fire at 5am

So this morning the fire alarms went off at 5am. Our alarms are rather odd because they sound like a police car siren that goes off for about 30 seconds. After the siren a voice comes on over the intercom that says "Attention! Attention! An emergency has been reported! Please exit the building using the nearest stairwell." After that the whole process repeats. The first time they went off was at 1:30 am the first day amy and I got to school. Neither of us knew what it was, so we just sat in our room until one of us suggested that we leave.

After the RAs figured out that some dust set one of the sensors off, we all came inside and went back to bed.

Actually everyone went to the bathroom first...the line was pretty long. When I got to a toilet, the water was sort of yellow like the person before me forgot to flush except I heard them do it so I thought that was a bit weird. After I flushed the toilet, the water in the toilet was a very dark reddish brown color. That was really weird. And the grossest part was that the water in the sink was that color too so I had to wash my hands in it. It reminded me of the movie "Dante's Peak" when, right before the volcano goes off, the little boy wakes up to get a drink of water and that is what the water looks like.

So besides the fact that the time I got back to bed was so close to my normal wake up time, it was extra hard for me to get to sleep because I kept fearing that my dorm was sitting on top of a live volcano and that Mount UNI could blow at any moment! Luckily that didn't happen.

Chase scene from "Dante's Peak"

grandpa simpson

I love this picture of Grandpa Simpson from "The Simpsons."

It is from "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular." They are introducing all of the characters and then show this picture as "Grandpa Simpson" and then an even worse one of "Krusty the Clown." Very funny. Anyways, just thought I'd share!

God bless!

funny picture

I thought this picture on MSN was funny, so I decided to show you.

It was advertising an article about horrible dates. I just like the girl's expression even though her date is not really doing anything that weird. Guys do have to eat every once and a while.

It's too bad she doesn't realize that. :)

hearting you

I wanted to write something, but not knowing what to write about, I decided to show you a picture that Manuel drew for me. :) Isn't it beautiful?! I heart it.

Yes yes. So Today has been a good day. So far I've gone to school and eaten lunch. Hmm...not too many exciting things happened. But it has still been a good day. Actually...one exciting thing happened, but I can't tell you what that was. Suffice it to say it was very happy and exciting for me. :) Yay! Thanks Jesus!

Getting excited for being able to go home this weekend.

Today is Nikki's 21st birthday and it is also Amy's mom's birthday! So happy birthday to them!

Alright now I'm really out of things to say! I hope you all have a wonderful beyond wonderful day!

God bless you!

knit-er-ific

I am super happy right now. [Actually I just got done crying, but that was because a dog died on TV.] So two nights ago my dad called and said that a counselor at DMACC had left a message on his voicemail offering me a place in their nursing program for next semester. So I called her back and said that I would take it. Then last night I found out that Manuel was accepted to Iowa State. All we need now is financial aid!

This is so excellent! I really am praying that all goes well because it would be so wonderful if Manuel and I could live only fifteen minutes apart rather than however many miles it is now.

I was also worried to tell my roommate that I'll be leaving at semester, but she was really cool with it.

Everything seems to be falling into place! I hope this is God's will for us at this time, but if it isn't, Praise God!

So if you all could pray that the financial aid comes through, that would be amazing.

I am also happy that I was able to buy some things for a certain suprize today! ;)

I also bought yarn to make another scarf since I finished mine. When I was at the fabric store, I wanted to ask someone about a pattern that I got to make an earflap hat, but the store was super busy. So I found an old woman in the yarn isle and aksed if she knew how to knit and she did! So she tried to help me with the pattern, but she said it was really complicated but the best way would just be trial and error. [Maybe I'll try later.] After that we talked about knitting. It was pretty darn cool!

Speaking of knitting, I'd better get back to it! :)

Jesus, thank you for this great week (and for knitting)! I love you!

I love to knit!

exciting secrets

I have a secret and I'm really really really REALLY excited about it!

...but I'm not telling!

yay for patience!

Oh how thankful I am for patience!

amazing and wonderful

I love being Catholic so much! I am amazed at the Church's universality and at the great graces God bestow upon her! I would not trade being Catholic for anything!

