Cute pix :)

In America

In America you can....

own and have a license for a gun even if you're not responsible enough to use one

pretend that gas is cheap since the government subsidizes it anyway, and continue to use up our finite supply of natural resources

have a massiver SUV/truck and drive it around all by yourself

BUT.............


YOU STILL HAVE TO DRIVE ON JUST ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT A TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (just like every other country)

friggin 'A' people, it's bad enough you drive huge cars when you don't need to, but don't run me and my lil Honda off the road just cause you can't control you're massive beast of a vehicle

Go to Iraq-stay away from D.C.

This just in:
If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period.

That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capitol which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq .

Conclusion:

The U.S. should pull out of Washington D.C.


P.S.--if we had stricter gun control laws, like maybe Canada, we wouldn't have this problem

The End of School is Near

So, this is my last full week of this school term. My first final exam is Tuesday, then I have another on Thursday and two on Friday. My last one is next Wednesday. I'm really excited about leaving for London next Thursday-but I can't really think about leaving until all my papers are done and my exams are over. I'm really going to miss everyone here, especially my friend Sophie, while I'm away this Christmas. I'll miss being with my family at Christmas, but I'm so excited to see Dave's family--especially Nana & Gaga and Uncle Doug & Aunt Mercel who I haven't seen since I was in Ireland last. Well--I'm at a friend's house watching the Survivor I missed on Thursday--so I'm gonna jet. Luvs!

I LOVE PICTURES...I'm addicted---yup

Thanskgiving and family

Thanksgiving was amazing this year! The best ever I think. I got to spend so much time with my family--real quality time. I feel like I got to have some good conversations--especially with my older brother who I see very little. I made a point to hang around both my grandfathers as well, as neither of them are in great shape right now. I love Thanksgiving so much because it's all about family and spending time with them. I just wanted to say to all my family that this Thanksgiving was wonderful, you guys made it so special for me, and you have no idea how much that meant both Dave and I. He loved it as much as I did. I know I'll cherish this Thanksgiving forever in my heart. I love you family!

P.S. this pic was taken at our apartment when Bethany came up to stay with us before Thanksgiving--I think it's really good!

Thanksgiving pics

Thanksgiving pics

The weekend

Well, the weekend didn't quite go as planned. Friday as I was driving home from school I started feeling really bad, like I might not make it home before I threw up. I got home and threw up for the next several hours. I had food poisoning. Friday was miserable. Saturday morning I was supposed to take the Praxis. I got up and thought I was feeling good enough to go. So, I got in the shower and then started feeling a little weird. Next thing I knew I was laying on the floor. Yup, I passed out. Good thing I missed hitting my head on the toilet, I just grazed my chin on the trashcan, other than that I was fine. Dave took me back to bed and I realized I couldn't go to the test. So, I STILL haven't taken the test, but am going to reschedule it for January. I laid aroud the house on Saturday and watched movies and played Monpoley with Bethany and Dave. I felt better Sunday, although I have YET to gain back my appitite, I'm not feeling sick after I eat anymore, so that's good. But, I've had a great time hanging out with B, so that's been really good. Anyway, just thought I'd update you on the "test" situation.

We're leaving for my parents for Thanksgiving tonight. I LOVE Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. I hope you guys have a great one! And I hope I have my appetite back by Thursday!!!

L

Yay!

My litle sis, B, is up here this weekend and until Tuesday! I'm so excited! We're already having fun. She came and picked me up at school yesterday (that's a switch huh?) and we went to the coffee shop and hung out for a few hours. I introduced her to one of my favorite girl teenagers, Sophie, who works a the coffee shop. Today she's on her own for a few hours (supposedly doing homework, but probably watching movies and reading Glamour, J/K B!) while I'm at school. This afternoon I think we're gonna go on a hike in Deep Creek State Park (or is it National, I dunno). Tomorrow we're probably gonna have a girl's day out and go to Asheville and walk around, maybe watch a movie too. I think she'll really like Asheville. Sunday we're going to go to church then gather up the youth group girls and go see a ballet here at Western. The Atlanta Ballet company are here for the weekend, I hope it's good. Anyway, that's our plan for the weekend, I just love having her up here (maybe some day she'll move here???). K--peace people, I got work to do.

P.S. BIG prayer request. I have a huge test tomorrow morning (crack O dawn), and it's going to decide whether I can get into the teaching college here. Please pray that I will do well. I only have to take the math portion, but I'm TERRIBLE AT MATH and I'm pretty nervous. PRAY HARD!

P.S.S. Bethany only got on the wrong road ONE time on the way up here and she figured it out really quickly--I think that's pretty good :)!

