Baby It's Cold Outside.

It was in the single digits here in Kentucky this week.  It's even lower back home in Michigan!  Here is the main difference... there is no snow here!

What?

A January with no snow... I didn't know that was possible.  But I guess I'll have to get used to it, looks like that is what this year is going to be.

As someone who isn't the biggest fan of snow; Yay!  As a photographer; Bah!  It is so ugly here, everything is brown and dead.  Back home everything was beautiful, trees covered in ice and snow.  So here are some pictures I took over break back home.

Back To Business.

A new year. A new quarter. Normally I think this is where people put "A new me!" but that's not really true in this case.  New Years has never been like that for me.  I don't set new goals, resolutions, or what not.  I knew I would break them, so in my mind, there was no point.  I made a few when I was younger, crash diet goals, ridiculous restrictions on what I could and could not eat, usually those lasted about two weeks.  I either got sick or just plain hungry.  Never been good with restricting my eating habits, I'm a foodie, hence culinary school.

Speaking of which, I'm back!  Back to Kentucky for the next three months.  Back to a schedule, a plan, a goal.  In one year I will be moved back home, back to my little farming town.  To my family and friends.  Oh how I wish this year to go fast.  But I have some things that need my attention this year.  Not just school, I have important things happening this year.  Family changes to deal with, friends growing up and moving on and the work that goes into trying to keep those friendships alive, and a boyfriend who is leaving for bootcamp and schooling.  My world gets to be turned upside down every three months or so for the next year.  I can't just sit here in my dorm watching the world fly by me, I'm taking an active role in my life this year.

• I'm pushing myself harder, academically, then I ever have before.
• I'm spending the longest amount of time away from home then I ever have before.
• I'm working on a relationship that doesn't have the best timing or circumstances.
• I'm striving to be a better person, and a better Christian.
• I'm finding out more about myself, rediscovering who I am and what I want for my life.  
• I'm becoming an adult. 

And I am loving every second of it so far.  I will eat my words finals week, but right here, right now, I am where I am supposed to be.  My life isn't pretty, I have had to deal with things this last week that I really don't want to think about at eighteen years old, but I don't regret that.  It's what my life needs right now, and it's what I'll have to deal with.

Just not right now.

Right now it's time for dinner and some Sherlock.

So here is to 2014.  May it bring happy changes and blessings into your life as well.

Christmas Greetings from Tessa!

 Tessa and I got bored.  Luckily, she's cute and I have a camera.

Merry Christmas!

Time For A Change.

So as many of you can see, this blog has changed quite a bit.  New look for the (almost) new year.  I started this blog back in January and I have been playing with the style of it since then... and over the last two or three days, I haven't had much to do, so I went a little crazy.  Got a whole new look.  Personally I like it better, but then again I'm not the one who has to read it!  Let me know what you guys think!

In other news, I'm back at college.  You should see my face, I just can't stop smiling, I love it here.

Yeah, I'm a horrible lair.  

I've been back for a little over a week and will be going back home on Christmas break in four days.  Now that is a reason to smile.  Plans are being made for Christmas parties, caroling, and family get-together.  I'm very excited!

But this will be a difficult year in many ways.  

• This is the first Christmas without my Grandma Betty.  She's been such a fixture for so long it's going to be strange not to have her with us.  
• This is the first year without Riley, yet another fixture in our home, gone.  
• First Christmas with little Piper.  
• First year I have to actually GO somewhere for Christmas.  
• First year of not being home to pick out the Christmas tree and put up decorations in my room. 
• First Christmas I get to spend with my friends! 

A mixture of both good, bad, and hard.  Tears will be shed this year, both happy and sad.  But I am looking forward to it all.  Looking forward to seeing everyone again, to spending time with my family and friends.  It will be a good three weeks.  Now I just have to get through finals... Ugh.

Grandma Betty.