Brain Dead...

Ok, yes, the title of this post may be a bit morbid. Ok, yes, "a bit morbid" may be an understatement.

Like most college kids I'm and have been on quite a lengthy break. Now do you get the post title? Yup thats right, no school means significantly less THINKING. My brain, has been "resting" is that a more user friendly term? It. Has. Been. Wonderful.

I am going to be honest. This last semester was rough. I had a whole new school. A new living environment, which happened to be more difficult to adjust to than people thought, and continues to be. "Unfriendly" classes, just a lot of change. We all are well aware on how I fare with that stuff. In another post I went over my frustrations, that was only in the first few weeks of school. I'm afraid the frustrations just continued to mount. Only after being home for break for 48 hours did my mom say, "Jess I think you're starting to decompress." True statement right there.

One class in particular, Algebra, my nemesis I have decided. Again I'll be honest, I was praying for my D, and oh did I rejoice when I received it. My mind is not a Math mind. I can do my basics, the necessities- the rest-well just leave me alone. I would love to do words and letters all day long, but numbers, no way jose. This class was a rainy cloud. I was constantly worried if I was going to pass. I just kept praying to pass. I studied for hours to no avail. It was so frustrating for me, I felt like I couldn't do anything right. Senor Smarty Pants,(aka Math Mastermind) passed some advanced Calculus class last year at CSU with an "A" and said it was easy. He tried so hard to study with me and help me wrap my mind around it. Without him I may have not received my "D."

This is my first "D." While I am thankful I passed it is not my shining moment. In a list of A's and B's, it is somewhat hard to swallow seeing it on my transcript. But, it could be worse. I have a weakness and it is shown loud and clear on that paper. I must remember, however, I PASSED. I could say that all day long! I PASSED I PASSED I PASSED! I. PASSED. COLLEGE. ALGEBRA. The weight is off, PRAISE THE LORD! It was something I honestly wasn't sure I could do. There were times when I was just sure that this one class was going to keep me from graduating college.

I have quite a while left in school. This accomplishment has left me renewed and refreshed, after I decompressed and went brain dead, of course. During this break there have been long stretches of not leaving the house and not changing my clothes. Too much info? Too bad. It took some coaching to make my mind and my hands even type this organized and ligament of a blog post! A ski trip and some fresh mountain air helped tremendously as well. I am ready to take on this next semester next week. I know I can do it. I am just praising the LORD I don't have to go back to Alegebra and that I have a few more days to be...........yup you guessed it. :)

Blessings!

Miss Muffin...Peanut-butter Banana

 Got brown bananas?

Time to banana bread or muffins!

I decided on muffins...but we didn't have any chocolate chips so I substituted with Peanut-Butter chips. I love eating bananas with peanut-butter on them so I figured this would work and the boys assured me it would be fine! And OH it was! YUM!

Blessings!

The Nikon!

Senor Smarty Pants had me perplexed.

He didn't ask for a Christmas List from me.

He never even asked for a suggestion.

Senor Smarty Pants was very confident in his gift choice.

He was done weeks before the holiday..shocking...

He wrapped an empty box to throw me off. 

But when I got the real deal...in it was...a new CAMERA

A Nikon, COOLPIX S8100-if that means anything to anyone.

A wonderful camera, one that takes beautiful pictures, that don't even really need edited.

This camera has so many tricks that Senor Smarty Pants has read up on. 

I needed this camera and I'm so impressed by his thoughtfulness and research!

And what did he say when I opened the box and was surprised? "It has 2 year Geek Squad Advanced Protection Coverage." :) Thank you Senor Smarty Pants!

Blessings! 

Melancholy...

Well the holidays are over. I love the holidays, and I'm always in a bit of a funk when they are over. The house looks empty when the decorations are all put away. I miss the glow of the Christmas tree and the lights outside. I just feel...Melancholy. With so much joy, color, and fun around during so much of December, the first few weeks of the new year seem to just be kinda...blah for me. When I was young I used to dread the day mom would put the decorations away. She actually started doing it while I was at school so I couldn't whine while she did it. I just love the holidays so much. It was crazy hard for me to change the background of the blog! It was just so stinking cute! I'm a firm believer in leaving the decorations up until after New Years, but to soften the blow I found a lovely background with mountains and SNOW! So excuse my mood if it comes through on my blogging. I'm just missing the holiday season. :)

Blessings!

2011

Happy New Year! :)


Blessings!

Christmas Marathon...

Well the official Christmas days are over. But I still have two more Christmas' to get through! One with my mom's side of the family and one with another side of Senor Smarty Pants family. The Christmas season is more like a marathon! But the last two days were wonderful. I have decided Christmas Eve is my favorite. The anticipation, coziness, and beautiful crisp winter night, makes this night indescribable. Christmas lights are on, our church looks stunning, the stars shine bright, its just such a special night in so many ways. I hope you all had a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Blessings!

...And Look For The Lord To Be At His Door...

Christmas Guest

By: Reba McEntire 

It happened one day near December's end

Two neighbors called on an old friend

And they found his shop so meager and lame

Made gay with a thousand bows of green

And Conrad was sittin' with face ashined

When he suddenly stopped as he stiched a twine

And he said "Oh friends at dawn today

When the cock was crowin' the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

And said 'I'm comin' your guest to be.'

So I've been busy with feet astir

And strewin' my shop with branches of fir

The table is spread and the kettle is shined

And over the rafters the holly is twined

Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear His step

As He nears my humble place

And I'll open the door and look on His face"

So his friends went home and left Conrad alone

For this was the happiest day he'd known

For long since his family had passed away

And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas day

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best

So he listened with only joy in his heart

And with every sound he would rise with a start

And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he'd had a few hours before

So he ran to the window after hearin' a sound

But all he could see on the snow-covered ground

Was a shabby begger who's shoes were torn

And all of his clothes were ragged and worn

But Conrad was touched and he went to the door

And he said "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that'll keep you warmer too"

So with grateful heart, the man went away

But Conrad noticed the time of day

And wondered what made the Lord so late

And how much longer he'd have to wait

When he heard a knock he ran to the door

But it was only a stranger once more

A bent ol' lady with a shawl of black

With a bundle of kindlin' piled on her back

She asked for only a place to rest

But that was reserved for Conrad's great guest

But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away

Let me rest for awhile on Christmas day"

So Conrad brewed her a steamin' cup

And told her to sit at the table and sup

But after she left he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were slippin' away

And the Lord hadn't come as He said He would

And Conrad felt sure he'd misunderstood

When out of the stillness he heard a cry

"Please help me, and tell me where am I!"

So again he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

It was only a child who'd wandered away

And was lost from her family on Christmas day

Again, Conrad's heart was heavy and sad

But he knew he should make the little girl glad

So he called her in and he wiped her tears

And quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door

He knew the Lord was not comin' today

For the hours of Christmas had passed away

So he went to his room and he knelt down to pray

And he said "Dear Lord, why did You delay?

What kept You from comin' to call on me?

For I wanted so much Your Face to see"

When soft in the silence, a voice he heard

"Lift up your head, for I kept my word

Three times my shadow crossed your floor

And three times I came to your lonely door

I was the begger with bruised, cold feet

And I was the woman you gave somethin' to eat

I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and three times I came in

And each time I found the warmth of a friend

Of all the gifts love is the best

And I was honored to be your Christmas guest."

Blessings on this blessed day!