Scary mental picture? Try seeing it live. At 8 in the morning. Yeah, I shuddered too.

2) On days when my homework load is overwhelming, it’s quite easy to catch up on housework. Or movie watching. Or anything other than homework. So my studying may not get done, but boy, I finally have clean underwear!

3) First put on deodorant, than put on the shirt. Otherwise you may forget to put it on at all. And leave the house like that. And have to wear a jacket all day to avoid other people commenting on your major stinkage. Not that I’d know…

4) If you have a phone interview and come away from it thinking, “Man, I sounded like a dunce. Where was my poise, charm, and delightfulness?,” but they call back the next day and want an in-person interview with you for the next week, you must have done something right. (And this I would know…)

1. Don’t slurp soup in the library. Actually, don’t eat soup at all in the library. Especially if you’re gonna sit at the cubicle in front of mine while I’m studying for an exam. I may have to hunt you down and attack you with my calculators.

2. Don’t text and walk. You may either a) almost get hit by a vehicle or b) run into a pole in front of the library. Either way = ouch!

3. If you’re running late or forget to get something to a friend/boss/professor/etc., just blame it on the circus. Claim the animals got out of their cages and you’ve spent the past few days frantically trying to get the giraffes out of your house and into their cages. Works every time!

Anybody else learn anything important this week? Feel free to share!

In I’m So Sure, Bella Kirkwood finds herself in even more crazy situations than before. After solving one mystery, Bella’s become the Nancy Drew of her Oklahoma high school. When some weird events surrounding prom occur, Bella is asked by some prom queen nominees to figure out what’s going on.

As if trying to solve a major mystery isn’t enough, Bella’s stepfather, a semi-professional wrestler, makes it onto a wrestling reality show. This thrusts Bella and the rest of the family into the limelight. But being on TV and in tabloids isn’t quite as exciting as it may seem, especially when some it portrays Bella in a less-than-flattering manner.

Then there’s Luke, Bella’s super gorgeous newspaper editor. Bella doesn’t know what to think. Are they just friends or something more? And Hunter, her cheating ex-boyfriend, suddenly pops back into her life. He’s asking questions about God, so what else can she do but be a good Christian?

With Bella, nothing is simple. Expect surprises, craziness, and humor galore as she navigates life, boys, and God. My only complaint? Book three isn’t out yet…

Right now I’m focusing on finishing my degree and graduating. I turned it my request to graduate form a couple weeks ago. Yay! Now I have to complete this semester and one more, pass all my classes, and I’ll be done. Double yay! The question is what happens after that. Get a job? Go to grad school? Join the circus? None of the above? I’m trying to wait on God and listen for his direction. Ever feel like there isn’t any direction though? I’m bobbing along but there haven’t been any Vegas-style neon signs saying, “This way!” And do I know what I want to do? No. My parents, my friends, everyone is asking me what I’m planning to do. I have no idea, and that’s what I tell them. I want to follow God’s plans, but right now he’s leading me along a path and hasn’t shown me where it ends. But do I really need to know? Not really. If he’s in control of the rest of the world, I think he’s got my little life under control too. So for now I’m just bobbing along this thing called life, keeping my options open and trying to keep my heart in tune with the Creator. And when I’m asked what I want to do, I think I’m going to start telling people I want to be a mermaid. Or an underwater basket weaver. Or the captain of a ship called Pequod. Anything to keep my options open.

Speaking of God, the neatest thing happened. I was writing in my journal last night, and an image popped into my head with the words, “Free. I want to be free.” So, I drew the picture and doodled the words on the page. (Not very well, I might add. There’s a reason I’m a math major and have avoided taking any and all art classes.) Then this morning during my God-and-me-Bible-reading time, I came across a verse from John (what I just “happened” to be reading). John 8:31b-32 says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” How neat is that? This was something I needed to hear and be taught. It goes along the lines of things I’ve been trying to work through lately.

And if that weren’t enough to have God speak to me like that, I also checked my email to find that two of my professors had pushed back assignments to the end of the week instead of the beginning. I was stressing because I didn’t think I could make it to one of my prof’s office hours to get help with the homework before we had to turn it in today. Turns out I will have time to get my questions answered AND write the paper for my other class. =]

Here’s to God, and here’s to being free.

1) Barbie’s feet are no longer pointed. When I played with Barbie and her friends, their feet were permanently fixed to be in the tippy-toe position (to fit into her Barbie heels), because every self-respecting woman knows she must wear heels to really be successful in life. (Just kidding, of course. I’m a flip-flop girl myself.) 

2) Remember how Barbie used to come with a hairbrush? She still does, but now the brush is bigger than her head. What’s with that? Can you imagine if you owned a hairbrush that was bigger than your head? Not only would it be impossibly heavy, but it seems more like a weapon than a beauty tool.

3) Notice the change in Barbie’s professions. She started out as just a fashion doll, then got careers like nurse or flight attendant. Now she’s become a doctor or pilot. Barbie sure has gone up in the world. I’m just waiting for them to come up with a mathematician Barbie. =]

4) Barbie looks pretty darn good for her age. I personally think she’s had some work done. She is awfully plastic… (Sorry, bad joke, I know)

It’s a historical romance, not usually my thing, but I enjoyed this one. The book is The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander.

McKenna Ashford moves to Colorado, hoping to make a new start for herself and her rebellious younger brother. But when she arrives at her cousin’s doorstep, things are nothing like she hoped they’d be. McKenna struggles to be a parent to her brother, figure out the ‘surprise’ she’s left with, and still make ends meet. Throw in rugged U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon, who has memories from his own past, some very interesting and well-done minor characters, and you’ve got  The Inheritance.

My thoughts? Sweet. Sassy. Simply wonderful. That’s the book in a nutshell. Historical romances with sassy heroines are great, and this book did not disappoint. The main character, McKenna Ashford, grabbed my attention right away. I was pulled into the story through the struggles, surprises, and genuine love. It leaves you feeling warm, fuzzy, and happy. If you like historical romances, don’t miss this one!

So I just read (well, read last week) this book by Mary E. DeMuth called Daisy Chain. It’s been compared to Harper Lee’s infamous book, To Kill A Mockingbird. Let’s just say I can totally understand why. It’s the newest coming of age story that is so well-written. My full thoughts? Daisy Chain has beautiful prose, off-beat but very real characters, and a delicate story. It’s one of those books that stays in your mind long after you’ve finished reading it. It isn’t a warm and fuzzy novel, but it does leave you wanting more. I was right alongside Jed and shared all his hurt and guilt. A very well done novel. A little sad though. I couldn’t help wishing things would have turned out differently, but alas, life isn’t always happily-ever-after. I will be reading the next book for sure.

Seriously, if you haven’t read it, you need to. Mary DeMuth. Daisy Chain.