Tests

Which is worse: that I'm pretty sure I failed two tests or that, at this moment, I really don't care?

the library

I have been in the library for the past 3 hours. I am only going to leave in a minute to grab some food, then I'll be returning for another 3 hours. I feel as though this staring at my computer screen will never stop. I wonder if the burning sensation in my leg is related to the computer overheating my lap. My eyes are droopy but I refuse to injest myself with loads of caffiene and sugar (just yet), but coffee must happen VERY soon. I pray to God he makes this week seem short to me. Once this week is done with things will calm down until exams. Not too much longer now--although I hate to think of what next semester brings as I will be conquering more hours than I have now--probably 18 or 20. Will it ever stop? I need food and am leaving my spot to find some sustanance (I realize that is spelled wrong). Ok, going now--hope you guys are having more fun than I am

P.S. I am actually REALLY REALLY excited about my little sister coming up here on Thursday. I can't wait to see her and spend time with her. Pray that she doesn't get lost on the way up here :).

My nephew's halloween pix--SO CUTE!

The full story

Ok, so several of you have wanted to know the full story of my wreck. I haven't posted it as of yet because, well, it was my fault. I was very sick the day of the wreck and should have stayed home from school. However, I had a test that day and thought I would go and then come back right after the test. I wasn't paying attention like I should have been on the way there (my head feeling like it weighed about 50 lbs) and I ended up running a red light and smashing into a Jeep Cherokee at about 55 mph. The other person was ok (they were driving a BIG friggin vehicle). I'm just SO thankful to God that he kept us both safe during my stupidity. That's the story folks.

I drove again the other day (borrowed vehicle) without crying for the first time, so that was good. Everything scares me when I get in a car now. I almost need to take drugs just to ride. But, I'm recovering from my fear. We're planning on buying my older brother's Honda from him next week, but are carpooling until then (thank you to all those who have given us a ride), we have amazing friends and church family who have been helping us out. Ok, I'm in class, so I really should get off here. That's the story and I'm stickin to it.

The Wreck

I'm ok--just so you know guys. I'm pretty sore but getting better. I'm trying to catch up on all the work I've missed in the last week from being sick and the wreck and so on--it sure is piling up! Hopefully I'll get all caught up over the weekend. I gotta eat then go to class--but seriously--I'm ok.

The "old" car and the wreck I had yesterday--ugh

Halloween Party--I was an 80's prom queen and Dave was an American--LOL!

Puffyness and GAF

SO the swelling around my right eye has finally gone down and people have stopped comming up to me and asking, "OH MY GOSH, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!?!?" Which was really kind of upsetting me, lol. Anyway-it's gone and I'm glad, my face is back to normal.

This weekend was the big Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF) at NOC. It's the biggest gear swap on the east coast and a pretty big deal to any gear heads that know about it. I bought a shirt and that was it but Dave got some really great deals! He bought another kayak (a creek boat)and a camping stove for under $105! The kayak is an older version but he still really likes it. He's been looking for a camping stove for quite awhile so he was REALLY excited about that purchase.

I worked all weekend during the festival and helped with the kids events. I love that part of it--so much for me cause all I do all day is decorate and help kids carve pumpkins! The kids also have a halloween costume contest. It was absolutely ADORABLE! There were preschoolers dressed up as Bob the Builder, a chicken, a pumkin(he was VERY cute), & a little baby as a peapod! Then the elementary school kids wore costumes like the Grim Reaper (several of those), Jack from Pirates of the Carribean, a French Maid, some character off of Zelda, kittens, and fairies. It was allot of fun.

Then there was a band that played that night and an adult costume contest which was pretty hilarious (lots of men dressed as women, lol). The band was pretty good but Dave and I were exhausted from working all day and called it a night around 9. It was a good weekend all in all. Hopefully get to hang out with some friends tonight, Dave's saying something about a birthday party for one of the guys he works with. Anyway--I'm out. Think I'll take a nap first.

Detrimental

I think this place is detrimental to my health. I have never been so sick than in the past year. I've had a cold all week, still dealing with the chest pain/tons O IBprofin and now my eye is swollen shut. SERIOUSLY--it's not funny. I look like I got in a fight. I keep telling everyone I was trying to break up a fight and this girl pulled out this can of Mase and sprayed me and now my eye is swollen. Then they said, "REALLY???" and I say, "No, it was an allergic reaction to something--but nobody knows what." Ugh. So I'm wearing a big floppy hat so nobody can see my eye--friggin A. The doctor gave me some Benedrill-ish stuff and some cream to help the swelling go down. Maybe I'll be able to drive home this afternoon. I had my friend Sarah drive me to school. Ya know, only being able to see out of one eye REALLY throws off your depth perception. I don't know how many things I've already run in to this morning. God sure has a sense of humor--but really God, could you pick on someone else now, the joke is getting old. I'll keep you updated on the puffy situation--lol.
On a different note, here's something I've been thinking about as I've been thinking about while going through the Beth Moore ladies Bible study at church. THe study is on the book of Daniel so you know the context of the poem. Just thought I'd share it with you as I haven't really written anything like this in awhile.

