I’ve never been an avid calendar user through out my life but I bought a new month-by-month UCF calendar in August and it has been such a great organizational tool. I’m able to write down when I babysit, when classes are cancelled, when I have tests, when Phi Lamb is having a events, birthdays, appointments, etc. Ever since I started using this calendar, I realized that I used to keep track of a lot of information in my head! Each month is the same: I usually start off fresh and clean with just a few words marking important dates. But by the end of the month, the page is full of color, words, times, events and best of all, memories. I’m definitely going to keep this calendar long after the 2008/2009 school year just so I can reflect on everything I did. We just entered a new month, so February is looking fairly clean:

And after 28 days, it will probably look a little cluttered, just like January did at the end of the month:

The funny thing is that I’m like a calendar freak now… I also keep an up-to-date version on my phone, Google Calendar and on my iPod Touch, just in case I need to know my schedule and don’t have my handy-dandy UCF calendar in front of me. oh, and aren’t my orange walls awesommmee?

Hello! It’s been a while since I have written on here. What can I say, life got busy! But life is good! I started my fourth (!!) semester at UCF and I’m officially in the College of Education and I’m taking all elementary education classes now. It is awesome! I’m taking Math for Educators, Child & Adolescent Development for Educators, Basic Foundation of Reading, Ethical, Legal & Safe Issues in Schools, and a LEAD course on teaching Junior Achievement. I’m learning about all different aspects of education and children. I’m hearing things I never would have thought about. I love it and I can’t wait to get deeper into these (and future) classes! The semester is already a forth over…crazy!

David came home this weekend and we enjoyed a quick couple days together. He is cute. We found a hamster on his driveway on New Years Day! I thought it was a mouse but it ended up being a stray hamster. So, we kept him, put him in an old cage, named him Percy, and now he lives with David in Gainesville!

I’m hoping to write more and talk about more fun things in my life. I stalk a bunch of blogs and love when the writer talks about their personal life and funny, random, unique things that happen. So, if you are a michbilyeu.com stalker (which I doubt there are many), I welcome you to my life!

I just read the secrets from this week’s PostSecret* post..This particular picture secret was probably my favorite because I can definitely relate. There are so many things I wish I could do…but I just don’t want to put the energy into pursuing it and developing a talent. I would love to learn calligraphy, run miles and miles, sing, fully understand my canon rebel, and develop a functional iPhone application (just so I can have smart conversations with David . I’m working on learning to enjoy running by going through a Couch-to-5K training program. It is meant to take you from a couch potato to a 5K runner in 8 weeks..we’ll see how that goes! I’m definitely going to keep up with it but I don’t know if it will change my attitude about running. Also, one day I’m going to buy awesome calligraphy pens and learn to write in many different styles..I just have to get myself some pens and motivation to learn!

*For anyone who doesn’t know, PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. They release a new blog post with new secrets every Sunday morning.

My third semester in college is officially OVER!! I took my last final this morning and do not have to worry about school again until January 7th! It’s a wonderful feeling! This semester really has been pretty easy for me, which I’m very thankful for but that also means that next semester will inevitably be more difficult. Therefore, I’m thankful for a great, easy, successful 3rd semester and am (kinda) looking forward to a challenging, rewarding, and interesting 4th semester!

Happy Thanksgiving, blog readers! There is just so much to be thankful for! My family, friends, and I are in good health and we aren’t being effected too harshly by the downturn of the economy. I go to school at a great University and don’t pay anything for it (Thank you Florida Bright Futures!!!). I have a great boyfriend who makes each day more exciting. I have those special friends that no matter what happens, we will always be there for each other. I have a new sisterhood of 60 ladies who have made this year so much more fun than last year. And most importantly, I understand the love and power of Christ and I have His spirit dwelling in me. I am no longer chained to my sin but I’m free to live in Him and to love life. Thank you, God for ALL You have done and yet to do!

