February 2: Super Bowl

Is this game over yet?! First, the half-time show was better than the full-time show.  I was, however, productive in finding a couple articles for my dissertation and taking down my Christmas tree.  Yes, you read that correctly.  January was one crazy month and I just got around to taking down my tree.  All the other decorations were away weeks ago, the tree simply lingered.  Keep Christmas alive all year long, right?!

December 30: The cold, cold, coast

Dad came into town this morning and we went to the coast.  In Oregon, they don't call it the ocean or the beach, rather, the coast.  It was chiiiiillllllly.  It also gave me a chance to play around with my camera and my new eye-fi card (it makes my camera wireless & is awesome).  I was able to instantly send the photos from my camera to my phone and then text them to my dad.  So stinkin' cool (thanks mom!).  

We also went to the city of Tillimock (famous for cheese and ice cream).

For dinner we went to Little Big Burger (one of my sister's favorites) and to Salt & Straw (ice cream).  I have wanted to try this place for-a-long-time.  It lived up to the hype.  They have unusual flavors of ice cream, but they're delicious!

December 25: Christmas

Christmas morning we woke up and ...oops, CJ forgot to wrap a gift.  :)  Anyway, we had a leisurely morning opening stockings and gifts, eating monkey bread and drinking coffee.  It was a nice time with my mom and sister!  Later that evening we went to see Frozen (everyone had already seen it once, but it was my first time).  So stinkin' cute!  The music was fantastic AND it isn't the typical Disney princess story.  It was a very nice Christmas day.

Grandma gave me & CJ some of her bone china teacups. LOVE them!

December 24: Christmas Eve x2

Christmas Eve day I hung out at home, wrapped my final gifts, and nursed my cold.  That evening, we went to two, yes TWO Christmas Eve services (one at my mom's church and one at my sister's church).  Dan did the lights for their church (which were very nice) and there was a candle light portion (which always makes it feel like a Christmas Eve service (asa reminder that Jesus came to be light)).  Then we headed to the Shnitz in downtown Portland for a service.  It was freezing outside, and they didn't let us in until 10:15pm for the 11pm service.  We arrived early to get seats, so thus we waited outside.  Did I mention it was cold?  Did I mention I have a cold?  Good combo ;)  Anyway, the service was worth the wait.  There were some songs, and we read through the birth of Jesus and then John Mark give a mini-sermon.  I always enjoy hearing him speak; and welcoming in Christmas day through the service was a nice way to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

 

Cozy socks & a blanket.  Life is good.

They also had coffee, hot cocoa, and cookies available at the service. :)
Ps. her church also does this for Sunday services too. :) :)

December 23: Wrapping

Today I finished my Christmas shopping and (most) my wrapping.  Aside from that, the day was spent on the couch with some kleenex.  I enjoy seeing the presents with bright colors and glittery bows under the tree.  I also enjoy wrapping here because my mom has such great paper and ribbon options.  It's also nice to have it done (a little) in advance.  The tradition usually is a scramble on Christmas Eve (everyone is separate rooms) wrapping presents.  I don't know what I'm going to do with all this free time I'll have after our Christmas Eve service ;)

December 21: Plaid Tidings

Tonight we went to see Plaid Tidings, a story of a quartet sent back to earth to spread Christmas cheer.  It was such a clever show with fantastic music!  Thank you Dan for the tickets!  We also got a chance to meet Dan's daughter Vanessa.  They both are into theatre, which is fun since we all enjoy shows as well (particularly, musicals).  My sister, however, kept giving me the side eye as I tried my hardest to not sing along (not always succeeding).

December 19: Traveling

Traveling, traveling through the woods...okay, so maybe I don't travel through the woods to get home. But I do take a car, a shuttle, a plane, and more to get to mom's house.  When I travel for the holidays, I take two suit cases, one for clothes and the other (bigger) one usually holds my snow shoes and presents.  Yep, I bring my shoe shoes with me to Portland (it's about the only time I use them right now :).  While at the airport, I also got a cup of deliciousness-Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Winter Dream Latte.  Yumm.  It was a relatively uneventful travel day, albeit long (but that's to be expected).

December 18: Christmas Crafty-ness

Last year during the holidays, Kara and I had a craft night and Kara made a couple of these cute picture frame holders for friends.  They are so stinkin' cute and I got one of my VERY own this year!  She is so crafty. Moreover, I am so thankful for her friendship!

December 1: Christmas Time is Here

Since I got a late start decorating for Christmas I was debating even putting up a tree.  What?!  I know, but I couldn't not put up a tree, and a nativity, and a wreath.  But this year, there will be no ornaments on my tree.  Instead I decided to wrap it in ribbon and simply enjoy the lights.  I love the season of advent as I prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and I know a Christmas tree has nothing to actually do with Jesus, but the reminders of Christmas remind me to pause, remember, and prepare my heart.

