Thankfulness

Monumental

Most of society would consider the significance of tomorrow to be a monumental moment in life.

Don't get me wrong, tomorrow is a big day, but the reasons don't have anything to do with trying alcohol.

Tomorrow, I turn 21. And that number makes me feel old.

Two important things:

1. I have no desire to drink... now or ever... so don't get any ideas. 

2. I am so beyond blessed. 

One reason I feel old, is that I think I've reached the beginning point of looking back on previous experiences while reflecting on both the good things and the bad. Above all, I can't stop thinking how overwhelmingly good God has been.

I remember when I was a child and I saw college students and thought they were so mature. I was sure I'd never make it to the point in life where I would be in a place similar to theirs. Yet, here I am... just 4 short weeks from finishing my junior year in college. More than anything, this semester has been my toughest. But, I have found underneath the stress, frustration, and the exhaustion, that I have needed and relied on God in ways that I never have before. Contrary to what I observed my cousins going through years ago, college is so much more educational than just going to class and taking tests. Life experiences are learned that I would have missed out on had God not placed me at SNU. This semester has been tough, but regardless...I am blessed. Many people don't have the opportunity to go to school; let alone live in a beautiful dorm, have a Christian education, or meet some awesome people. Don't even get me started on my family. Without them, I wouldn't be here... it's as simple as that. I just can't express how great they all are or what they mean to me. Their influence, both my parents and my sister, allowed me to find Christ at a young age and continue to cultivate my faith throughout the years. For that alone, I am grateful.

I hope that despite what I face in life, in both the hardships and the joyous moments, that my life will be a reflection of Christ- always.

Even though I feel old, I am blessed... beyond what I deserve. I'm excited to see what year twenty-one has in store!

Beginning the "end" of junior year

Hello Fall semester! You're here already!?

My lack of posts over the summer resulted from being tired, working a lot, and taking 3 classes! Needless to say, it was a hectic summer! My last two classes ended TWO days before this semester began!

These are my books for the semester and apparently there will be 60 page "excerpts" from other books that are printed out for me to read too. 4 of my profs so far have sent me on my way with copies of chapters to read and write over!

Praying for a great semester for everyone in school!

Final Friday

Well, today is it. The last Friday of the semester is here, and it is nearly over. In some ways, this semester drug on and on and on and on, but in other ways, it seemed to go by really fast! 

I of course, have the countdown set for my last final- and my departure from Oklahoma for a while. I am so ready to head home and spend a few months in my own bed. I'm also excited to spend time with my sweet family! Weekends are the loneliest at college! Just four days and a few hours away from being Texas bound! 

The other night, after my food from the cafeteria was burned, I decided I needed some normal food. I went and got my favorite Chinese take out here and it was delish! Tai Pei's Tangerine Beef hit the spot, AND I was able to have three meals from it! Score! 

I am one final and one paper away from finishing my sophomore year of college. It does seem like just yesterday I was heading to college and scared to death of the days that would follow. However, now it has become a pattern and studying all the time has become my routine! My last final, Philosophy, is the one I'm really dreading. There is so much to memorize and study and I can't seem to remember it all! I'll be praising Jesus on my drive home Wednesday that I hopefully made it through!

My weekend will consist of a whole lot of this: 

....which is of course, Philosophy notes! Even though ancient theories and concepts in Philosophy rarely make sense, I am so thankful for a strong mind which is able to learn new things each day! 

Finally, I was getting on the elevator the other night (at midnight!) and when the doors opened, I was greeted with two chairs and a garbage can. I'm happy I was the only one in line, otherwise there wouldn't have been much room for others! When I got off on my floor, two boys with guitars were signing a song about elevators and asked if I enjoyed my ride. They were a little bummed when I told them three floors wasn't necessarily enough time to sit and get comfortable. Oh dear! I thought it was quite clever though, so I applaud them! 

Happy weekend! 

