eh

I haven't been able to think of many things to write about because I've been so busy so I'm going to do this 30 day blog thing I found. Seriously it was the first thing that came up on google when I typed in blog ideas.

Day 1- A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.

Today was pretty good.

I woke up at 10:30 after staying up til like 2:30

I got ready, went to class.

Made it through that without falling asleep.

I went to lunch with Anne, Christina, and Alex.

I had a corn dog and french fries.

Is this boring you yet?

Then we checked our mail, and I got a thank you card from my nieces!

Yay!

Then a bunch of us watched Friends for a ridiculous amount of time and I did homework and fell asleep in my bed.

Then I woke up and ate some of Alex's new candy.

And Caitlyn played with my hair.

Then we went to dinner

It was Chinese night.

Then I watched my hall's soccer practice, which was a hoot.

Me and Caitlyn shared some nice jokes on the way home.

I fiddled around on the interweb with various amounts of people coming in and out of my room.

Grey's Anatomy

Studying

Private Practice

Shower

And now I'm here. 

Its been a good day.

I love being around people.

Now we're gonna watch friends again. For a while most likely.

You have been sufficiently bored for about a minute probably.

I thank you for enduring it.

did you ever have to make up your mind

Have you ever asked yourself the question, " Am I the type of person who...?" and then fill in the blank with whatever action you are thinking about entertaining.
I used to think I had to stick to my "things"
If it wasn't the sort of thing I wouldn't typically do, I wouldn't do it.
Now though, I realize that by writing notes to people just because, you become the type of person who writes notes to people just because.
And by going to zumba class, you become the type of people that goes to zumba.
Whatever stigmas or social classes are preventing you from doing things that you might want to explore, are worth dropping out of consideration so that you can do new things that you want to try.
Its simple but profound.

Here's some top visited websites of mine...
http://www.operationworld.org/index.html they give you a country to pray for everyday

http://www.youtube.com/ of course

http://www.needtobreathe.net yep, its a pretty cool site

www.mlia.com because my life really is average so i have time to read it

www.foodnetwork.com i dont know why i like reading about food

http://tvlistings.aol.com/listings/ok/shawnee/allegiance-communications-llc-standard?hid=OK35523&zipcode=74801&tab=grid this is how I see what is on tv in shawnee

and of course facebook, twitter, my various email accounts, and online bank

In the words of someone else that I can't remember who said it...
"After Halloween is over, we're starting Christmas!"

friends...

of the tv show and literal variety.
We've been watching A BUNCH of friends.
Like episodes and episodes in a row.
Caitlyn sleeps in my bed and everyone else watches while alternating with homework.
So there you have it.
My friends watching friends.

HERE'S JULIE...

And we though Katie had personality.

This one's a hoot.

She holds her own with 3 older sisters.

She's gonna be just like me! Haha... I mean MUAHAHA!

She's just over a year.

I stayed a long weekend in July and helped her take her first steps before her first birthday.

She can't say my name yet but we're working on it.

She's a really good eater... for me anyway.

We shared our favorite meal and she ate more than me...

leftover macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, a roll, and a banana.

It was delicious.

I've decided that every age of baby-ness has its advantages.

But I especially like the year to eighteen months stage, because they do cool things like walk and communicate but they still let you rock them and take naps with them.

321 happenings

We've got...
corn pillows
a new big fridge
the windows opened
Edward Cullen
indoor soccer season coming up
Graham Colton tickets
NASCAR tickets
and very little homework

Needless to say, its been a pretty nice welcome back from fall break.

I was going to upload a picture and talk about my last niece, Julie but the internet IS NOT WORKING... AGAIN.
How do people live like this?
Instead I will just tell you that I am loving life and living it up. The changes in my life recently are things I wouldn't change for the world, and besides anticipating a few concerts this coming fall, I am absolutely content.
Therein lies my problem, and something I've been learning the hard way.
Contentment is hard and
No matter how good you think you are with God, and how blessed and grateful you are...
Sin can and will find you.
Be aware.

anticipation

Fall break was a success.
Its been a busy couple weeks in music. Kings of Leon's new album is out! Need's live EP comes out tomorrow and so does Taylor Swift's. I've also been enjoying Mumford and Sons and O.A.R. for the first time in a while. I love revisiting old albums I forgot I had. Needless to say I've been with my ipod more than the TV- or my textbooks for that matter!

I got back a little early to get settled in and it was then I realized how ready I was to see all these people that were strangers a couple weeks ago. They're all getting back now though, so I'm going to go see them!

peace

I'm waiting for my bagels to bake. In the mean time I have a smorgasbord of things to talk about.
Yesterday I updated my itunes! Few things make me as happy as new music :)

I miss having a fully equipped kitchen at my disposal more than I can express. I put on my music, throw a towel over my shoulder (sometimes put on my apron), and then get to work making a hot mess in the kitchen. I wouldn't consider myself an artist in any art mediums, but baking is one way I can make something that people actually enjoy strictly for pleasure. Maybe that's what art is anyway.

