New Year, Same Memories

As you may have noticed, other than the post I put in the wee hours of this morning, my blog took a little vacation. It was Christmas after all, and to be honest I really wasn't expecting to come back until after the new year. However, the writer in me has to escape every few days or I begin to turn into this emotional monster.

Which is exactly what happened.

Go ahead and blame hormones (actually, that IS why I've been such a mess lately) but I won't deny that I have been a little less than peachy in the past week or two. A sour attitude is really unlike me and I hated it. I had a case of the blues, and even the Holidays were having a hard time cheering me up. Nonetheless, I am slowly coming out of my slump and returning to my cheery self.

Thank God.

I could blog about Christmas and list all the love and presents my family shared last week. I just don't have the energy to purge every single detail onto my keyboard, but I will say this:
1.) Grandma's on Christmas Eve was fantastic! We laughed and made new memories. It was an awesome time.
2.) Christmas day was good as well. Santa brought me new sheets and a bed spread. Thankfully too, because I was getting tired of the one I currently owned.
3.) Jordan gave me an accessory item for my laptop computer and dance lessons with the Aggie Wranglers! It's the advanced dance lessons since we already know how to Polka and 2-step. This will consists of learning how to do fun twists, turns, and anything else fancy! I'm excited!
4.) went to Houston the day after Christmas to visit with Jordan's father and stepmother. Maybe I'll save this for another blog....

All in all, it was time well spent with family and I loved every minute.

Now, back to some random ramblings. Since I am moving at the end of the summer I have begun to think about where I will reside come the fall semester of '09. My current residence has gotten too expensive and a roommate swap is definitely in store so I've been trying to think about exactly what I want for a new temporary home. While pondering over such thoughts, I was reminded of the time I spent living with the best roommate I ever had. My older sister Shelly. We lived in a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment that was dirt cheap. We rarely argued and had the most fun together!

Example A:


You've probably figured out by now that my sister discovered a roach (yes, a ROACH) in her bedroom. I guess the dirt cheap rent came with a price. Thankfully, we called over Jordan and his roommate just in time to destroy the scariest insect to ever roam the earth. After this incident, we immediately went out and bought every single roach motel Walmart had to offer, plus an array of bug sprays. Our self-exterminating efforts worked, we only saw two more hellacious creatures the remaining two years we spent there.

Thank God.

But oh, how I miss those times.

Happy New Year everyone!

- Shirley :)

I'll never let him go

I know I talk about Jordan a lot...a whole, whole lot...but he's such a major part of my life its hard to write about my life without him in it. I also realize that it may be hard for some people to realize why he's so important to me and how we can be so devoted to each other at such a young age, but if you knew even half the story then maybe you could begin to understand.

You see, my mother was taken from me when I was fourteen. Two weeks shy of starting my freshman year in high school. I was distraught, and for the first time I began to question my faith. Why did God take away my mother when I had been praying so hard for the past four years for her health to improve? Why did he do this to my family? She was so wonderful and so perfect, it just didn't make sense. I kept going to church and prayed for an answer. Then, one night at my youth group bible study (which was held on my 15th birthday to be exact), we read a passage that answered everything I had been questioning. I couldn't tell you which book it was from, but I do remember that all is said was do not worry about what God has planned for you, he loves you, and everything he does is always for the better. I knew deep down that God would never do anything so hurtful without good reason. I had to keep my faith and no matter how much it hurt, I trusted God to show me why my mother was taken from me at such a young age.

In 2004, we moved to Moulton, Tx. We left the pain and the memories behind in Houston and aimed for a new start. It was my mother's dream to own a farmhouse out in the country and my father kept this promise to her by retiring from his job, selling our suburban home in West University Place, and building the house of her dreams from where of which I am typing out this very blog.

In 2005, my prayers were answered. I met Jordan Michael Dees and suddenly everything made sense. For if my mother would have never gone up to her heaven, we would have never of moved, and I would have never of met the one person who understands me more than anyone else I have ever known.

I'll admit, it wasn't instant. We were friends first for a good year and a half. In fact, at the beginning of my senior year I swore off guys and had no intentions of dating until way into my college years. This just proves that no matter how hard we try, God is the ultimate ruler and only he knows what is best. It came from no where. I had no desire to fall for someone, I didn't even try, it all happened just so naturally. We began talking a little more and more everyday and the more we talked the more I wanted to spend time with him. Soon, we had our first kiss (I made the move because...well...he's Jordan) and the next day he asked me out. I told him I didn't know because I was scared to get my heart broken. It didn't take me long to realize that I would be extremely stupid if I let this boy go, so on Halloween I said yes...and it began. 3 months later he told me he loved me and I expressed to him the same.

