Guess what the Butler family got for Christmas? The stomach virus. Yep, Jada had it the Monday before, Payten got it on Wednesday, and then Mom had it for Christmas Eve. Wait, we're not done yet. I got it yesterday...for the whole day. It's a weight loss plan I don't recommend. I've decided it's just not worth it. Dehydration is so not fun. My stepmom Lecia was amazing to help like she did. I was really thankful she was there to try to ease things as much as possible. I'm probably going back to Memphis tonight or tomorrow, and none of my family will hug me bye! lol.

On a much better note, Christmas was such a blessing this year. I was really looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone, and I was also pumped about what I got people for Christmas. All of the family functions were better than they've ever been. It's fun when all the kids (including myself) start maturing and we can all cut up together. I must add that the Butler function might not have been as funny if I hadn't introduced "jowling", a skill that my buddy Will in CA enlightened me with at the Union Reunion. We're probably going to open a Facebook group for it, so stay posted. You can check out some of the best of the best at www.jowlers.com. Beware, some are a little scary.

I love my family. Christmas is such a neat time with them. Every time I come home and see how my siblings have matured and grown, I love them even more. I really do have the coolest four siblings ever. And my parents- they're no less unique. All four are incredible as role models. They do go a little overboard about Christmas gifts, but they love getting us stuff. Sometimes I wish I had words to express to them my gratitude for what they're showing me about life and how to live it instead of just what they're generously equipping me with in a material sense. I am truly blessed.

So all the siblings came to visit Thursday night. Brody, Britt's brother came down early from Ohio. He just graduated from Cedarville and is moving to Missouri. Jada, one of my four siblings, come up from UU after finishing her finals. We all went to eat with my friend Zach to use the lovely gift card he, Britt, and I received after winning the Halloween costume contest. I know that was forever ago, but we had yet to use it. So we did. Then Jada and I finished our Christmas shopping today. We have gotten to age where we are commissioned to bring home our own presents from Santa and the grandparents. It works out great because no energy or effort is wasted. Everybody's happy. And it was great to spend time with her.

Britt's fam is here tonight and will be here through her graduation tomorrow, then to move her out on Sunday. I haven't really come to terms with her leaving yet. Don't worry; I'll blog about it.

Cleaning day...

I really like things clean. However, I hate getting them that way. I can always find things I think are more worth my time. I'm trying to grow in this. Bathrooms absolutely gross me out. I want them really clean, but it makes me gag to think of doing it myself. I've gotten to where I can clean my own bathroom, but I'm still grossed out. I know. It's ironic. But these are the reasons I didn't go to medical school. I get grossed out easily. Now way could I deal with someone busting up the ER with blood squirting and insides protruding. Yeesh. I, the pharmacist, will keep my post behind the glass/counter/whatever my barrier might be. I know there are many great pharmacists who work in trauma/ICU/surgery that see this stuff all the time. But if there's one thing I do know about my career path, it ain't headed that direction.

About life in general, I love how things have slowed down after finals. There are definitely still items on the agenda, but none bring the stress level of an exam or a class assignment or even an ASP deadline...even though I still have a few of those. I get to catch up with friends- some from various parts of the globe, read books that won't necessarily further my education, and hang out without feeling guilty because I know I should be studying.

Jada (one of my sisters, Mom and Lee's) is coming to stay with me tonight. A big group is going out to eat. Britt's brother Brody is coming in as well. Her whole fam gets here tomorrow for her graduation on Sat. and then her departure on Sunday :o(
I haven't cried yet...we'll see...

Then Monday I'm having all my girls from Sunday School spend the night for a Christmas party. Hopefully most of the 12 or so freshman high school girls will be able to make it. Please pray about this. I want us to have fun, but I really want to get to know my girls better. I also want them to get to know each other better. God's been doing awesome things in answer to prayer. I really love my group and this opportunity.

I thought I would add, cuz it's funny, that I'm hoarse, congested, and phlegmy because Britt and I unexpectedly launched into one of our laugh-so-hard-my-face-might-explode episodes last night. It came out of nowhere. It just crept right up on me. She's hilarious.

Now I won't have a hilarious roommate anymore...

As you know I've been a month now in my huge room upstairs all by myself because Brittany, my best friend and roommate, has been back in Dallas doing a nutrition residency. Because of the massive snow there yesterday, her parents sent her back a day early, so we got to hang out last night. I didn't realize how much I missed her until I slipped back into goofy, talk-with-a-lisp, girly mode. Times with her in our room (cutting up, pondering potential life choices, and laughing about the silliest things) remind me to be thankful for this time in my life. I'll never have it again. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm going to miss her when she leaves for good on the 18th of this month. But I'm so thankful for what God has taught me through her. I love you, Britt.

I haven't blogged in a while...for many reasons: I didn't want to take away from the plea for the compassion child; I didn't know what I wanted to say; I didn't really think people read this anyway. (Wow, that's a lot of punctuation. You grammar folks out there are probably gnawing on your fists. ) My life has been in its usual state of insanity. We had the big ASP faculty breakfast and the ASP Christmas party last week, which was the last week of classes before finals. I have one on Wed., a take-home due Friday, and the big daddy on Monday. THERAPEUTICS! Eesh, does that not send a chill down your spine? It does mine. J/k, it's not that dramatic. I actually enjoy studying for this class, because it's the stuff I need to know to be a good pharmacist.

Now the real stuff...I've been pondering and learning so much this month. As you may or may not know, my mind's constantly running, but the thought process is not always productive or efficacious. But lately God has been showing me how to optimize my time in that area. By that I mean I've been able to shut the analysis down when it wasn't necessary. I've started to let myself just live things through instead of working to foresee any and all possible mistakes at the risk of obtaining scars. Did someone say, "grace"? Because I've completely negated its worth and work in the process I'm in when I refuse to let go of what makes sense to me. This is the sweetest time of my life so far. God has been revealing my true worth in Him, and I'm so excited. It all started when I went back through Search for Significance , a Bible study (and book) by Robert S. McGee with Nat, Meg, and Britt this fall. I started to understand how deceived I was to give man's opinion so much weight in my perception of reality. What a constraint! And how fickle is man? I know you're laughing if you know me, because I'm the case study of that. But the freedom comes in knowing that I don't know everything, hardly anything, and no one else does either! But God knows it all, and I know Him, and He loves me. So we're set. Really, I've come to believe that. And I can sleep at night because of it. That peace is pure and priceless. I wish everyone had it.

That's been on my heart lately as well. As Pastor Sam has been going through Ecclesiastes at church, there a few themes that seem to come up every Sunday, such as:

1. Get wisdom. And reverent fear of God is the first step toward that. (Psalm 111:10, Prov. 2-all of it)
2. Live it up. "Everything is meaningless..." may sound dreary at first, but looking at it from another direction can be a bit freeing. The catch here is WE DON'T KNOW THE LIMITS!! We're limited by human minds. But God's not. I'm sure you've all heard this before, but come with me here...

If you purchase a new hi-tech gadget with a million features and options, how do you get the most out of what you paid for? How do you use it up to its full capacity? Read the manual! Who else is going to know how best to manipulate the beast besides its designer? Well...it's the same way with us. We're creations. We don't know it all...about life or love or happiness or ANYTHING. But God does. AND He gave us the manual. Yep, so go on and break out your Bible. We've all got a lot of catching up to do.