I realized something big the other day and I've been thinking about it a lot.
I'm single. And I like it. It doesn't feel like a temporary status until I find someone to spend the rest of my life with. It feels like fun, and doing what I want. It feels like hanging out with fun people that I want to hang out with. Maybe its selfish, but I don't have to think about anyone else on that level. Its part of being young. There's blessings in dating and marriage and stuff, but I'm enjoying the promise of the unknown purely at my own disposal. I always thought I'd get married in college somewhere along the way, but now that freaks me out. There is a world out there I want to discover by myself a little I think. I'm having a blast right now regardless of how it turns out.

I'm about to make a bold statement.
The kind of thing that I'm afraid to make a defining decision about because it either jinxes it or I change my mind and then everyone's like "I thought you said..." and then whatever it was that I said.
But, here I go.

2010 has been the best year for me. Like ever.
And not necessarily circumstantially.
A lot's happened, a lot has changed. And I'll never be the same.
Spiritually I got better- and worse- and then better still again, then back to worse... and that's taken me a long way.
That's actually what's helped the most with my enjoying life regardless of what is going on.
Also, the fact that I've found things that I love in everything.
My bagels are delicious by the way.

I'm 85 percent sure I'm getting a tattoo. We'll see.
Good night beautiful world.

i want

peace
my mom's food
sleep
a good book
a good concert
my shower
my bed
no homework
basically what i'm looking for is a nice, fat.... FALL BREAK

This week has been sort of uneventful and sucky and I'm finally enjoying a Friday night so I'm gonna have to blog you later.

Today I am thanking God for laughter. I have laughed more today than I remember in a long time.
Special thanks to Abbey, Caitlyn, Anne, Christina, Alex and everyone else in my hall.

ive been thinking

mks (Macey, Katie, Stevie) Macey said "push those cuz they're in our names"

y "Andi can I push that cuz its in my name too?"

Anyway, I love being at my sisters house. Its like my second home. Err... my third home. I have a dorm now too. :/ Its weird how much like home that place has become.

Some pictures from this weekend...

she was finding her diaper in the trash

The story on the motorcycle.

I drove it.

Sort of.

Its not my forte.

I killed it about 10 times before I got it to take off.

Then I got it to second gear!!!

It was fun. 

Its an experience that I'm glad I got to add to my list.

who would have thought.

I declared a major today.
Just like everyone told me I would.
And just like everyone said,
ITS NOT SOMETHING I EVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT.
Now, a video.
Anyone know what a dougie is?
Me neither.
But. I. Like. It.
Mind the fat guy at 32 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnPJmDc0b_M

10 things that make me happy...

 and why...

10.

 There's something classy about it.

Last fall I went there a lot of week nights, (my favorite was when it was rainy and I was having a bad day) I'd grab a hot white chocolate mocha and walk around with a shopping cart, pretending I was interesting and was there for a purpose. For some reason, it helped. Whatever lame drama was ailing me at the time would go away when I got a glimpse of it going dark outside while staring at delicious baked goods. And I don't know why, but WAL-MART just doesn't have it.

9.

                                    

For obvious reasons.     

Writing #10 made me realize that I wanted one.

8.

What can I say?

I love it. And, I know its cliche and everyone loves music, cause like how could you not, but I do. I really really love it. It moves me. I can't help but feel something when a song matches a feeling, a memory, a mood, a state of mind, anything. Its like for those 3-ish minutes, you know without a doubt that you're doing exactly what you should be doing because everything seems so lined up. You can dance, smile, scream, pump your fists, hit that note, all for no reason at all and yet for all the perfect reasons in the world all at the same time. Its passion in a very personal, individual way, and its different for everyone.

7. 

It feels good to feel something.

I know it doesn't feel good, but exercise is a brain thing too. I always feel like, by feeling pain, introducing new feelings into your primary sensory cortex (vocab word for my test Friday!) you learn to feel something new. When you put on clothes in the morning, you feel them, but how many times during the rest of that day are you aware that your clothes are on your skin? Your body learns to ignore it. You ignore a pretty obvious part of your reality. Exercise lets you know you're alive. You feel your heart again! You feel that, yes, there is pain, BUT there is also accomplishment in feeling that kind of liveliness. 

6.                                                                                               

Well, okay... but you knew I had to. :)

People get sick of hearing about it, but yes, needtobreathe makes me happy. That may or may not be an understatement. I don't know how to explain it so I'm considering leaving it at just that, but it doesn't really do it justice. Sometimes I feel a lot of judgement in this area of my life from people but its part of who I am. I get passionate. Real quick. I will tell you that there's a rush involved in the anticipation of and during a live show. My best friend Dani and I are really the only ones that get it. Its not something I can describe because I can experience the same level of... "something" (since I don't know what to call it.) with other things, like a new song I found, or a love of family or fine foods. I will just say that its great. There.

