Christmas this Year!

Wow...I nearly forgot about this. What with the rush and stress of finals, my mind was quite occupied. But I'm back!
Christmas time has come again! This is absolutely my favorite time of the year. I've come to appreciate Christmas even more since I started college. It's a welcome break from the ridiculous schedules and attempts to stay in touch with my social circle during the semster. And as my friends will know, I don't spend much time doing anything other than studying when I'm not on campus. We need to change that.
There are three things that I always look forward to during Christmas. First, Christmas music. I LOVE singing Christmas carols. That music makes me so happy! Especially now that I'm in college, it signals that there are only a few more weeks until break.
Second, I love going caroling with my friends. The past two years, I went with the youth group that my younger siblings attend. But this year, I'm going with my community theatre friends. I'm so excited! It's going to be a different experience alltogether, I'm sure.
Third, my family's annual Christmas cookie run. The three of us kids spend about two and a half days making and decorating cookies; and then, on the day before Christmas Eve (or Christmas Adam, as a good friend of mine calls it) and Christmas Eve, we go and deliver cookies to some of our friends. It's a fun time of bonding, hanging out, and just acting silly. And believe me, you haven't seen silly until you've seen us at five o'clock in the morning. It's great fun, especially when we get to talk with our friends after we deliver the cookies.
I am enjoying this break so much. You really have no idea. I've gotten so much time to work on one of my novels and to play video games. My little brother took me to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader for my Christmas present, and we spent the day Christmas shopping. I'm going to take my sister, who has been recovering from getting her tonsils out, shopping on Monday. The three of us have been enjoying hanging out and NOT doing school.
It's kind of strange to think that in a few years, I won't be living in this house anymore. Until I graduate, I don't plan on going far (and even after that, I won't ever be far from my mom), so I'm sure that the cookie tradition will continue.  I am so thankful that I have a family to spend Christmas with; a family that doesn't bicker or uninvite people to dinner. So above all, I'm remembering this Christmas first and foremost to remember the real reason for the season, and to enjoy my friends and family.
Merry Christmas!


"Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."

Dale Evans Rogers

As the Season Changes

So, here we find ourselves again, contemplating Christmas gifts and counting down the time until school is out for December.
But then I stop and think, "Wait, what happened to Thanksgiving??"
It was recently brought to my attention that people seem to overlook Thanksgiving a bit. Sure, it doesn't help that everyone is putting up Christmas trees and the street signs in town have been adorned with "Happy Holidays" signs. But really, shouldn't we wait until AFTER Thanksgiving for all of this?
I'm a traditional kinda gal. I eagerly await Thanksgiving day every year, not only for the food, fun, family, and fellowship (four Fs...I'll be a preacher yet), but for the official start in my house of Christmas. I pull out the Christmas music and start dreaming of egg nog. The day after Thanksgiving is, according to our family tradition, Christmas tree day. The day when we push past the chairs and cobwebs in the shed and pull out the tree, the ornaments that we made as children, and the beloved Christmas books. When I have a family of my own, I hope to carry on that tradition.
But it's probably going to be hard.
I've had this discussion with my parents and some of my friends, and I've heard some pretty interesting theories as to the omission of Thanksgiving.
My parents say that, since the recession, retail stores are trying to start the buying season earlier to try and make up for the revenue that they've lost. Granted, the only thing that you can really sell for Thanksgiving is food. (Here's a helpful tip from my mom, by the way: buy gifts all year around. It will save you the stress and the price hike come December.) But come on! Why are we forgetting about the Pilgrims?
I even heard the D.J.s on the radio having a friendly argument about whether or not it was too early to start playing Christmas music. Really?
If we keep starting the season earlier and earlier, then Christmas loses its spark. We look forward to Christmas because its special, because it only comes once a year. So I will proudly hold out until Thanksgiving night to pull out my Josh Groban Christmas C.D.
Well, now that I've gotten that out of the way...
I got to see the most AMAZING play last night! *Strange Snow* began its run last night at the community theatre, and it was fantastic! Everything about it, from the acting to the set was spectacular. And, of course, one of the best things about opening night...the reception afterwards!
At said reception, I met someone who is likely to be a good friend of mine. Finally! You meet so many people in college, but you don't really click with very many of them. My new friend just might be one of them. I love theatre people! I never feel awkward or out of place with them; and there's always someone that will talk to you.
Well, those are my thoughts for today! Hopefully I have enough inspiration and brain cells in a few days  to write again.

