Wait.... it's already November?

Lets face some facts here, first, I have not posted since May! Second, I need to fix my camera so I can put pictures up! And third, school sort of consumes my life! Okay, that's it! That is my excuse for my tardiness in blog posting! So here I go, once again, I'm going to attempt to be better about writing on here! Now I should mention that I am not writing because I believe people actually read this - or that people like yourself need to know what I'm doing... in fact, I am writing because I have some pretty awesome people in my life that I want to be able to brag about! They are such a joy for me, that I would love to be able to share that with everyone else!

It is hard to know where to begin - I haven't done this for awhile and have so much to say (when don't I?), so I'll start out small today.

Currently, one of the most exciting things happening in my life... and when I say my life - it encompasses my whole family!! But anyways, my oldest sister, Eleri, and her husband, Joe, are having a little boy!! Their due date is tomorrow! Woah! Little Henry Armstrong will be here anytime! For some reason, I just had a brain image of the stork from the movie Dumbo coming and dropping off a baby boy! Maybe I feel this way because I have not been able to see Eleri in person since June - although, she did send me some pictures and I must say, she's a cute mommy! :D I must admit that it is a bit strange to see your sister pregnant! I've always known this would happen, but now that it has, I'm curious and in awe of God's miracles! How a baby forms is fascinating!

I've already been looking at cute clothes for boys - my favorites are the tiny plaid ties, vests, or jackets! I will be making some purchases for this little man quite soon! Christmas gifts!!

Okay, so I will stop there, but will be writing again!

Signing off,
Shelbs

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My life the past month is very similar to a bowl of ice cream, with toppings and caramel of course! Seriously..... I feel like I had all of this stuff (ice cream) happening in my life (the bowl) at the same time. Like ice cream, it has to be eaten relatively quickly... there were assignments with deadlines, people to contact, and places to be that pretty much caused me to charge through things without thinking much further about what was actually happening.

There was dead week - and then finals week and graduation.. not mine of course, but friends! Then, that same day I was off to KC. Yep... my brother Dylan and I stayed at my friend Bekah's house Saturday night and then we were off to Atlanta Sunday morning. The 13 hour drive didn't actually seem at long as what was expected.... but maybe that was because I made us stop to go to the bathroom multiple times to break up the trip, or maybe it was because I played games like MASH on my brother, or it might have been the gorgeous scenery that sped things up.

Atlanta with Shalee was tons of fun! We visited the aquarium, the Coca-Cola factory, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta History Museum, we went to a Braves baseball game and the WNBA Atlanta Dream basketball game. We got our toe nails done, went to a blind simulation called Dialogue in the Dark, went to the movie Just Right, shopped at Atlantic Station, layed out by the pool, and ate at some "Soul Food" restaurants! Its hard to say what was my favorite thing.. but I just LOVED it all. I love everything about the southern culture.... their clothes, their accents, their food, their traditions... they are so much fun to be able to experience and be a part of.

Before we flew out, I got to meet up with my incredible friend Laura Ashley Harper... she and I met at Pinecove and we were both in Atlanta so I had to make sure I got to see her. I felt like we hadn't missed a beat... its been 3 years since I'd actually seen her but I felt like it was only yesterday. I got to meet the man she fell in love with and her about her life.... it was awesome!

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to go down there and visit ... and just for Shalee and L.A. Shalee is soo incredibly talented and is extremely special. My favorite part of the trip was spending time with the people I love. I laughed a lot and got to finally relax! Now that I've finally finished my bowl of ice cream... I can look back and see how "sweet" it has been! Wow! The entire year has been such a beautifully blessed thing.

There are lots of people I should be thanking God for, that is for sure!

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Its RAVE IN HALE... hallelujah, its Rave in Hale

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BIG DAY!

So in case you were wondering why I have been absent from my blog posting schedule... well lets just say I changed my residence to Seaton Hall, KSU room 301 for a good 2 1/2 weeks! Yep... with all the final papers and projects I spent many nights up there and didn't make a lot of time for blogging.... sorry to all my blog enthusiasts! ha... yeah, I'm pretty sure there aren't any, but if in fact there is one, I'm sorry! :D

Soo new things in my life.... I'm done with my first year of graduate school today!!! In all honesty, its a little strange to think about - I can remember last year at this time graduating and looking forward to starting grad school... feeling as though two years would seem like forever. Boy was I wrong!

