Bits and Pieces

I figured while I had about 15 minutes of spare time I would take a second and write a new post on here since it's been a while :)

I don't feel like forming complete sentences and paragraphs so here are some fragments of my crazy busy life!

My life has been absolutely crazy here lately. But God is good even in the craziness! I am realizing more and more that God is in control and even at the end of a long, hard day His love is still all I need.

I absolutely hate pumping gas and inevitably that always leads to me waiting until the last possible minute to get gas. I drove around all last night with my gas tank open. This is why I shouldn't get gas.

I had a stomach virus a couple of weeks ago. Now my roommate has one. I like to think I do a good job at cleaning our apartment... Evidently not.

Well it looks like I might not be graduating in May after all.

I'm so tired I have a hard time thinking coherently.

I am going home this weekend and couldn't be more excited. This trip is coming at the perfect time.

For those of you who like a good push, you should read crazy love. It has really been challenging me.

I went to New Heights this last Sunday and really really loved it. I wish I could make it every Sunday....

I baked something in the oven this morning and didn't burn it. Success!

Photography

I love love love photography. I'm really horrible at it though. Someday I want to take lessons. Until then, I will just enjoy the pictures that other people take. Here are some I am currently loving...

Don't you just hate those tests where you study your butt off knowing that the test is still going to be impossibly hard? Yea, I had one of those today. It really sucked. I'm just glad it's over with. I'll be so glad when this class is over at the end of the semester. I love the class, I just hate the tests.

On another note, I am really excited for tomorrow because I am going to start my shadowing at Elkins High School. I'm looking forward to being in a classroom and seeing how the teacher does things. I am loving my teaching classes that I have right now which further proves to me that teaching is definitly the career choice for me!

Well I am so happy that fall is finally here! Since it's my favorite season, I figured I'd post some pictures of Arkansas in fall. Beautiful!

Surgery Round 3

Well today was one of my orthopedic appointments. I always get a little nervous when I go in for an appointment because I am always fearful that something is going to be wrong with my leg. My worries subsided when Dr. Pleiman (who is wonderful btw) told me everything looks great on my xrays and that all my hardware in my leg looks good too. He then asked me about pain and I explained to him that my leg gets really stiff easily and that it is still difficult to walk long distances and I don't feel 100% back to normal. He encouraged me to think about having all of the plates and screws that are in my leg removed. He said that by removing them I will have a lot more mobility in my leg and it will just make me feel much better. He said there's no hurry, just whenever, if I decide to go ahead with the surgery. After talking to my mom, I think we are leaning towards going ahead and having the surgery over Christmas so I will have Christmas break to recuperate, and then will feel much better next semester. So here we go surgery round 3!

Happy

10 things I'm happy about right now:

* I'm actually starting to feel human again after my 24 hr bug.

* I love my new uggs. I have wanted uggs for the past 3 years but have refused to buy them because of how expensive they were. They are completely worth every penny! So comfy!

* Tomorrow is a Razorback game day! Woo hoo!

* I love the time of year when you get to register for new classes next semester. It makes me really excited to think about all the different classes I could take.

* Next semester will be my last semester of college. I can't believe how fast it has gone by!

* Tonight is going to be a completely lazy night at home.

*I have a starbucks gift card. Enough said.

*It's almost the holidays! My favorite time of the year!

* I got my car back FINALY!!!

*Tonight I might actually get some of that online class done that I've been procrastinating for the past 6 months...

Blessings

It's so easy to get caught up in my own life and forget how ridiculously blessed I am. My life is not easy, by any means, but God has blessed me in so many ways and I forget that all of the time! It's easy to get consumed in my own problems and forget that there are a hundreds of people who are put in way more difficult situations that I am. I don't always understand God's plan, but I know that He does things for a reason.

Right now, I am having such a difficult time understanding why God takes people out of our lives. I know He has a purpose for everything, but it's hard to explain that to someone who is hurting. OR when I'm hurting...

