more Christmas break festivities

Christmas break is still coming along quite swimmingly (which, according to dictionary.com because I wanted to know for sure, means: without difficulty, with great success, effortlessly. ~ good to know!~)

It has been without difficulty or effort, a nice change from the tumultuous term where I still do not know how I fared (grades should have been posted today...but no...).

Hmm what else has come to pass...


I have gone out on separate occasions for coffee with my dear friends Robin, Kathleen, and Emily.

My mom's side had a birthday party Friday night for my sister and uncle at my aunt's house. It's a tradition. We have scallops wrapped in bacon - my uncle's specialty among other marvelous food and beverage of sorts. I gave my sister her Christmas/birthday present since she will be in Michigan with her finance and his family for Christmas. I gave her a lovely glass pitcher off her wedding registry - it's lovely & she loved it. The cousins play zombies, even the grown ones, and they put the fart machine (it makes the sounds of really juicy farts) near Clint at dinner but he maintained composure. What a trooper! :)

Clint came with my brothers and me to see Yes Man. The book is better, and I am almost done with the book, but the movie is still quite funny.

Saturday night Clint came with me to another family party. My grandmother and her sisters host it - "the Jenkins Christmas party." We make it out as if it is the awkwardest affair and talk about it with great dread, but it's not thaaat bad. Old people we see once or twice a year and young second cousins we don't know. There's a white elephant gift swap. I got to speak with my relative who's very established in Tennessee government and is the director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth about child advocacy programs I'm interested in, and child advocacy in general.


Last night (Sunday) Clint and I exchanged Christmas presents. One of my presents to him was tickets to the Nashville ballet's Nutcracker, which was that evening, so we decided to give other presents too.

I bought a flock of geese in his honor through the Heifer project, an organization that funds animals and projects for people in need all over the globe; so, instead of just feeding them for a day, equips them to "eat for a lifetime" - helps them be self-reliant and feed their families and their communities. I also bought him a goblet that I bought at an art show in Asheville, NC, and a bowl my friend Mary, a Furman ceramics major made with a dinosaur on it.

Clint gave me a beautiful pink topaz ring - six karates of topaz (we've been dating six months...). Topaz is a symbol of love, affection, and fidelity. I can't stop looking at it! Topaz is also one of the 12 stones that decorate the foundation of the city walls of the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:19-21. It's perfect. SO beautiful. My favorite gift EVER.

Reason # 84578469 why I love being home on Christmas break

So Christmas Break has already been a-mazing.

Unbelievably amazing.

How I love being home!

I arrived Tuesday, late afternoon, after driving 5 hours in fog and rain, but fortunately no ice! The fog has remained and I haven't seen the sun since I've returned home. It felt like I was driving through clouds, like the fog was hugging the earth close, like the breath of winter is lingering in the air - air that is visible and chilled.

I went straight to Clint's, visited with him and his sis, then returned home and talked with my momma. :) Then, she had fixed our family a marvelous salmon dinner and we feasted and had chocolate molten lava cakes (replicas of the Chili's masterpiece). Clint came over and we went to get gingerbread house making kits.



We went to TJ Maxx first and found a little gingerbread house kit, but also found a bigger one at Target when we went to get the brand spankin' new All American Rejects CD - woo hoo. Clint's favorite band's new cd = I have a feeling I will be listening to it a lot over break.

Ah yes, and we got chardonnay, Toasted Head chardonnay, the very same chardonnay we had on the first night we officially started dating, so it's familiar, subtle, delicious, celebratory.

Now, my mom warned us, gingerbread houses can be tough because the icing doesn't always hold the walls together. Perhaps that is why it looks as if 5 year olds slopped on the icing. But no, it was just me! :)


So there we were - Clint and me, making our gingerbread houses, making a mess, drinking wine, watching The Holiday, and sitting by a lovely Christmas tree.


The houses were a lot of fun to make. I would highly recommend it!!!

The next morning my brother Jay woke me up by letting Lucy run into my room and jump on me. I love LU. She's the coolest, sweetest dog ever. And she loves me LOTS and loves to cuddle.

My brother Nate had some new mixed CDS so I uploaded them and worked out to my new music - quite a refreshing workout, a 5k on the treadmill and 1.5 miles on the elliptical. Wrapped some presents. Unpacked some of my suitcase. Just took it easy!

