Miss Gracie Ruth was born at 2:20 this morning, June 6th, 2012.  Apparently, (from what I've been told) at my mom's doctor. appointment yesterday, her blood pressure was high, so they had her go to the hospital, where she waited till about 10 at night or a little after, till the doctor came and broke her water.  And at 2:20 in the morning, Gracie greeted this world.  Her blood sugar was low at first, but they gave her some formula, and that got her blood sugar back up, and it seems that it will stay up.  Dad and us kids went down to visit Mom and Gracie this afternoon, which was nice.  She is the most adorable little baby girl.  6 pounds, 11 ounces, and 18 and 3/4 inches long, a petite little thing.  She's so tiny and beautiful.  So thankful for our family's newest little blessing and bundle of joy and happiness.  :)

 

Sooo, I am now a red head.  My Aunty Lynn dyed it red for me the other day.  She also gave me a hair cut.  I am quite pleased with this....I happen to love red heads.  I also happen to have a job now.  I work in a deli at a little market 7 minutes from my  house.  I've been working there for over a month now.  It's a part time job, and I work the closing shift.  Although there are many times when I complain about it and don't want to go to work, it's really a good job and for the most part, I enjoy it.  I work late afternoons and evenings, usually 3-9, although sometimes it's 4-9 or 2-9.  I also work weekends.  I work 5 days a week, with two days off, and usually Thursdays and Fridays are my days off.  I make sandwiches, like a good little woman...hehe.  I'm pretty sure all my co workers think I'm very weird and basically a prude, because I don't date and I don't swear (amongst other things).  However, my co workers are pretty cool and I get along well with them.  My best friend, Colettey, is now home from college and traveling/vacation.  I am quite happy about that.  She is currently, as I blog, sitting with Danny, with Jackson torturing her by tickling her.  It's amusing, to say the least.  We are still awaiting the birth/debut of Little Miss Penelope.  She'll be here, any day now.  In fact, it could even happen this evening.  The doctor instructed Mom to rest and walk a lot this afternoon and then call him at 7 tonight.  He may decide to have her come in to the hospital tonight and break her water, to start the process of the birth.  She was having contractions last night and I thought that it might be the night, but they ended up going away after a while.  (I was also up till 2 in the morning, because I couldn't sleep, due to having had sweet iced tea at dinner, being in pain, being excited about the possibility of the baby coming, as well as having insomnia.....this evening at work is going to be fun....since I"ll be so tired).  We all eagerly await the arrival of our newest addition to our family.  A name has been chosen for Miss Penelope, but I shan't blog about her name until after her birth.  Just because.  Anyways.  I just thought that I should update my poor neglected blog.  I'll update again when Penelope shows her face.  Life right now is beautiful and wonderful.  :) TTFN. 

I be a weird one.....it's fun.

I'm a complex person. My entire being is intricate. I have an very 'different' style....much to my best friend's chagrin. A lady of style, she always appears put together and fashionable. Me....well, I don't. if I'm tired or not feeling well, I will emerge out of the house in a sweater and yoga pants, tucked into my black comfy Ugg boots. Today, I wore my teal sweater with a golden design on the front, my blue jeans, and knee high brown suede boots. I even styled my hair and put make up on. I actually looked put together and nice and I think even my friends of fashion would have approved. Another day this week, I'll probably be wearing my hot pink pants with a wild design on them. My style is all over the place. It's unique, weird, and....different. Perhaps it's unfashionable. But frankly, I don't care. I wear what I feel like wearing. I look like I feel like looking. I walk barefoot in town. I dye my hair with Kool Aid. I sing loudly and off key, where ever I go. I yell 'Poop!' when things don't go my way. I constantly am making noises. I burp...loudly. I alternate from listening to a rap song to a southern gospel song. When I'm angry, I scream and yell. When I"m sad, I vent to a friend and eat ice cream. When I'm happy, I shout for all the world to know. I laugh very loudly. I talk loudly too. I say awkward things. I do awkward things. I hold peoples hands. I paint my toe nails lime green. When I eat food, I take large bites. I chew my gum loudly. I wrestle with my brothers. I go swimming in the lake with my siblings. I leave the house with my hair unbrushed sometimes. I drink pickle juice. I dance in the rain. I walk barefoot in the snow. I stomp in puddles. I talk to myself in the mirror. I watch Korean dramas with subtitles. I chase turkeys. I inspect mens beards. I wear mismatching socks. It's who I am. I like being different. I like being weird. I like being unique. I don't want to be something else. I don't want to be someone else. I have fun being weird. I have fun being me. When you stop caring about what you look like, how you look, how other people see you....life is more fun. Really. I stopped caring and started living live with full abandon, arms wide open, with passion and color. I think that's how God wants us to live. (While living in Him and obeying Him and such like, of course). Life is short, folks. Live it to the fullest.

