New Favorite Artist:

Sara barellis.... "love song"

enjoy!

Friendship Shout Outs

One of my favorite things about being home is being surronded by the people who know where you've come from. They know the trials you've faced, the joys you had, the high school you went to, your old cheerleading days and your love of theatre, that random mexican place that has the best food, the best sledding hill crystal lake has to offer, ect.... all of the things that have really caused me to be the person I am today.

It's good to have friends who can identify with your past and know where you're from.

And it's also good to have friends who can look ahead with you and know where you're going.

The best is when those two things collide.

Thanks Lauren, for being both of those in my life. I can't even imagine my pitiful days without you :)
And thanks Tricia, for being the one to look ahead and walk in the future with me. And also for being willing to take hold of my hand and let me walk you through my past. For taking the time to let me show you where I've come from.

My thoughts On Being Home

To be honest, being home is a little bit boring this time around. I love my family. spending time with them. all of the holiday traditions. random lunch dates with my cousins. and just hanging out. But I'm starting to get bored.

It may have something to do with the fact that my two closest friends are gone this holiday season. Off with family or on vacation. It's hard. not having them home to hang out with and release that young vibrant energy together. I'm even starting to have second thoughts on whether or not I want to come permanantly home over this next summer break. Don't tell anyone yet though, it's just a thought. not a reality.

Hopefully the boredom will pass. till then, i'll just continue to press on.

The Masonick Girls wish you and your family

a very very merry and blessed christmas!

May the new year be filled with joy and

hope and peace and lots of laughter!

Bless tonight. For our Savior is born.

Quote Journal

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

-Helen Keller

I bought a journal yesterday and will officially title it my "quote journal." I think it would be something sweet to pass onto my girls or family one day, and also good for those days when life seems cloudy and gray. A heart felt quote always manages to produce thought and sunshine! Live on!

Red in the Midst of White

One of my well kept secrets;

After a busy, long, tiring, active, ect... day at work I like to stop at the grocery store and buy a carton of strawberries to savor on the ride home. I hold tight onto the stem and eat them straight out of the container. One. Two. Three. It adds a little extra sweetness to the day and brings a smile to my face.

On today's drive home, my favorite fruit added a little burst of red to the white snowy scape.

Christmas Cheer

The only control that is within our grasp each day is to make the decisions that lead us closer to the person that we want to be.

We can't control others. Their reactions. Their emotions towards us, or lack there of. Their actions.

We can only wake up every morning and announce, "today, I am going to focus on my heart, and make the choices that help me become the woman I want to be." and know that in the end, by taking the right steps that grow and develope our character, everything else and everyone else will slowly fall into place.

thats all we can do.

Notes From the Day

christmas tradition 3: baking christmas cookies. as flurries cascaded down from the sky all afternoon, my auntie, mom, and I could be found in the kitchen baking about7 batches of cookies. peanut butter blossums. cherrie winks. lemon drops. sugar cut outs. of course, the men could also be found in the kitchen every once in while stealing the warm cookies straight out of the oven. you know christmas is only a couple days away when smells of sugar ring the air, and mom brings out the candy cane antlers official designated as "christmas baking neccesities."

thankful moment: when my uncle jeff came in from outside with his big/warm coat and hat covered in snow and said "i shoveled off your car for you hid's..." so I never had a dad who cleared my car off for me when it snowed, but I have many uncles!

my thoughts: over christmas break I've simply been working very hard (well as hard as being a nanny for an adorable little girl is) and then arriving home to a cozy evening. all my friends are not home sweet IL yet, and so I've been spending a lot of time alone. but I'm realizing that I can do this single living thing. I enjoy cooking..dancing...and watching a movie without anyone else around or to talk to. not permanatly, but for now I'm happy!

The Christmas Bell

One year in high school, at the begining of the christmas season, my mom gave me a snow man bell to tie to my assignment notebook and said "everytime you hear this bell ring remember that life is more than just thinking about yourself. every chime you hear, think about someone else. how you can better serve them. who they are. what their story is."

and i think every one of us needs a bell to carry around. a bell to remind us to think beyond the too common words of "me, I, and my" that run through our head.

this christmas season my prayer and "lesson" I'm finding myself learning in life is to get beyond myself, my stories, and my achievements. and to focus on others.

when you hear the bells this christmas, think of this. the focus is not so much inward, but outward.

Grades posted today. The first semester of

straight A's in college.

PS. I know college is so much more then

letter grades. But it's still

okay to celebrate!

My Favorite Winter Things

1. Walking around the house in little white knit "bootie" slippers

2. When the sun shine reflects off of the white snow in the morning and blinds me

3. holding my frozen fingers right ontop of the car heating vents

4. pouring syrup into the water for the christmas tree

5. the smell of christmas trees in general

6. walking to the car and slipping/falling right on your butt (i know it sounds painful, but it's actually rather humerous)

7. how the ice freezes over on the pine trees, and how each seperate leaf looks like it is going to freeze and fall off

8. wearing big warm sweaters

9. bright red kissable cheeks (that just came in from the cold)

10. advent calendars

11. getting to dress every outfit up with a different colorful scarf... and wearing lots of different snow hats!