Update

Hey there! This semester has been busy, busy, busy. My spare moments have been consumed by sleeping :-) 

I am less than two weeks away from finishing up my sophomore year of college. I can't really believe it! I have worked out my schedule so that I will graduate in December 2013; a whole semester earlier than I should really graduate. So, this fall, I will be entering as a second semester junior! So thankful to be blessed with a strong mind to learn new things! 

Unfortunately, when I head home, I have to begin searching for a car. On my trek back to school from break, I was rear ended (in Fort Worth... my favorite city. NOT!) and then pushed into the car in front of me. Since my car was "sandwiched," it had damage in both the front and the back. I wasn't at fault, and the woman who hit me had insurance, which was a blessing, but, since my car is 12 years old--- no one wants to fix it. 

The damage doesn't look like "totaled" damage, but that is what they are saying my car is! We are going to see how much we can get for it, and then use that and the insurance money to get me something different. I am sad, because this 4Runner has been such a great car for me. Maybe this time, I can get something with more than 15 MPG :-) 

Now I am just focusing on finishing the semester strong, heading home, having a weekend off, and then starting one of my summer classes 3 days later! It will be a busy summer, but I am ready to be home! 

Dorm Life.

Does this happen to anyone else who shares a dorm dryer? EVERY time I was clothes, and then put them in the dryer, the end result is spotty clothes and sheets. After my shirts were nearly ruined, I had the bright idea to just hang dry pretty much everything. While I do drip-dry my sheets every once in a while, I don't always. Today, I took them out of the dryer and I was so frustrated! 

This one you can't really tell, but near the bottom, there are so many spots. I guess at least my sheets are clean, even if they don't look like it! 

In the basement of our cafeteria, we have a little hang out called Pops. They serve Starbucks coffee!! My newest thing is an Americano with vanilla. Oh they are so addicting. However, this morning, a tall americano was NOT enough to get me through the day.... is it summer yet?! I. am. exhausted. 

My countdown as of a few hours ago!! My sweet aunt is flying to Texas to spend her break with my family. I kind of cannot WAIT! Also, I am excited to go home and sleep in my own bed again! Praying I made it home without any trouble!

This semester is coming to a close! I don't remember how many weeks exactly that are left, but there are final projects coming up soon, so that has to mean something!! I have two tests next week, so my weekend will be spent studying! 

My school is hosting a little "show" tonight. It's called Lip Sync and basically all types of crazy people get on stage and act out skits and songs and make fools of themselves. One of my football-player friends is in a skit with some of his friends and they are all wearing tights! I am excited and looking forward to a break from studying! Have a great weekend!!

Verse for today:

(Ephesians 2:8)

Thursday

Thanks for the prayers on my test. I don't have the results yet, but I think it went well! I should know on Monday!

I only have one class tomorrow because my other class got cancelled. Hopefully I can sleep in, or finish working on my final paper for one class!

This weekend is full of studying, like normal...hopefully I can go to the lake to enjoy the weather!

Today was gorgeous! It seriously was a wonderful way to welcome March! Two weeks from tomorrow I'll be headed home for spring break! I can't wait!

Philosophy

Tomorrow morning I have my first philosophy test of the semester. The professor told us on Friday that his previous student's "average"was a 72% and he called that "good."

I have my heart set on breaking his record with well above a 72%. However, I have been studying all this and I still do not feel very confident. I haven't felt well today and I think that is part of the reason I am having trouble retaining what I am trying to study. 

Basically, there is a LOT of information and the whole subject of philosophy has been really tough for me to grasp. I struggle with finding the significance in learning things that are obviously false! 

So, if tomorrow morning at 9, you feel compelled to pray for me and my little test, i'd be grateful! 

Now, i'm off to memorize all this....and more! 

Busy week!

Another busy week lies ahead. I don't even know where to begin...

Lists are getting me through college. Seriously. I've always had an obsession with making lists and sticky notes. I just love them. I like knowing exactly what I need to get done and then being able to cross things off.

This week, as you can see, my list is long. It will be added on to, too since its only Monday!

