New Home... New Job

I'm here! My sweet, wonderful parents moved me down to Chatty last weekend. Mom got her guest bedroom all set up and decorated, while leaving the rest of the house a disaster. Thanks mom! :) I started work on Tuesday and to my surprise, have actually enjoyed it. John provided me with my own desk and basement of my own to do my cleaning in. It has been kinda exciting, yet calmly stressful... if that makes any sense. I feel like there is so much to do and so little time... but in reality, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO! Therefore, this weekend allowed me to sleep and catch up on a little housework, which was the main factor for my stress. The "calming" part of my stress is that I am actually enjoying what I am stressed out about. No more annoying, nagging school work to slow me down, but decorating, organizing, and cleaning that needs to be done. I never thought my major would have really come in to play. Go figure. In case any of you were wondering, here is my checklist for this upcoming week....

AT WORK:
-organize and decorate desk
-finish loads and loads of laundry in basement
-work on filing cabinets
-look into getting business cards
-get my embroidered clothes back from the embroidery lady

ACTIVITIES:
-look into gym membership
-look into joining a chattanooga young professionals group
-go to bookstore and get lots and lots of books
-find recipes I am going to try

AT HOME:
-organize my bedroom and hobby room
-finish tearing down wallpaper in bathroom... YIKES!
-spend quality time with Tyson (on my way out the door today, he ran up and jumped up to bite my hand and managed to THROW himself onto the floor in front of the door like a little pouting child.. as if he didn't want me to leave. I think he is going through depression)
-pick out paint colors for kitchen, and bathrooms
-make meals to last me all week
-organize my budget... NOT going so well so far.

These are my GOALS... might I stress GOALS. My GOALS are never reached, so I am sure my GOALS for next week are going to be the exact same and then some.

My Ships A Sailin...(A Few Thoughts)

Three more days and I'm off to Chattanooga! The nervousness is setting in...finally. I've filled a spare bedroom with home accessories, kitchen supplies and clothes. My next project is packing it all. I've come to realize that I hate packing with a severe passion, which is unfortunate because that is all I will be doing in my next life in Chatty. My brother will be in for a real treat in seeing what all I CAN'T do! (or maybe it will be ME who's in for the surprise!) The stress is building quickly, however, I do have something special to look forward to. John's company is currently working on Payton Manning's house in Chattanooga, due to a flood. So instead of a week of getting acquainted with my new town, I will be starting early in cleaning up Manning's house! John was sure to tell me that not all jobs would be like this, in being famous football players! I have high hopes for my next chapter, in getting involved in a church down there, starting fresh, eating healthy, and being with my niece and nephews. I regret that I will not get to see my Caden, Chase and New Baby Haustein, but I am sure that I will be making a few trips to Columbia! This past Sunday, Caden, Chase and David and Sandi came up for a day, while we got to watch the kids. We took Caden to see the VeggieTales movie, and he had never been to a theatre before. He responded, "It was the biggest movie I'd ever seen in the world!" Those two never seize to amaze me. I'm working on getting Chasers to say "Bebe". I've convinced myself that he is saying it, in the midst of the "Bleh", always said with a smile. I am such a proud aunt!

New Years Resolution: Bologna

What is the point? I will never understand, that is for sure. What is the "specialness" of January 1st that is suppose to change lives and make a whole new you? It's just like the first day of school. Everyone is nice the first week and then they realize it is too hard to be nice, so they go back to their old selves. We all do it... don't try to deny it. Yet every year, even I, the epitome of failing New Years Resolutions, set my goals once again, only to cause another round of giving up. But at least now I can recognize I have this problem... more than others admit. In order of goals, I have accumulated my top 10 list for 2008

1. Read the bible in a year

2. Lose 42 pounds... um, please

3. Lose 5 pounds if 42 doesn't work

4. Be nicer

5. Don't judge on first impressions

6. Find a guy and actually keep him

7. Get a Persian kitten (white preferably)

8. Save my money for downpayments

9. Learn about everything I've ever wanted to know

10. Finally, I would love to finish a book. I never make it.

All Grown Up Now!

