Currently Listening Heavier Things By John Mayer see related

Well yes, my dear Alyssa, you are right...it's about time to update.  I can't believe it's been nearly two months since my last post!  Time sure does fly.  I am currently almost done with the fall semester...talk about time flying!  It's been a good semester looking back...I don't think I've ever been so busy in my life, but I really did learn a whole lot in my methods classes AND in my beloved 5th grade class at Northwest Elementary!  Anyway, I am completely, 100% ready to be home for Christmas break.  I need a break so badly!  I'm working the first week I'm home, and then the second week is full of family Christmas times (in Van Wert and in Michigan), and then the third and final week will be my week of relaxation...sleeping, scrapbooking, and maybe a little painting at Dave's house?  We'll see what fun is in store there.

Tonight I get to eat at the Back 40 Junction with the youth staff.  It's gonna rock, let me tell you.  Back 40 has amazing food!  I'm sort of a youth leader...I'm like a seasonal youth leader - like when I'm home from school and stuff - so I figure I count.   Also, Dave is for real on youth staff, and Chris said that youth staff members could bring their spouses, so I figure that whatever part of "youth leaderness" I lack that would keep me from going to the staff dinner tonight, I will make up in being the (almost) spouse of a certain unmarried youth leader.  yay.

So Dave and I got our engagment pictures taken in the beginning of November and we got them back recently and they are amazing!!  Check out our photographer's blog and scroll down to find a few of our pictures.  If you want to look at them all, let me know and I'll give you the link!  Other than that, nothing substancial has been accomplished.  I'm waiting on hearing back from (team) Dan about invitations!

Who would have thought that finals week would be the most laid back week of my semester?  Yeah...that might tell you something as to how my semester has been. I've watched a movie and taken a couple of naps, not to mention the incessant amount of room rearranging that has been occuring here in the lovely dorm room.  Abby and I have moved or rearranged at least one thing every day for the past few days.  Gotta love it!  It's a delicate balance here in our room between heat exhaustion and frigid temperatures when it comes to sleeping at night.  Our heater is an extremist...either it's blowing out cold air or really really hot air, so lately we've been sleeping with it on and the window open which worked real well until last night when about 2304985 trains decided to make their way through Huntington, each one waking us up because now our beds are by the window.  Who's ready to NOT live in the dorm anymore?!  It does keep life interesting though...

Well, it's been nice posting.  Until next time, Alyssa...   much love.

Currently Listening Woven & Spun By Nichole Nordeman see related

so at the request of a most wonderful Alyssa Evans, i thought i might update.   one word to describe my life right now: RIDICULOUS.  and crazy.  two words, however.  anyway, i've kept myself busy with 18 credit hours, nearly 80 books to read, several units to write, papers, presentations, and other various items coming out my ears.  but hey, at least i'm in all education classes and i'm enjoying myself amidst the chaos!  i know that what i'm doing will benefit me in the long run.  it's encouraging!   things are great over in meadows 207.  i love living over here!  abby and i pretty much do homework nonstop and try to keep each other sane at the same time.  this week (monday and tuesday) was fall break and i spent the two days observing in a kindergarten class in VW.  it was crazy!  kindergarteners are so funny and interesting.  i actually enjoyed just standing and listening to their conversations.  talks about how the doctors "got the heart attack out" of a boy's grandpa, how a boy thought he'd like to be my son, and a girl telling on a boy who she thought was going to tell on her - the highlights of the conversations i overheard.   toooo cute.  however, they are definitely exhausting!

wedding stuff is going well.  we just passed the 8 month mark yesterday!  i found bridesmaids dresses, too!  they haven't been officially ordered yet, but i'm 99.9% sure that's what we're going with.  oh, and they will be in blue.  also, i talked to (team) dan about invites and ordered dave's wedding band yesterday.  very exciting!  each step makes it feel so much more real.   i sure do love that boy.

okay, just thought i'd let everyone know i'm still alive.  drop me a line, people!  if i make another personal post before the end of the semester, it will be shocking.  hope everyone is doing well...stop me and say hey sometime. 

