interesting...

I've had a fabulous evening...actually...a fabulous week if I want to be honest. Its just been good. I love it. Hung out with a girl I babysat when she was 12...she's 17 now and a fun girl. We watched a stupid/fun Hilary Duff movie...then drove around for awhile being mischievous...it was good times.

Anyhow...completely random and pointless...but I was just trying to decide what to watch and realized exactly HOW random a collection of DVDs I have. So, not that anyone cares...but I thought I'd write them all out....just for my own amusement. So...here they are:

8 Mile, Alfie, Big Fish, Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure, Bring It On, Bull Durham, The Challenge, a Cinderella Story, Closer, Clue, Crazy/Beautiful, Crossroads, Dawson's Creek Season 2, Dawson's Creek Season 3, Dawson's Creek the Final Episode, Fast and the Furious, Felicity Season 1, Finding Neverland, Firefly, Garden State, Gilmore Girls Season 1, 2, 4, 5, Grey's Anatomy Season 1-2, High School Musical, a Home at the End of the World, Legally Blonde, Little Man Tate, Lizzie McGuire Movie, Lost Season 1-2, The Man in the Moon, Material Girls, Meet Joe Black, a Midsummer Nights Dream, Moulin Rouge, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the Notebook, On The Line, One Tree Hill Season 1-2, the Polar Express, Proof, Queer as Folk seasons 1 and 4, Raise Your Voice, Rent, Serenity, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, South Park movie, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Walk the Line, a Walk to Remember, the Wedding Planner, Woman on Top.

So yes...I have the most random assortment of deeper movies and mindless kid movies. But...I own all of it...and I love my collection. I wouldn't have it any other way...it fits my personality to a T...so if you want insight...you've got it. If I had more money I would buy tons and tons of shows on DVD. I have many more shows I need to buy, but alas...I can't afford anything else. Sadface.

Tomorrow is New Years Eve and apparently the party I am attending is starting at 6:30...that's CRAZY early...I may conveniently be later than that...although I need to let go and just have fun. I seem to be holding back in this group lately, and I don't want to do that anymore. I guess I do have reason for it though, just...yeah...I want to move on and let things go back to how they were pre-July 2nd. Guess I'll see how it goes...

Rainy Days

I love rainy days. I love listening to the rain fall, and the cars drive through water. Something about water is so comforting to me. I like it. Makes it a perfect day to curl up on the couch and watch some TV shows on DVD. Which is precisely what I have done today. I love TV on DVD...it may be one of my favorite things ever. =o)

CanDance got in town a little bit ago, and I am about to head out to Flower Mound to go see her and hang out with everyone. Should be a blast and a half, I've missed that girl!!

This break I've gone back to hanging out with the group I hung out with from March-August. I've missed them. They are amazing people. Not that I don't love my new group of friends, and I've hung out with them some, but I didn't realize how much I'd missed Ty and Tina and James and Chase and Shelby...that list goes on and on. Good kids. Always a good time, New years eve is going to be ROCKIN!!

Emotions

Unexpected emotions...catch me off guard and leave me wondering what I am to do next.

Unconcious tests that sound stupid once I realize its what I'm doing and actually state it outloud...and you just smile and say its ok and you'll wait.

I don't know what I'm doing...and I don't know whether to think about it or to just go with it. Usually things are better if you just go with them, but hell, I don't know...I just don't know at all....

what do I do now???

Bosnia?!?

OK, so I got this email yesterday from one of the professors at my school, and it was informing us about a trip to Bosnia for a couple weeks this summer. The trip is $2500, but $1500 is paid for you through grants. The remaining $1000 I would have to come up with myself. That of course, is assuming that I am one of the 8 people picked to go.

I want this. More than anything.

To me, doing global missions is just what I want to do. I find it so interesting when I tell people and I see their different reactions. They think its great that I want to do that, but they also think that I am a little bit crazy. Maybe I am, maybe wanting to work with children in horrible conditions qualifies me as crazy, but I like to think I'm just special. I'm special because God has called ME to be passionate about doing work with orphans in bad areas. Bosnia was never one of my first places on my list to go to do this, but let me tell you what, if this works out, I know it will be an amazing experience. Who knows, maybe it would open doors to me getting into Africa, Russia, Romania to work in their orphanages.

