Hello Xanga friends!

Well...life is crazy!  Since everyone thinks I've fallen off the face of the planet, I thought I'd update and give a little FYI on the latest news.

The week before school started this semester, I decided to go back to school and get my teaching certification since I already had a Spanish degree and couldn't seem to find a job.  OBU wasn't really an option since my "fixed rate" tuition ended when I graduated in May...so, I had to hop across the ravine to Henderson (don't worry, I haven't converted!) where I've been taking 19 hours of Education courses.  It's been the most hectic and awful semester of my life with those 19 hours of school, plus 2 part time jobs----I never breathe or see people or anything---ridiculous!  It's been madness....but only for 3 more weeks!  Then...if all goes well...I'll student teach in the spring and be finished in May.  But...that's a whole 'nother issue because everything went haywire with taking the Praxis II this past weekend---I was registered, but they never sent my admission ticket even though I called and e-mailed and begged, so I had to take it on stand-by and I only got into 2 of the 3 tests I needed....blah, blah, blah!  CRAZY!

So...for all the people whose phone calls I've missed and never returned----please know that it's not because I don't love you but simply because I'm working almost 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week just trying to keep my head above water (and only succeeding every now and then!).  But...things are getting better....daily crying went to crying every other day...which then went to weekly crying...and now the crying only happens once every week and a half or so!  God has definitely been the ONLY thing that has kept me going---on my own, I would have given up and quit a long time ago because it has been ROUGH.  BUT....it's almost over....3 more weeks of this gross schedule and it will be OVER (at least this part of it!). 

Right now, I'm home with my family for more than 12 hours for the first time since mid-summer and it's SO nice!  I slept for 10 hours last night (also for the first time since the summer) and I left all of my books in Arkadelphia, so I cannot possibly do any work during this break!!!  WOO HOO!!!

I hope that all of you have the most awesome Thanksgiving break EVER!  If you have time to comment or to e-mail, I would LOVE to know what you're up to and how you're doing.  (My mom also said that some of you--she's not sure who--have tried to talk to me on AIM when her computer accidentally signs onto my SN----so, please know that I didn't ignore you--it wasn't my computer!  I've been on AIM once in the past 6 months!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!

Here's an update (as demanded by "the public").....

Still working on my house----wishing all the boxes would unpack themselves!

Still looking for a job/trying to decide what I'm actually gonna DO this coming year!

Still nannying and research assistant-ing!

Still have the most incredible boyfriend in the world (4 months today!).

Still 21.....although I will be 22 TOMORROW!!!!

Most importantly...still serving an awesome God who is the calm in the midst of the world's chaos---He is my strength and my assurance---He is the one in control. 

Got a new cell phone--yay for that!  If you know me and want my number, drop me an e-mail at my OBU address and I'll give it to ya!

Happy Thursday!

OK....so, obviously xanga and I haven't been on speaking terms since...April 7.  WOW--that's crazy!  My life just kicked into high gear right around the end of school and I've been trying to catch up with it ever since!  So...to avoid the risk of everyone thinking I have fallen off the face of the planet...here's the official update on my world.

April 11----started dating Brent Thompson--an amazing guy who is winning my heart more and more every day

May 14----graduated from OBU with degrees in Spanish and Biblical Studies, 2 degrees that I have discovered are basically useless without graduate work which is something that I'm definitely NOT gonna do right now.  For those of you who were really out-of-the-loop with my crazy life...I was planning to go to Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth starting in August...but during the spring semester, God showed me that I really needed to take some academic time of before pursuing graduate work because I was so physically and mentally exhausted and burned out.  So, for at least a year, I'll be living and working in the Arkadelphia area. 

Currently----I'm working for Trey and Kathy Berry, doing research stuff and nannying for their 7-year-old son Tanner.  So far, it's been a really good summer---I work a lot but I enjoy it for the most part.  I also just paid a deposit for the little house that I'll be renting starting in July.  It's on O'Connell St. (near 2nd Baptist)---it's the first house on the right when you turn onto that street.  It's really small like an apartment...but it's a cute older house with a yard, trees, flower beds, etc.---nice and homey.   It's not in the best shape, but I'm excited about getting to do some fixing up and really making it cute.  I won't actually move in until the very end of July...so I have a few weeks to get some work done on it.  I'm also looking for a job that will start when my current job ends in mid-August.  There aren't tons of options here in good ole Arkadoo----but I know God will provide the right job in His timing. 

Well, that's the short version of the last few months of my life.  Sorry I've been a little out of touch----I love you all and I hope that everything is going GREAT for you. 

Funny how one little phone call can make you smile all day, isn't it?

Anyway...this week has been CRAZY!  I have slept so little and done so much!  Had a couple of awesome-but-late hang-out nights in the past week (Friday--went to HS to see Miss Congeniality 2 with Tiffany, Mary Phillip, Keiah, Chrissy, Ryan, Trey, Jill, Chris, and Andrea....then all-night fun time playing games at the apartment, trying to see the Gurdon light, and finally watching the sun rise from the window of Waffle House with Keiah, Chrissy, Trey, Ryan, and Brent; Sunday--tennis w/Keiah, Chrissy and Brent...then hanging out at my apartment with those 3 and Ryan until the wee hours of the morning; Tuesday--studying and goofing off with Brent until really late/early)........then last night was a really late study night since I had a dumb philosophy test today (have I mentioned how much I don't like philosophy?!).  I've also played lots of racquetball pleasantly interspersed with more tennis than I've played in the past 4 years!  SO much fun!!

Anyway...life is busy but SO good.  Still can't believe my time at OBU is winding down...I'm so ready to be done with school but so UNready to leave the people that I love so much.

Only one more day until another fun-filled weekend!  Happy Thursday, everyone!