Homework, work work.

That's what my weekend looks like. Who needs sleep?

This week things have gone good, I guess. Nothing terrible happened . . . I got lots of homework, but what's new about that? Next week looks pretty bad though. I have at least one if not two quizzes on Monday; a quiz and a test on Tuesday; a quiz on Wednesday; and a quiz and a test on Friday. Not to mention that I'm working my usual 6 hours in the library and (between now and Saturday night of next week) will be working more than twenty hours for athletics. Fun fun!!

Dad's . . . better. Still in need of prayer, and lots of it, but better.

We had Chapel by majors on Friday, and that was really cool. I kinda wanted to go to the music chapel, but then Pinkston had us sing some of the songs in class right before it, and they weren't really my style, and I decided that a good 'sermon' about being a youth pastor would be MUCH better.

I can't really think of anything else that's going on . . . so I guess I'll sign off.


Love you all,
Captain Skippy :)

My Class Got Cancelled!!!!!

My Class Got Cancelled!!!!! That’s not why I’m posting now, I don’t have a class now anyway. But it was really nice!!!

Essuenes = isolationists. The people who wanted to go out into the desert so they could live as God wants them to instead of as the Romans want them to; oh and while we’re there we’ll copy the Torah. - According to my Faith and Culture professor. If that’s not right don’t shoot me shoot him, I just listen in class. CMC Inc – I think we are talking about the same thing. Thanks!!

Okay Duane – explain this to me: I listen in class, try to share some knowledge (and have a fun and interesting post title) and I get demoted. I don’t understand. Is it just because you don’t know what it means? Have a punked you AGAIN? (Just imagine me running away from you now and hiding behind Corinne out of fear for my life. J)

Family news: Mom and Dad got home yesterday around 3:30, and even though Dad came in and went to sleep for a couple of hours (the trip exhausted him) the WHOLE atmosphere in the house changed. I felt like I was home again. He’s much better, not so much confused as just tired and worn out (and out of the habit of having the girls and Karen and Jocelyn and I in the house).

They took out the upper lobe of his left lung, there were ten lymphnodes in it and two of them were cancerous. So the next step is chemo and radiation, but first he goes back to San Francisco in two weeks to have a check up deal thingy with the surgeon and his regular heart doctor – Dr. Ernie.

Other than that not much is going on, classes and homework and the occasional nap. I really appreciate the prayers – but I am still asking for more.

Going to go do homework now . . . actually I’m going to reply to a two page email that my niece sent me, and then do homework.

Later!!!

Natasha

Quick Post:

Okay, the word thing later. Right now - Friday night I get a call - we're (Jocelyn and I) going to Biggs on Saturday night and then all of us (Jocelyn, Karen, the girls and I) are going to San Francisco on Sunday. Saturday, we're not going to San Francisco, but Jocelyn and I are still going home because - wait for it:

Dad's coming home on Sunday!!!

So Jocelyn and I came home last night, and I'm getting ready to go to church this morning, and Mom and Dad should be home around 1 or 2 this afternoon!!!!! His lung x-rays have been looking good, he's still a little bit confused, but he's definitely doing better.

I appreciate the continued prayers, and I'll post more tomorrow after classes.

Love to all:
Natasha

Essuenes

No, that title is not a curse word in another language; SERIOUS brownie points to anyone who can tell me what that word means!!!

On to news: classes are good, I have lots more reading this semester than I did last semester, but that's okay!!! Other than that: I work, I eat (every now and then), I sleep (even less) . . . that's totally not true. The eating thing is, but I've actually been sleeping a lot lately . . . . Although it hasn't been very restful sleep . . . hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Mom and Dad are looking to be home around the end of the week - PLEASE keep praying.

Going now, lots to do and I'm not in a very cheerful mood.

Captain Skippy

(THANK YOU DUANE!!!)

Title

My mom called me about an hour and a half ago, they moved Dad out of the ICU!!!! Mom didn't think that would happen until tomorrow, so he's doing REALLY well!!!

Thanks for all your prayers!!!