I just hope that when I apply, that I am picked to go on this trip. I can't think of anything I want more.

Truth

Ok, so I've kinda been freaking out lately because a month or so ago I got pulled over by a lovely motorcycle officer. What was my crime? I was going 71 in a 60, that's right I was on a freeway and I was going with the flow of traffic. However, I was the only person in the left lane, when this officer stepped out into the my lane to flag me down so I'd pull over. Ok, fine, I don't think I was speeding, I actually didn't think I was even going 70 because I had a feeling there would be a cop out that morning and that I should slow down so I wouldn't get a ticket. Guess that didn't work too well. This officer walks over to my car and had already started writing my ticket! He informed me that I was pulled over for speeding, yadda yadda yadda. Ok, if you know me, I have friends who make fun of me because I don't speed. So getting a speeding ticket SUCKS. The officer was kind of rude to me, and I was super polite to him. I don't do the crying to get out of tickets thing...I'm usually too freaked out to think about anything else.

Anyhow, the ticket said to sign the back and check off no contest or whatever admitting guilt to the offense and how you would like to take care of it. So, I checked off that I was guilty and that I would like probation. Mailed it in within my 11 day grace period. Well, I guess its technically been over a month since I mailed that sucker in and I had not heard a single thing from then and they are supposed to mail paperwork to me so I know how much I owe and what the terms of my probation are. Well, I have been having mini panic attacks worrying that they didn't get my ticket and that I am going to have a warrant out for my arrest and such. Last night I even had a tsunami dream. I only have water/wave/tsunami dreams when I'm FREAKING OUT about something in my life and I'm feeling overwhelmed.

So...I call the court today and I am on hold for 20 or so minutes when I nice lady gets on the phone. I explain everything and give her my information and she varifies my address and lest me know that they are working on my paperwork and they have not sent me anything yet. *whew!* Seriously, I have not felt that relieved in a long time. So, no jail time coming for Deb, and hopefully my probation won't be too bad either...

Adventures...

Today was a day of ups and downs. Overall, I had an amazing day. Although, around lunch time I had quite a fright! I went to check on my car payment and saw that the website did not show any activity for me even though I already submitted my payment. So, I pay go through the whole process of paying it. Only to find out that there was a mistake on the website, so now I had $700 trying to go through instead of $350 for my car payment. Lets just say that I don't have an extra $350 to spend on an extra car payment this month. So I call Honda, they can't do anything. I call my bank, they say I need to go into a store. I go into the store, and they say I have to call the 800 #. I call the 800 number and they tell me that they can stop the payment, only to find it it costs $28, and takes 2 days to processs so if the payment goes through before that, then you get charged the $28, the payment goes through, and overage charges. *sigh* So, stupidly, i say ok to stopping the payment. Then I call my mom in tears (gotta love still being the baby of the family even if i am 24), and she goes to the bank and deposits the $350 extra into my account. So now Im out $28, which I guess isn't too bad. But it definitely stressed me out for a bit.

However, I had a date with my mom tonight. Dinner and a movie. We went to this upscale baja-mexican restaurant. It was really good, I had a blackened salmon dish. Then we went to see Persuit of HappYness. Wow. Amazing. I love spending time with my mom.

That's all for now. Tomorrow I get to call the court and see why I haven't heard anything about the ticket I mailed in over a month ago. Hopefully I don't have a warrant out for my arrest or anything. Guess we'll find out.

Fun and food

I dropped Anne off at the airport this morning. Its so weird realizing that I will not see her for a month. An entire month. That sucks. Its so weird how you become so close to some people so fast. It will be sad to not have her here.

On the other hand, I have a friend in town from Germany who I need to spend time with. Also, one of my friends will be in town from Austin, and I have a ton of other friends I have not spent time with in far too long. So, I'm super excited about quality time with each of these people.

Christmas Eve is Sunday. On Wednesday I am making Oreo Balls with the girl I babysit for so we can both have some for Christmas. They seriously are the best things EVER. So, I thought I'd share the recipe. Because i can, and they are amazing.




