No Really, LET IT SNOW!!

It is December 13th and the current temperature is sixty-one degrees. This is kind of crazy. We're had highs this week of seventy-five degrees. How are you supposed to get into the Christmas spirit when you're too busy sweating your socks off? No, literally, I've contemplated wearing flip-flops all week! It's supposed to snow this weekend, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Swimming may have improved my lung capacity, but I refuse to test it on Tennessee's idea of "snow".

Sam and I are headed to Asheville this weekend with the puppy to visit my Jenny Lynn! I can't wait! She's got a pretty little baby bump! I'm excited for her. Eva had her baby. Gorgeous little Jayda was born Friday, November 30th. Eva, Jay and the baby are doing well. Life has certainly brought unexpected blessings to their lives.

Life is going really well here. My relationships are truly developing into something beautiful. While I love my family and can't wait to spend the holidays with them, I am finding myself heartbroken at the idea of leaving my Tennessee family for a week. It comforts me to know that Jax will take good care of Sam while I'm gone. :)

Jax... Oh me, oh my! He's almost seven months old and a complete terror. I love him to pieces! He has not destroyed anything in the house, which is a miracle considering he's a boxer puppy. He's absolutely gorgeous! We registered him with the AKC. He is officially Jax Rian Romanov. Within the next few months, we will start showing him. We want to see how he does in shows before we consider breeding him. If he's not the perfect picture of a boxer, we don't want to hurt the breed. I am not worried about that, tho! He meets all the standards and has the perfect temperament! Sam is fascinated with the dog and constantly comments on how big he's getting. At the age of six and a half months, he weighs 43 pounds and continues to grow... We're looking at a future BIG DOG! :)

My first grad class is complete. I had my final on Tuesday night. Overall, the class went well. I hope that the rest of my grad classes are a bit more of a challenge. Next semester, I intend to take three grad classes. I will also be working full time. I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I love a challenge. I also want to graduate with my Masters by May of 2009. This can only happen if I bust my butt. It's worth it to me.

Well, that's a pretty decent update. I suppose that's all for now. I'll be back eventually to contribute to this again. I hope you all have a blessed holiday! Merry Christmas!

What Do You Get When You Mix a Snarl With a Smile?

A smarl? I have every reason to be happy, but I'm grumpy right now. I need to just get over it...It doesn't help being sick, but still. Test-run tonight. We'll see how that goes. Pray for me...

It's Been a Long While

I think I stated earlier that I'm not always the best at keeping up with journals of any sort. Point in case...

Life is really great right now. I am so glad that I moved to Knoxville! God has big plans for me here, but I admit I'm struggling a little bit in getting motivated.

The Brackneys have moved back to Michigan. That breaks my heart. Sarah, Sydney and Landen were like my nieces and nephew. I babysat for them for the last time in TN on Tuesday. Landen has a perfect record for going to bed pleasantly. That child is going to be the most laid back, funny kid on the planet. The girls are gorgeous and, with any luck, they will be as spunky and awesome as April and Miss Rita.

I have a new addition to my family! Three and a half weeks ago, I got a beautiful little boxer puppy. His name is Jax Rian! He's the cutest thing ever! Sam and I agreed to get a dog. He has a house and no one else to share the space. What better to complete his redneck personality than a big tough dog?! Actually, Jax is a big push over. He's very smart and we're having a great time training him.

Sam, Jax and I are headed to Michigan this weekend! I'm so excited! We're going to spend time teaching Jax how to swim at Grandma and Grandpa's. Then, Sunday, we're headed up to Mackinaw City with Mom, Dad and Dan. We're going to camp and then walk the Mackinaw Bridge on Monday! Sweet deal, yo! I'm pumped about being back in Michigan. It's been too golldarn hot here!

Well, back to work... Of course things pick up right when I'm getting ready to go to lunch... Alas...

Faith Without Deeds

Sometimes life takes a little more strength than we alone possess. That’s where God, family and friends come in. I’m not implying that my life is at such a point that I am struggling to cope. By no means am I in that place. I wonder what would happen if I got to that place? Would I admit my weakness and ask for help? I’m not sure… But I digress…

Lately, I’ve been feeling some tugs on the heart strings. I’ve got questions about love and commitment that I have no answers for. Surprisingly, my little sister has been a great help in this department. How can she be so wise?! Amazing! With patience and reliance on God, I’m sure things will pan out how they’re supposed to. However, I keep coming back to those sermons about faith without deeds. What am I supposed to be doing and what would be forcing things? Becky has her own opinions on this, but I have not formulated my own yet. Time… It seems like I’ve already given so many years of my time to this, so what’s a little more? :)

I had an amazing weekend! I went camping and whitewater rafting with Jenny and her family. It was fantastic! I think I would love being a river guide. Water, sunshine, outdoors, a good workout. Sounds like an awesome summer!! We’ll see. Some of that depends on those heart strings, I suppose.

