No more homework, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!

Ok, ok, so I don't think I ever got dirty looks from my teachers this semester, but the semester is done! I'm quite excited, anatomy was kicking my butt! Though I do quite love learning anatomy, and I loved my other class, but the end of the semester means I'm that much closer to graduating.  I'm trying to get my internship lined up, but my procastinating skills are kicking into high gear and I'm fighting them, but I've had more experience procastinating then being organized.  I'm up to the task though, cuz I'm Jenean! ;)

Updates: Shelley died....my Explorer. :( It was quite a sad experience, I really wanted her to last me till I graduated, but c'est la vie! So I bought a "new" 2007 Chevy Trailblazer....I know!!! I bought a CHEVY!!! What was I thinking? I'm 100% a Ford girl! I hate Chevy just on principal alone! But it was too good a deal to turn down, a much nicer car than I thought I could afford right now, and it'll last me a while, though I'm gonna upgrade to a Ford when I get a job that pays real money!  And it is really pretty, Moonstone is the color, kinda like a silver blue. Janessa helped me with the name, and since I'm a traitor to the Ford, Janessa suggested Brutus first, but I said I was the traitor, so the car was more like Julius Ceasar, so that's it's name....JC for short, or Julius.  Yes, Julius Tremble can feel quite flattered because he shares a name with my car. :)

Two roadtrips for the break, just came back yesterday from the first one to NC.  It was a quick weekend trip, lots of fun, first time in a long time that I wasn't happy about coming back to Atlanta after a trip.  No matter how much fun I've had on trips, I'm always happy to come back home, but yesterday I wanted to go back to NC! Maybe I'll look there for an intern?  The long trip starts the day after Christmas.  Janessa's starting a job out in Utah, she flies out Wed and comes home from Christmas, so I'm driving out with her the day after so she can have her car out there and I'll fly back after the first of the year sometime, right now looking like Jan 3/4 (overnight layover in Dallas), but I think I'm gonna wait a bit and see if I can get a non-overnight layover, we'll see what happens.

Now just 2 weeks before Christmas, Happy Holidays Y'all!

Confusion, Indecisiveness, and General Blech

You know those days or weeks when nothing's really wrong, but you just feel blech? Yeah, today's one of those days.  It seems this week has been full of little things that aren't that big of a deal, but they all together they seem multiply and increase this icky feeling.  I find I usually have those days (or weeks, depending) after something that had a big build-up and then there's nothing after, so you drop from the adrenalin rush you were having.  And since last weekend was the YSA Conference that I helped plan and execute, this week definitely fits into this category.  But I'll get over it soon enough.  I have my last softball game tonight (hopefully no bats to the head, oh yeah, I didn't write about that, well, that'll be a quick post for another day, and I have pics), then a massage appointment after.  I haven't made it up to Alan and Crystal's new house at all this week, not because I couldn't, but because I had plans that ended up falling through, which also adds to the blech feeling.  But they move in on Saturday, and that'll be good for them, I'm excited for them.

Classes start next week and I'm at an indecisive area.  I'm not sure if I want to keep on with my emphasis or not.  I've completely been procrastinating my thesis and I'm kinda debating on whether I should stop at the Master's, and if I could be sure I could get a teaching position at a junior college, I'd be more than fine with that.  Or I was also thinking I might could switch to the Fitness and Health Promotion, do an internship instead of a thesis, and work in an area that promotes health and fitness outside of being a personal trainer.  I would be more than fine working in a gym, but I know I'm not cut out to be a trainer, at least that not being the only thing I do.  I like management positions and teaching/discussion as part of it too (yes, I'm bossy!) and I am passionate about health and fitness.   So yeah, I've been debating about it.  But the only thing is, if I switch to the Fitness and Health Promotion emphasis, I'm not sure I'll be able to go on and get a PhD if I ever decide to.  Which right now I'd be ok with, but if I end up changing my mind down the road, I won't be.  Anyway, sorry this is a downer post, but I'll add a more upbeat one soon....if I remember to write! ;-)

Let the craziness ensue....well, more so than usual at least!

So this week has been slightly crazy.  First my one roommates fam was staying with us through Wednesday, which they were great, but we double the occupancy of our 3-bedroom apartment, suddenly there's people everywhere and all sharing the hall bathroom.  Slight chaos, but really not that big of a deal.  But let's back-up a little bit, shall we? This past weekend a group of us went camping at Tallulah Gorge... so much fun!! We hiked around, some of us did the stairs, some of the smart ones didn't.  One of the girls got sick from the heat and climbing all those stairs (there's over 1000 steps), and that was quite exciting, but luckily she wasn't too overheated and was fine with a little A/C and water at the Interpretive Center (essentially it's the ranger station and gift shop for those of you who've never been).  And no, we didn't get lost this time! :)We got back and that's when the craziness ensued. 

