my Thanksgiving hunt

Thanksgiving is always eventful with my family. I never know what to expect.

I wore my brother’s new hat while we played dominoes (it almost worked…I ended the game 9 points away from 1st place).

I got to drive Mema’s brand new Acadia.

And dad and I went hunting. Not for deer. Not for an HD TV or other amazing Black Friday deal. No, we were hunting a muffler. The person who owned my car before me had put an after-market muffler on that sounded amazing. However, it is now completely rusted out and rattles, which is rather embarrassing and annoying. I know nothing about mufflers, so I have felt rather helpless and have been trying to find out who I can trust with my car. I could just picture myself putting on my best I-know-what-I’m-talking-about look and leaning over a dirty counter and lecturing a bearded, grease-covered guy “Don’t you dare even think about doing a lousy muffler job on my car. This is my baby and you better treat her right. Don’t bother trying to rip me off either, others have tried it before and I don’t fall for that trash. I expect a quality muffler and professional installation and my car better be spotless, inside and out, when it comes out of your shop.”

I was very relieved when dad offered to take on this job. Hooray for Fathers!! Friday morning he began hunting with such intensity it was as if his man-card needed another muffler trophy. During the hunt, I practiced honing my “auto parts shopping” skills and learned a lot about mufflers. I was introduced to the world of Flowmaster and their various series. For example, the 80 series is their loudest, while the 60 series is quiet. I was also introduced to stainless steel and aluminized, and all of the different in-and-out configurations and measurements. Dad and I finally figured out which muffler would be perfect for my car. Flowmaster 40 series – featuring an aggressive, throaty sound that is not over the top. By 3pm, the hunt ended successfully. I am happy to report that we found a local muffler shop that did an excellent job for a very good price.

My car sounds good again. Oh boy does it sound good! Dad was just dying to take me for a test drive (he really likes my car). However, I wasn’t driving as aggressively or as fast as he wanted haha. He kept saying things like “push it down harder” and “you can’t hear what it really sounds like if you drive like that.” Even though I got it up to 85mph (mom, are you reading this?), he still wasn’t content and finally said “Okay, pull over and let me drive.” haha. Let me just say that when my dad gets behind the wheel of my car, he acts like he is 30 years younger. It was fun, and I was actually surprised at what my car could do. I have never really pushed it like that. I think my car likes going fast just as much as my dad likes it. I was just waiting for a policeman to pull us over and then watch my dad explain things to the officer!

I like having a fun car.

a mission

I read a really good article from CollegePlus! last week that helped shift my focus in the right direction. Here is the part that really grabbed me:



Plans are great.


But missions are better. Missions survive when plans fail, and plans almost always fail.

You really should read the article! It will only take a couple minutes.

So many of my plans have fallen apart and that has been a source of frustration for me lately as I have not been able to meet any of my goals concerning my degree. After reading that article, I took a step back and reminded myself why I wanted my degree in the first place.

I enjoy accounting and would love to be able to work for a ministry someday if I get the chance. I want to be prepared when that day comes. I feel like there is so much about accounting that I don’t know yet and am craving more knowledge in that area. I have wanted to get my degree for a while now, but it was never the right timing and didn’t work out. Earlier this year, I finally felt like I got the green light from God. I took the plunge with much excitement and great hopes. Although I knew it would be difficult, I had no idea how big of a challenge it would be. I never saw the insanely busy summer of work heading for me like a freight train. By October, the train had blown on by leaving its freight behind to haunt us. I am now back to working overtime and will be through the end of the year; we have so much to do before year end. I work 9 hour days, come home and study for 2 hours, and try to stay on top of my checkbook, bills, laundry, and life in general.

I have been really discouraged with school because I keep resetting my goals. I finally decided to just let go of it; progress, however small, is still getting me closer to my degree. I am pushing away thoughts of quitting school. Since I feel like this is God’s will, He will work it out. In His timing, not mine. If accounting truly is part of my mission, it will succeed.

I did take another exam today, so I am now halfway through my second year! I only have 75 credits until graduation!!

It is truly by the grace of God.

it ain't always pretty

Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart


Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day


But the struggles makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' its sweet time


No, life ain’t always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life ain’t always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

~Gary Allan


I am feeling quite inadequate at present. School is eating my lunch…and work stole my dessert. If anyone has food to share, I will be your friend forever. Otherwise, I will crawl under the covers like a little girl and sleep for two days before even attempting to be cheery and bright. *banging head on table now* I am ready to be done with this season of life. That’s all. The end. Goodnight.

American Heroes

I am so grateful for all the heroes who have served and are serving our country. I have benefited from their sacrifice and can't help but think of it as a picture of what Christ has done for each one of us. Our Savior laid down His life for us, just as our soldiers lay down their lives. May we never forget.

I am so proud of my dad. On his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, General Petraus gave him this coin.

dreams come true, part 2 - final

Here are more pictures! Gotta love the action shots ;)

 Okay, see the guy in the white shirt, white hat, and navy pants in the picture above?? THAT guy, my friends, is Sam Bradford. I was so bummed that I didn't actually get to see him play since he was out with an injury (notice the boot on his left foot). But at least we were in the same stadium. And I got to take tons of pictures of him. From a far away distance. :)



This guy (DeMarco Murray) had a record-setting game! I believe he had 253 total yards. Oh and by the way, I am 19 days older than he is...just thought I would throw that piece of trivia in there!

 We got to see the score for the Broncos! Tebow pulled off an amazing victory!



So there you have it, my visit to Dallas Cowboys Stadium.