Clint and I went to his house to make reindeer cookies (Caroline had given me a cookie mix with a reindeer stencil). It was a great success. They kind of tasted like brownies.


Clint also helped me decorate the Christmas tree with my ornaments. Each year I get a new ornament. I am collecting snowmen. I think snowmen are SO cute!!!


We also watched Home Alone 2 and Rudolph the rednosed reindeer from 1964 last night. 2 great Christmas classics.

Today I went Christmas shopping with my grandmother (my mom's mom). I got presents for my sis and fiance Mike off their wedding registry and got my brothers shirts from TJ Maxx (teenage bros are so hard to shop for but they can return them if they must). Nate's is a John Candeto-style white cuff and collared shirt, and Jay's will look so great with his eyes, that's all I'm sayin'! Mama (what I call my grandmother) got me Sarah Jessica Parker's perfume Lovely for Christmas (it.smells.so.good) - a set of perfume, lotion, and lip gloss for only $50, thank you TJ Maxx! And a pink umbrella and some sparkly leggings. And we had a yummy lunch together at Panera. Tomorrow I'm going shopping with my mom bright and early then out to lunch with my other grandmother.

Oh! I started reading YES MAN and it is fabulous/ hilarious!

To be continued... :)

finally we've found this feeling

This song ministers to my heart.

So do these pictures.


Run away from money
Quit your job and climb a tree
One with hearts instead of leaves
Build a sandcastle big enough for us to sleep
Paint it golden with the sunrise


Cause we are
Like a wingless bird
Crashing down
To the helpless earth


And if somethin's gonna break it
See it all around you
Feel it in your body
You'll be hiding in the shadows
Where love is still alive
'Til all of it is burning


Through a field we're walkin
Empty as the open sky
We escape from all the troubles
Found a waterfall and
Took a dive to cool our skin
Finally we found this feelin'


Run away from money
Quit your job and climb a tree
One with hearts instead of leaves


Paint it Golden - Colbie Caillat

christmas cheer :-)

2 is the number of the day:

-- I have 2 exams down, 2 to go.

-- I went to 2 Christmas parties this weekend.

-- I will be home in 2 days!

OK.

Boring stuff first then I'll get to the good stuff. I have two exams due Tuesday. One is a cumulative political science exam and one is a rhetoric research paper. Yesterday I woke up at 7:30 a.m., was doing work by 8, and knocked out my 4 page final paper for Communication Law. So that's done, besides the bibliography. There's an optional final exam for that class on Wednesday; let me think if I will be taking that one -- mm, thought about it -- I'll pass. So that class is done. And I will be able to sell the book back for a GOOD price ($ for Christmas presents; what does one get their teenage brothers??). This paper is due Wednesday but I am turning it in Tuesday...after I take my poli sci final. The rhetoric paper was making me frustrated, but I am just going to do the best I can. We're supposed to pick 3 philosophers from 3 different time periods and discuss the principles of rhetoric used by each one, and it's supposed to be 12 pages! Gahhh. I picked Isocrates from the Classical Period (he's from Ancient Greece and was quite a baller), Augustine from the medieval time, and Freud, who is a freak. It's not my best work and I know it but I am trying and at this point I just want to finish it. I've basically done the portion on Isocrates so today I will work on Augustine, then if I can get Freud done tomorrow and polish it up that would be fantastic. I am going to go through 2 sections of poly sci today, then two tomorrow. And I'll be done. There's only so much time and energy I can put into these babies. I have never stayed up all night studying before and am not going to start now if I can help it. I will take my exam at 8:30, turn in hard copies of both the papers, and hit the road, toad.

I am pleased to report that I attended two fabulous Christmas parties this weekend!
Good Christmas cheer was to be found at Chapin Hardy's apartment Friday night. She and her roommates had all the classic Christmas trappings: egg nog, Wassail, peppermint bark, sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes, fudge - yuuummy treats, and, they had paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, Christmas tunes playing (think Mariah, All I want for Christmas is You), and Chapin was dressed as Santa and her roommates were dressed as an elf, an angel, and a reindeer - so cute! I wore my festive snowman earrings I got from Goodwill freshman year of college and my new shiny scarf. Chapin gave me a holiday mug with dark chocolate rasberry hot cocoa and Christmas cd so I left the party a little early and put in the cd, made the cocoa, and watched Charlie Brown Christmas. Tonight was apparently all about the Christmas classics!

