Oklahoma!

So I've been in the lovely, not so cold, state of Oklahoma for the past 3 days! So much fun. Miss Rita Stevens picked me up from the airport in Tulsa. And we spent 2 days hanging out. We drove to Norman yesterday afternoon. People are trickling back to the duplexes and we are having a lot of fun. As well as laughing a lot! It's like I never left. I haven't yet got to hug Miss Holly Kimbrough. But I have a feeling I will get to see her either tonight or tomorrow morning. My heart is slowly becoming whole again. A couple more pieces are missing. Life Impact is going to be one big family reunion. I've been feeling a little under the weather, but I should be fine in a day or so. The food poisoning is beginning early this visit (he,he). Anyway, we are still trying to figure what we are going to do for New Year's. Hope everyone has a wonderful last couple of weeks of school. See you later!

Christmas Morning Stuff

1. It is 80 degrees outside...we had to let the fire we had burning die because it was too hot in the house. I guess that's a Arizona Christmas for you.

2. DVDs were a hit this year. I scored the first season of Lost, as well as Serenity (the latter of which we just watched...too cool.)

3. Honey Baked Ham...yum.

4. My brother is too sweet... a $25 iTunes Gift Card, which I immediately used this morning.

5. My parent's did end up waking me up this year.

6. My parents LOVE peanut brittle. Last Christmas they bought, respectively, 2 boxes each for the other person. So we ended up with 4 boxes of the stuff. Thankfully this year only one box was purchased. A person can only handle SO much peanuty, tooth breaking goodness.

7. The dogs each got a present...a friendly little stuffed bear that will be in shreads in a couple of days.

8. I was planning on a list of ten, but I honestly can't think of anything else.

So there are some highlights of my day. I can't believe Christmas is already here and in a week it's going to be 2006. Okay Have a Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Eve Post

Hmmm...the title almost sounds like the name of a newspaper...maybe one at the North Pole. Just finished wrapping presents for the family and put them under the tree, as well as scouted out where all of my presents were placed. I'm excited about the time I get to spend with my family Christmas day, but I probably won't lose any sleep wondering what I'm getting for Christmas like I did as a child. When I was in Junior High and High School it was my job to get everyone up. So I would set my alarm for 6:00am and then get everyone up as soon as I jumped out of bed. My brother would get up right away and my mom would go downstairs to make coffee and put music on. Now my father's job was to stall as long as possible. He would get up, take a shower, shave, and try to do everything he possibly could to make us wait. So I learned early on the sooner I got him up, the sooner we opened presents.

But over the last couple of years things have been really lax. I think last Christmas my parents were up before Josh and I. Things don't mean as much to me as they used to. The new clothes and technology and books all decay, get old, are ruined. But my family, the relationships God has allowed in my life, and my relationship with Christ are all eternal. Those things have become more valuable to me over the years. That is what I enjoy during the Christmas Season. Spending time with those I love. Which is why my favorite gift, a belated gift to myself, will be to spend time with my dear friends in Oklahoma. I have been looking forward to this present for awhile, and I can't believe in 4 days I will be there. My heart gets to be whole for 12 days and I get to be reunited with my other half...and apparently my brain as well. My tanks will definately be full when I leave. God is good. A season is coming to an end and a new one is about to begin...I'm excited to see what the Father has in store for me these next couple of months. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

All Done!

I had enough energy this morning to get to my final and come back home. God is good. Thanks for praying for me! What a relief to have all that behind me. I still can't believe that another semester is over....well I can believe it...it's just weird that it's already over. The semester felt like it went slow...but that it didn't. I don't know if that makes sense at all :) So I'm looking forward to some relaxing. I'm thinking of doing a tv series marathon to celebrate or maybe a nap. Hope everyone's week went well and enjoy the Christmas Break!

Under the Weather

Please pray for me.

I have one more final friday, but I've had a fever for the last two days.

And Saturday I have a bridal shower to throw.

School's almost done, I just need to be able to focus and to rest.

l just love lists

I really enjoy lists and so I got this from Holly's blog. Enjoy.

1. Seven things to do before I die:

Backpack through Europe
Get married, Have kids
Write a novel
Learn how to play the guitar
Vacation in Ireland
Hmm...maybe own a bookstore
Live a life that makes Jesus smile

2. Seven things I cannot (or won't?) do:

I don't eat cottage cheese
I can't sing at all (i make a joyful noise)
I won't be able to keep my face from telling others what I'm thinking
I can't give up or settle for less than what God has in store for me
I cannot understand science...
I won't ever get tired of reading
I won't ever grow my hair past my shoulders (gives me a headache)

3. Seven things that attract me to my husgand/wife (or significant other or best friend):

Hmmm...