Another new thing is that tonight I went to THE KSU FINALS WEEK RAVE!! .... yep, sure did! You may be wondering, where does such an event occur?? well where else but Hale Library? Duh!!! I'm thinking there were about 2-3,000 people there for 20-30 minutes! We danced, did some K-S-U cheers, and sweat! It was pretty crazy! I've attached some footage for your viewing pleasure!

Tomorrow my schedule is: wake up to the birds outside my window (literally, there is a birds nest in the tree outside my bedroom), have a cup of coffee and maybe some toast with mom's homemade jam, read a little bit, talk to god, get ready, go on a casual lunch date, and then tomorrow night my program is having a pub crawl so I'll go to that! Good day huh??

In a few days I'll be heading down to Atlanta to see my friend Shalee!! Can't wait.... my brother and I are roadtripping.... its going to be AWESOME!!! say some prayers for us!

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The Great Adventures of Shae-Doll

I have decided to create a series of videos about my life.... and how I love and MISS my friend Shalee!

Okay to begin this, you should know that Shalee's departure to Atlata to play in the league came up on us much too quickly than we anticipated. So the week before she left, she said that we were not allowed to have fun without her! Soo we told her we would make videos to show her that we were 1. not having fun and 2. thinking of her. You should also know that several years ago my friend Whitney and I made a video with this doll we dressed up to look like Shalee... so here she, aka "Shae doll", is again!

So here is the first of many to come! Enjoy!!

Oh, and remember that this we 11:30 at night so please forgive me for my bad hair!

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Spring

Wow, campus is so beautiful right now! Spring is such a beautiful time of year, full of color and life - doesn't that just blind your mind? Aren't you just totally impressed by Gods creativity! I sure am! For example, I have been watching the hosta (a plant) at my house grow... and seriously, every day they get bigger and start to unfold. Its pretty incredible how fast it has happened!

Another thing that blows my mind is how fast time flies. This week, my roommate Shalee is leaving for the WNBA and it feels like she just got back from finishing... those 8 months are already over and now we are preparing ourselves to say our goodbyes! Last night, we were talking and just thinking about how truly blessed we are to have each other in our lives. We have been able to live together for two incredibly years and now we get to have at least one more.. I'm soo excited that we have been able to have that time together!! We have the best time together! Lots of laughing and GREAT conversations! We even try to invent new ways to clap (we found that by hitting your foot against your calf works well).

Another friend that I love and am excited to help is Kara. She is raising money for her summer missions and is having an art auction to raise money. She is such a gift from God and is doing such BIG things for him! She is such a blessing and I was so thrilled that she would think of me to help support her! wow. What a compliment! I wish I could do more!

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Still Laughing!

Good Friends are hard to find! But when you find them.... hold on tight! I've found that some of the best times I've had are with friends, being incredibly ridiculous... because lets face it, life is meant to be a ongoing opportunity to be CrAzY and spontaneous ... right!!

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Fill up that cup!

Pictures: Fishing last summer, the stone house at Konza, Shalee and I at the K-State Carnival last year, and me and some Kappa girls acting kinda CrAzY... We're sleeping Beauties!! Duh!

Okay so do you ever feel like you need to not be around people... to have some alone time with yourself. To think, or just be you and simply recharge? See it's kind of funny because in high school, I used to think that I was an all out people person; I was an extravert to the max! But now that I've gotten older, I'm appreciating the times I have to just me or only a few others. Don't get me wrong I LOVE PEOPLE - but I can be totally content and feel incredibly productive all by myself.

This weekend, I was able to have A LOT of alone time - most of that was reading... either my bible or text books. I'm learning soo much about myself - about life, God, City planning and all the things that go into that... its' quite exciting to feel yourself gaining knowledge.

