fall break is over

This past weekend was my Fall Break, Saturday until Tuesday. I headed home Friday after I was finished with class. Made it home about 4pm, then headed to Marion/Carbondale with mom. We were picking up things for the rehearsal dinner. I think we have finally decided on table decorations. I thought the food should be the most important part, but mom is utterly concerned with the decorations for the table. This is too simple, this is too fancy, that's tacky, etc. But I think we've reached a point where it doesn't matter.

Saturday morning, mom and I headed to Olney for Will's 4th birthday party. It was a Pirate Party! He looked so cute in his pirate outfit, complete with drawn-on mustache and beard, eye-patch, hook, sword, hat, parrot, and gun. It makes me think I want a Pirate Party for my birthday :) He got lots of pirate themed presents, especially from us, but he also got cowboy boots and spiderman and batman stuff. Fun kid now that he's started pre-school. He says the funniest things. I love being with my family, even if it was just for a few hours.

After the party, we came home for fish with dad and Jackie. Then Jackie, Erin, Cacy, and I rented the Hannah Montana Movie and watched it at the house. It was actually a decent movie and the male lead was rather good-looking. Then we called it a night. Funny how we always stayed up late when we were younger and now we just want to sleep.

Sunday, mom and I cooked breakfast at church for the bus kids. It was fun. I had forgotten how much I missed doing that. The kids were at cute as ever and very polite. It makes my day to see them and how their faces light up when we give them food. Church was good, Titus was in from Africa. He has a very powerful passion for God. It's amazing.

Sunday afternoon, mom, dad and I went to Karel Park in Eldorado for the Cowsert family picnic/reunion. Good food with family. I spent the majority of my time with my 6th grade cousin and her two friends. They are more fun than the old people. There was a new play thing that looked like a spider web, really cool and fun to play on. I felt like I was in 6th grade as well. I like feeling young like that. After the picnic, we went home and I took a nice long nap.

Monday, all three of us were off from school and work. We decided to go to Kentucky, crossing the river by ferry. We spent our time exploring the Amish Country around Marion, KY. It was fun to see all the Amish people. We bought lots of food, peanut butter fudge, molasses cookies, dried pineapples, yummy. We took the ferry back into Illinois and made a trip to Garden of the Gods. It was really crowded. Mom kept fussing at me to be careful and not slip in my slick shoes. Guess who ended up hurting themselves.... Mom. She missed a step down on the path and rolled her ankle. She is now in a boot brace thing. Other than that, it was a splendid day with my family. I really enjoy being with them and experiencing things like that.

Today, I woke up and packed up my things to come back to Evansville. I ate lunch with Jackie at Tequilas, where she left her retainers, haha. She's the greatest friend a girl could ask for. I'm so glad she's my best friend. After lunch, I went to see my mom in her boot :) Then it was off to the dentist for me. Just a regular cleaning, which I hate regardless. I have two small cavities that I have to get filled over Christmas Break. These breaks are beginning to be no fun if I have to go to the dentist every time. After the dentist appointment, I was Evansville-bound. Made it to Evansville in one piece. Proceeded to eat at Taco Tierra with Anna, because she was not wanting our campus food just yet.

That brings me to now. Just waiting to go to Bible Study at 9. Good break but its back to work now.

october already?!

October, where did you come from? August was just here the other day and gone so soon. Oh well, I'm loving the chilly weather. I wish it would stay like this forever.

School has been creeping by. Chemistry is getting better by the day. Lab is kicking my butt, but that is to be expected. I have days where I'm super lost and others where I know exactly what is going on. All my exercise science classes are going well. I really like them. They are helping me with my working out and eating better. Sociology is definitely not my favorite class, but I'm doing well in it. The journal I have to do is keeping me up to date with some things going on in the world and US.

I'm in a lot more clubs this year. Circle K, EXSS Club, PT Club, and I'm involved with SCF. They are sucking money right out of me, which I don't have a lot of at the moment. I'm really enjoying my clubs though. I didn't join EXSS or PT club last year, I'm not exactly sure why I didn't, I guess I was still shy and reserved last year.

On the money spectra, I have very little. I can't seem to get a job. The place I really wanted to work sent me a letter this week, saying they had hired someone else. I always want mail, but this mail could've stayed away. I'm hoping that some of the other places I applied will call this week wanting me for seasonal work. Not exactly what I want, but work is work. If all else fails, I'm going to call Shirley, a friend from church, who is the manager at Steak n Shake and hope she can get me a job. I guess fast food would humble me.