Last night was also an AMAZING dose of Christmas cheer! I went to Leanna's apartment (which is GORRRRGEOUS) with my roommates + Corey! The usual, wonderful suspects were there - Reilly, Tyler, Scott, and Caleb and Lauren, and Ann Truslow and Meggie. I LOVED it. Leanna was all decorated for the holidays - very pretty tree and white and red carnations and a wreath on her door. The hostess wore a lovely black party dress...ok I feel cheesy trying to write like society magazine reporters. I must say everyone did look cute and festive, even the boys. Leanna had green and red jello shots & wine & cheese (Bree!) & egg nog & sugar cookies & homemade gingersnaps (I ate at least 5, they were DELICIOUS). The music went back and forth between Christmas tunes (think, N'Sync's Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays) to more recent pop hits (Britney Spears, Womanizer). I felt like I was rewarded for being mature: Leanna had invited both my ex and me because she is friends with us both, and I did not hesitate for a moment whether or not I should go to one of my best friend's parties that she's put a lot of work into just because he was going to be there. Apparently, though, my presence was enough to keep him away. Leanna said she wasn't going to "go there" with him and try to justify to him why she invited me and said she was so glad and so proud of me for coming regardless of whether or not he showed up. I'm glad he didn't come, but even if he did, it would have been fine.

Now, last but certainly not least: I will be home in 2 days & will be home for almost a full month! I am going to pack my car up Monday night then leave right after I turn in those papers and finish that exam. I should be in the car no later than noon.

What awaits me at home? My family. My doggies. My sweetheart. My friends. Family Christmas/birthday party. Going to see Christmas lights at Opryland Hotel. Extended family Christmas party. The Nashville ballet presents the Nutcracker. Christmas Eve Eve party with some of my long time friends. Christmas Eve with the family, a night steeped in tradition. Christmas morning festivities and Christmas evening festivities with Clint's family. New Years Eve & New Years Day. Not working, reading, relaxing.

Glorious.

I can do it. Crank out a bit more of work, and glorious rest and wonderful times lie ahead!

a heroic doggie

Adopting dogs is the way to go. I can't wait to "rescue" a dog and provide a little furry friend a loving home.

I read this sweet sweet story today on Fox News about one homeless dog coming to the rescue of its friend:

'Hero Dog' Pulls Injured Friend From Oncoming Traffic

Footage from a traffic camera overlooking a busy freeway in Santiago, Chile captured a dog performing a heroic act — pulling an injured friend from oncoming traffic.

The video, from Azteca America Colorado, shows an injured dog lying in the middle of a freeway after being hit by a car, while a rescue dog dodges traffic to run to its side. The rescue dog then drags the severely injured canine across lanes of traffic as cars swerve around it.

No motorists stopped to help either dog, but a highway crew arrives at the end of the video.

The translation of the announcer is as follows:

"These images seen from the surveillance cameras show a very common situation with our overpopulated highways. It is normal for us to see dogs run over. In the video, we can see this dog fighting for his life because he was run over by the vehicle.

"What is very touching is to see the very heroic actions of this other dog who is trying to pull him to the side of the highway. We are going to keep seeing things like this until we find a solution to the dogs living on the streets."

changed for GOOD

My aunt and her sweetheart Ben put together pictures from this year's Thanksgiving. They set it to the song "For Good" from the Wicked soundtrack. It was a beautiful video of our family and special friends (Ben, Clint, Mike), a beautiful video of one of my favorite weeks of my life. Also today, my cousin Sam posted some pictures on facebook from Thanksgiving, and I love this one of the cousins (and Clint!) piled on to the polaris. I took some time to reflect on this weekend and my family and the love and strength I received from them this special weekend and continue to receive through recalling them in memory, and remembering their encouragement and prayer.

"For Good" - Wicked
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you I have been changed for good

It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me like a hand print on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird in a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

And just to clear the airI ask forgiveness
For the thing I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

And because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good.

more

Today was the last day of classes for Fall 2008 at Furman.

A week from today I will finish my Introduction to American Government exam, and turn in my rhetoric paper and communication law paper if I hadn't done so already, then head on my merry way HOME to Brentwood, TN.

:)

I've been taking it easy this afternoon but will start studying for Friday's midterm soon enough.

