January 31

Hanna spent the night and spent most of the morning here, it was fun!

It was Alison's last night here so Joe and her came over for dinner.

It was a good evening!

January 30

Had a long day at school.

Alan was kind enough to pick me up to go to a soccer game this evening.

Men's League games are so much more intense, and have way less cheers, than the normal varsity games.

Within the last 2.5 seconds left of the game TJ made a goal, tying the game.

It was exciting!

A hand full of us went to Applebees after, and shared a lot of laughs...it was a good time.

Amy's harp arrived today too! It's so pretty, large, and suits her.

We stayed up late listening to her playing.

January 29

Addie and I went to visit Virginia, in the hospital, this evening.

I was glad we went, I think she was happy to see us.

We decided that Virginia and I have the same taste in men...

the suave, dashing, charming, smooth, handsome, wealthy, cigar smoking, kind of men who sweep women off their feet...

heck, that's Dean Martin.

January 28

(We store boxes of Charles Shaw in the school room.)

Good school day.

A bit overwhelmed with homework...but still a good day.

January 27

Nai came over after church today!

It is such a treat when she comes over.

Vic and the girls came by in the evening too.

It was real nice day.

January 26

The Thai Dinner was today.

It went real well.

I feel so loved, it is almost overwhelming.

The family did so much to help pull it off (and emily!).

Dad is incredible.

I was so glad Dianne was there!

I exceeded the amount of money I need for the Wheels for the World outreach!

I started crying counting the donations, people were so generous.

I can't really express how blessed I feel.

January 25

I was extra tired at school today.

Alan and me got Quiznos with two coupons that Mrs. Pervis gave me.

Then we took a nap in the Stocker center.

Emily and Shannon came over in the evening and we chopped things, hung out, wrote papers, read books, and all sorts of things.

January 24

Studied a heck of a lot today.

Liam likes pretending to be Groucho Marx.

He also cut his hair today...

exclusively just the hair hat was sticking out at the time...

he couldn't figure out how to make it stay down.

Take notice of the center of his forehead.

January 23

Typical school day.

Have to study for anatomy and physiology.

I really like my classes.

Photoshop is so incredibly confusing and very mind boggling...almost inconceivable.

Out of all my class I am the most inexperienced with mac computers and photoshop...I was gasping at every feature.

Taking this class is making me miss black and white a whole heck of a lot.

January 22

Worked today.

Did homework.

Listening to the moody blues.

January 21

(Hollister Model, by Pat or Mary A.)

Went to a varsity soccer game this morning...they won by a heapin' lot.

Then a group of us went to Paneras.

It was a very nice afternoon.

Hanna came over afterwards...she distracted me from folding clothes...but at the same time it was mostly my fault because i have difficulty working and talking at the same time.

and i just wasn't all that anxious to fold clothes today.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

January 20

Community Sunday was today...I haven't been that tired at church in a really long time.

It was good though.

Because of the extremely cold weather Dad felt pity on Coon tonight...so he let it spend the evening in the house.

She is such a good cat...and I hate cats.

Maggie was adorable with her...she was having the time of her life playing with the cat tonight.

Later this evening Amy, Shannon, and myself rode with Alan to a varsity soccer game.

It was a real fun time...I love going to hearts games!

and Amy just made me a PBJ.

January 19

Mary and I slept in real late.

I am glad she spent the night, it was so lonely without the whole family here.

Mom, Dad, Amy, and Maggie went to Chicago to look at Amy's harp, and then to Indiana for a JAF leadership retreat.

and Martha spent the night at a friends.

I spent the day doing homework and cleaning and cleaning.

and then i made this huge dinner for when they got back home, and everyone acted shocked that i knew how to cook.

January 18

I woke up at 5:00 am this morning because the rest of the family was up...making it impossible to sleep.

I went down stairs and all the kids were sitting around watching westerns.

I felt like I was dreaming, it wasn't a typical Friday morning.

After a super long day at school I got to take a nap before the little boys got home.

and then in the evening I went to the CD7 dance with Katie and Shannon.

It was an 80s theme and Mrs. Bestor was kind enough to let me borrow one of her dresses.

It was a lot of fun...and I miss Amy.

January 17

Worked today and Hanna came over.

Mom and Dad weren't home so Hanna and I picked up Wendy's for the family for dinner.

It was the largest amount of fast food that i have ever personally purchased.

I didn't know Wendy's even carried big shopping bags.

We also got a little slice of cheesecake for our selves to split...it was pretty darn tasty.

Hanna gave me marsh-mellow ice cream cones from Bob Evans (my delayed Christmas present)...they were grosser than the carnival peanuts...hence it was the worst thing i ever tasted.

January 16

School was good today.

Alan is like a 6 years old boy.

and I saw Mary Alice today for the first time in weeks, so that also was exciting!

January 15

I have to give an oral presentation of my favorite photographer in photography class tomorrow.

I am choosing Sally Mann...because she is one of my favorites.

and I am posting some of my favorites of her photos.

January 14

School started today.

It was a good first day.

The first day of school is always good.

January 13

In CE this morning we started a new John Piper series "The Blazing Center".

It's excellent, very rich and solid teaching.

I also got my car from the mechanic today, finally!

January 12

Lanny and Julia came over tonight...
it was good to catch up and hang out before going back to school.

January 11

Ange, Mom and myself attempted to go see "PS I love you" tonight, but it was sold out.

So we rented "The Nanny Diaries" which was a typical chick flick.

and then Dad and I watched "3:10 to Yuma" which was better than a typical western. I didn't know anything about it and was pleasantly surprised.

I leave the country a month from today!

January 10

Went to Gram and Grandpa's this evening, mostly to say happy birthday to Gram.

Aunt Marge was also in town visiting, it was good to see her again.

Grandpa is very frail, can't get out of bed, and is hardly eating.

I went in his room to visit and tell him I love him.

It was strange seeing him in this setting, and in such a weak physical state. But then when he spoke it was so nice to hear that old familiar comforting voice that I love so dearly.

I felt kind of weird taking pictures of him sleeping, but part of me really wanted to remember tonight.

Uncle Jerry and me are also going to put an album together of his beer stein collection, which will be a real fun project. I'm excited.

January 9

I am listening to a song that we did an Irish dance to at JAF for the talent show night...

it pumps me up like nothing else and also makes me oh so homesick for JAF.

I obviously didn't take these...
but they are some of my very favorites from last year
(with the exception of the first one...that's of James and Ike at retreat 2 years ago)

It is comforting to look at pictures when i begin to get real homesick for JAF.

Just a few more months!