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."

What's a Prince Charming?

Remember that I said we were going to discuss guys?
Well, the time is now.
Oh, where to begin....?
First, why is it that the only guys who seem to talk to me are the ones that I wouldn't be with in a million years? I'm a ten, people. TEN! And, as my sister likes to say, you're not even on the scale. Look at you, and then look at me. I mean, I agree that you should aim high; but please, try for a more realistic goal.
Second, opening lines. Take a good look; these are the only things that I will answer to: my name, Miss, or Ma'am. DO NOT call "Hey baby" from afar and expect me to answer. DO NOT ask me for my number if I just met you. DO NOT keep talking to me after I ignore you.
Is that too much to ask?
I know that there are plenty of women who respond to that. But really, do I look like one of them?
Third, clothing. If you have to pull up your pants every two steps, even though you're wearing a belt, turn around and walk the other way. If you have to wear shorts beneath your shorts to avoid exposing yourself to the world, turn around. I understand that we're in college, and we want to be comfortable; but that doesn't mean that you should dress like you just got out of bed and grabbed a set of clothes that is five sizes too big.
Fourth, language. Please, please, PLEASE speak English when you talk to me! Proper English, not...whatever it is that you speak. I shouldn't have to decipher what you're talking about. Open your mouth. Speak clearly. Do not "holla" at me. Use your inside voice. Didn't your mother teach you this?
Okay, okay. I'll stop complaining.
So what should my ideal Prince Charming have?
I'll give you the abbreviated version, or else we'd be here awhile.
I am hoping and praying to find a guy who, first and foremost, loves God. Somebody who will be friends with me first, and not just because he wants to hook up later. (Don't get me started on friends with benefits.)
I want a guy who knows that he's not perfect, and is willing to learn and to change. A guy who knows what I have to offer, and who won't suppress my dreams. That's my Prince Charming.

I really want some comments on this one! Let me know what you think; and if you want to hear my thoughts on a specific subject, let me know!

"This is true love...you think this happens every day?"

It's Been One of Those Days...

You know those days when you wish that you could just stay in bed all day and shut out the world? I just had one of those days.
Is is too much to ask to let people sign up for classes next semester at a reasonable time? Is it too much to ask to give me a time to sign up when I'm not in class? ARGH! Why is this so stressful?????
Not only that, but I'm trying to decide what song to audition with for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the community theatre, and both songs that I've been listening to are really good. (I can be so indecisive sometimes...)
And the show that I was in over the summer is doing a shortened (tremendously) version of the show on November 18th, but our director's father got really sick and she can't be here, so our musician is taking over for her, and we haven't had a rehearsal yet....
Please stop the world, I want to get off.
And have you noticed that there are some days that certain people just work your nerve for no real reason???
Sigh.
Anyway...
Okay, I feel a little better now that I've vented. I also took a nap today, so that makes things better.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you wake up from a nap, you don't know who or where you are? I seriously woke up at 5:30 trying to figure out if I was late for class. Sad, I know.
And btw, I saw Gumby walking around campus today, and a friend of mine dragged me over so that she could get his autograph. Yeah. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I may know who was in that Gumby suit...
On a lighter note...my ankle is better! I still have a little restricted movement, but I'm not complaining. There's always somebody who's got it worse, right?
So someone asked me today, "Are you one of those homeschoolers? Why do you pay your taxes and then stay home?" I was trying to decided if I was offended.
I've been contemplating homeschooling lately. Depending on my career, I was considering homeschooling my kids. It worked for me, so it should work for them, right? But then I remember that every child is different. For example, my younger brother wasn't really cut out for homeschooling. He is one of those "social butterflies", who operates better with others around. I on the other hand, am very happy in my own company.
There are some friends of mine now whose parents home schooled them until about the ninth grade, and then put them into public school. That may be the route I choose. But again, it will depend on a lot of things; the child, my job(s), my spouse, where I live...
Yes, it may be kinda early for thinking about that kind of thing, but I'm one of those people who likes to plan ahead.
Well, those are my thoughts for today. My next post should be a lot lighter. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably. Yes, it will be lighter!


