!Mi profesora de espanol esta loca!

We've had a week to work on our online assignments due today by midnight. I unfortunately saved all the ones that require essay form for last. I now have five more assignments to submit before I leave the house tonight. Yikes! Why didn't I do this sooner?! Stupid Elena, stupid Elena!

My bosom friend

I had to say goodbye to my sister and best friend today as she is leaving for Indiana to go up there for a few months to be trained as a Biblical counselor. It was like saying goodbye to myself. I'm so excited for all the things the Lord has planned for her. Come home to me soon again, Ren! :)

Current Addictions:

1. Smallville

I mention this one first, because I cannot stop watching it! Bekah got me into watching it a few weeks ago since I had never seen an episode and I love it! I'm currently going through the third season. I love seeing Clark Kent gradually transforming into Superman and I'm intrigued by Lex Luthor's subtle descension into becoming the ultimate villain.

2. Coldplay

Tricia and I listened to their latest album "Viva La Vida" every single day of our road trip! I've noticed in past albums, that although I love the band, I often found myself only truly enjoying a few songs on each one. But with this album, I love every single song! It is perfection. I also love the artwork on the album cover. It's taken from a well-known piece done by Delacroix called "Liberty Leading the People" to commemorate the French Revolution.

3. Papa New Guinea PT's coffee
I have a cup every morning and I brew it really strong. I love my mornings now, because my classes start at 11 everyday and I've been getting up around 7:30 or 8 and just easing into my day. Yesterday I went running from my house to the state hospital and it was lovely!

4. Craisins and Feta

Tricia is definitely influencing me if I can add these to my addictions list! But they are so delicious! It's caused me to make more salads than I have in my life.

Anders has found a new friend

This post is to explain my previous entry about who wrote the note from Anders. I put my little gnome out in the yard sometime last week by the bird fountain. A couple of days later I looked outside and found him placed in The Hollow (now what I affectionately call Anders' new home). My dad admitted to moving him there, because he "thought he would be happier there." Cute.

The next day, I went outside to take some pictures (Anders needed some updated shots of him), and found that he had been moved again. I found the note in place of Anders in the Hollow. I immediately knew it was my dad's handwriting. I guess he had asked my mom to help him write it, because he has trouble with spelling and he just wanted to be a little sneaky. You should also know my dad has recently been getting into GPS-ing, which is basically treasure hunting for adults.

I talked to him later and told him that it looks like Anders is a miracle walking gnome! I told him he could play with Anders anytime he wanted to. Later, he told my sister when I wasn't around, "I think Elena likes it when I move her gnome." hehehe. :) How adorable is my dad?

The gnome walks among us

Once upon a time, there was a magical gnome named Anders. He traveled to America from the Scandinavian woodlands in search of a better life.

You see, digging is not always the most profitable profession. Anders had spent most of his gnome life digging up the earth's treasures-- gems, rubies, including precious jewels the human eye has never seen. He found a home with a young lady named Elena, who upon receiving Anders as a Christmas gift, loved him with a love she has never known.

She decided to find him a place, a pedastal, in her bedroom so he could protect her. For you see, Anders is the perfect gnome for her, because she has such vivid nightmares-- his presence creates a calming atmosphere. Elena decided to find him a home outside in the yard, because she felt he would feel more comfortable out there and also would serve his purpose in protection, keeping critters from coming inside and/or ruining the garden. She placed him by the bird feeder and thought he looked quite content with his new accomodations.

One day, Elena looked out the kitchen window upon the yard to see how Anders was liking his new home. Holy chocolate starfish, the little gnome had moved to the hollow of a tree stump!

Now, she KNEW he had magial abilities! It seemed to Elena that he wanted to be close to wood, to remind him of his Scandinavian homeland. A couple days later, Elena went out to check on him, only to discover this note:

It appears that in the wee hours of the night, the hours no one dares to step outside, Anders had relocated again. She searched frantically for him, scanning the yard for his little red pointy hat and friendly blue eyes. Alas, the search was complete when she found him here, seeing that he had moved about 10 feet from the hollow:

Of course, he would choose the vantage point at the wood pile to better disguise himself as he scopes the yard in search of potential predators. Elena was just happy to find her gnome safe again! Oh, sweet happy reunion!

Renae Ann

Happy Birthday, Ren!!

She's been my sister and one of my best friends for the last 21 years. I like to think I color her world. ;) When my mom brought me home from the hospital when I was born, Renae looks at me and says, "I wike Ewayna!" *giggles*

Sisters are such wonderful blessings. And I've got two of them! It's amazing because it's like having someone around who knows you so completely and being with them just reminds you of childhood.

Some words that describe Renae: thoughtful, helpful, caring, generous, kind, compassionate, creative, servant, giving, practical, adventurous, courageous, giggly, silly, analytical, NURTURER. :)

Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

In case you're tired of hearing me gush about my obsession with Twilight, you should probably just ignore this post. You can't say I didn't warn you!

My inner tween/nerd/girly self is rejoicing because I just learned that the Twilight series is not completely over!! The author Stephanie Meyer is releasing a companion novel of the first book, written from Edward's perpective!!! I already read the first chapter online, because I am that cool. It's still unknown when this book will come out in stores, but it can't be forever since the last book just came out-- so what else does she have to work on?! I'm completely obsessed! It's called Midnight Sun. I think it will be especially interesting-- for those of you haven't read Twilight-- because Edward can hear people's thoughts and he tends to overanalyze everything.

Here's my other obsessed girl confession: I've watched the trailer for the movie that comes out in December a LOT of times. I'm that excited! I'm not especially impressed with the actress who plays Bella, but I do love Robert Pattinson who was also in Goblet of Fire as Cedric. Wow, I am a NERD! And I love it! It's way fun.