much love

Currently Listening A Collision By David Crowder Band Wholly Yours see related

I am full of earth
You are heaven's worth
I am stained with dirt
Prone to depravity
You are everything that is bright and clean
The antonym of meYou are divinity
But a certain sign of grace is this:
From the broken earth
Flowers come up pushing through the dirt

You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries "Holy, holy God."
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy like you are

You are everything that is bright and clean
And your covering me with Your majesty
And the And the truest sign of grace was this:
From wounded hands redemption fell down
Liberating manYou are holy, holy, holy

All heaven cries "Holy, holy God."
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy like you are

But the harder 
I try the more cleary can I feel
The depth of our fall and the weight of it all
And so this might could be the most impossible thing:
Your grandness in meMaking me clean

Glory, hal-le-lu-jahGlory, 
Glory, hal-le-lu-jah
So here I am
All of me
Finally everything
Wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly
I am wholly, wholly, wholly.....Yours

I am full of earth and dirt and You

Currently Watching Gilmore Girls - The Complete Second Season By Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Scott Patterson, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Jared Padalecki, Liza Weil, Milo Ventimiglia, Sean Gunn, Chris Eigeman, Matt Czuchry, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann see related

never fear, i AM still alive.  i just took a brief, 4 month recess from xanga, that's all!  i go back to school a week from tomorrow.  talk about a date that has completely snuck up like no other!  it will be good to get back into the swing of HU-ness...all ed classes, head CMCmanship, and meadows 2nd with my new roomie!  heck yeah!

this summer has been wonderful!  full of 40 hr work weeks, summer ethics online, family time, dave time, and wedding planning like you've never planned before.  i got a dress today!  it's beautiful.  i'm so glad i found it before i go back to school! 

yep, so that's pretty much it.  i just woke up from a nice nap and am still a little groggy.  in honor of the best tv show ever (that i'm watching even now), i have provided all of you with the ultimate list of wonderful things about Gilmore Girls.  i found it online...gotta love google!

peace.