Ok enough of that.

I am so so soooo happy that it's finally fall! The weather is absolutely gorgeous and I have so loved getting to put out all my fall decorations :)

This is a short post today, I need to get ready to go love on some little ones!

Puppies

This is the dog that I want so so soooo badly! A mini goldendoodle. Enjoy!

Mistakes

Mistakes... Life is made of them. We learn from them. We grow from them. We cry from them. We are constantly reminded of them. But one thing: We don't have to live with them.

I am so thankful that my heavenly Father loves me regardless of how many times I have messed up. I don't seem to learn very easily, and I have to prove things to myself. Also, at times I would say that I can be very self destructing. But the best thing is that God loves me no matter what I do. And one day... my prince will love me just the same.

10 things you might not know about me...

1. I love candles. Take that, I love expensive candles. They are such an indulgence to me. I always feel a little guilty when I light one, knowing that it's just money burning away. But oh how I love the way they make my house smell!

2. I'm horrible at baking. I can't even get canned cinnamon rolls right, they always burn! It's probably because I don't believe in using timers when cooking. Ask me to cook anything else and I'm your girl, but not a cookie, brownie, or even cupcake. And oh how I love sweets too....

3. I'm naturally a very messy person. I love having a clean home, but it rarely stays that way. I like to think I'm messy because I have so many other wonderful things on my mind.... but really it's probably just because I'm a mess!

4. I love bubble baths. LOVE them! If I could take one every single night I would. Nothing is better!

5. I love to study but I hate taking tests. Enough said.

6. I'm obsessed with my new Bible that has commentary and cross references it in. It's so wonderful, and pretty!

7. One of the top things I want to do in life is meet Karen Kingsbury, my FAVORITE author.

8. I want a goldendoodle really really badly. I always look at pictures of them on the internet. It will be a girl and I will name her Lola.

9. I sleep smack dab in the middle of the bed with at least four pillows surrounding me.

10. I love reading about other people's lives and hearing other people's stories. Everyone has so much to teach!

Crazy Love

I feel so thankful to have the incredible friends that I have. Truly, they are my strength. It's amazing how magnificent God truly is. I hate that He had to bring me to my knees to see that, but I'm so glad He did.

An AMAZING let me tell you, AMAZING woman of God is disciplining me this semester and I am so excited. She has so much knowledge, and has experienced basically the exact same thing I am going through right now. God is so good. I really admire her and look up to her. So we are starting a book called "Crazy Love". Have any of y'all read it?? What did you think? Also, she is teaching me how to study the bible inductively. I am so excited! I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to things like that, but who cares?? God loves me. Ha ha

On another note, I am so excited for this weekend because my parents, my sister, and I are taking a mini vacation. I can't wait! It will be really nice to just get away for a couple of days...

Well that's all I have for now. Off to school I go!

Everything Rides on Hope Now

If anyone knows me, they know that I am a total planner and control freak. I have had my whole life planned from the time I was 5 years old, and anytime those plans change, it really rocks my world.

I am very resistantly learning that God wants me to learn to depend on Him for my future. Wow, such a hard concept for me. Looking back on it, I am realizing that for the past year He has been trying to grab the reins out of my hands. I have held on tightly though! So He allowed my leg to be broken. Did I use that as a learning lesson? Nope. I kept right on my own path after my own plans.

Lately God has brought some incredibly difficult circumstances in my life. Let me tell you, I am STILL trying to control God. I try to put Him in a box and take Him out when I feel like it. This is not want God desires from us.

As of today, I have decided to attempt to put my life completely in my Savior's hands. Don't ask me my future plans because I have no idea what they are. Maybe, I'll go to graduate school. Maybe not. Maybe I'll become a teacher. Maybe not. Maybe I'll go to China. Who's knows! It's so thrilling, yet unbelievably scary at the same time. I can take great comfort in knowing that God really does have my BEST interest at heart.

