. I'm not big on putting fruit in my dessert...just doesn't sound right...but it really isn't so bad! The cream cheese icing taste awesome and I think next time I'll actually add more strawberries to give the cake itself just a bit more taste. I love baking but I don't need to be eating all of this cake all the time so if you ever want a cake, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or pies just let me know! I'd love to bake for you! ;) Everything I bake is made from scratch and has no trans fat. It's the real deal!

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm looking forward to mine...I have no plans and very little pressing homework. Ah. :) I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts. 

3rd Rock from the Sun

I like to watch 3rd Rock from the Sun reruns every now and then. I think it's hilarious! I just found 5 seasons on Netflix. I've probably seen every episode but I like to revisit any chance I get. Here are some 3rd Rock from the Sun quotes.

Harry: "Women! You can't live with them and yet, they're everywhere!"

Dick: "I mean that from the heart of my bottom."

Tommy: "They were just so big, round, and beautiful...I just had to touch them."
Dick: "Then what?"
Tommy: "Then she said, 'Ow! My eyes!' and that just killed the mood!"

Dick: "This is funny...my throat tickles."
Harry: "Yeah, mine too. I tried to scratch it with a stick but that just brought up a whole new set of problems."

Harry: "You know, I heard a man can stretch his nerve endings from San Fransico to New
York....but, he would die."

Dick reading the Bible: "Don't listen to the serpent!" *turns the page* "Don't eat the fruit! Don't eat the fruit!" *turns the page, sighs, and slams it closed* "Women!"

Sally: "Oh no. This guy at a restaurant had a birthday and they set his food on fire and blew on it."

Dick: "Oh. My. God! I'm gorgeous!"

Sally: "Ya know, cars must have some huge power we haven't discovered yet. Look at this, the lines, the waiting, the testing!"
Harry: "Yeah, can you imagine what you must have to go through to get a gun?!"

Mary: "I'll be brutally frank."
Dick: "Good. I'll be genuine Dick."

Sally: "Oh my god Dick, what if this lying thing falls into the hands of the politicians?"
Harry: "That's a horrifying thought."

Dick: "What have you got there, Harry?"
Harry: "Well, yesterday I was exploring the park and I found this stone. Look at it, it's been worn to a perfect sphere by the elements and dimpled by time."
Sally: "Harry, that's a golf ball."

(Dick packing for a trip with Mary.)
Sally: "Wait, why are you taking refrigerator magnets?"
Dick: "Chicago. The windy city. I think it's obvious."
Sally: "What do you mean?"
Dick: "Ok, let's say an urgent message comes in for Dr. Albright and she's out sightseeing. I lay it on the nightstand because I have no way of securing it to a metallic surface. A gust of WIND blows in under the bed and Mary never discovers her long lost identical twin all for want of a magnetic banana!"

(Dick and Mary on a plane.)
Dick: "Oh my god! Out there! There's something on the wing!"
Mary: "It's an engine!"
Dick: "This thing is a death trap! Sky waitress! Sky waitress!"

Mary: "Look, it's starting to snow."
Dick: "Oh my god."
Mary: "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a snowflake before?"
Dick: "Yes and I prayed I would never see them again. Turn on the highbeams. They fear the light."

Lady in restaurant: "Ya know, you're boyfriend is kinda cute."
Mary: (points at Dick) "Him?"
Lady: "The way he spent the last hour knocking himself out trying to get your attention."
Mary: "Oh, he's an idiot."
Lady: "Honey, they're all idiots. But this one is looking at you as if you're the only woman on the planet and although you're real pretty, you're not exactly the last sandwich in Hungry Town if you get my drift."

Tommy: "Harry, if I asked you out on a date would you reject me because of these elbows?"
Harry: "Nope, I would reject you because I like ladies."

Dick to Harry's girlfriend: "Don't try to change the subject you processed-steak frying-bottom feeding-floozy!"
Harry: "You will put Miss in front of that if you know what's good for ya!"

Dick: "Optimism has no place in reality! Guess what? Santa Clause is dead! Beaten senseless for his shiny black boots! And his reindeer don't give a d***!"

Dick to his class: "Tomorrow there will be a pop quiz. Remember, it's a pop quiz! If you study, I'll know!"

Dick: "Harry, you have a thing in your head."
Harry: "A thing?"
Dick: "A cranial micro receiver chip."
Harry: "In my head..."
Dick: "Yes, but it's not in the part you use. It's in your brain!"