100+ Things To Love About The Gilmore Girls

1. Kirk's ever-changing career paths
2. Town Meetings
3. Luke's Diner
4. Rory's love life
5. Friday dinners
6. Rapid Fire conversations
7. Taylor's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe
8. Sookie's gourmet concoctions
9. A new maid every week at Richard and Emily's
10. Paris' life coach
11. Lane's glasses
12. Luke and Lorelai's first date
13. Annual Revolutionary War Reenactment
14. Doose's Market
15. The town green
16. Luke and Lorelais' first kiss
17. Sebastian Bach being in Lane's band
18. No cell phones in Luke's Diner
19. Paris dating a professor
20. Lorelai's love of coffee
21. Lorelai & Rory live off of takeout food
22. Michel's French accent
23. Stars Hollow Holidays
24. Luke's crankiness
25. Mrs. Kim's religious fervor
26. Jackson as Town Selectman
27. Black, White and Red Movie theater
28. Norman Mailer eating lunch at The Dragonfly
29. Lorelai's first-snow premonition
30. Kirk in drag
31. Miss Patty's dance hall
32. Liz and T.J. moving to Stars Hollow
33. Lane's music hiding places while living with her mom
34. Michel's dry sarcasm
35. Literary references
36. Logan playing hard-to-get
37.The Girls' awesome wardrobe
38. Rory and Paris' unwild Spring Break
39. Jess (because we sometimes still miss him)
40. The Dragonfly Inn
41. Luke and Lorelai as a couple
42. Luke's plaid shirts and backwards cap
43. Emily's society functions
44. Lorelai sleeping over at Yale on Rory's first night
45. Al's Pancake House, we hear about it, but have we seen it?
46. Dean's floppy-haired charm
47. Lorelai and Rory's obscure movie marathons
48. Luke's boat
49. That Alexis and Milo Ventimiglia are dating in real life!
50. Babbette and her love of yard gnomes
51. The chuppa that Luke built Lorelai for her almost-wedding to Max
52. Gypsy's garage
53. Great Grandmother Gilmore
54. Lorelai's seamstress abilities
55. Luke and Lorelai's flirting over the years
56. Lane living illegally at Rory's dorm
57. Lane's penchant for dating members of her band
58. Emily and Richard's veiled insults
59. Rory appearing as "live" art
60. Rory taking part in the Life and Death Brigade
61. The road trips
62. Mrs. Kim's exchange student looks a lot like Lane - same glasses and all!
63. Rory and Lorelai being partners at the 24-hour dance marathon
64. Lane and Rory's musical knowledge
65. Rory and Lorelai's bottomless stomachs for junk food, while maintaining fabulous figures
66. Lorelai's need for many cocktails when visiting her parents
67.That Rory's full name is Lorelai, like her mother and great-grandmother
68. Jackson deep frying a turkey for Thanksgiving
69. The weddings: Sookie's, T.J. & Liz's, Emily & Richard's vow renewal
70. News travels fast if you tell the right people: Miss Patty & Babette
71. Lorelai's continued rebelliousness to her parents
72. When Lane went dyed her hair purple (thx. Kim)- even if it was only for a brief time
73. Lane waitressing at Luke's
74. Emily being intimidated by Richard's mother
75. The pranks Jess pulled to impress Rory
76. Paris going from Chilton to Yale with Rory
77. Rory's European holiday with Emily
78. Lane "corrupting" the exchange student with Monte Cristo sandwiches and french fries
79. Luke and Jess reading the self-help book on relationships to win the favor of Lorelai and Rory
80. Luke working the Renaissance Fair circuit for his sister
81. Madeline and Louise appearing out of nowhere at Spring Break
82. Lane's ex-boyfriend Dave playing religious songs to be near her
83. Jess showing up at Yale to take Rory away
84. Christopher escorting Rory to the debutante ball
85. Luke building Lorelai an ice pond to skate on
86. Rory impulsively kissing Jess before Sookie's wedding
87. Kirk's night terrors
88. Luke keeping the horoscope that Lorelai cut out for him 8 years prior
89. The inside joke that Lane's ex, Dave went to California
90. Dean's bachelor party when he asked for Rory
91. The world's largest pizza for Lorelai's birthday
92. Dean building a car for Rory
93. Lorelai and Rory being such great friends
94. Korean New Year Party where Brian from Lane's band learned Korean culture so he could fit in and Gil rocked out with the Korean musicians
95. Christopher's comings and goings
96. To see how much Rory and Lorelai are alike, but also how very different they are from each other
97. Luke giving a loan to Lorelai and Sookie so they could open the inn
98. Sookie's midwife who didn't like Lorelai's negativity
99. Pre-dating, Lorelai's dream that she and Luke were married and had twins.
100.Gilmore Gossip Newsletter! To keep up with all things Stars Hollow! Sign-up for it! 101. The Stars Hollow Troubadour
102. Max's proposal to Lorelai
103. Dean being many "firsts" for Rory
104. Luke and Lorelai's dance at Liz & T.J.'s wedding
105. How Jess didn't like anything in town, but Rory
106. Emily and Richard
107. Luke pushing Jess into the lake
108. Rory's books in odd places all around her room
109. How it can be funny and romantic at the same time.
110. Rory's knack for usually find "perfect, long-term" boyfriends
111. The show is great the second time around - you pick up many subtle references you may have missed the first time around.
112. Stars Hollow being the perfect name for the town because you never know who's going to show up.
113. Luke and Lorelai breaking the church bells
114. Rory's nicknames: Rory (from her mom), Mary (from Tristan at Chilton) and Ace (from Logan)
115. The Stars Hollow Egg Hunt - and Kirk's miscalculation which caused the whole town to smell like rotten eggs.
116. Michel's obsession with Celine Dion and his dogs
117. Lorelai's and Rory's special mother-daughter relationship
118. Dean and Jess fighting on the lawn over Rory
119. The way Richard and Emily don't get half of what Lorelai is saying
120. Carole King playing the music store owner
121. Doyle's seriousness
122. Jess' pranks to impress Rory
123. Babette's accent (a la Ruth Gordon in 'Harold and Maude')
124. Rory's early days of romance with Dean and Jess
125. Referencing Spike and Drusilla
126. Lorelai entering the Diner wearing Luke's shirt

check that out...