So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen 2009

Do you ever come to the end of a year and are unable to remember exactly what happened that year? 12 months is a lot of time... a lot of life. I think this year might best be remembered as a year where I had to make a lot of grown-up decisions. Had to do a lot of things I didn't want to do in order to get where I am eventually going. And had to trust God A LOT.
So, I am happily ending 2009 and looking forward to an exciting 2010. I'm planning to take life by storm in the New Year and live to the fullest. I have some big things in store for my blog (and my life) and I can't wait to get started.

Goodbye 2009. Hello Future.

Believing

When I was a kid, Santa came to our house in a BIG way. He was huge at our place! And the idea of ole Kris Kringle was made even bigger by my parents who encouraged my brother and I to believe. My parents never used the idea of Santa Claus as the "morality police"- I don't remember a single time when my presents were threatened by my behavior; I think my parents encouraged me to believe just to have fun and for the sake of believing.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of families are making less of a deal about Santa, for fear he might take away from Jesus. I don't have any problem with that- to each their own, and I certainly never want to highlight Santa over the true reason I celebrate Christmas morning- the birth of my Savior.

However, I don't think that the IDEA of Santa has to take away from the REALITY of Jesus. I truly feel that believing in Santa taught me how to believe. I learned early on that Santa wasn't a mind reader- the present I wanted worst of all, in my heart of hearts, wasn't always under the tree on Christmas morning. Yet, I was never disappointed by what was waiting for me under the tree. And even after I was told the awful truth about Santa, I didn't want it to be true and I doubted it for a long time. I don't ever want to purposefully make a child doubt the reality of Christ, but I also don't think that asking questions, no matter the age, is so terrible.

I realize you don't turn to my blog for insightful parenting tips (especially since I have zero children to parent), or hard hitting theological debates but if you can't express what you're thinking about on your own blog, where can you?

May your Christmas be filled with lots of love, happiness, warm and family. Most of all may it be filled with lots of belief.

From my (old school) family to yours:

My Weekend

This weekend I:

1. Ate Chinese Takeout with my BFF. And got an incredibly generic fortune (bummer).

2. Helped my mom throw her rockin' Christmas Party at the house.

3. Got a new phone.



4. Felt like a technological fool while trying to learn how to work my new phone.

5. Tried to recover from my illness (my head is still debating whether or not it wants to explode).

6. Played with my parents kittens!!

7. Made my very own Vanilla Chai Tea. Two words: Epic Fail.

8. Coughed up a lung.

9. Opened a Twitter account. (Twitter just got 47% more obnoxious).

10. Did not prepare for the coming work week.

Oh Monday. You came too soon.

Chump Change

Recently, I was leaving my apartment and saw a man outside my door. He was downstairs outside of, what I call, the security door (it takes two doors to get to my apartment- because I'm all safety conscious and whatnot). I have to say that, my apartment almost always feels safe to me, but strange men outside my door, on dark nights makes me a little nervous.

The man saw me and called out to me: "Ma'am? Could I trouble you for some gas money? I really need to get some gas and I don't have enough money."

Did I mention he was riding a bike?

Well, the man was riding a bike and as he asked me for some gas money he pedaled over to me. I wanted to explain to him that it didn't seem like his vehicle took gas, unless it was some sort of hybrid unleaded fuel that I don't know about.

Instead I gave him 58 cents and sent him pedaling on his way.

Help!

I think that my blog may have officially broken my spirit. If you know anything about the internets or how to fix my blog I need help. I can't figure out how to make my header look cute. Or at the very least how to center my words.

And here I thought that they let just anyone have a blog. But, it turns out that apparently you need to know more than how to turn on your computer before you can be successful. I'm beginning to think I need to take up a new hobby. I may have to return to the world of needlepoint. So, if anyone is still looking for Christmas presents I'm sure my new pillows will be a big hit this year. The sentiment on the pillow says "my friend stopped blogging and all I got was this ugly pillow" and they're sure to be covered in blood. Congratulations, world of technology, you win.

Left A Good Job In The City

I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what my dream job is, now that I have my Master’s.   Well, to be perfectly honest, if I could have any job in the world right now I would want to be one of Tina Turner’s backup dancers.

This is mainly because:

A) I would be able to dance wearing high heels.

B) I would get to wear a mini-skirt to work (Except- if I was Tina Turner’s backup dancer I would look good in a mini-skirt).

C) Tina Turner would be my boss. 

D) I would have some SERIOUSLY amazing dance skills.  And I would constantly be impressing people with my smooth moves.

E) At some point I would meet Oprah and she would realize that I am what her life has been missing all this time and then she would adopt me.

Except I don’t dance well.  I definitely can’t wear high heels while dancing.  And let us never forget the mini-skirt debacle of ‘03- the last time my lower thighs have seen the light of day.

But, other than that, I think I’ve presented some pretty sound logic for my new career choice.  Call me Tina.

You are 16 going on…… Wait

It's my birthday and for the life of me I can't remember what I did this past year, but I'm going to try and remember all the best parts of being 25.

1. I started my blog.  The gift that keeps on giving.

2. After an eleven year hiatus, I victoriously returned to the world of camping.  I like to refer to that as the woman vs. wild week (and by week I mean two days).

The whole crew:

With our paddles in the back of my friend Hope's Audi.  Yes.  We took an Audi camping.

3. The Ward Wedding.  What's better than seeing sweet and dear friends get married?

   

4. I was introduced to Ginger Evans.  And I can't wait to see her sweet little face.  It's sure to be a highlight from my 26th year.

5. My Mom celebrated her 5-year anniversary of being cancer free.  I love that woman.

5 good moments from a great 25th year.  There were definitely tons more of happy and wonderful moments but my brain is tired and I’m not 25 anymore so it’s now officially bedtime!