Not what I need right now!!!

It started about 2 months ago. I got into my car one day to leave school, and it wouldn't start. A lovely red light came on "Theft System" it said. So I called my dad, and took the bus home. After doing some research online, I found out that this system could be overridden by putting the key in the ignition and leaving it in the start position for 10 minutes. This way, the system could be recoded and the car would recognize they key. So I went back downtown, and it started right away. Go figure. Assuming the problem was fixed I continued to drive my car. The same thing happened again about 5 days later. So I did the key thing, and it was fixed. It happened maybe 2 or 3 more times. Then on Wednesday, I was getting ready to go to Alecia's and it happened again. This time my car didn't start after 10 minutes. I tried again and again. After 50 minutes, it still didn't start. When my dad got home, he tried it, and after 10 minutes it started. Grrrr... On Friday I was headed to school to coach Science Olympiad. On the way, I stopped to get a steamer. When I went back out to my car, the stupid light came back on and the car wouldn't start. After 50 minutes of frustration, my friend came and picked me up. Thank goodness for cell phones!! I went to try it again before I left for the weekend, no luck. So my mom tried it Friday and Saturday, as it sat in the Beans to Brew parking lot. Nothing. On Sunday, my dad talked to someone at church who happened to know how to hotwire my car! So they drove it down to the garage, where it sat until today. Then this morning I got a call saying that there are parts in the steering column that are broken. Just peachy. Sounds kind of dangerous doesn't it? So when my dad gets home, he will go get a used on from some auto parts store for only $60. Not too bad, and then hopefully they can fix it. But for now...I'm stuck at home. Thankfully I didn't have school or work today! I guess that's giving me time to "revamp" my room. Haha.

4:02PM UPDATE: Just found out that the steering column I need is still in the other car, so I can't get it until tomorrow afternoon. So until then, I am without transportation. Hopefully they can fix it tomorrow, and I'll be back on the road Wednesday!

Please Pray

I found out today that the daughter of a high school friend passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. She was born on November 29th, and from what I've been told stopped breathing yesterday morning. It's obviously quite a shock and my friend and her boyfriend and family are devastated. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.


I'll update tomorrow about the retreat this weekend. I need to sleep first ;)

UPDATE: As of this morning, they believe that the baby passed away from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

Dessert

When I got up this morning, one of the first things that I thought of was "hmmm...I haven't baked anything in a while, I should make supper tonight." Ok, probably not the most common thing to think of when you first wake up in the morning. I had plans to go out for brunch with some friends, but other than that, my day was free, so I figured I'd make supper since my mom had to work today. So I head downstairs and find a note, "Melissa, Plans for supper: Leftovers." Ewww!!! How boring! Here I was planning on making something good, just to find out that we're going to have old leftovers! So I went along with my mom's plan, because I know she would be mad if I made something new when she already had plans. We had ordered some Chinese on New Years, so we planned on eating that. Then my brother decided to have it for lunch, even though it was clearly labeled with mine and my dad's names! Brothers!! :) But anyway, I decided if we had to have boring old leftovers, we might as well have something yummy for dessert. One of my favorite desserts to make is crepes. I've been making them for a really long time, but today I decided to make something new using the crepes. I haven't decided what to call it yet, but basically it's crepes stacked on top of each other with (homemade) blueberry sauce and whipped cream on every other layer. Here's how it looked...



From the top










A side view









Once we cut it, we could really see the layers!







It reminded me of some pretty earrings my friend Kaylyn picked out for me!

Blogging Christmas Celebration

***Scroll down for new posts***
*** This is a "sticky post" and will remain at the top of the posts until January.***






This is a really neat idea that Laura came up with. Everyday in December, she will post a new "Christmas Favorite". Then those of us participating will post our "Christmas Favorite" that falls into that category. If you miss a day, just make it up next time you log in. For more details, you can visit her site. If you want to play along, you can make a "sticky post" to stay at the top, or post it in your sidebar. Link to the button (above) so new people can join in the game. This will be a really fun way to learn more about our blogging friends. Have fun and Merry CHRISTmas!!

Dec 1- Favorite Christmas Song: Well, that depends...out of the ones they play on the radio, probably A Prayer for Every Year, for carols or ones we sing at church, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Silent Night, or Do You Hear What I Hear? There's just so many to choose from, and this said pick your favorite, so I tried to narrow it down! :)

Dec 2- Favorite Christmas flower or plant- Mistletoe...haha! Just kidding. I think I'll pick Holly.

Dec 3- Favorite Christmas smell- That's an easy one for me!! The smell of homemade sugar cookies and other Christmas treats!

Dec 4- Favorite Christmas decoration- The St. Nicholas Square Villages that my mom and I set up all over our house every year.

Dec 5- Favorite Christmas color- Hmmm...this is a hard one for me, I have to narrow it down to one? I guess I would say a shimmery red.