My Mom decided to do something different this year. Instead of the traditional “go around the table and say what you’re thankful for”, she decided that we each have to write a poem or a rap for our thanks! Since I’m definitely not a poet or a rapper, I decided to make an acrostic poem since I’m pretty good at those (who isn’t?). It goes a little something like this:

I’m also really thankful for publix frozen yogurt, nice pens, safe cars, movies, taylor swift, canon rebel, road trips, college, water, pictures, funny kids, good discussions, JEM, JeKaMi, reliable alarm clocks, chilly weather, spinning, TVStatus, cooking delicious meals, Gator football, learning about the Lord, warm sweaters, and plenty of food on the table for Thanksgiving! Enjoy the turkey!

My friend Jenna and I took a road trip yesterday to surprise our friend Kara in Ft. Myers. Kara goes to school here at Florida Gulf Coast University. I love surprises…especially when they work! She had no idea we were coming (Thank you for your scheming, Amanda!) Jenna, Kara, and I were best of friends during high school and it’s very fun to be back together! We spent some time at the beach late Saturday night, made a little bonfire, and cooked some smores! Yum! I haven’t had a girls weekend in a long time and I’m definitely enjoying it!

13. Two words. TWILIGHT MOVIE. Two more words. NINE DAYS. Finally!! I can’t wait to see Edward and Bella on the big screen! I already know that it’s not going to be as good as the book but it’s still going to be amazing!

12. Finally shopping at IKEA and purchasing some modern, fun lamps for my newly decorated room. Including this green wall lamp for only $6.99!

11. Taking three tests last week and getting a 95% on my statistics exam, a 100% on anthropology and a 100% on astronomy! That just screams excitement!

10. Making time to write on my BLOG!! (missed you, baby!)

09. Listening to an older Starfield CD and falling in love with their music all over again. My favorite song has to be “Cry in my heart” because of the personal, heart-hitting lyrics. I tried to pick a favorite line or verse but everything about this song is wonderful and I had to share the whole thing with you. You can even listen to the song here.

There’s a cry in my heart
For Your glory to fall
For your presence to fill up my senses
There’s a yearning again
A thirst for discipline
A hunger for things that are deeper

Could You take me beyond?
Could You carry me through?
If I open my heart?
Could I go there with You?
For I’ve been here before
But I know there’s still more
Oh, Lord, I need to know You

For what do I have
If I don’t have You, Jesus?
What in this life
Could mean any more?
You are my rock
You are my glory
You are the lifter
Of my head
Lifter of this head

08. I haven’t talked much about my sorority yet but it has been so GREAT! I have made many new friends, created so many fun memories, and have grown in my relationship with Christ through them. I have a new ‘family’ (Freeman!) and all the girls are so real, loving, and so enjoyable to be around. Here is a picture of us at our first family dinner at my Grandbig’s (Kari) house. Kari has spent the past two summers in Africa, so she made us a traditional African dinner called Ceebu Jenn consisting of rice, vegetables, fish, and lots of oil. It was delicious! Kari made us have a true African dinner by leaving the silverware in the drawers and using our hands. It was a bonding experience for our family to say the least.

07. I have started babysitting for a new family that lives down the street from me. I have only done it a couple times so far but the kids are great and I really like it. It’s a very short commute, I get to interact with elementary-aged children, and I get paid well. Sounds good!

06. I just had a very relaxing and boring weekend…NOT! This past weekend was kinda hectic and so fun! My sister and now brother-in-law got married! I’ve been helping them plan the wedding for a couple months now and it was so great to see everything go smoothly. Lots of family and friends came in for the occasion and it was fun to see everyone! We had the ceremony and reception very close to our house, which was so convenient. I’m just excited that they are married and enjoying every minute of it!

05. I was able to put my new Canon Rebel XT into good use by serving as the wedding photographer! I have always lusted at the idea of being a professional wedding photographer and doing my first wedding was awesome! I’m not sure if there will ever be any more opportunities to shoot weddings in the future but I did learn that I really love it! So, if you ever need a cheap wedding photographer… I’m your girl

05. Another great thing about your sister getting married is that your boyfriend finally comes home from college! David finally came home for the first time all semester and he stayed for FOUR days! It was great! We soaked up as much time together as we could and just loved on each other.

