Are you looking for answers to questions under the stars?

Getting back into the swing of things after break was a lot easier than I thought it would be! Ben treated me to a delicious dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill Sunday night and I fell head over heels for their Chicken Bryan. The past two days have been busy finishing assignments, catching up on work and attempting to get ahead, as well as hosting an open forum with our college President, Dr. Murphy. Phew!

Everything was going well until life threw me a curve ball today. Well, two actually. This morning I woke up to a phone call that my mom, after being home for almost a month now, was admitted to the hospital. Later this afternoon I learned that she was being transferred back to Boston, where she spent a month from October to November. I also learned that our dog, Ouray, was being given away to a new home. He was such a wild dog; he managed to Houdini his through every fence in our backyard, no matter how many times we reinforced it. A Rottweiler and Black Lab mix, he did scare some people with his loud bark and growls, but he was the sweetest, most lovable dog you could ever meet. He was a gentle giant, but our family could not keep up with him with everything going on. The news absolutely broke my heart because I know how badly we all wanted to keep him and I almost feel guilty that I didn't get to say "goodbye." I pray that his new family will treat him well and let him be the wild thing he is.

Even in all this sadness I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful friends and family, an education, a home. I watched a 60 Minutes episode about families in Florida who were forced to live in cars due to soaring unemployment rates and inadequate space in homeless shelters. It was heart-wrenching to hear children talk about their fears of being robbed or taken away from their parents. One woman, who learned about the hundred or so kids living this way who attend the school she worked in, called on her community for donations to help some of these families stay in hotels. The more this economy begins to worsen and families are facing similar situations of poverty, the more I begin to hear stories about considerate people like this woman who lift my spirits. It is so encouraging to be reminded of the selfless capabilities others posses and the willingness to help someone you barely know.

Do me a favor: before you go to bed tonight, write down (or say to yourself) one person or one moment you were thankful for today. Then tomorrow when you wake up remember what it is you're grateful for and try to say one kind remark or make one thoughtful gesture to someone you don't even know. Day by day of this, I promise, will help you realize all that you do have and begin to worry less and less about all that you don't have.

A day of thanks, the darkest of Fridays, and spreading Christmas cheer!

So I haven't exactly been the best at writing daily, but my excuses are good, I promise ;)

Wednesday we were slammed with over 8" of snow and I had to wait until the afternoon when it stopped to go anywhere. I ran some errands before going out with my girl friends for martini night. We went out to a few other bars and it was so nice to run into old friends from high school. I forget that it's been almost four years since I've seen some of them!

Thursday was a very busy day for me. It began with watching the Macy's parade and brunch at my mom's then Ryan and I headed to my grandparents for an early dinner. We ended back at my mom's to watch football and have another turkey dinner. Phew! I finished it off napping on the couch and watching Elf before bed :)

This Thanksgiving I was so grateful to have my mom home- even though she has had a tough time lately it was a true blessing to be able to sit down and eat with her. So many families spent the day without their loved ones and friends, whether they were overseas or recently passed away, and it meant so much to me to spend the day with my family. What were you grateful for this year?

Today I happily avoided Black Friday in support of Buy Nothing Day. I haven't been shopping on Black Friday since I was little, but I honestly don't have the urge (or patience for that matter) to wake up early only to wait in line for hours and then fight other shoppers for the last TV on sale. No thank you!

Despite the crazy shoppers and drivers out today I am so very excited for this holiday season! The lights, the snow, the SUGAR COOKIES... I could go on. I cannot wait to decorate my apartment and cut down a tree with my family.

Hope you all had a wonderful break and continue to give thanks as your spend your weekends with family and friends!

XXO

Let's give this a go... again

About four years ago I started a blog when I was a freshman in college and, like I had predicted, I became so busy and bogged down with school that I was unable to maintain it. Now I'm back and I have so much to share with you all!

As most of you already know I'm now in my senior year at ESF! I really cannot believe it's my last year... just last week I registered for my last semester and it was a very bittersweet moment for me. Rather than trying to catch you all up on the last three years I'm going to fast forward and give you a quick recap: I am now dating my wonderful boyfriend, Ben, and we're about to celebrate our two year anniversary and move in together! I'm still super involved in campus clubs and activities: this year I'm the student representative for the Board of Trustees; I was one of two head orientation leaders for this fall's incoming class of students; and I just completed duties as a student representative for the Middles States Steering Committee (for our university's re-accreditation). In addition I'm taking a full course load, mentoring, and on the hunt for master's programs for next fall!

Right now I'm home for about nine days for Thanksgiving break- the longest I've been home since July!! We're planning a small dinner this year since Steve's family came up this past week instead. Grammy is up helping mom and will stay until the day before I come back home for winter break in mid-December. Our whole family has been so supportive and wonderful these past few months. Many of you know that my mom has been very ill and we're still not 100% sure what caused her health to decline, if all her medical conditions were related, etc etc. It has been very hard for me being so far from home, but her wonderful friends and our family have been so encouraging and helpful. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people in my life :) Just so you all know she is doing much better and although each day holds many challenges she has been very strong and working hard to move forward.

Since I'm trying hard to get back into writing (and now blogging) on a daily basis, I ask for your patience as I am still trying to figure out how to use Blogger! Eli has been very helpful with setting it up and I aspire to be as dedicated of a blogger as she is. I'll do my best to write every day and hope you all enjoy hearing about my senior year!