Reading through the Word is going well. We've read through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Matthew, Mark, and a little bit of Psalms. I'm really enjoying it. It doesn't take long to read everyday, and God is revealing Himself all the time. Tuesday nights are awesome, because we just talk about what God is saying to each of us. I really love the group I'm in. They are always encouraging and so much fun to be with. I'm glad I'm more involved with SCF this year. I have more Christian friends and I'm proud of the person I have become.

I got my last fitting for my bridesmaid's dress for Dane and Jean's wedding. It's just the right length now. Stinks when you're so short and always have to get things altered. There are only 55 days until the wedding. 54 until the rehearsal dinner, which mom is in charge of. She's a little stressed about the whole ordeal, but that's why she's got me and Jackie :) The shower is in two weeks from today. I should probably get them a gift soon. Actually I'll probably just put my name on the card from my parents, haha. I picked up my dress for Stephanie's wedding last Saturday. Her wedding is three weeks after Dane's. This is a very busy fall/winter for weddings. I've never been a bridesmaid before and now I'm in two weddings, ahhh. I guess I'll manage.

Well, I don't really have anything to do, but I think I'll go watch a movie.

Almost done with September

September is moving right along. Barely knew it was here and now its almost gone. And its officially fall as of today. Yay! I love the chilly weather, rain, changing leaves, crunchy leaves under my feet, soccer games. All the fun fall stuff :)

This past weekend was the Student Christian Fellowship Fall Getaway. We went to Lake Kum-Ba-Ya on Kentucky Lake. Saturday morning at 8 am was the time we left UE. I was extremely tired, but the drive there was fun with Becca driving and Jessica, Brittany, Hannah and I riding. We listened to old school Backstreet Boys and the Freaky Friday soundtrack. It was an awesome time bonding and spending time with them. We got there about 10:30 am-ish. We unloaded our stuff and just hung out for a little while. Then we had lunch and got changed for the wacky games we were going to play. I was on the "Fantastic 11" team. We did the dizzy bat race and the passing of the vasoline covered watermelon and the water/spitting game and the egg toss and canoe races. I had a blast! Then I laid on the dock with some friends and just chilled, talked and whatnot. After free time was dinner, which was yummy chili. Then we had a message from our leaders, Mark & Trevor, from UE and the leader, Don, from USI. It was good. They talked about John 15, the vine and the branches. I realized I need to be sharing Jesus with everyone I come in contact with. I can't be afraid and shy, but bold and full of confidence from God. After the message was campfire time, which was in a fireplace under a pavilion because it was raining. Still had the same effect. Had some s'mores. Played all the silly games that no one hardly ever gets, like "the green glass door", "sticks", "the string", "the cup". I got most of them, but its so much thinking and it takes a little while to get them. We used to play them when I was younger at LCC, but I didn't get them then, haha. After campfire time, we pulled mattresses from the cabins and slept under the pavilion for the night. It was nice and soothing, because it was raining awfully hard. 8 am wake-up call Sunday morning, with yummy breakfast of yucky (lucky) charms & a banana. Then a long drive home, which I slept for most of. It was an awesome weekend to just get away from school and all other distractions, and truly focus on God. I wish it could happen every weekend. I just need to spend more time with God regardless, He'd like to hear more from me I'm sure :)

Classes this week have been well so far. Nothing too major. Just a couple of quizzes in Chemistry and Chem Lab that confused me, but nothing too big. Lab today was super easy and I loved it, I now remember why I liked chemistry in high school. The stuff we had been doing wasn't what I remembered as chemistry. My EXSS classes are going well, nothing much going on different. I have to run 1.5 miles tomorrow for my 111 class, should be an interesting time. I have been running Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but I don't know if I can do 1.5 miles. We'll see. I was supposed to have an IM soccer game tonight, but it got cancelled because of the rain. I love playing soccer, but the rain today was soothing and nice.

I have been searching for a job recently. I have applied at many places in Evansville, but nowhere seems to want to hire me. Today I applied online at Kohls and I'm filling out my application for Vertical EXcape, the rock-climbing gym. I would really like to work there, so we'll see. Today while driving around looking for all stores with "NOW HIRING" signs, I got very discouraged and upset. I feel as though I will never get a job, because I don't have hardly any work experience. I know you have to start somewhere, but I can't start anywhere because I have no experience. Tell me how that works. I also got homesick, because I haven't been home in while and I miss my best friends and parents and brother and almost sister-in-law and grandparents and friends. I saw my parents on Friday night, but its not the same as seeing them all the time. I haven't seen Jackie in forever, but I will this weekend. Mom and Jackie are coming for "Family Weekend" here at UE. So, I'll get to spend time with them then, but Friday seems forever away at this moment. I guess I'll have to lift my chin and push on through this week.

Well, I need to work on some things before I go to Bible Study :)