4. Seven things I say most often:

I don't know...
Granted
God is good
*Sigh* (the sound)
...and that's about all I can think of


5. Seven books (or series) I love:

Dragonriders Of Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Captivating by John & Staci Eldredge
Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy
Pretense by Lori Wick
Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers
All Harry Potter Books by J.K Rowling

6. Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over again if I had the time):

Star Wars Trilogy
Sweet Home Alabama
Hitch
The Village
Ever After
Bring it On (when I need a really good laugh)
Legally Blonde

7. Seven people I want to join in, too:

Whoever.

The Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:1-2, 14

Wow. My mama and I just got back from seeing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and as I was watching the movie this verse continued to ring in my head. And then during the movie, Aslan is having a conversation with the witch and states (my paraphrase) "How dare you talk to me about the Old magics and the law, I was there to see it written!" It gave me goosebumps. My Savior and Redeemer was there when this world and the stars and the heavens was spoken into existence. And He lives in my heart. I am so not worthy of that. He came to fight a battle that was mine, a battle I couldn't win -and one He sacrificed His life for- BUT He is Alive! Oh the movie was so awesome!

I left feeling so renewed and alive. The Word speaks truth and life. Ah...so good.

Freedom

So my last day of school was yesterday. Just have to show up for some finals and I'm free. God has been so good to me this semester and I didn't deserve it at all. I guess that's what grace is all about. I was blessed with some awesome girls to meet with. I got to have lunch with one of them today. She is such a sweety. We were supposed to meet at Olive Garden at noon. And I get there and call her to see if she's there. She answers her phone and tries to give me directions to where she's sitting. I can't find her for the life of me...turns out she went to the Olive Garden on the other side of town, the one closer to campus. It takes me about a half an hour to get there and when I arrive we are both starving. I probably laughed half of the drive there. That would only happen to me. It all worked out and I ate a whole basket of bread sticks a long with my salad, and the Tour of Italy we shared. Taylor will be studying abroad next semester in France. I'm going to miss her. It is so amusing discipling someone so much taller than me. I think the top of my head reaches her shoulders. She is going to do awesome. So much change.

So if I want to keep from turning into an isicle this winter in Oklahoma, what do I need to bring? What type of jacket(s)? What are the necessities? What do you wear to church (girls)? Seriously. I can still wear flip-flops here, and do. I have a feeling that that is not the type of weather I will find in Norman.

I can't wait to see the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I just finished reading it a couple days ago. Pure enjoyment. The intrusive narrator, that is a completly welcome addition to the story (sorry trying to study for my literature analysis final: vocab. words). When I was a little girl and my mother read the story to me, I loved Lucy. Her spunkiness and intregrity, and the fact that she was right and no one believed her ;) I hope the movie is as good as it looks.

Hmm...I think that is it for now. I've had a long day.

A Long Day

Two finals. Last Night of Refuge. Good friends leaving. And crying...I hate crying. Especially when I'm the one doing it. I won't even feel really emotional and it will just hit me and then I start to leak. God is good. He put some really awesome people in my life and they have refined me by investing so much time and love into me (Yes Jess Campbell, I'm talking about you...I know you're reading this...) I love you and I'm going to miss you very much. You keep me sane and you understand my humor. I'm going to miss shopping with you (you have to admit, we make a good team). Knock 'em dead in Virginia. Christ is so evident in your life and that overflows to others. I am so honored that you allowed me to be apart of you life and apart of your wedding. Jersey and New York are gonna be sweet. Okay, I need to go to bed. Signing out!

A Star is Born!

Happy Birthday to Holly Kimbrough! You have brought so much joy to my life. Who would have thought that God would have our paths meet? My life has been truly blessed by knowing you. I love you so much and I hope that you have a fantastic day. I'm saving up hugs for you. I miss you mucho and can't wait to see you! Happy Birthday!!!!!

I'm in the clear

All of my major papers and presentaions have all been turned in and completed! All I have left to do is finals. I am so relieved! Yesterday was my Rhetorical Traditions presentation, and my group did outstanding. I always get really nervous right before I have to speak in front of a group of people (like knee shaking nervous). But then when I get started, all the nervousness goes away and I am caught up in the moment. So I celebrated afterwards by going to Jimmy Johns and getting a Vito, and since JJ only carries Coke products, I went to a market on campus and bought some Mountian Dew and a Twix. I know, I am such a party animal ;) I haven't had Mountian Dew in like 2 months. So it was a nice treat.

Three more days of school! Ah Heaven! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!