Christmas 2011

Ok so it's New Years Eve and I'm finally here talking about Christmas. 

Christmas was wonderful as usual. It is neat to do the same things year after year and think about how you've grown, as well as how your family has grown and changed. These are some of the things my family does. 

1. Christmas Eve Service. I love going to church on Christmas Eve. Hearing the Christmas Story. Our minister had a great sermon and it was great seeing people I don't see all the time when I'm at school. 

2. It is tradition to go out to eat at our favorite chinese restaurant the night before thanksgiving and christmas. The waiters are almost like friends. 

3. My mom has so much fun helping Santa Claus every year. Growing up she told me she was on the Elf Council.  When I was younger I would wake her up and she would make me wait at the top of the stairs before I could come while she fixed everything the way she wanted it. Now though she usually wakes me up and makes me come down and see. Clearly I have become much better friends with sleeping in as I have gotten older. 

4. After my parents and I open presents at our house we go down to the country to my dad's parents, where we have Christmas Dinner and we all open presents. My grandmama keeps her house immaculate and loves to keep it beautifully decorated for the holidays. 

Christmas 2011 was one of the best. I look forward to the new year and what it has in store. Everybody have a fun filled and safe new year! 

-Elissa

Cousin Time and Cake Pops

My cousin Katie and I are six months apart and so we have always been close. But we have gotten closer over our college years. College is such a unique time in life that it has been awesome to have someone who can relate to everything I am going to and is often going through the same things. 

Well this Christmas is our last as undergrads, and we got together for a cousin sleepover. We met up went shopping for a few last minute christmas presents. I didn't buy anything but got a great idea for my best friend's present. We went home had some pizza and watched a movie on netflix. Then the next day we made cake pops. 

White Chocolate Funfetti CakePops

sorry it's not the best picture. 

fyi, when making cake pops use a lot of icing when making the balls, it holds the ball together. 

when you're a kid

When you're a kid deciding what you want to 'do' is complete fantasy. Because it is fantasy it is all fun and imagination.  When I was a kid I thought about being

~ A Lawyer

~  A Chef

~ An Interior Designer

~ A Basketball Commentator

Now, as I sit here with only a semester standing between me and "the real world", figuring our what I want to do seems a lot less fun and fantasy. I have always been a passionate person, but for some reason my vocation is far from obvious. I have to remember to have patience and to somehow try to not become passive when the stress gets to me. What I mean is that I need to not be afraid of making the wrong decision because I know that whatever happens God is in control. 

Friday Five Dec 16th

Like, last week today's post is part of Elizabeth's Link-Up!

 1. I get to go home today! I am so so excited. My dad is coming down for the girls basketball game and then we are going home sweet home. My buddy dog will be waiting on me! and momma too!

2. I have gotten all but one of my grades and so far I have all A's! there's one grade left and I don't think I made an A in there but I calculated it and even if I make a B in the class I will have a 3.8 on the semester! Yay for being one step closer to graduating Cum Laude!

3. When I get home tonight, momma and I are going to spend some time together! I checked an it seems like all the good christmas movies are on tomorrow, so maybe we will rent something or maybe she's found the fisher price little people christmas fun movie we used to watch every year. It's a kid's movie but a classic! Tomorrow night we definitely are going to watch A Dog Named Christmas on Hallmark Channel!

4. I had the urge to be crafty and had been wanting to try this yarn wrapped wire word I saw on Pinterest for awhile now but I didn't have any wire hangers. Well Erika, our athletic trainer brought me some she had at home and so I went to work.  I will say it was hard to get the wire shaped into the word, Love. That being said, wrapping the yarn around the yarn was very cathartic for me, I enjoy doing things with my hands, like needlepoint. Here's how it turned out.  Not completely ugly, actually pretty decent.

5. Song of the week- Oklahoma Sky by Miranda Lambert

-Elissa

Friday Five December 9th, 2011

1. Finals will be over tomorrow afternoon. PTL! Then I'll be 7/8th of the way done with college. Exciting. Scary. Bittersweet.

2. Next week it will be just the Basketball teams on campus, and since I work with the women's team that includes me. It's annoying we can't go home for another week because they have a game next friday, but it is kind of fun for it to be just us here. Also we eat good, because the caf is closed and the coaches have to feed us, so that means lots of free food, Zaxby's, IHOP, etc. 