Natasha

I'm running out of ideas

Hey all. I've been doing really good lately!!!! Posting often and all, but it's leading to a shortage of ideas on titles. I have dropped Philosophy in favor of Music in History and Context. Philosophy was a junior level course that I don't have enough life or educational experiences to fully enjoy. Music in History and Context is a music class that is a foundational studies requirement, so it's full of non-music students, and that means we go very slow. Faith and Culture - still a blast!!!! I think I might have talked to much in the last class (no comment please) but may it was just because it was only the second class.

Music Theory - good times good times!!!! Glad to be back with all my music folk, 8:30 three days a week!!! World Civ is . . . World Civ - bigger room though. Music Theory Lab is different this semester because we have a new professor. She seems really cool, but I've only had one class with her and I won't have another until next Wednesday.

I'm all settled in my room (have been for a while now, the point is that) the room seems REALLY empty. Sheng moved out at the end of last semester to move into Morgan (the next dorm over). So my side of the room is just me . . . and the closet is full of luggage and random storage stuff. I like the clean feeling, but it's just so empty it's depressing!!!! I used to be able to avoid homework by staring at her spongebob sheets . . . now it's just a maroon mattress.

I'm glad to have fresh Belgian waffles every morning again, but I miss home-cooked dinners. And there are definitely perks to living in an environment with no children, or pre-teens either.

Today has been the longest day I can remember in the history of forever. Dad was supposed to go into surgery this morning at 7:30. I called my mom around 12:30 and she told me that they hadn't taken him in yet, but were planning to take him in at 6 pm. And then around 8:30 Jocelyn calls and tells me that they just got him 45 minutes ago, and it's a three hour surgery. So I did some homework, watched CSI and Without A Trace, and now I'm sitting here, on my bed, updating my blog, wanted desperately for my mom to call me.

I have faith that everything will be okay, it's not that. It's waiting. And there it is I've done it now. Okay, let me explain: I didn't want to go to church on Sunday because I knew nothing would get done at the house and because I would be all by myself. But I went (out of guilt, I'll admit it, but I was also hoping for something too.) and got pretty beaten up. The songs hit the spot, and being alone (and in the back) allowed me to break down. And the message was "Waiting Made Easier". Pastor talked about things that make waiting easier; knowing that God has a bigger and better plan than I can see and so on. It totally it me right were I was (it's amazing how God does that) and helped me to find a peace that I was able to carry back to school with me. A peace I had with me, until yesterday. I'm not sure what happened or why it broke, but ever since yesterday I have been getting more and more apprehensive. And today has been the culmination of it in the waiting for Dad.

Isn't it a amazing (what a prayer can do? LOVE that song!!) how God can use a BLOG to get me to see the problem and bring around to hearing what I needed to hear? Even though I was the one who was saying (typing) it!!!

And would you look at that!!! My mom just texted me, Dad's okay and in ICU for now (precautionary). I've never felt so relieved, ever. All that worrying today and now it's all over. And he's okay. I know that now we have to wait for him to recover, and then we have to wait to find out if the cancer is really gone, but for now, he's okay.

Now that I know about Dad I'm not trying to pass the time anymore, and it's time for me to go to bed. Thanks for the prayers!!! Please continue to pray, we have a long way to go!!!

Love ya,

Natasha

Updates.

I'm back at school, got here Sunday around 4. Unpacking was a colossal job and took FOREVER. Monday I worked and slept and today we started classes.

I FINALLY have a Bible Class (Biblical Backgrounds) and I can't wait to get deeper into this class. Philosophy is...questionable right now. And Faith and Culture looks like it's going to be a blast!!! And the three classes that I have tomorrow are continuations of last semester, so I'm good to go there!!!

Now, about Dad. The confusion was caused by medicines he was taking: between what they gave him for the shingles and how much he had messed up his regular meds, he was TOTALLY out in left field. Now the doctors (in San Fran) have gotten that worked out so he's doing much better. He's sleeping better and more often and eating better as well (he went through a couple of days when he just wouldn't eat and we had to force him to drink water). At this point they are planning to do surgery (to remove the lung cancer) on Thursday, that means that he'll be there until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and then he should be able to come home.

I'm going to ask for your prayers again, for me and Mom and my sisters as well as Dad. I really appreciate it, and I would still love to hear from you!!!!