12. the smell of my christmas "cinnimon" and "mom's apple pie" yankee candels that fill the house

13. my mittens with a piece of yarn that attatches them together, so they hang from my coat and I'll never lose them *yes that set up is exactly like the mittens you see little kids wear!"

14. hearing christmas music and holiday carols everytime I turn on the car

15. drinking warm apple cider, and settling in by the fire at night

16. going sledding, making snow angel's, have snowball fights, and building snowmen with my cousins and friends

I think I wrote about the important of touch the other day. Yes, in my hugs entry.
Just a small moment today: Alexis wouldn't fall asleep and so I took her in my arms, sang a sweet lullaby to her, and spoiled her by letting her lay on my chest and fall asleep. We both ended up taking naps this afternoon, her right on top of me. And that simple "touch" connected us both. It was so soothing and yet so innocent. My special baby girl. One day, I will make a great mom.

Must See Film

Must see movie: August Rush
You have to see it to understand what I mean by "must see." One of the best films I have watched in a long time.

it was a good day. I decorated the christmas tree with my mom, drank warm apple cider, put up white christmas lights, went to my cousins Rock concert, and finished the night off by eating soup and watching Tuesday's with Morrie with my mom.

Today's Lesson: every one needs a teacher

We all need someone who is older then us to be a mentor in our lives. Someone to remind us of the frailty of life. To teach us about the important things that matter, and to invest time into our stories. A person who doesn't just give advice, but also listens. A mentor who uses their years gain on us to help guide our steps, and shed light. It's the only way to truely grow and learn. A mentor challenges you with ideas you haven't yet considered, and forces you to face challenges from a different perspective. They bring your level of thinking to a whole other level.

I've had a lot of these mentors in my life. Mom. Jo. Mr. Jensen. Krista. Oma. right now, thats what my heart tells me I'm missing the most. I miss having an older person to pour into me and guide me with wisdom and new ideas on life.

Every season has it's timing.

and I know eventually life is going to cause me to bump into another great teacher. I first had to establish my life in college, away from home, and with my peers. but it's coming. and until that meeting I wait with anticipation and thankfullness.

Snow Angel's, Welcome Home

Flying home today I saw my first glimpse of christmas.

We flew over fields covered in snow,

and in one white meadow, I saw small little snow angels scattered all over with foot prints. Little kids.

Welcome christmas. Welcome home.

It's good to have snow. and pine trees.

ps. we bought the apartment

Mentally Sorting Things Out in my Mind

Decisions. Surprisingly, I really hate decisions.
Right now I must decided whether to move out of my apartment and into University village next semester.

The background story: right now I live in a two bedroom, small cement apt. right on campus. Its me my best friend, and then two of our other friends. It's kinda ghetto, and yet it feels like home... i put a lot of effort into decorating it this semester and I'm safe here. Next semester, 2 of our roomates are moving out, so we'd have 2 new random roomates again. We applied to move 10 extra (walking) minutues away from campus into University Village (upperclassman campus housing), and got assigned to a four bedroom two bathroom apt. They are brand new, with marble countertops, carpet, a dishwasher ect. I'd have my own bedroom, and we'd still have 2 random roomates. I met one of the girls and she seems really nice, like we'd live well together. So now I must decided by 3 oclock today whether or not to sign the lease.

pros: my own bedroom, a dishwasher, a potentially nice new roomate, a washer and dryer, the ability to kinda move off campus but not really and get used to it, my own bathroom sink

cons: moving out and moving in all over again for only a semester, reworking my financial plan, its off campus, possibly losing the "home" feeling, have to find someone to lease it to during the summer or paying for it while I'm not living there, having to figure out moving out when my lease goes up in July

everyone else's opinion: if the machine isn't broken then why fix it? (aka if you are happy where you are right now, why move?)

tricia thinks: lets do it

heidi thinks: every little logical piece of me in my body says "don't do it." and yet my inner gut says "do it. take a chance"

in the end, i know I'll be happy either way. But how do you fight logic with that inmost gut feeling?

-hmm must decided by 3pm today

I'm learning a funny lesson in life right now. It's not trying or difficult, its just "hard" and slightly humerous. a good lesson to learn, and yet at times my heart is so against it. but i'm trying my best to get it right, to not cross those boundries, and am thankful that its this certain person helping me learn it.

maybe by the end of the year, i'll have it mastered.

and so as I lay down at bed tonight the same thought keeps running through my mind "look at me, i'm really growing up."

