My Love Story

Yeah, lame title I know...but you can't blame me!
I am still so ecstatic about my engagement yesterday. It came as a shock to me, obviously...that is how good engagements go isn't it?! I am convinced I only write in my blog now when big events happen. I probably should get better at that, but oh well! So, since David and I have been telling various versions (long story, shorter story, whole day, main event, etc.) we decided I should just write it ALL down for everyone to read. I think it is the most spectacular day in my life so far (DUH). So, with that being said, if you aren't one for sappy, romantic, mushy gushy stories...you should stop reading...now!

To start out, I have to explain to those who weren't aware of the weather in Mississippi on July 11, 2012.
It. Was. A. Flood.
A much needed rain for crops, yards, lakes etc., but it did not stop for majority of the day. I was scheduled to sing at Pinelake Starkville, so David tagged along because I wanted a riding buddy and because no one turns down an opportunity to go to Strangebrew on the way back home. Well, about a week before this Wednesday, David told me he was going to need to come down anyway and have meetings for his Electrical Engineering senior design project. I thought, WOW, what good timing! So, we packed up my car Wednesday around noon and headed down to Starkville.
If you know me, you know about Clifford...my big red Blazer who has seen some better days. Well, ole Clifford's gas gauge was showing me, as well as my mileage, that I had plenty of gas to get to Starkville to fill up. Everyone knows Tupelo's gas prices are higher than everywhere else. So, off we went, south bound to the best college town in the nation (not a biased opinion, it is truth). We go through torrential downpours the whole way and we finally reached Starkville! I got onto campus to grab lunch for me in the Union and we get to the stop sign by the post office and PUTT PUTT POOOOF, goes Clifford. Yes, real life. I was stunned, confused and immediately said, "oh no....did I SERIOUSLY run out of gas right here?!?" No gas light or anything...thanks Cliff! THANKFULLY, my precious friend Caysee Owens was at the intersection getting into her car, so I honked, we laughed and I yelled help. David, this whole time, is just staring in disbelief...I thought just because he was saying in his mind "Did she REALLY just do this?!". So, Cliff, being the trooper he is, cranks back up with a continual cough and we get to a parking spot...a metered parking spot...and neither of us have quarters. So off David goes into the Union to save the day, and me, from getting a ticket. Between his run and the fiasco it was getting quarters from Chick-fil-a, God decides to laugh and point at us by sending a torrential downpour (I am convinced Katie Beth Carruth had something to do with all of this). He gets back to my car, soaked, and all we can do is laugh. Caysee, my knight (wait, what do we call lady knights...are there lady knights?!...anyway, off subject) in shining armor, arrives to save our day. We hop into her car and ponder where to go for a gas can because, indeed, I had run out of gas. We get to the Chapel of Memories as David tries to search for his phone. He left it in my vehicle in the jumble of the situation and he wanted to go back and get it...I said he could wait but he insisted he needed it to talk to Brandon about meeting that afternoon. So our chauffeur, Caysee, turned the car around and he gets his phone. Not from my car...but from a puddle the size of Manhattan that was beside my car. And no, he has no life-proof case because he lives life on the edge! He gets in the car and doesn't seem flustered or anything by the fact that his iPhone 4S was facedown in a puddle, so I just left it alone hoping not to question this odd behavior. He said, "Well, it still works so I'm not worried." I just stared at Caysee in amazement and we were on our way to Walmart. After a $16.00 gas can and 5 gallons from Strangebrew, we were back to campus to feed Clifford. If you have seen the new gas cans (thanks, government safety issues), you know this was probably