2 hour prep time:

1 package regular size Oreo cookies, crushed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 package white almond bark
1 package chocolate almond bark

Makes 25-35 walnut sized candies


1. Using a blender or hand held mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.
2. Roll into walnut size balls.
3. Chill for an hour.
4. Melt approximately 3/4 package of white almond bark.
5. Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in the melted white almond bark.
6. Allow to harden on wax paper.
7. Takes about 15 min.
8. While waiting, melt about 1/4 package of chocolate almond bark.
9. When Oreo balls are no longer sticky to the touch, decorate with drizzles of chocolate and white almond bark. just use a sandwich bag with a tiny hole cut in one corner to drizzle the almond bark.

Eat and ENJOY!!!

oh yes

I do have to say I quite enjoyed watching Justin on SNL tonight. I laughed and laughed and laughed. It was greatness.

I also love how my sister and my mom both called to make sure that I was watching it. Even after all these years anytime any news on Justin is out they make sure I know. Really, any NSYNCer news they call me about.

And I really kinda love that they do that...makes me happy!

I have the best family ever. Hands down.

and then reality sets in

I hate feeling disappointed.

I studied non stop for over two weeks for finals. I only have one class posted, and I got a B+. I know it isn't bad, but I thought for sure I had pulled at least an A-. But, no. I also realize it is just my first semester, and if I get one B+, I'm still doing amazing. My problem is, I'm worried that I will have messed up on all my finals and I'll end up with all B's. Not that B's are bad...just that I worked so hard this semester. Well...for the most part. But going into finals I had all A's (ok, one B+ which is the B+ posted), so I just...hope I maintained. That's all I can hope for anyway.

I got some Christmas shopping done. I currently have 1 thing for my mom, 1 thing for my dad, and 2 things for my sister. I know one more thing I'm getting for my sister and my mom...now I just need to think of one more thing for dad. Not going to be a big Christmas this year...I just don't have much money...most of my friends aren't getting presents either. I got Em something, and I'm getting Anne something small. I have to get Sarah something...cuz she got me something. I MAY get Holli something small, but we don't tend to really do presents. So, we'll see. I'm glad I don't have a boyfriend that I have to buy something for...that would stress me out. Haha.

wow...I'm a debbie downer tonight. That's no good. Must eat chocolate and watch Justin Timberlake on SNL to make myself feel better.

I DID IT!!!

I'm DONE with my first semester of seminary!!!

I have studied more for finals this semester than I ever did in undergrad. I LOVED this semester.

Theology final was kicking my butt while I studied for it. But, I did well. I feel confidant. And, if I didn't do well, there is nothing I can do about it now, and getting an A in the class will not make me a better minister. I have to remind myself of that.

Good thing I don't actually stress out much about school, but it sure does feel good to done with it.

Tonight I'm going to see the Holiday with Anne. We're excited. Maybe going to Red River afterwards, I haven't been there in forever.

Sorry this isn't exciting, other than me being done. I'm still kinda drained!

study study study

I'm definitely feeling a lack of motivation on the whole studying for my finals front...so, I figured some motivational quotes are always helpful!!

" Stay focused, then the direction and destination will be crystal clear!" -- Unknown

" Learn the art of converting failure into success and challenge into opportunity. There is no failure for the person who has mastered this art." --Unknown

" The future is an endless world of possibilities." --Christopher Ammirati

" A bird sings not because it has an answer but rather because it has a song." --Unknown

" Dreams are where Achievements are born." --Unknown

" He who looks outside dreams, he who looks inside awakens." --Robin Sharma

" Imagination is an unlimited resource. Imagine what you can be, do and have." --Tracy Braime

" When you are exhausted from trying, try just one more time." --Chrisse Feros

2 1/2 days...I CAN DO IT!!!

so hard to say goodbye

I know that sometimes goodbyes are necessary. Without goodbyes nothing would ever change. And without change life would be stagnant and there would never be any time to learn or grow as people, and as children of God.

Tonight I said goodbye to a very dear friend of mine who I have had the joy of working with for many years in youth ministry. Of course we will still be friends, but Sundays will not be the same without her around. She is one of the biggest inspirations in my life and in my decision to accept my call into ministry. Many tears were shed tonight from her, from the youth, and from the youth sponsors who love her dearly. Her presence and laughter will be sorely missed within the walls of UCC.