Dick: "I'm Dr. Solomon, where's my son? My son Harry!"
Police officer: "Well the good news is, he's alive."
Dick: "Oh! Thank God!"
Police officer: "But, I have to warn you, he don't look so good."
Dick: *gasp*
Police officer points at Harry. Dick turns around.
Dick: "Oh, that's what he always looks like."

Harry: "I was on my way to the big race and a paper bag blew across the road and I was afraid that it was full of bunnies so I swerved. . . "

Sally talking to babies: "Aw, don't cry sweetheart. This part is easy. . .just wait until you have to chose a long distance carrier. (Pause.) I wish I could have started from scratch like you guys. Knowing, but not knowing. Seeing and then all at once forgetting. Enjoy it. Time here moves really fast."

Dick to Evil Dick: "You can't live in the past, you have to live in the now. This is the 90's, girlfriend."

Dick: "You know, you never see yourself clearly until you see yourself through your lover's eyes. I am red FREAKIN hott!"

A Dog Story

At 6:45am I was snuggled in bed sleeping peacefully when I woke up to Trudy adding the color yellow to our multi-colored rug at the foot of our bed. "Blagg-chk Blagg-chk."

My husband and I bolted up in bed; him not knowing what the sound was and me knowing exactly what it was. "Trudy is throwing up" I said in response to my husband's questioning. Upon hearing her name Trudy came running around the bed to me and even though I told her, "No! No!" she jumped up on the bed. Before I could call her down she puked on our sheets. By this time Kyle was up inspecting the rug and in our awake-yet-not-awake state we cleaned the rug and changed the sheets. Neither Kyle or I are morning people and we don't like to be disturbed while sleeping so it's surprising how well we worked together to clean up our beloved dog's vomit. I was later amazed at how simply we got up, with little complaint, and just did what had to be done. We had no anger towards Trudy or each other. *sniff* I think we're growing up. ;)

While cleaning up the puke on the bed I couldn't help but think that this may be the first time for us to wake up to vomit but it won't be the last. Hopefully Kyle and I will work together just as well when it's a baby and not a dog. Either way I don't want to be cleaning up anymore puke any time soon.

Stressed Out

I am coming up on week 5 of the semester and I am already stressed out and overwhelmed. I am exhausted. I am already tired of studying. I am so ready to be done.

I had a feeling this semester was going to be tough. Hebrew and Roman World are both difficult classes and I was dreading Roman World because of the time line I have to memorize. I have been putting this class off for a while but now the time has come. The lectures are very interesting; I enjoy being in class but memorizing this time line has been killer. I have had a few weeks to work on it and because of the winter storm I got an extra week. Instead of this past Tuesday I will now be taking this exam next Tuesday. I was so thankful but when I went to study the time line today I lost it. I couldn't remember anything I had been studying and the task at hand just overwhelmed me. I had to which gears and go about studying it in a different way which frustrated me. All of the time and effort I had put into it the past few weeks seemed wasted.

After spending some time with it today and ever so VERY slowly getting back on track I feel a little bit better about it. I'm still upset and frustrated but at least I can set it aside for now and pick it back up again tomorrow. If I don't do very well on it then oh well, I tried. I can't ace everything. However, in the meantime, it's going to stress me out.

I am so exhausted. I'm always tired but today I have felt especially tired. Since last month I have been having a hard time emotionally which just drains the life out of me. Last week was pretty good so maybe today was just "one of those days." I'm not looking forward to tomorrow though either. *sigh* I guess I'll go to bed now...the hubby is still up which has kept me up but my eyes are getting more and more heavy. Goodnight, all.

Super Bowl Sunday

I'm not a big sports fan. I hold a lot of opinions about sports that most people wouldn't agree with. I think people get way too worked up over something as insignificant and meaningless as a sports game. There are a lot more important things in this life to get passionate about. I can understand the excitement, I've felt it myself when watching one of my siblings play or when watching the Allen Americans play, but that's all sports should be...entertaining. Too much value is placed on sports and athletes and if people took that value and passion and put it towards fighting for the sanctity of life and marriage maybe this world would be a better place. I say that but I know as well as anyone that humans don't innately want to do the right, or in this case, better thing. The world won't be a better place until the Redeemer returns. But anyway...I'm not saying that sports are wrong or that athletes are bad people...I'm just saying that, like with anything in life, sports needs to be handled and enjoyed with balance.

The Packers and Steelers are playing in this year's Super Bowl and I don't care. I don't care that the Cowboys are a sucky team. I don't care who wins tonight. The reason I watch the Super Bowl is to see the commercials and eat food. When I was younger, the Super Bowl meant a party which meant I got to hang out with friends. That was always a lot of fun even though I couldn't care less about the game. So it's what comes with the game - entertainment, food, and fellowship - that makes times like these exciting, not the game itself.