Morning Stillness and Loud Sunshine

Nothing like starting the day off than a quick 1.5 mile run with God. Good morning Wednesday! How are you feeling today?

ps. thank you for the 60 degree weather. it's beautiful

My List of Goals

This year I've slowly been realizing that in my head I do actually have a list of goals andthings I would like to accomplish with my life. Some of the things on the list are fun and random and others are a bit more meaningful. But I've decided to take time every once in a while and share some of the items. They're not in any paticular order, not listed from most important to least, just whatever's been on my mind lately.

So, number one on my list for life...

1. I would like to see all of the following broadway musicals whether in New York, Chicago, or another major city ... or maybe even a high school theatre :)

• The Color Purple
• Sweeny Todd
• My Fair Lady
• Thoughrely Modern Millie
• Phantom of the Opera (check)
• Wicked (check)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat (check)
• RENT (check)
• West Side Story
• Chicago
• Titanic
• Jeckle and Hyde
• Narnia (check)
• Annie (check)
• The Little Princess (check)
• Hello Dolly (check)
• Aida (check)
• Big River
• Bye Bye Birde
• Cats
• Damn Yankees (check)
• Les Miserable (check)
• Seusical the Musical (check)
• Crazy For You (check)
• Miss Saigon
• Evita
• Fiddler on the Roof (check)
• Hair Spray
• Godspell (check)
• Guys and Dolls (check)
• Gypsy
• Into the Woods
• Jesus Christ Super Star (check)
• King and I (check)
• Lion King (check)
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Man of La Mancha (check)
• Music Man
• My Favorite Year
• Oliver (check)
• Once upon a Matress
• Producers
• RagTime
• Scarlet Pimpernel
• Scrooge (check)
• South Pacific
• You're a Good man Charlie Brown

There's something special about knowing that God used you to touch and change a persons life.

The bible study I lead is mostely made up of sophomore girls, and one freshman (Fabiana). Fab and I found eachother in a random way, her RA told her to contact a girl about getting a ride to church and that girl contacted me one week when she couldn't drive. Although i didn't know that upperclassman she had somehow heard of me, knew I served on leadership for BCM, and went to calvery chapell. I said sure to driving Fab to church that week not knowing who the freshman girl I'd be picking up in the morning would be. But after meeting Fab I invited her to join our bible study.

In reflecting on our praises for this week and for the semester all fabiana could say was that "this bible study was the best thing about my first semester. It was my favorite and warmest part of the week, and changed my entire semester. Seeing God work in your lives always encourages me to grow closer to the Lord and shows me I have a lot to learn. I'm so thankful for bible study. I just can't say it enough."

and everything else (all other concerns about exams, or boys, or random things) falls away. I am left with a full feeling in my heart that only christians can understand. That God looked down on me and trusted me to make a difference in Fabiana's life. That somehow I could lead her in an impacting way closer to God.

smiles abound.

Perfect Sunday "Summer" Afternoons

As you read the following entry, first click play on the below You Tube link. You don't have to watch the movie, just listen to the music and read.

I couldn't think of a more perfect way to spend my Sunday Afternoon than visiting a farmers fruit market in homestead. The sunny hours were spent taste testing homemade honey, eating star fruit and guava, and watching the chickens and animals as they popped all around their pens. We bought fresh pineapple, and a beautiful purple orchid. Ordered homemade milk shakes and sat on a picnic table bench, while an old man played my requested "piano man" by billy joel on his guitar and harmonic. Talked about how it was Dec. 2nd and we were wearing flip flops and feeling the bliss that comes only with summer.

It made me feel like a small hometown midwest girl again.

My Philosophy on Hugs

Hugging is a funny thing. As a member of the Masonick family, I hug a lot. We hug our family, our friends, anyone we are at least somewhat close with. We hug when we say hello. And we hug when we say goodbye. My mom always taught me the worthwhileness of hugs, what it really means to reach out and let another person know "i am here." The gift of touch and love all wrapped up in one.

There are good hugs and not so good hugs. The akward hugs when the person thinks they don't know you well enough, the half hugs from my teenage boy cousins who think it takes to much effort to really hold on tightly (which I then make them hug me again, for real this time I say), and the slightly distant hugs from people who never grew up hugging and enjoy their own personal space a little too much. But are these people missing out! Because a good strong hearted hug can change someones whole perspective around. Nothing beats a bad day then getting a full on embraced, tight squeeze hug from someone.

Certian people in my life who always give me the best warm hugs: my mom and my sister, Lauren, Kemy (whose hugs on a hard day surprisingly make me feel very loved and safe), my BCM friend Scotty, oma and opa, and cousin matty... to name a few

I would consider myself a pretty good hugger too :) I always like to give an extra squeeze and little smile! So if you're ever in need, whether the day be happy or sad, always know you can stop by and get a warm, friendly, joyful hug.

Hugs are a physical way of showing someone that they're loved, recognized, appreciated, and cared for.