My life is busy...

Well, I am writing on here right now because I do have time to (not really but anyways) because I got up two hours earlier than I was suppose to. I thought that we were suppose to be at Hope Summit at 8:30 but really, that was only optional. We don't have to be there until 10:30. Silly me:D
I've been a busy lady lately. My past month seems like it's been a week. I'm sure everyone knows the feeling. I am starting to adjust nicely to Crossroads. I love it here and the people are really quite amazing.
I got a job, which is taking up a lot of my time. I feel like my homework is about twice the amount that I had a CLC last year. It's fun though.
My sleeping habits have changed. Last year I'd go to bed around 10:30 11, now I go to bed around 12 or 1. Hehe, I'm good though, coffee keeps me functioning.
My roommates are amazing. I love each and everyone of them :) Liz, Melanie, Julie, Hannah, and Crystal. They are fun girls:)
I was homesick for one day out of the month that I've been away from home. I am actually stunned that the move went over so well for me. The reason I had a bad day is because a teacher in one of my classes quit, so a new teacher was going to take over but he couldn't teach class until later in the day and I didn't want that. I was also stressed about a job, and plus, I was kinda broke. Things are a lot better now. I just wish I would have trusted in God a little more that day.

Happy 1st Birthday, Briana!

Happy Birthday girl! Last year at this time I was at NYR in Colorado and didn't get to see her until about a week after she was born. It's cool because the one day we went into town it was the day Briana was born. I actually called home about an hour after she was born. God works in amazing ways, doesn't He?

Fun at the park

Today was really hectic. I didn't plan on it but I ended up sleeping in until noon today. It felt really nice, but I didn't like that I didn't get to do everything I had wanted to do today. So I had to rush and get things done here at home(two loads of laundry, cleaning in the kitchen, reading, and getting final things ready for college) so I could be all ready to pick my mom up at work at three. It worked out good. I just didn't get much of a break besides when I was reading. When my mom got home from work we went to her friend from works Dad's wake tonight. There were so many pretty flowers. And to top the night off, my two sister's and their daughters, and cousin with her daughter had decided to go to the park when my mom and I got home from the wake. It was a lot of fun and relaxing. Here a few pics from tonight.

Grandma having fun too

Taking candid photos with Eva Diva

Crazy kid. I love it!

Lil Miss Briana swinging

Tasty treats

Today I made Hip Hugger bars. Yesterday when Mom, Andrea, and I were at Wal-Mart I was thinking about these bars and how much I would love to make them(and eat them). Well, as you can see, I ended up buying the ingredients to make them and they ended up being soooooo yummy. They are always great for a nice treat.

I have no words

Graduation Party

This last weekend I had my Graduation Party. It was so nice. My auntie Linda got to come. She lives all the way over in Washington. It was a blessing to have her home. I also realized that her and I never even got a picture taken together, which is sad. But the best part is that I have my memories to look back on. My auntie Kay was a great blessing. She let me have my grad party at her house, which turned out amazing. I am thankful for her so much and for everything she did for me. Here is a picture of all my Aunts and Uncles on my Dad's side of the family and of course my Dad is in the picture too. My Dad is sitting in the chair, from left to right is my aunt Kay, uncle Jim, uncle Grant, and my aunt Linda.

Another amazing surprise is that my Grandma showed up. Matthew and Emily brought her and it was such a blessing. They are such an amazing couple and so loving. My Grandma is amazing. She made this quilt for me. It's nice and big and perfect for college. I can't wait to use it! Something that touched my heart was that my Grandma made me a special book. It's called "Stories to Touch the Heart." It is one of many special gifts that I will cherish forever. And believe me, the stories my Grandma has saved and found throughout the years do Touch your Heart, I even shed a few tears reading some of the stories in this book. It was such an amazing gift. She personalized it herself and wrote a little note for me in the beginning that made me cry. I love her so much, she has encouraged me throughout my walk with God and has helped me through rough times. Thank you, Grandma.

This is my Dad. I love him so much. I wish we could spend more time together. We don't get many times like this. I wish I could just drive out to him anytime I want, but I can't. It is a very long story and I would not like to share it with the rest of the world, but he lives by someone that I can't be around. And times like this is when I can take in every moment I'm with him. He's my Dad and I love him dearly.

A great investment

After searching for cars on the Internet and going to car dealerships I finally got a car. No luck until we found an add in the paper for this car. It's a Pontiac Grand Prix.

I graduated!!!

So this last Friday I graduated:) I don't feel any different. But I think after grad blast I did a little (I got really sick, I may have got food poisoning.) When I got home around 6:30am I had a really bad stomach ache. I slept until around noon and was still sick. I finally got better after about two days. I wouldn't be surprised after what I ate: walking taco's, about 5 vitamin waters, 5 waters, and a mountain dew, fruit, mac and cheese, hot spicy peperoni's, and a lot of other stuff. Grad blast was so much fun though. Spending the whole night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. This years grad blast theme was the Olympics. I was on team Pennington. We played games, a hypnotist was there(I didn't get hypnotized), karaoke, boxing, and a lot of other fun things were their for us.