99 Balloons

It is well known that I am an extremely emotional person. I can cry at the drop of a hat. I like to think that I have extreme sympathy for others who are in difficult situations and this is why I cry so easily.

At dinner tonight with a girl friend, we began discussing how God has purpose in everything. I began to tell her a story I had recently read about family who had a baby knowing it would soon die after birth. It broke my heart to imagine the grief those parents must have felt, but God truly had a purpose even in that little baby's short life.

Stephanie then told me the story about the blind man in the bible. How, God has a purpose for that blind man from the time he was a little boy. God's miracles were shown through that blind man. He had a purpose for him. If his parents had of decided they didn't want him just because he was disabled, we would have never had the great story and miracle, and a wonderful song to add :)

Then Stephanie told me to look at the video 99 Balloons on youtube. This is a must see, it is amazing at the strength of this young couple. God truly does have a purpose for EVERY life.

Cooking and Such

Brad gets home from Cozumel today!!! Then back off to camp tomorrow! Our summers are so busy I am surprised we have managed to see each other at all. I am So, so, SO really for some normalcy again. I mean we have been apart from each other for the past eight months! That is not the way I had the last year planned, but oh well, you manage what you have to do I guess. I am proud that we have managed to make it through everything. Most couples wouldn't have survived everything we have been through this past year, that has to say something!

On a different note, I am so proud that I have officialy learned to cook on my George Forman without burning. Large thanks to Kristin! Before, I would never cook on it because every single time my chicken turned out dry and burnt! Now its perfect and juicy! Just wonderful! Brad will be so impressed.... haha! One bad thing about cooking when he's not here though, is cleaning. Typically, I cook and Brad cleans. But when he's not here to eat I have to clean too :( I don't like that part. Like right now, I am waiting until the last possible second to bring my plate to the sink because I know that means that I have to clean everything up. Blah!

I have such a busy week at school this week. Bad thing about taking Spanish in Summer school is that the last week is FULL of tests! I'm so ready to be done, for a few weeks at least!

Well I better start studying before I see Brad! Have a wonderful Sunday :)

Nothing's Too BIG for God

So I have been on somewhat of a workout kick. Now that I can actually work out again, I am trying to get back into the routine of going regularly. Most times, Kristin and I go together. Today, though, she had to study so I decided to venture off to the gym by myself. I am trying to build back up my length of my cardio workout. I can't last as long as I used to any more. Hah. Today, I decided I would try running. Not such a good idea...you see, evidently you need leg strength to run. My poor little leg just isn't up to the challenge just yet. I think I'll stick with the elliptical and walking for now.

I have decided that I am WAY too emotional for my own good. I can seriously cry at the drop of a hat. One of my tasks at work is to look through the "Children's Ministry" magazines and find articles that I think the women I work for would like. Great task for me since I LOVE magazines! So today I am reading through the magazines when I come across an article about this family who's unborn child was diagnosed with a fatal disease. The mother had to give birth to her, knowing that she would only live for a couple of hours after being born. Sooo sad. I started crying right there in the office, good thing I was the only one there. I don't even know what I would do if I was ever put in that situation. It would require an incredible faith that's for sure.

My mom and I have had several conversations about faith and being able to deal with incredible situations that you would have thought you would never have the strength for. It brings a quote to my mind, "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it". It really IS true. Humans have an incredible ability to handle whatever situations they are faced with, you have no other option. For instance, during the worst of my pain with my leg, I never once thought I can't handle this pain anymore. I just handled it because I had to, there was never any other choice. It brings me a lot of confidence now, knowing that no matter what difficulties I may face in life, God will always meet me there and help me through it. Nothing is too BIG for our God. NOTHING!

Friendships

I figured I would post while I am waiting to go into PT. I want to begin by saying that I am loving Beth Moore's blog right now. I have this need to know what other people's lives are like, and I just love reading her blog everyday. It's incredibly encouraging.

