{georgia!}

this weekend, we headed to atlanta for adam tomberlin's wedding!

i met adam during freshman orientation.  we were both pre physical therapy majors (didn't last long for either of us), and it was great because our little advisee group had all 8 am's together all first semester.

the wedding was beautiful and both him and his now wife were so excited :)

i've also been making truffles like crazy... maryrose came home from arizona, and the natural thing to do after a stressful semester was bake!  her truffles turned out much better than mine (pinterest fail), but we made oreo truffles, both peppermint and peanut butter.  delish!  and then tonight, ian and i made the cookie dough truffles i made for katie's bachelorette party.

finally, ian and i decided it would be fun to make ornaments each christmas that have to do with what's going on in our lives at the moment.  this year, we're both grad students.  it only seemed natural we would use school related things to create ornaments, so we cut up pieces of work we'd done this semester, added some glue, some glitter, and these were our creations:

nerdy and fun!

also, today i got to meet my friend's brand new baby, lydia grace.  she is the most perfect little creation and i love her already!  thanks for your prayers! mom and baby are doing great :)  can't wait to watch this little babe grow up!

{babies!}

just a quick post...

my wonderful friend i blogged about the other day is in labor!!!!!  please pray for safety for mom and baby lydia.  she's done so well taking care of herself and her babe throughout her pregnancy, and i know she and david will be fabulous parents!  i cannot WAIT to meet this sweet girl!

i've also been making truffles with the lovely maryrose.  some were fabulous, some, a pinterest fail.  more later :)

off to georgia for a wedding!  road trip!

now go pray for ashley, david and lydia :)  oh babies... what a beautiful, incredible, crazy gift from God!

{misadventures of a somewhat crafty grad student}

welll.... we all knew it was bound to happen at some point...

i enjoy being crafty.  i like to see something (especially on pinterest...) and figure out how i can do it myself.  i've done some ornaments, a mirror, homemade laundry detergent... crafty/thrifty ideas have saved me some money and i like seeing fun things i've made!

i'm currently in the process of making christmas presents (more later... can't give those away yet!), but they involve making holes in mason jar tops... in the process, one may have slipped yesterday and i may have just about sliced my knuckle off my pointer finger on my right hand.  instantly there was blood everywhere... i may have needed stitches, but i figured i'd attempt first aid on myself.  i spent how many years as a lifeguard/ymca director and i'm the bomb.com at first aid.

popsicle stick, gauze, prewrap. bam.

the bleeding did stop, but today it is sooo swollen.  phew!  even typing is interesting... way to go, kel... way to go.

on a happier note, i got to hang out with future super mom, ashley today :)  her due date is tomorrow, and she's the cutest, most in shape pregnant mama ever.  i cannot WAIT to meet her sweet girl, lydia grace :)  start the prayers that that little girl makes her entrance into the world soon!  david has his last final today, and everyone wants as much time with her before school starts again (yes, they're both students... super parents of the year, people!), so she needs to come soon!!!

also if you want to read all about ash and david and lydia, go check out her blog here.

{one more}

it's official.

i have one semester of school.  ever. (unless i get my phd, and although i've thought about it, i want to get out, practice and pay off some debt before i do that...)

this means in 5 months, i'll be working.  like an adult.  like real world.  like eek!

to be honest, i'm kind of excited.  i've put in a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of free labor into this degree, and i'm ready to see what i'm made of.

it's crazy to think that come may, i'll be done with a classroom.  i've done school since i was 5.  i'll be 25 when i graduate.  that's 20 years of school.  20 people.  dang.

one more semester.  that's all that stands between me and being kellie crook, ccc-slp (and yes, be prepared to refer to me as such for a few weeks post degree ;).  and if i'm toying around with the idea of getting my fluency specialist license... kellie crook, ccc-slp brs-fs... aren't all those letters fun!?!?!?)

hope final's week is going well for everyone!

{not original title}

i can't think of anything creative to call this...

friday i got to see one of my best friends and her husband :)  whit and ben live in maysville, so getting to see them is always a treat!  they came down and we all went to cosi for dinner and smores.  it was a fun time to catch up and enjoy the lovely friends God has blessed me with!

new discovery: brad and i both like burning things... this may not be good

saturday ian had to study, so i got crafty.  i've had a mirror since sophomore year, and it was plain and boring, so it got an upgrade!

added a little paint

then lots of flowers

finished product!

on a sadder note, my dog, cali (more commonly referred to as chewy) was hit and killed by a car today :(  she was rotten as all get out and found herself in 5 different houses before my parents adopted her.  she had an affinity to chewing things (hence the name) and was known to do everything from getting on the stove to nibble on mom's recently baked pies, to stealing couch cushions off the couch so she technically wasn't on the furniture, to tearing up toys to the point it looked like it snowed.  like i said, rotten, but animals have a way of bringing humor to life... not easy stuff...