Thanks!
Natasha

Dad

Mom and Dad left today for San Francisco around 11:30. Now all we can do is wait and pray.

Prayer Request -

SERIOUS prayer request - my dad is not doing too well. He has 'non-small cell carcinoma'. Lung cancer. And he's confused, very confused. And cold, all the time. And a jerk to live with (not that I begrudge him that, but it's still hard). So please PLEASE pray for my dad to get better. And please PLEASE PLEASE pray for my family, we need it a whole lot right now.

Thanks,

Natasha

Okay, so.

I feel like a an idiot.

Of the 13 minors that were down there, only one survived. There was a mis-communication somewhere and the word got out that there were 12 alive, but there's really not. Sorry for that misinformation.

I did the whole Redding trip yesterday, kinda fun, very tiring. Today I'm doing laundry, cleaning, and starting to pack, even more fun.

Dad's not doing so good, please keep him (and me) in your prayers.

When does/did everyone go back to school?

Natasha

Okay, so.....

It's been exactly a week since I have posted......what's new? Well, the week after Christmas I slept and cleaned and moved stuff and read. Saturday Night I had a WILD New Year's Eve playing Aggravation and Dominoes with my three nieces (ages 14, 10, 7), my mom and my sister. Sunday I went to church and to Casa Lupe for lunch (GOOD food, totally over stuffed myself). Monday I took my mom to Chico for the morning and in the afternoon I caught up with a good friend. Tuesday, today I got my hair trimmed and took my nieces to see Chronicles of Narnia and do a little bit of shopping. Tomorrow should be interesting, I'm leaving the house at 7:45 to go to Chico for an appt, and then I'm going to Redding to work for 10 hours (hopefully) and then arrive home around midnight. Should be fun!

Besides that, Dad's doing okay, still physically weak but better I think, and hope.

I'm listening to CNN, they've been talking about those 13 minors in...Colorado I think. 12 survived and CNN is saying that while the 12 have been gotten out and taken to the hospital, they will be coming back to the church where all the families members are waiting, which I think is cool.

Other than that.....I can't think of anything to say. (Don't fall of your chairs people, it does happen every now and then.)

Wishing you a Happy New Year!!!

Natasha

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!

Because he is AWESOME!!!!

Okay, let's start with the small stuff: our dryer's broken, and has been for two weeks, so we've been washing clothes and then taking them to the laundry mat. Then today my nephew-in-law (I know, it sounds weird) walked in and started asking questions about why and when and how and all that stuff that mechanically minded people care about. Then he started pulling plugs and low and behold: the dryer works!!!!!!!!!!! The plug that it was plugged into was broken . . . is broken . . . doesn't work . . . whatever. So now, we get to dry clothes here!!! AND, our kitchen facet has been broken, and Mike (my nephew-in-law) is coming down tomorrow to fix that too!!!!

Now for something of medium size: I'm not in San Francisco!!!!! (Read following to understand why.)

Okay, something a little bigger (much bigger really): My dad has regained his senses. He is (mentally) back to his old self, complete with quick-witted remarks and a joy in picking on me. Mom decided that since Dad was no longer A.W.O.L, she didn't need me to go with her to San Fran, and I could get much more done here; so I stayed here and got LOADS of stuff done today, which always makes me feel better!!!!!

Dad say his heart doctor today, and the shingles and his heart are under control, what we're focusing on now is the spot on his lung. The doctors are running more tests tomorrow and then in a week or ten days Mom and Dad are going back to San Fran to see the oncologist about the cancer spot on Dad's lung. It's nothing to sneeze at, but it's nothing to freak out about either.

I'm going to go, I'm on kid patrol. I can't thank you all for your prayers, I know that they made the difference. I love you all!!! Happy New Year!!!!

Natasha

Merry Christmas!!!!

If you have looked at the date and time on this post, you will realize that it's 7 o'clock on Christmas morning. You might ask why any self respecting college student would be up at 7 o'clock on a Sunday, during a break, on Christmas morning, let alone posting on her blog!!! Well, here's the answer: I'm kinda sick, so my head is draining and all the icky gross snot stuff makes it REALLY hard to sleep. AND, I guess there's still enough kid left in me that I have to have something to do if I'm going to wait for the rest of the house to get up!!!