This weekend is the Multi-Regional YSA Conference with Elder Ballard speaking tomorrow night to a combined fireside for YSA and SA (and mid-singles, they like to differentiate themselves), and I'm the Roswell Stake YSA Rep and the only person that I can tell that's been posting info about the conference on FB.  So my FB is blowing up, my phone is exploding with all these questions about the conference, which would be fine if I knew more than the people asking me....which I really don't.  The conference itself is planned out, I hope! But I'm not sure how the housing situation's gonna play out, they're supposed to organize it tonight at the dance, and there are around 200 people who said they needed housing, so I pray that they have enough accomodations for everyone.  Then the other thing is the activity after the fireside.  The fireside starts at 5pm, which means we'll have the whole evening afterwards for people to enjoy.  We're doing dinner, which should be fine, but some of us were pushing for an organized activity instead of a dance, well, they're encouraging small group discussions of the fireside, which is great, but it'll only last through dinner, I'm betting.  So I'm pulling Janessa in to help me with games and possibly Mike to send a dj down last minute and start another dance if need be.  So yeah, I hope this doesn't end on a lame note, but next year we're totally revamping the whole system, so that should be good.

But to get back to the rest of my week.  Last Friday Alan and Crystal bought a house, then Tuesday she flew out to Oregon with Hailey for her dad's wedding this weekend (funny how everything happens at once! But the house needs cleaning and painting before they can move in, which is next weekend when she gets back (she can't do much at the house anway, she's 6 months preggers).  So Monday I worked at dad's office, then a softball game, then FHE.  Tuesday was the temple, then shopping for decor for the dance, then Institute, then bball.  Wedneday I was over at the bro's house cleaning and prepping for the paint.  Then went to help a guy pick up a bookcase he'd bought that didn't fit in his small sedan, but would in my big 'ol Explorer. :)  Wednesday night a guy in the ward was taking out his endowments, so I was back at the temple, and we went to Yogli afterwards for dessert.  Thursday dad needed a bunch of courier service done from Sandy Springs to Buford, and I was going to go back to Alan's and work more after I was done, but the A/C went out in the apartment Wednesday night, so the only time they could make it Thursday was between 12-2 or it would be today. I don't really get too hot in general and I was dying Wednesday night, so I came back to the condo so someone would be here when they came.  That being done, I headed back up to Alan's and cleaned more and taped up a couple rooms to get them ready to paint today.  And today I'm going to my gma's to help her with some stuff around the house and meeting another girl at 4ish to finish decor for the dance and get there around 7 to set up.  Then I'll be down in Jonesboro till late tomorrow night.  And I'm not done yet.... Sunday will be church, but there are a bunch of guys coming up from Ft. Rucker to go to the conference and temple and were asking about Linger Longer on Sunday, got me thinking we should do a potluck for any of those who we meet at the conference who are staying through Sunday evening, so I started organizing that.  Then I get an email saying there's a Stake Leadership training meeting with Elder Ballard Sunday evening at 6:30pm (it'll be broadcast, he won't physically be there).  Our church ends at 4:30.  So I can't host this potluck anymore, so we end up switching it to another girl's house so those of us who need to be at the meeting can just leave.

Whew...I feel tired! :)  But I am excited for this weekend, I think it'll be good overall, and yeah, there might be hiccups, but c'est la vie!

Yeah, bout that...

You ever feel that you think you know exactly what's going on, only to find out you're completely clueless? Yeah, it's been one of those days. Nothing really happened, it's just been a blech day making me feel like I don't have a handle on anything in my life. But I'm sure I'll feel better after sleep.

Thankful...

I know Thanksgiving is coming up next week, but that's not what prompted this, I actually keep forgetting that Thanksgiving is so close, though I am way excited about it! Yay for yummy food. I just haven't expressed my gratitude for all the many wonderful blessings the Lord, in his mercy, has given me.

The very first thing on my list is the true gospel of Jesus Christ that was restored to this earth by His prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr. I cannot imagine, nor do I wish to, the nothingness that would be my life without this gospel and the Atonement that only the Lord could have brought to pass with His perfect life. It has, more than anything else, made me who I am. I do not always live it like I should, but I have a solid testimony that is so very true and I am striving to do better with all that I have and am, and picking myself up each time I fall to start over again.