So, I'll say GO PACKERS to those of you who are rooting for the Packers.

And I'll say GO STEELERS for those of you who are rooting for the Steelers.

But remember, no matter what happens, it's just a game and life goes on. When Judgment Day comes, NO BODY is going to be too worried about who won the Super Bowl. Just sayin. ;)

Pictures of Today

The winter sky and a bare tree

It began snowing last night and it continued on through the morning. I would say we got 5 to 6 inches of snow. It was so pretty that I had to get some pictures! The dogs enjoyed it too as you can see. They had fun running through the snow and frolicking about! :) 

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Cassie with a snow goatee!

Where snow waits

Ren and I

Trudy and Mr. Monk

I do!

My sweet man

A Snow Week

This week has been an unexpected snow week. Most winters in Texas aren't usually very exciting but last winter and this winter have held some surprises. We had a "blizzard" last winter and this time we've had some snow and ice that has closed down schools and businesses. My college has been closed since Tuesday and will remained closed tomorrow which means I have a week off of school. I think God knew I needed a break so He sent this winter weather along just for me. :)

Yesterday and today was spent laying around in my pjs with my hubby. We have slept in, spent the day in the living room with the fire roaring, and have enjoyed time with Momma and Dad watching movies and playing the Kinect. It has been nice to relax and not have the pressure of school hanging over me. Of course eventually the ice will melt and the temperatures will rise and we'll all go back to our normal schedules but for now I have enjoyed this peaceful week.

My hubby has started a blog of his own and tonight he wrote the cutest and funniest post.  Check his blog out at www.mrinteresting.tumblr.com.

I know not everyone likes weather like this but even so I hope that y'all have found something to enjoy about it. It will be gone soon. . .time never sleeps. Goodnight, everyone.

Stay Warm & Stay Home

Picture taken by Kyle

I hope everyone is staying home and staying warm! Kyle and I are enjoying laying around in the living room in our warm pjs with the fire going and occupying ourselves with reading, movies, and the computer. We don't get many snow/ice days in Texas so we're making the best of it by taking some time to relax. I hope you are too!

A Place in a Dream

I long for a place where I can lay beside a gently gurgling stream where the water flows over the rocks and creates the sound of peace. I long for a place where I can lay on grass that will not scratch my skin or stain my clothes. A place where bugs can fly and crawl freely without irritating my skin or disturbing my peace. A place where the sun cannot hurt my eyes and where the rain can soak in yet not leave me wet. Where bees can gather their pollen and make their honey without causing fright. I long for a place where the flowers won't fade and the trees won't die. I wish for a place where I can run in my bare feet and not feel the pain of stabbing rocks or debris. I wish for a place of complete serenity.

I hope for the redeemed.

But in reality, at the end, after my husband has passed away and my children have grown and left me; after my skin has formed wrinkles and my energy wanes; after all that has been familiar is gone and it's just me, the hope for the redeemed and my Redeemer is all I'll have left. And I must always remind myself that that is certainly worth living for.

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today I began dating the man who would become my husband. I remember it well. The night before Kyle and I had been hanging out with some friends and after I had left Kyle texted me hours into the night. I don't remember all of the details of how it happened but eventually Kyle pried it out of me that I liked him. He obviously felt the same way because he asked me out on an official date. It was a Monday night and he picked me up from school and took me to see Leap Year. I remember feeling very nervous and a little hesitant but deep in my heart I knew that this was right. While in the car he asked me to get something out of his glove compartment and when I opened it, there were two flowers waiting for me. My heart jumped into my throat. I kept those flowers for as long as they lived.

Later at the movie theater, before the movie started, I poured out the story of my hurting heart and Kyle listened intently. Though I don't remember much of what was said I remember that he listened and that I was able to share such personal things with a guy I had hardly come to know. From the day we met I knew I was able to trust Kyle; there's just something about him that makes you trust him. I've never trusted a guy like that so quickly.

When we went to claim two seats in the theater I remember the overwhelming desire to grab his arm and hold it tight. So I took a risk and I did. ;) He responded by putting the arm rest up and putting his arm around me. I felt so at home.