Before I forget: Delsiri, that comment you left brightened my morning, I know that it's true, but it's still good to hear it every now and then!! Thank you SOOO much!!!

In other news: (Although this really just turned out to be a prayer list.)
Dad Update: He had shingles, they are healing but are still very painful. His blood pressure was WAY high, it has come down and has started to even out. He went into the hospital in Chico (Enloe) on Tuesday night, and came home Friday around 3 pm. He has been confused since Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, the doctors said when you have a person of his age, who's sick and you then you take them out of their comfort zone and put them in a place where they don't know anyone and the people are constantly changing, that confusion is not uncommon. This scares my family the most, because we've dealt with the physical before, we know we can handle that. This is the area where we will have to be trusting in God even more. He has gotten a little better as far as the confusion goes, but if what the doctors said was right, then after being home for almost two full days, there should be marked improvement, and there's not, so again, we're having to trust in God and wait for His plan. The last thing is that they did an X-RAY of his long, and found a black spot. They did a biopsy on Friday morning, and have determined that it is cancerous, we don't know for sure to what extent, but the doctors sounded somewhere between hopeful and serious. Please continue to pray for my Dad, the physical is hard but we've done it before, and while it's good to have him home it's also trying to see him in such a state of confusion.

In a recent discussion with one of my best friends, we got to talking about the Lord. He (my friend) has a very negative perception of Our Father, and while I've been trying to lead as an example for years, this conversation was the first real one we've had on the subject. He's very . . . conflicted. This friend is VERY important to me, and I would appreciate your prayers for him also - when we talked, the words were ALL God's, because I could never have gotten through it on my own without breaking down, but God gave me strength - I know that God is in this situation, but please pray for patience and the right words for me, and an open heart for my friend.

My niece has recently decided to be baptized in our church in Gridley!! This is very good news, and I would again ask for your prayers as she starts to learn what it is to live a life for God!!!

Ummm, let's see.........oh, more on Dad. His regular doctors are in San Francisco (for those of you who don't know, my Dad had a heart transplant almost 14 years ago, and it took place in San Francisco, so his 'regular doctors' are his heart doctors.) and they want to see Dad next week. What this means is that I will be going down to San Francisco with my Mom to take my Dad to see those doctors on Tuesday, and I have NO idea how long we will be there. Again, please pray - I'm worried about what they will find, and about how I will spent whatever time is spent there.

I can't think of anything else that's going on in my life . . . one thing my sister always says, "It's never dull around our house!" And she's right, please keep me and my family in your prayers, we appreciate it!!!

Love always,

Natasha

P.S. While all this post is is prayer requests, please feel free to send me yours, I would LOVE to pray for you too!!!

GOD is good . . .

It's true, He is. And I love Him for it. Quick update - things are okay but crazy here. Dad REALLY needs prayer, so if you all would pray for him, I would appreciate it!!! He's having health problems and memory problems and it's just not good, so please pray.

Also, I have a unspoken prayer request (Well, it's spoken, just undefined), please pray that God continues to give me the right words, and that hearts and minds are opened!!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good morning!!! (It;s 1:17, that's morning!!!!)

Natasha

Home, Home, Home, Home - HOME -

"It won't be long before we'll all be there with . . . 'a lil ole snowflake, Eskimo pie, chocolate and vanilla for you and I! Boom de de boom de de boom de de boom."

I love that movie!!!! And brownie points to anyone besides Rebecca who can tell me what it's from!!!! As you guessed, I'm home, for three weeks. Three long weeks. Christmas, New Year's, recuperation. That's the plan, and lots and lots of work. Lots and lots of it.

That's pretty much all I can say . . . finals are over (obviously), don't have grades yet cuz the stupid site won't work. Allergies are acting up, who's surprised?

Umm . . . okay. So that's all, I hope you all have a great break and I'm sure that I'll talk to you all between now and then. I love you all!!

Merry Christmas, and don't forget the Reason for the Season!

Love in Christ,

Natasha

5 down 1 to go!!!!!!!!!!