Off to pace my room with my color coated study guide, in order to memorize a million and ten things for my test tomorrow! (who color coats their study guides??? OCD much, Jenna??)

Today when I was reading my devotional, these verses from Psalm spoke to me. I am SO thankful that the Lord is willing to listen to my tiny little struggles and worries, and He truly cares about what I am going through!

Psalm 34:17-19

 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
   he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
   and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
  The righteous person may have many troubles,
   but the LORD delivers him from them all;

The Vow

I.have.to.see.this.movie.

Midnight showing?!

yes.

Ephesians 2:10

No one is born ordinary. We're created for extraordinary things.

I woke up to read this verse today and I just love the promise that we ALL have a purpose for our life. So thankful for that amazing promise!

Happy Thursday

Insomnia

It's the worst. Really. It's 12:30 in the morning and I'm exhausted. Yet...I can't sleep. To me, that's the most frustrating thing ever. My seriously too tired to get anything productive accomplished but I lay in bed and my mind won't shut off for me to rest. I feel tired all the time too, which I wouldn't if I could just sleep. My roommate is blessed with the ability to lay down and fall asleep within seconds. I'm kinda jealous. I am going to have such a hard time getting up in just a few short hours....sigh. Such is life I guess.

I have had such an awful headache all day long. Excederin migraine worked for a couple of hours but it must have worn off now. Very obnoxious! I'm praying I can fall asleep soon and wake up refreshed for once.

Have a great week! It's February this week. Are you ready?

Macadamia nuts.

I believe I may be allergic to them as well as hazelnuts. Just in case you were wondering.

I bought these the other day because I thought they'd be a quick breakfast before class. They are just granola bars with a chocolate bottom, but the label says there are macadamia nuts in there too. Thats the only "odd" thing in there i can think of that i might be allergic to. I felt kinda funny after I ate one but I didn't think much other than I was tired and school food always makes me feel funny.

However, tonight around 10 I was hungry because I didn't really eat dinner so I ate one, took some excedrin migraine medicine because my head was pounding and sat down. Totally the same thing that happens with Nutella happened. Tongue and throat feel odd and I can't get a deep breath!! So, I texted my mom and age asked my aunt who is a nurse if I could take benedryl even though I had taken excedrin already. (bad timing on my part). Apparently it's ok, so now I'm all drugged up but still don't feel well enough to lay down and sleep. Sigh. So, I'm blogging and I'm gonna watch netflix for a bit. Class in mañana and praying I feel better.

This week was FULL of nonstop homework. I got a lot accomplished but I have a lot to do too...it's a good thing I like to study and learn new things!

Anyway, if you want two boxes of these bars let me know. I had a coupon so that's why I have so many but it's not worth it for me to eat them again!

Life is Short

Today is Friday. Yet, instead of being excited for the weekend, my heart is broken. I received a text this morning saying that a dear family member had pulled off the road on his way to work, called 911, then called his wife and passed out. From what I understand he never woke up, and it seems he had a heart attack.

I sat through my classes and tried to concentrate through my tears. My heart was breaking for Kip's wife and his precious children. Children who are now forced to grow up without their father. It is so easy to ask why when things like these happen. Why him, why now? As hard as it is to see the reason now, God has a great plan for those kids, with or without their dad. The impact his life has made on them up until today will stick with them throughout their lives. I know that right at this moment Kip is rejoicing with Jesus up in Heaven and how could I begin to question God's plan. I know by his life that he was a Christian and he is in such a better place right now than he was this morning.

However, it is still hard for me to start rejoicing right now when I feel so sad. It is hard to lose a family member, it is hard to be too many miles away to do anything, it is hard. But, there is a plan. There is a purpose, and I know God has his hand on the Blair family. Today, heaven became a better place, even admits the suffering here on earth by loved ones.

So, while it is alright for me to cry and be sad, I am thankful that I can see the big picture, and know the hope that I will see this great man again some day. I am thankful that Kip was a child of God, and that was evident in his life.

Life is short. Am I living my life to it's full purpose? How am I doing to make sure that I don't take this life for granted?