A little while ago I wanted to make some tea during my "chill" time, so I looked through my hodgepodge of remaining food supply. I found one bag of green tea with hints of peach, but usually I make two bags at a time because my mug is a 16-ouncer so I was hoping for a second bag but I was pretty sure I didn't have one.

Then voila! I there was another bag of peach green tea to my surprise. Which made me think. Isn't it nice when you realize you have more than you thought you did.

I think we're so quick to forget what we actually have. It is nice to find a few extra bucks in my wallet I forgot was there, but bigger than that, realizing all over again that I have more than I thought: more love in my life, more people to love and people to love me, more strength than I thought.

God has given us so much but our memory is weak and skips ahead to what we want next instead of appreciating and savoring a blessing. And really, as a Christian, I have MORE than I can imagine when I look to the source of good things - My Heavenly Father.

"Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it" (Malachi 3:10). He wants to offer us more than we can imagine, more than we'll even ask for.

Makes me think of the woman at the well who asks Jesus for the living water so she won't have to keep returning to the well, but the water He offers her is so much better, so much bigger, than her whole concept of water - He could give her so much more.

The Source of Life, peace, joy, love, strength, and hope and the Giver of dreams is offered to us all -- all we have to do is ask and receive by going to His table with our hearts and hands open. He has all we need and more and has given us so much - so much more than I often realize.

and wonders of His love

The Traditional Moravian Lovefeast service was beautiful.

Whereas communion is a celebration of fellowship with Christ, coffee and sweet buns were served as a celebration of the fellowship we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Beeswax candles were passed around and the chapel was filled with the candlelight for the last hymn, Joy to the World.

He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of his love
and wonders of his love
and wonders, wonders, of his love

During this Advent season we were encouraged to reflect how God is coming to sustain us and comfort us when our journeys are difficult and share with us our humanity.

We were called to celebrate how Christ is the Light of the world, a light no darkness can overcome. We were called to the manger to encounter the Christ child again and open our hearts to Him.

Wide-eyed wonder would be the best way to describe the way I felt during this service - "and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love..."

Wonder at His love and how it moves and warms and calms and restores and works in our lives. Wonder that He would become a baby for us. Wonder at how powerful yet gentle God is. Wonder at how He gently cares for and guides us like a shepherd: "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads..." Isaiah 40:11. God carries us close to his heart to protect us, keep us safe. God's love is so tender. So wonderful in the truest sense of the word.

This quote on the bulletin captures the essence of this season:

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. HOPE, struggle, fear, expectation, and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience. The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and His presence among us - as one of us - gives us reason to live in HOPE: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned. May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation, and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives" - Dr. Jay Cormier.

As a way of celebrating all things Christmas, I bought tickets so my love and I could go see The Nutcracker ballet two weeks from this evening. Nine days 'til home.


There is no home like the one you've got
'cause that home belongs to you -- BOLT soundtrack

a great day :)

I just saw Walt Disney's BOLT with Mandy, Caroline, and Allison and I LOVED it.

It is HYSTERICAL. We laughed SO hard - the unfeigned, clutching your side, amazing kind of laughing, tears in the eyes, the whole shebang. The hamster. The pigeons. OMG. I want to buy it. That could easily become one of my top happy movies that I have on hand to watch. SO cute. Oh, and Al and I cried at the sad parts too...so we laughed 'til we cried and cried 'til we cried. Haha. Al and I wore our pjs; hers had dachshunds with Christmas hats on them and well I wore my pink stripped ones I always wear except oh! oh! and I wore my new scarf too :) I bought it today after the LSAT. I went to TJ Maxx after my last LSAT of 2008 and bought this "stone silver" colored scarf that is a silvery color and sparkles and -- (this tidbit of juicy gossip about my life is for you Jenni ;-) ) I bought some new foxy underwear. I read in "Life's Little Instruction Book" to wear foxy underwear under conservative clothes so I did and it was really fun, so I got some more. :)

Al gave me a pink bucket and Christmas animal stickers and a POUND of smarties and two picture magnets - one of our tridelt family at semiformal, I'll include that picture in this post - and one of Loca as my happy-done-with-the-LSAT basket! AMAZING. And she let me upload her copy of the new Taylor Swift cd so I promptly uploaded it upon returning from the movie and put "Love Story" on repeat.

We were both young when I first saw you
I closed my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standing there
On a balcony in summer air

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
I see you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did I know...