I have never meant it more in my life.

The first year was perfect. We were young and in love. We thought nothing could go wrong.

That is where we were wrong.

Jordan's past came back to haunt him. Since the beginning of our courtship, I knew the emotional issues he had been dealing with for most of his life (for privacy reasons I will not go into them) and did everything possible to help him through it. During high school it worked, but when we entered the college world, science took over. I never really understood what anxiety or depression was, but suddenly here I was with a class A example: my boyfriend and my best friend whom I had to watch experience this painful time.

It wasn't easy.

It gripped him like a vice. He became angry. His temper grew short. His grades began to suffer. Our relationship was on the brinks.

We struggled. We fought. We cried. I did my best to understand. Here was this boy I loved, trying to grow into a man, and fighting this mind-stealing disease. I cried with him on so many nights, helping him to understand that no matter what he was feeling I still loved him. It hurt me so much to see him the way he was. It hurt our relationship so much. I knew the real Jordan. The Jordan I knew was the sweetest most unselfish person I had ever known. A boy who rarely became angry and could make me laugh like no other. Where did the Jordan I know and fall in love with go?

He was still there, he was just sick.

Finally, I convinced him to talk to a doctor. First he went to a joke of a M.D. who prescribed him on a type of medicine that did everything opposite of what we wanted to accomplish. To make it clear on what I mean by opposite I'll say this: one day, I beat him in a football video game on Xbox and he punched a hole in the wall. Ya, no exactly what we were aiming for. I don't remember what the medicine was called, but after 6 months of using it we went back and demanded for something else.

We went to a new doctor. An angel sent from Heaven actually. Of course, taking him off of one medicine and prescibing a new one wasn't going to be that easy. He had to rid his body of the junk he was currently taking before he could begin the new one.

Medication withdrawls are no fun.

The next 4 months I watched Jordan's body fight off the crazy-ass pills Dr. knows-no-sense made him take. This was no easy task for our relationship either. There was more crying, more fighting, and more praying to God. Together, we fought through each obstacle, worked through each argument, and kept our faith. I wasn't about to let the boy who changed my world succumb to a mental illness. It was tough. We experienced more in one year than some couples experience in a life time. We had to deal with REAL issues, not pity drama like most nineteen year olds were experiencing at our age, but real, life saving issues.

We overcame.

One morning I woke up, and he was back. My best friend had returned. Actually, to tell the truth, he never left. Soon, we were back to the way things had been before. We were laughing together, loving each other, and spending every waking moment with each other. Our love matured and grew deeper with every morning sunrise. Jordan struggled with something he could not control, and the turmoil it caused him to be fighting his emotions 24/7 created so much stress on himself and our relationship that it became hard. Somehow though, through all the tough times, even when moments were at their lowest, I still loved him. I loved him so much that I stood by him through it all and helped him as much as I could. His happiness meant everything to me, for he had made me happier than anyone I knew. I just wanted to return the favor.

It paid off.

38 months later we are still together and still very deeply in love. We very rarely fight, and when we do its typical couple bickers. You see, Jordan saved me from the throws of my own depression. He saved me from the darkness of my mother's death and answered my prayers. He gave me a reason to live again. In a way, I saved Jordan too, I saved him from the painful memories of his childhood and the repurcussions it was taking on his adult life by standing by him and holding his hand everytime he had an anxiety attack or a depressive pitfall.

But most importantly, God saved both of us. God blessed me with a creature from heaven, a human being without a single evil bone in his body, a man who is caring and loving in so many ways that it will take the rest of my life to give it all back to him.

So yes, I write about Jordan a lot, but he is a gift from God.

And I'll never let him go.

It's Christmas Eve Eve

Well folks, it's here. In a couple of short hours I will hit the sack, soon to awaken on Christmas Eve morning. For those who may not know (although I don't see how, I've been proclaiming this fact since before Thanksgiving) Christmas Eve is my most favorite day of the year. No, not Christmas day, but Christmas Eve. The wonderment and excitement the day holds has always been something I've loved from the time I was a toddler up to today. Call me weird, childish, or even a little obsessed, but come tomorrow morning this twenty-one year old will no longer be a young adult but a boisterous and anxious single digit aged child.