a pain. It was. Gas was going everywhere and David and I are laughing like maniacs under my umbrella while Caysee is still being our hero making sure Clifford started. I think we might have gotten 4 gallons in the tank and the other gallon remained either in the container (major design flaw) or on the ground into the puddle runoffs (sorry, environment, blame government and my lack of preparedness). FINALLY, we get the car going. I give Caysee 439,282 thank you's and go to my house to change out of my soggy clothes and into what I was going to sing in that night. After this whole fiasco, David and I are just laughing wondering why our day was so crazy....well...it got CRAZIER.
We head to campus again to complete our first goal, which was getting me lunch. It was about 3:00 then and I was so dang hungry (girl gotta eat). Well, I park a full-tanked Clifford at the closest door to the Union and we head on our into slightly less of a downpour. We get to the door and David said, "No, let's go this way!" I looked at him like he had gone mad, since HE was the main one in the rain all day, and shrugged with a "You're kidding right?!" comment. We get to the next set of doors and I start to veer and he grabs hold of me. This is where I just get completely confused. I said "Seriously, I am SO hungry, let's go in!" he said, "Well wait, let me just show you something." and he proceeds to show me how Lee Hall is getting renovated. Oh, okay, cool....GIVE ME NUGGETZ, said my big girl brain. He then starts leading me away from the Union and we are walking on one of the diagonal sidewalks to the Drill Field. Now I am running through a million different thoughts as to why this crazy man wants to go out into MORE rain on the Drill Field to look at a green fence.
Then, we stop. He tells me to look down, and there it is. A brick on the Walk of Honor that says "Jennifer will you marry me? David 2012". I just stood there with the silliest look on my face and he got down on one knee, in yet another puddle, held out the most GORGEOUS yellow gold and diamond ring, and asked me to marry him. I threw back my umbrella and gave him the biggest hug in the world while I simultaneously screamed like a little girl at a Bieber concert.
After about two minutes of this I looked at him and said, "Oh, YES!!!" Then I just stared at the ring, then him, then the brick for a few more minutes while continuously saying "Are you serious?!?" wile my hootie owl umbrella was thrown to the side without a care in the world. I was completely in shock and awe and I had no time to cry. I had the silliest smile stuck on my face for about 4 hours. My cheeks hurt so bad. David asked of I still wanted to eat and I looked at him and said, Uhhh, I am not hungry at all! I was full of all these crazy feelings and plans and who to call and text. We started walking down the sidewalk and I said, "OH NO! We need a picture of my brick!". After a short photo-op and people staring at us like we were crazy, we went to the Union to call our parents and family and bridesmaids/groomsmen. AH! Such an overwhelmingly good feeling. Besides the fact that David found out his phone, in fact, does not work. His speaker wouldn't work but who cares...WE WERE ENGAGED!!!!! So, that explains his crazy calmness about the phone in the puddle. He was more worried about the ring that had been in his pocket all morning! After a few hours of smiling, calling, texting and taking pictures of my hand, I went to church to practice for the night's worship service. It was SO fun sharing the news with our sweet Pinelake family and celebrating with our parents who came down to eat dinner with us. I was told at dinner just how sneaky he, my parents and his parents have been lately trying to keep everything secret. He did such a good job!
I am so, SO blessed to have David in my life. Having him as a husband is going to be an awesome experience that I cannot wait to have. I am so glad that he is joining my family, I am joining his, and we are going to make our own. Life is wonderful! God is good and I am blessed beyond measure! Let the planning and celebrating begin my friends!

