Well, we all knew it was coming! The semester is ending! Finals are here and people are leaving. This will be the last blog for the year so I hope you enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing you next semester. I hope your holidays are filled with shopping, happiness, and family. Merry Christmas! See you in January, with new classes and stress in tow!

We are on the cusp of finals here at Fontbonne, and pretty soon it will be time to pack up and go home. Overall I can say that I am very satisfied with the year so far. I really enjoyed all my classes, and I feel prepared for my upcoming tests. The Environmental Club had a fantastic start to the year, and my second year of cross country was awesome as well. So what’s been occupying my thoughts lately? CHRISTMAS!!!

So to wrap up my blog for the semester, I’m going to post a few ways to be sure your Christmas is GREEN, whether it’s white or not!

Gifts: When searching for gifts, look for things that are sustainable and earth-friendly. This could include things that are locally made, organic, made from recycled materials, or simply have less packaging. Another gift to consider is the gift of experience: a gift of a service or experience – like a massage or tickets to a show – will create a memory that can last longer than an object would. Or, you could hand-make a gift!

Wrapping: An easy way to reduce the environmental impact of a gift is by choosing how it is presented. Although wrapping with newspaper is the choice that usually springs to mind, there are other creative alternatives to this, like using maps, coloring book pages, or phone book pages. If nothing else, look for wrapping paper that is made from recycled materials and can be recycled. And don’t forget to keep any bags you get to use again!

Lights: If you use Christmas lights or light up decorations, be sure to monitor how long they are on. If no one is up to appreciate them, they might as well be turned off! If you need to buy new lights, consider LED lights – they use less energy and last longer.

See you next year, and have a great holiday season!

This is a bizarre feeling. I came home this weekend and realized that the only homework I have to do is study for my finals that I have next week and complete my last homework set for chem. I have a bad feeling, though, that I’m going to abuse this “free time” that I seem to think I have and am consequently not going to get anything productive done…

Well, since the semester (and the year 2011, as well!) is coming to a close, I’ve decided to comprise a list of New Semester’s Resolutions for the second half of the year. Here are a few of the things I have come up with while abusing my free time:

My New Semester’s Resolutions:

1. Be a better student in the lab. Since I have decided to take organic two next semester, I’ve decided that it would be in my best interest to be a better student while working in the lab. Not only does this entail taking better, more accurate data, but it also means numerous other things as well:
   1. Not spilling hydrochloric acid (it was dilute…) all over my legs (I don’t want to have to sit with my legs in the sink again…embarrassing!)
   2. Not spilling distilled cloves everywhere
   3. …Not spilling things in general
   4. Not tricking people into smelling abrasive substances by insisting that it smells really, really good and they need to experience it for themselves
   5. Not turning any parts of my body abnormal colors

   
   

2. Don’t get involved in things that I don’t really care about for the sake of being involve This seems like a no-brainer, but when you feel the need to get involved in as much as you possibly can, it’s easy to get carried away. Thus, I’ve decided to limit my involvedness to only the following things: blogging, the Fontbanner (I’m sure Dr. Somer will be delighted to have me back on the staff again…hopefully I have time), the Honors Program, BSO (I just joined even though I’m not a Bio major and I’m excited to see what I can contribute), and I really need to join SHESA but have not motivated myself enough to pay the fee to do so (maybe paying the fee should be a resolution in and of itself).
3. Find a way to train for my first half marathon and my first triathlon all while staying on top of my homework. The only reason why I didn’t do the half marathon in the fall was because training for it was proving to be stressful with all of the homework I had to do. Soooo…training for both of these things in the spring will require a lot of effective time-management and a lot less time wasting. Which leads me to my next resolution.
4. Stop wasting so much time! I guess I better start on this one now and get back to studying. There’s no time like the present, no?

Our Christmas tree is up! Our house is half decorated! My mom and sister are Christmas shopping as we speak (so I could have the house nice and quiet to…umm…study, which is exactly what I am not doing!)! That means only one thing: time for me to break out my Sufjan Stevens boxed set of Christmas CD’s! Yes, this is most definitely one of my favorite things about Christmas. As an early Christmas gift, I’ve decided to leave you with both my personal favorite song off of the five different albums (“Star of Wonder”) and my brother’s (“Sister Winter”) for your own listening pleasure. Decide for yourself which is better, and then get back to work!