Sorry for the delays in blogging.... I know several are disappointed. To update those who may not already know, I finally graduated from Harding on December 15 with a Bachelors of Science! Hard to believe that a home-ec degree would ever qualify as a science, but hey, I'll take it. "It is an ever-changing research" they say... that is what makes it a 'science'. Whatever. Since my release of PRISON, I have been enjoying a relaxing vacation of nothing but shopping and crafting and cleaning with the rents in St. Louis. In January I am making the move to Chattanooga, TN to work for my brother John. I finally made my decision, and am just hoping it was the right one! I'm in the transition stage right now of " 13 going on 22" in trying to mature and get ready for the job life. No more sleeping in, no more roommates, no more living by the minute... I will be financially, emotionally and physically on my own now. To be frank... I am TERRIFIED! This is my spiritual test... I know, I know. But I know God has got his hand wrapped around me! Wish me luck!

Times A FLYIN'!

From freshman year and going snipe hunting in a field of meth dealers to senior year of observing, writing, working and analysing my life... my time at Harding has absolutely flown by, just like yall said it would. Though I've cried and cried to get me outta here, I know God made mama say no for a reason. I've made so many mistakes and regrets that I've learned from, and to be honest, I wouldn't change it. Every sin I've committed, every lie I've told, every friend I've lost...I was miserable. I prayed that God would change my heart and He didn't. I was discouraged and hated my life. Looking back on everything the past couple months, it has been amazing to be on the outside looking in and seeing how everything that happened has made me so much stronger. Not only have I finally started saying my prayers everynight and meaning them, but I have a desire for the Lord, which I have wanted all these years. Harding has been absolutely awful for me, and I sometimes wish I had changed schools, but I now understand why God put me here. He did it so I could make the mistakes and know myself better than anyone ever could. Without understanding myself and knowing my heart, I was bound to a life of hopelessness and being lost. I'm so grateful for my pain and suffering, because finally I am able to love myself and be comfortable about my mistakes and know that is what made me a better person. Mom always told me I would have to hit rock bottom before I could get back up, and I think my experience at Harding was my rock.. but if that is what it took, then so be it. I hope someday I can influence people, not by letting them learn from my mistakes, but encouraging them that things will turn out the way GOD intended them to... not the way they themselves wanted them too. I've learned that it's not just a mind thing... but a heart thing, that is the most important.

" Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Happy Birthday MAMA!

Mom, I hope your day was super special today! It is so hard being without you down here, I wish I could be there for everyone of your birthdays like you are for mine. And I hope I can do that for my kids like you have! You are such an amazing mother, did you know that? I hear a lot of times that moms get discouraged and let down by their kids, but even when I do that to you, I hope you always know deep in your heart that you are more than I could EVER ask for, and I am so blessed to have you as MY mother! I love talking to you everday and I don't know where I would be if I didn't have you there to answer (or not) those six times a day when I need you to make me smile. I love spending time with you and I just never seem to want to leave whenever I am with you. Thanks for being such a great mom these 21 years to me. Dad, John, David, Wendy, Sandi, me, Mitsy, Ginger, and Tyson are so blessed to have you in our lives and setting such a great example everyday! Happy Birthday ol Lady! I love you with all my heart!

Wiggin Out

This past saturday was my last function of my Harding career! It was called "Wiggin Out with Iota Chi". It was hilarious. We were all suppose to wear a wig (which most didn't). But last minute, I got mine at a flea market nearby. I really loved it, however, it was really crimpy and so I called up my African friend and borrowed his gangster clothes. It fit the wig. I had too. I had his huge jeans on, a "Brooklyn" 2 XL shirt and a silver chain. They loved dressing me up, and surprisingly I loved dressing up too. My date "J Willy" wore a mullet and combat boots with his shorts and t-shirt. We were a sight for sore eyes, and the life of the party. Had there been a competition (which there usually is) we would have won by a landslide. We missed the hayride because my britches kept falling down and I couldn't run, but we did roast a few hot dogs and caught up with my fellow Iota Chiers. There is nothing going on with J Willy (for those who are getting some idea stuck in their head). He's just a friend! But we had an awesome time and I'm so sad I wont get to do that again!