Love you all and thanks for reading!
P.S. David's phone works now. It is amazing what a bag of rice and some prayers can do!

Living life in Letters,
Jennifer Landreth (Duke) :)

Remembering A Beautiful Life

This blog is for Katie Beth Carruth, one of my dear friends who passed away last night in a car accident.

Katie Beth started to be a part of my life around middle school and she never left my friendship circle even throughout college. We met in choir. She had the most beautiful and pure voice. When my best friend in 10th grade passed away, she was a little ray of sunshine when all I had in my mind were clouds and darkness. She had the best laugh. It was truly intoxicating. She held family and friends high in her priorities and she NEVER left a new person without knowing about every aspect of their life. She was a true people person. Her friendship meant so much to me and so many others.
Katie Beth also loved God with her whole heart. She always tried to be a better person when she saw her flaws. She SAW her flaws, something most of us, including myself, still can't see. She strived for a relationship with Christ. She came to Pinelake a few times at the end of this semester and told me a few weeks ago that she was so excited to join my small group next semester. I am so brokenhearted that she won't be able to do that. She and I became really close over this semester, along with my beautiful friend Amelia. We were that group in public that you'd probably hate; loud, obnoxious, unruly, all over the place...and she was the ring leader because she TRULY loved life and didn't care what others thought.
Katie Beth had a heart of gold with a past that would make other people's hearts stone cold. Her mom passed away when she was young, but KB used this as a way to bond to others. She was a rock for her younger siblings and a great peer for me and all of her other friends. She will be missed by everyone. She affected so many people in the best ways. People who only met her once are even broken over this loss.
I can only hope that I will have this sort of impact when I am gone. She will be cherished in my heart forever. I know in my heart of hearts that she is celebrating a homecoming with her mom and precious grandfather right now and that is why I am comforted.
Trusting in the Lord in times like these is all you can do. Without that peace, even though the peace seems small, being able to have a small bit of joy is impossible. Cling to your family and friends and cling to the cross even tighter. I pray that the rainbow of this storm shows soon. God will grant rest and peace and show us, in His time, what taking her away was for. Live your life for every day. Live your life for what you love and who you love. Live your life without grudges and never hold your pride over a friendship. Love life.

Thanks for reading,

Living life in letters,
Jennifer Landreth

Growing Up

Well, happy 2012 to you all. Obviously I have become that someone who abandons their blog every few month. Apologies. I have had a huge semester. It has been amazing, stressful, exciting and a learning experience (now some of you are sarcastically thinking, no...really?! School is a learning experience?!). I have had a wonderful last semester of junior year. I had a spring break with my family in Bayou Dularge and I just got back last week from a trip to NYC with choir. God has blessed me with the ability to be able to do things that some people dream of doing. I SANG in Carnegie Hall on Easter Sunday. I mean, that is a HUGE deal, especially for me as a music major.

Speaking of being a music major, that is going well. I love what I do. I won't be getting a huge paycheck when I grow up, but I have realized that life isn't about the money you make or the things you have. Life is about enjoying the beautiful blessings that God gives you EVERY day of your life. I have been given a well and able body, I have the opportunity to go to college and be whatever I want to be, and He makes me able to rejoice in that. I mean, that is exciting!

I have been given opportunities to serve and grow in my faith this whole year and I feel like I am just now realizing the opportunities I have missed. I always wonder what would have happened if I would have taken those little moments of serving. Would someone be lead to Christ? Would my influence change the actions of others and make them a better person? A lot of the situations I have put myself in don't necessarily hinder me from being a light for Christ, but they don't help my light shine bright. A good friend of mine was talking with me last year about being a light for God. He said something that I thought was so profound, yet simple, that I now have it as a marker in my Bible. "It is like the song from VBS, you are not meant to hide your light and faith from others, you are meant to shine and show it off." It has been my prayer lately that I do everything with the thought of what the outcome will be later. I try to hold my tongue better, I try to uplift rather than put down, I hold onto the friendships I have and I thank God for them. As I look back to August, I think that I have grown up a lot this year. Bringing yourself out of bad situations and completely ignoring them is hard, but when you look at yourself later, you realize just how much better life can be when you are in a positive environment.

Exams are coming up the week after next and then I get to celebrate the start of my 5 day summer (Maymester y'all) with a BEAUTIFUL wedding. One of my best friends from grade school is getting married to the love of her life. I am talking about the wedding of Sloan Dulaney and Scott Matthews. I am SO excited to be able to share and celebrate the happiness with them! They have been in my small group at Pinelake this year and I have enjoyed it so much! It is going to be an awesome time and I know they are excited. I start my Maymester course on the 9th and will go to class EVERY week day for 2.5 hours. Oh my! I'm hoping to get a fun little job to take some of the down time I will have away. David will be gone working in Tupelo and I will be here but I have some sweet friends who will be here working and taking classes, so life shouldn't be too hard! I will probably make a better blog post after exam week; this was just spastic and impromptu. I am in Astronomy class getting taught by a grad student...basically he is breezing through the slides while we all stare in confusion and worry :) PERFECT time to catch up on the blog, right?! Right! You all have a wonderful day, remember, Friday will be here soon!

