3 month update.

I feel like it seems I've fallen off the face of the earth.

Since my trip to North Carolina, I've spent my time with school work, work, and my grandmother. That's what my life has entailed. Not interesting, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

SCHOOL.
I ended the semester with 3 A's and 1 B. My GPA is back up... school was great.

WORK.
In the past couple of months, work has been normal. Inventory, new computers, and training a butt load of new employees.

MY GRANDMOTHER.
Most of the days of the past couple of months were bad, really bad. I started grieving for her and she hadn't died yet. She is still fighting... not very strong, but still fighting. Chemo has gotten really bad and she decided not to take it this week. I spent the entire Christmas break with her (besides my roadtrip to Bradley's wedding in Orlando).

My trip to Wake Forest!

I flew out October 6th to Raleigh, North Carolina. I spent time with Tara Bordelon, a sweet friend I met through Campus Outreach about 5 or 6 years ago. We enjoyed our time together and spent much time talking about relationships and what the Lord is showing her through her breakup. It was extremely encouraging and it made me realize how much I miss those heart friends. I am so thankful for her because we can talk about anything. The Lord really used her to challenge me in my thinking and choices.

"Sin is a choice because you are filled by the Holy Spirit. You are no longer enslaved to the sin that you once knew. You have a choice to respond in a Godly way or an ungodly way. You can choose."

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Above is a picture of the 1040 Window that Amelia, Tara's roommate, made. I want to recreate it.



Above is a view from Tara's apartment complex. BEAUTIFUL!



This light fixture is from an Asian place in downtown Raleigh.



We sat by this lake one afternoon and just read. It was awesome.

We spent a lot of time just relaxing. We went to a few parks they have there and everything is just beautiful.

The Lord's Table

Colonoscopy is tomorrow. Not excited at all, of course. Hopefully, this will give an answer of some sort.

So in a few weeks (depending on results from the colonoscopy), I plan on starting a book/devotional called The Lord's Table. It is a biblical approach to weight loss and healthy eating. My good friend, Tara Bordelon, recommended it to me. If anyone wants to join, please let me know. It would be great to have a friend or many friends on this journey together.

creative streak the past few weeks.

The past 2 weeks or so I've done a few paintings. They have been New Orleans or South Louisiana inspired.

water meter


New Orleans shotgun house




Freshwater crab

My new coffee table.

This chest was given to me by my grandmother. It was her Aunt's. When she got married, all of her belongings went into it. I cleaned it off and sealed it. The inside stinks so I can't store anything in it, but I am using it as a coffee table and I love it! I also made a cover for the top.

Mexican Casserole

My cousins, Lea and Jordan Deglandon, and I made up this recipe when we were around 10. Technically, Lea would be 11, me 10, and Jordan 9. My little brother loves it and so do I. I've been making it a lot lately because my roommate, Ashleigh, loves mexican and loves this recipe.

Mexican Casserole

1 can of refried beans
10-12 small flour tortillas
1 jar of salsa
4 cups of shredded cheese (less if you don't like the loads of cheese on top)
1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey
1 package of taco seasoning
Sour cream as desired for topping

Preheat oven at 350. Empty jar of salsa at bottom casserole dish. Mix can of refried beans with 1 cup of shredded cheese and heat on stovetop stirring constantly to melt the cheese in the beans. Spread mixture onto tortillas and roll up placing into casserole dish on top of salsa. Brown ground meat and then season with taco seasoning. Pour on top of tortillas and then top with cheese. Put in the oven until cheese is melted. Garnish with avocado and/or sour cream.

Health update

No more Horomone Replacement Therapy! Yay! Cysts are down to less than a 1/4" and the bleeding is back to normal. I feel like this calls for a celebration. No more hot flashes, no more irritability, and no more menopausal feelings. lol.

I have other symptoms that I'd rather not disclose on a blog, but those seem to be under control for the most part. I have a colonoscopy in October to see if I have ulcers or possibly Chron's disease.