Random pictures

Heh. Today I looked at a bunch of old (well, not really old, only a year or two old) pictures. And so I selected a few and put them on here. Cause I'm cool like that. I love my life.

Gluten, Birthdays, and Cars

My poor little blog. You've been so neglected. I apologize. It's tumblr's fault, really. I shall try to post a bit more frequently. No promises though. The last couple of months have been interesting. I have gone through so many different emotions. Hmm...I must be a girl, lol. I'll start out with my sickness story.

I have been feeling unwell for quite a while now, probably 3 or 4 years. It started with a case of mononucleosis. Then I started having stomach problems. My stomach would bother me whenever I ate. It was only occasional and slight at first, but slowly got worse. When I went away to college, I found that every time I ate something, my stomach would hurt. I would curl up on my bed and sit there waiting for the pain to go away. I thought maybe it was just the cafeteria food. When I came home in December, I was hoping it would get better. However, it didn't. My stomach continued to hurt after I ate and joints would hurt, my muscles would ache, and my entire body would constantly ache. The last couple of months I've been exhausted and in pain. I would sit in my brother's chair (I kidnap it during the week while he's at school, hehe) with my heating pad, curled up, wishing the pain and fatigue would go away. My mom started thinking that maybe it was a food allergy. She suggested maybe I had a gluten intolerance. I happen to have a lot of symptoms of Celiac Disease. I even was given a blood test for Celiac Disease last year. However, it came back negative. But we decided that it wouldn't hurt to go off of gluten for a while and see if it made me feel better. At that point, I was willing to try anything. So, I went off of gluten a little less than a month ago. At first, there wasn't much of a change. But after about two weeks, I started feeling much better. My stomach didn't hurt and my aches were gone, for the most part. To test and make sure that it really was the gluten, I started eating it again last Friday and Saturday. Yeah.....it was gluten. My body is still trying to get that gluten out of my system, even though I haven't eaten any gluten since Saturday. Talk about a high maintenance stomach........sheesh. I am having a hard time saying goodbye to gluten, however, I am very happy that I figured out what was making me sick. I am very glad to not have to be curled up in a chair, cuddling with my heating pad and moaning in pain, trying not to cry. I can give up gluten if it means feeling normal again. My mom made me gluten free raman noodles today for lunch and I made gluten free flourless peanut butter cookies for snack today! It made me very happy.

Let's see. What else? Between now and the last time I blogged, I turned 20. I feel rather old now. My birthday celebration was a splendid thing. My grandparents came up, as did Omi, and Colette was home for spring break and so was able to come. There was a splendid feast, that involved lasagna and garlic bread. It was right before I went off of gluten so I was able to eat it. I got awesome white lace shoes, jewelry, candy, and money. Colette, Danny, and Nick took me to a Christian music concert the night before, as my birthday present, which was splendid and tons of fun. Later on, after my grandparents had left, my friend Kevin came over. He moved away recently, but he was back in town that weekend, so was able to come. He gave me a 'Mer' bumper sticker! Guys....it's pretty awesome! I'm just saying. We had banana splits instead of cake, and they were scrumptious. We also made Colette play Halo, which was amusing. Annnd we spent a lot of time tickling Colette....because that's always fun. It was a splendid birthday celebration. I loved it. On my actual birthday, my mom took me shopping...there were clearance racks.....I came home with lots of clothes and two pairs of shoes. I just love clearance racks.... :)

Last Saturday, my Dad and I went car shopping. We spent the whole day looking at cars and making phone calls, with no luck. Finally, on our way back home, we stopped to look at one last car. This car was actually nice. We continued home, to think about it, got home, and decided that that was the car to buy. So my dad called the guy up and gave him an offer, we ate a quick dinner, and then we headed back down to buy the car! This car is an Oldsmobile 88....and it is splendid! Sebastian is the perfect first car. His seats are like sofas. So comfy. He is so spacious and roomy inside. And he's not an ugly color...he's a nice light blue/gray color. Let's just say that I'm quite attached. Sebastian and I are going to be good friends....in fact, we already are. He went to the repair shop to have his emergency brake fixed today. So, now, he's in great shape.