Also, I have been all about making a list of things I want to do in Manhattan this semester... I've started my list with kayaking on Tuttle (once it is nice out, and the sun decides to warm things up, I want to go some saturday and paddle around all day), I want to go to Konza before the sun rises, I want to go to Wamego to the Tulip Festival, I'm planning on riding my bike on Linear trail multiple times, I want to camp out somewhere, and build a fire to roast march mallows for smores, I want to make it to multiple k-state baseball games, fly a kite, go fishing (shalee along side), shoot a gun..(any boys want to help??), go golfing a couple times (Kathryn is invited), plant my garden soon, I love 4-wheeling in the mud aka "mudding" so if anyone want a partner, and I want to deliver May Day baskets to my friends!

I know there are quite a few here, but why wouldn't I want to make Manhattan my palette to paint on? There are soo many lost opportunities because I can't think of anything.. well NOW I've at least started my list so it shouldn't happen again! So if anyone want to join in... give me a jingle!

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Sensational Saturdays

Photos: Me and my sister Whitney, All the girls in my family, and then Dylan and myself and Whitney!! Three Cheers for an awesome family!! Hip, hip, Horray!!

Well here it is, Sunday night and I am feeling like the weekend flew by much faster than I had anticipated... but I must say, it was a great weekend! My parents celebrated their 28th Wedding Anniversary, which is soo awesome!! And I know that I mentioned in my last blog about what I had planned for a "sensational Saturday" - and it was sensational in all forms! Just as I knew it would be!

It started out with my alarm sort of scaring me when it went off (which kind of made me laugh) and then getting my things together to go down to the coffee shop. I picked my table...which is something I'm a little picky about... what would you call that? table snob? ha. Anyways, once I picked it out, I started reading in Ecclesiastes, but before long I had to get up and grab something to drink! I chose Vanilla Tea... YUM! One thing I love about tea is that you get lots of refills of hot water, its not near as bad on my teeth (no one wants brown teeth), and nobody wants coffee breath! All around, I give it a 10! :D Oh, and I couldn't pass up something out of the bakery case! Who wouldn't want to eat a Strawberry-Peach scone?? Come on.... SOO good! I zapped it in the microwave and got right back to reading. My friend Kathryn was there with me so we jibber jabbered off and on - but seriously, before I knew it, it was 9:30! We had been there for an hour and a half!! All GLORIOUS time of course!!

Next on my list was the recreation complex! Yep... trying to get healthy and fit! First on my list was to run a mile (it was a medium fast speed) so I got nice and warmed up/sweaty (sorry boys, not to burst your bubble, but girls sweat... alot sometimes!). Next, I did some major speed walking, which actually can start to make you soar in no time at all! So I did till i decided it hurt too much, then rode one of those bikes with the arm pump things too! And this time I did the entire 15 minutes using my arms (sometimes these guns can't go the entire time, I guess I'm moving up from a pellet gun to like an air-soft gun or something!). Then I did some more speed walking and lunges, abs, head stands of course, and I tried to karate kick the punching dummy (has weight at the bottom).. and when i kicked it with my running approach, it JUST ABOUT came back and hit me in the face!! Kathryn was laughing at my sad attempt to look tough! I guess this means that I should never try to pick a fight with someone, I'd lose!

The rest of the day consisted of taking a nap, doing homework, watching the olympics and hanging out with my stinkin amazing roomies!

I know this is getting long, and I don't want it to get tooo wordy - but my older sister Whitney is coming to Manhattan for work stuff -- she'll be here TOMORROW!! I'm soo excited and can't wait to see her. I miss her. I miss my family. I just miss feeling like a kid sometimes! if that makes sense! It was soo easy then - no decisions, no worries (except things like if you can have your friend stay over in 3 weekends or something!).... We will have a blast - I'm sure I'll fill you in on the happenings!

God bless! Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Sweet Tweet!

Soo this Sunday was Valentines Day... and even though I said that I hated this day, it's not really true! Its a day all about LOVE and I have a lot of people I love! Me and my roommate shalee, my sister Eleri, and then two of my friends that I can be CrAzY right along side with - -which I LOVE that!!