rotten 

moose and chewy

a christmas pup

last christmas.  they were thrilled with us

{funny observations}

there are 2 things i find distinctly "college student"

one is ramen, two is coffee.

you know it's true.  college students can make a meal out of ramen and coffee and they're 2 staples you'll find in 90% of college student's rooms.

the funny thing i've noticed is that everyone takes those 2 things very differently.

we'll start with ramen.  some people make it on the stove, others make it in the microwave.  everyone has certain flavors they always get (mine happens to be chicken).  some people go with lots of broth, i like to dump most of mine out, some only like the noodles.  then there's the flavoring.  some go full-on flavor, others do half, and some people just like the noodles.  then there's the vessel of cooking.  if you make it on the stove, you're about limited to a pot, but i have a specific bowl that's perfect for ramen, my roommate uses one of those huge glass measuring cups.  

oh ramen.  

then coffee... i pity the baristas who work at the starbucks on campus.  very rarely do they dole out decaf (it is finals week after all...) but there's the milk choice (whole, skim, soy), skinny with lots of whipped cream (i'll never understand...) flavor choices out the wazoo, black, sugar/splenda/sweetener/truvia, extra hot, tall/grande/venti (you're crazy)... goodness!

oh to be a college student... 

{316)

i love my church... i like that even though it's massive, it uses it's size to do huge things.

our current series is called 316, focusing on john 3:16.  the verse is all about how God loves us and what that should mean for our lives.  along with that, they're partnering with a group called lifeline ministries that focuses on feeding and bringing the word of Christ to poor and impoverished people groups throughout the world.

southland's goal was to feed 1,000,000 people.  1 person packs an average of 300 meals during the 2 hour time slot, and each meal feeds 6 people (3,1,6... coincidence?).  it's really cool because the meal of dehydrated vegetables, soy protein, chicken flavor w/vitamins and rice costs $.60 per bag...

last night, katie and i went with our girls from life group (plus our boys... and a few 1,000 other college students), and went to pack.

it was awesome and fun and such a rewarding experience to know that what we did last night is going to give meals to thousands of people.

our group total?  136,000 meals!

newlyweds, ready to pack some meals

we rocked the hairnets...

brad and ian had jobs that suited their personalities :)

{the reason}

the snow is falling and it finally feels like Christmas to me!!!!

i like taking time to stop, think, and realize all the many reasons to be thankful, especially during this Christmas season.

how easy is it to get caught up in the shopping, the decorating, finals and making holiday plans to forget why we celebrate Christmas?

Luke 2:11-14- Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

i love luke's version of the Christmas story... the simplicity of a Savior, born to poor, young parents.  he wasn't born into riches, his first bed was a feeding trough for animals, but he was surrounded by love.  i like that the God i serve sent Jesus as a humble, innocent child and chose to have him raised with wonderful, but normal parents.  i love that upon his arrival into this world, the stars shone brighter, people like shepherds came to worship him, and angels were telling people to not be afraid.

i'm thankful for a savior who lived among the poor and beaten down people, who had nothing visually that appealed the people, but who attracted all by his actions.  i'm thankful that he lived a life of a servent, even though he was the God of the universe.  i'm thankful he died on a cross so i could live for eternity.

in this Christmas season, i'm thankful for his humble beginning...

merry Christmas (a bit early!)

{wilmore christmas}

have you ever seen a hallmark christmas movie?  how about a lifetime one?  oh... you're not roommates with erica dupps? (love you :) )  well if you've ever wondered what one is like, it's wilmore christmas.

every year, wilmore has an old fashioned christmas.  this is complete with a tree lighting, santa in an old fashioned fire truck, cookies/hot cocoa/coffee/other christmas samplings, live music, and the finale is christmas carols at the church.  it's precious.

a few non-traditional favorites: ham sandwiches at the local grocery store (with people setting up lawn chairs for the live music... when was the last time you set up chairs in the grocery store?  i didn't think so...), being served cotton candy from a man in a kilt, santa skateboarding on a longboard, and hologram glasses that turn lights into fun festive holiday themes (like angels, snowmen and stars!).

it was a fun time with great friends and a holiday tradition i look forward to every year :)

the boys showing off their sweet glasses 

it's a star!

now a snowman

merry christmas!

{freedom}

i won't lie... i kind of like not working.
the past few days i've gotten so much done!  school work (which i have tons of), laundry, sleep, and crafty things :)

today i made homemade pizza dough, wrapped presents, finished my 10 page paper and finished most of my christmas shopping!

here's a sample:

presents: wrapped and ready

pinterest find... it's an orange peal candle! it was alright...

it's a Christmas tradition.... (mistletoe)