Sometimes our world spins into Chaos. In one moment the world changes. That chaos can come from anything. An accident, a birth, a death, a choice, graduation, starting a new school or job, a fight, the words to a song, a realization... But from that chaos, from the world turning upside down and no longer making sense...a time of peace will come, the peace has to come...if even for a moment, so we can begin to grasp the power of the change of that moment of chaos in our life. I hope you all find a moment of peace this week to reflect on the blessings in your life.

Yay for Mulled Wine

Mulled wine may have to be one of my new favorite drinks.

Although, I did realize tonight that if you leave anything out...it makes a huge difference. So, i thought I would share the recipe that we use...because I love it so much!

1 750ml bottle of full bodied red wine

1 1/2 shots of Brandy

2 small lemons

1 orange

Nutmeg (to taste)

cloves (to taste - I think 7 cloves tastes perfect)

1/4 cup sugar

Cinnamon Sticks

Candy Cane

Slowly heat all ingredients except cinnamon sticks and candy cane together. Bring to almost a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes or so. Poor into a glass and garnish with cannamon stick in each up. Some of my friends like adding the candy cane as well...so feel free to try that, although I prefer just the cinnamon stick.

Its a fabulous recipe and takes very little time to prepare...and is sure to be a hit with any group. Also, the fruit tastes great after (or during) the drinking of the wine!

Change?

I'm thinking about changing my hair color.

I've been blonde for over a year and a half now, and I think perhaps its about time to go back to brown. My only problem is that my hairstylist is also a friend...and she really likes my hair blonde, and doesn't want me to drastically change it to brown. She obviously didn't know me in college where my hair was a different color every month and was everything from blonde to a burgandy color. Hm...I just really hope I can convince her to go darker...not even dark brown, but a light brown color.... decisions, decisions...

The other option is to try and find my old stylist I used before I moved to California and go back to her, even though she was about $75 more than Tina is. However, I actually kinda liked her better.

Do I risk hurting a friend to get hair I love?!? I just don't know.

Trying to pick myself up

I'm annoyed with myself. No really I am. I'm still not in a good mood even though I turned in my final exam at 8:30 and it wasn't due until midnight. I'm annoyed that I let her get to me so much...and annoyed that I didn't decide to move out at semester.

I went to dinner with Anne...and we had a blast. I had a couple beers, and I was in a better mood for awhile. Then I came back in the apartment and put a towel down by my door so it would look like my light was off when my roommate got home. Of course, I didn't think about the fact that my window goes out to the street. Pretty sure she didn't really look at that. But if she did, I'm glad she didn't talk to me when she got home.

Anyhow...I need to cheer up, so I decided to post more Europe pics, because they make me happy. I can't believe its been almost a year since I left for that trip...I only wish I was starting off 2007 that way...except that I love school, and as much as I complain about papers and finals...I love love love it. I'm a nerd. I accept this.

Anyhow...here are some pictures...I decided to do all Ireland Pics today...

This amazing waterfall and river that we saw during a tour we saw....Ring of Kerry maybe?!?

Another street scene! I love these. This one was is in...a city...uh...I wanna say it starts with a B, but i'm pretty worthless right now. I do have it written down somewhere, maybe I should look it up.
Cliffs of Moher...one of the most amazing places I've ever been.
who would have thought that there was a dangerous cliff edge by these giant drop offs?!? You mean its not safe to jump?!?
This was the cutest dog EVER. He was just chillin outside this little village we visited. He graced my computer wallpaper for awhile cuz he always makes me smile!

Hm...yeah, that definitely helped. It's the little things in life, isn't it?

DONE

I'M DONE I'M DONE I'M DONE I'M DONE I'M DONE.

Now time to go eat dinner and drink beer. Then drink more beer.

Then sleep because I have to start studying for my next final tomorrow.

*sigh*

Less than a week and this semester will be O.V.E.R.!

P.I.S.E.D.

Yes, I realized I spelled pised not pissed...

Ok, seriously though, I am totally ticked off right now. I hate people who rub things in my face when they specifically ask for the exact same thing to not be rubbed in their face.

