I am coming home this weekend. But if you don't see me this is why...

Things to do:
* Meet with the photographer (Thursday)
* Finish writing my cover letter, cv, and teaching portfolio
* Meet with SU (Friday morning)
* Reformation conference (Friday Night)
* Reformation conference and party (Saturday 3:30 - all evening)
* Grade 52 labs
* Study for a math midterm (11 chapters!! Yikes) and do homework for it and work a few practice exams... bleh. Favorite class (material wise) this semester, but that isn't saying anything.
* Write Estimation and schedule for a four story office building
* homework for ENRE684.
* Women's retreat meeting (Sunday evening)
* buy mango at Sams (because I am almost out)
* Go to La Tolteca (because I really miss it - this is definitely going to have to move to next week)

Oh, and church, spending time with the family, and seeing Jared as much as possible. He might just have to sit around and watch me grade papers this weekend. Oh, and Joe wants me to either remind me mother to make him fudge or for me to buy him a Smith Island cake. I don't see either of those happening this weekend, maybe next weekend... Don't worry Mom, I made him an apple cake last night. I think he will be okay if I don't get any of the sweet things for him.

If you want to see me just let me know. I have a few free days in February and March. ha ha ha. But seriously, if you tell me you want to do something with me I will make time in a few weeks. But right now I am definitely running on like two or three weeks notice. heh. Such is life. I can't wait until it slows down again.

I should be madly studying for the FE, but I had to take a break and tell you all what happened to me today. I think it is hilarious. So let's start off by saying at the TAs meeting yesterday we were all joking around about this kid that keeps coming to my office hours. The other guy TA told me that I better watch him because he probably has a crush on me or something. We all laughed about it and built our circuits.

Which brings us to today... I packed my bag and get ready to walk out of class. And this kid gets up to walk out at the same time. We walk down the hallway together and the hallway splits. He heads one direction and I head the other (to go out to my car). Suddenly he calls out my name and comes jogging towards me. And I figure he is going to ask a question since he is forever asking me to explain stuff. ha. He looks like he is at a loss for words at first, and I thought OH NO! This isn't good. So he finally says, "I was wondering if you would have dinner with me sometime..." And I went into panic mood and all I could think to do was throw up my hand and say, "Sorry, I am engaged!!" Poor kid. He made some dumb joke about me not being old enough to be engaged and then ran off. Jared asked me what his face looked like and I really don't know. I was trying to avoid looking at him. ha.

So now I am starting to believe the other TA and I am worried that that other kid we were joking about will show up to office hours with flowers or something. ha ha. I mean, who asks out their TA? Plus I am sick and I was wearing my glasses and jeans and a t-shirt today. What is up with this? Jared pointed out that he has obviously been thinking about this for a long time, which makes it even more funny. I joke around with all my kids. Do I have to worry about all 50 of these guys having a crush on me? But seriously, asking out your TA will you are still in class with her?!? What is that! I still can't understand...

Anyhow, I have never been asked out by someone out of the blue before. I thought that was so funny and odd and strange that I had to share it with the blogging world. :D I think I will start out next semester by holding up my hand and declaring that I am getting married in July. heh. Maybe that might work. Or as Jared said I could be mean, but that is no fun. Who wants to come to lab with a mean TA?

I am going to Reality Factor this weekend with the youth group! I look forward to it. Woohoo!

Next weekend (25th) I am taking the FE. YIKES!!

I have two midterms this week! And a ton of labs to grade... That is about all that is going on in my life right now. heh. Oh, and I am trying to fill out my applications for SU.

I bought an album of Sovereign Grace's worship music yesterday. This is my favorite track off of it. I have been listening to it on repeat all day. It has mesmerized me; both the words and the music are incredible. You can listen to part of it here. I think this song is a great reminder that this earth is not our home. Our home awaits us. We will someday be in heaven, before the throne of the King of Kings, praising our creator. How glorious!

It is not Death to Die

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

Chorus
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)
Original words by Henri Malan (1787–1864).

The grandi-howards have crab feasts for all their family to come to two or three times a summer. All five of their kids came today and some of their kids and some of their kids. Joe also invites some of his old friends. I pigged out on Trader Joe's cornbread and Popeyes spicy chicken. I got to show off my ring to all my "cousins" (Joe calls me his granddaughter since I have lived here longer than anyone else). heh. Being a part of a big family looks like a lot of fun. I hope my siblings and I get together lots of times after we are all married and have children. I look forward to that.

One thing that I love about living with the Howards is getting to talk to so many interesting people. These are people that I would never strike up a conversation with normally... like Joe's old high school friends and people that taught under him when he worked in the schools around here. It is so much more interesting then talking to people who are my own age! I love talking to people older than me. They are so much more interesting and have so much more to offer me then my peers do. I feel like time is well spent talking to people like that. I also enjoy being just old enough to carry on a somewhat interesting conversation from my part. I can talk about school and work and what I am doing. It is great. I really have enjoyed living here! It has been a huge blessing.

Oh and I bought a new music cd at Covenant Life today. It is incredible. It is called Come Weary Saints. Some really meaty praise music. I'm really feasting on it. Also, on my playlists recently have been igrace hymns cds (not the prettiest voices to hear singing - but the words are such gems). Mr. Howard and I were discussing how great and uplifting and convicting old hymns are today!! I love them. And of course GT and the Halo Express... I just bought them all on Cd (all 7 of them) and I have been listening to pure scripture for the past week in song form. It is incredible. I have felt so encouraged all week at school. A couple "bad" things happened at school and I was perfectly content and unfazed. I claim it was the music I was listening to this week. I think it has a huge influence on my life.

And thanks to Mr. Howard for the great pointers on how to make my wedding invitations look more classy. I will probably be trying some of those tips. Woohoo.

This is my favorite bouquet!!

This bouquet is lavender roses, astilbe, and agapanthus (Lily of the Nile).

Has anyone heard of agapanthus and do you know where to get it? I don't really are aout the astilbe. I don't think it really adds anything to it. I just love the lavender roses and dark blues together!! Beautiful!