Roomies

I have lived alone for the past few years. I have loved every stinkin' mintue of it. BUTTTT. ( as Mr. Kracium would say,  "The bigger the butt the bigger the problem." Alas! I have no problems. haha! Don't judge! )  This semester I have a roommate. It wasn't in my original plan to have one, but when is it ever?! Here are a few things I have learned over these past few months. 

1). I have been told ..that I snore ...(doubtful, very doubtful!) ha.
2).  Grace is always cold & I sweat like a Hebrew slave.
3).  We use a roll of TP every 3 days.
4). If you looked at the shower drain and saw all the hair, you would think we were both bald as a baseball bat!
5). It really ain't that bad ;) Well, as long as you don't ask Grace! ha!

That's what has been interesting about Columbia. I am learning so much everyday! I am learning about ASL, Deaf culture, Deaf people, Chi-town, CTA, and everything! There have been some wonderful friends/teachers and people in general that I have met up here. They have all been so wonderful to me. Grace and I are good friends. It's been a HUGE challenge for me to learn to live with someone, but it's learning experience everyday for me. This school has been such a blessing to me, and an answer to so many prayers. It's a very intense program, but it's so worth it! This whole 'roommate' situation is a new experience for me. So continue to pray for me please :) Around my desk I have pictures of all of my nieces/nephews and some other little kids I consider nieces/nephews ( and their wonderful artwork!!! ) It's a blessing every day to see all of their little (growing up too fast, boo) faces!

I am amazed everyday at how much my life has changed. It really has been wonderful. I feel like I have my feet on the ground for a change. I feel settled and content. God is so good! :) Having a roommate has even helped me be a better person. I am now more aware of how my actions impact others. I think for awhile I turned into myself a little bit (maybe too much?). I wasn't used to dealing with others on a daily basis. This is good for me. I am constantly being challenged and changed.

'Cause when I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
Gonna look into your eyes and see you never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I will walk through the valley if you want me to

P.S. Keep praying for Ben!!!! He is getting better everyday! So Strong! Please continue to pray for the whole family! Thank you! https://www.facebook.com/CplBenjaminGardner?fref=ts

Judy Garland

Judy Garland was famous for playing Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz. Duh. Well she sang a little song that pretty much all of creation knows. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" there is a line that says Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Well I have found my blue skies. I am in Chicago. Not only am I living here but I love every minute. The sound of the "L" screeching past my room, or the skyscrapers I see out my windows. This town is what I love. Some people don't understand, some don't even like it. I don't care! I can't even begin to tell you the amount of blood, sweat, tears, and prayers that went into this being possible. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. I love you all. More than I say. Also a big a thank you to my mom && dad. It ain't always been easy but we have stuck it out. I love you both && I don't know where I would be without you. Just a little bit longer and all of this college mess will be done! I miss but family, but being here lets me be apart of something bigger than myself. You all have taught me so much. Grace, Josh, Addison, Ivy, Maddox, Israel & Abel, I love you all. I'm sorry I can't always be there to see you all grow up. I have all of your pictures around my computer desk :) Taye, Shaye, Shannon, Haley, Beans, Joyce Anne, it's been a pleasure. You all have been with me through the good and the dumb. Fatty, I love you, I would be delighted to get kicked out of Wal-Mart with you any time! You all are priceless to me. Come see me everyone! I would love to show you around my city :)

Home this is home

Now I'm finally where I belong

I have been searching for a place of my own

Now I have found it.

Baby this is home.

P.S. Ben is doing so much better. God has been so good to him. Please continue to pray for him && check out his prayer page && share it. https://www.facebook.com/CplBenjaminGardner?ref=ts&fref=ts

Bee Waggle

I have learned that bees do this "dance" called the Bee Waggle. I am not making this up, this is not me being a hillbilly and using a funny name. Scientists with fancy degrees and white coats call this the Bee Waggle. What is it? Sounds like a dance that people do after ingesting too many yellow jackets. WRONG! This dance is what bees do to show other bees where the food is. Big deal, so what, who cares, next.... WRONG MY FRIEND,WRONG! This is a huge deal because bees that haven't left the hive for 3 hours are still exactly right on telling the other bees where the food source is. ( TOLD YOU :) BUT it doesn't stop there ( I was totally floored by this, seriously mouth open going say wha?) Ever 15 minutes the sun goes down so the direction the bees must fly changes every 15 minutes. Is this amazing to anyone else?!!?!?! 