5.

 Interesting things are... well, interesting.

I really don't know what that's a picture of, but I've learned to appreciate it already. People are cool. The things people do are fascinating. Like photography and books. People are funny and I'm glad I've learned to appreciate it. I think my philosophy professor is weird. But something about his refusal to wear socks and closed toe shoes intrigues me. I want to be good at everything that I enjoy in life, unfortunately, I can't and so I'll settle for looking at a beautiful thing that someone else can take or create and admiring that person and creation. And I'm okay with that.

4. 

I like things in their place.

Something I hate more than doing things I don't want to do...is having something that needs to be done that isn't. Stuff goes back in its place with me. And if it doesn't right away, it goes on a list. A list that drives me crazy if I don't get it done at the end of each day. Which means I make a list everyday. I'm not a neat freak, maybe. Some of what I consider organized is just organized chaos. Regardless, I like getting things done, and having stuff where it should is part of it. Don't ask to see my calendar unless you want a complicated illustration of a lot of very mundane tasks that really don't need to be scheduled. I'm weird.

3.

They're so great.

This is my family (minus the men). And they are the best. Seriously. My dad taught me how to kill others with my words, (I mean, stand up for myself) My mom taught me how to yell (I mean, express emotion) My sister Melissa taught me how to drive a stick shift without my parents knowledge and Stacie taught me how to know when mom was coming into our room so we could stop doing whatever we weren't supposed to be doing. Add to that, Steve, who makes the most annoying noise in the world. Daniel, who can tell the most inappropriate "that's what she said"s. And 4 little girls to keep all of the above busy and you have quite the company.

2.

It is Oh so relieving!

Sneezing, peeing, and yawning are God's little Andi-pick-me-ups. I feel so much better after doing any of these things. Very refreshing. I wonder if they could all happen at the same time. When it does, let me know and we'll call it the Trifecta!

1.

They bring such lovely memories to mind.

Family holidays are weird for me. I remember some knock-down, drag out, flat out stupid, ridiculous things happening during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it always works out and they remain as a great motivator for getting through the school year. The food is obviously at the top of the list, but also the company and just the activity of doing something different. A special occasion does great things for the excitement levels of an Oklahoma teenager.

OCD

Today was ocd.
I meticulously rewrote all my psychology notes very neatly and studied them.
I lined up my hairs that fell out on my hands in the shower before washing them down the drain.
I neatly folded my tissues before blowing my nose.
I drew pictures in my caramel with my apple slices.
I refolded all my pants.
I did 100m of lunges... precisely.
I took the time to perfectly coiff my hair after my shower.
I already put my books, stacked biggest to smallest in my backpack for tomorrow.
I love slow days.

mantras

"I want to talk to you about the subject of plans. Not so much my plan for this column, but life plans, and how we all make them. And how we hope that our kids make good, smart, safe plans of their own. But if we're really honest with ourselves, our plans usually don't work out as we had hoped. So instead of asking our young people "What are you plans? What do you plan to do with your life?" maybe we should tell them this: Plan to be surprised." -Dan in Real Life

I have these dreams. Big ones. They're always changing, I add, subtract, and alter as God shows me His heart and a little of my own. If you see me, you should ask me about some of them. Some of them, I can't tell you because they're like those rare bubbles, the huge, perfect bubble, that wobbles and shakes and you try to keep it alive but once somebody else sees that huge bubble, all the want to do is come pop that big bubble. I don't think you want to kill my bubble, I just think that the more people that know, the more likely it is that it will die. And I also, I will feel silly saying them aloud. Here is somewhat of a photo representation of maybe some of what I want in my life, in some sort of weird combination, pick and choose type way. In a nutshell, I can say "My dream is to bring glory to God"- and I mean it- I just like to picture it, to go a little further and nail down the exact desires of my heart. After that point, I can say "That's what I want. Now, God, what can You do with that?" Then, its up to Him. And from that point on, I can move forward, enjoy the journey, know with absolute uncertainty where I'm going and at the same time know with absolute certainty, that I'll be okay along the way.

In no particular order, chronological or priority wise.

                                            

now

Little Katie

I love herrrrr. She's all kinds of quirky.

Very watchful and passionate.

Her voice is precious. 

She has the best, goofy grin around.

I kind of hope her pronunciation doesn't improve as she gets older because the way she says things is so darned cute.

She screams things if you don't respond quick enough or if she doesn't get her way. "Andi, I want to help youuuuuuuu!"

She keeps up with her older sisters very well, but you can also catch her playing alone or with Julie sometimes.

One time, a boy her age in her church nursery class bit her hand when they weren't getting along. She talked about it for weeks! Anytime she said "Amos bite me, she'd hold up her hand and make you kiss it.  "Katie, do you want a cookie?" "Amos bite me!"

Later the same day... "Kate Cakes, let's go play over there." "Amos bite me."