The movie was good, the company even better, and though I didn't want to leave him, by the end of the night I was ready to go home and cry. The tears didn't hold back until home though because I felt like I couldn't leave him until I expressed what was on my mind. I had had such a good time with him and felt so at home with him in such a way I had not felt in a very long time. His hand being in mine made sense. It felt right and good. My heart was in turmoil but somehow this man hugging me, comforting me, brought me peace. It didn't take long for my heart to be at complete peace. Never had God answered my prayers so quickly. Never did I doubt that this was His will. He has blessed me with a year full of joy, laughter, and love. It has been one of the best years that I have had in a long time. Thank you, Lord, for my hubby. I love him very much. :)

Another Semester

The Spring 2011 semester begins for me tomorrow. I wasn't too excited about it at first. School has kinda lost it's excitement and fun for me since I got married. Now, however, I'm starting to look forward to it. My classes this semester should be fun and interesting and I'm starting to feel the anticipation of learning and reading and writing again. Yes, I'm a nerd; I enjoy school.

My classes this semester are The Roman World, Hebrew 2, Principles of Teaching and History & Philosophy of Christian Education. I expect Roman World to be the most difficult. I've seen the maps that I have to memorize and regurgitate. . .it's pretty intimidating. And Professor Spencer's exams are always very hard...I think only a handful of students have received A's on his exams. He's one of the nicest and smartest professors you'll ever meet though.

Hebrew 2 is likely to pose its challenges as well. Though I really enjoy Hebrew and I did exceptionally well in Hebrew 1, I know Hebrew 2 is harder and the fact that I haven't looked at Hebrew in the past two months doesn't help. I'm not too worried though. I believe it will come back to me. Dr. Warstler is also one of the nicest, gracious and smartest professors you'll ever meet.

Principles of Teaching and History & Philosophy of Christian Education should both be enjoyable classes. They are right up my alley as far as my interests go. They will both help me learn how to be a teacher. The Christian Education class I am doing as an independent study so I'll be following the lectures online and doing all of my work at home. I am looking forward to it because the work seems like something I'll enjoy doing. I thank God that He gave me a joy for reading and a gift for writing because that's all college is. That's probably why I don't mind school so much. :)

Well, it all starts this week on Tuesday and Thursday. Kyle is actually taking Hebrew 2 with me so that will definitely help make Tuesday less boring and long. It should be fun taking a class together. :) He should be thankful his wife is so good at Hebrew. . . ;)

Day 10: One Confession

I love this man!

I confess that I love my husband with more passion now than before our huge fight. It somehow brought us even closer together and more in love. He is everything I ever wanted and needed. <3

Day 9: Two Smilelys that Describe My Life Right Now

Well, this is going to be short and odd but here it goes...

:) - Generally happy

<3 - In love

Day 8: Three Turn Ons

1) A good sense of humor - I love to laugh

2) Taking a personal interest in me and my life - I love to be asked questions, that is the best and easiest way to get me to talk

3)Show some degree of respect - You don't have to like me, I don't expect you to be my best friend, but show some respect because I'm a human being just like you.

Day 7: Four Turn Offs

**Disclaimer: These turn offs and tomorrows turn ons will be in the light of friendship, of what I do and do not like in people, and are not meant as sexual turn ons and turn offs. My husband is the only person who needs that knowledge about me. ;)**

1) Foul language - I don't tolerate unnecessary foul language. It is simply unbecoming and offensive.

2) Disrespect - I don't tolerate disrespect from anyone. It just isn't nice.

3) Habitual smoking - It's just nasty.

4) Being unnecessarily loud - No offense to anyone but loud people annoy me.

From the Depths of my Heart...

I wish to sleep but I can't. My body hates me because all I've eaten since Tuesday night is a sandwich and some chocolate. My head hurts, my eyes are worn out from crying, and I'm sitting here in the dark, wishing to not be disturbed. What's wrong, you ask? The first huge quarrel between husband and wife is taking place. . .has been since Tuesday night. The contents and details of our argument are not for public knowledge but since this is a blog about my life as a wife I wish to at least mention it. I'm sure every married couple out there can identify. I'm sure they can think back and remember a similar experience. Marriage isn't all peace and harmony. If anything marriage is tearing at each others throats till you figure out how to live with each other. It's the whole "iron sharpens iron" concept and the rubbing of two pieces of sandpaper. You either wear each other out or make each other better. No matter how prepared Kyle and I were for this we still have a lot to learn. It gives me a headache and makes me feel discouraged just thinking about it. Of course, Kyle and I will get through this argument and through all of the other arguments we are sure to have. However, at the moment, it just stinks.

