Emily Jane and Chocolate Milk

Whew... taking a few minutes to jot down what's been happening in my crazy life!

First of all, my cousin, Nancy, got married yesterday! After all of the weddings last year, I thought this one would be a breeze. Well, let me tell ya... it's totally different when you're involved! I wasn't even that involved - I was just the "Guest Book Attendant." Still, I found it much more emotionally challenging. In some ways it was more fun and in other ways, less fun. I was definitely more excited for the bride than ever before but I also felt much less connected with all of the other guests. All in all, it was a great wedding and I was so glad to be a part of it, even if just a small bit. The chocolate milk was definitely a success! One of the best parts for me was that I got to meet little Emily Jane - the Smith's granddaughter. Besides sharing my name, she was born on St. Patrick's Day - which is Irish of course and therefore special to me! She's just under a year old and so adorable! I think she just may have liked me too...

I've been working at school pretty steadily all month and am just a couple weeks from wrapping up history and biology! Super excited about that! After that, I have Algebra and English to finish. Algebra is nice and straightforward, but exhausts me. English is a lot less difficult for me in general, but has a lot more grey area which leaves me wondering if any of my papers are ever really finished... I shall put all my heart and soul into both and aim to finish Algebra by the end of March, and English by the end of May.

I don't have any plans to take up piano lessons again at the moment - I can't work out the scheduling and I've been so busy anyway that haven't had much time to think it over. It is sad, but it isn't as if I can't play the piano. With choir practice probably starting up again in just a couple months, I'm going to focus my piano efforts there. I'm planning on beginning violin lessons in March and just can't get over how exciting it is!

As far as story writing goes - I edited the first five chapters of my original novel about Julie and entered it into a contest. I don't think it will win, but editing those chapters really helped me organize my ideas out for that story. I'm getting closer and closer to finishing chapter nineteen! I'm hoping to finish it by the end of the month! I'm sorry to say that I have not worked on my Irish story at all since my chapter four. I've just been too busy... I will get on top of that just as soon as I finish chapter nineteen though.

As for my resolutions, I've been doing much better about sticking to my diet (and I'm feeling so much healthier and happier!), I made myself a jean skirt and I'm getting better about taking pictures! Every day when I write out my "To Do List" I can't believe how busy I am! My lists are always long and daunting, but I keep chipping away and somehow everything gets done. I feel bad because I have so little time left over to talk to my friends and it is sometimes hard to explain what it is that keeps me so busy. I just want you all to know that I'd rather talk to you than solve Algebra equations any day! Sadly, this is not really an option, so I ask you all to please be patient with me as I work through what is the busiest time of my life so far! I love you all and I hope that you are all having a great day!

Grace of God reaching us

When He found us despairing

Blood of Christ cleansing us

Bringing joy to our sorrow!