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!