Good luck with finals and have an amazing break!

-Carly

“Star of Wonder” and “Sister Winter” …both by the amazing Sufjan Stevens

A Pocketful of Presents

This semester is finally done for me! I submitted my final test last night from the comfort of my home in my jammies… that is one of the great benefits of the Pathways program and classes online. I also finished creating a Fontbonne lesson plan this week and creating a reading plan for a student for another class. It is a gift in itself to have everything completed by this weekend.

When I think in terms of presents or gifts this Christmas season, I certainly can say that I have already received some, and it is not even my birthday or Christmas. So, with the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas humming in my head here is my list of 12 great gifts that Fontbonne has given to me :

The first would be the long awaited answer to a prayer that I was admitted into Fontbonne through the Pathways program.

The second gift would be Kathleen Schwarting, Andra Gwydir, and Carole Prince who have been patient with me as I went through the enrollment process. They have answered the questions that I have had periodically over the past year and a half. They have also been understanding and gracious to me with any concerns that I had, whether it be personal or with school.

The third gift would be the Campus Ministry at Fontbonne. One word for it- Outstanding. I am thankful for Sarah Boul, who sends out all those emails that keep me connected to prayer concerns for others and who has heard my prayer concerns as well.

The fourth gift would be the patience that I felt from Joesph Paitz who is my financial aid advisor. He has been kind to explain the process to me and help answer any of my questions.

The fifth gift is the Technology department. They have been there to answer my calls and look into my account so I have access to my classes online.

The sixth gift would be the professors that I’ve had. All of them have been able to answer my questions and clarify any problems that I’ve had within a class.

The seventh gift would be the professors that I have this semester, which has been hard on me in my personal life. My mom has been diagnosed with brain cancer and I have been trying to manage not only that, but my family and school. They have been understanding and encouraging.

The eighth gift would be that the professors are not only willing to answer my emails but have called me personally and walked me through things I need clarification about.

The ninth gift would be the ability this semester to juggle buying all my textbooks and still being able to pay our bills.

The tenth gift would be that the textbooks this semester came in on time for my classes and before assignments were due.

The eleventh gift is that I have been admitted into an honor society at Fontbonne. I am so honored that I was considered to be a part of the society. It gives me the ambition to keep going in my classes even when the concepts are hard or things are rough in my personal life.

The twelfth gift will come in a year or so when I graduate. But the idea of graduating and being able to teach is near and dear to my heart. I feel like it is more than just a dream or prayer — it is going to be a reality.

For all these gifts I am so thankful to Fontbonne for. While working my through the Pathways program I have discovered that I am smart enough, capable enough and can make it through to receive the ultimate gift, a college degree in education.

Last weekend my family and I watched the movie, Elf, Friday night and Saturday night as we decorated the house for Christmas. We are still going around quoting things from the movie this week. One of our favorite parts is when Buddy meets up with a raccoon in the park on his way into New York. He says to the raccoon, “ahh, does someone need a hug?” and then goes to hug the raccoon that attacks him.

This part makes me think of how the Christmas season can be full of people rushing around and no one seems to have time for one another. Some people are preoccupied with getting the most lights up on the outside of their homes (yes, we have neighbors that we jokingly call the Griswolds). There are others that battle it out in the stores, literally, to get the best bargain for their loved one. Yet, others are trying to make the perfect appearance throughout their home and by finding the perfect outfit for Christmas parties, etc.

All this really loses sight of the much grander picture that is what Christmas is about and what God intended for us. I believe that God would want us to put in perspective what Christmas is. Not a holiday for dressing up, eating a lot, or getting extravagant gifts. It should be a time to focus on Him and the blessings that surround us on a daily basis. I know within my immediate family (my hubby and two kids), we value that we are together, and we glorify God particularly at Christmas that Christ is our savior, and we will always be together through His gift of eternal life.

So, maybe that darn Buddy, the elf, had it right when he said that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”… maybe our song needs to be one of praise and glory for the blessing of everlasting life through Christ.

Blessings- Sherry

First off, I am just shocked by how fast this first semester has flown by. And it’s been a great one. There were some things I wished I could have been involved with, but maybe next semester will pay up for that

There were also many things that I’ve learned and enjoyed. In my classes, I learned about mythology, design, art history, and drawing. I’m already an artsy person but I increased my skills and intellect. For events, I think the International Bazaar was the best. Or the Balloon Race before that. The Shalom House volunteer event was pretty inspiring, too. Oh, I loved the Adoption Panel as well. Basically, I’m just SO so so happy to have been involved!

