My Method to the Madness

Well, I am ready. I am beyond ready. Well, I guess I'm more emotionally and mentally ready then I am really ready because I still have 3 1/2 gifts to finish, but I know I'll get them done in time. I'm very, very excited. I love Christmas, I love celebrating the birth of my Savior while spending time with family and enjoying beautiful music and walking through Christmas light displays and sipping coco. I live for this time of year, this is when I really thrive, I wake up excited about what I need to get done and go to bed exhausted, yet thrilled by the accomplishments of the day. I love it. Bailey knows that something very exciting is happening, I don't think she remembers Christmas, but she knows that it's Christmas time and there are Christmas presents and she loves listening to Christmas music (even though she won't believe me that the song we're listening to is Christmas music unless there are bells or chimes of some sort...) I can't wait. I love tell

I graduated from high school in 2003. I was going to be a nurse. I went to college to get my nursing degree and God opened my eyes to the fact that He had something else planned for me. Nursing is an incredible field, but it was not for me, so I decided to take a break in December of 2005. I got married in June of 2006, had Bailey in October of 2007 and Caden in October of 2008. My college graduation was getting farther and farther away. Then, God opened several doors all at once. My father-in-law, Chuck, pulled me aside and told me that if I ever wanted to go back to school, he would foot the bill. Then I started researching and found a program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and discovered that I could graduate in December of 2010. So, in September of 2009, I started back to school full time, no Christmas break, no summer break, straight through from September in 2009 to December 2010. Last Saturday, I finished. I walked across the stage and graduated from college with a Bachelors of

This week, I will see some of my favorite people, including... Jim & Kim Keena (aka Dad & Mom) Bethany (aka Aunt B) Douglas & Danae Castle (aka Uncle Gug and Aunt Nae Nae) Emily Keena (aka Aunt Emery) Grace Keena (Uncle Grace) David Keena (aka Uncle Davvid) Dana Clark (aka Jason's mom and Grandma) Charles W. Clark (aka Jason's dad or Poppy) Randi Clark (aka Jason's grandma or Nanny) Edel Sehested (aka Jason's grandma) Bob Sehested (aka Jason's grandpa) Justin Reavis (aka Jason's Sister's Husband or Uncle Justin) Jessica Reavis (aka Jason's sister or Aunt Jessica) Darrell Duke (aka Jason's Dad's Sister's Husband or Uncle Darrell) Karin Duke (aka Jason's dad's sister or Aunt Karin) Jake Blevins (aka Jason's cousin's husband or Uncle Jake) Lauren Blevins (Jason's cousin or Aunt Lauren) Yep, I'm pretty excited. Thought you might like an intro to my incredible family. 24 people I am SO READY to see this week!

1. I love the fact that my children don't have any idea that I control the windows in the car. They just yell at the windows to open or close, and giggle when the windows "obey". 2. I love Peppermint Mocha creamer. It makes my morning coffee so festive! 3. I love that whenever you ask Caden something, he says no. But not like, disrespectful, stubborn "no". Like, "I-really-do-want-that-but-don't-know-how-to-verbalize-it" no. He'll smile really big when you ask him if he wants juice, then he'll look up bashfully and say "noooooo." 4. I love my to-do list for graduation. I printed it off in September and it had 10 things on the list including classes, seminars, CPR certification and Clep tests. And quite ceremoniously, 6 times, my husband has made a drum-roll sound while I marked off one of the things that I just finished. I love how excited he is for to graduate. I think he misses his wife. :) 5. I love how when you ask Bailey if