Day 37

This morning I was going to work out, but my roomie was still asleep, so I let her sleep...and didn't work out, consequently I too got a little extra sleep. (hehe)

I had a dinner date with a friend. It was great to catch up with her some more.

Another friend emailed me some things that she has been going through at home...and I want nothing more than to sweep her away to a place that is safe.

God Bless

Day 36

I went to Lincoln with my roomie again today. It was good, productive.

I hope she knows that I love her, dearly. 

And no matter what homework I have, she comes first. People come first. Sorry, Brit Lit, Adolescent Lit, Ling and Lang, Poetry Writing, and Global Issues, you're all second fiddle.

God Bless

Day 35

Today I introduced a friend to Middle Earth, it was wonderful.

I also held my roommate's hand a lot because, well, I wanted to give her my support. I made her laugh by being silly.

I gave her two heartbox presents today. (I finished two pads of sticky notes because I was annotating a text book.)

God Bless

Day 34

I have a correspondence going with a friend where we mail our Bible Study back and forth...it's kind of hard to explain. She should have gotten my letter today.

I also posted a new blog up on my devotion blog, which is kind of exciting. 

God Bless!

Day 33

Today, I bought milk.

I also provided a distraction for a friend. And I laughed, even when I didn't feel like it.

And I held my tongue when I could have lashed out.

God Bless

Day 32

This is late in coming, sorry.

Yesterday, I held a friend's hand while she explained something painful in her life. My heart broke for her.

God Bless

Day 31

I let my RA borrow a movie (Ever After) from me today. She hasn't brought it back yet... but that's okay! I know where she lives! ;)

Day 30

I just gave my roommate a high-five. (I asked her what I gave today, and she said a high-five....which I hadn't, until just now.) But really.

Today I had a supper (cafeteria-style) date with a friend, which was lovely.

I also gave a friend a quick hug because he was having a bad day.

Man. I need to work on this some more.

Day 29

After I got back to campus today, my roommate and I went into Lincoln. She needed "teacher clothes" and so I volunteered to keep her company. It was a lot of fun, and while I could have been working on other things, why would I pass up the opportunity to hang out with her after a weekend of separation? It was great. Love you, Roomie!

God Bless!

Day 28

Dad and I went into town this afternoon and had a Daddy/Daughter date, which was lovely, and we ran some other errand.

I made spaghetti for dinner for my family tonight. Dad helped, so it was a collaborative effort, and a lot of fun.

Otherwise, I've mostly been working on homework all day.

God Bless!

Day 27

I went home this evening. When I got home, Dad and I started watching an episode of Star Trek OS on his iPad. We didn't get to finish it before supper (pizza that Mom brought home). After supper we finished watching it. And then Dad started another episode, that I admittedly wanted to watch. Mom seemed irked that not everyone could watch at once, so I asked Dad if we could watch it later so Mom could be included in what we were doing. So now I'm watching an episode of Stargate Atlantis.

God Bless

Day 26

I forgot to post last night, sorry.

Yesterday, I sent a CD with some encouraging songs to my friend in the post before this one.

I also helped Sigma Tau Delta (the English honors group) box up books from our biannual book drive. I carried some boxes I probably shouldn't have and re-injured my elbow a bit... but it was worth it.

God Bless

Day 25

I was at supper tonight when I saw that a friend of mine was sitting by himself. He suffers from depression. It makes my heart heavy for him. As I walked by, I felt compelled to stop and ask him if he wanted a hug. I can't explain the look I saw on his face. It was one of shock, "You want to have contact with me? You care enough to ask? You can see that I am here?"

Yes. Yes, I see that you are hurting, and I recognize that you feel alone sometimes. I recognize that sometimes you seclude yourself because you don't think anyone wants to talk to you. It's a lie. A dirty, filthy lie. You are loved, friend. Don't ever let your inner voice tell you otherwise. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to tell people that you are not doing well. We all put up masks, but I'll take mine off if you take yours off.

"You want to see the real me?"

Yes. Yes, I do. Cry to me if you need, I won't mind. I won't mind if you even get me wet with tears.

And let me tell you. That was one of the best hugs of my life.

God Bless

Day 24

Today I picked up my friend's portfolio for her from one of our professors from last semester.

On my way back to the dorm I fell on the ice. It's the week of falling/dropping, I guess.

God Bless.

Day 23

I got a little wrapped up in some homework last night and forgot to post, sorry!

Yesterday, I gave my roommate a "heart-box" gift. I didn't know what this was until last week sometime. It's an object that is normally meaningless, but because you give it to someone it makes it special and they should put it in their "heart-box." (My roommate explained this to me.)

Well, at lunch I was working on annotating one of my text books for one of my lit classes. She was sitting next to me, so I wrote on a sticky note, "I <3 U!" and stuck it to her face. She didn't really appreciate the sticking it to her face part until after she saw what it said. I told her it was a heart box gift, and I'm fairly certain she still has it.

God Bless!

Day 22

Today I went to church in Lincoln with a friend, and then we went to Danielle's house (the girl that I helped move earlier this month) for lunch. It was lovely, and time well spent.

I just helped a friend with a dehabilitating headache get tucked into bed and I'll be sleeping with my phone tonight incase she needs anything. Prayers for her.

I also spilled granola today, which has nothing to do with giving, but I wanted to share with someone. It was a big mess.

God Bless

Day 21

I spent most of the day in my room working on homework, except for when I was eating in the cafeteria. In other words, I did not have much human interaction, and did not give anything today that I know of. Though, I suppose sometimes we give without realizing it.

