Celebrations

Today is quite a day for celebrations. I know what you are thinking...we just got done celebrating Christmas, and New Year's Eve isn't until tomorrow, so what could be today? Well, I shall tell you. Today is first of all my mom's birthday, second of all, my aunt and uncle's anniversary, and third of all my sister and brother-in-law's anniversary. Quite a big day huh? So, here's to all of you who are celebrating something today, may the Lord bless you and keep you from now until forevermore. I love you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KATHY AND ERIC!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KRISTEN AND HEATH!!

Family Time :)

I love family time. I love hanging out with my siblings and bringing up old memories and razzing each other. I love laughing and talking and playing cards and eating food.

You know how people always ask you what your favorite holiday/time of the year is? And the usual answers are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, etc. And usually that's what I answer, too. However, I have realized that my favorite time of the year is family time. It doesn't matter if it happens over a holiday (although the gifts at Christmas are a nice bonus ;) ) or if it is in the middle of August. Family time is a special time for me.

So, all that to say, my family is here! My sister, her husband, and their daughter drove up from Dallas yesterday and will be here for a few days. My brother and his girlfriend drove over from Ames yesterday also. As for me, I came home Thursday afternoon, right before all the bad weather hit. We all made it safe and sound, although I think we all were exhausted ;).

Today is my fourth day home and I already worked two 9 hour shifts. It was good to be back at work and see everyone again and get right back into the swing of things. But...I am TIRED. I am glad I have the next few days off to recouperate a little bit before working again.

Our tree looks much different than it did the last time I was home. There are presents!! Lots and lots! Lots of big ones this year. Hmmm...

Already my 3 brothers and Kristen have started a game of cards...Pinochle to be exact. We just finished an AMAZING meal...stuffed pork chops, carrots, broccoli, crescent rolls, homemade harvest grain bread and homemade applesauce. Yummy! I am really really full now. :)

One more week...

Til I get to go home for Christmas!! Yay! I've been a little under the weather lately and it has made me want to go home even more. Even though it is only a cold, I long for some of my mom's loving care. Granted, I would be consuming massive amounts of Vitamin C if I were home, but I also could perhaps weasle some jello juice out of the deal. You see, whenever one of us kids was sick, (like really sick, the flu and such) my mom would make us jello juice. Now, it is exactly as it sounds, literally just jello juice. Want the recipe? It's simple; make jello and don't add as much cold water as normal and instead of putting it in the fridge, pour it into a cup and drink it. It is amazingly good. And somehow it is only that good when you are sick and your mommy makes it for you. Anyways, I've been wishing that I had some jello juice and my mom these past few days even though it is only a cold. But I haven't had a cold in quite a while so I am not used to it. I remember now how much I dislike being sick.

It is weird to think that already two weeks have flown by and that next week will be the end of my first 3 week session. Overall, it wasn't too bad. It was kind of nice only having one class even though I had to go to 2 1.5 hour sessions each day of the same class (well, except for Wednesday). The first few days I was incredibly bored because we didn't really have homework yet and we had nothing going on for the sorority and I am used to keeping pretty busy. But things are picking up some and oh that reminds me! I haven't told y'all the news! Last Sunday, we had elections for Sigma Kappa. This past year I have held the position of corresponding secretary in the house. This next year...I am going to be President! I was elected last Sunday to be the new President of Beta Mu of Sigma Kappa. Woot woot!! Tomorrow I will get installed and then I will officially start in January (I think). It is still kind of weird and new to me but also exciting!

Well, I guess that is it for now. Oh and another random thing...it rained here today...and didn't freeze. Yeah, in December, in Northern Missouri, it rained. Crazy weather, huh?

The "5 THINGS GAME" The rules are to write 5 things under each of the 5 headings, and then tag 5 other people.

10 years ago...
1. I was 10 years old
2. I had just started playing the flute
3. I had, earlier in the year, flown to Florida with my siblings...all by ourselves
4. I was in 5th grade
5. I was probably really into Point of Grace

5 Things on Today's "To-Do" List
1. Go to class
2. Find my ID (didn't happen)
3. Buy a new ID
4. Train the person taking my position
5. Try not to be bored ;)

5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. cheese
2. Chex mix
3. fruit loops
4. chocolate covered pretzels
5. popcorn

5 Things I Would Do if I were a Millionaire!
1. Pay for the rest of my college
2. Put a lot away for later (my future family)
3. Give lots to St. Jude's
4. Travel
5. Help those I know

5 Places I Have Lived...
(umm...how long did you have to be there for it to count as living there??)
1. West Marion
2. Hiawatha
3. East Marion
4. Canton
5. ???