Please keep the Blair family in mind and my family as well. It is so tough to be far away in situations like these. I feel stuck at school when my heart wants to jump in my car and drive to Wisconsin so badly to be with my family.

Here I Go!

Whew! Another semester of crazy! I am pretty sure that I am the ONLY student that actually reads each chapter of each book that we are assigned.... It STILL amazes me that people seriously do not care about learning, or getting good grades. Isn't that why we are paying all this money?

One kid yesterday in one of my classes said, "good. it's an online class... I can make everything up." seriously? Is this really the future of America?!?!??! Keep it classy, folks. The things people do sometimes really makes me nervous!

I have just been plugging along. A lot of reading, and already a lot of assignments. I am REALLY enjoying my night class... I have it for the second time tomorrow night and already have a quiz in it. I got most of my assignments written in my date book for the whole semester, so I already feel a lot more organized.

My Intercultural Communication class is interesting. The professor seems really lost each time we have been to class. We had an assignment due yesterday, that a lot of people didn't really know about....because he NEVER once said when it was due. I went ahead and did the assignment with one of my friends, but that's only because I hate procrastinating and it was an easy paper. However, I can easily see how frustrating that this course will be if we never know the due dates or even what we have to do. It'll be an adventure for sure!

I still haven't started one of my classes, Literature. It is an online class that is supposed to start on the 23rd... I haven't really heard anything about that yet, but I think it should be fun!

I applied to be an RA next year. I won't know for a while yet if I am even a candidate, but I saw the opportunity and thought I'd at least try it out!

Allergies in Oklahoma really aren't any different than cedar fever in Texas! Wow, seriously...I haven't remembered having my allergies drag on and out this long for a while! Oh well, I am really enjoying the 27 degree mornings. I just love the cool weather, I could do without the wind though. Oklahoma needs to work on that!

Vitamins

True story: I now take Flintstones gummy vitamins. Every time I used to try to take a multivitamin,within moments I would become sick--so, they really weren't doing much good.
This semester, I'm taking these vitamins because I don't eat well at school. So far, so good! I have had NO trouble! I can't really say they're working because I don't know what it's supposed to do or how I'm supposed to feel. Haha.
However, it says it supports a healthy mind and body so I'm sure it's doing something.

Phone

How fun is this?? There's now an iPhone app for blogger! I just had to try it out! Now I should have NO excuses for not blogging!

PS: Isn't Gracie the cutest? :)

Lazy

Today, I'm having a hard time getting going. I'm not sure why! I could.not.fall.asleep. last night for the life of me. I looked at the clock at 12, 12:45, 1:15, 2..... and so on. What a crazy, not-so-fun, time.

So, right now, I'm still in my pjs, drinking coffee and eating homemade granola out of a measuring cup because I don't have any bowls. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful start to a Saturday?

My agenda consists of reading 2 chapters for Abnormal Psychology, 2 chapters in Philosophy, and writing a paper. Fun, huh? Feel free to rescue me anytime you would like :-)

Have a great day!

Oh dear!

Happy 2012!

I cannot believe I have been such a horrible blogger! I also cannot believe that a new semester has started and I am well on my way to being half way done with my undergrad program!

I had such a wonderful, and much needed Christmas break. It was wonderful to see my aunt and my grandparents who flew down to Texas from Wisconsin. We all celebrated Christmas in sunny Texas! It was different not going back to WI, but nice that we didn't have to sit in the car for a 20 hour drive!

I was able to babysit some sweet kids too, while I was home. I really had missed them and enjoyed getting caught up with them. However, they have all grown WAY too much. Something special was being able to Skype with my three favorite D's who now live in Virginia. We were able to talk for a half hour and those cuties caught me up on their lives. Makes me sad to see what were once babies, growing up!

I'm excited for this coming semester and all the blessings that will come along with it. I'm sitting here drinking yet another cup of coffee, enjoying this Friday afternoon and prolonging doing homework!

Have a blessed weekend!