This year I woke up and made breakfast with my beautiful roommate Shalee! We didn't pull out all the stops on this morning... but it was good! We made pancakes (box mix) and cinnamon rolls (out of the can)! We decided that since our other two roommates were not home that we couldn't eat it all ourselves, nor did we want to! My strapping brother and our sweet friend Shalin joined us! We finished up just in time to make it to church to get a good seat! It was such a great worship! My heart was filled with joy! I love Phil Whickems' song "you are holy" .... you are holy, great and mighty, the moon and the stars declare who you are, I'm SOO unworthy and still you love me, forever my heart will sing of how great you are - great lyrics!! Anyways, my Valentines we beginning shape into a GREAT day!! The rest of the day consisted of making homemade noodles for chicken and noodles and watching the Olympics! I actually started to feel sick for awhile - but once my brother made chocolate no-bake cookies, any pain I was feeling just went right out the door! Something that did not go out the door, but instead in the door was a friend who needed to do their laundry.... waiting for that to get done was pretty interesting. Both of us had things to work on, but have you tried to work on something with the Olympics on in the background? Even on mute, it is still practically impossible! Then there are the periodic no-bake cookie runs! I ate about fifty of those cookies!! Yikes!!! Oh... but probably the coolest thing I got to see an upside down push-up!! Yep, your body is vertical against a wall and then you do push ups!! CrAZy!! Secretly, I want to be able to do it too! And to finish off my Valentines Day was a BIG "W" when my co-ed basketball won our game.. it was a nail biter at the end!

After realizing that I had eaten 50 no-bake cookies, I decided to start actually watching what I put into my body... soo since Monday, I have had NO cookies, candy, or desserts! ... actually I just realized that I had a rice crispy at bible study tonight.... but I'm trying to be more thoughtful when it comes to what I'm eating. I only get one body, so I might as well take care of it right??

I am looking forward to Saturday because I've planned for an intentional, productive, and fun day! Starting at 7:30 I'll be going to Radina's or Bluestem to get in the word and have some good me time! Then next will be working out (probably at the rec. because I think it is supposed to snow)... and then sit in the sauna for a few minutes - hopefully there won't be any half naked people in there this time! ha. Cross your fingers! And the rest of the day is to be decided.. maybe I'll paint! I don't know, I'll figure it out! Wish me luck!!

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Go USA!!

I have never realized how much it truly stinks to be sick; I am always NOT sick so when I am, I am kind of caught off guard. Right now, I'm sitting on my couch, watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics - and I have to be laying down because my nose is dripping... yes dripping continuously. And this drippiness makes me sneeze so hard that it hurts... and flings my head forward as thought I was on some type of rollercoaster loop! I'm praying that this will be a quick thing and that I'll be healed so that I can enjoy the beautiful weather that we had today!

Today, I went to a "brown bag" lunch meeting offered to all Architecture students - it was all about Greensburg, Kansas and the rebuilding efforts. Hearing the residents and watching the footage, it humbles me. I complain about Valentines Day and having a runny nose and these people lost their town. I grew in a very similar type of community and I simply can't imagine having this happen; so much of my heart and who I am is grounded in my little town! I love it! And I can't really explain it to people because my town was special. They went to all of our games and activities, everyone wants to help and is excited to see young people succeed and even more excited for when they come back home and share their success with Sublette! There are 3 more video series that we can watch on Greensburg and I am hoping that I will make them all!

I love cooking, being creative, or just tossing ideas around in my head! So if there is ever an opportunity for me to make something for someone else, I JUMP on it! I have started cutting out and sewing mens' ties. Ideally - they would be Valentines Day gifts, but this may not get finished in time. Either way, it should be fun! I've never made a tie, so wish me luck! I know it doesn't seem hard, but its harder than you would think! If i mess up or don't sew straight, it is pretty obvious!

Another thing that is really obvious to me is that I am slightly out of shape -- but that I truly LOVE being pushed physically; I love feeling tired and a little soar. In my intramural basketball games, I have been reminded of how much I truly love the game! I miss it and hate that girls don't just go up to the rec. to play like boys do! Why is that?? I guess boys just are more willing to play with complete strangers, and girls aren't!

Well my sneezing is starting to act up again... so I better go -- but GO USA!! Win those "Vinter" Olympics!