So, I wish everyone a great and merry winter break! Keep yourselves warm and cozy, play snowball fights, and stuff up on food!

Happy Holidays

Every year I look forward to Christmas. Why wouldn’t I?! It’s the best time of the year!

But this year I am looking forward to it so much more! With my new job I have more money to “spare” and can afford to get my 3 siblings and my parents better presents than ever! For the first time ever this year, I actually waited in a line… outside… in the cold… for a Black Friday sale. Crazy right?! I agree. But my best friend, Katie, and I waited outside of Target for two hours Thanksgiving night before they opened at midnight. My goal was to get my mom a Kindle. Thank goodness this was a success or else I am sure Katie would have been a bit peeved she sat out in the cold with me. I am very glad I got her that because she deserves to get a nice gift for everything she does for us. She loves to read and has wanted one ever since they first came out, but with 3 children in college and bills to pay, she is not usually concerned with buying things for herself. I also got my godson a Cars pillow pet, and slippers I am very excited to give him those!

As for my siblings: My oldest brother (24 years old) is a pain in the butt to shop for because he has a good paying full time job so he buys himself everything already, so I am still coming up with ideas for him. For my second older brother (23 years old), I got some World Series memorabilia that I think he will like. Third is my older sister (21, 22 in January), and I ordered her her first pair of TOMs shoes. I have two pairs and she loves to steal them, but she has rent to pay, so shoes are not on her shopping list, so I am glad to buy her a pair of those… especially since the pair I got her have a small mustache on them because we love to say “I mustache you a question, but I shall shave it for later” or “I mustache you a question, but eyebrows Goggle for the answer.” Last year in my ceramics class, I made her a mug that had a mustache on it so that when she drinks out of it it looks like she has one. We are pretty odd at times, but I love it!

So that leaves my Dad. He is the most difficult person to shop for because he never wants anything… except “4 good children” I told him that was a success in 1992 when I was born, and he needs to get a new idea, but he never wants us to buy him anything!

So I have him and my brother to shop for… worse comes to worst, I get them both gift cards to Home Depot or something manly like that.

Moral of this story: Christmas is about the giving, not the receiving, and I am very glad that I have the opportunity to give this year! My family also adopted a family this year, I always love giving to those who need it most this time of year. I thought that going into college I would have less money to spend on Christmas gifts, but I got lucky a new frozen yogurt shop, Orange Leaf, opened right up the street from campus. I am looking forward to the month long break Fontbonne gives us; it is a well deserved break and will make me very excited to return for the second semester!

Good luck to everyone on finals, and I hope everyone’s Christmas is as good as mine is shaping up to be!

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. There are just so many things I love about Christmas time. When I was younger it was that anticipation for getting Christmas gifts, but as I got older the reasons why I loved Christmas changed. I love going shopping for Christmas gifts for people and trying to find the perfect gift for my friends and family, I love making Christmas Cookies, biscotti and bread with my mom and older sister. And I love watching my favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Carol with my family.

So with final exams coming up I know I need to stay focused so I can enjoy winter break knowing I tried my best on all my exams. Good luck everyone on your exams and have a wonder break!

Thanksgiving is done. Black Friday is long gone. It is time to throw up those Christmas decorations and start watching Christmas movies! Every year after Thanksgiving we put up my tree to some Christmas tunes and bake cookies to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” I would have to say it is my favorite time of year! I count down the days until snow, hot chocolate, and Christmas lights. I LOVE that Fontbonne really gets into decorating around campus! It really helps me stay in the Christmas spirit! Happy Christmas Season to All!

Old clichés always seem to get the best of me. Everyone knows the phrase “you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.” I always knew how great my family and friends were, but only getting to see them during the holidays makes that time spent with them even more special. I love attending Fontbonne which is a ways from home, but nothing beats the rush of anticipation as you are driving home to set up the Christmas tree during Thanksgiving break! I was lucky enough to get to have some company from my dad on the ride home after he came to my game in St. Louis, and spent all of today decorating for Christmas with my mom and sister. I am so very thankful that I get to see my whole family tomorrow and spend black Friday with them shopping for the hottest deals! I wish all of you the best during this Thanksgiving holiday!
God Bless!