I got to talk with my honey a lot this evening :) :) :) and did some laundry and did NOT do any homework to my poor post-LSAT fried brain.

Tomorrow I am going to the Christmas Moravian Lovefeast service - buns and coffee are served in the Moravian tradition, and we'll sing CHRISTMAS CAROLS - yeeesss. I've got a test on Monday to study for and would like to go work out, chapter, and a blog project due Tuesday and Tuesday I am DONE with class! Yeeessss. Less than 10 days...

Longing/Love

Click here for -- LONGING/LOVE -- the beautiful George Winston piano composition, the way I feel right now.

It's the sound of a cold day, the end of fall. The sound of missing someone so much it hurts, and loving that someone and longing to be next to them, beside them, with them, warm with them, near them, a longing for the light only they can bring into my life. I love him. :)

This song is me right now:

There’s a ship out on the ocean,
At the mercy of the sea.
It’s been tossed about,
Lost and broken,
Wandring aimlessly.
And God somehow you know,
That ship is me.

‘Cause there’s a lighthouse,
In a harbor,
Shining faithfully.
Pouring its light out,
Across the water.
For this sinking soul to see,
That someone out there still believes in me.

On a prayer,
In a song,
I hear your voice,
And it keeps me hanging on.
Oh, raining down, against the wind.
I’m reaching out,
‘Till we reach the circle’s end.
When you come back to me again.

There’s a moment,
That we all come to.
In our own time and in our own space.
Where all that we’ve done,
We can undo,
If our hearts’ in the right place.

On a prayer,
In a song,
I hear your voice,
And it keeps me hanging on.
Oh, raining down, against the wind.
I’m reaching out,
‘Till we reach the circle’s end.
And you come back to me again.
(Garth Brooks, When You Come Back to Me Again)<<-- music video here!

"bubble moments"

I had put my little bubble wand from Nancy's wedding in my school bag today in case there was a bubble moment to celebrate, and there were many, so off I went, walking back from lunch, bubble wand in hand, leaving a trail behind me.

When Nancy's mom Ellen was in the hospital for breast cancer, the nurses would blow bubbles and have "bubble moments" to celebrate any little joy to lift the patients' spirits so naturally bubbles are very special to the Demetree family. Bubbles were a natural choice to have when Nancy and Joseph exited their wedding reception, and there were some little wands left over so I grabbed one or two. I put one in my school bag a few days ago and am very glad I did.

What was I celebrating? I had a restful sleep, woke up with plenty of time for prayer and reflection and relaxation to ease into the day. I revisited some quotes from a book I LOVE -- EAT PRAY LOVE -- and the quote ~ "Nothing stands between you and the Infinite. Now let go" ~ helped me connect with God, painting a descriptive picture of how near He really is. Knowing He is so close facilitated me in letting go of some of the burdens and worries I needed to release. And I felt much much better for having done so. A minor domestic issue caused me to call my mom for advice which led to a wonderful, heartfelt connection between mother and daughter, from one woman to another. My mom has a way of encouraging like no one else I've ever known. Perhaps that's why I take her criticism so hard, because when her encouragement comes, it is unbelievably edifying, and that's of course what I would prefer to hear. I should probably tell her this sometime. I should also probably tell her that this summer, though we butted heads a few times, greatly deepened my respect for her. She is the glue, er, concrete works better for my analogy, that binds our family together, makes it strong, and together with my dad, the other ingredient in the concrete (rocks and water - hmm maybe mom is the water because she goes with the flow more) lays a foundation of love to build on and grow from. Yay family!

What did she even say that resonated with me so much today? Little things. Just knowing she's there for me, supports me, believes in me, is the best. She told me not to worry about getting a job when I come home over break. I've worked all year in the media relations office and she wants to have me around and said I need time to rest and can use the time to be with my family and finish law school apps. Not going to argue with that! And I can read! I can curl up and wrap up in a warm blanket with a good book and a good dog named LU and a big mug of something warm and READ for pleasure. Fabulous. Also, she said she ran into a friend of mine who said she had several friends (4+ more), smart kids, who prepared real well for the oct LSAT and bombed it -- maybe it was just a really hard test, she said. She told me how my brother took the ACT, then took it two months later without studying and his score went up 4 points. Just gotta keep my head up and be positive tomorrow! She said not to worry about not knowing where I'll be next year. MOST people don't know right now and she's not expecting me to know. And, she said she thinks Furman was a wonderful investment for me so not to stress about "how-expensive-my-education-was-and-I-don't-know-where-I'll-be." It has been a wonderful place for me. What else what else oh I don't even know, but it was marvelous. IT WAS DEFINITELY A BUBBLE MOMENT.