3. Once I am home for the holidays I plan on enjoying it to the fullest. My cousin, who is also graduating from college in May, and I plan on having a sleepover at my grandmother's house. I feel like pinterest baking and crafting is in order. 

4. Speaking of Pinterest. I have been contemplating what to get mom and dad for Christmas and I've been toying with the idea of trying to make mom and dad's christmas presents from ideas I've gotten on there. For Dad- 


- My Dad and I love playing scrabble together and so I think this would be really neat to do for him. 




And for Mom- 

photo coasters. We never seem to have enough coasters, and I think these would be really cool. But I don't know if I trust myself to pull this one off. Honestly, I'm not too sure I'm confident in pinterest dreams turning into reality. But we'll see if I decide to attempt them or not. 


5. This song by love and theft is one of my current favorites. Something about the feel of the song is beautiful, kind of raw. While I am a country music fan, this song is different than most of the stuff out there today. It doesn't have a rockstar vibe that I feel country guys today tend to strive for.

-Elissa

I'm excited that this is my first link up- I'm Linking Up With E-Tells-Tales

friday five

1. F is for Finals, which are next week. F. but in actuality finals won't be as bad as the next few days. I have a term paper for constitutional law due on Monday. And working on it all weekend isn't an

 option. I am in charge of Panther Toy Store,  a yearly event at the college, which is Saturday. AND the basketball team has a game on Sunday 7 hours away and won't be back till the wee hours of the morning. struggle.

2. It's December! oh where has the year gone. after a crazy next few days and then finals, I will be done with the semester and then a week later will be home for the holidays! I love Christmastime, holiday movies are my favorite, especially when I am all bundled up with afghans. 

3. Panther Toy Store, which I mentioned in #1, warrants more than a mention. PTS has been a staple of the holiday season at LaGrange College for the past ten years. I have helped with PTS for the past two years and this year I am in charge. Yesterday was the most fun part of PTS : SHOPPING. My friends and I went to WalMart with the school's credit card and loaded up four buggies of Christmas presents for kids who otherwise would not have much at all for Christmas. Panther Toy Store is an invite-only (we work through the school counselors to find the families) event where needy families can purchase christmas present at greatly reduced prices, (50% off of extremely low prices). Our slogan is "providing a Hand-up not a Hand-Out". 

4. Criminal Minds, is a new obsession of mine. The show kicks SVU's but. so much better. And I love Garcia and Morgan, their weird together but that's what makes me love them. And Shemar Moore is yummy. I also think what I likes the show is that it sucks me in so much I can't multi-task, which is good because I've realized I rarely can sit and just watch tv without also being on the computer, or vice versa. 

5. My suitemate got me into the X Factor and although were often too busy to watch it because of basketball, we stay caught up with it because of ASTRO. this kid is so good. Unfortunately, he got voted off last night, which is absolutely ridiculous. but check out his most popular performance, Stop Looking at My Mom

- Have a great weekend. 

Elissa

This I know for sure...

So I've reached a time in my life where I need to answer that big question. you know the one every kid is asked all the damn time. What do you want to be when you grow up? Well that has now turned into What are you doing after graduation? and that question is less imaginative and more wanting an actual answer. 

I don't know. I am looking to go into College Athletics and I'm looking specifically at Sports Information and Marketing Jobs. I am also open to sportswriting jobs. I don't know. Some days I am very confident that I want to go into College Athletics but then other days I second guess myself. It's a big decision and I want to get it right. So while thinking about this a week or so ago, I had a thought that has stuck with me. I want to be a mom.  Obviously, not right now as I'm not in a relationship. While I sometimes question what I want to do career-wise, I know without a doubt that I want to be a mother. 

I've always known that I wanted to be a mother one day, so I was a bit confused as to why this seemed to be a revelation. I think that this thought stuck with me, because I think I am a lot less career-oriented than I thought. I know (as well as someone who hasn't experienced motherhood can) that motherhood is difficult but I also know that it will be rewarding. Growing up I spent countless hours thinking of baby names (still do).  I dream of the day where I find out I'm pregnant, and the day I hold my first-child. 