Love all of you!
Living life in letters,
Jennifer Landreth

Keeping Asheville Weird

I have decided that Asheville, North Carolina, is my destination after college life. This wonderful town is thriving with the arts. There is a musician on every corner, an eclectic arts style throughout each shop and architecture that will blow you away. I've been here before a few years ago with the family in the summer to visit the Biltmore, but we never went to the downtown area. A lot of people say that Asheville is a place for the weirdos...hence why I LOVE it! While the rents and I were visiting the Mast Outfitters store in downtown, I came across a tee that said "If you're too weird for Asheville, you're just too weird" Perfection.
Our first day of vacay started on Christmas day. After a quaint morning with my stocking goodies and breakfast, we went to my grandparents house (mom's side) for the annual Christmas day doings. I was given some fantastic gifts, one being a handmade spool table that my granddad made that looks similar to something I pinned a few months ago that I loved:

Yeah, awesome I know!
We left around 2:30 that afternoon from their house and headed northeast. We got to Chattanooga and had some Christmas night Waffle House (DELISH) and then made the rest of our trip to Knoxville for our one night stay in a hotel. Monday morning we left before the sun peeped up over the mountains. Waking up early was worth it, the views coming out of town towards Asheville were fantastic. Here's a view after the sun came up:

Absolutely stunning. God's got some pretty things out here for us to look at. We got to Asheville early, around 9 that morning. We drove around town and got to Urban Outfitters quick (duh guys, you already know). I got a cute sweater, socks and sweater tights for a mere $36. Atta girl, thrify spender indeed. We headed a few doors down window shopping and saw a yarn shop open.

For those of you that know my mother, she's a yarn queen. She'll knit and/or crochet you pretty much anything you could imagine up. We hung out there for a good while and she got some crazy awesome yarns that were made and dyed in the store. If you've never been to Asheville, you don't really know the pride they have in the "home grown" mentality. I love it. If you can't make it, grow it or produce it, you get someone else in town to do it. Most of the shops and eateries pride themselves in being all local and organic (which is pretty awesome to me). Back to the yarn store; they had some fun yarns in there,

and this sweet pup:

We left there after she turned her hanks into balls of yarny goodness(I know a few things about yarn) and rode around a little more and visited some cute shops including the Mast Outfitters place, it's almost like a Reed's but so much better and much less snobby (think more outdoors, less boutique). We stopped for some lunch at the Mellow Mushroom because it's delicious (yeah, we didn't eat local, but it was WONDERFUL anyway). Here's a view of that deliciousness:

Pretzels for an appetizer....just because we can and we're on vacation (diet and exercise starts immediately following the beginning of school)

Main course was this beautiful pizza, the Red Skin Potato Pie. It was too good for words and you should try it...NOW.

After we hogged out we went to Asheville Mall for me to shop at one store, Aerie. Yes, I do work at VS, but that doesn't mean that I can't partake in cute panties that aren't neon and zebra print. I like a classy under-roo. The mall was packed because it was the day after Christmas and everyone was returning their crap gifts. Good thing I was given a trip for Christmas :) This mall is nuts. It's all carpet and beyond confusing to navigate through, but mission accomplished and panties were on sale (SCOREEEE). We left there and started to head to our sweet little cottage in Marshall, just North of town. I won't make you wait any longer, take a gander at the cuteness that is has been our home away from home.

My favorite part, and sure to be your favorite too (JoAnne Kent, that comment is to you) is this amazing little kitchen. EEP, so cute:

Dad messing with the hot tub pump...yeah that's a cedar hot tub to the right, reminds me of an old water tower or something (and yes....it's awesome)

Our little abode for the past 2 nights.

The place we're staying, East Fork Farm (click for info) has a pretty cool story. Read about it on their website. Here are some of their sheep that they raise (and lamb...that they turn into ground lamb for guests....yummmm!!!!)

GIANT sheepdogs that are sweet (and furry) as can be. I call the one in front Fuzzy McFuzzers.

