Earning my keep

This is the norm in my day. Day in and day out...

Life! It's wonderful...

On Christmas Eve I did something I've never done before...I watched It's A Wonderful Life.
After having admitted this to several of my friends they urged me to join the multitude that considers this one of the holiday musts. Never one to be left behind(actually I was incredibly bored), I joined the masses.

To be honest, it would never have been one of my favorites, but I did enjoy it. It had that classic feel, and was of course thought provoking.

After it was over I kept wondering who all my life has touched, and in what way? Positive, negative, anything noteworthy?

Some days I would love to have the chance to see what the world would be like w/o me.
It might make me feel better for being here after all...but in the corners of my mind I wonder -- would I feel better?
Did I change or help anything at all?
What kind of affect do I leave on people that I cross paths with?

This isn't a movie I will probably watch over and over, but I will think about it. What kind of impact am I leaving and what kind do I want to leave?

How bout' you...are you proud of how you've affected/are affecting those around you?

Meet Doris

This is Doris...my new best friend. I think I'm in love. My mom said ppl are going to think I'm married to this thing...I'm not sure I care.

I knew she needed a name, and for whatever reason Doris came out of no where on Christmas day.
Nichole looked it up once I dropped her off at work, and texted me to let me know it was an appropriate choice. It means gift or bounty...seems fitting don't ya think?

Anyway, I'm already enjoying my new toy tons...much to my family's dismay. They like it too, but are already threatening me with death due to some blackmail worthy photos and video clips. *sigh* It's too much fun!

Hope you all are having as much fun driving your families crazy as I am! Take care, and be good(ish). :D

A view of my 25th...

My favorite Christmas tree ornament. I created it on a field trip when I was probably around 6ish.



A bit of the aftermath...



Poor Dakota!



Our huge tree...any smaller and we couldn't fit all our ornaments on it.



Mom finally got her rocking chair from Cracker Barrel





**********************************************************************

Here's a few more of myself and the fam being goofey.

A little update:

So here's a bit of what I've been up lately.



Charity was telling me about this book b/f break, and said I should read it sometime. I ended up finding it at Half Price Books last week, along with many other treasures(such as The Importance of Being Earnest, all three of the original Star Wars movies in book/script form, Les Misrebles, and a few others) and decided to just go ahead and buy it.
It had me from the first page. I love books like that! I suppose all the collateral reading has taken away some of my desire to sit and read, so finding a book that just hooks me in from the beginning it wonderful.
It was both weird, and really good. I liked it's oddness...that's probably why it sucked me in, I haven't read anything quite like that b/f. It does bring up some interesting questions though about oneself...

****************************************************************



Also, Mom has been cooking, as have Jocilyn, Nichole, and myself. Well, I mostly try to get out of it, but I've done some. I enjoy cooking at times and am quite capable, I simply prefer to do it of my own free will and at my own pace. Another words, I don't like having a "head chef with an agenda".



Anyway, I'm having a great Christmas and enjoying my family! We've had fun playing some new board games, watching some "Christmas musts," and just being together. This morning a new aspect was added with the gift giving and receiving.
I love watching everyone's reactions to their gifts! Not to mention of course getting to play with my own later...like my new Cannon Powershot A470!!! So exciting!

I think my favorite gift was the one labeled: "The Barr Kids"...it was a Nintendo Wii. My parents are crazy! Not to mention way to old to be diving around the living room like that. You really should see mom play tennis on that thing...it's hilarious! I'll try to get a video of it.

Anyway, here are just a few candids I managed to snap on my new toy this morning...enjoy and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

A moment for reflection...

Today God reminded me of who He is. I was at one of the houses I clean and I had been talking to Him for about three hrs. off and on while I thought about my life and the many things surrounding it.
I kept wondering how God could ever use me. What if my hurts, fears, short comings, and so many other things started to overcome me...would I be strong enough?

That's when God decided I needed a visual. OK, maybe God didn't cause this to happen but He certainly used it.
As I was vacuuming in the family room I heard a loud bang on the window behind me. In reaction I jumped, and turned just in time to see the bushes outside the window moving. I walked across the floor and started trying to locate whatever had hit the window. I finally found it...it was a tiny sparrow.

I immediately had a sick feeling in my gut. Oh no-it's dead. As I stood, with my nose pressed to the glass trying to get a closer look, it started to breathe. Thank goodness! It wasn't dead...at this point.
Then I realized I couldn't really do anything, and if it couldn't fly it was as good as dead. For whatever reason I began to pray. "God, You remember that verse in the Bible that says You know even when a sparrow falls...well this one did, please help it.

God kept pricking my mind with, "How much more do I know and love you than this little bird?"

I stood watching, the little sparrow opened its eyes and started blinking. I kept praying, begging God to help it fly away. Knowing this was an inner struggle more for myself than for the bird. Would God come through? Would He supply the strength?

