The smell of books should come in candle form

I absolutely LOVE being able to catch up on my reading during school breaks. 

I love the feel and smell of books.  It's so soothing to me...

I have read a couple of books and I would like to recommend them:







A remarkable true story of a family who sought to show God's love by hiding Jews during the Holocaust







True stories of children in the big cities. Growing up faster than imaginable.









A touching story of a young Jewish boy born with a gift of painting and how it affects his life and his precious family







<><>

 

<>

A true story of a man going "under cover" as a African American to record/experience racial segregation

A story about two Jewish boys and how faith affects their lives and friendship



The Giver

I sat down and read this whole book today. Check it out.  It's a great read.
It reminds me of a mixture between The Village by M. Night Shymalan and 1984 by George Orwell.

*Choices and free will can produce beauty and love but also destruction and death

*A world without color and emotion is a shallow excuse for a world

*To be an individual is a gift we must never abuse

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Today we journeyed to Cracker Barrel in Decatur for some family time on my dad's side.  I absolutely love to hear my paw-paw tell stories.  He talked about how his dad fought in WWI and shot a sniper in France.  How epic is that?  Anyways, I just love being with my family.

Aren't they cute?

Christmas decorating went full force when we got home. 

It was narrated by one of my all-time fav Christmas videos.  I watched this thing even in July. Mom even had to buy another one because I broke it from watching it so much.

Aren't we precious?

Can't really see it, but here's the tree with all it's lights :)

Can't forget the Grinch

One of the fam's favs that we watched for the 362nd time



FAMILY

FUN

LAUGHS

CHRISTMAS

HOME

Phew...finally home

1. So the past 24 hours or so have been quite adventurous to say the least...

To start off ole Berta (my car) decided to break down last nite on my way back from the PCSU.  Lindsey and I decided to grab a nutritious dinner of chickfila and pizza hut.  On the way I noticed the alignment on my car was WAY off.  Well, this isn't too grand of a newsflash for Berta.  She struggles...  On our way back to the apartment I turned a corner and I heard what sounded like the whole bottom part of my car fall down.  I looked over at Lindsey in pure shock.  I couldn't move forward.  Good ole campus safety pulled up and a friend of mine called AAA.  

•   So here's the picture....FLASHING LIGHTS and people driving/walking by and staring like it was going out of style.  AWESOME. not....

The tow truck finally came after like 45 minutes...

What a crappy nite.

*The next morning after chapel an unexpected rainshower descended upon Cleveland and I did not appreciate it one bit.



1. Rain w/o umbrella = FAIL

2. Rain while wearing TOMS = MAJOR FAIL

So I finally get home after a crazy nite/day and I go to see my lovely dog.  I run around with her for a while and decide to come inside.  I take off my shoes and chill for a while.  My parents and I then decide to go out to eat.  I grab my shoes and this is what I found...



That's right.  Dog poop...and i touched it becaue I though it was a leaf.



So as you can gather, I have had a series of unfortunate events lately, but the evening got better because of my wonderful parents.  Man, they sure do crack me up.  I love em to death and wouldn't trade them for the world.

Great smile dad, at least your eyes weren't closed.

I had a wonderful chicken panini with free ice cream



• So hopefully my string of bad luck is over and I can soak in the holidays.
• Can't wait til my sister comes home tomorrow!!!!
• Gotta do a ton of homework but tomorrow is lazy day.  So that entitles sleeping and watching 21 Jumpstreet
• Watching Terminator on tv.  Gotta love those 80s movies...

Remembering Heroes of Mine

The past few years I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people.  They have impacted me with their brief intersection into my life.  I have learned deep lessons of love, forgiveness, and fun.  They have inspired me to get the best out of life and to never give up.  Through their lives, I yearn to be greater.  I have considered some of these people my family.  I will see them again someday...

Layla

Dear Layla,
You always made me smile and most of the time keel over from laughing so hard.  I have so many good memories of us goofing around.  Dodgeball in the daycar, trying to catch cheeseballs in our mouths, road trip to Unclaimed Baggage.  Layla, you had a genuine love for people that was revolutionary.  It was a honor working with you and a privilege being your friend.  Thank you for inspiring me to love more unconditionally.  Save me a bowl of cheeseballs in heaven.





Effie

Dearest Effie,

You were a fiesty woman who gave great hugs. I loved how you would yell at your dogs but how much you treated them like your babies.  Effie, I didn't know you very long but what I experienced when I was around you was your vibrancy and joy.  Thanks for being so sweet to me every Saturday and teaching me to keep faith in people even when they treat you like crap.

I bet there are a lot of banana trees in heaven. 

Elsie

Dearest JabberJaw,
I love that your family nicknamed you that.  You definitely lived up to it.  I absolutely loved your stories and I adore the fact that you used to sing in a group.  I loved how warm your house used to feel and how welcome you always made me feel.  You have taught me to stay strong even when things seem bleak.  Your unfailing faith even when you were sick, remained strong.  You taught me to trust in God more even when the diagnosis isn't what you planned.  Oh....and your cat is doing fine.  Granny is taking care of it. 



These people have left their fingerprints on my life even though they are gone into another world.  I wanted to write these little notes to remember the little things that they taught me.  See you guys one day...

Paraguay 2011

• So guess where I'm heading? That's right, Paraguay!  I'm going to spend 10 whole weeks there this summer with some of my friends from my major.  I'm going to be working in Ituagua Paraguay with missionaries there.  We'll be working at an orphanage and possibly on an animal/vegetable farm.  Can you picture me now with overalls?  It's gonna be intense, but I'm super excited.

So I'm on this new kick now of watching Boy Meets World. I found them all on Hulu.com and I'm almost done with season 1.  Sweet nostalgia.  They just don't make good tv anymore.  Can I get an amen?

My roommate got me hooked on this show.  I love me some Johnny Depp.  It's a pretty good show.  I'm gonna catch up this thanksgiving break and watch all of season 2.  If you haven't watched even of it, I suggest you check it out. No....I command you to.  I am using my jedi mind tricks on you....See I told you it was a good show.