After five months of marriage and living with Kyle, I have learned a lot about him that I didn't know before we got married. I'm sure he could say the same about me. There are just certain things that you'll never learn about a person until you live with them everyday and have to unite yourself to that person to become one entity. I thought it hurt when I argued with a boyfriend but now that it's my husband I'm arguing with, it hurts a hell of a lot more. Why? Because I can't just leave. I can walk away for a time but I can't just go home or just end the relationship. There is no ending this relationship. I'm happy about that, I don't hate my marriage, I don't want to end it, but since I'm hurting for the first time in my marriage, I realize what a huge difference there is between a dating relationship and a marriage relationship. When you get married, you don't just bring sexual intimacy into the relationship, you bring in a whoooole lot more and so does your spouse. At some point the honeymoon (whether you had a real one or not) ends and you've gotta figure out what the hell you're doing. Living in a blissful state is not reality and making each other happy all the time is impossible. Who would have thought that, when you love each other so much, making a life together would be so dang hard.

A key component to a happy marriage is communication. Now, communication has always been a hard one for me. I am a complete failure when it comes to communicating well. I think and I write and that's as far as I can go. Speaking with an individual is incredibly hard for me. I always feel stupid afterward because what I really wished to communicate didn't happen.  For instance, everything that I have written I could NOT have spoken to you. If I tried to verbally communicate all of this to you I would have failed miserably. This is why I write. When I write, I can communicate what I want to say and I can do it well. This is horrible when it comes to my marriage though. I want so desperately to be able to verbally communicate with my husband but I have proven to be a failure at this so many times. Once or twice I have written a journal entry and then handed my journal to Kyle so he could read what I had been thinking and feeling since I could not simply tell him. If only I could do this all the time but since I can't. . .I don't know what to do. I need to learn to just say what I want to say instead of keeping my mouth shut and bottling it up until I explode. Oh, but the fear that grips me when I want to speak. . .it's like there is an invisible hand clamped over my mouth, forcing me to keep quiet. I don't have this problem if I'm teaching a lesson or giving a speech because then I am expected to speak and others are expected to listen. It's only with individual people or any informal group of people that I don't know well. I can't even communicate effectively with my husband when it really matters. So, as I would do with anyone, I withdraw and when pushed or when I just can't take it anymore, I explode. As with any explosive, the contents of my heart and mind go everywhere, damaging myself and those around me. I don't know how to change this other than forcing myself to speak but I know that after this has calmed and settled, I will return to my old ways and the cycle will just begin again. God help me.

Day 6: Five People that Mean a Lot to Me

1) My husband, Kyle

2) My best friend, Grace

3) My mom

4) My mom-in-law

5) Jesus ;)

Day 5: Six Things I Wish I Had Never Done

1) I wish I had never dated a good friend of mine because now we are not friends at all

2) I wish I had not thrown a fit yesterday when things weren't going the way I wanted them to

3) I wish I had not done so poorly in Greek....but let's face it...it's GREEK!

4) I wish I had never said some of the things that I have said to people

5) I wish I had never lost my cool with my English teacher when I was a freshman in college

6) I wish I had never gained 20 pounds

Day 4: Seven Things that Cross Your Mind Alot

1) The future - Where are we gonna be and how will we get there?

2) Finances - Hate money but always need it

3) School - It's a pain to try to get everything worked out between semesters so I can actually go

4) My plans for the week

5) Time - What time is it and how many hours until such and such?

6) My need to lose some weight

7) Lots and lots of random stuff including daydreams and worries.

Day 3: Eight Ways to Win my Heart

1) Respect me

2) Be interested in my opinions and what I think about things

3) Give me chocolate or cake or ice cream or cookies or brownies or pie. . .anything sweet!

4) Make me laugh

5) Be trustworthy

6) Show genuine kindness and care for others

7) Give me flowers

8) Hug me

Day 2: Nine Things about Me

1) I did not gain the Freshman 15. However, I did manage to gain the Newly-Wed 20.

2) I met, got engaged to, and married my Beloved all within the time frame of 8 months.

3) I would like my first born to be born in the month of October. That way Daddy's birthday is in September, Baby's birthday in October, and Mommy's in November. ;)

4) I only befriend odd people. I don't do it on purpose, it just works out that way.

5) I like to go against whatever is most popular at the time. I just hate following a crowd.

6) I am very proud of now bearing the name Kerby. Thompson is just all too common.

7) I love the rain...and the moon...and snow...and sunsets...and...

8) I am a very practical person but a romantic at heart.

9) I don't always think very highly of myself but when my husband tells me that I'm an incredible wife and that he loves me, I know I must be doing something right. :)

Day 1: Things to Say to Ten People I Love

1) Kyle - I love you so much. You are such a good husband and my best friend. It's so weird to think about how just a year ago we weren't even dating yet finding interest in each other more and more. It happened so randomly and quickly but I don't regret it at all. Being with you brought so much peace to my heart and though I didn't want to fall in love with you, I just couldn't help myself. :) Thank you for being yourself and being everything I need. You are my beloved and you are mine. I love you.