Weeelp, I have run out of things today. I shall be back soon to blog again, hopefully.

Oh...one more thing.......it keeps raining and snowing......doesn't the weather know that it's SPRING?! I am ready for winter to be over.....that is all. TTFN.

New Baby!!!

I know I already mentioned the newest little blessing, but I figured she deserved a post of her own! Yes....that would be a 'she'! We have found out that the little one is going to be a girl. She's due in June. Jackson was hoping for a boy, so when informed that it was going to be a girl, he was slightly disappointed....but he got over it quickly. Words can not describe how happy and excited I am for this baby sister! I am so thankful and grateful to the Lord for blessing our family with her! I have a large online folder full of do it yourself projects for the little girly. Yes.....I plan on spoiling her.....immensely! I am calling her 'Penelope' as of right now, till she is given her real name. So, from now on, I shall refer to the little dumpling/baby girl as Penelope. Please pray for my mom and the baby's health, safety, and protection. :)

"You're not going back!?"

Another new development that took place over Christmas break was the fact that I decided to not return to CBU for the spring semester. After much prayer and consideration, I deemed it best to not go back to college, at least for now. Although I have learned and grown a lot during my time at CBU and have enjoyed being there, I feel that God is now calling me back home. I know that God has a plan for me and my life and I know He will reveal it to me in His good and perfect timing. I look forward to my new adventure, here at home, as a stay at home daughter. I look forward to watching God unfold His plan for me as well. However.....there are many people who disagree with my decision....and find it insensible and overall, not a good plan at all. These people seem to find that college is the only way. They may readily agree that college isn't for everybody, but as a blogger that my mother follows states, what they really mean when they say that is that : "There are people who are only good enough for menial labor. They, of course, wouldn't benefit from a college education and are too poor to afford it anyway." This woman continues to state that such an outlook on college is pure snobbery. "There are bright, hard working, intelligent, intellectually stimulating people who don't belong in college, either, if what they want to do in life can be done without a degree, if the college education available to them is going to put them in debt for 20 grand but the job they want to get with that won't pay well enough, or the field is saturated to the point that it will make it hard to find a job that can pay the bills with college loans tacked on, or if the 'education' at that college will really only substitute an indoctrination for an education." I would highly recommend reading her 2 posts on college.
http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2012/01/college-counting-cost-continued.html
However, I digress. As I was saying, many people seem to find my decision as, well, stupid. I am so tired of having people come up to me and basically ask me while I"m still around in town, and, once I reply that I'm home for good, as of right now, and am not returning to college, for a while at least, look shocked and horrified. "You're not going back!? Oh no! Why?!" It's as if I am in a distressed, distraught, awful predicament, because I'm not returning. I want to be home. I feel that GOD want's me to be home right now. And there is nothing wrong with not going to college! I did not decide to stay home and be a stay-at-home-daughter just because I was homesick. I did not make this decision because the classes were too difficult. I did not make this decision because I'm lazy or stupid. On the contrary, although I did miss my family, I loved the people around me at CBU and being there; I found the classes easy and really not that hard or challenging at all, and I got A's and B's in all my classes for the 3 semesters I was at CBU. I am not trying to brag, simply explaining that I am home now because I believe that the Lord called me home. I know people mean well, but I am so frustrated with this culture that finds college so important and necessary in life. This culture thinks that college is necessary for success in life. First of all, we aren't called, as Christians, to be successful. I just want to state that right away. We are called to glorify God. In fact, we are told in the Bible that, more likely than not, we will NOT be successful in this world, by the world's standards. College will equip me for a successful career. And for those who have a career in mind that they wish to go after and pursue, college is great for them and their goals. However, I am not interested in specific 'career'. I have nothing against college and loved my time at CBU. I don't find it wrong, in general, to attend college. That is between individuals and God. However, I hope, Lord willing, to be a wife and mother someday. How will college equip me to be a better wife and mother? How will college do the job of equipping me for wife and mother hood better than the home? What better place for me to grow than in the home? As another blogger that I came across states, "I am learning the things that will prepare me for marriage.(Lord willing) How many girls know how to pay bills, do their taxes, balance a checkbook, run a home or even just cook dinner while juggling laundry and everything else along with it?! But one of the things I love most is knowing the memories I am making with my family now, will be treasured for the rest if my life. Living in my father’s home is one of the safest and most protected feelings I could ever have. I would challenge every girl to consider staying at home instead of going the typical college route. Is being a stay at home daughter for everyone? No, I have no right to say you are wrong by going to college. That is between you, God and your parents. I will be the first to tell you that it’s not easy to live at home with your family after high school. But it will grow you in ways you never would have imagined. No one wants to be the odd man out (or woman) and believe me you will stick out like a sore thumb but it’s worth it. Every bad day and mean comment you get won’t compare to the joy and happiness you will find in embracing God’s best for your life.......College is a great option for some people but I don’t think God calls everyone to go and I don’t believe that is an inferior calling if He does not lead a person to further their learning in this way." Even if I don't get married, what I learn at home can carry over into my future life. Not only that, but I am ministering to my family, living here at home, helping them out. My baby brother repeatedly tells me he's glad I"m home. He makes me wrestle with him all the time and I do believe it is his intent to turn me into a full time wrestler. Eventually, I hope to go back to school near home. I hope to eventually take classes to become a Home Health Aide. I am sorry that people are disappointed in me and my decision to leave CBU, although I'm not sorry that I'm not returning. I'm sorry that this culture puts such an emphisis on college and college education. I am sorry people find other ways of education as unworthy and disgraceful. I am also sorry that people feel the need to show their feelings about college and education to me, when they hear that I am staying home. But I am very thankful and grateful for my God and for His guidance and love. Even when His plans don't' make sense to those around me, or even to me, they are still the best and smartest plans. All glory be to God.