I started living with my apartment-mate by pot-luck. I was supposed to live by myself, but they were short on apartments, so I kindly said that I would move into a double. WHY?!? Why did I do that? I knew I couldn't live with anyone but Emily and Jenna without there being issues. (Well, and when Anne and I move in, we'll be fine). Anyway, I've been working on this final for over a week. She started on it 2 days ago. She's done...I still have 2 pages of my paper left to write. Which isn't a big deal, except that she's been stressing out because I was so far ahead of her. I never rubbed it in her face, I just told her how much I had done when she asked. Then, she asked me not to rub it in her face when I finished before her. Which, I wouldn't have done anyway because I think its tacky. Well, I get home from 4 hours at starbucks (where I only got 2.5 pages written) and she's just finished. What does she do? Goes on and on about it for 10 minutes. Even after I've gone into my room and shut the door she's trying to talk to me through my door about it. Good, you're done, I get it. Now get over it.

I need to finish the paper...and maybe this pissed energy will help me beat it out faster. I sure need some sort of saving grace, cuz this paper SUCKS.

Once Upon a Time...

So, I should really be working on my wonderful paper that I am now a page and a half into. After my last post I definitely popped a page out in about 15 minutes...then it took me an hour to get the next half page, and I have been on something close to a 4 hour hiatus from said paper...*sigh* I have to start by 10pm. I HAVE TO. That is my deadline for procrastination...then I will spend the rest of the evening into the wee hours of the morning finishing this paper. Even though its not due until midnight tomorrow...I have another final I have to start...so yes.

However. While I have been procrastinating and playing with my fun new blog...I started looking at some of my old pictures from my trip to Europe. See...I started 2006 by going backpacking for 2 months through all of Western Europe. Just for the brief rundown...I visited (in order): England, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Ireland. Yes, we went to Germany 3 times...it is a good central location. So, while looking through my pictures, I decided that I should post my five current favorite pictures from my trip. This however is quite a task seeing that I have well over 1200 pictures from my trip. So...here they are.

This picture is of the Lincoln Cathedral, taken from inside the Lincoln Castle in England. Random piece of trivia knowledge: This is the Cathedral that they used to film the DaVinci Code.

This is a canal in Prague. Easily one of my favorite cities in Europe.

This beautiful scene is seen from atop the castle in...Salzburg, Austria.

I'll give you two guesses as to where this one is...and if you need the second guess...I'll say you should study history a little more. I loved how when I turned the corner this is what I saw!

Pompeii was amazing. Spent over 5 hours there and didn't even see half of it. A-Mazing.

Ok, I will probably randomly upload more pictures from this trip because it was amazing. And, I picked these five pictures at random and didn't even get to the second half of my trip, but I didn't feel like adding too many pictures today. I do have to get back to my paper whether I want to or not! Anyhow, I love talking about this trip, so if you'd like to know any more about my adventure or see more pictures just let me know!!

Finals Suck

So I have been extrememly proud of myself this week because I have been able to get ahead on my final that is due tomorrow at midnight. I was done 2 days ago with my 75 IDs which make up 75% of the final. The 6-8 page essay I have to write is proving to be much more difficult. Although, chances are, I'm making it harder than it really is. This however, is typical for me. I do NOT want to be turning this in at 11:59pm tomorrow evening. It seems though, that I am not able to just pull my thoughts together well enough to even get my first sentence of the essay down on paper. Which, if I was a normal person, I could write the important stuff without my intro paragraph. I am not a person who can do that though.

So, here I am...stuck with a document open and nothing but my question in bold at the top. No words. No coherent ideas.

And apparantly, I will have NO LIFE either until sometime late tomorrow evening. Looks like another long day at starbucks tomorrow writing this essay. Hopefully in the next couple hours I can outline enough of my essay to have an idea how to write my intro.

Ugh.

I'm ready for this semester to be over.

Life

As I get older, I realize more and more that I can't plan out my life. Granted, I can plan out mundane things like what time I will start studying, or what I will have for dinner, but I can't plan out the important stuff.

18 months ago if you asked me where I would be in early December 06, I would have said in Los Angeles, still working at AGRE. But now, now I am back in Texas going to graduate school. Strange how life works.

So I sit here now, 2 finals away from being done with my first semester of Seminary. And really, even though i know what I want...I have NO IDEA how to get there...

Life is a journey that I have to take one step at a time...here's to each step that brings me closer to my destination.