2) Grace - I'm so glad you reached out to me in the Criswell coffee shop four years ago. The times we had as single girls was so much fun!!! I'm so thankful that we became such close friends and even though we lose touch every now and then you're still my best girlfriend and I hope that our kids can grow up together!! haha ;)

3) Kimberly - I miss you!! All the times you, me and Grace had while at Criswell was so much fun! The sleepovers, the outings, all the giggling, talking and crying. . .the three of us were kindred spirits. Even though we don't see each other very often I love how we can connect immediately after so much time apart. We need to hang out soon! The three of us! And make it like old times. ;) I miss and love you!

4) Chase - Even though I'm married now, you're still a good friend and I think back on our best friendship with a smile and a laugh. You were there for me all the time and kept me laughing even when I didn't feel like it. When I hated the male race you were there to remind me that there were still some nice guys left out there. I am thankful for your friendship and even though we may lose touch, I will always care for you as my friend and brother.

5) Mom - You're my hero! I want to be just like you. You are a godly woman and a dedicated wife and mother. Even when you had seven kids in the house you always managed to keep the house clean, organized and uncluttered. I remember you getting up early to read your Bible, pray and sing. Your singing really annoyed me at the time but I think that along with prayer and the time you spent in the Word is what got you through the day. Watching you play your different roles, rejoice and laugh when times were good, and cry and yell when times were bad, taught me what makes a strong, good woman. You don't get the praise, admiration and appreciation that you deserve but know that I look up to you, admire you and love you very much!

6) Julia - I hope that you're no longer mad at me and that you understand why our friendship slowly dissolved. I still think of you as a friend and sister and still care about you very much. I really enjoyed being such good friends with you and I LOVED hanging out with you. I really love you and your family. I was friends with you because I liked you and we got along but I also wanted to be a good influence on you and just be an older person that you could trust and depend on. I know I made some mistakes and didn't always handle things well but I never meant to hurt or disappoint you. As you grow older I do believe you'll come to understand. I know I did. I love you and think about you often!

7) Joanna W - You are such a sweet and understanding girl. Even though we have drifted apart as well I still love you and think about you! I miss you and wish we could hang out soon! Darn you for living so far away! ;)

8) Joanna M - I facebook stalk you, just so you know. ;) I look back on our years as best friends with fondness. :) That was so long ago but the memories are still fresh in my mind. Thanks for being my friend when we were younger and I enjoy catching up with you every now and then. You are a sweet girl and I still love you!

9) Laura M - I always enjoyed our conversations. Gosh, hanging out with Jo at y'alls house when we were all younger was so much fun! You were always so wise and mature beyond your years. I looked up to you as a kid. :) Thanks for coming to my wedding! It was so nice to have you there. I wish we could catch up more! Love ya!

10) Jordon - I miss you!! You're my favorite Irish girl! haha I'll never forget the time we spent together in Ireland. It was so much fun to hang out with you. You are such a sweet girl. I hope I get to see you again one day!

Siiiick :(

The cold bug has invaded our home. I started feeling yucky Saturday night and I'm still feeling a bit yucky today. I'm hoping to be 100% by tomorrow or Thursday because I'm anxious to try out my cupcake maker. . .and I'm tired of laying in bed all day. Kyle also started feeling bad last night and didn't go to work today. Though it's nice to lay in bed all day with my hubby and not have to do anything, I hope that we are both feeling better soon. I felt some energy come back today but as the day wore on I started to feel progressively worse again. My body is aching, my head hurts, and my eyes feel tired. This stinks.

So, I'm going to steal something I found on a friend's Tumblr. It's called the 10 Day Tumblr Challenge but I think it can be used for any blog. Here is what it looks like:

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you were you had never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot to you
Day Seven: Four turn offs
Day Eight: Three turn ons
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now
Day Ten: One confession

It looks like fun and I like answering questions. I'll begin tomorrow because right now I need to lay back down and get some rest. Good night, stay well!

Here Comes a New Year

My Christmas was a wonderful time spent with family. I got to meet and hold my baby niece Cilicia and cherished the time I spent with her. She is so cute and cuddly! :)

Christmas Eve Eve was my little sister's birthday so me, Kyle, and our friend Chase helped chaperon her birthday party. We had like 15 teenage girls we had to keep busy so we led games for them. That was both fun and chaotic. Teenage girls like to scream and have a hard time focusing...I had forgotten. ;)

Christmas Eve was spent baking our favorite cookie recipes: chocolate chip and butter cookies. My big brother, John-Paul, used to do all the baking when he was younger but then past it on to me when I was old enough. So I baked the chocolate chip and he baked the butter cookies. John-Paul kept remembering all of the food we used to eat growing up and the different old recipes in the family. It was fun to reminisce and fill our bellies with cookies.