I took this to mean that if God cares about the bees he cares about ME! 

Yes God cares about me,duh. He dies for me and all of that. I have heard that COUNTLESS times in my life. However, I have lost my way bit over the past year. Been a little bit of a rough one. A lot of hard lessons,a lot of big changes. HOWEVER, this bee waggle information hit me like a mac truck. It is so easy to feel like because things haven't worked out the way I wanted them to I sometimes equate that with God's love. Well if he loved me then I would have X,Y,Z....WRONG!

This means that the God who spoke the world into existence with is breath still knows how many hairs are on my head. All 9 of em! My prof said that this amazing because they are born with this knowledge...well DUH but who made the bees?! MY JESUS! He loves me and he loves you. It is a very simple concept, not hard to understand, but it is deeply profound. If God makes sure the bees have food what makes me forget he will move Heaven and Earth to come rescue me when I call his name? It doesn't have to be in the front pew of church or Sunday school. He hears me when I am praying for protection,or walking down the streets of Chicago. He is a God that hears my prayers when they are silent but coming from the sterile walls of a hospital. He is faithful to complete the work he started in me. I believe that. So when this ol' world seems too much I will remember the Bee Waggle. I will remind myself open my eyes and look up. This reminds me on rough days to not get discouraged but to know that when I pass through the water I won't be overcome. The water might be at my lower lip, but I won't drown. 

So let this knowledge about the bees bring you comfort as we all go about our lives. Life turns on a dime as many of us have learned this the hard way. So everyday, even on the ones that suck remember that God still loves you. He loved us when we didn't love him. He loves us still on days when we totally blow it. 

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

24+1

What does a birthday mean? It means that after a bit there will be so many candles on my cake it will look like the burnin' of Atlanta! No numbers ya'll. After 25 years on this earth I have learned a few things. One of them is that I am blessed with many many people that love me. However, my favorite present this year was being able to attend my nephew's bday party. It wasn't some big shiny car, or a fancy pair or shoes, or Nars cosmetics.Shaye also asked if I wanted 30 Sunday News papers for my birthday. Smarty Pants! Happy Birthday to Shaye Shaye. She was born the 3rd I was born the 4th. So..that means smarty pants will be old before me. HAHAHHAHAHA. 22 hrs and 30 minutes but still! :) Anyway...Maddox's birthday party was SO.MUCH.FUN.
There is something so wonderful about celebrating life! Especially when that life is Little Mr. Handsome! Have you all seen this kid?! I used to think my birthday was all about me. It is really ;) Just kiddin! For the first time on my birthday I was working for something bigger than myself. I was exhausted. I had driven all day, stopped at Shayes, and chased around some very sneaky milshake straws! (Also, made a moron out of myself at midnight in the Mcd's Drive thru) Only to discover what I had been chasing around was in the third drawer. Who knew?! Not Ash or Brandon! Ha. More to the point. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning (it's a tradition) getting the house ready for the party. I also killed the BIGGEST spider I have ever seen. I mean HUGE.This sucker had his own area code. Brandon sprayed Spider-Die (Ok Ok it has a real name but that's what I call it) I stepped on it with is shoe! CRUNCH! :) long story( never is with me)  short the party was great, baby was cute and the cake was to die for :) What hit me driving home really late and I was TIRED was that I was a part of something bigger than myself for once. I can't remember the last time I did something for somenoe else. It seems like everything lately has been about my move, or school. or me. me me. me. me.me.me....Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie S.T.E.P.H.A.N.I.E.
The conclusion it is a wonderful feeling to be a part of something bigger than yourself. I was. I had forgetten how good it felt to help somenoe out. It was one of those times you leave exhausted and your eyes are tired, however your sould feels refreshed. There is an old country song (ain't there always! hehe. "The longer I live the more I believe you do have to give if you want to recieve.." I have been blessed with  more than I can ever give. So I take that as a challange to give as much as I can! Even if it is somethin I bought with a coupon @ CVS.