My gorgeous Mother and I.

Sisters.

Calen, Alisha, Colbi and I.

Plus Molly!

Friends forever.

Taryn, Jeenah, and I. I like this picture!

Colbi, Erica, and I.

Molly, Eric, Colbi, and I.

Nellie, Colbi, and I.

Sisters plus nieces.

My beautiful niece Cadence and I.

Everyone.

The big walk.

Whoo hoo!!!

We made it!

The Valedictorian and I.

I really wish I were smiling in this picture.

Happiness.

Miss Morgan and I.

I also got my grades back! I got a 4.0 this semester! :) This was my goal for this semester and I managed to keep it. So my cum g.p.a was 3.88.

I'm done with school!

Today was my last day of school. I can't believe it. It seems like High school went by way too fast. I feel like I just entered Junior High a year ago. Those adolescence years were probably my worste years of my life. Looking back, I see how much I have changed. I didn't have Jesus in my life and that was a big part of why I had such a hard time growing up. I'm so glad that I finally gave myself to Him in the 10th grade. Graduation is Friday. I'm going to miss a lot of people, some not so much, but still it will be sad leaving everyone from the class of 2008. I just pray that God will guide me and give me the courage this year to become more like this Son, Jesus.

The way God showed me His love today

Today was the most beautiful day ever. I got done with a test early so I got to spend some time outside for awhile. I went to a park near the college and got to read my Bible, take a few picture's, eat lunch, and take in the beautiful world around me. Here are a few pictures of how God showed me His love today. Enjoy!

God gave me this Bible to show me His unfailing love He has for me.

The sky and clouds remind me of God's love.

The world in general is a reminder of God's love. He made it in six day's. That is pretty amazing.

Just looking at this tree reminds me of God's love. Every little detail God designed.

This beautiful, witty little girl also showed me God's love today. I love her!

To end the afternoon I got to enjoy part of it with a friend at a coffee shop. We read God's word, laughed, and talked about the future(scary, exciting, nervous!). This was another way God showed me His love, through friends.

Hip Hugger Bars

Are you tired of the old ordinary recipes? Have you ever wanted to impress guests with something new? Well, you are in luck. Hip Hugger Bars - a soothing bar that keeps your lips smacking - is just what you need. Never again will you have to make the ancient recipe of chocolate chip cookies. Just a few simple steps will lead your guests to a delightful indulgence of Hip Hugger Bars.

First, make sure you have all the ingredients for the crust and the filling. For your crust you will need 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of butter, 1 egg, 1 ½ cups of flour, 1 ½ cups of quick oatmeal, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. For your filling you will need 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 1 (6 ounce) package of chocolate chips. You will also need a medium sized bowl, 9 x 13 pan, double boiler, and measurements.

Have your medium sized bowl ready for the crust. Mix in the brown sugar and butter until it gets smooth. Then add in your egg, flour, oatmeal, salt, baking soda, and vanilla. Put 2/3 of the crust mix into the pan and press down until even. You will be using the double boiler to melt your sweetened condensed milk, butter, and chocolate chips. It is a utensil consisting of two pots, one that fits partway into the other. The lower pot has water in it to warm or melt a substance in the upper pot.

Have your burner on low heat and make sure to stir continuously; this will keep it from burning on the bottom. If you do not have a double boiler you may use the microwave to melt the ingredients. Make sure to watch it closely so it does not burn.

Once you have the filling melted you can start to put everything together. First you should preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then you can start to pour the filling onto the crust in the 9 x 13 pan. After the filling is in you can take out the remaining 1/3 crust from the fridge and start to make little patties about the size of smaller cookies. When you are done making the patties, you can spread them out over the filling. After that you can put the pan into the oven and let it bake for twenty minutes. When they are done let them cool for 10 minutes before you cut them. For best results cut them into 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 squares.

Your house will smell like a Martha Stewart baking sale, with the aroma of crust baking to the sweet smell of chocolate. Smiles on your guest’s faces will fill your soul with joy.

This is is my Grandma Ula's recipe. She is pretty much amazing.

Awards Banquet

Last night I went to the senior awards banquet. I got to eat school lunch for the last time as a senior, take goofy pictures with friends, and receive a scholarship! My graduation is exactly three weeks from today.


My mom and I

Beauty

"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." - Proverbs 11:22

Beauty is something I have always misunderstood. I always have to remind myself that it isn't by outward appearance. God is just amazing, comparing beauty to a pig's snout. This is the type of beauty I want.

Waking up to snow is not something I would have liked to wake up to in April. Although the college cancelled classes today! I hope that this will be the last of the snow this year.