I am so incredibly blessed with my amazing and wonderful family. I thought I had a normal family growing up, but the older I get, the more I realize that it's not normal, thank goodness for that! My parents are so in love and committed to each other and their children and I know they're not perfect but they are sooo very good and I love them and everything they've taught me. I have three beautiful, amazing, talented sisters, each in her own way, that teach me all the time how to be the best I can be and who I can call on whenever I need help, even if it's something like coloring my hair, picture stuff, pep talks, massages, or whatever. My brother is the best brother a girl could ask for, he's always strived to be worthy of the priesthood that he holds and stays firmly planted in the gospel, he's always quick with a funny joke to lift my spirits when I'm in a funk. He married a wonderful woman, she's the perfect sister-in-law for us and thank goodness she has a bountiful supply of patience, cuz if you know us Higginbotham's, you know she needs it! :D And I don't have enough words to describe the wonderful child that is their daughter. She lights up my life!! Whenever I need to forget my worries and stressful situations, I can hear her say "Neanie, Neanie!" and it works every time. My grandmother amazes me with her energy and time and devotion she spends on serving so many people. She is 82 and does more in a day than I can do in a week! She takes care of me every time I try to do something for her. I won't go into details for the rest of my relatives (including all those friends that I've adopted into my family!) but I wouldn't be the woman I am without them, and I could write sheets and sheets on these people.

I have been blessed to acquire so much knowledge in the education world, the Lord is helping me survive my graduate classes and learn more each day about the workings of the body, His creation, and the details that go into the movement we use to function throughout our day without a second thought. I know we have so much more to learn about how the body works, both on the micro- and the macro-level, but the more I learn, the more it is a testimony to me that we were made by a Supreme Creator, He knew what He was doing and it wasn't by chance in the least. And I don't know all the details of how He did it, or even all the details of the finished product, but I love learning more about it and understanding the intricacies that are involved. I struggle with so many things that hinder me in this progress, procrastination being near, if not at, the top of the list, but with the Lord's help and by His will, I can and will finish this course that I've started on.

I could continue on and on and on with all that I have been blessed with, these are not the least nor the entire list by far. I know that I am nothing and God is everything, my stupid pride does get in the way a lot of the time, but I give the glory to God for any good that I have ever accomplished in my life, He is my Father, Christ is my brother, and I cannot, nor will I deny the truths that I know!

Graduate School

Sooo, yes, it's been over a year since I updated! I would say it's because my life hasn't been exciting and it's been very boring, yeah right! ;) Anyone who halfway knows me knows that's a lie! The most exciting thing that's happened is that I started grad school a few weeks ago. I am currently a Master's of Exercise Science student at GSU.

And yes, I'm still excited, and loving it for the most part. But here's the deal...I'm a worrier....a BIG worrier, not about others so much, I tend to believe the positive and be an optimist when it comes to them, but when it comes to me....it's worst case scenario, like, worse, worse, worst. Worried that I'm not gonna be right, that I can't do it, that I'll make a fool of myself, that I'll be so completely bad that I'll never recover....yeah, I know, not true.

But then I also know, logically, that it's not as bad as I think it'll be, but until I actually get to the event I'm worrying about, I stress and worry and yeah....and to add to that in a school setting, I'm a procastinator, which I think stems from the worrying part, cuz if it's something I know how to do, no problem, I get it done, if it's got a deadline atleast. And yes, I'm worried, stressed and nothing logically that I know, which is true, is gonna get rid of this feeling until I get through all my classes. So yes, I just signed myself up for two years of incredible stress, plus another 3-4 for a PhD. Yuck, what was I thinking? :) But I also know I'll make it through and be fine, this is just how I am! Always have been, though I'm pretty good at hiding it from most people. But yes, I do like being in class and learning and all that (though definitely not like being on a student budget again - yes, another worry!). And I definitely like having a student schedule and not feeling like I don't have a life outside of work.

Other than that, all my friends are having babies and I'm loving it! Most are here in Atlanta which is great for me cuz I get to see them more often! Life's good and the gospel's true! Oh, just remembered another big event, I got released from Activity Co-chair in the single's ward, after 1 1/2 years or so, and don't have anything else currently (though I'm sure that will change soon). Kinda went through an identity crisis at first, but I did have my first thing I could say I could help out with and not have planning/preparing for an activity conflict with the other day, which was awesome! :)

 So I babysat my niece Sat. She's awesome and I love her! We had a ton of fun, I took her for a walk, then drove up to see some co-workers at the office, and she tried all day to open doors. Here's some pics from our adventures (of course I didn't take any that were incriminating or they wouldn't let me babysit again)!

 What a snickerdoodle!! :)