And, running into Travis and grabbing a quick lunch with him was another bubble moment. We shared our joys, vented about the term making it almost seem laughable how stressful it's been, and celebrated each other and each other's relationships that are blooming!

While I was at it, I decided to blow some bubbles for last night -- my little holiday extravaganza with Caroline! We went to the dh holiday dinner with Allison and Jenni. The dinner featured salad with pear and walnuts, sweet potatoes, green beans, and a decorate your own cookie bar -- soft, warm sugar cookies with vanilla icing and peppermint sprinkles for me! Can you say YUM. Then we went to the winter wonderland. Caroline and I got our pictures with Santa. LOL. I think it was a Furman student. He was almost smaller than we were so we felt really awkward and didn't want to hurt him so those pictures look really funny. Then I went ice skating! There was a faux ice stating rink and it was FUN. I used to love ice skating and rollerskating when I was younger, so hopefully a certain boyfriend of mine will want to go this holiday season. Then there was a make your own hot chocolate bar. I but coconut covered marshmellows and heath bar in mine. They melted so the bottom of the drinks was gooood. Then Caroline and I rode a horse and buggy around campus. The white horse was lovely. I wish we still used horse and buggies for transportation. They are my favorite. Good holiday cheer! SO, bubble moments in honor of my dear friends and holiday memories as well.

a "happy"

...that's what Mrs. Wickles calls little presents that are pleasant little surprises and make people happy! She has given me THREE. And they have made me very very happy.

She gave me law school in a box, an inspirational quote plaque, and a HOT PINK CHRISTMAS TREE!

I plugged in the tree today and it is lighting up my room.

I was able to come back early from class because I made a 95 on my last com law test, so, I am NOT taking the last test (its optional) and so didn't have to sit through the optional review session for the optional test, and now I know for sure I am going home in 12 days! Hallelujah!

SO, I came back, turned on some Christmas music starting with Mannheim Steamroller, and have been restoring order & cleanliness to my room and apartment and in doing so have made some time for me...just to be. Tonight I am going to the Dining Hall's holiday dinner with Jenni & Caroline and then to the winter wonderland! Last year at the winter wonderland, I rode in a horse and buggy (sleigh ride, minus the snow haha) and had yummy cookies and there are other festive things too! Finally, some Christmas cheer.

Yesterday I had been really stressed and bogged down about school work, future plans, LSAT, law school apps, looking for a job, and finally just had to put Wizard of Oz on and fall asleep. Had to rest. Had to call it a night.

Yesterday I was the song "where are you christmas, why can't I find you?" and now I am "tis the season to be jolly fa la la la la la la la la!"

According to my itunes, these are my 10 favorite holiday tunes:

(1) God rest ye merry gentlemen (barenaked ladies)

(2) let it snow (garth brooks)

(3) Jingle Bell rock

(4)Baby it's cold outside

(5) Please come home for Christmas

(6) Christmas is all around (from the movie love actually!)

(7) All I want for Christmas is You (mariah carey)

(8) Love came down (Point of Grace)

(9)O come Immanuel (stephen curtis chapman)

(10) Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (Nsync)

pleasant little things

I woke up 20 minutes before class today and it was a very very cold morning, so cold that the leaves on the ground - well, everything for that matter - was frosted and frozen and the wind had me chilled to the bone. These two things did not faze me, though normally they would have. Praise God for peace even when I don't ask for it.

In class our project that was due Thursday got pushed back to Tuesday - what a relief! And our final exam is optional! So, I can turn in the final paper and leave a day earlier than I thought, which makes my countdown only 2 weeks! FABULOUS. (Disclaimer: that is, if I didn't just bomb the last test, which I will get back Thurs, but it is looking promising that I will be going home next Tues! Woo hoo!). I counted I have 5 full days and 2 half days to study for my 4 finals: 2 final papers, and 2 final exams, only one exam of which is cumulative.

And, as I just found out, even if I make all Bs this term, which though it would be my worst term, is looking likely to be the outcome, I will still be on track to graduate with honors (and my GPA won't fall a whole point, which is important for law school apps).