Steph’s coming into town today! I’m excited! I think I’m going to chart how many different states I touch in the year 2007. Thus far, I’ve hit AR, TN, OH, KY, MI and NC. Today, I’m hitting GA. In July, I’m going to be in CO and I might hit up VA this summer. Eventually, I’ll get down to AL to see Luke and FL to see Reggie and Sarah. Friday marks the one year anniversary of me inheriting Balls (my car). By Friday, I will have put about 25000 miles on him. I love that traveling!

Oh How Things Have Changed

I went to a wedding this weekend. The wedding of a guy that I was super close to during our first semester at Harding. We were road trip buddies and confidants. Rachel is a lucky girl! God is going to bless the two of them in amazing ways in their lives together!

It got me to thinking, tho. Big surprise. Being around Harding people has caused me to be very thoughtful as of late. So much has changed since we all started at Harding. We have changed, situations have changed, Harding has changed, and relationships have changed. Some friendships have grown so strong they will never be broken. Other relationships that started so strong have become strained. I've been blessed to have relationships coming out of college that I know are everlasting. God has been very good to me.

Jesus is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That relationship is a constant, although at times, one-sided. What a comfort.

I'm going camping and white water rafting this weekend! I am so pumped! I'm going with a family that I've known since I was born. Jenny and I have been friends since birth. Well, since my birth, since she's six months older than me. That's why I'm Jenny 2. This is just one of those friendships that no amount of time could ever cause it to disappear. Rock on! I am so excited!!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend, kids! Let's remember what this weekend is all about. Monday is not about a day off work, but rather a time to reflect on all those that have done so much to make our lives as amazing as they are! God bless!

That Vitamin C Song

When I was in high school, that Vitamin C song about moving on but being friends forever came out. They would play it a lot around graduation. Now, with Harding's graduation upon us, I've got that song stuck in my head. I can't believe a bunch of my friends are graduating this weekend. We're all growing up so quickly. I was thinking about high school last night and the memories I made then. It seems like it wasn't that long ago. However, in between those memories and now are all the memories I made in college. I still find it hard to believe that I've graduated and I'm out on my own now. It just kind of sneaks up on you, you know? My chest gets a little tight thinking about it sometimes. Obviously I'm ready for it, because I'm surviving, but it's still strange to think about.

I'm looking forward to being back at Harding this weekend. It's been over two months since I've been there. I miss the people there so much! They are my closest friends. It's so different in Knoxville. Harding really is a bubble. Don't get me wrong, I loved every second of it. It's just so different here. Each atmosphere has its benefits and it's frustrations.

Pray for all those people who are now faced with "the rest of their lives." This can be a very intimidating time. God is good and He'll direct their paths. I'll see all of you Knoxville folk when I get back. Searcy, here I come!


P.S. Heather's last day is today... Buhrn on being the only college aged girl in the office... I'm going to miss her! But there will be many a trip to Podunk, North Carolina! :)

Thoughts on Life

Life is a complicated and beautiful thing. There are many things that confuse us, things that thrill us and things that hurt us. Yet, for the most part, people love life. How strange. The things that mean the most to us are often the things we don't understand. God loves us. He gave his only Son to die on the cross for us. His love gives us joy. His love creates a hurt in us, although the pain is different for everyone. To me, God's love confuses me. Yet, I cannot imagine my life without it. To be honest, there would be no point to life without God's love.

Recently, the son of one of the family's at church was in a bad accident. I have become very close to this family in my four months here and this accident hit me hard. Talking to Chele and hearing her pain was terrifying to me. Josh is going to be ok, but something like this will inevitably affect you. I thought of this situation like it was one of my family members in the accident. Life is fragile. You never know what might happen. Look at Job. He lost EVERYTHING! We are all in God's care, but He does not necessarily shield us from pain. He promises to be there to hold us while we hurt. God is holding that family and all of us who were affected by this event. If you think about it, please pray for that situation.

I have also started to question the trials in my life. I am blessed with a good family. However, like all families, we have our issues. In the past few weeks, some hard facts and topics have come to the surface. Again, we go back to the fact that the things you love the most are the things that hurt the most. We are limping through it. Regardless of the pain, I love my family and would give anything for them. I know that God is good and we will overcome these hardships, only to be made stronger in the end.

There are other things that I've been thinking about, but they are not as pressing. Something about a biological clock (lol) and an occasional sense of loneliness. These things will be dealt with in time, with patience and God's direction.

Have a blessed week! In light of the season (YAY, GRADUATES) learn to embrace change and look for the blessings in every challenging situation!