That's our place. Today, Tuesday, we visited a little bit bigger house, the Biltmore. If you don't know about it or have never heard of it...climb out from under your rock and look it up (jk). It's the nation's largest standing home and was built by the Vanderbilt family (yep, same family as the University). I've been to the home before, but never at Christmas. It. Was. Stunning. Even though we had a pretty rainy morning, the ambiance it set in the house for our 9:30 tour was awesome. The hallways and rooms were dark and the Christmas decorations and lights were beautiful. I couldn't take any pictures inside (sad day...because the decorations and architecture are SO droolworthy)but I got a few outside, one from a stairwell window and one in the basement (shh, secretly did that one).
\

Breakfast and coffee after the tour, that's dad eating his treats (treats and snoozin, snoozing and treats):

Simply amazing. We went to the winery after and did the tour and tasting.

Champagne room, where they add those bubbly bubbles:

Fermentation Process:

I determined after a tester of their Champagne and a tester of a white "sweet" wine that fermented grape juice just simply isn't my thing. It smells great and looks fun, but they both tasted dry and...well...rotten (duhs). It might would help if I enjoyed grape juice in general also. It was a fun experience though. I mainly wanted to do the tasting because I'm 21 now, but they didn't even check my ID (the angst in every newly 21 year old's mind). We left the Biltmore, grabbed lunch at a good local Tex-Mex place in the Biltmore Village and then headed out to find some boots for your girl (me...). I came up empty on the boot search (I can't find that perfect pair...unless the are $328 at Frye.com), but we had fun in the town of Hendersonville, about 30 minutes away from Asheville. We left there and came back to downtown Asheville for me to look for boots, but all the shops were closed. We'll try again tomorrow morning before headed to our next leg of the trip, Wears Valley, TN.
It has been an awesome time in Asheville and an even better time in our cottage. This place is so fun and home-y. If you plan to visit Asheville, I suggest staying here. It's worth the little 20 minute drive. I don't have any cell service out here, but that's not a horrible thing. It's kind of nice. I do, obviously still have my wifi though :)
I'll be blogging again on the trip...and hopefully showing you a new pair of leather boots! We shall see.
I'm leaving you with this picture of downtown Asheville right before dark.

Until next time, partners.

Living life in letters,
Jennifer

Jennifer

Christmas Time is Here, Happiness and Cheer

I seriously have GOT to stop abandoning my blog. I feel like I'm slacking on you guys! Maybe all of that non-blogging is what helped me get all A's (9 A's to be exact) and one B (Music Theory III) this semester. Considering how hectic and stressful my semester has been, I do believe I did wonderful. Best semester of college yet! Next semester, 18 hours, 12 classes...4.0?! We'll see.
So, enough of my ridiculous bragging about my 3.78 GPA this semester (OKAY, seriously done now), let us now talk about what has been on my mind lately!
CHRISTMAS. <---click that word in bold, italic and a different color to discover a wonderful version of "Joy to the World" done by a long time favorite of mine, Josh Maze (from Tandem if you listened to them in your high school days like I did). It is sure to get you in the spirit of Christmas. This year for Christmas I tried and tried to think of what I wanted. I have a closet full of clothes and half of them should be taken to resale and goodwill stores. I have plenty of everything and honestly can't think of anything I just terribly want or need (growing up makes these gifting decisions hard). I told my parents this summer that instead of doing a Christmas present for me, all I wanted to do was go on a trip to the mountains. My wish has been granted! I am going to be rocking around the Christmas tree Sunday morning at my house and then by Christmas night I will be in Knoxville starting my Christmas trip :) We're doing 2 nights in Asheville and 3 nights in the Pigeon Forge area. Meet my cabins, they are wonderful!

That is for Asheville

That is for Tennessee

Needless to say, I am excited. We'll be going to the Biltmore house and seeing all the Christmas lights too! :) I'm such a kid.
Christmas is going to be AWESOME!
Next year, hopefully the boyfriend's family and our friends the Kents' and Backstroms' will join us and we can get a huge cabin together! For now, it's just me and the 'rents...and I love that!

P.S: I've been learning how to quilt. I'm no master, but I'm pretty dang good for a beginner. More on that later...promise it won't be 2 months again.