5 Jobs I've had/Still have...
1. Babysitting
2. Kid's Kampus
3. Culver's
4. C-SC Dining Services
5. ???

5 People I'm tagging:
ummm....i don't know 5 people....and the people i do know have already been tagged...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Earlier this week, I was contacted by a friend of mine who wanted to know if I would be willing to help one of our sorority's alumna decorate her Christmas tree. I immediately agreed because I LOVE to decorate for Christmas! Christmas is by far my favorite holiday of the year because the Christmas season lasts for so long. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I start listening to Christmas music and we put up all our Christmas decorations as well as our tree. So when I got asked to help decorate another tree I was excited!

The tree was a fake one and was about 9-10 feet tall. There were four girls including myself and the lady the tree belonged to. One of the other girls and I put on at least a dozen strings of white lights after getting the tree all put together. Then, all four of us worked together to put the beautiful ornaments on. When we were finished, we were all very proud! It was a gorgeous tree and I wish I had taken a picture of it so you could see!

So, that was Thursday night while I was at school. Yesterday, Friday, I came home and that night the four of us (Mom, Dad, Kaleb, and I) went to the Hoffman tree farm to find our tree. It was EXTREMELY cold out so we tried to choose quickly. We found, with much help from one of the workers, the perfect tree. It is an 8.5 foot tall white pine that has a perfect shape and is amazingly full. My Dad had to cut it down slightly so that it would fit in our living room, but it still looks great! We found a new place for it in our living room. It used to almost always go in front of our window but this year, we put it in the corner next to our kitchen and we LoVe it! We can see it from the hallway, the living room, and the kitchen! So my Dad and Kaleb set it up last night to let it fluff down. It was fun to watch it slowly let its branches down and see exactly what it was like!

It reminded me of a flower that, when still in a tight bud, is not much to look at. But once the flower slowly opens up, it reveals its amazing inner beauty that could never have been guessed from looking at the bud. Strangely enough, I think people are like that, too. Often times, we are not much to look at or perhaps what others see is not acceptable or immediately likeable. Yet as soon as we start slowly opening up to people, they see us for who we really are, beautifully made in God's image. In the same way, we should not judge others before we get to know them, for perhaps their beauty is yet to be unveiled.

So, anyways, back to decorating! My Dad and Kaleb put 4 strings of lights, which added up to 800 lights. They say it is too many lights but my Mom and I say it is perfect! After all, the lights make the tree!! :) Then we went through the usual tradition of putting all of our own ornaments on our tree. Ever since we were born, my Grandpa and Grandma gave us an ornament every year to put on our tree. This happens every year until we turn 18. It is always fun to pull out all the old ornaments and reminisce of years past. Another tradition is helping my parents put up all of their ornaments since we are done putting all ours up before they are. It was slightly different this year because it was just Kaleb and I putting up our ornaments, when it used to be Kristen, Keenan, Kaleb and I putting up our ornaments. Even though Keenan is not living at home anymore, we still had his ornaments so my Mom and Grandma put his on for him.

Then my Mom and I set about to putting up the rest of the house decorations, which mainly consists of the various nativity sets she has collected over the years. I love looking at each one and seeing the differences between them in style and such, yet they all portray the same scene. It amazes me that a scene that is so widely seen and made so many ways has still stayed the same. It also amazes me that some still do not see the significance of the scene. The shepherds and Mary and Joseph are not simply greeting a new baby into the world. They are greeting God's Son. And yet, they are doing so much more as well; they are worshipping Him. For He was King then and is still King now. How often do we look at and admire nativity scenes yet miss the reality of what is occuring in each one? How often do we see without really seeing and understanding?

Well, I suppose you all want some pictures of our tree? :) Here they are...Enjoy!

Dad and Kaleb putting the lights on

Mom and I putting on ornaments

The finished product!!

(with our traditional tree skirt, of course, made by Grandpa Miskell. We love and miss you Grandpa!)

So I couldn't resist...

I HAD to put some pictures up of my niece, Ainsley. I don't want to steal any of my sister and brother-in-law's thunder, so I just picked my two favorites. I took these pictures while I was at their apartment in Dallas right before Thanksgiving. Isn't she simply THE cutest and most adorable little girl EVER???

She is not quite walking yet, but she pulls herself up on everything and crawls everywhere too! She has her first two bottom teeth also!! :) They are coming up to Iowa for Christmas and I can't wait to see them all again!