Final Papers

My final papers will be the death of me! I only have one exam, and it's a take home exam...which is great! Except that I have a minimum of 50 pages to write. Plus the one final, which is composed entirely of essay questions. Make it 52 pages.

Great.

The first ten pages are due tomorrow (three pages down...seven to go!), the rest on Monday. But hey, I'm done in a week!

Besides, I'm a Creative Writing major...this should be easy for me, right? Wrong. Creative Writing apparently does NOT equal essay writing.

Awesome.

It's okay though. I've got this!

Back to work. Good luck to everyone else who has finals coming up! And I hope you have somewhere around 50 pages less writing to do than I do.

P.S. Check this out.

Trees and People (again)

Last weekend when I had my revelation about people and trees, I thought heavily about the different kinds of trees people can be. For example, a friend of mine and I don't get always get along, but last weekend I started thinking of her as a dogwood tree. Dogwoods are small and fragile, and they do not compare in height or age or wisdom to most other trees, like a tall pine perhaps. At first I thought, 'well, that makes sense. She's not on my level,' imagining myself as the taller tree. But then I realized that it isn't height, age, or wisdom that defines a tree as good or bad. Dogwood trees are small, but they certainly do not lack in beauty or brilliance. It was unreasonable of me to compare a pine tree to a dogwood. Like they say, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

Take a few minutes to think about yourself and those around you as trees. What kind are you? How does looking at people with all the magnificence of their tree-self help you accept people as they are? It helps me a lot. Try it.

Random Photos

I haven't posted much lately, but I have wanted to. I have also been dying from the lack of photography in my life currently (thanks a lot, winter), so here are a few random photos from my portfolio. Enjoy! And remember, if you or anyone you know needs photos taken for any reason (senior, family, business, advertising, publicity, wedding, etc.), hit me up!

Trees and Us

After a long, beautiful, cleansing night at the homestead with three of the most beautiful people I know, I have come to a realization. As humans, we are all experiencing the world around us in our own individual ways, but it's all still the same world. From this, I thought of trees. Humans are like trees. Each tree has its roots that extend deep beneath the surface of the earth and each tells a singular, distinct story that grows, and grows, and grows. Individually, these trees extend high into the sky, experiencing the world from top to bottom. But collectively we can look upon these trees and see that they make up the woods, or a forrest, or even a small garden. What matters is that they are all independent entities that experience the world in their own singular ways, yet fit together so perfectly to weave the beautiful tapestry we call our world.

That's what we are. All of us. Trees. Individual. Together. Trees.

Two Years and Counting

Two years ago today, at almost this exact time, we officially adopted my four youngest siblings, Edgar, Stephanie, Diane, and Matthew. The choice to adopt them was a family decision, and Ed and Steph both had the opportunity to choose to be placed in another home at that time, but they decided to be adopted by us instead.

I have to say that despite all of the difficulties we're having with them right now, I don't regret our decision for a second. They are just as much my family as my biological brothers are, and I love them completely. Because of this, they are damn good at breaking my heart (and my mom's), but hey, that's what family is for, right?

Anyway, there isn't much more to say, just that I love you guys, and I am so so so happy that you all became apart of our family.

Te amaré por siempre.

Smiles

Why doesn't anyone in Ohio smile? People in Nicaragua have little more than dirt (in comparison with the U.S. in terms of material possessions, anyway), yet they smile ALL the time. Here at Denison, everyone is wealthier than they realize, with their North Face coats and Ugg boots, yet they keep their eyes down and walk right past me. Making eye contact with anyone on this campus is a surprise, and when I get a smile in return - wow. It's a big deal.

It shouldn't be, though. Everybody here has so much to be grateful for, and so many things to be happy about. I don't know why anyone frowns on this campus!

I really, really miss Nicaragua. The 30 degree weather certainly doesn't help anything either.

Nicaragua: Day Ten

Day Ten

Today was our final full day. I had a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning (and from my nap in the afternoon), but I made it and it was a successful day. We finished the dorm room painting and I did some homework (I have four out of nineteen tasks finished......whoops). At lunch, everyone surprised Zach and me with birthday cakes because my birthday was yesterday and Zach's is tomorrow (Happy 18th!). Both cakes looked quite tasty!

In the afternoon, we napped and then took care of the kids for the last time. It was really sad to see them go, but I have decided to write to them, so I don't feel quite as terrible as I could. I will most certainly miss them!

The evening has been incredibly stressful for pretty much everyone, but there's no need to go into that. Since tonight was our last supper, we decided to make a rendition of "The Last Supper." Here it is:

The Last Supper

I will leave you with a question. Is it really best to protest and not buy clothing from companies that use sweatshops? The reason I ask is because many people in Nicaragua are employed in sweatshops, and even though they work in awful conditions for very little pay/benefits, it is the only job they can attain and it supports their families. So is it best to protest, or will that just cause pain on an individual level? Think about it.

Goodbye, Nicaragua! I will miss you.