I found this on a friend's blog and wanted to answer this quiz in the time I have before work.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was in 6th or 7th grade. So worrying way too much about trying to be cool.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?
Work, meeting with a pre law advisor, grocery shopping, rush workshop, homework, LSAT studying. I guess that's six. It's a busy day.

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Chips and salsa is my numero uno.

4. Places I’ve lived:
Georgia. England. Brentwood. Greenville, SC.

5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire:
Pay my parents back for my college and high school education.
Donate much money to the United Way and Thistle Farms, a Christian rehab place for women leaving lives of prostitution and homelessness, and would sponsor a lot of children. Oh! And that charity where you buy farm animals for people but I can't think of it now.
Travel. Pay for my wedding then "buy a big house where we both could live" - well, it wouldn't even have to be big, that's just what the Elton John song says. Buy pomeranians. Compete in dog shows with said pomeranians.

6. People I want to know more about:
My ancestors.

7. Name two things you have in common with Oprah:
We both love to eat, are from the south, and have trouble loosing weight.

8. You can tell a lot about a person by…
The music they like. How they talk about others. How they are when they're stressed. How they deal with insecurities.

9. Are you a yeller when you get angry?
It was an unhealthy relationship, so in that instance, yes. Normally, no.

10. Have you ever danced in public?
Heck yes!

11. What did you do to deserve your first detention?
Throwing a "projectile" in the lunchroom in 6th grade. But it was fine, I was the only girl and got to hang out with a bunch of guys so I thought I was cool.

12. What did you do deserve your first paddling?
LOL I have no idea. Probably for being a brat. I pushed my brother out of the way to the play area in McDonalds and got spanked real hard in public when I was ten. Ten! Gahhhh.

13. Name three things you like about the town you live in.
It is laden with warm memories.
It is where my family and grandparents are.
There is a lot to do. (real profound, I know haha)

14. Name four things that you love to do.\
Spend time with Clint.
Run. Write. Read. Blog. (they all are hobbies so they go together and count as one)
Be at the farm.
Play with my dog.

15. Name something unusual you carry with you wherever you go.
A broken pendant I found that has one of my favorite bible verses: hebrews 13:5, "never will i leave you, never will i forsake you."

16. What’s your favorite website?
Facebook.

17. Where and when was your first kiss?
Outside the movie theater waiting to get picked up by my friend's mom.

18. What would an enemy have to say about you?
I don't have enemies.

19. Favorite childhood memory.
Too many to list!

20. Any regrets?
Of course, but I believe that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) so as my Aunt Rachel says, you can't look back, you have to look forward.

thanksgiving

One of the best weeks of my life thus far: Thanksgiving 2008.

It began with time in Murfreesboro with Clint before BA's state championship game.

Nate played well, but BA lost, and Nat, Mike, Clint, and I went to Chilis for dinner.

The next day, Wednesday, the family went out to the farm and stayed there until Saturday evening (with the exception of leaving to run the Boulevard Bolt and hit up Marti & Liz shoes on Black Friday, we stayed at the farm Wed-Sat).

Family time was wonderful. There was much food, family time, farm time, time with the doggies, time with my sweetheart.

There's no way to really capture the essence of this Thanksgiving...the essence is taking a deep breath, a deep conversation, a warm mug of tea, a big plate of pancakes made by my dad, a fifth helping of desserts, homemade cinnamon rolls, laughing and eating until your side hurts, warm hugs, the laughter of children, the crisp winter air, running and crunching through the brown fallen leaves, grabbing on tight to the four wheeler as it races across the field, holding hands, holding sleepy doggies, catching up with parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, games and jokes with my sweetheart's clan, steak dinners and happy pink christmas trees,5 mile runs at 8 in the morning, shoe shopping for two hours with aunts and girl cousins, new love, all rolled into one.

It was a break, a vacation, a holiday, and I cannot wait for Christmas break.

16 days. I am counting down. It couldn't come soon enough.

I have projects and tests and an LSAT retake and finals standing between me and the Christmas holiday.

I attended the first advent Sunday yesterday, had a candy cane today, will eat a gingerbread cookie in a few minutes, and am going to a tridelt Christmas party on Friday. When I return home, I will decorate our tree with my ornaments, partake in the advent calendar with my family, and will anticipate much more family time with my family and hopefully Clint's as well! I CAN'T WAIT.