Growing up, I held such anticipation for Christmas Eve that the day before December 24th couldn't go unnoticed. Me and my younger brother proudly proclaimed December 23rd as Christmas Eve Eve. You read that correctly, the typo was purposely placed. The Eve before Christmas Eve. The night before Santa was to come. I don't know why, but even in the present I still refer to today as the creative title my little brother and I innocently conjured up. Nothing special ever happened on this day nor does it continue to. No traditional seance is delivered or sacrificial pigs are roasted (that's only on Thanksgiving). It just helps build up the anticipation (like we need more of it).

I guess the reason I love tomorrow so much is because it is filled with such memories and traditions. Every year is the same and, although I stated in my very first post that I hated routines, this particular habit is just fine with me. I remember as if it were yesterday: waiting my turn for the shower (we all claimed 30 minute blocks of time throughout the day, I preferred the 12:30-1 p.m. time frame), waiting patiently for the curlers to warm up so my mother could do my hair along with my other four sisters', getting dressed in my parents' closet, darning the dress I most likely pitched a fit about wearing causing my mom to grow a few premature gray hairs, arriving to mass one hour early to secure a few pews to accommodate our rather large family, singing carols throughout the church service to the best of my ability, anxiously waiting for church to be over so we could get to Grandma's, returning home for five minutes to load up the suburban with homemade macaroni and cheese and any other dishes my mother had prepared for our Christmas Eve meal with all 50+ family members (now 70+), and finally arriving at our destination, 3904 Milton street. Home to the proud owners of my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph V. Darilek. Upon arriving to the house, we help unload presents and food and enter into the boiling hot living room (my grandparents have this thing with the heater) where we enter into a fifteen minute hugging and kissing frenzy. After the presents are nestled under the tree (along with about 50 others), we grab a coke or sprite (beer for the adults) and talk until our ears fall off. The men gather in the den to watch the football game, the girls travel into the living room surrounding the one couch to talk about God knows what, and the aunts and my grandmother get busy in the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner. The dinner table is set for 30-40+ and stretches from one end of the house to the other, we eat in two shifts, buffet style, kids go first, and then the adults (who have their plates cleaned up for them by the young girls and served dessert). Soon the kitchen is clean and everyone crams together in the den, the football game now off and the youngest sitting indian style on the floor (last year was the first year I got a chair!).

The bible is read. Although dozens and dozens of gifts are resting neatly under the tree, we make sure to never forget the reason why we are all gathered together in one room. One person is always chosen to read the passage of the birth of Jesus and every year the power of the message always gets to me and I become overwhelmed...what a joyous occasion!

Then, its time to rip into the gifts. Everyone receives one gift from their godparent and one from Grandma and Grandpa, but don't be fooled, these gifts are special in their own way. No one expects anything flashy or expensive underneath the cedar tree (cut down specially by my grandfather from the bustering town of Moulton, TX). Last year one of my cousins received a roll of toilet paper and i got underwear detergent. There are many gag gifts, arousing much laughter, and to me that is one of the best parts about the evening. My family doesn't need material things to enjoy the holiday, all we need is each other and a sense of humor.

Eventually the night winds down, thank you's are given and family pictures taken. The car is reloaded and we begin the long drive home. In years past, this drive consisted of a short 4 blocks, now it entails 112 miles. None the matter, it's all the same to me. We arrive home late, my dad usually puts the pork loin in the oven to begin its roasting process, and everyone heads to bed...everyone except me. I could never sleep on Christmas Eve and age has brought on no change.

Reading over all this, I realize that none of this may seem very special to others, but to me its everything. I've always been a lover of life's simple pleasures and an evening filled with family and laughter is the best gift I could ever receive. Tomorrow will be no different from years past. I have no doubt that it will be enjoyed by all and I most certainly can't wait to see Jordan tomorrow evening for the first time since the 15th! It will be his first time staying over on Christmas Eve night and we plan to stay up late and watch Meet Me in St Louis (since I can never sleep anyway), my most favorite movie.

I hope everyone out there, friend and enemy, will have a blessed, safe, wonderful and Merry, Merry Christmas!

