Pond

I love being able to walk just a short way down from my house and see this. This picture was taken at the very beginning of spring, so there aren't any leaves or flowers up. But it is still one of the most peaceful places around. Walking down to the creek is very calming and relaxing. Walking down to the pond and the creek, even for a little bit was much needed. With finals and papers and the end of school within a day, my head is absolutely everywhere. I can't focus on anything and my brain feels like it can't form anymore papers. Taking a walk down to the creek was a nice break from my papers.

Only 1 more day of school, one 800 word paper, 2 finals and i'm done! Then PA for 8 days!

oops

Ok so I've never been East. Actually I've never really been anywhere. For some reason I get East and West confused, who knows why. Thank you Chad for the correction.


15 days...4 days of school...

Can't wait!

YAY!!

The first glimpses of spring. The crocuses popping out of the ground.


I'm so incredibly excited!!! Danny and I had been talking about me coming out to PA since he left for school. Now it is only a mere 16 days away! Originally I was going to take the train out of Elkhart to Pittsburgh to Greensburg and he would pick me up from there. Then do the same on the way back. Then it turned into Danny coming home and me riding back with him then taking the train home. Finally we came to the conclusion that he would come home and I would ride to PA with him. Then he would come home and I would ride back to IN with him. We have a final date set, the sat or sun after my mom's birthday. So the 16th or 17th. Then I will be back Memorial day weekend. I am SO unbelievably excited to go! I've never been west.

School gets out in 5 days...and PA in 16. Awesome start to the summer!

Pre Easter Thoughts

I was thinking about all of the past Easters in my life. When i think about it, i think of how my parents would hide my Easter presents all around the house. They would tell me if i was hot or cold, when i was getting close to the present. I always think of one specific time. Every time the Easter decorations start coming out, i think of this plastic bendy bunny that we had. You could shape it's legs and arms into anything. Well one year i took it upon myself to put it on a lamp while it was on. The bunny proceeded to melt and I got yelled at. But every year I always think about it.

Then i think about Easters at the Huff's. It would be the Huff's, the Wise's, the Firstenberger's and the Amacher's. We would sit down and eat lunch, then we would socialize. After wards the adults would hide Easter eggs either outside or inside depending on the weather, while the "kids" would be in a room in the house. We would all be assigned a color, there was green, blue, yellow, purple, pink, orange, yellow-blue, and pink-purple. We always had so much fun hunting the eggs..we would try and see who got done first. Usually it was Chad or Greg who would finish first. Then we would all sit in the living room and open our eggs, they would usually consist of candy of all kinds, dollar money and change. Every now and then there would be a shower cap or something fun. Usually balloons of some kind that would be blown up in the next 30 minutes. One year the pigs got out and the adults went out to chase them down haha. We would set up a Volleyball net in the backyard and play. The last several years have been pretty gloomy and cold outside.

Last Easter was a special one. We had Easter at Todd's house, and Danny came last year. We sang songs and socialized. It was a very special and good day. Easter is a week from today, who knows what will happen this year. I just know that Easter is always a special time for our family, as it should be.

Family <3

So i just read a comment from my cousin Chad way back from my Christmas Eve blog, which then prompted me to read through that post. As I'm reading through it I get a little teary eyed as I re-visit this past Christmas. I started thinking about all the fun that we have when we get together. I'm amazed at how much fun we can have sitting around a campfire with a couple books of Mad libs. My family is truly amazing. I don't know of any other family that gets together not only on major holidays like Christmas and Easter, but also at every single persons birthday.

During the summer we get together just for the heck of it. Like this past summer, I believe it was on Memorial Day the whole family got together in Bremen at the Huff's. We played some croquet (which I may not be the best at but i'm one heck of a runner haha) and some washers and I believe some bag toss. I don't even remember how it started but we got into a HUGE water fight! My uncle Bob even went into town and bought water guns and some balloons. Somehow it ended up being me and my cousin Eric (who's 9) against Chad and Danny. E and I were getting drenched..well mostly me. Then the hose got brought out..E and I were i trouble. So i thought it was smart to take refuge in the tree house, which is above the hose. We used the benches and the table to block the windows, it worked for a bit..but we couldn't stay up there forever. So we got down but we got drenched and it was cold!! But it was so hot that it felt good. We eventually started going after my dad, that was interesting. My aunt Lori even got into it. Chasing me around and then after my dad. I got Danny I think once, but he got me repeatedly. We finally got my dad and we had popped all the balloons and we were all pretty tired. So we sat around the campfire and ate hot dogs and laughed about the good water fight we just had. We realized that somehow every year the hose comes out and there is some kind of water fight.

That day was just one of the many fun times that we have had together. I was recently in Toys R Us in Mishawaka and I was looking at games. I wasn't looking for anything in particular but as I'm looking at the wall of games I see a game that I thought wasn't made anymore Stratego!! Chad, Troy, Todd and I use to play that all the time when we were younger. I was so excited to see it, that I wanted to buy it, then I saw the price..ouch not gonna happen.

The other thing I love about my family is that if something is wrong they are usually pretty good at distracting you so you don't think about your problems. Like on the day Danny left for school, I was so unhappy and I couldn't stop crying. I barely ate anything and I wanted to just lay down and cry. We started playing games, pictionary and an old game called Gusher. And before long I was completely distracted, I was laughing and it was as if nothing was wrong.

My family is crazy, fun, loving, caring, and like no other family out there. They are so special to me and I love them all so much.

I've been trying to think about how stressed out and worried i get over little things. I know when I stress over the little things that if I just pray about it I feel better after wards. but sometimes it's hard to remember to pray about it. Sometimes i get so wrapped up in my problems and my thoughts and feelings that I forget to stop and looked to God. This is something that I need to live by and that others need to remember to live by.

1 Peter 5: 7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Organization

I organized my room about 2 weeks ago and now it looks like this...


Why? Because i finally decided to go through my closet and get rid of some clothes and actually organize it so it looks nice, not that anyone ever sees it. Point being..i never realized how much CRAP i keep. I have gotten rid of so much stuff, clothes and just junk all kinds of stuff. It feels good to get it all cleaned and organized.

Let's see. I have a part in another play at Osceola Theater Co. We are doing "The Dinner Party" by Neil Simon. There are only 6 parts and my characters name is Yvonne. I'm so excited to be in the play. April 16-19!

I am SOOOO super excited for next wed. Shannon and I are going to Ft. Wayne to shop and spend the day!!! I'm so excited to be away from Elkhart for a day.

Lastly I am in charge of the redecoration of our spare bedroom (the Hang out room). My first project under the major of interior design. I've got some busy times ahead of me, but i'm super excited for them!