"You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

An Ode to the Nap (and Other Matters)

Today's blog is brought to you by the letter N. (No Niah, this has nothing to do with Bartholomew.) N stands for Nap! Honestly guys, I admit that I used to be one of those people who said, "Naps? Who needs a nap! Naps are for old people and babies!" I was wrong.
After succumbing to my sleepiness and taking a nap yesterday when I got home from school, I found myself marvelously refreshed. I didn't kill the particularly rowdy bunch of children at Bible Study, and I was later able to persevere through a particularly maddening Trig question on my homework.
What's that, you say? You're still not in favor of naps?
Well, then, put this in your pipe and smoke it:  all day today, I've been in the most wonderful of moods. I didn't nearly fall asleep in either of my classes, and everything seemed to make perfect sense. I've even been mapping out my hoped for daily schedule for next semester, and I'm about to start on some homework.
And a side note: my mom believes that it's the preacher in me that likes the whole idea of a nap. (Preacher nap? Get it?)
So anyway...what else did I want to mention...
Oh yes! The maddening fact that I can't sign up for classes until probably the week after next, while a freshmen friend of mine has already signed up. That rather irks me. Especially since, in theatre, there are some courses that are only taught once every other semester. So you HAVE to take them in a certain semester if you want to graduate on time (but since I'm a five year student, I suppose that it doesn't affect me as much...does it?)
Sigh.
All in all, it's really been a grand day. My ankle is almost completely back to normal, which makes me soooo happy. It's no fun limping across campus, let me tell you. And being a cripple is overrated. I mean, some people enjoy getting all of the attention and letting people do all of their work for them; but I'm not one of them. I'm Miss Independent. Don't ask to carry my stuff, don't try to do EVERYTHING for me.
I suppose that I should work on that before I get a husband who tries to be nice and sweet and then I snap at him...
Keep tuned, there's going to be an entry completely devoted to my feelings on men. Cue ominous music...
Antywho, that's what I've got for today. I hope that I've been entertaining!


 "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to."

My First Post!!!

So...this is what it feels like to blog! I've been told by a few friends that blogging is fun, and that I really should do it...and then I thought: I have a lot of things that I think about that it would be cool to share with others. So this shall be my forum!
Some warnings about me before you get hooked: I'm just a smidge nutty. A little more than a smidge. A lot more than a smidge. Okay, okay, I'm really nutty. But what fun would I be if I wasn't?
Now, the about me section. (I'm sorely tempted to just copy and paste from my facebook, but I'm not going to be lazy.) I'm a Sophomore in college, majoring in Journalism and Theatre. Yes, that means that I like to write and I'm very dramatic. In my line of work, that's sort of a job requirement. I'll explain: I'm a Kid's Pastor. If you can't be a bit dramatic sometimes, you'll loose the kids' attention really fast. I've been doing this for nearly eight years now; and I'll tell you, there's nothing more rewarding than seeing that light in a child's eye that says "Aha! I've got it!"
Let's see, what else...I plan to be a novelist when I grow up...and a Broadway star...and a movie star...
Since I'm a college student, I feel like life is sometimes going a million miles an hour. Soooo many things are hitting me from every single angle, and sometimes keeping my head straight is a challenge all in itself. Especially on finals week. Don't get me started on finals week.
But I'm so glad and thankful that I have a supportive family, friends, and, of course, God, to help me through this. I know that in a few years, when I've graduated, then I'll feel all the better about it.
So anyway... I guess that this is my first post!!! I'm sure that I'll be doing this a lot more, now that I know how fun it is!!!!

May the Force be with you!