Slow Day

I haven't blogged since I've been back in Texas! Shame on me! Not a lot has been going on though, I spent most of my first week here babysitting, or maybe that was the second? I'm still on a job hunt for some vet experience, but I've a few other things I want to accomplish. I want to get a library card. I'm in the process of watching the HBO series Band of Brothers. I let you know how it turns out. I want to keep trying out new recipes. So all of these things are definitely attainable probably by next week. Then I'll just make some new goals! Life in the summer is a little slower, so it may be fewer and farther between posts, but I'll be here and do my best to do interesting things for you to read about!

Edibility

Today I have accomplished a few things on the to do list in preparation for the summer since I've come to the conclusion that I'll be going to Texas. I can't complain about this, I haven't been home since Christmas and honestly am excited about getting to go back. I will miss the friends I'm leaving behind here in Auburn and what we might have done, but it gives me something to look forward to in coming back. One thing I'm not looking forward to is all the packing. Probably my least favorite thing in the world, and over the past couple of years I've gotten to do this more than I would have preferred to. We are upgrading this time though, so it's ok! Tonight for dinner I tried a new recipe. It's pesto chicken stuffed shells and they were delicious and super easy to make. Also I made a cookie cake pie to take to Georgia tomorrow when I head to visit Sally and Jody and my parents will be joining us soon too! But I didn't try the cake yet, so I'm not quite sure how it turned out, hopefully well! Really I just wanted and excuse to use my new Paula Deen pie dish :) I've learned that cooking is pretty easy, you just have to believe in yourself that what you're doing is the right thing, and usually you'll end up with something edible.

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

Cookie Cake Pie

Opportunity

This weekend and yesterday has been a fun time for the first few days of summer. Emily and I went to see Something Borrowed and it was a great movie! Not your typical love story/romcom. The story goes to show how you should never hold back because you can spend your whole life regretting a single moment that you know would have changed it all. Take opportunities because you don't know when they may rise again, if ever. And another plus, the movie had John Krasinski in it and he's one of my faves :) Yesterday, I joined the Riley family for Ashley's graduation from the Auburn School of Nursing! What an exciting time! I can't believe how fast time is flying, that in two years (hopefully) that will be me. And while at the time classes seem to drag on, take forever, cause long and drawn out amounts of suffering, college really goes by in the blink of an eye. So you have to take opportunities here too. The speaker said he didn't agree with the saying that opportunity only knocks once, he believed that with education you have many opportunities. I somewhat agree with this, but I think that an individual opportunity will only knock once and you have to decide if you want to take it or not. He also made another good point that with education you have many doors opened for you, so make use of your education and build doors that will open for other people. Seeing that diploma yesterday gave me so much motivation and determination to power through so that one day that will be me walking across the stage, fully realizing that my opportunity to succeed in college was fulfilled.

School's Out

It's been a busy time since I last posted. Studying, studying, and more studying. But now I am officially done and there is no greater feeling! I don't have any obligations for two months. Summer plans are a little up in the air at this point, but I know that God has a plan for me with whatever comes my way. I'm excited to see what's in store because I know that whatever I do is just another step to my future, and that's just exciting! I'm also excited for others' as we enter such a defining chapter of our lives. We're growing up so fast :) In celebration of the end of the semester, I decided to try a dessert recipe that I "stumbled upon". They're cookie dough cupcakes and they're delicious! They're also very easy to make, which I also love. So here's a picture and a link to the recipe!

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Royal Wedding

History has been made and I'm glad I can say that I was truly a part of it (at least in a small way). Apart from having a small nap yesterday afternoon, we stayed up all night waiting for the big moment. It was great and surprisingly I made it through! The whole spectacle of it was great. The guests arriving in all the royal pomp and circumstance with their extravagant hats and coats. And then finally William and Harry departed for the abbey and I think all of our hearts skipped a beat. A few more processions and cars later, and the real moment we'd been waiting for when Kate finally got to the car to join the rest of the wedding. It was such a sweet thing seeing her with her dad in her last moments as a commoner. Her dress was perfect, her veil and tiara were perfect, everything was perfect. As she walked down the aisle we sat in anticipation of the look on William's face when he would finally see her. It was one of the most precious things I've ever seen. The ceremony went smoothly with no noticeable mess ups, and then they were off to sign licenses and then on to the balcony. I came back to my house very quickly, got into my bed and turned the tv on. They weren't quite ready yet, and I almost missed this kisses dozing off for a few minutes, but thank goodness I woke up just in time. So sweet, and not only did they kiss once, but twice, and it was the cutest! It seems like every moment was the moment we'd all been waiting for, something that will always be remembered. People have talked about and tried to recreate Charles and Diana's wedding since it happened, and I believe this will be just as much of a historical event in time. Here's to the happy couple!

A Grateful Heart

There are so many things I have to be grateful for, but a recent answered prayer is something that I would like to remember (and probably won't forget it even if I don't write it down). My organic grade was greatly stressing me out for multiple reasons, some of which include scholarship and vet school. In all honesty I was not as optimistic as I should have been, but before going into the test I prayed and asked God to bring me through the test because He already knows the answers. He already knows the bigger picture, and if that included failing another test I asked Him to help me accept that. Thankfully I made a C, which believe it or not is such a blessing! I still have to work hard for this class and the rest of my classes, but when you cast your cares upon God and fully release them, He will uphold His end of the deal and take them from you. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 11:28 which says, "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'"
 Something else I wanted to mention was tonight I attended a discussion about diversity, truthfully for bonus points, but it was a lot better than I expected. It made me realize or remember that every group you belong to, whether religious, ethnic, racial, social whatever has stereotypes, and even though you or someone else within that group may fall within these boundaries, you don't fit every category and you can't judge someone based on a group's reputation. We are individuals and deserve to be treated that way with respect. If you don't agree with someone, respect their opinion and maybe they will respect yours enough for you to persuade them. You can at least know that you have planted a seed within their life of whatever, that they can allow it to grow or die in whichever way they wish.
And lastly, tonight there has been mind-blowingly awful weather in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and north Alabama. Cities are ruined and lives decimated. I cannot begin to imagine what people are going through and I'm so thankful that everyone I know is ok. I'm thankful that I've never had to experience anything like that. Say a prayer for these people in the rebuilding of what is their heart. These people will be carrying heavy burdens and need the rest that only God can provide.

Early Sunday Morning

This weekend has been so great after the busy week I had. Yesterday I had a bit of a movie day, ending last night with watching Pearl Harbor. It's one of my favorites and makes me cry every time. Must have something to do with Ben Affleck because Armageddon has the same effect. But it is such a great story that I think does a great job of recreating something that otherwise most people will soon never have experienced it or seen any part of it. I guess I'm no expert and didn't live then either, but that's just my opinion. Watching last night though, it really hit me how real that was, that it's not just another movie, that that really happened. And every time I start watering up at the lines, "Danny you can't die! You're gonna be a father." "No, you are.", but this time the water works started flowing much sooner. Seeing the men trapped in the Arizona was something that I cannot even imagine. I read on IMDb that Ben Affleck's granddad turned down the chance to see the movie because he didn't want to relive any part of the war. I feel like we get so desensitized by what we see day to day that something so horrific goes by as just another film. Then I also started to think about how American opinion has changed. What would America have done if the earthquake in Japan had happened shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Would there have been the same amount of support? Trust me, I think it's great that we do have the ability to help with the devastation there, but it's just a thought that occurred to me. So if you haven't seen the movie and have about three free hours on your hands, you should watch it. And don't forget some tissues!