It's really unfair that right now while it is gloomy and depressing in Fayetteville, AR my wonderful boyfriend is in Cozumel, Mexico soaking up the sun. Not fair I tell you! This has been the world's longest week. I am so ready for Sunday to get here so I can see Brad, do his laundry :), and send him on his way for his last week of camp! Horray!!! This long Summer is almost over

Although I have not particularly enjoyed being apart from Brad for so long, I can see God's purpose in all of it. Isn't it nice when you can see WHY God does things?

- I have become more independent. Let's just say that I used to not be the most independent person in the world, and while I am sure to return to some of my old ways once Brad is back in town (who likes pumping their own gas?) I have also grown a lot and am more assure of myself and my abilities. I have also restored so amazing friendships!

-Speaking of friendships, I have been blessed with the greatest girl friends this summer and have had some amazing conversations and just fun times with them! I am also so glad that I have had the chance to grow even closer to hopefully my future "sisters".

-Quiet times in the mornings have become a necessity. I used to always be envious of girls who could wake up early in the morning to spend some quality time with the Lord. Now I am one of those girls! I can definitely tell a difference in my day when it starts with God!

- I have been able to walk away from some other relationships that were present in my life that were not really that good for me.

- I have a job that I absolutely love!! And work with some wonderful women! That's an answered prayer!

It's been a While...

So it's been a LONG time since I have posted! Lets just say I got back into the swing of things pretty quick and my summer has been incredibly B-U-S-Y! I began the summer by moving into my new apartment at the Links. I love love love it! It is so cute and I love living out here with so many friends just a walk down the road. Not to mention, I'm a lot closer to Brad now which is always good :) I took 6 hours of Summer classes first session, and now I am in another 6 hours this session. This year is going to be really tough, but I'm graduating in MAY!!! I couldn't be more excited! I wasn't real thrilled about the whole idea of having to graduate a semester late, so many conversations and a little change in majors, and now I only have a year left and will "hopefully" start my masters program this next summer. I can't believe how fast these past years have gone by! So scary that soon I will no longer be considered a "college student". I finally got off of my crutches Mid-June! It was a great day!! I am still in Physical Therapy 2 days a week and am slowly getting better and more capable of doing things by myself. Walking is hard work! haha. I just had another doctor's appointment last week and he said that everything looks good but he wants me in therapy for another 3 months. Looks like my fall semester just got a little bit busier. As the Summer is winding down, I am so happy that Brad only has 2 weeks left of camp. Now don't get me wrong, I am so glad he went to camp as a counselor this summer, but I miss him so much when he is gone! I am also ready to have my man back at home to do "man things" for me. I told him the other day I already had him a list going... haha He was real thrilled about that. I am doing a Bible study right now called "Me, Myself and Lies" .. Seriously every girl should do this study. I am learning so much from it! Well, I'm gonna go now, I have some spanish flash cards to make!

My ABC's

A- Age:  21

B- Bed Size:  Queen

C- Chore you hate:  Unloading the dishwasher or picking up my dirty clothes :)

D- Dogs or cats:  Dogs

E- Essential start your day item:  Something sweet and Good Morning America

F- Favorite Color:  Pink and Red

G- Gold or Silver:  White Gold :)

H- Height:  5'2"

I- Instruments you play:  Piano and a little violin.

J- Job title:  Student and Intern at Central United Methodist

K- Kids:  None yet!!

L- Loud or quiet:  Mainly quiet.

M- Mom's name:  Vicky

N- Nicknames:  Jen, Winnie, Jbrad, then the multitude of names Brad has for me :)

O- Overnight hospital stay other than birth:  The 2 surgeries I had after I broke my leg this year.

P- Pet Peeve:  When people leave things in the living room, and when Brad drives with me in his truck with the CB radio on.

Q- Quote from a movie:  "You had me at hello"

R- Right or Left handed:  I'm a lefty.

S- Siblings:  2 sisters

T- Time you wake up:  7:30

U- Underwear:   Yes...