Later that night we went to the Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at my parent's church then came home and ordered pizza. Yum! Later, my sister-in-law (who usually opens presents on Christmas Eve) convinced my brother to open a present from her. We were all glad she did because it was an Xbox Kinect! John-Paul hooked it up and we all played for hours. It was really fun and hilarious to watch each other play. Even my mom got in on it and we all laughed as she danced, kicked, and punched the air. As someone who usually doesn't like video games, I really enjoyed it because one, it got the whole family involved and two, YOU are the controller which means your whole body is moving and being active. I felt so sore for like two days after that night!

Around 10 or 11 the electricity started to blink on and off. It was really weird because it wouldn't just blink but click off for a minute and then come back on and then cut off again. Finally it cut off completely and we had to light candles. It had been raining that night and apparently lighting struck a power line. We were without electricity until around midnight but we kept ourselves occupied. We surrounded ourselves with candles and played Pictionary. That was fun and I do believe I was the winner in that game. :)

Christmas Day my sister had us all up early. We opened presents and then lounged around and played some more Kinect until we went over to my grandparents house for lunch. It was a good, tiring day and we all slept in Sunday morning. Kyle and I took our time moving around but eventually headed home by 2pm.

It was a great Christmas and probably the most fun my family has had all together in a long time. It was a blessing to have everyone there and, for the most part, getting along and having a good time together. I am thankful to God for a wonderful Christmas season and an awesome year. He has blessed me greatly.

This Christmas

This Christmas is me and Kyle's first Christmas together. So far it has had its ups and downs but I think this week should be a good one. Kyle is working today and tomorrow and Wednesday we are spending the day preparing to travel on Thursday. There is laundry to do, clothes to pack, and a few more presents to wrap. On Thursday we'll head to Spring, TX to spend Christmas with my family. My big brother and his wife are coming from Austin as well so my parents will have all their kids home for Christmas! It will be the first time for all of us to be together for a holiday in two years! I think the last time was Thanksgiving 2008. Kyle and I will both have our cameras so we'll get lots of family pictures! I'm excited and looking forward to the few days we get to be there.

I love Christmas time but as I get older it seems that life experiences take away the magical feeling that Christmas time used to bring. I don't want to become a Scrooge or a Grinch, I want to always love and enjoy Christmas, but it becomes harder with each year. However, along with those hard life experiences comes the lesson of learning to trust God and have faith in Him. So, this Christmas, as with any Christmas, I recall to the forefront of my mind the birth of Jesus Christ and the Father's plan of redemption. I remember the hope that I have because of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. I remember that Jesus is the reason of every day, of every step, and of every breath. Whether Christmas comes in that magical way or not, the purpose of this holiday remains the same; to celebrate God's perfect Gift of salvation, love, and grace.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"-- Luke 2:8-12

The Truth about Adolescence

I am convinced that this culture has caused our youth to feel hopeless and helpless and as a result they have retreated to the world beneath, the one place they feel safe from adult agendas and uncompassionate criticism, and have been abandoned by the adults that surround them. Instead of rushing to their aid to fight for them and to understand their world, adults have heaped expectations, criticism and unjust evaluations upon them. We have handed them a journey of pain and confusion and have stepped back to watch them try to make it all on their own. And when they fail, we deem them unworthy of adulthood. This is the world of our adolescents and it's our fault.

Check out these books to read more about this issue of adolescence and systematic abandonment. 

Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a Myspace World

Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teengage

Birth Control: Right or Wrong?

After my last post about children I started getting questions about my view of birth control. My immediate response was more or less, "I don't know, I'm still thinking about it."

While preparing for marriage I read a book about sexual intimacy in marriage and it covered the different forms of birth control. With the exception of condoms, all of them left a small window of chance for an egg to be fertilized and then terminated or they sounded shady in a way that made me feel uneasy. I discussed it with Kyle and we both quickly agreed that we would not take that chance. So, as a person who values the sanctity of life and lives by biblical standards, I would argue that using most forms of birth control is wrong. Of course, that leaves myself and anyone else who has faced this with the question, what about condoms or any other "safe" form of birth control? And is using birth control failing to trust God with this area of our life? After a long discussion with my husband and some time in prayer, I came to the conclusion that it is not wrong to use condoms but neither is it wrong to not use condoms.

I believe that a couple can use condoms and still be trusting in God to determine the right time for them to have a child. If they continually seek God's will through prayer then I believe that God will let them know when it's time. And of course condoms or any means of birth control do not limit God. He holds all things together and works all things out according to His will.