Dec 6- Favorite Christmas drink- I'm not sure if this is really a Christmas drink, but Hot Apple Cider. With a cinnamon stick in it.... mmmmmm.... I love the smell of it, because we let it simmer on the stove with cinnamon sticks in it. It's perfect on a cold winter day!

Dec 7- Favorite Christmas movie- This one's easy for me! Mary Christmas It's a made-for-TV movie. Otherwise for "real" movies, I like comical ones like, National Lampoon's Family Christmas or the Grinch...

Dec 8- Favorite of Santa's Reindeer- Rudolph. Because he found out that what he always thought was a flaw, was actually a blessing!

Dec 9- Favorite Christmas Candy- Rock candy! The first time I ever made it, it didn't harden, so I was left with a bowl of flavored goo. I tried it again last year, and it turn out! It's such a sweet treat, and you can make different colors, so it's quite festive!

Dec 10- Favorite Christmas quote or saying- "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." and also "God bless us every one!" ~Charles Dickens, from A Christmas Carol

Dec 11- Favorite Christmas ornament- A small house that has a hole in the bottom for a light to go through. It looks so pretty on the tree!

Dec 12- Favorite Christmas cookie- Pecan snowballs

Dec 13- Favorite Decorating style- Traditional? I guess I've never really paid attention. I like green, red, snowman, Nativity sets, trees...

Dec 14- Favorite Christmas animal/creature- Reindeer

Dec 15- Favorite Christmas store- Bronner's

Dec 16- Favorite Christmas gift ever received- This is really hard. I honestly can't pick out a gift that I could say is my favorite. I think about it some more, and if I come up with one, I'll post it...

Dec 17- Favorite Christmas gift ever given- 3 years ago, I bought a leather office chair for my parents. They totally did not expect it, and it was something they really needed. The look on their faces when they unwrapped the box was priceless! It's gotten a lot of good use since then.

Dec 18- Favorite Christmas activity- I have to pick? I like everything, wrapping gifts, decorating the tree, shopping, baking, eating....but if I have to pick my favorite, I'd say carolling!!! It's been a tradition for the past 4 years for me and a group of friends to go carolling together, then come back to my house and have cookies and hot chocolate. Last year we went to see the lights at the ballpark. Sadly this year, I'll be in Canada when my friends come home from college, and by time I get back, Christmas is over and it's too late for carolling. I'm kind of disappointed, but still my favorite thing to do is sing Christmas songs!!!

Dec 19- Favorite person to buy for- I can't choose a favorite person, but my favorite group of people to buy for would be my friends. I love walking down the aisles at a store and picking out things that describe that person!

Dec 20- Favorite way to wrap a present-I like simple wrapping. I choose out a fun wrapping paper and make matching "tags" but cutting a square of paper and folding it in half. Sometimes I'll finish it off with a bow...but usually mine are nicely wrapped but simple.

Dec 21- Favorite Time of Christmas- I love the whole season and the hustle and bustle. But I especially love Christmas Eve. The church service, the excitement and anticipation, and the gifts...

Dec 22- Favorite part of Christmas Dinner- Eating it of course!!! My favorite food is the homemade stuffing.

Dec 23- Favorite Christmas Celebration- I love the big family get together, but usually it's so insane and I have a crazy family, so I prefer Christmas Eve when it's just the four of us.

Dec 24- Favorite Christmas Place- By the tree

Dec 25- Favorite Christmas Verse- Luke 2:13-14 "Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with him praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all men on whom His favor rests'."

Dec 26- Favorite Christmas Tradition- Baking and setting up the villages.

Dec 27- Favorite Christmas Lights- Colorful ones :) We always have colored ones on our tree, my dad would rather have white, but the rest of us outnumber him! :)

Dec 28- Favorite Christmas Memory- Almost every year we go to Canada for Christmas and my favorite part is that after dinner, we stay around the table and sing Christmas carols as a big family.

Dec 29- Favorite Christmas Leftover- Turkey! Cold turkey is so yummy!

Dec 30- Favorite Time to Take Down Decorations- We usually take them down on the first. I got lucky today because I had to work, then I came home and slept, and by time I got up, it was all done!

Dec 31- Favorite Outdoor activity- Skiing....or snowball fights!

2007 in review

January-May- Science Olympiad (this is last year's picture, I couldn't find one from 2007!)




March 23- Spending time with the exchange students from Spain (the first and the third ones)








April- The throwing team







May12- Prom 007







May31- Graduation!!!!








June 7-22- Mission trip to Romania







July 16- Last time together before Andy left for Basics







July 20- Vacation Bible School








July 21- Finishing the basement as a surprise for my parents while they were in Canada








August 3- A friend from Romania came here for the weekend








September- Started college. Spent all day in Downtown GR








October 13- Going to the zoo








November 2- Football playoff game








December 1- Mom's surprise 50th Birthday party








December 28- My birthday

Didn't do too good...