November 22: Coffee Hour

Today was the last coffee hour of the semester and hosted by our office.  We offered students the opportunity to fill shoe boxes for operation Christmas child and students responded!  We filled 71 boxes and students were extremely creative in writing and designing cards.  We had about 275 people show up, despite being the Friday before a week off for Thanksgiving.  It was a wonderful way to end the semester and coffee hours for 2013.

Incarnation: Presence, Sacrifice, and Love

When I was a hall director, July was full of training.  We'd learn protocols and processes for everything from move in, to changing light bulbs, to emergency situations, to conflict resolution... and eventually to move out.  I loved working in housing.  There were rarely dull days, and being able to live-in was a wonderful opportunity to see students at their best and worst, and visa-versa.  As I would prepare for the upcoming year, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, God would often give me a verse or song that would somehow be exactly what I needed for that season.

As another, and hopefully final, school year (at least for me as-student) approaches, I've been asking God to reveal truth through scriptures or songs.

One of my songs from last year was by Steven Curtis Chapman, Definition of Me. The song is included below.  These words spoke deep meaning to me and reminded me to find my worth and value in Christ...despite the many, many, things that were telling me to find my worth elsewhere (i.e., what others think of me; if I pass prelims; if I defend before/after so-and-so).  So as this year was approaching, I began looking for, and asking God to reveal something to me for this upcoming year.

And then it hit me.  Staring me straight in the face, literally.  On my bathroom mirror I had three words, presence, sacrifice, and love.

Last Christmas I was up in Portland and we were headed to my sister's church for service (when I'm up there, we usually rotate between mom's church & CJ's).  Anyway, I remember the music being loud (I think my mom may have even pulled out her phone for a decibel count) and the young pastor who looked like he belonged in Portland (e.g., skinny jeans, sweater).  Although I cannot remember everything from that service, I remember him talking about incarnation and what it meant for Jesus to become flesh and dwell among us.  He spoke that for Jesus, incarnation was really about three things: presence, sacrifice, and love.

For me, those words resinated for weeks to come.  So much that when I was finally home, I wrote them on my mirror & dry eraser board (yes, it's been cleaned since January... I just keep rewriting those words).  I want them to be a reminder for me to live like Jesus did.  He knew he came to make the ultimate sacrifice, and yet, he lived in the present making the most of his days.  Furthermore, his sacrifice was out of the most amazing love, a love that surpasses my understanding.

Thus, as I broach another academic year that is guaranteed to be challenging and celebratory, my hope is to practice presence when I'm with people, look for ways to sacrifice my time and resources, and love others, even when it's difficult.

Now I need to go practice some presence with my dissertation.


Definition of Me
Here come those words again
I run for cover, I’m dodging them.
But still they seem to find their way
around my best defense
Here come those little thoughts
of all I ought to be but I’m not
I try talking to myself
but I’m still not convinced
I’m good, I’m bad, I’m everything in between oh
I’m this, I’m that, but really God we both know

Chorus
It is Your love that defines me
and Your love that reminds me
it’s not what I do
This life I live, You have given
and in You I am hidden
This is what I know is true
that the definition of me is You

This ladder never ends
I climb up then we slide down again
Still they say you’ve not arrived
until you reach the top
But Your kingdom’s upside down
it is the servant who wears the crown
First is last and last is first
and You’re all that I’m not
‘Cause I’m weak, You’re strong, I’m empty ‘til You fill me
I sing this song to keep myself remembering
[Chorus] 

I have been made by You
I have been saved by You
All that I am is all because of You
I’m weak, You’re strong, I’m empty but You fill me
I’m singing this song to keep myself remembering

[Chorus]

Christmas 2010 (part III)

After leaving California, I was headed to Oregon to spend time with my mom and sister.  Now that I'm a student again, I had 3 weeks off and spent almost 2 of them in Oregon.  Here's the list, pictures, and recap of my time in Oregon.

Fringe.

My sister got me hooked on fringe this season.  So I caught up on seasons 1 & 2.  Yes friends, that's about 26 hours of TV watching.  Yikes, but soooo good. :)

Christmas Eve.

My sister's church held a Christmas Eve service at the Portland theatre downtown.  It was a wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus, very authentic, very real worship.  I also enjoyed the hot drinks and cookies provided in the lobby.  :)

Christmas.