I remeber one flight to Texas I sat next to a Morman woman. As we were introducing ourselves, she immediately brought up religon, which was perfectly fine with me. She inquired my religon and I mentioned how much I loved being Catholic and how I wouldn't trade it for anything. To this she asked, "What if you found something better?" and I replied that I didn't think there could be anything better.

I am just very very glad that God has placed me where I am and has allowed the Church to work so beautifully in my life.

I am so excited that this is the Year of the Eucharist and that it has just recently been Pope John Paul II's 26th anniversary!

Jesus, thank you for your Church!

Pope John Paul II greets the CFRs

a bit anxious

So I'm a bit anxious right now. Manuel was supposed to have arrived at San Antonio about five minutes ago, but right now he's either in Memphis (hopefully) or still in Louisville. He called me today twice while I was in class (silly boy) so obviously I didn't know he was calling. He just kept leaving a pay phone number, so I called it, but everytime someone answered it, all it did was make a horrible screeching noise and then it would hang up. So who knows what is happening. I will probably be able to talk to him tonight, although I'm not sure because if he's in Lousiville he won't make it back to San Antonio until 11:25 am tomorrow. :-/

I should not be anxious because I have a big test tonight, but I am. I know he's safe, wherever he is, but I always get anxious when I miss his calls when he is not at a number that where I can reach him. I have to go to Mass and Confession in a few minutes, but I don't want to turn off my phone. Obviously having a phone on during Mass is completely unacceptable. Ahhh!

Lord, THY will be done! All is in Your hands. None of my worrying or anxiety will help anything. Jesus I trust in You.

and now relaxation...sorta

Yay! I am done with my paper! I am so so so so pleased! This is probably the first time in my life that I've actually completed an assignment the week before it was due. Well, technically it's not completed because I definately have not edited it yet, but I've written fifteen pages, used more than twenty-one sources, and have written every paragraph that I'm going to. Yes...it definately needs revision. But that's what tonight and tomorrow are for! I really am quite happy.

So now all I have to do is study for five tests! Yay!

And I'm also excited because I get to clean Neot's bowl today! Yay! Poor little guy...swimming around in dirty water. I feel bad for him, but I didn't want to change it too soon and make him get all stressed out from constantly having new water.

Well, I'm off to dinner now! [a nice little break from my dorm] I hope everyone has a very nice weekend! I know I will! ;)

Rejoice and be glad!

lego house for Jesus

This is absolutely amazing! It is a church built by Amy Hughes out of legos! You have to go to the website and take a look at the photos!

missing my Love

I miss Jesus! I haven't been able to go to Mass since Monday, and it makes me very sad. At one church, daily Mass wasn't avaliable this week, and at the church I normally go to, the priest has been gone and the nuns have been doing their inclusive language liturgy of the hours and such. I know that Jesus is always with me in my soul, but it is such a tremendous joy to be able to receive Him in the Eucharist! How fortunate we are to be offered daily Mass in this country! I know that there are places in the world where they are lucky if they can get a priest to make the long journey to their church once a week or even once a month. Daily, their souls must ache a thousand times more for Jesus than mine does right now. How very spoiled we are by God's grace!

JPII loves Jesus!

I have been reading St. Faustina's Diary and have been humbled by her extravagant love of Jesus. She really loved Jesus and, faithful to His will, has helped others know His mercy and love for many many years.

St. Faustina, be my companion and teach me to love Jesus like you do.

Jesus I trust in You!

three pages a day keep the stress away

...ok maybe not.

So here's a look at my upcoming week:

Monday: Microbiology test
Tuesday: Nutrition test
Wednesday: Stats midterm test and Psychology test
Thursday: Growth and development test
Friday: 15-page psychology paper due

This means that this weekend, starting today, I must write 3 pages a day so I can get my paper done by Sunday so I have time to study for the tests that I have in every one of my classes. :) Praise God!

So maybe it's a good thing that Manuel's gone this weekend. ;)

But, God is faithful because I don't have school tomorrow so I'll be able to get a lot of work done then, and it is beautiful outside right now...the trees and such, not the barely-above-fifty temps. But even that is nice because I got to finish my scarf and start wearing it! Yay!

