2007

I enjoy looking back through the year and going through all my memories. As I transfer things from my old calendar to my new one, I see how different my year was from previous ones. This past year was filled with a LOT of change, some that was good and some that I am still working through. There were definite high's and low's. I look forward to see where God places me and what new adventure lies in my future!

So many thoughts

As I have mentioned in past blogs, I went to California over the summer and fell in love (again) with being there. And then you know after you are on a vacation you think about it for a while wishing you were back in that place once again?! That happened to me!! And then when I would watch shows that had scenery from Cali and all those thoughts and feelings would be triggered. In addition to that, for the past 3 weeks I have thought about California EVERY single day. I miss seeing the ocean, the mountains, the warm weather, and the atmosphere. I have thought about what it would be like to live and work out there. This would be a big change and not as easy as it may seem.

I haven't talked about my thoughts much because in my world it is kind of tricky. Do you have any family or friends that put expectations on you and if you don't fufill them in some way you disappoint them? I am well aware that I live my life and that this is their boundary issue, but these impressions still haunt me a bit. Yet I don't want these things to hinder me from living my life. I don't want to live by fear or regrets.

I can't wait to see what will happen with my life.

Blessings

I would like to wish all my family and friends (and whoever else reads this) a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! I pray that you would enjoy this important day to its fullest. Blessings to you on this Christmas Day!

Movie time

Despite how busy getting ready for Christmas can be, it is utterly important to get in a few flicks. This past week I saw "National Treasure" (for the first time), "National Treasure 2", and "American Gangster". So far so good. I am looking forward to watching a bunch more over my break...finally it looks like some decent chick flicks have come out as well!!!!!

Have you seen anything lately that you think is worth my time to check out?????

Why

What is it about the holidays that bring about the following. As a single, available girl I do pretty well with balancing the whole fact that I do not have that special someone in my life. I go about my business, enjoy life, work towards my goals, and I am not consumed and don't have that feeling of doom lingering over me since I am not currently dating (I know some that do). But for some reason around the holidays that all gets thrown out the window. Why? I would thoroughly love to have those warm fuzzy feelings and contemptment with that "person" (I can hear some of you now, "it doesn't look like it appears" or "that will fade" blah blah blah, let me enjoy it for a time). But that is not going to happen before Christmas in three days. So I will seize the moment and enjoy my time now with my family and friends and work through those feelings that won't be met. I know that one of these holidays these feelings will be met and I look forward to that day.

A new tradition...that I LOVE!

This family is near and dear to me!!! I have been watching these four boys for almost two years. Through that time I have become not only very close to Jordan, Taylor, Dylan, and Kode, but also super good friends with Erik and Ang. We took a road trip to California this summer, which was an absolute blast. So many stories to tell and laughs to laugh! One of the places we ate at a few times and enjoyed while we were out there was Baja Fresh.

For the past few months, we have made a tradition of eating Baja one night a week and just hanging out together. I thoroughly look forward to this time of rough housing, laughing, eating, catching up on life, having good conversation, watching movies, or just chillin'! I love this time to reconnect after whatever any of us have been through that week. I continue to look forward to these Baja nights as each week comes!

As I write this I am reminded of one of my New Years resolutions from this year which was

Christmas in a week

Christmas is such an exciting time of year! I love it. And what I have really enjoyed this year is starting to celebrate and enjoy the Christmas season early. So many people had their lights up earlier than normal or maybe they usually have them up but now they turned them on earlier. And listening to Christmas music even before Thanksgiving has really gotten me in the mood. I have been shopping and wrapping and boy it is just fun...and exhausting. What I can't seem to get is, how I wait in anticipation for this great celebration, yet it doesn't feel like Christmas will be in a week. I want to soak every second up and remember what this time is really all about!!!

Good News!!!

Classes were canceled for me today! I am thrilled. Not only do I not have to go, but we don't have to make the day up. What a relief to not have to drive in this ice storm. What I am most excited about is getting all those things done around the house that I just haven't had time for lately like: organizing my closet, going through piles of paper, watching a movie, finishing up my homework, and wrapping Christmas gifts. Some of this doesn't sound like fun, but I can't wait to do it and feel like so accomplished.