Alright kids, it's time for me to go lay in my bed with the heated blanket on and watch some Disney channel (told you I'm a kid).

Living life in letters,
Jennifer

Peace Like A River

Wow, I've been quite negligent to my blog. Sorry boys and girls.
I've had quite a time since the last time I blogged.
School has become maddening, music has become harder, choir has become amazing.
I turned 21...that's pretty awesome. It's the last birthday that people look forward to and I celebrated it just I wanted to, with a surprise visit from the sweetest parents in the world and a night with my friends in Starkville.
The beginning of this month was definitely a struggle. I lost my grandmother, Nanna as we call her, at the beginning of October. Most of you that know my family also had the privilege of knowing that precious, beautiful lady. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April of my freshman year at State. She, being the strongest woman I've ever known, didn't give up. In that year and a half of having cancer, she lived, loved, traveled, and fought. When I say fought, whoa, did she ever! She had help from her sweet husband, Danny. I cannot begin to explain my heart for that man. God brought him to her and in turn gave me an even bigger family to love. My grandfather passed away from brain cancer when I was 7 years old. Even though that is a young age, I remember him so well. He had the best laugh ever and he always let me and the other 4 grandchildren sit on his lap...sometimes all together so no one would feel left out. I have been beyond blessed to have two of the best examples of leadership in my grandfathers, both by blood and by marriage.
I have the best memories of Nanna. There's the umpteen million dresses she made me, including my senior year Madrigal dress. There's the spend-the-night parties she gave each grandchild; a night with her all to ourselves including a dinner and outing (with my bookworm ways, my outing was ALWAYS Books A Million). Then there's those precious little uplifting moments that I will always cherish; her and I sitting together in church while I played with her jewelry, her singing me happy birthday every year...opera style, her kind words when I needed them, her uplifting spirit that could always fix any problem, her humor and making faces lessons, her obsession with birds (that's been passed down to me...just look at my pinterest and bedroom), the dress up parties and hair salon nights, and the always famous "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck" song she sang to us before we left her sight. My grandmother was the most amazing woman to ever live and I am so blessed for being able to have her in my life. I am sad for her to be gone, but knowing that she was ready makes me have relief and comfort. I am so thankful for the family she has given me, the two awesome husbands she had, and the family that I have been woven into though Danny.
I was reading the other night during my quiet time and I came across one the most uplifting passages for this season of my life. I was skimming the pages of John and came across this chapter.

John 14:27-31
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I. And now i have told you this before it occurs,s o that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father..."

God is so powerful when we are weak. When I read these few verses, I was given peace. I read the verses a few times and realized that the hymn "Peace Like a River" is built on the beautiful words in this passage. I am singing the song "Peace Like a River" in Chamber Choir this semester and I honestly cannot think of a better song to sing. Nanna loved coming to my concerts and hearing all of the choral pieces (I got my love of singing from her). After seeing this passage, singing this song is going to make it so much more special to me.

Even if she and my grandfather won't be there to see me graduate from State, get married or have children, God's promise rings out true; I will see those two sweet people again one day. I cannot wait for that day, but until then I will try to live my life out in the best way I can; loving, living, serving and fighting while trying to honor God in the best ways possible.

Living life in letters,
Jennifer Landreth

I'm sailing home to you, I won't be long.

Before we get started here, I have an announcement:
Some of you who follow me on the Twitter (@jennlandreth) or have me on Facebook have seen me blow up your feeds with my obsession with Josh Garrels. His music pertains to this post, so I'm embedding a player from Noisetrade into this blog. You can enter your e-mail and zip code on the player and receive the whole album for free...AMAZING deal. Listen to this while you read, start with the song titled "Ulysses"...be prepared to cry from the beauty of it. It's going to make your life better, promise.


Hello friends and family! I haven't done this in a few weeks. Shame on me, I know, but I've been too busy on Pinterest...for some reason I just can't balance out my networking life.
It felt weird to already have a break in school, and it's even weirder that this week starts the first rounds of testing in my classes. Have we really been in session that long?!
So, I was supposed to go to my second home (Bayou DuLarge, Lousiana) this past weekend for the Labor Day holiday, but apparently Tropical Storm Lee had other intentions. My mom told me Friday morning that we would not be going due to the storm's development. You can imagine my sadness if you know just how much I love that place. How could you not love this, though?!