Til then,

Love and Joy come to you :)

Ghost of Christmas Past

Since I am spending my 45 day break in Moulton and am just BURSTING with things to do, I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane to Christmases of years past. The picture above was taken in 1987, my first Christmas. To be honest, I look a little freaked out. I wonder who this man was anyway. (click on thumbnails for bigger view)

Christmas day 20 years ago:


There I am all the way in the back, obviously, the one closest to the fire. Rebecca looks a little upset, Chuck is a little ecstatic, and everyone else looks like they are just ready to eat! Also, that blanket sitting in front of the fire looks a little too close for comfort...even in the Fire Chiefs house!

15 years ago:


Here is Randy and I in 1993, smiling from our bedroom window I am guessing right after my mom had finished putting up the lights. I always loved they way we decorated our home. It was always the brightest on the street!


Christmas morning 1993! Those footie pajamas were awesome! I wonder what that string was hanging on the wall to the left of Scott, anyone know? Have a guess? Go figure, I had already dug into in my stocking and began chowing down on a snack. Had I even eaten breakfast yet? Probably not.

10 years ago:


At my grandparents' house Christmas Eve in 1998. We spend Christmas Eve here every year and it is my most favorite day of the year! I was in 5th grade at the time, and clearly no where near the fashion trends of the day....


I wish someone would have slapped me. They certainly should have. No matter, I can laugh at it now. Those dogs kept my feet warmer than any other pair of slippers I've ever owned. I miss them actually. This is when my fear of dogs subsided and my wish to have one as a pet grew. I am still waiting on that wish....

5 years ago:


Christmas dinner in 2003. You can't see me because I am the one taking the picture. This was about a year and four months after our world turned upside down, but we still look as happy as ever.

1 year ago:


This was at my wonderful older brother Chuck's fabulous Cheesy Christmas sweater party. It was a blast, and clearly none of us are photogenic.


Christmas morning. Love the fire! Jordan and I always argue over which is better, real fires or propane induced fires. Just like I will never have a fake tree, I will never have a "fake" fire. Sorry babe.


This was taken during the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten!


I lOVE CHRISTMAS. Childhood Christmases were filled with magic and wonder and to this day that same feeling still creeps its way into my heart. There is nothing I love more than spending quality time with the family I love so much! I can't wait for this year!

Merry Christmas :)

My little stress relievers

The beginning of this week was not so good. I had all of my finals on Monday and Wednesday, and I was stressed...I mean, STRESSED. You see, when situations such as these arise, my body does not handle them very well. My face breaks out, my muscles cramp, my back forms about a dozen knots, and my stomach goes into cahoots. Top all of that off with no sleep and anxiety and you had me, a complete frantic, shaky, mess. I had to do really well on my tests on Wednesday to secure decent grades for the Semester for my Western Civilization 101 and English 231 courses (two classes that are usually my strong points...not in this case), so I began studying a week in advance for the exams, and the day before I went 16 hours straight of non-stop cramming(that's from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.). By the time I decided to give up and head home and NOT sleep in the library, since I had been debating on that all day, my head was screaming in pain and I was shaking. The previous week and a half had drained so much mental energy out of me and I was nervous as hell. As I laid my head down to sleep and said my usual prayers, I asked the Lord to give me strength to just get through the next morning. I didn't care if the tests were hard. I felt I had done everything I could do, but I had no strength. I needed the courage and will to fight through my exams. Plus, I just wanted to know everything was going to be OK.

Well, I got maybe about two and a half hours of sleep. My mind would not stop racing. So at 5:30 a.m. I decided trying to fall back to sleep was pointless and decided to crawl out of bed and start some reviewing for my first exam, which was to be at 8 a.m.. It had been raining/sleeting all night so upon arising out of bed I noticed that the rain/ice was no longer hitting my window. I opened up the blinds to take a look and this is what I found:



I was taken back. I know my life isn't hard, and everyone suffers from stress every now and then, but there was something about this snowfall that touched my heart. I had prayed a couple of hours before for the strength and determination to get through my exams...here was my source. I know it may sound cheesy or even a little ridiculous, but I feel that deep down, my mother and God were listening to me and sent me something so simple (well, this is TEXAS, so maybe 3 inches of snow wasn't so easy) and beautiful to calm my fears. It worked. The snow melted away all of my worries and anxiety, and as I stood out there in my sweatshirt and blue jeans in 28 degree weather watching the snow fall...I knew everything was going to be alright.

I enjoyed my long walk to the Zachry building across campus that morning.