On the other extreme, I don't believe that it is wrong or irresponsible of a couple to not use birth control as long as it is something that God has convicted them of. I do believe that God opens and closes the womb and that He is in complete control. If a couple has sought God's wisdom and feels strongly that they should forgo birth control then I believe that they are completely right to do so.

That is my view on birth control. I know that this is a hot topic and that there are many different opinions. It was hard to think through and come to a conclusion. It's a gray area for Christians and I think the best thing to do is to seek God's will and wisdom through prayer and trust in Him. He knows what is best for your marriage and family. I think that is something that all young married couples and parents can find peace in.

Is There Such a Thing as TOO Many Kids?

I come from a family of nine. I have a mom and a dad, two older siblings, and four younger siblings. People consider us a big family and I remember how people would react when they saw all of us together growing up. My parents usually got the question, "Are they all yours?" People were always interested in the dynamics of a large family yet no one ever really understood. It seems that, for a lot of people, the thought of having more than two or three kids is ridiculous. There are people who would say having a big family is irresponsible and even wrong. I don't agree with those statements at all. I believe children are a blessing and a gift from God. I believe couples should have as many children as God would grant them. God, in His sovereignty, knows how many children each couple should have. I acknowledge that sometimes God grants none, one, just a few, or even as many as 20.

I think most people are familiar with the Duggar family who, as of right now, are a family of 21. My feelings toward this family consist of admiration and respect. I think it is awesome that God has given Michelle and Jim Bob 19 kids to raise and has provided the means in which for them to do so. I admire their trust in God and their willingness to accept each child He gives them. Their lives revolve around the children God has given to them and they appear to fulfill their roles as parents by teaching, guiding, loving, and raising their children to be godly men and women. I believe that every parent should devote themselves to their children in this way. And in doing so, they are devoting themselves to God and His calling of them as parents; to take His children, train them up in the way they should go, and then give them back to Him.

Now, I don't want anyone to misunderstand me. I'm not saying that once you're a parent that you're never anything else. I do believe that parents have other roles in life as well. They aren't just parents but also a spouse, a friend, a co-worker, ect. Parents have hobbies and dreams as well and I believe that every parent needs a break every now and then and needs to have a "life" outside of their kids as long as it doesn't affect the kids in a negative way. My point is that to be a parent is a very high calling and to be given the opportunity to love and raise as many children as God would give is a gift no one should deny.

I don't think that there is such a thing as TOO many kids. I believe that God gives as many kids as He sees fit to each couple and that number, whatever it is, is just right.

All my life I have had a strong desire to be a mother. I have always said that I want four or five because in my mind that's not too few and not too many. However, when Kyle and I were preparing for marriage and discussed children we both agreed that we would trust God with how many kids we will have. We both have our own ideas about what number would be a good "fit" in our eyes but that is only in our eyes. Neither of us have ever been a parent before so we both admit that after baby number 1 our minds could change entirely. So, instead of relying on ourselves to make a "responsible" decision, we are trusting God to steer our hearts and minds towards His will for our family. We will receive with joy every child He gives us and will seek His will about when we have "enough."

So too many kids? No way.
Many blessings bestowed on those undeserving? Yes.

Fall 2010 Semester is Over

Semesters seem to begin and end in a whirlwind. As always, it's weird to go from nonstop reading and studying to absolutely nothing school related. I woke up today, petted my dog and told her, "Trudy, I don't know what to do today." lol No worries, I found things to do. There were dishes to clean and put away, clothes to wash, and some reading for pure enjoyment to be done.

I also tried watching a TV show called Psych since my beloved Monk has come to an end. I didn't like it so much. I didn't understand why he didn't just tell the police that he's gifted in noticing small but key details that most other people overlook instead of lying about being a psychic. I watched two episodes but I didn't really get into it. Monk is way better! While watching that show it felt like Monk and I had become best friends and when it ended, a little something died in me that day. I even cried! lol Monk is the best TVshow ever and I will have to revisit it soon!

Not only did my semester end this week but my newest niece, Cilicia Rose, was born on Tuesday morning! She's so cute with such pinchable cheeks! I can't wait to meet her and hold her when I go down to Houston for Christmas. It's a little weird not being there for her birth because I was there when her siblings were born. I was at the hospital when Isabella was born, at the house watching Isabella when Malea was born, and when I found out Levi was born, I was able to head down to Houston that day with a friend to see him. This time I have to wait a few weeks and it's killing me! I can't wait to see her!

Cilicia Rose DeAses
December 7, 2010