P.S. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE GARDNER FAMILY. THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE PRAYERS FOR BEN GARDNER. MANY OF YOU KNOW THIIS FAMILY HAS ALWAYS AND STILL IS VERY SPECIAL AND VERY NEAR MY HEART. LOOK IT UP! PLEASE! :)

Rice && Razors

What is these? Why do you have rice in a ramekin, in a bathroom, with a cheap-o Bic razor shoved in there? Razors belong in the bathtub with all the moisture so they stay nice and sharp. WRONG! :)

I have been using the same cheap-o razor a week! ( Ewwwwww!) However, my frugal ways have paid off. (Remember the pooping buffalo!?) It is still has sharp as when I first used it. (Here is another freebie tip for you : MEN'S RAZORS WORK BETTER!) DON'T ASK I CAN'T TELL YOU. I also use men's shave gel. WHY?! I'm glad you asked :) THEY WORK BETTER! Women's shave gel is always this fruity tutty parfait crap. If I want a parfait I will layer yogurt, fruit, granola myself. My legs don't need to be sunflowers and rainbows. I want them to be SMOOTH.

A few things I have learned along that way that also help me to save money...Glean from this what you will or not. In the words of Mr. Baker, "....the choice is yours"

1). Try new things.This razor and rice thing is new to me. So I tried it. Does it look hillbilly?! Heck yes! Do I care if you come to my apartment and say "HILLJACK!" not at all doll face. So experiment with new ideas you hear or give something new whirl and let me know how it works. Sometimes this work and sometime's it's big ol' FAIL.

2). Check the comments on the websites by the pro's. Colin @ Hip2save.com posts all of the deals and match-ups for the week on Saturday night. By match up's I mean CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aide , Staples, and a few more I believe. I normally only check CVS and Walgreens because that is what I have access to. Many times the comments have other ideas or ways to get better deals.It only takes a few minutes to scan them to see if anyone has any good ideas on what you need. Sometimes a coupon gets over looked making for an even better deal.

3). Learn when to say no.A few weeks ago there was a St. Ives Body scrub coupon that was a pretty good deal. However, I would have to drive to the Library (more on that on down the road) print it off and drive to Target. No freaking thanks! All to save .97 cents. So if it is a good deal and you will be said store that has a certain great deal then go for it. Other wise, make sure it is worth the hassle!

4). Get a dump account. I have one at Gmail. They have a huge storage limit. I use this when I sing up for free samples on hip2save.com or other places like it. So let's say I am going to Austin for my birthday. I can sign up for Austin's groupon and have it sent to my dump account, so it doesn't clog up my everyday email. Then when I need to look at Groupon deals for Austin. I just type "Groupon Austin" into my search inbox thingy and PRESTO!

5). Don't send everything to your dumb account! Hello, you just said get a dumb account. Make up your mind! I did..yes you can read. Congratulations! I use my CVS rewards and coupons weekly. So my CVS email is my normal email. It has saved me a lot and I mean a lot of money to have to have the CVS sent to my good email. (This year alone I have saved over $1600 ...out of pocket I have spent about $200 in cash there! )


6). Don't you ever apologize for using a coupon. Don't Ever. I will punch you in the throat! People need to learn to be patient.(Yes that includes me too)  A tip to make your purchases go smoother is have everything all ready to go at check out! Some people circle or star everything they want in the ad and check it off one by one. I write down the store name, the coupon I am using how many of the item I need. It seems like it would take forever...but it doesn't! Once you get a system that works for YOU things will go smoother. I will agree it is annoying to wait behind Frazzled Fran looking for a .10 cent coupon.

7). Buy the Sunday paper the first week of the month. So that means this Sunday by the paper. Ik it isn't the first of the month yet but will be in the coupon world. Why?! Government checks and all of that come out the first of the month. So...that Sunday paper has the best and most coupons!

