What a fabulous week!

I spent 5 days with the most important people in my life: my family.  I went to Van and ate, laughed, and spent time with my amazing family.  I had so much fun!  We played ShangHi (our favorite and only card game) like 4 times, which brings so much joy to my life.  I lost every time, but it's fun to see other people win and help other people cheat.  Yeah, I admit it, my cousin and I frequently cheat.  Haha!  That's what makes it so great!  I got to see Mark and Sheila who I hadn't seen in about a month, as well as all my cousins!  This week, besides being Thanksgiving, makes me so thankful to be a part of such a fabulous family.

Friday we went shopping all day which is an annual excursion.  Last year while I was in Rockford, I didn't get to come home for Thanksgiving, so it was nice to be back.

Overall, I had an amazing break.  Two more class days and 3 days of finals and then CHRISTMAS!!  Love you all!

Christen

Another rainy day in Texas.  All it's done for the past week is rain.  Right now it's thundering, which is so cool when I can lay in bed and sleep, but no, I have a researched speech to write, and 150 pages to read and respond to by tomorrow.  That's college, and this semester is almost over.  Yea!

Last night my roommate's intermural volleyball team got 2nd place!  They lost to the staff team which is several ex-SAGU volleyball players.  It was fun.

Tomorrow, I head home for Turkey Day.  We aren't actually celebrating til Saturday, but I will get to hang out with my family all week. 

To my friends, I love you and miss you if I haven't seen you in a while.

Christen

Christmas is hands down the best time of year!  This past Saturday was the official start of Christmas celebration for me!  My two roommates and I went to Santa Land, which is a drive through some woods with over 1 million twinkling lights!  It was incredible.  Plus, I found my Santa's Country Christmas CD which has 10 Christmas songs sung by country singers!  I love it.

Christmas makes my heart skip.  It's not the cold, or the presents, or the days off of school.  It's the family, the lights, the decorations, the MAGIC!  It's the celebration of Christ's birth, and the reflection of Mary and Joseph's faithfulness!  Christmas is so magical to me.  It means joy and happiness and togetherness. 

I am so blessed to have an amazing family that loves me and makes me feel like a million bucks.  And I have friends that love me unconditionally.  I don't have to prove anything to these people in my life.  They just love me.

So, Merry Christmas, my dear friends.  I know it's over a month away, but feel the joy and the magic that makes this season truly wonderful!

Christen

This semester is almost up.  I really can't believe it.  I've got 2 days of classes left this week, 2 days before Thanksgiving next week, 2 days of classes the following week and then 3 days of finals!!  I seriously can't believe this!

For those of you who read my entries earlier in the semester, I stressed out a lot, and it has been hard, but it hasn't been as hard as I made it out to seem.  (Typical me)  I only have a couple of big assignments left and a few little ones.  THEN I'm done.  Well, for now.  I have 4 more semesters of classes and 1 semester of student teaching left before I graduate.

Love you all and Happy Holidays!

Christen

2 weeks, 2 days til Thanksgiving!  Let the holidays begin!!

Christen

Yea, Bush!!  There was a warmth and feeling of security that poured over me when I heard Kerry conceded today.  This country really turned out and backed Bush!

Tonight I'm in Longview because my little brother is playing his last 7th grade football game tomorrow.  Last week he had a touchdown AND they won!  Yippee!

3 weeks from tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  Good- because that means a break.  Bad- because I have a 20 page paper due the day before that I haven't done the 400 page reading for yet.  Yikes!

Christen