I pray that all of you make it safe in wherever you need to go today!

Yippeee

I am pleased to announce that I passed BOTH state exams for teaching. WAHOOOO!!!!!!! I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Thank you to those who prayed and encouraged me, I couldn't have done it without you!!!! Two tests down, one to go.

Late bloomer

Text messaging...I do it all the time now. Before I use to hate it! I thought it was so rude when people would just whip out their phone and text. (I do think there is tact on how and when to text...we'll save that for another time.) And now, I find myself loving it. It has come in handy so many times, I love being able to communicate when I can't talk on the phone. It's great. I know, I am way behind the times, but I guess it's better late than never.

On my phone, I don't have one of those nifty full keyboards, I have to wait forever to spell some words. So to help me we all "create" words that aren't spelled correctly but say what we are trying to communicate. I have found that this has come in handy when taking notes at school. It's crazy I am using numbers in my note taking and funny abbreviations. If someone looked at my school notes they would laugh. An interesting thing is that some of it is carrying over into how I am typing up papers...now this is bad. I have to make a conscious thought sometimes to spell a word properly instead of in "text" format.

A habit I am trying to be more careful about is texting while I am driving. It's a hard one to break, but I just need to pick more appropriate times to text.

Bear Down Chicago Bears...

Oh my gosh!!!!!!!! Today I went to the Bears game. It was AMAZING!!! In case you do not know they played the Denver Broncos. A friend of mine gave me the tickets and we sat on the 50 yard line, 17 rows from the field. We sat with all of the coaches wives and their families. I have never been so close to that field (and probably will never get a chance to sit that close again)! I mean you could actually see the players, they weren't miniatures...which is what I am use when I sit in the nose bleed section.

The first half was good, the game was back and forth with not a lot of action. I think I was in shock during the first part on just how close we were to the field and the excitement of the game. Then the second half started and boy if you missed the first few minutes of the third quarter you should be kicking yourself! Hester runs a return back for a TD. And then a few minutes later he runs another return back for another TD. The guy is a maniac!!!

Thank goodness for the special teams because they did a tremendous job in keeping the score close. During the fourth quarter I don't think I ever sat down. The game was intense and nerve racking towards the end. Everyone was so pumped to have tied the score at the end of the game to go into overtime...and the rest is history. Sexy Rexy throws a long past to Clark who has hands like glue and bam we are in field position for a field goal. And few...no interceptions or fumbles and the Bears go on to win the game.

WOW!!!! That was the most exciting game ever!!!! Thanks for the tickets (you know who you are).

Something to ponder....

I have always wondered this....http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/datingtips/55223/when-shes-hot-but-hes-not;_ylc=X3oDMTFybmFnN3FnBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwX3RvZGF5BHNsawN3aGVuLXNoZXMtaG90LWJ1dC1oZXMtbm90BHp6A2Fi
Why is this?????

Turkey time!

Happy Thanksgiving you all!!!! I am so thankful for each and everyone of you this season!

As I was sitting thinking about what this day means, I couldn't help but be reminded of God's love for me (as cliche as that may sound, it's true). I am thankful for His grace that He gives me each day. I continually make mistakes but yet He loves me in spite of them. Thank you God that "from the broken earth, flowers come up, pushing through the dirt (Wholly Yours, by David Crowder)!!!" You use me in any shape I am in and you help mold me into who and what you want me to be.

Schools in session

I am officially back in college. Class started Monday and 3 weeks from Wednesday I should be all finished. It is going to go by so fast!!! Despite the intense work load, I think I am really going to enjoy this reading diagnosis class! It is practical and I can apply it to the students I am currently tutoring. Some aspects will be stretching because they are new, but in the big picture this will be very beneficial for my career.

Today we had our first pop quiz...this teacher doesn't mess around. One day of class and then boom. And it is weird to think, you miss one class and really it's like you are missing a whole week of class.

Ideas...anyone??????