In October, I wrote my "3/4 year's resolutions". I am sad to say that I didn't do very well on those. I did go to the zoo with Kaylyn and Libby. Then we stopped and got apple cider and caramel apples, just not at an orchard, but I'm going to count it. I didn't take a roadtrip yet, unless you count the tour of Holland the other day, but I do have plans with a friend to go down to Indiana sometime in January. Still haven't gone to Ray's...I need to talk to Zack about that... Sadly I have not been reading once chapter a day, but I have been getting more into my devotions. As for the eating and exercising...I don't think that's going to happen. I keep on buying candy and saying, oh, I'll eat healthier when this bag is gone, then I just buy more! And I still think about exercising, I just haven't done it, which reminds me, I have a new dance DVD, I should go try it right now....

Pictures

Here are some pictures from yesterday




This is the cake that Jeremy, Alyx, and I made








And this is the cake that my mom made for me. Funny thing was that both cakes were "funfetti", my favorite.






Gift time! I just opened the newest CD from Thousand Foot Krutch.








Horrible picture, but oh well. I'm very excited with the Spanish thing. I went straight up to my room to try it out. It's a full immersion Spanish course and it's easy to use and I already have learned a lot!

On this date in 1988....

...another baby entered the world. That baby was me... Melissa Jane. At the time we lived in New Mexico, as my parents were missionaries on an Indian Reservation. The day was very similar to today. Right now it is snowing like crazy. When I was born, my parents had to drive through the snow up the mountains to the hospital! But I arrived safely, at 4:14 in the morning.
This morning, I received breakfast in bed. It's a tradition we've done for as long as I can remember. We get to choose the meals for the day. So I had cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I expected the Pillsbury ones, but my mom made them!!! Yummy... Then I went out with my friends Alyx and Jeremy, we went to Panera Bread. Then back to Jeremy's house where we baked a cake. We got a call that a friend was stuck in the median by BK, so we drove down there, but she was stuck pretty good, we needed a tow truck. Now I'm home, supposedly cleaning my room, but actually checking blogs. :) For supper we will have Chicken and Rice casserole and yeast rolls. Alecia is coming over after dinner, and we'll probably watch a movie (hmm....Remember the Titans?) and hang out for a while. I'll try to update later with some pictures.

Together Again!!!

This afternoon my Cell group (Bible study group) got together because Andy is home and we wanted to do something with him. The plan was to go iceskating. So Cameron and Andy met at my house and then we went to get Zack and Kevin since they live on the way. I got directions from Google maps, because the site for the arena had it posted. So off we went. Well pretty soon we got to the end of the road, and had to go either left or right along Lake Michigan. Hmm...we followed the directions to a T...but the arena was no-where to be seen, and neither was the street it was on! So we turned and thought we'd go into Holland, to find the street. Of course, no cell phone service so we couldn't call for directions. Finally we got service and Zack called his dad. (Thanks Mark!!!) So off we went again. We were way on the opposite side of town. So I trusted Zack and followed his directions. And....we made it to the arena! (Note to self: do NOT use Google map directions any more!) But we made it and we had a blast skating! Zack and I both decided that we were NOT going to fall. I was a little "scared" when we started out, but once I warmed up, I could almost keep up to Zack :) We played tag most of the time, which kept things entertaining. Kevin fell enough times to make up for all of us, who by the way, never fell!



1- Andy
2- Cameron
3- Zack







1- Cameron







1- Kevin
2- Cameron
3- Zack
4- Andy




I sat down to take some pictures (and because my feet hurt!) Then of course when they saw that I was taking pictures they came over so I would...but I did anyway :)

Christmas '07

Wow! All that preparation and just like that Christmas is over and done for another year! Crazy isn't it? But it's worth it! Think of how long they prepared for Christ's birth, thousands of years...makes what we do seem so insignificant.

We made it home from Canada safely this afternoon. I drove home from the border which was nice because it gave me something to do :) We had a very good trip. Tomorrow harsh reality is going to hit when my alarm goes off at 4:10 to get up for work!!! Oh well....

Here's a few highlights from the trip...



We spent the day Saturday downtown Toronto. We got lunch at a Thai restaurant...delicious!










3 Generations. Mom, Me, and Grandma









My cousin Bradley aka Rudolph! :) I see him only once a year, but he really hit off with me and always wanted to be by me.








Grandma and Grandpa got a cell phone!








My cousins BethAnn and Nicole relaxing after dinner.






Also...thanks for all the input on what to get for the gift exchange! I bought a handheld Deal or No Deal. The gift I received is a stovetop expresso maker. But then my uncle felt bad for me because I don't drink coffee, so he gave me a bag of candy to go along with it :) I also got the movie Remember the Titans (one of my favorites!) from my grandparents.