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Waking up a few minutes before my alarm, I crawled out of bed and got ready to go to the rec. center with my friend Kathryn... my expectation for my "rec. center experience" differed from what actually happened! So here's the deal. At the end of our work-out, we went to sit in the sauna...we were the only ones in there and Kathryn said "so this is what all those naked guys do!" ... well as I had just started telling her about one of my awkward sauna stories from Freshman year, here came in a little asian lady with a towel... BUT it was not wrapped around her! Soo yep, my story I was telling her pretty much repeated itself. And of course we COULD NOT laugh with here in there, soo we just sat there... sweating and feeling like we were in the wrong place at the wrong time! They should make a sign that says "Be covered" or "Nakedness is not appropriate."

My mind is fried, I've been reading theory and philosophy and it makes my head heart. But all I have to say is that today has not been as productive as I'd hoped so this means that tonight and tomorrow I HAVE to get my reading done for Monday class. No sleeping in and NO naps! Wish me luck!

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All throughout college, I feel like EVERY semester is different. And each one seems to get better! Every time I have thought that thought, it is always followed with the question, "can it get better than this?" I have a hard time imagining this, but then every semester I am finding that it can! Or maybe it is not that every semester has gotten better, but ever semester has brought changes into my life that have been a joy to experience and grow through. I don't know if I mentioned this, but I love change. I love being able to try new foods, visit new places, learn new things, meet new people, be put in new awkward situations... and even though I may feel slightly uncomfortable, I truly love the excitement and ability to live a semi-spontaneous and zany lifestyle! Shoot... life is boring if you do the same thing all the time!

This past semester was one filled with change! I started Grad school, had professors and classes that were completely different than what I was used to, I met a bunch of new people in my department, I started taking more responsibility in organizing bible study at my house, had new roommates, and was forced to deal with all this change with and without friends in my life. Each semester there are groups of people I start to get really close to and then they leave or decide that without me in it may be better than me in it (or something like that).. but through all of this I KNOW that God has broken down walls, humbled me, and taught me a lot about his grace.

This semester, some of my new friends...my landscape architecture friends (Ben, Chris, and Tony) are gone... and on a side note, these guys could just be in my pressence and I'm pretty sure that I would laugh without even saying a word - just watching them interact! I love them!! ...anyways, so instead of being able to have them over to eat my food that I make when I get bored or stressed, I have to find somebody else! but who?? ha. And then people like Kathryn, Jamie, and Jessica who are soo busy with school and work that I rarely get to see them.. but now I get to have time to hang out with my friend Ashley (who has the BEST laugh ever) so in no way am I sad, I know this is life.... always full of changes - but it's just strange how many people have come in and out of my life.... I always wonder which ones will be the ones that I make sure to stay in contact with..! One thing that has stayed from my fall semester to this semester is my Christmas tree! Yep!! it's still standing strong, with all of its fun colored bulbs! It has become part of the living room decor... I was using the excuse that its still January and there is snow on the ground, but now it is February and no snow, so maybe I will have to take her down! This can be a good time to listen to good music and of course sing and dance -- maybe even I'll do some head stands or back bends because lets face it... they are a few of my favorite things to do! Wish me luck!

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Blogging is kind of an interesting thing. See I don't know if anyone is reading this (besides the people I tell to read it), but for some reason I really enjoy it. It is such a good opportunity to step back and think about what I have to show for my life. And its not that I believe you have to have something to show to be worthy of calling yourself successful or being equal to all other young adults - no, blogging is a way that I reflect on my life. I know that there are days that I am so consumed with getting things done and checked of "the list" that I actually miss out on life..... the fun part, the reason I sing praises and give thanks. So if I were to give a toast, I would say thank you blog spot for letting me filter through my life and be able to remind myself of why I enjoy this season God has put me in!

And speaking of seasons, I sure wish that the groundhog would of told us that winter would be over soon; I am really looking forward to being able to ride my bicycle around town! As I mentioned in my first post, I love exploring. I love walking around parts of Manhattan, or anywhere, that I am not familiar with. Being able to admire all the quaint homes and funny street names is something I do not get to do enough! For example, my street is Chimney Rock, why did someone decide that would be an appropriate name?? Maybe they said... "that house has a chimney made of rocks...lets call this street chimney rock!" ha. And another thing I am excited about doing is being able to read outside! I love being able to soak up the sun and feel warm and cozy while reading a good book.. or just dozing off!

