It is late and I can't sleep so I am blogging. I can't seem to stop thinking about all that is ahead of me next week and what a crazy and unexpected summer it has been. Time and time again I try to make plans, but God makes others for me. I guess I still need to learn that He is in control.

As many of you know, I was supposed to go to Colorado on an adventure to take courses in book publishing (yes I am a nerd) but due to some health issues I have been struggling with I am instead stuck in Texas for the rest of the summer. I am scheduled to have surgery on Tues. to remove a tumor from one of my ovaries (and oh so looking forward to it). The doctor will not know whether or not it is malignant until she opens me up (oh what a lovely thought). Anyway, if all goes well, recovery should take about two weeks. Please keep me in your prayers.

And yes, I miss my friends and family in Alabama!

I have heard it said on more than one occassion that professional writers don't blog. I suppose that is the reason I don't blog very often...I like to think of myself as a professional writer even though the reality is I am only an ametur and have published nothing of great significance. I am going to try, however, to do better at keeping a blog.

So many changes are taking place in my life, and I still don't understand why changes come suddenly and all at the same time. Last week, one of my dearest friends, Stacy, moved to GA, which has affected me more than I thought it would. I suppose most of it goes back to my childhood and the feelings of of abandonment I experienced. I never cared for major life changes too much. However, I am very excited for Stacy and the new adventures that await her. I know she will do well as she is a strong Christian.

I have enjoyed being here in B'ham and spending time with MJ, Papa C., Charlie, Adam, and of course the newest addition, baby Drake. He is so adorable and fun to just watch. I have enjoyed watching Adam and Charlie take on their new role as parents. They are great with Drake. Perhaps the most touching, is watching MJ and Papa C. be g-parents. They are wonderful with Drake. They have also been so kind as to put up with me this week. They're absolutely amazing.

Well, I should be off to VBS. I am helping out with 2 & 3 yr. oldds again this year. At first, I was not too excited, but the kids are so sweet and so enthusiatic to learn about God's word.

Yay! The holiday season is finally upon us! I know this Christmas will be absolutely amazing. I am going to Alabama as soon as finals are over (and anyone who knows me knows that I cannot contain my excitment) I also cannot belive how fast time goes by and that my dear friend Emily is graduating! Everything seems to be changing so fast, but I know change is a good thing so I constantly pray the Lord will give me the courage to embrace change. I felt like such an adult, sending out Christmas cards to all my friends in Birmingham and at Samford. I have never really had to send out Christmas cards before. As a kid,that is one of those things you witness your mother doing as you stroll through the kitchen and think "Man, I am sure glad that I don't have to do that. How boring." Not that I mind sending out Christmas cards, I actually really enjoyed it! It was just another sure sign that I am older than I really want to be. I wonder if there is any way to prevent turning into an adult. If anyone has the secret to staying young, please let me know. Now that I have procrastinated, I should probably get ready to go to my Human Biology class. Yay for the human anatomy. haha right :) Enjoy the holiday season and be thankful for the small blessings in life!

That's Rlight! mallorina the ballorina (otherwise known as mallory, mal, rosco, or the other twin) subtly suggests I pay tribute. Where do I begin? We knew each other long before the world began. We are joined at hip but completely opposite all at the same time!
In all seriousness though, I don't know where I would be without her! She listens to anything I have to say, after which she lowers the boom! She tells it like it is...never afraid to tell me I am crazy. She is the solid rock in our family. Mom, Kelly and I tend to be emotional, but Mallory just deals with the obstacles in front of her and keeps going. She is AWESOME. So many times I have caught myself wishing I could be more like her. The way she has grown as a Christian over the past couple of yewars is amazing. Mallorina shows no fear when standing up for what she believes in and what is right.
Sense of humor? oh yeah there is definately one, but it is extremely sarcastic! She is also one of the best dancers I ever seen. She doen't think so, but I firmly believe that she doesn't have enough faith in herself when it comes to dancing. In high school, it was such a thrill to watch her perform. Dancing is her talent...believe me- I have tried to dance and I just don't have the grace that Mal does! We may be twins, but in my estimation, we look nothing alike...she is drop dead gorgeous! (and single...hint hint guys :)In a couple of years she will have completed a master's degree in acounting from the Univ. of Oklahoma. Mallory is a geniuess. Bold, Brilliant, and Beautiful is the best way to describe her! Best of all she is my twin and there are not enough words in the English language to describe how much she means to me and how much I love her!

It's about 1:30am and I can't sleep so this presents me with the perfect opportunity to update my blog, which I somehow only manage to update once every six months or so, but it doesn't really matter because nobody reads the stupid thing anyway. At least I will be able to entertain myself for a little while. Writing usually makes me feel better.
Tonight my family celebrated my little (or perhaps I should say not so little anymore) sister's 19th birthday. I had a really good time and it was cool because I haven't been around for her birthday in about three years. It was nice to be around for a family occassion. My younger sister, Kelly, is one of the most amazing people I know. She has such a carefree and fun personality. No matter what is going on in her life, she is always upbeat and keeps a positive attitude going. And more often than not, she is either smiling or laughing. And even though I have managed to pull a couple of good pranks this past semester, Kelly is and will probably always be the queen of jokes and pranks in our family. I am very proud of the person Kelly is turning out to be. She has decided to start college in the fall and at the moment, her career plans are to become a dentist. However, we always tease Kelly about her career choices because they have constantly changed over the past several months. Sometimes they change from day to day. Everytime my grandmother is around (in our house my grandmother is commonly refered to as Mima) she will ask, "Kelly, what is your career de jour?" I think it's cute because Kelly will play along and give Mima some elaborate answer. I admire and love Kelly for her spunky personality and zest for life. Happy Birthday Kellly!
While I am on the subject of family, I feel that now is as good a time as any to brag on my Mima a little bit. Mima is probably by far the greatest person I have ever known, and next to Jesus, I aspire to be just like her one day. Now for those who don't know, Mima has suffered from M.S. for many years now. Howver, despite this debilitating disease, she still attends worship and Bible class regularly. At 75, she still drives and lives independently. There may be days every once in a while that she is physically unable to be active, but overall she tries to stay strong. My mother says she constantly battles depression. I never really noticed until these last couple of weeks I have been home. It has been difficult I know, but I applaud her for fighting the good fight and remaining a faithful Christian. In her younger days, Mima used to paint watercolor quite a bit but doesn't really do a whole lot anymore. The woman is EXTREMELY TALENTED! Tonight, after dinner she gave me a watercolor painting that she had been working on since last fall after my trip to Florida, and I must say that it is absolutely gorgeous!! At that moment I realized what an undertaking that must have been for Mima at this point in her life, and that she probably would never do anything quite like it again. I know I will cherish the painting for the rest of my life because not only was it created by Mima, it represents a happy occaison in the midst of difficult period of my life. For that, I express all the gratitude I possibly can to my Mima! You are a blessing like no other Mima! Moments like these make me realize that even though I may not have the perfect family from a stereotypical perspective, God knew what He was doing when He gave me my family.