Christmas Break, 2011 !

Oh ,my poor, little blog, you've been quite neglected, haven't you? Well, we shall remedy that right here and now, starting with a post about Christmas! I packed up my bags.....more like jammed them full.....(I don't travel light for Christmas Break, okay!)....and flew home on the 15th. Treana was so kind as to give me a ride to the airport, and Amanda accompanied us. Amanda (one of my roommates) was unable to return to CBU for the second semester of this school year and so that was my last day with her. It was nice that she got to stay for the weekend (she generally went home for the weekends) so as to visit with Treana and I before she left and we went on break. The flight was uneventful, other than the fact that I left my motion sickness pill at the scanning/security place and thus had to do without it. I sat inbetween an nice old man and a lady who seemed to be in her 30's, also nice. The middle seats were all that were left, so I chose to sit between those two, since they seemed nice. (I don't like being smashed between two strangers, okay?!) The lady was obviously sick with a cold though....so I tried to not breathe the air around her....a rather difficult task when sitting right next to her and her germ-y air. My daddy picked me up at the airport and then I was home. It was so good to be home and be with my family and friends. Before Christmas, my break consisted of sewing, crafting, and more sewing.....along with sleeping. I made my mom a nice neck wrap, and made several other rice heat packs for some friends as gifts. I also made my mom some nice smelling bath salt and some peppermint body scrub for Colette, *Jane*, and myself.

On Christmas Eve, we went to my Omi's house, a tradition we've done for......well, as long as I can remember. There was pizza, and lots of snacks! (the food is the best part, right?) My aunts and uncles and cousins on my dad's side were all there as well, and we had a nice time visiting. Then we opened presents, to the delight of all the kids. Eventually it was time to leave though, and we loaded up all our new Christmas 'loot' into the car, and headed home.

Christmas Day, we got up and opened stockings and presents! Yes, we are quite spoiled and blessed.....and we love it! Amongst the many gifts I received, I got five new books! Three and one half of them have been consumed with pleasure. After opening gifts, we had a delightful Christmas breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls and bacon. Once breakfast was over, however, the best surprise of the day came! My mom announced to us kids that we were going to have a new brother or sister!! Samantha, Rebecca, and I may or may not have screeched very loudly, squealed repeatedly, and jumped up and down with excitement. We are very. very. very. excited. Especially considering we didn't think there would be anymore bundles of joy in the house. The boys were (and are) excited too, but less animated in showing their excitement and pleasure. A mere 'that's cool' came from them. My favorite quote after the announcement was made? Rebecca asked my mom 'Is it going to be a baby?!". It was quite amusing (apparently, her thought train had been that we were going to 'adopt' a child, thus the question. However, it was still very funny! Jackson later on was known to ask if the baby was going to be black!). After the excitement, we puttered around, looking all of our presents over, and then headed down to my grandparent's house, to visit with my mom's side of the family! Once again, there was lots and lots of food (our family is food oriented, obviously. Well, and family oriented, as well). It was a lovely day, visiting with all of the family, and also informing said family about the baby. Us girl's took care of the baby announcing. We also found out that one of my cousins is pregnant as well. It was such a wonderful, blessed day and, in my opinion, the best Christmas ever!