It was beautiful! More snow fell later that day to completely blanket the college station area. My guess is it was around 2-4in. A friend of mine sent me a picture message later that night of a 5 foot snowman they built in their front yard! For us Texans, that is most definitely a once in a lifetime achievement!

My tests went OK. Once I finished it felt as if a ten pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I could FINALLY do as I pleased. I ran some errands, did some Christmas shopping, and fell asleep on the couch for a good 25 minutes. It was awesome! To top it off, I got to drive home to Moulton to this:



Jordan's female black lab had puppies Monday morning, and they are SO CUTE. I didn't grow up with a pet, most certainly never a dog. So all of this is new to me and this is the first time I've ever gotten to see a real puppy in person (I swear my childhood was still awesome though, no permanent damage done). These little guys put the cherry on top. I held one in my hand and it squealed for a bit, then fell asleep in my lap.



If this doesn't melt your heart...then I don't know what will.

I love that I don't need anything fancy or flashy to make me happy. All I needed was a little winter weather and puppy love to remind me how lucky I am to have the life I live. I thank God for the little stress relievers he sent me this week and I pray that he continues to help out other families during this holiday season who aren't as fortunate as I am. Lord knows their stress is a little more complex than mine was, and if anyone needs a little stress reliever, it is them.

Til then,

Merry Christmas

The World doesn't want me to study

It's so true! It seems as if every time I get an ounce of desire to hit the books something comes up to relinquish any motivation I tirelessly worked so hard to gain.

For instance: sports.

I know, some of you may be thinking..."but, you're a girl, how do you like sports? Isn't that a pretty male thing to do?". My only answer to that is...you don't know me at all. I LOVE sports, and it appears as though this year it has been taken to a new level. I followed college football more closely this year than I have in years past. Now I am beginning to regret it. Because I have devoted an insurmountable time of my Saturdays to ESPN's College Gameday, ABC, and Kyle Field, the championship games taking place as I write out this (very procrastinator) blog post carry major significance. BUT I HAVE TO STUDY. I've locked myself away in a secluded room for the past 3 days straight and have only accomplished one-third of what I need to before Monday and Wednesday. The t.v. is once again calling my name and every now and then I get the "what's watching the game for 20 minutes going to hurt?" feeling. However, I know myself better than I want to believe. I know that if I turn on the tube and begin to watch football I'll get sucked in and go from studying at a good, reasonable pace to "wait...don't I have a final on Monday I should have been studying for for the past 8 hours?".

Another thing that doesn't help was the Fightin' Texas Aggie Basketball game last night that I attended (and was SO glad I did). It was one of the most exciting, loud, and awesome games I have attended at this splendid University. The Aggies were losing by at least 9-8 points the WHOLE game, even sinking into a deficit of 15 points from time to time. Nevertheless, everyone knows Aggies never give up, and the boys basketball team proved that. The intensity of the second half was one I had never experienced before, and when Nathan Walkup hit the three pointer to put our team ahead by 1 with only 17 seconds left...my feet couldn't find the floor. The final buzzer sounded and Reed Arena went crazy. Granted, we had been going crazy for the past 12 minutes but this time we took our excitement out onto the floor and celebrated with the team.

Now, I can't get this game (and excitement I still feel about it) out of my head. It makes me want to watch another finger bitting, thrilling sports match up, and what venue offers that any better than conference championships?

The world doesn't want me to study, but I guess I am going to anyway, and I promise to try as hard as I can to keep away from the television. I can't promise that when 7 p.m. rolls around I'll still be locked in my room (cause, really, who can take 9 straight hours of studying anyway?), but for now I'll keep to my Music of the Americas and Geology notes because I have not one but TWO finals on Monday, and then two MORE on Wednesday.

Wish me luck....Wait...is that Guitar Hero I hear playing in the next room over?.....

Shirley :)

Christmas Time is Here

I wrote this I believe either two years ago or just last winter, but I think it sums up pretty well how I feel about the Christmas season in as little words as possible. I wanted to wait and post this on Christmas Eve, but I have no patience. I'll think of something else special to post on that wonderful day (if I am able to get to a computer). Season's Greetings :)