Anyway, so even though we were unable to go and watch the storm roll in with our great friends, the Lacoste's, Luke's and Moser's, I still had a good weekend with my family. Friday night I got home and went to eat dinner at my favorite place EVER, Agnew's Steakhouse. That place honestly has the best steak in the world. I was there with my parents and the rest of my "family", the Kent's and the Backstrom's. Both of those families are my second favorites. I love spending time with all of them! We went back to my house after a great dinner and we played a few rounds of the card game Golf. I still couldn't tell you how it is played, I was half asleep while we were playing it. Briley Backstrom and I were ready to pass out and all of the adults were just chugging along playing and being the kids, a nice role reversal.
Saturday morning I woke up with the feeling of death in my throat. When the temperature jumps from 98 to 65, my body doesn't know what to do. I got some good food loving all weekend though, so it helped ease the pain of the sickness. My dad found his inner Cajun and cooked chicken and sausage gumbo; it was FANTASTIC. The man can cook! Sunday afternoon I went with my bestest friend Savannah to see The Help. Talk about a great movie! I finished the book a few weeks ago but I haven't had the chance to go see the movie until Sunday. It was a great interpretation of the story and I loved seeing Greenwood, MS throughout the scenes! Savannah and I snuck some yogurt in from Tutti Fruitti and that just made the movie experience even better. A movie isn't good unless you smuggle in your own goodies, sorry but $4 for a box of Milk Duds ain't cuttin it! After the movie we went back to my house and enjoyed some taco soup and homemade chocolate cookies, courtesy of my mom and dad. Obviously they know how to take care of a sick child, feed her real good!
When I left late Monday afternoon, it had stopped raining for good (first time in 2 days). I absolutely love the way everything feels after a good and long rain. The grass is shiny, the roads are clean, the sky is gray but so pretty. When I was coming back to Starkville I saw one of the best sunsets I've seen. The top picture is an unedited (just framed) picture of the sunset. The bottom picture is at the very beginning when the sun was just barely peeking from the clouds that lingered from Lee.

It might have been because the sun wasn't out for 2 days, but it was still pretty. I looked directly to my left and saw a rainbow that arched SO high I could see both ends. It was beyond gorgeous.

I had to stop on the side of the road and just breathe in the beauty that surrounded me on both sides of my car. To the right I had a sunset that peeped from under dark gray clouds, to the left I had this giant rainbow that took up the whole sky with color. It was one of the best things I've ever seen. All the while Josh Garrels' "Flood Waters" was playing. I, being the music geek that I am, loved the parallels that were happening between real life and the song.

Can you see why I just love Josh now?! Go download his stuff before I have to punch you...I mean, it's 18 free songs, ALL great!
Ight, I'm done now...remember...DOWNLOAD ;)

Living Life in Letters,
Jennifer Landreth

For Kayla:
I love you....................................roomie.

Back in the Saddle Again

I'm back in Starkville. I promised a blog with pictures of my house and all that, but I just haven't gotten around to doing that much. I've been busy with all of the decorating and chatting with my roommates, Kayla Moore, Kelsey Hart and Mary-Kathryn Quigley. They are all pretty fantastic and we've been having extremely too much fun in our little house. Even though we live across from the CLASSIEST (nastiest) bar in Starkville, we still have a blast! Thursdays through Saturdays, also Tuesdays, all we hear from 10p.m to 2a.m is bass from the music they play. We'll end up getting sick of it by next month, but right now it's some of the best entertainment.
Since I got back, I've been being busy with the decorating and visiting most of the time. I've been going to Pinelake Church since I got back and it makes me SO excited to be back there! I have really missed the people and the lessons from Pinelake.
We just started classes today, and I have had a SUPER busy day. This blog's going to be on the short side, because I still have to make dinner (being domestic is weird).
Here's a few pictures of the house and my first few days back in Starkville!