I am now at this moment only 2 and a half hours away from being DONE with finals this semester!!!! Granted I don't get to go home until Friday after work, but who cares?!?!? Finals will be done!!!!

Love to all, good luck if you're also taking finals!!!!

Natasha

I'm Sorry!!!

I am TERRIBLY sorry!!! I just got a comment and checked and low and behold it has been 13 days which now that I think of it is not really that long since I posted. But I do apologize, and do to the fact that I have some time right now, it is a rare thing you know, I'm going to update you!!!

First off, finals are in full swing now: I had 6 to start with and finish my third and fourth one today, only two left!!!! Music Theory and English 1220 tomorrow, and then I'm done!!! Of course I'm not leaving until Friday, but that's okay because it just gives me time to settle before going home!!!

Besides finals not much else is going on. One of my roommates is moving to a new dorm, and I'm kind of apprehensive about getting someone new.......

I'm excited about Christmas, it's going to be different this year: but I've decided different is good, different is necessary, and different can be good if you let it. I'm reading a book right now on the traditions of Christmas (That might make a good post.....) and how they have changed and evolved over the centuries, pretty interesting!! And it makes me think of how traditions have changed just in my own life. Like when I was little I, being the youngest would wake everyone up. Not so anymore, the past two years, mom has had to come wake me up to start the Christmas festivities. When my grandparents came up for Christmas all the time, Grandpa was 'Santa' and passed out the presents; now I do it. Mom used to do stockings for my sister and I, now I do it for Jocelyn and she does it for me. And I think about traditions that I remember starting; Jocelyn making cinnamon roles at 2 am and eating them fresh from the oven on Christmas morning, eating with Karen and her bunch, going out to eat at a fast food restaurant and exchanging gifts with the girls from school. Traditions are interesting things, and they are more numerous than you would think.

I can tell you one thing for sure: I am ready to be out of this dorm full of lots of girls with issues and loud voices and rude comments. I never thought going home would sound so good, but it does!!! And I get to see people, and hang out with those that I love, it's going to be GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This won't be my last post until Christmas, but Merry Christmas anyway!!! And I want to hear from all of you about your traditions and Christmas Plans!!!!

Love always,

Natasha

Random.....

Hey, can I help it if I like snow? It was totally random though, last week it was 60 degrees and then Monday it SNOWED!!! And now it's 44 degrees!!! Complete craziness!!!

Umm....finals start in 12 days...... I have two finals, two exams and a paper due. One of my finals is the week before; and at least one of the exams will be fairly simple.
This weekend we're having a floor gift exchange and a dorm wide christmas party. I'm working this weekend at two games, and next weekend at...I'm not sure how many.
Monday night I'm going home for half an hour - to take pictures for the Church Directory - and then coming back up for a final the next morning.

At the moment I'm taking a break from a 'Nutritional Assessment' that is due tomorrow. I had to write down everything I ate for three days, and then go find how much protein, carbs, fat, vitamins etc was in it. Boring and time consuming. But I'm listening to Christmas music so it can't be all bad!!!

I'm going to go do homework now. Later.

Natasha

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need I say more?

Yep, that's right. November 28, 2005 in snowed in Redding, and this crazy girl got REALLY excited about it because she had never been ANYWHERE when it was snowing (that she can remember) and has only played in the snow like twice.

So here are some pictures!!!!
This is me and my roomies in the SNOW:

On the right is my building, Irwin, and on the left is the boys, Thompson.


Isn't it pretty!?!?!?!?!?

So that's the tale I have to tell you - all about a girl who grew up surrounded by the rice fields where it didn't snow!!!!

I hope you all have a very good week and that you are all safe and warm!!!!

Love to all,

Natasha

Thanksgiving....

A time to eat - indeed. But more than that, I time to be home....for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!!!!!!! With free laundry!!! Good food!!!! And my cat!!!!!!!!! I'm really excited!!! But I don't have the energy to be all philosophical at the moment - my allergies act up down here, another 'joy' of being at home.
Other than that, not much is going on: Turkey Day tomorrow, Grandma and Grandpa leave on Friday. Monday school starts again.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, and remember that it's about more than just food!

Love all,

Natasha