Christmas Time is Here

Christmas time is here,
‘Tis the same thing every year.
Holiday music and decorations galore,
Shoppers looking for sales and more and more.
Trees go up darned with lights,
Houses shimmer throughout the nights.
Cold winter air nips your nose,
Kids wishing and hoping it snows.
Fires crackle, chestnuts roast,
We cuddle next to ones we love most.
Christmas eve I can only say,
Throughout the year tis my favorite day.
Excitement and cheer fill the house,
As I curl my hair and darn my Christmas blouse.
Crowded together, to mass we go,
Filling up the pews, row by row.
Shoulder to shoulder we all sit,
Crammed, it’s a wonder we all can fit.
We pay our tributes to the reason,
The man who was birthed, to celebrate the season.
But oh the best part is yet to come,
It’s time for Grandma’s, food, and fun.
The family gathers, the house fills up,
Everyone cheery, and all dressed up.
Dozens of gifts nestled under the tree,
Wondering only what to expect from Aunt Margie.
The table is set, a mile long,
And the old radio plays a simple Christmas song.
Dinner is ready, we eat in 2 shifts,
Kids go first, eager to open their gifts.
Turkey and dressing, pass the rolls please,
And my oh so favorite homemade macaroni and cheese.
Adults go next as the girls clear the plates,
Dessert to finish, kolaches and beautifully iced cakes.
When all is fed and the dishes are clean,
We gather in one room to read of a nativity scene.
Presents are opened thereafter,
Quickly filling the room with much much laughter.
Coconuts, goats, aggie clocks, and dvds,
Who knew so much love could be under one Christmas tree.
Some gifts are funny, some may fall apart,
And then some are special, which we hold close to our heart.
We share dozens of laughs and tell numerous stories,
All creating some of my most favorite memories.
I look forward to this day once the holidays hit,
And it doesn’t even really matter what presents I get.
I love this family and the things we can share,
Even if that means handing out boxers with the heads of reindeer.
We remember our loved ones, sisters, and bretheren,
Who get to spend Christmas with Jesus, watching us from heaven.
This night means a lot to me and I know it does you,
It’s one of the last things in life that we know to be true.
I wish one thing, to take with you, a must,
To have a wonderful and beautiful Christmas.


Shirley Stevenson

Thanksgiving was awesome.



We had quite the feast.

There was plenty of laughter and memories made and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The only thing I didn't enjoy too much was A&M's loss to Texas, but that's okay. We beat them the last two year's in a row and they are pretty good this year. We were lucky to have scored a touchdown on them. After the first few quarters of the game (when we realized it was pretty much over), we ordered some beers and began to drown away our feelings of the game. After roasting a pig all day (and kicking Charlie's butt in washers AND koknockers) it didn't take very long. In fact, we were in such high spirits when we returned home from the bar that someone decided to play a nice trick on me. If you recall, I am DEATHLY afraid of roaches. One of my older sisters had neatly placed a fake one on the kitchen floor right next to my foot (and after drinking a few Shiner Blonde's this was an easy task to get away with) and turned my attention towards it. I did a little shuffling of my feet in a minor freak out manner, then proceeded to run out of the room begging for someone to "kill it!". On my way out the door to safety I heard the living room fill with laughs, it was then I knew the roach was fake. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I laughed so hard I cried.

Another great thing about the break, other than being with family, was that I got to spend some time with my nephews. Those three boys are wonderful and are so because of their parents. I hope they know how lucky they are to have the mommy and daddy that they do!

However, now that Thanksgiving is over and December is upon us, it is officially the Christmas season! I have already made two batches of Peanut Butter Squares (it wasn't supposed to be two until I accidentally dumped WAY too much brown sugar in the mix and was forced to double the recipe) and added 99.1 and 107.3 to the presets on my ihome and Randy's car radio. I LOVE Christmas! To quote from a previous post, I have a slight obsession with it. Me and Jordan went grocery shopping the other day and outside of the Kroger's they were setting up their Christmas tree display. Jordan let me walk through the trees so I could get a good whiff of the piny scent. I wanted one, but decided that buying a $30 tree for only a week just for the smell wasn't such a good idea. Someone should make a Christmas tree candle, I would buy so many of those and burn them year round!

Now, I must be patient. The advent season has begun. I have started to pray my advent Novena at night in preparation for the birth of our Lord. For the next week I will be waist deep in a sea of books and deprived of sleep. Come December 10th, I will officially be a Junior in college (since I am a semester behind) and ready to spend my 40 day (yes, that's right, 40 DAYS!) holiday break doing absolutely nothing! Until then I'll be listening to my Holiday music, including this one, which is my all time favorite and makes me cry EVERY time I watch this movie.

Happy...oh screw it...MERRY Christmas!