I'm HOME!!

I arrived Home yesterday morning at about 10:30 AM. The day went on as we went shopping... Yes- it was day bomb, and then my family proceeded to take me out to dinner for my birthday and my Dad's birthday!! We went to this place called the daily scoop where my Brother-in-law Aaron, sister's husband is the chef (there names are Clint and Sara). On a scale of 5 stars the food we had was 6 1/2... It was the most delicious food EVER!!! It was like a 4 course meal... AMAAAZING!!! First we started out with Sushi- yeah I didn't think I liked sushi either, but this was great, then we had this amazing gourmet salad, next was the meal, steak, a huge twice baked potato and squash with mushrooms and artichoke- it was delicious, lastly my Dad and I had lava-cake (wonderful chocolate) expresso bean ice cream with caramel drizzled over it. Out of all of the EXPENSIVE restraunts I have been to- this food was by far the best of its kind. Obviously, Rosy's is still the best Mexican food and my Mom is an outrageously wonderful cook as well, but for fancy smancy restraunts- this hole in the wall of a restraunt was the most Amazing I have ever had and to think it has been next to the movie theatre in our town for like 3 years. I then went home... and went to bed. Yeah I was a little tired, but that it how my break has been so far- JUST GREAT!!! And I can't wait for Christmas, it will be just amazing of not more so. I just pray that this Christmas we will be able to have our heart on the true meaning of Christmas, beyond presents and lights and food and even family, but remember that this holiday is to celebrate the birth, life, death, and the RESURRECTION of the One and Only Savior. Thank You Lord for sending your Son!! I pray that you will rest in His arms! I love you all!

It's coming...

1 Day of FINALS
2 Days in Indiana
4 Weeks at Home
3 Semesters of school
2 Summer breaks
2 Spring Breaks

5 Hours to study for FINALS
2 Days until I hug my Mom
2 Years until I go

5 people are freezing
100's are dying

It's coming...

end of semester
end of school
end of practice

end of peoples lives

What comes next?
life
reality
salvation

a choice

"What you do and say may be heaven or hell for another."

6 days and counting...

There are officially only 6 days until break... Wow! In one sense I feel a little overwhelmed know what all has to be done... in another sense I am sad because this semester I have had by far my FAVORITE classes... I am also totally excited, for I get to GO HOME!!!!!!! I really do miss my family and friends a ton! So it is all a little bitter aweet- ya know. I'm doing well though, after my all-nighter I have decided that I am not going to ever do that again- the first couple hours of the day were great, but I feel really bad for my afternoon Professor and the ladies I work with because I definitly was zoned out the whole time. The Lord is so faithful, I know that He is the one that gave me the endurance and strength to do everything thus far, and will continue to do so. All in all God has blessed me soooo much... even when things seem to get tough I then realize how trivial it all is... for I have the love of the One True All-Powerful Great Majestic and Magnificent GOD... amazing, I know- He's cool like that. As you go about your day don't forget about the joy of the little things... don't forget to thank God for His amazing love... and His hand in your life. It'll make Him smile, I'm sure!!

Stay STRONG in His Might and keep your eyes steady upon the goal of your faith!

My Life 101

In the following pictures you will come to know who I am a little more than ever before... You will see my Moutains... Job's peak is the one I take pictures of the most, my Family... the faithful and strong- it hasn't always been peachy but God is faithful, and my back "wrecking" yard. You are venturing now where some only dare to hear about (JK -it's not that scary, but I garantee you will laugh!)!!!

Mom and Dad... the beautiful and faithful couple of... a long time!! Yes, those are matching shirts and real smiles! What would you expect we are in Rosy's our absolute favorite Mexican restraunt (#8 is my favorite)!

I know you don't all believe me when I say my Dad has a pony tail, but he does (as you can see), and I have to say I think that he is quite handsome if I do say so myself. Not a hippie or a biker, just a good Daddy with long hair!!
Does this help you envision my family more Joe?

