Life As We Know It

PS- When using the phrase, "Life as we know it" as a title- should I capitalize "as?" Gosh, if there is one downfall to the greatness of English and the potent, powerful pen, it's the conventions. Ich.

I finished my classes for the semester today. At this point, there is really very little to do but Totally Freak Out About Finals. Yeah, anyway.

Discoveries I have made this semester:

• I really like to cook. Who knew? Since moving into an apartment and doing my own making-of-money-with-which-I-feed-myself, planning meals, gwocery shopping and (oh yeah) cooking, I have discovered that it's rather enjoyable. I am getting better at it as time passes by. Favorites of the semester: Mom's spaghetti [sauce] recipe, slow-cooked Memphis BBQ, potato-bean-and-carrot-and-beef stew (better name for it?) and Paula Deen's punkin pie.
• Christ really does live and love me. I took New Testament, and as it turns out, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John helped me get to know my Savior a lot better than I ever did before. He knows my name; He knows my heart; He has been waiting for me.
• U.S. History can basically be told as an ever-newly nuanced epic of property, independence, race, and gender. And also, Lincoln wasn't all that keen on the emancipation boat in 1860. Huh.
• I like working in the Creamery WAY better than working in the Cannon.
• S'mores cupcakes at the Cocoa Bean aren't all that awesome...
• I stay up too late.

Also, a great huge shout-out to Ev-dawg, who passed his MPO this week and is now a certified engine driver! I'm so proud of you, Ev. You set your sights on something and you refused to give up till you got there. Catch a fire soon :]

With love,
TBF

Changes

I have not posted in about a week (I think? I don't really remember, actually) because life has carried some changes lately that I have not been sure how to write about. Being the blue-green Golden Retriever that I am (I spent the evening taking personality tests...can you tell?) change isn't my favorite thing. And to add, changes in the past semester have been the kind of changes that do not just happen; I have had to choose to make them happen. Like choosing to change my major. Or personal-life choices. Or choices about things I know I would like to do, but haven't known when to do. Etc.

It seems the older I get, the younger I feel...I have been able to realize a little more fully just how inexperienced I am. There are things I have not seen and felt and experienced yet... not things like seeing the Eiffel Tower. Things like, growing up.

As life moves forward, I am reminded that it is kind enough to come one day at a time.

On the other hand, it is finally December; a month of so many good things! I love December. Last night, though it was not actually December yet, I went to see the lights and the nativities at Temple Square; my favorite part was a toss-up between a Chinese nativity and a Native American nativity. (PS- I can lie to you, and tell you that if it had not been raining, I'd be posting pictures...but that's a lie. I am pretty bad at bringing my camera to things like this, slash, everything.)

It was a wonderful ushering-in of the month (December-eve?)

And now, let the countdowns begin:

Till I am done with finals: 13 days
Till I fly home: 14 days
Till I turn (gulp) 20: 15 days
Till Christmas: 25 days
Till Darry-berry's wedding: 28 days
Till a brand new year, with a fresh beginning: 31 days

31 days.