Black Friday

Black Friday we decided to battle the crowds. Our friend, Sal had some deals he wanted to grab , so we made a party out of it. Thanksgiving night we decided to pull an all-nighter…however, we all fell asleep for about an hour before the alarm went off at 3am…

 

Look at the boys enthusiasm…!

Skyler and Semisi were such great sports :)

A Season to be Thankful

 

Wednesday afternoon began the baking…There’s nothing like dancing in the kitchen to Frank Sinatra while baking deserts. :)

Mama sharing in the baking experience

 

Thursday came and Daddy cut the turkey…

Hailey excited for her cousin to come…

 

We had to make sure everything tasted JUST right…

Skyler waiting for the food…!

After the meal, we played a game of Settlers of Catan…

That night, after everyone had gone home, we had more family come in from Montana…we finished up the night by playing a family game of Rockband!! Good memories. ;)

Dead Week, stress relief

Well into "dead week" with finals just around the corner, I've found myself relieving stress in the most unusual of ways. With that said, my Dots got some new faces....

A Christmas reminder

‎"...Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?"

From "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

That's my new favorite Christmas quote! While Christmas traditions are fun, and the air is filled with a tangible feeling of excitement, it's important that we don't forget the real reason for celebrating.

On that note, this is our little college Christmas tree!! We decided we needed something to spruce up the dorms, and with the perfect series of events that made it possible, there it is. :)

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone! :)

Living life with no regrets! 

Sisters…ALWAYS

And so begins a new chapter of my life!! This is my little sister dropping me off at college. I love her so much! She’s my little baby girl.

Little ones

My little siblings and I with our precious little cousin. They’re the cutest!

My little Halloween spook

In honor of Halloween (and for lack of ever mentioning the new-ish addition lol…)—My perfectly, black kitty, Ebony.

Little reminders of love everywhere you look…

School spirit

In preparation for the football gam e, we got som  e school spirit on. This is the results of our nail party. Go Bengals!

 

Not Too Far From Here

Somebody's down to their last dime
Somebody's running out of time
Not too far from here
Somebody's got nowhere else to go
Somebody needs a little hope
Not too far from here
And I may not know their name
But I'm praying just the same
That You'll use me Lord to wipe away a tear
Cause somebody's crying
Not too far from here

Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
Somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here
It may be a stranger's face
But I'm praying for Your grace
To move in me and take away the fear
Cause somebody's hurting
Not too far from here

Help me Lord not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep

Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
And somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here
Now I'm letting down my guard
And I'm opening my heart
Help me speak Your love to every needful ear
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Someone is waiting not too far from here

Priceless little moments

Right before college started, Skyler and I attended the Clay Walker concert at the fair. Next to us in the crowd were these people. :) I just thought it was so neat to watch this special relationship-building moment. They’re the most important things in life.

Build A Bengal

After standing in line for awhile, with a bunch of other excited and chattery friends, I got to build an ISU Bengal! :)

Successful studying...almost

My roommate, Melissa, and I studying....minus the focus...

This picture, though drawn by myself many years ago, has always intrigued me. As a fifteen year old, this picture was my utmost fantasy. It was a dream come true. This picture, though generic when drawn, represented the love of my life, and my someday husband. Still unmarried, this picture continues to be full of fanciful, childhood fairytales to me.

~~~

"...And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance...I hope you dance.."

A faint reminder

Life has an interesting way of reminding you of its importance. Having a woodpecker in your bathroom can do just that.

Despite the fact that it's simply "the food chain" as some call it, I can never help but try to "rescue" the birds from the cats. When my handsom kitty brought this fella to the doormat, I immediately decided to "rescue" it. It took up residence inside a large, open box in the bathroom. After some brief research, I learned that it was nothing less than a woodpecker. Slowly, I gained its trust. We spent a nice little week getting to know each other. It's health improved, and it started progressing. Unfortunately, in the end it died from supposed interal injuries. It was a nice little reminder of the importance and fragile nature of life.

A surprise visit

After a rough week I was talking to a friend of mine and telling him, through some tears here and there, my problems and stresses and how much I missed home. He told me he wanted to come visit. I asked when. It took him a few minutes to reply but he said "I'm on my way now." About 4 hours later he showed up at my door and gave me the biggest hug. He had driven the 4 hour drive from home simply to make me smile.
This last weekend has been one of the best I can remember in a long time. He came up here and made me feel like the world. I feel so blessed.



We hiked to the pillars...

The view was amazing!!

We hiked back up to the pillars at 2am...

He took me over to the Performing Arts Center. The doors were locked, but we got lucky and the man working maintanance let us in so that Alex could give me a personal tour. The hall was absolutely breath taking!!! So incredible!

It's been a fantastic weekend!!

College in a snapshot

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is go for a walk around campus...

The Museum of Natural History

The "I" and the pillars

Goodbye with a bang

Before heading off to college we decided to have an evening full of Freeze Frame Mobbing. Definitely something we're going to do again!

My Treasure

Treasures
by Ron Carnell

It's so hard to find the perfect breeze,

One blowing none too hard nor soft,

Carrying a scent of wild flowers,

And moving clouds about aloft.

It's so hard to find the perfect sky,

One blue and deep and bright,

Carrying a sense of openness

With geese and wrens in flight.

It's so hard to find the perfect night,

One warm, quiet and unflawed,

Carrying a mood of solitude,

And a closeness to our God.

Yet no perfection's so hard to find

As that which you extend

And none I'll ever treasure more,

Than to have you as my friend.

Simplicity

Yet again, I've decided it's the simple things in life.
The swings is one of my favorite places to go when I'm upset or frustrated about the littlest things. The other day after my third 12 hour day of nannying simply out of service, I wanted to cry. Not because I didn't enjoy watching a potty-training 3 year-old girl, I was just emotionally worn out. I told my boy friend that I was hungry and tired and wanted to swing on the swings. When I got off for the day, he took me to dinner and to get ice cream, then to the park. He pushed me on the swings....just to make my day.
As I finished swinging, I couldn't help but beam. Swings and ice cream...so simple, but so appreciated.

Drum roll, please.....

So two of the newest, most unique additions to the family?? .....You'll never guess.....

....Two baby African Geese!!!