Some new photos and resolutions

Hey everybody!

I really don't have anything much to talk about today.  I've been working and doing absolutely nothing when I'm not working. Okay, not absolutely nothing--mostly eating and watching Netflix.  I'm getting all of the unhealthy eating out of the way before January 1st. Yes, I'm that cliche person who sets a resolution to get healthy by eating right and exercising.  My reasoning is that I can control what I eat and how I spend my time.  I have no excuse for overeating and not exercising. Therefore, 2012 is the year when I get in shape.  I would like to lose 20 pounds.  That puts me well within my "healthy weight range" or whatever and at my exact medically recommended weight.  It's going to be difficult, but it needs to be done.  My other resolution is to get involved in a college-aged church group. I'm ready for some accountability with people my age. 

Now for those new photos...

Those adorable new boots I was talking about in my last post

Dress up!! New jeans, new scarf, new shirt, new boots

An off-centered picture of the topknot I learned how to do!

Why does pasta have to be so dang good?!! Homemade spaghetti

Family photo complete with Kelly doing her bid'ness (From left: Dad, Mom, Claudia--holding Sophie, Ana, Eric, me, and Kelly)

Christmas was such a blessing this year!  We opened presents at 6AM (yes, I'm still a child and I barely slept at all)!  I didn't really ask for anything because I like to be surprised.  I received lots of warm sweaters, scarves, gloves, and socks as well as a digital camera!  I'm so excited about the camera! I love taking pictures (even if I'm not very good)!  It was a really great time to relax with my family and enjoy food and a worship service and tradition.  One of our traditions is to see a movie on Christmas Eve (complete with drinks, popcorn, and candy).  This year we saw Puss in Boots. I was a little wary when I heard that this was the choice, but it was really cute.  It was nice sharing all of our traditions with Ana.  Ana is our foreign exchange student from Madrid, Spain.  She is so sweet and has learned SO much English since arriving in October. 

Ana, our sweet Spanish exchange student

                                        
Today, my mom and I went shopping at 8 to swipe some of those $15 jeans at Old Navy and exchange a coat I received for Christmas.  I got two pairs of skinny jeans, two long sleeved solid tees, a plaid flannel shirt, a new black cardigan, and an adorable pair of olive green wedge ankle boots for under $100!!! I played dress up all day.  I also watched a hair tutorial over at http://ticktockvintage.blogspot.com/2011/12/messy-bun-tutorial.html. It's a great go-to style for day-after-showering hair.

I bought three new flute pieces: Night Soliloquy by Kent Kennan, Serenade by Howard Hansen, and Bloch's Suite Modale.  I'm very excited about learning some new music! And, I must confess, I finally did the ultimate flute nerd thing--I subscribed to Flute Talk. It's a magazine all about flute stuff. Super nerdy. 

Here's a recording of the 4th movement of Bloch's Suite Modale. It reminds me of The Princess Bride soundtrack

I also did some research on churches in the area.  I've got a few that I'm looking forward to visiting.  I'm also kinda scared.  I really want to get involved in a college group; but despite all of my outgoing-ness around my friends, I'm afraid of meeting new people in church settings.  I know that God will point me to the right place and will give me the courage to meet new people at these churches. I am eager to see what He has in store for me this semester!  It will be so exciting!
I am extremely grateful for this past semester.  I've learned a lot about myself and I know that I have a lot of room to grow.  I'm thankful for my family, friends, work, music, and school.  I hope that everybody else has so much to be thankful for, too!

Until soon,

Anna

Well, it's sort of been forever...

So, this semester has been super crazy. I love college and school and friends and work, but sometimes it's a little bit too much to handle.  I took 17 credit hours this semester and worked 16 hours a week.  I know that a lot of people do more, but this was a lot for me. Especially because I was waking up at 4AM Tuesday-Thursday in order to get to work by 5AM.  Needless to say, I was a little exhausted.  Being in marching band (a 1 credit hour course requiring 2 1/2 hours of rehearsal four days a week plus entire Saturdays for games) really added a lot to my plate.  If I had the option to not be in marching band this semester, I might have said no. But, despite all of the exhaustion, I still have so much to be thankful for from this past semester:

                          This is me and Emily on the tuba. You didn't believe me, did you?

1. I have a 3.5 for the semester.  All As and Bs! So proud of my Bs in Biological Anthropology and Aural Perception II.
2. I made 4th chair Wind Symphony! So excited and surprised by this, but really thankful!
3. Lots of progress on the flute. My teacher, Kristen Predl, really rocked my world with tips and tricks this semester!
4. Making new friends and strengthening friendships.
5. Being a member of the tuba section in marching band. I love all those crazy boys! They made being last chair so fun!
6. Being on Care Committee for SAI. I love my committee members so much! We had a blast making cards and really showing the music department how much we love them!
7. Having an awesome job! Seriously, I got to decorate Christmas cookies for almost 2 hours one day. It's great.

                      The members of SAI Care Committee (from left: me, Kaitlin, and Emily)

As great as this past semester has been, I'm really looking forward to next semester! I'll be working 18 hours a week, but it'll be great because I'll only be working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  I'll be in a challenging ensemble with two of my very best friends, Emily and Jacob.  And I'm going to find a new church with a great college ministry to get involved in. I really need to reconnect to God this next semester.  And I'll actually have time to work out this semester (this is important)!

I have so much to look forward to and I really hope to have more time to blog this semester.

How about you? How has this semester/fall been for you?

Love so very much,
Anna