Help please!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are no good "toys" coming out this year. There is nothing that my 11 year old brother would like. So, I have been racking my brain and at the mall looking for some Christmas gift ideas for him. Some of his interests are: playing basketball, skateboarding, golfing, the White Sox, the Bears, the Wii, and his ipod. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to get him?

Tis the Season

This past week I watched 2 Christmas movies. In years past, I don't know if I've even watched one, except for the year that "Elf"came out. The movies that I watched were "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle All the Way". I gotta tell you, there is something about watching Christmas movies that gets me even more excited for Christmas. Where's the snow? When can I go ice skating? Christmas is only 6 weeks away! I need to get a move on the shopping, menu planning....

A new song

When I work out in the morning, NOTHING good is on T.V., so I end up watching music videos. Believe me, this is not a highlight since I am repulsed by most of them. Although, Fergie's song "Clumsy" I think is a very unique and creative and clean video.

Well there is a song that has been playing and when MTV gives the artist and other info, it always says "Undefined". It drove me crazy, because I couldn't find out who the band was or what the name of the song was. BUT, today I searched high and low and found it.

I can't believe...it was Linkin Park. To me, they have a different sound so I didn't recognize it. I love this song "Shadow of the Day"...not sure about the video.

Check out the song and video http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1518072&vid=182628
and let me know what you think.

I haven't heard this on the radio yet, why not?

Stress

I have been under an amazing amount of stress lately. There is just a TON of things that I need to get done along with normal life activities. I have been tested and stretched beyond measure. My shoulders are a disaster because I hold my stress in there. What is funny is that I thought I was doing things correctly...working out, deep breathing, praying, listening to soothing music, getting enough sleep...Sometimes I guess that just doesn't cut it. I wonder what I could have done differently.

After this weekend, I assumed that my stress levels would reduce, but it seems as though I cannot "unwind". With the holidays being around the corner, I am concerned. I LOVE to enjoy these seasons in all ways possible. Seeing Christmas decorations in the stores and hearing Christmas music on the radio is totally getting me excited. BUT...How am I going to do it? How will I fit everything in and let alone enjoy every second of it.

Any ideas on how to not allow stress to take over my mind or my body?

Attire

This week I ran into a couple of interesting things.

1. The other day I was listening to the radio and they were talking about people who wear cowboy boots...other than cowboys. Their stance was that people who wear them are trying to make a statement. The conclusion was that if you wear cowboy boots are you good in bed. Then listeners called in to share their thoughts on other items that people wear that say the same thing. I started thinking and said, ok I know no one who wears cowboy boots. Then this past week I encountered 2 people that I know who wore them. I about bust out laughing, wondering if they knew the connotation behind the boots. I will never look at cowboy boots the same.

2. This was just gross. I saw a man who was wearing normal shorts to the knee but they were sweats. Ok, fine...maybe he just worked out or something. The thing that was alarming was when he turned around you could tell me wasn't wearing underwear, the shorts were going right up his crack. Men go commando too????? Yikes. And yes he turned around again and it was so obvious and GROSS!!! Put on some boxers, briefs, even whitie tighties!!!!!

You just never know

If you don't already know, I am not a big fan of Christian music. I enjoy some really good worship stuff and maybe a few others, but that is about it. (I won't go into why I think this way.)

To my surprise, Christian music and even Christian radio helped me keep the right perspective and attitude this past week. Let me explain.

One day last week I showed up to work and found out that I was going to have a difficult day ahead of me. A million negative thoughts were running through my head...I was trying to reorganize my thought pattern. And then I heard a familiar song. The family had a Christian radio station playing in all of the rooms of the house. It was great hearing some "words of wisdom" to help me and not allow me to let my thoughts and frustrations take over how I was thinking or acting. And for the record, this family isn't a "church" family.

Over the weekend I decided to have my "worship" play list from my ipod going while I studied or worked at my computer. This brought such a calmness to me and helped remind me what life and circumstances is all about.

I guess what I am saying is that despite my thoughts about Christian music, there is a definite time and place that it can minister to my soul, help me control my thoughts, and just remind me that there is more to life than what we have here.

I am going to try to be more open minded about Christian music. We'll see what happens.