8). Organize your coupons. I only cut what I need for that trip. So then I'm not carrying around a wad of coupons. I do save my inserts and stash them in a folder until I need them again. I also use a sticky note to write the date on the insert. So if I need an insert from 5/58/12 I can find it quickly. Things I am always on the lookout for are shampoo, body wash and such. So I always clip those coupons and keep them tucked away in my little pink caddy. Yes, many of you have seen it and tease me! HAHA!

9). Check out the stores coupon policy. It sounds dumb Ik like reading your can manual. Um...pass. I mean it! Check them out. THey change all the freaking time! Hip2save.com has all of them listed for the drugstores  and walmart I believe. So WHEN you come across a problem you can say hello bubba! No, no, no. Don't call anyone Bubba...but you get my drift. Always smile and be polite.

10). DON'T WATCH EXTREME COUPONING WHATEVER YOU DO! Why? here is my list. (Soapbox!)
1). These people are freaks
2). Hoarders
3).Thieves
4) Liars
5). THEY ARE RUINING IT FOR YOU AND ME SISTA!

Many of these people are frauds because the stores they go to bend the rules for the taping of this stupid show. So then when the average Jane goes in to do the same it doesn't work. Also many of these morons have been busted for stealing. STEALING! One lady was caught walking up and down her street in her bathrobe (Sexy let me tell ya! ;) HA. ) taking her neighbors Sunday papers. Umm....HELLO...that's my paper. Even if I let it hold down the grass for a week. I am going to harp on this because it makes me mad and ruins A TON of good deals for you and me. Another big issue is these stores not think every coupon that is printed is a fake. So many stores won't take them because this show has given all of us a bad name. Also , NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER EVER EVER LET ME CATCH YOU 'BUYING' COUPONS ON THE INTERNET. EVER FOREVER AND EVER AMEN. A few weeks ago there was a big coupon ring (like the ones that sell Oxy or Methadone) but they sell coupons.The first time I read the story I laughed out loud. A coupon ring being busted and sent to prison?! HAHAHAHHAHA. However, to the fools that got it busted it was not laughing matter The website Cents-off.com  can tell you all about coupon fraud. People do go to prison for theft and cheating the system. A lot of these coupons they sell are FAKE. So if you buy a fake coupon use it and get busted it is your FAULT. These coupons state they can't be sold. SO DON'T! Buy more than one Sunday paper or ask friends for theirs, or sign up for free samples on Facebook to get free products and coupons. 


How do they ruin it for you and me?! I'm glad you asked. Now the coupon company's are saying by 2 and save $2 instead of just $2 off. So the more these freaks abuse the system the more in comes down to people like us who buy the limit. NOT 80 BODY WASHES THEY ARE ALLERGIC TO! If under you kids bed there isn't Candyland and a missing sock, but 1000 rolls of Angel Soft, step away from the coupons...put the scissors down..freak face! 




There are many other ways to save money and ideas. Many more to come! But these have helped me on my  Buffalo pooping walk. 


P.S. I apologize for the wonky colors. Idk what the deal is. 