Chance the Monkey ( I know, he has the best monkey face I've ever seen). Son number two of Aaron and Traci! 

Traci and Aaron... don't worry they are married! Yeah, I know... how cute... 

Talin (yes, he is teething)... the adorable son of Aaron and Traci... the most recent addition to the family. 

The cute little family... Joel (the adorable little boy) Bill (the Daddy) and Hollie (my sister and the Mommy). 

Anthony, Chance and Madison being the dork-muffins that they are. 

Majestic and beautiful moutains... 

This was after sunset taken form Hollie and Bill's front yard. 

Evening of Thanksgiving I was able to capture the beautiful moutains and clouds from my driveway. 

Night time moutain sky line! 

My tree (in my front yard). In 3rd grade I wanted a real tree for my room... when I finally got it none of the ornaments were small enough to stay on it. BUT we planted it... and now she is taller than my house and beautiful!! 

While at home I was able to pick up my niece Madison from school. As a surprise we had lunch and met up with two of her friends from church (who just so happen to be sibblings of my friends Whitney and Klinttin) and saw Your, Mine, and Ours. It was a blast!! 

Reasons to go home... "wrecking" back yard (JK), Sage Brush (JK- I'm allergic), Chance (fo real- he is adorable, I know and all the fam!), and the view of the mountains. 

Chance (#3/5 nephews)... as you can see he was disappointed at what the elements had done to his perfectly good 3 wheeler tire. 

Don Pollard at Thanksgiving... He is cool. He is a friend of the family and we all have been blessed by him being a part of our family!! 

The traditional Holiday Monkey Bread... I really think it was the most beautiful I had ever seen, it tasted just as good! 

Back yard tires to go for the cars... don't worry there are more if you don't see your size here... It does make a sweet picture though, pretty cool looking for just being "wrecking" materials... by the way it is not called "junk". 

My Life continued...

CAUTION... if you continue there is no turning back...

The back "wrecking" yard!

Brooke these posts are for you...

In the following posts I have taken pictures of my back "wrecking" yard. Some people didn't quite believe me when I said my parents have 15 cars... well they shouldn't have, because we actually only have 14 (my mistake- we sold our diesel truck a when I was in Junior High). Now Cars 1, 2, and 3 are not shown... they are the ones we actually use along with #4. Number 1 is my Mom's '89 Suburban... she has an upper class feel to her (especially with the dark windows and black paint job). Number 2 would be the Grand Prix which we bought for $500 for a spare running car when I was at home and needed alternate transportation due to Beretta difficulties. And of course my Beautiful Beretta is the '92 GTZ that comes as car number 3. I hope you enjoy the following redneck (or as my Dad says "Goheen") tradition.

Number 4... Old Faithful...Dad's Toyota. the little girl in this picture is my cousin's daughter Allison... this was the first car she began to play in, but she had mistaken this car for being in the "Wrecking yard" when in reality it was just parked in the back yard to make room. This is my Dad's car that (as you can see the USPS sign) he uses for work. The interior appears to be that of one of the "wrecking cars" but driving the little thing you would never know. 

Number 5... Traci's Toyota. This was a more recent addition. I was in Junior High when this beauty became a lawn ornament. She really was a good little truck. Anthony had dibs on it... he says he will fix her up. 

Number 6... I believe that this was my Grandpa's truck. Don't be fooled, her engine may not be under the hood... but wait, did you check the bed? Yep, there it is...the whole thing, and don't worry about the tires, there is plenty more where that came from. 

Number 7... no clue. Where, when or how... she has just always been there. 

Number 8... This is the buick. It did run once in my life-time... I think, but not too sure how she found her life here. I dunno, but check out that fashionable pink windshield wiper! 

Number 9... Yet another no clue car... perhaps something my Dad traded for? No clue... 

Number 10...the cute one. No sentimental value, I'm not sure where it came from either...