Babylon

You can whistle and boom but you cannot make me tremble
You strut and swish but I will not make your image my own

I glance at your prosperity and stumble on all those that make you their god
but you cannot change my name forever
Your things that shine and glisten catch my eye but they will not consume me

You stand proudly while others kneel to you
I stand humbly with the strength of Three, kneeling only for One

You try to dress me in your apparel but I cannot fit in while wearing it
Like the three that were in the fire so I do not belong here
because I am not from this place

I am fed from your table as royalty, yet treated as a prisoner
I refuse your provisions and hold myself to a higher standard

You build your towers so that all may see and be in awe
The music sounds and all the high and mighty bend to you

No matter how tall your riches may rise I will not bow to you O Babylon
You are not my god for my God put you in your place in the beginning
and He is soon to return and do it again

More Baby Pictures

A few pics from the weekend

My new nephew--Luke!

He's so precious!!! I couldn't put him down.

Little brother--he's a lady's man!

My Little Sis all grown UP! Her Sr. pics

A Matter of The Heart

Please pray for me guys. I arrived home to visit my parents around 8:00 Tuesday night. About 2:00 am Wednesday morning my heart starting sending me some pretty sharp pains. I decided to wait it out and see what was up. About 11:00 pm Wednesday I was almost in tears because of the pain and decided to go to a friend of the family (EMT) and see what she could tell me. After she took my blood pressure and read my heart beat several different ways she said I need to get my chest x-rayed because it just wasn't normal for someone my age--and she knew I wouldn't have come to her if I wasn't in a pretty good amount of pain. Well--it's now Thursday morning and I have a doctors appointment in 30 minutes. Then they'll send me to another office to have my chest x-rayed. I'm not happy that I have to go at all, but as the pain has persisted-I'm going. So, Just thought I'd ask you guys to pray that it's something minor--pulled muscle or something like that. I'll update you guys tomorrow or later on tonight to tell you how it went--peace--and thanks for the prayers.

UPDATE!!!

Went to the doctor. Nothing is wrong w/ my heart but the muscles around it are inflamed because I was sick over the weekend and they are getting stuck in the cracks of the cartledge between my ribs. So, they put me on 800mg of Ibprofin 3 times a day for 7 days along with another allergy medicine. Drugs galore--woot woot! Anyway-i feel better--how could I not? K--peace peeps. Thanks for PRAYING!!!

Home Coming

Well, this afternoon (after 3:20 for me) starts my Fall Break. I pretty psyched about it. I REALLY need a break considering I am nursing a cold right now and my head is pretty fuzzy (not good for studying or listening in class).

I am heading home to see my family for about five days. I'm excited to see the kids, and I´m kinda hoping Brandy (sis-n-law) has her baby this week so I can see it (She´s due any day now!). Anyways, just thought I´d tell you guys I´m heading out of town for a few.

Well, I´m off people. One more class and then Fall Break begins (and a four hour drive commences).

Hey Jake, Robert, Blaire, and Jason: I´ll be home for about 5 days and would love to see you guys!

P.S. I know my husband is hot, but just in case you missed the husband title--he´s taken, lol. He´s liking his new hair style, but even though I think his hair looks really great, I kinda miss the curls.

Dave's transformation-before and after

here's some new pics of Dave's new "do." He just decided that he kinda had a mullet and had to get rid of it. I like it! I think it looks really good w/ his beard.

P.S. check out HIS blog, he's updated guys! I know he rarely does but I've been buggin him about it. He's out taking pictures of different things today so many he'll put some of them up on his blog soon.

Random Pix

Don't I look SO innocent?!

Friend Sean that was up last weekend

Fall leaves-by Dave

My soon to be new passport photo

Amazing weekend

I had such a good weekend! Dave and spent most of Saturday lazing around. We had a late breakfast and then just hung out and played video games. Then we went to NOC to do the course inspection for the Alpine Tower and Ropes course. Then we decided to go on a short "walk," as Dave called it, but it was really a short hike cause it was all uphill for a couple of miles. Then we went home and made dinner and went out for drinks at a friends house.