As I looked on it just lay perfectly still, not moving at all other than to breathe. Then in a split second I saw it rise off the ground almost effortlessly, and dart into the nearest bush.

At the exact same moment a huge hawk swept down, talons aimed exactly where the sparrow had been only a second earlier.

It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to react other than a gasp when the hawk entered the picture. After it was all done I heard my delayed cry of "NO!" hanging in the air.

Then I realized it was OK. The sparrow had escaped and all had ended well.

**********************************************************************

The sparrow had waited patiently, not trying to push itself before it was ready and able to fly, but for just the right time -- God's timing. Any earlier and it might have been to weak to take off, any later and it wouldn't have had the opportunity.

I couldn't believe what I'd just witnessed. God is so amazing. Not just because of the sparrow. Yes, that blew me away and gave me an amazing visual, but He showed me more than the ability to care for a bird.
If I will be patient, if I can let Him walk me through the hard times, the things I don't understand, I know I can come out victorious...because His strength is perfect, and He is the one and only Almighty God.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
—Matthew 10:29-31

My frosted evening

I must say that snow is not my favorite thing. Most ppl know this by now, but it's interesting to try to get them to realize that I'm very serious about it. Most assume I'm over exaggerating my disdain for the white, fluffy substance -- I am not.

For instance, this afternoon my lovely dorm neighbor(not the across-the-hall buddy) was absolutely ecstatic and dying to go sledding the second she thought there was enough to slide on. This was of course a sport she thought I needed to join in on. Ba hum bug! I didn't enjoy this as a child, and I still don't. What is so great about frozen underwear anyway?!?
Since coming to school I believe I have only gone sledding once(unless you count tubing at Perfect North) and I think that was due to momentary insanity. Needless to say, I didn't join my fair friend...I'm sure she enjoyed it more without me whining.

**************************************************************

My frosted evening, however, was exactly what the doctor ordered(or would have ordered if I even had a doctor). I spent it at some friends house, along with my all-to-happy-about-sledding buddy. We had some great hamburgers for dinner, and then just relaxed, chatting and playing with Tinkertoys...OK only me and the two yr. old really played much.
I had so much fun. I was in a warm and safe house, with cozy lighting, festive decorations, and ppl I love. We laughed, teased, and just enjoyed the company. It was one of those evenings that made me truly relax, and simply enjoy the little things.
We played the dice version of Phase Ten, which was new for me, but it was fun too. I liked that it wasn't something we had to be completely focused on, we could play leisurely and still chat as topics arose.
All in all, the evening was a exactly what I needed. A perfect end to a cold and slushy day, complete with hot chocolate and extra marshmallows...but no cookie dough.

CHECK IT OUT!

I'm so excited...OK you probably won't think it's all that great, but I just added a slide show to my blog!

It's not necessarily new pics, but they're happy pics to me because they're a compilation of different times I've had a camera around while on the ice. They range from my freshman yr. til now...enjoy!

Home

Where I can actually leave my shower stuff in the shower.

Where I can catch up on laundry...yeah clean socks!

Where I can veg in all parts of the building in my pj's(if I so choose).

Where there is a real Christmas tree, complete w/lights, tinsel, and every decoration we could find a place for.

Where I don't eat the food and think, "It's just not quite like Mom's".

Where I can cuddle up with my little brother to watch a cartoon(if he'll sit still long enough).

Finally...where Christmas becomes more than just a holiday.

************************************************************

I'm really looking forward to the down time I'm hoping to get over break. I still have to work, but hopefully I should be able to sleep in a little, watch some movies, take a nap, read a book, take a nap, eat some home cooking, take a nap, hang out with my family, and maybe take a nap...

I may just disappear for the next three weeks, so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Remember the reason for the season, stay safe, have fun, eat much, laugh often, and don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Changing the enviroment

No, I don't mean "Going Green" and all that jazz...even as wonderful as all that stuff is. I mean my personal environment, aka-my room.

This semester I promised myself I would do better in the area of tidiness.

See, when you spend most of your week cleaning entire houses(not your own) there is a tendency to not "feel like" cleaning when you get home...or in my case back to the dorm. I was doing so well...until this week. Final projects, exams, last minute reading, notebooks, and so much else...how can a person find time to get it all done along with keeping their room clean???

OK, I'm fairly confident that someone out there did(SHOWOFF!!!) but that someone was not me. I decided to "let it all go". Wow. What a truly horrible idea! I don't handle that so well anymore. I found myself avoiding my room entirely, and dreading having to come back for any reason. That is pathetic.

So, last night, having no test to study for, reading due, or notebooks to finish, I decided that cleaning was a must! I took it upon myself to tidy everything, and then for some unknown reason, to rearrange my room.

