Bible Study Dinner

Last night all of the girls from my Core Group got together and got all dressed up for an end of semester dinner. One of the girls volunteered to make dinner, so we had chicken cordon bleu, twice-baked potatoes, broccoli, rolls, and sparkling cider! I have been so very blessed to be a part of this amazing group of talented, beautiful, intelligent, Christ-following women. I am sure that next semester will bring even more fun! Here are a few pictures of the festivities:

All of us girls looking pretty!

We had confetti cake for dessert (it's my favorite)!

Jen and I being silly

ABC Meme

I have been tagged for the very first time ever by my sister! Thanks Mimes! I really feel like an official blogger now!

A - Available/Single?
I'm pretty sure I'm single :)
B - Best Friend?
My sister, Amy
C - Cake or Pie?
I am not crazy about either of them, but I LOVE confetti cake with confetti frosting...yummy!
D - Drink of Choice?
Smoothies from Jamba Juice
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday?
My lip chap and lip gloss
F - Favorite Color
Purple, Pink, and Green
G - Gummy Bears or Worms?
Definitely Gummy Bears (especially the ones my mom puts on my pillow when I come home)
H - Hometown?
I have many, but they are all in the state of Washington
I - Indulgence?
Watching reality television
J - January or February?
February...that is when my new niece or nephew will be born (the 6th to be exact)
K - Kids & Their Names
I don't have any kids, but I have an adorable nephew named Parker who is 20 months, a beautiful niece named Audrey who is 15 months, and two new additions on the way!
L - Life Is Incomplete Without?
My amazing family and the awesome grace and love of Jesus Christ
M - Marriage Date?
I don't have one...yet.
N - Number Of Siblings?
2 siblings - one older brother named Erik (who is married to Andi) and one older sister named Amy (who is married to Joel)
O - Oranges or Apples?
Apples
P - Phobias/Fears
Some of my biggest fears are 1) not getting married, 2) not being able to have children, and 3) losing a member of my family
Q - Favorite Quote?
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."
R - Reason to Smile?
My family
S - Season?
Fall...it simply can't be beat!
T - Tag Three People
Not very many people read my blog who actually have blogs themselves, so I don't really have anyone to tag. Mom, do you blog?
U - Unknown Fact About Me?
I roll over in bed two times before I let myself fall asleep at night (did I mention that I have OCD tendencies?)
V - Vegetables You Don't Like?
Asparagus and Mushrooms
W - Worst Habit?
Procrastinating and not staying focused (bad combination!)
X - X-rays You've Had?
Do the ones at the dentist and orthodontist count?
Y - Your Favorite Food?
It is a tie between pizza and ice cream...I am pretty sure I could live on them for a LONG time!
Z - Zodiac Sign?
Gemini, but I am so clueless about this kind of stuff that I don't even know what my birthstone is!

5 Good Things About My Week

I worked so hard on my speech that my room was a complete DISASTER when I finally finished! :)

1) I wrote my LAST speech for my Communication Studies class this semester and I am so very happy to be done! I get really nervous when I have to talk in front of lots of people, and even more so when I know that I am being graded on both the content of my speech and the way I deliver it. Anywho, I got it done with, I did extremely well (better than I thought I would), and I just feel so relieved! The topic of my speech...the astronomical cost of a quality college education (you better believe that I was extremely passionate about this topic!)

2) I bought a lovely little poinsettia to bring some Christmas cheer to our apartment! I don't do very well with plants (it totally runs in my family), but I think I can manage this one...at least until Christmas! Every time I walk into the kitchen, where the poinsettia is sitting on the dining room table, I just get a little smile on my face!

3) On Friday night I went over to a friend's house where a group of us from The INN all played Tripoley together. I had never even heard of it before, but it is pretty much the most awesome game in the world. The game combines elements of poker, hearts, and rummy. All I can say is that I just had so much fun!

4) I made my famous Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies this week (famous meaning that all of my friends LOVE them and my roommate can't get enough of them...I am not very domestic, but I will admit that I can make some mean cookies!) Oh so yummy!

5) I don't have to make dinner tonight! Some friends are coming over to celebrate a birthday, and we are going to have chicken fettuccini alfredo! All I have to do is be a welcoming, warm hostess!

*Sometimes I find that reflecting on all of the good things that have happened to you make the bad things seem much less important. It makes me realize how very blessed I am.*