Cars

I am the youngest of four children. I am forever the baby. Sometimes I like that title.Sometimes it drives me up a tall wall. However, something I have learned these past few years is that I have another brother. I already had two, now I have three. (Someone check my math ;) If you said you have two coupons and I give you another coupon, how many coupons do you have?! *Counts on fingers and sticks out tongue*. Answer : 3 coupons! I will also give you a hug for giving me a coupon! Hint Hint Birthday present! HAHA
Brandon is blonde hair, blue eyed, and German.So pretty much the total opposite of anyone in this house. HAHAHA. Laugh it's funny! Cuz it's true! :) He doesn't look like family but I consider him another brother.(If he was family though ewww! Addison would have 11 toes. The seven-four combo)  When  he  first walked into this family I wasn't too sure about him because I wanted my sister treated right. Don't get me wrong there are days we can't agree on the color of grass but no one picks on my sister but me! Right!? However, there was something different about Brandon. Over time I would come to learn how much he loved my sister and she loved him. You know first comes love them comes marriage then .... little Ashley and baby blues eyes to boot!
Brandon has personally bailed me out on more than 6 occaisons. Yes more than that but remember I was tutored in high school and college in math so don't judge! Mama said if everyone swept in front of their own porches this world would be clean. Well not my mom but Queen Latifa. Anyways.....
Brandon not only laughed til he couldn't see straight when I got my finger caught in the blender at 2 am, but he still reminds me of "mixer finger" every chance he gets. Fair is fair :)
I could tell you story after story about how Brandon has done soooooooooooo much for this family. However, I won't. That's not what makes him such a good brother in law. What does make him the wonderful bro-in-law is that he does all of this out of love for my family. Truth be told we be crazy! *Sometimes* Cough Cough* He never asks for anything for himself or says I did x,y,and z and now you do for me. Never. Means more than I can say. I might not always want to hear the words of wisdom I get for free, but I know he is right. Kind of annoying ;) Here is for all the times I never said thank you. Also, here is for a time or two down the road I might forget to say it as well. It has truely been a blessing to have you in the family. Thank you for taking excellent care of my sister and my family. It doens't get said as often as it should but I'm saying it now. So remember this when I have done something stupid. You will lecture I might roll my eyes ( I know I can hear the shock in your voices) but deep down I am happy to know I have another brother. I know it's Brandon's birthday tomorrow so HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER.

A Size Too Small

Leslie showed the apartment that I would be living in for the next year. She was friendly and assured me I would be happy at Barton Farms. However, the apartment I was given and the apartment I was promised turned out to be two different sizes. I ended up in the smaller aparrment BOO! (don't ask I really don't understand it myself!) I wanted the bigger apartment with more space so  I could put more decorations (stuff) up and satisfy my desire for my own 'home.' True to form what I got wasn't what I signed up for. (come one folks, when is it ever!) I have learned over these past 12 months that I haven't been getting what I want. It has been a big(massive, huge, behemoth, ginormous,larger-than-life) heaping serving of what I need. These are two very different entities. 
When I take a step back I now can see what I want and what I needed are worlds apart. What I wanted was a place to call home, but I found is home. I met friends who I now consider family. People that had my back at 2 am when the chips were down. These are the people that I have laughed with, cried with, and shared my life with. People I love. Now I am looking at my 'home' as it takes on a new form. It is slowly coming apart piece by piece.(Geeze-a-Lou how does 1 person acquire so much "stuff?"!)  What I'm doing is  packing up all of the good experiences and learning from my mistakes. I thank the Lord everyday for all he has given me. I believe it is his will for me to move to Chicago and start a new life. Packing up is never easy to do. I would be lying if I said i'm not trying to type through blurry tear filled eyes. I could write for days (lifetimes) about all of my memories and experiences over the past year. Memories that make me mad, make me cry, make me laugh, and smile. These are all memories and people that I will never forget. From all of my experiences and lifelong friends at Indiana School For the Deaf to dinners with my (old) neighbors. Every single person that I have met this past year has changed my life in someway. In these past twelve months I have made new friends, reconnected with old  ones, and walked away from a few. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. I heard that growing up all of the time in that little Pentecostal church. (We will get to Heaven if we don't roll right past it! Can I get an AMEN?) 
So my little apartment that couldn't fit my couch and love seat.*eye roll* turned about to be the size just right to fit a lifetime of love and laughter inside. There is a Broadway music called Wicked. Many of you know it, many of you don't.It is the rest of the story from the Wizard of Oz. Side note: Did the flying monkies give anyone else the heebie-jeebies?! Yes? No? Yes but you would never admit it?! Any takers?!  There are few
  lines (it's not word for word. I am paraphrasing. Vocab word! ) that sum up how I feel about my little apartment, and everyone this past year. 



I've heard it said that people come Into our lives For a reason Bringing something We must learn.And we are led To those who help us Most to grow, If we let them, And we help them in return.... It well may be That we will never meet again In this lifetime, So let me say before we part So much of me Is made of what I learned from you You'll be with me Like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine By being my friend....Who can say if I've been Changed for the better? I do believe I have been Changed for the better. Because I knew you I have been changed for good...