903

tonight history was made. I was geared up for tonights game all day and so hyped up by game time. I will admit I was a little nervous. Michigan State is a good team. While I usually would be frustrated that we let a 20 point second half lead slip to a 5 point win, this time its fine by me. It was called the State Farm Champions Classic for a reason, Michigan State battled till the very end and I respect that. But in the end, we ( yes, I refer to Duke as we, as a life-long fan I am part of the Blue Devil Nation) came out on top. And Coach K, who was already one of the greatest coaches of all time, became the all time winningest coach in DI Men's Basketball. And he did so by passing his coach and mentor Bobby Knight.

Coach K and Bobby Knight after the game

restlessness

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    so it's 8:07 on a sunday night and I get this feeling, one that i get fairly often. This feeling is one of the day coming to an end and feeling that i didn't do anything. Don't get me wrong, I love a good lazy day, but sometimes i just get this overwhelming feeling of having to do something before the day ends. It's a sort of restlessness I get and I'm not entirely sure why. It's one day ending and another day about to begin. I'm pretty sure my restlessness has to do with time passing and having no sense of what the future will bring. I am getting through my stress and worry over what lies ahead through simply breathing in and out. I am super excited about Thanksgiving, it is one of my favorite holidays, but then I can't help but think about the fact that when we come back to school we have a week before finals. The end of the semester and finals always brings heightened stress, so i have that to look forward to. And then I will only have a semester left of college, which is super bittersweet and scary. So what am I gonna do to be productive and ease my restlessness about the inevitable passing of time? Well, I'm blogging. But to end this post I'm listing some things that I have to look forward to that make me
smile : )

Time Flies- Even with that extra hour

1. Umm where has the year gone? I have the feeling that time really does fly by quite often. This year though, it's different as with it being senior year there's only so much time till graduation... Wha? Crazy

2. This is kinda along the lines of number 1. So Daylight Savings Time started this weekend d we got an extra hour, but i really don't feel like I did. I got to sleep in, which is rare, but when I woke up Sunday morning, my phone had changed automatically. So although I still got the extra hour I wanted to think it was such and such time and be like "ooh I get to fall back" and go back to sleep for an hour". Silly but makes sense in my mind!

And now I'm busy

Now I'm busy. While many of my friends seem to have their workload spread out evenly across the semester. I for some reason tend to have everything hit all in the last half of the semester. This for whatever the reason may be has been the norm for me the past year and a half. I suppose it is a good thing I say that I do best when I am busy.

Blogging For Real

I am trying to start blogging for real. I have had this blog of mine for over a year but this is only my 28th post. can we say fail? you can agree, you should. Although there aren't really any you out there to speak of yet since I have failed so greatly at blogging for real.

But there are some positives to this post. and they begin NOW.

friendship

i've always had a hard time with friendships. i want them so desperately but the best friendships come naturally.

There are so many different types of friendships, and each should be taken and appreciated for what they are.

Some friends you don't see on a daily basis but you are okay with that and they are always there for you.

Other friendships you are with all the time, and see everyday, but it seems like whenever your not together your let down.

I don't know. I need sleep. And my thoughts should be clearer.

procrastinating on blogging.

i keep wanting to blog, but i have trouble focusing my thoughts.

my mind goes from thought to thought too fast.

but i've decided oh well. i am just going to blog anyway.

Well. The Summer has flown by. But it has been pretty awesome. My whole summer has been awesome but the second half i might say has been just as good in a completely different way from the first half. The first half of my summer was spent at Duke University, at an internship with Duke Athletics, it was truly a dream come true, and it urged forward in thinking about life after graduation. But the second half of my summer, I have spent at home with family. I have spent time with both grandparents, i spent a few days down in the country with my dad's parents. and my family went up to my grandfathers in the mountains a couple of times. And one of my favorite things about this summer, has been spending time with my church family and really reconnecting with God. I am all too guilty of going through the motions some times. It is oh so good to get in touch with people of faith and laugh yourself silly all while discussing our faith. This is what I did after church today at Zaxby's with my College Ministry's small group. And today wasn't a one time occurrence. Thursday night, we were going to see Toy Story 3 at Atlantic Stations Free Movie in the Park. but they canceled it due to rain when it wasn't raining. But you know what I had some good conversations. We didn't even talk about our faith, but just spent time talking. anticlimatic and dissapointing that the movie didn't happen but still a good night. I am really excited about keeping connected with my college ministry during the school year. Our college ministry is starting a mentor program, where a college student is partnered with an adult in the church, someone our parent's age, but not our parent, to talk to, give us advice and build a relationship with. It's called the Raven Project, and I'm really excited about it. Our amazing College Ministry leader- Kristen(http://www.hopeformorethananame.blogspot.com) came up with the whole thing, and she came up with the name through her mission trip to India. I'm not gonna get this story right, so ask Kristen to tell you, but I know that while talking to a man in India, the man told her "ahh, they are your raven" A raven is someone who provides you nourishment when you need it, it comes from 1 Kings 17: 1-4. But I am real excited about the project, because I need someone to talk to and sometimes you just need someone other than your parents to talk to about your thoughts on things your going through, life changes. decisicons, etc.