Sunday we had another late breakfast (which almost made us late for church). It was my Sunday to work w/ the little kids during church (5 to 8 yr olds?). I worked w/ a blind boy named Kyle. He is super smart. He loved play sounding games (me mimicking his sounds/taps). He drew and colored most of the time though. He had a great smile and all the other kids kind of look at him as their pet. The cutest thing ever happened then too. This other little boy, Joey, came over and started drawing with Kyle. He said, "Hi Kyle," and patted him on the head, "Want to draw? You want to draw w/ a blue crayon?" He then handed it to Kyle and they went on coloring. Kids are amazing aren't they? They can just blow your mind! Adults so often don't overlook things like kids do. Joey didn't see anything wrong w/ Kyle at all, just that he needed a little help w/ finding the blue crayon. I love that.

Sunday afternoon Dave and I went to a movie w/ some friends. We saw the kid move "Open Season." It was pretty funny and really cute. Then we went to the coffee shop and had some coffee.

Then, basically for the rest of the evening, I studied for a test I have tomorrow. We also read a short story out of that short stoy book I told you about. It was hilarious. Good times.

This morning I got up for the first of my 3 a week work-outs for my fitness class. I get up and use the dancing game "Dance Dance Revolution" for 40 minutes in work-out mode. It really gets your heart pumping. If you have no idea what this game is (although if you have been to a mall around the arcade you have probably seen it), the aerobic affects are kind of like watching a excercise video and moving along w/ the motions. I was sweatin' up a storm! It felt really good to work out at the begining of the day.

Ok, I gotta get off here and study for the test. I didn't do too well on the last one in this class--hopefully this one will be better.

Happy Birthday Stone & Gage

They're THREE YEARS OLD GUYS!!! Can you believe that? If you were in my LDP year I know you can't. I can remember talking about how I was going to miss them being born whil I was in Canada. I can't believe they're so big! They'll be in pre-school next year. WOw! I love those boys! See you soon guys! Hope you had a great birthday!

Catching up

I'm finally catching up on the loads of homework I've had this week. I'm starting to get ahead too, which is always a nice feeling. I'm pretty sleepy right now though, so I thought I'd take a break from reading and blather to you guys.

I went to and English Club meeting last night here at school. I know, sounds pretty geeky, but it was fun! We watched "The 13th Warrior" which is a movie roughly based on the story "Beowulf." Alot of people don't like the movie, but I liked it cause I had read the story. It was cool to hang out w/ people that have a passion for literature. I might make a habit of going if I can find a free night. Right now Monday - Thursday are all taken up, so I guess we'll see.

I got T-O-N-S of laundry I have to do today. Gonna be hangin out w/ my friends Sarah quite a bit, lol (that's where I do my laundry). I'm also gonna stop by the coffee shop--Mountain Perks--to get some java and chill w/ Sophie (one of the girls in my youth group).

Then, tonight---dun dun dun---is SURVIVOR. Yes, S--it's a little boring this season, but I'm still a devoted watcher. It got a little more interesting last week as they mixed up the teams. Then after Survivor we watch Gray's Anatomy--which is just fun drama-i love the personalities on there--FUN! Ok--I gotta go eat lunch and get some caffiene. I gotta wake up before my boring class!!! lol

P.S. i've been asked out twice this week by guys at school. Ya know, even though I'm married, it still makes me feel good when people ask me out. Of course I say, "Sorry, I'm married," but it's definately flattering :). See ya!


B---CALL ME! I don't know your schedule so I never know when you're home. I'll call you right back to you don't use up your minutes k? luv!

and I'm back in the game!

Well, test went ok I suppose. My hand is killing me now cause I wrote so fast and for so long. Yes mom, I studied sufficiently. The only thing is I feel like I didn't have enough time to write down all I knew! The teacher said to write as much info as we knew on the question and there just wasn't enough time to do that! I guess that's a good way to know you studied enough, hopefully. We'll see when I get my test grade back :).

Had a great time w/ my highschool friend (Sean M.) this weekend--great conversations and memories from AWANA camp (don't ask if you have no clue what AWANA is). He left last night and last time I talked to him (this morning) was around Missouri (he's driving to Colorado). So, all good stuff.

Here are a few quotes I just found on the internet--they're pretty kickin' if you like literature. If you don't, well, you should read more, it's good for you--it'll add a few wrinkles to your brain.

"A losing trade, I assure you, sir: literature is a drug."- George Borrow, Lavengro, Ch. 30.

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest persons of past centuries."-René Descartes, Le Discours de la méthode, I

"Education . . . has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading."-
G. M. Trevelyan, English Social History

Peace like a river~~~as my friend Sarah says.