Something that is coming up before the warm weather hits is Valentines Day. Now I don't really like this holiday very much because: 1. I don't like the colors red, pink, and purple together, 2. I am always hopeful that some cute, smart, and incredibly thoughtful man will just surprise me and sweep me off my feet, and this has yet to happen, and 3. All the people that don't do anything socially appropriate on this day feel slightly depressed and sort of want the day to pass faster than any other. Now I doubt that Hallmark saw the negative effects of Valentines day...they saw the opportunity for them (along with many other businesses) to make some extra money! I applaud them for their innovative ideas, if all they were wanting was a spike in their fiscal income - they got it! But now, there are people like me who feel left out and sort of bitter about it! But then I realize how pathetic I sound and know that some day I too will celebrate with a dozen roses on my table and chocolate melting in my mouth... so I am deciding now that instead of feeling bad, I will hold onto my future to come!

Now that I have covered that, I am kind of tired - and I have an intramural basketball game later tonight so I can't let myself get drained, but I will end on this. Today in my quiet time, I learned about how faithful god is. He is ready and willing to hear our prayers and act upon them... but when the bible talks about how he will bring our prayers to reality - this reminds me that I should be praying for Gods will, and not for my own selfish desires. And don't just pray when you're in need, give prayers of thanksgiving, say prayers of healing and humility, pray for discipline, wisdom, and understanding... prayer is such a great opportunity to truly commune with God!

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Attack!!!

So I know I already posted today, but this is one of those "funny little things" that I had to post - because lets face it, it was that good!

Tonight, I was getting ready for bed and as I was taking my contacts out, I thought the need to attack my roommate, Shalee, with the saline solution! Boy does that bottle squirt to hit the target! ha. Yep, I got her right in the shoulder.... well then she of course throws a big fit and drags my other roommate Jamie into this. They decide rather quickly they too need a weapon....as they are finding their artilery - I go hide. Jamie and Shalee start to check in my room - they find no trace...because I am in Shalee's room. Then Shalee leads the troop into battle -- when I jump out from behind the door shooting my contact solution, she retreats bet negates to tell Jamie about this and knocks her over! AWW..... Laughter and screams! .... don't worry there is a bit more to this story. Shalee and Jamie dodge into jamies room and in the process of slamming the door shut, Shalee somehow pinches her arm in Jamie's folding closet doors, I think you know who the winner of this battle was!! Yes... Shelby The GREAT!

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Just a little about me

So I'm a small town girl... I love going back home and being in the presence of familiar faces and unchanged places - yet at the same time, I have fallen in love with meeting new people and going on adventures to foreign destinations. Ideally, I wish I could take a year and travel.. everywhere! And of course, I would want to walk or bike as much as possible and bring a friend or two...or both of my beautiful sisters, Whitney and Eleri.

I love art of all kinds - a painting, a good book, incredible landscapes, ornate architecture, pottery... I love attempting to be an artist, but might actually get more joy from admiring others artistry! My family is all very talented artistically. It is quite fascinating to think that all six of the members in my family are incredibly creative in different ways. Doesn't that blow your mind? I mean, me and my three siblings grew up in the same place, had the same teachers, and yet today, we are so different! I love it!

I have learned and grown soo much through out college. The Lord has blessed me with some incredible friends and classmates to help me understand more about HIS great love. I try to find joy in everything - the weather, the conversations I get to be a part of, or even when I realize how out of shape I am.....and that I am going to be soar the next day!

I am a thinker, kind of one of those analyzer types. I am constantly thinking about why something happens... or how it happens...or how I can make it better! I will even time myself on the way to class, so that I know exactly how long it takes me to walk from one place to another - and then throughout the semester, I try to improve that time, or try different routes! Is that crazy?

I hope that through my blog - I can sort through things, give God the glory he deserves, and just write about some of the funny things that happen in my life on a VERY regular basis! Because trust me, they happen all the time!

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