Well I did about as good as I can about keeping my thoughts focused, but there ya go. So much more to say, but more for another day.

birthday blues

today is my birthday. i'm 21.

but it scares me. I am about to start my senior year of college.

but in so many ways I still feel like a little girl.

I have had to start thinking about life after graduation and what that will entail.

it is all so overwhelming. and i wish my grandmother was here to see it all unfold.

she would know what to say to calm my nerves and make me feel like everything is going to be alright. no matter what happens.

but i guess i just to need to look to God, and ask him to help me feel his presence and hers in my life always, this year especially.

capri sun mango strawberry popsicles

i have become addicted to pinterest.com, this awesome awesome website with countless cool ideas. one of these ideas was a recipe for popsicles. using capri sun and sliced fresh fruit. i used 2 mountain cooler capri sun's, strawberry and mango slices. i poured the mountain cooler into the popsicle mold i got from bed, bath & beyond for 4.99 and added fruit in along the way. froze them for several hours, about four.

and this was the result: delicious popsicles. i might try a different flavor capri sun next time.

growing up.

somehow i've grown up.

I still have a lot of growing up to do.

yet somehow I've entered this phase where I'm on the precipice of adulthood.

what do I mean by this.

- It's the summer before my senior year of college = 1 year before "the real world"

-1 year before graduation, but a lot less to make decisions about what comes next

- decisions like, do I want to go to grad school, will i truly enjoy a career in sports information?

- if not, what am i called to do?

- i have these big decisions to make yet I still feel like a kid.

- I didn't have the urge to learn to drive when i turned fifteen like most kids do. I didn't even get my learner's at sixteen. I guess I was scared but whatever the reason I didn't get my learners till my freshmen year of college and my license till the beginning of my junior year.

- and so since I've been at college I don't have the most experience and I don't have a car

- which means i don't have as much independence as people my age and people even younger

- But I can't change that and I have to just work to move on and grow from where I am.

- I'm gonna work on my driving this summer and then hopefully get a car before I go back to school.

- and then I will begin my senior year of college and embark on my entrance to adulthood.

- p.s. i love clouds.

Life is flying by.. and my thoughts on that fact

Somehow I became a college senior. What?! really, how did that happen. I swear scholar's comp. was yesterday and not three years ago. But sometimes it does seem like that long ago. I think its just the fact of what it means to be a college senior that scares/worries me.

I love college. Living semi on my own, with some great friends at a great school. But this time next year I'm out in the real world. I really need to start getting life figured out. I feel like I'm so behind.

I just got my driver's license last august but because I've been at school nothing has really changed since I got it. I guess I haven't really expressed my feelings on this to my parent's well until last week. I just don't think anyone hates the constant position of the passenger seat as much as I do. Because I feel like it's too late. I am supposed to have four to five years of driving experience behind me. But because of being at college, I have really about less than a year. And I have close to no experience driving on my own. I suppose I need to pray for patience because while patience is a virture it is one I struggle with. Even though it worries me greatly that I only really have july and august to get good driving experience before school starts. AND i was planning and really hope to have a car before going back to LG. but as much as it hurt to hear him say the other day, I worry my dad is right, I am not a good enough driver to be out there by myself, whether I have my license or not. AND that scares me beyond belief because I have to be ready to drive on my own, people four years younger than me are more independent than I am but I am the one who has to be an adult really soon. I've gotten myself upset and didnt intend for the post to be about this but clearly i needed to vent.