04. My dress for the wedding was purpleish/blueish, which happened to also be the color of my homecoming dress Junior year. David wore the same shirt and tie for the wedding as he did for our homecoming, so I was having major flashbacks to three years ago! It was funny to look at the wedding pictures and then at the homecoming pictures and to think of how much time has past between the two but to think how much our relationship has grown since then.

03. JEM. Jennifer Renee Leippert, Estela Marie Falcon, and Me! We have so much love for each other. They simply just make me so happy! I love them both with my whole heart and love that we all go to school together and get to see each other a lot. Ladies, thank you for your presence in my life!

02. TV Status is David’s project he has been working for a couple months. He created an iPhone application to keep track of television shows that you watch regularly. He has had many purchases and is seeing some monetary benefit of his labor toward this project. If you own an iPhone, go buy TV Status!

01. The fact that God answers prayer so so so often. David and I prayed for Faith to be completely healthy each night for a couple weeks when we were worried about her white blood cell count back in the summer and her results came out perfect. We prayed for perfect weather for the wedding and the weather was amazing. I know that God answers prayer but yet I’m slow to run to Him when I’m in need. That is something I’m working on this year, to instantly run to God with all my prayers, worries, concerns, needs, but most importantly, my praises.

On Wednesday, I had the privilege (along with 6,000 others) of seeing a very special guest on the UCF Arena Plaza. Here’s a hint: He is a former President. Here’s a better hint: His wife was a Democratic Presidential nominee for the 2008 elections. You’re right..it was President Bill Clinton! President Clinton made a pit stop at UCF Wednesday afternoon for his first rally for the Obama campaign. It was great to see so many college students endure the heat and the crowd in order to hear what our former President had to say. Most were Obama supporters but there were also many McCain fans, so it was a pretty diverse crowd. I really enjoyed what Clinton had to say and it was a nice treat to be able to see one of our greatest Presidents in person! I unfortunately did not get to shake his hand or speak with him but I fortunately did not pass out, like 20 people did from the heat. Luckily, Mr. Clinton wasn’t one of them even though his face was red as a strawberry! :-p

“I think you know when you vote for Barack Obama you’re not just voting for him. You’re voting for yourselves, your dreams, the children you have or hope to have, and everything you want America to be in the 21st century.” – Bill Clinton

A couple years ago, I went to a big book sale in Gainesville and purchased a college Psychology textbook for $1.25. I bought it because it was the identical book to my AP Psychology class and figured it would be nice to leave one book in my locker and have one at home so I wouldn’t have to lug it around back and forth. I used it a couple times and once the class was over, I put it up in my closet, just in case I ever had to look up a psychological reference (and I guess, for some reason didn’t feel like using google). Anyway, it’s been a year and a half since I last opened the book and when I received an email from eBay stating they were having a “5 cent book, movie, and game listing fee sale,” I decided to list my book sale treasure! I researched completed listings and was so excited when I saw books were coming off for between $60 and $70..in the past week! So, I jumped on the offer and listed mine for $65 and it was purchased less than three hours later! I was shocked and elated! My $1.25 convenient high school book was now being used for a college class in Wisconsin and college students were buying it for $65! And it was a 2006 edition being sold for full price! If you are a college student, you bitterly understand that textbooks usually do not retain their full value for longer than a year. So, needless to say, I was excited! That was my eBay experience for the week.

I bought a WONDERFUL Canon Rebel XT over the summer and it has opened my eyes to the beauty of the world! By looking through a lens, I’m constantly seeking beauty and adventure. I took my camera out tonight and wanted to get some shots of my super cute niece, Faith. She will be two years old at the end of October and I just love her to pieces! I love her curly brown hair and her big, bold eyes. Just take a look!

The other night, my mom, Faith, and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and stumbled upon this cute baby turtle crossing the street. We decided to ‘rescue’ him and bring him home with us for a little play time. We nicknamed him “Tut Tut” and put him in a big bowl of water so we could watch him and take cute pictures before we set him back in the lake to find his ‘distraught mom looking for her baby boy’.

Faith loved Tut Tut! She kept saying “tuh-dul” (aka: baby talk for turtle) after we set him back in the lake.

Well, that’s all for now! School is going well and I just joined a Christian sorority at UCF, called Sigma Phi Lambda and I’m SO excited about it! God is going to do some great things!