God Bless

Day 20

Today I wrote letters to both of the afore mentioned girls. Included in their cards was a packet for tea and sweetener. Getting mail always cheers me up, and I hope it does the same for them.

God Bless

Day 19

I bought my dad's birthday present today, super early--his birthday isn't until the end of March.

I held a friend's hand while she explained some issues with her major. She has to have everything settled by Monday.

Day 18

Today I listened to a friend talk out some family issues. It was good for her. It was hard for me to hear so much hurt, but that's okay.

God Bless

Day 17

Well. Yesterday was day 2 of the semester, and as busy as I'm going to be with classes, I'm excited.

I let a friend borrow some books for a class that I have already taken.

God Bless

Day 16

Today was the first day of classes... and I must be honest, I was not very "giving" towards the school today. I was very annoyed that we had class and the surrounding campuses canceled.

I did give a lot of people hugs though, and that was wonderful.

It's good to be back, even if I miss my family and I didn't want to go to class.

God Bless

Day 15

Yesterday I drove back to campus, safe and sound.

I gave my roommate her Christmas present! That was exciting.

I spent the majority of the day just hanging out with friends--it was grand.

God Bless

Day 14

Running a bit behind schedule again.

Yesterday I spent most of the day packing, by myself.

I did help mom with breakfast and dessert for supper. Dad made chili, it was wonderful.

We played Scrabble last night, I lost. Yeah. But it was still fun.

God Bless

Day 13

I spent the day at a friend's house. We watched all three Lord of the Rings movies. We we get together we sew. I made to bags. She worked on a quilt.

The only thing I gave was a sampling of my over abundant tidbits about the movies... which she probably didn't really want to know.

Today was more of a just coexist day.

God Bless

Day 12

I went out to eat with a friend for lunch and was able to give her the hat I made for her. She's wonderful, I'm sad I don't see her more often.

I went to the same food joint for dinner with my family... we had a communication error, so it's a good thing I like that place.

Mom and I had a bit of a girls night, which was a lot of fun.

God Bless

Day 11

I was experiencing some technical difficulties, but hopefully this works now.

I went to my old Middle School where my cousin is now an English teacher. They had an early dismissal today, so I went for the last period and graded papers for her while she taught the sixth grade high ability learners (HAL or Horizons) and also while she was in a teacher's meeting. It was good to be back in the school and see some of my old teachers. (Some have retired, but the most acute loss was that of my science teacher at the age of 40 this past November 1 due to a lung condition. Sometimes I still get worked up about this.)

I went to the store for Mom.

Returned an adapter thing for my friend that moved yesterday.

Made supper; green bean-hamburger casserole tonight.

And lastly, played Dutch Blitz with my brother... he beat me again.

God Bless

Day 10

Yesterday, I helped move a friend to Lincoln. She's like a sister to me, so it's hard to think of not being able to see her when I'm home for breaks and what not. However, she will be much closer to me when I'm at school. It's bittersweet.

We did the moving all by ourselves, aside from a little help from her brother when we got to Lincoln. (Her dresser was a bit heavy.)

I stuck around and watched her unpack for a while, but it was all too soon time for me to return home.

God Bless

Day 9

Well, I'm posting when I should be for a change!

I washed the dishes today and started soaking the shells from the escargot.

I also made dinner for Mom and I, swedish meatballs with noodles, and for Dad, BBQ wings.

Josef and I played some more of this video game he rented, we beat it! Woohoo!

Really, I didn't do much today.

Happy Birthday, Professor Tolkien!

God Bless

Day 8

Maybe I'll just start posting the day after.

We went to church yesterday, and then out to lunch for chinese. (I was pretty excited about that.) Josef and I went to Hastings bookstore while Mom and Dad went to HyVee. We combed that store, oh my goodness. It was lovely.

I spent the majority of my time yesterday with my brother, playing a video game. I don't normally play video games with him, so that was fun.

I also tried escargot. I did not care for it, and Dad caught it on candid camera. woohoo.

God Bless

Day 7

It happened again, sort of, sorry I didn't get a post up yesterday. There is a decent reason though.

Yesterday, I didn't end up going to sleep until 4:30 am because I was finishing the scarf I was knitting for my Gramma. I woke up for the day at 8:30 am to make another loaf of banana bread and to make the hat to go with the scarf. Both of which got done, but yet again, it was a lame excuse for banana bread... I don't know what happened, but it didn't look right, like it wasn't totally baked all the way. (I may just give up on banana bread.)

At noon we went over to Gramma's for our family Christmas -- it was the first time in a very long time that we were all actually there, all the cousins. (There aren't a lot of us, but my cousin and his wife live in Georgia, so we don't see them very often.)  We had a lovely dinner, Gramma really out did herself.

In the afternoon we played Apples to Apples, White Elephant gift exchange, and Catch Phrase. And lots of visiting.

We had a light supper and some excellent pie.

Charles, Virginia, Josef and I played Dutch Blitz, which Charles and Virginia had never played before so that was fun.

It meant a lot to Gramma to have us all together, I think she's afraid it won't ever happen again. I hope it does. I love my family. I wish I saw all of them more often. That was probably the biggest gift we all could have given her. (She loved the scarf and hat.)

We got home and watched "The Seahawk" (Errol Flynn) while I helped Josef build this new Lego set he got for his stop-motion movies. And then we put "Captain Blood" (Errol Flynn) in...and I promptly fell asleep on the couch. Apparently,  four hours of sleep will get me as far as 10 o'clock. (That's why I didn't get a blog up yesterday.)

It was a big day. I think we take advantage of how often we see certain member of our family. I wish we didn't because you never know what will happen...