what a weekend

Friday:

-Taylor and I left for Columbia (giving ourselves and hour of disaster time...thank goodness)

-Taylor and I stopped at Bank of America to deposit her check.

-We drive about 45 minutes to a gas station to fill up Taylor's empty tank only to realize that Taylor's debit card was still in Fort Mill in the Bank of America ATM...not good.

-We go to Taco Bell and while waiting in the drive through line decide to call one of the smartest people we know (Jasher...duh) and figure out what we should do about the whole debit card situation. Of course, he got it all worked out for us.

-Taco Bell gets spilled everywhere in the car...mostly on Taylor :)

-Finally....................we make it to Columbia.

-Awkward dance

-Not enough sleep.

Saturday:

-First stop: the bank to get Taylor a temporary debit card.

-Chick-fil-A

-Temple Bookstore!!!! We got some awesome stuff...and it was great to see the temple!

-Stop #4: zoo!!

- Put-Put! Taylor was the ultimate winner....and I came in second. We totally dominated all of those Columbians :)

- There were 3 seminars that we wet to later in the day. The third we definitely my favorite. We talked about starting with small things like prayer, scripture study, etc and building on those things because they are what make so much of a difference in your life. It was a really great lesson!

- After all of that we headed home. But we decided that since were already in Columbia that we COULDN'T make it all the way home without stopping at the MELLOW MUSHROOM...yum! Sooooo goood!

-Then we went home.

Taylor and I had so much fun! The temple, zoo and mellow mushroom were definitely the highlights of the trip. It was awesome...don't be jealous :-)

?

I'm not really sure what is going on in this video besides a bunch of elders practicing for a ward talent show. It makes me laugh though :)

Things I've learned lately

1- I'm not having kids until I'm about 300 years old (maybe not quite so old...but you get the idea)

2- I am no match for 12 year olds

3- There is such a thing as diet water..who knew?

4- Thinking about things that will never happen but you totally want them to can make life much easier to deal with.

5- 5 year olds do not understand sarcasm

6- My room mate can make really awesome birthday cakes!

7- Just because you want to dream about something really really really bad doesn't mean it will happen..unfortunately

8- Waking up early never gets any easier

To Be Continued...most likely.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I love my birthday! It's like Christmas all over again, except it's all about me :-)

Today I woke up and I was about to walk out of my room when I saw a cute little sign that said...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN, I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY....from my sweet roommate Becca! She is awesome.

Then I got ready for school and went downstairs and my amazing sister made me cinnamon rolls :) When we were younger and still lived at home our parents made us cinnamon rolls on our birthday, so that made me really excited, and I ate way too many (but it's my birthday and I can do what I want)

Then I went to school :( I should have done the same thing as last year and just skipped all my classes, but everyone else was in school, so I figured I would go.

Anyways, I got home from school and Becca had made me a beautiful TARHEEL cake! It is awesome! Carly, Jake and I took it and drove to meet my family at SOGO's (the best Japanese restaurant ever) and had a really good time there with all of my family.

I love my birthday! I love all of the nice texts and face book messages that I got. I also got a really awesome e-mail from a very sweet missionary, which pretty much made my day :)

It's been great.

Success!

Something that I've been working on lately is writing in my journal...and a couple of days ago I finished one! I can see why we're told to keep one, because when I go back and look through it I can see how different I have become even over the past several months. There were a couple of times that I had to laugh at myself because I was a little too dramatic, or just had no idea what I was talking about...but I guess that happens. :)

I've been thinking about a huge decision lately and looking back through my journal has given me a lot of clarity and direction...it's awesome. I'm so glad that I stuck to it.

decisions decisions...

Decision making is a skill not yet mastered for me. Seriously. They don't even have to be big decisions, they can be tiny insignificant choices during the day, and it takes me so long to make up my mind.

For example:

-When I leave school in the afternoon it takes me a few minutes to decide which way to drive home.

-When I want to go to the grocery store I can't decide which one to go to...and once I get there what in the world am I supposed to buy?

-I have no idea what news channel is the best to watch in the morning because I flip back and forth between so many that I never watch one long enough to see.

--what a life!--

It's bad...I know. But the thing that is so weird is that I don't have any trouble at all deciding on the BIG things. That comes easy, which is a blessing :)

my parents

-love-

-sacrifice-

-patience-

-faith-

-determination-

-kind-

-selfless-

-charity-

-integrity-

-teachers-

-thinkers-

-spellers :)-

-firm-

-bold-

-inspired-

-obedient-

-examples of everything that is good-

My parents are all of these things and so much more. I have never seen two people who are more devoted to one another or to their family.

Every morning, way before the sun comes up, my dad is out the door an on the way to work. He wakes up that early so that he can get all of his jobs done and make it back home, usually to go to a ball game but mainly to spend time with our family. Over the years my dad has taught me so many things...hard work is important, good grades are mandatory, honesty, respecting others, standing up for what is right and so much more. When I was in high school I played sports every single season all four years. I could always count on my dad to be at every single game. He didn't miss one. I made the volleyball team when I was a freshman and the first week of practice I hated it. I remember coming home crying every single day and begging my parents to let me quit and I remember my dad talking to me about how once you start something, you finish it (I LOVE volleyball now :-) My dad is willing to listen no matter what I need to talk to him about. Two days ago I was on the way to the grocery store and I called him to ask which store had the best prices. That was it, that's all I needed, something so simple but he was there...like he always is.

I don't know how my mom does it. She is hardcore. :) On top of having 5 children and one grand baby :) she has a full-time job and she goes to school for herself! I look at my mom and am constantly amazed by her perseverance. No matter how hard her life gets she never stops. I know that I can call my mom and she will be willing to listen, give advice and make me laugh. A lot of people say I look and act a lot like her...I like to think so. My mom has taught me things like...most of the time laughter is the best medicine, sometimes it's better just to be quiet, hard work pays off, helping others brings happiness, I have what it takes to become the person that I want to become, giving up is not okay...I will never be able to repay my mom for the example that she has been to me.

I don't really understand why it takes people so long to really appreciate their parents. I have always been grateful for what they have done for me and the things they have given but recently I have gained a greater love and respect for my parents then I have ever had. They have always taught me and my brothers and sisters that family is the most important thing. No matter what trials come our way, no matter what people say, no matter what people think, our family sticks together; they always have, and I know they always will because that is what my parents have taught us.

snow days

I love snow days. The main reason is because EVERYTHING closes down around here. It started snowing Friday...it's now Monday and most schools are still shut down (including UNC-C) I love it! I love how life slows down for a while...it's nice to have a little break every now and then.