V- Vegetable you dislike:  Artichokes

W- Ways you run late:  I  never leave my house without eating breakfast first, so if I'm late it's usually because of this.

X- X-rays you've had:  Ankle, Wrist, Shoulder, Tail bone, Back, Lungs, Toes, Fingers, Leg

Y-Yummy Food you make:  Better than Sex cake, enchiladas (Brad's mom's recipe :) ) , Gaucamole, pretty much anything mexican.

Z- Zoo Favorites:  Anything fat and furry!

Missing Him...

Well, Brad has been gone for a full four days now and let me just say I feel like he has been gone a month!  Seriously, I miss him so much.  I hate, hate, hate not being able to talk to him or text it.  It is the worst thing in the world.  After next week though, he will be able to call me on his breaks and he will have Saturdays off so that will be good.   I keep telling myself it will get easier.  I just hope it does.  

I've started summer school.  It's so nice to have something to do in the mornings again, but Spanish is kicking my butt!  I wish I had of taken it my Freshman year instead of waiting until my Senior year.  I don't remember anything I learned in high school!  I think I'm starting to catch on, but it is still really really hard!

Steph and I are finally moved into our new apartment! YAY!  I love it so much!  It's the perfect apartment.  Perfect layout and everything!  My room is really cute too.  Plus, almost all of my friends live out here! I'm loving it!!!  Can't wait to get up to the pool to lay out :)

XOXO

Demolition Derby & Cowboy Boots

It's been a while since I have posted!  I am officialy BACK IN FAYETTEVILLE!!! Woohoo!!! It has been a LONG six months being in Cabot, but I did have some quality time with my parents :)  It was a little sad leaving yesterday because I know my mom worries so much about me being up here all by myself and crippled!  

Last night,  Brad, Jon, Kristin and I all went to the demolition derby.  I had never been before.  The cars just run into each other!  I didn't think I would like it, but I actually did!  It's pretty fun just seeing lots of cars demolish each other.   There are some REDNECK people that go to those things!  I definitely saw my share of mullets... gross.  After that, much to Brad's enjoyment, we went to Chili's since it was the only restaurant open at 11 pm.  

Today was Church and lunch and I am waiting on Brad to get home from reffing so we can go to buy him some new Cowboy boots.  YAY!

Well have a wonderful Sunday :)

XOXO

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day!  Everyone should go give their mom a hug :) My sisters and I cooked my mom lunch today when she got home from church.  It was a nice surprise for her to not have to cook for lunch.  We also made a really good strawberry cake.  For the longest time strawberry cake was the only kind of cake Shannon would ever eat, so we have like a million recipes for strawberry cakes.  Well fast forward many years and now I am dating a man who LOVES strawberry cake.  Have I ever made him one?  No, I always forget he likes them and me I am more of a chocolate girl.  But I promised I would make him one before he leaves for camp.  Lets hope I remember!

Tomorrow is the big day! My four month checkup at my doctor.  I am very excited and somewhat anxious.  I am just so ready to get to start walking again, but at the same time I know that it's gonna take a lot of patience and pain before I will be able to just run around everywhere!  Still, I am hoping my doctor says "no more crutches".  Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Now I am moving on to a topic that has been driving me absolutely crazy.  Jon & Kate Plus 8.  I really hope Jon didn't cheat on Kate, but if he did I think Kate is handling everything with class and I really just wish people would leave her alone.  The blogs that some people write and comment on about Kate are just mean and hurtful.  Personally, I think all of these people are jealous of her.  I hope they can get things straightened up and Jon can grow up and learn to be a man.  He shouldn't put himself in compromising situations in the first place.

I went to my uncle's wedding yesterday and it was gorgeous.  Amy (his wife) looked fabulous!  The reception was at the Peabody, and it was the nicest reception I have been at.  The drinks were strong, and the food delicious :)  Champagne, however, doesn't have so great of a taste after a while of toasting.  hah!  

Well I've got a busy day ahead of me, but I hope you all have a lovely Sunday :)

XOXO