Thanks Jesus!

sesame street meets west wing

So I had just turned on the television and "The West Wing" was on. Since I knew it's Manuel's favorite, I decided to watch it. It was funny, though because they had the characters from "Sesame Street" on it! Here's a picture below.

Elmo on "The West Wing"

So today when I was walking back to my room from the parking lot (a good half-mile trek), I saw my friend Tony and he gave me a ride to the dorm, even though it was only fifty or so meters away. It made me smile because it was very gentlemanly of him. Yes, if only men would take as their role models people like Tony and Manuel. It is a breath of fresh air to see that not everyone has lost the concept of chivalry.

God bless America.

victory for uni!...nevermind

Losing your own homecomming game is pretty sad. Oh well. UNI played WKU and lost 10-17. The game was pretty boring except for the last quarter. But we lost. Oh well. Good job Kentucky...o birthplace of my special friend.

Go UNI Go!

So I'm a bit frustrated right now because I wrote a letter for Manuel to take on his retreat. It was going to be a really happy suprise, but it didn't get there. So I'm pouting. I know that I shouldn't be, but I am just really frustrated. I think what frustrated me the most is that Manuel said that maybe God didn't want him to get it. Maybe that's the case, but knowing what was in there, I can't imagine that He wouldn't want him to get it.

Jesus, please help me to trust Your plans above my own.

it's someone's special day!

Today is Manuel's 24th birthday! Happy birthday, love! I pray that your day is going very well and that Jesus fills your life with grace! Here is a picture I drew on my computer of you. :) The confetti is acutally Grace falling all around you. :)

Have some ice cream! I've been praying especially for you all day long and I will continue to do so! I am so grateful for the gift that God has given me in you. You are amazing!

Jesus, please be with Manuel today on his birthday. Please help him to continue to grow in your grace and love. Amen!!!!

aren't you hungry?

Today I was really happy with Neot because he ate some of his food! [Ok...he actually just sucked it up and then spit it out, but I am hoping that he got some in his tummy and he knows it is something to eat.] Every baby step counts! Speaking of Neot, here's a picture I painted of him in my journal last night.

Everything else seems to be going a bit better, save my paper. :) I know that I should be working on it, but I really don't want to and I've been really busy. But we only have two weeks left, so I should really get at it.

Also, my friend Cathy who lives across the hall is moving out. She decided that now's not the right time to be at university, and will go back to NICC (northern iowa community college) and live at home. Best of luck to her! I pray that she discovers God's plan for her life.

I love watercolor!

But my paper calls...

baby lion kat

So here's a super cute picture of me when I was a little baby. Ah 1985! You can't see my face, but that's ok. My mom just sent it to me so I can put it up on my door.

procrastination pumpkin

I am worried about Neot. Ever since I got him in his new bowl, he's been attacking his refelction and he won't eat. Actually, he has calmed down a lot and doesn't attack the wall of the fish bowl as often, but he is also sitting on the bottom of the bowl behind his plant instead of happily swimming around. He'll probably be ok once he gets used to his new home, though.

Today I made October door decorations. The picture above is the pumpkin I painted. My scanner made it a bit too dark, though. It's much prettier in person. I actually copied off of a pumpkin I found online, because the pumpkins I tried to draw on my own didn't turn out as well. Of course I should have been working on my psychology paper. Sometimes you just don't feel like working. Ya know? Well I have been working on my paper at least. I have almost all of my sources [although I still have to read them] and I made and outline and the works cited page. I'll make myself work on it tomorrow. It's too late now!

Tomorrow I'm being a greeter at St. Stephens, so we'll have to see how that goes.

Ok...Neot has been exploring a bit more, so that makes me feel better.

Goodnight! God bless you!

welcome home neot!

Yay! So I got a fish today! I am so happy! Amy and I went to Petco this afternoon and picked one out. Most of them were really sad and just sat in their little glasses not moving, but the one that we picked out was swimming all over and looking at everything. It's so cute! He'll stare at you if you look at him. Here's a picture of what he looks like [almost]:

Neot look-alike

I just transfered him to his little bowl, and he is exploring his new home. I know it may sound very silly, but I absolutely LOVE this fish. It brings me so much joy and I just got it! I really hope that he stays alive!

Jesus, thank you for my little fish! Please help me to do a good job taking care of him so he can life a long, healthy life!