OK, I couldn't really rearrange the furniture(those of you who've seen it understand), but I could rearrange the things on the bookshelves, and any other odds-an-ends I might so choose. I did all this with great enthusiasm, even going so far as to kidnap my across-the-hall-buddy and make her view the finished project...at 1:30AM!!! (Thanks Kimberlee)

All in all, I'm quite pleased. Not to mention amazed at how much that boosted my spirits, and helped my outlook. Sometimes all you may need is a little change of environment...

ZZZZ...

I think I just survived my last late night of the semester. OK, nothings to say it will for sure be the last, but I think it's the last one that is necessary. Any to follow last night will be my own stupidity...which actually might be what last night was anyway. (I knew I should've stolen that book in order to keep up w/my hw.)

One of the books I needed for a class this semester actually went out of print a couple weeks into the class! So in order to find them you had to look online, and the price was not quite double.

Being the obstinate type, I refused to pay more than the rest of the class for the same book. So I got crazy behind. Everyone was vying for that goofy book, and I couldn't find a copy to borrow, until two days b/f it was due-complete with chapter questions...insanity! I finally crawled into bed just b/f 4am...

God is so good though. I was able to find the book, read it, finish the questions, and wake up for class. Not to mention that it works out for me to not work today, but to go another day, so I can now sleep instead.

I know this might seem like little things to most, but to me it's yet another time to give God praise. He cares about those little details and works them out for me...even when I handicap myself by not biting the bullet and paying extra for a book.

I still have a few things to finish up and I think two fairly simple finals, but the worst is behind me. So, don't give up! You too will make it!!!

I wish you all the best on your finals...or as Doc. Brown has prayed, "God, help them to remember what they studied, and guess well on the rest."

How to cook a peacock: By A. Bored Student

I really like Starbucks lemon loaf. Especially the icing. (Lemon anything is usually good)

Coffee Emporium has wonderful everything...OK, I'm sure that's not completely accurate. Besides I've never gotten to try everything, so how would I know anyway? One of these days, when I'm rich, I plan to waltz right in there and order one of everything...that'd be fun. Wonder how they'd handle that order...


As I type Britt stands holding a nerf gun trying to shoot anything and everything that she can get the darts to stick to. It's particularly funny to watch her sight it in and aim for for own eye...by aiming at the mirror.

This is only one sign of the restlessness that is taking over the dorm. I, myself, prefer denying the fact that there even is such a thing as homework or finals. Instead, I blog. I read. I chat. I dance with glee to Christmas tunes...uh, not really. (I just sort of bob my head in time with the music.)


*In honor of Nichole:

I made myself a snowball,
As perfect as could be,
I thought I'd keep it as a pet,
And let it sleep with me.

I made it some pajamas,
And a pillow for its head,
Then last night it ran away,
But first - it wet the bed!

(Written by Shel Silverstein)


I wish I had a block of sharp cheddar cheese and some Dr. Pepper...

My family likes cheese. I don't have a fridge to keep it in though. My room kinda feels like a fridge though. I usually leave the fan running. This is due to the fact that I enjoy white noise. The hum of my computer isn't loud enough. I just wear warm pj's and leave the fan on...besides then I can sled in my room. And keep cheese in the dresser...

All in a day...

I awoke very unwillingly this morning, but my blessed alarm (which I so wittingly had to have...and on the ground level of my condo-in order to convince me to awake)would not be telepathically silenced.
So I rolled (figuratively) out of bed, and to my horror was staring out my window at snow. I knew it was going to be a..."long(I will bless the Lord at all times.)" day.

Kim's chocolate chip pancakes were wonderful! And much appreciated after trudging through snow.

Finally we-Leanna, Cheryl, Kimberly, Ms. V, and myself-hit the thrift stores.

OK, not literally...Kim has good brakes. (Even though she prefers not to use them on yellow. Really it was quite considerate. Otherwise whiplash might have ensued.)

Found some good deals. Mostly books. Some for myself, others for family members. Oh, and I bought some brand new winter boots. That was exciting.

I did manage to squeeze in a short nap b/f heading over to get ready for the Christmas program tonight. It was nice -- the nap.

The program was too. I remembered more of my words tonight than I did last night.

Nichole got her Christmas present from me today. It was a cat...kitten...er, tween age kitty. They're too hard to keep a secret if you're a dorm student.

It's a rescued kitty from Kristen and Zach's neighborhood. His name is Oliver...he's an orphan. Quite the cutie if you ask me. She was very excited. Cats are smarter than dogs. At least they're smarter than her dog. But then again so is your average rock...

Kristen and Zach took me to Caribou Coffee for the first time ever. I really liked their coffee! I had a Ho Ho Mint Mocha...it's made w/white chocolate. Mm mm!


Chatted w/some friends, and then ventured into cyberspace...that about wraps it up. Twas' fun. Nite all!