Christmas is no longer a wake up early, run downstairs event.  In part, we don't have stairs.  After a slow moving morning, we opened presents, had two lovely breakfasts, and hung out around the house.  One of my favorite gifts, that I accidentally left in Oregon but should be on it's way back to me is a necklace my sister got me.  There's a long back story which I will save you all from (this post is already going to be long).  But the necklace is this cute little heart and on the front it says, 'I love that we're sisters'.  Ahhhh.  Sweet.  Right.  On the back it says, "And I love that there is nothing you can do about it'.  Now that's more like my sister.  Ha. 

Reading.

I got a couple great books for Christmas.  I enjoy reading, but frankly with school I haven't done much fictional reading.  Well, I made up for that this break.  A friend in Athens recommended the 'hunger games'.  The book, which turns out to be a trilogy, is young adult fiction about...well, the premise makes the books sound awful, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  I read the first on Christmas day and had to run out and get the second and third...which of course I read in two subsequent days.  Best piece of fiction since Harry Potter.  Amazing. 

New Years Eve.

I  think New Years Eve is kind of a bust of a holiday.  Don't get me wrong, I stay up til midnight and 'celebrate', but I've never really understood why such celebration occurs over the flipping of a calendar page.  If you actually still use a paper calendar, it happens every midnight.  It is however an excuse to get people together.  My mom, sister, and her roommate spent the night playing games.  It was a relaxed and enjoyable time!  Oh...and I made a new settlers convert.  ;)

McMenamins.

The McMenamins are a family who take local historic or old buildings and convert them into hotels, movie theaters, breweries, and restaurants.  Not having ever experienced one, we went to see the movie Red.  The theater has all couches and tables, and you can order food, beer, or snacks while the movie plays.  It was a fun experience.  Next time, I'll make sure it's a movie I really want to see.  

Home videos.

One night my sister, being her sneaky self, brought out some old home videos.  Of course, she primarily brought out the old videos of me singing.  Oh yes, all my grade school performances were taped.  Watching these videos brought back wonderful memories and tons of laughter.  Here is one of my favorites of my sister in a Christmas musical from church.  

Snowshoeing.

I love hiking.  I love snow.  So why not love snowshoeing?!  Well, since I had never been, I couldn't have an informed opinion.  But now, I know I love it.  My sister and I went up to the foot of Mt. Hood on some 'trail'.  It was a beautiful trek with the view of Mt. Hood ahead of us.  The trail was about 3 miles long and many miles wide.  The snow covered trees were a sight!  I enjoyed the time with my sister AND the time in the snow!

 

 

We're excited about being in the snow!

 

 My 'trek' picture was actually taken on the way down, but the view this way was much better!

 

Yay for snow!

There were many more highlights from the trip including my sister discovering the brand of her favorite bed at Macy's (after practically climbing under the bed to find the name plate) and dessert at Papa Haydn's; the time was precious and I returned to Athens rested, rejuventated, and ready for the next semester!

End of Book.

Christmas 2010 (part II)

After celebrating Christmas with my dad and the extended family, I spent the next few days with my mom's side.  Since my grandpa has yet to make a miraculous recovery, I treasure the times I get to spend with them.  Additionally, for Christmas, my mom's siblings chipped in to buy her a flight down for Christmas for which she was able to take family and medical leave.  So Sunday, I did family Christmas with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, mom, sister, and cousins.  It was such a special time.  

 I don't remember what was so funny, but I love this picture.

 Aunt Sherry and Wayne

My aunt and cousin make wrap with beautiful bows, however, sometimes they're hard to undo.  My sister to the rescue with the scissors!

 Cousins

My grandma got a blanket and a Bible with large size print for Christmas.  Both of which my grandpa tried (successfully) to borrow.  He read some out of her Bible that night, it was a precious moment with his insertions of 'yes Jesus and you know it Lord' after passages about strength or such.  It was funny enough to keep us all from sobbing as he read.

A little later, I reminded my grandpa that if he was going to borrow grandma's gifts, he should let her borrow his.  (Only he got gloves, which wouldn't fit her, and a shirt, same problem.)  He responds with, "I'll let her borrow my shirt...when she washes it...cause I'm a good husband."  He's obviously being a ham, and now has us cracking up with his sarcasm.  I later point out to him that I've obviously been looking for the wrong qualities in a guy...clearly I need to find one who will let me do his laundry.  ;)

Sunday night, my cousin Jonathan stayed around and we played Settlers...and my mom won?!  Not quiet sure how that happened. ;)

My mom and sister went back to Oregon on Monday and I stayed around until Tuesday afternoon.  Monday night, my grandma and I went on a date to see Tangled.  Cute movie, and it was fun to spend some quality time with just her!  After we had a snack before bed.  Hot chocolate and cinnamon and sugar toast will ALWAYS remind me of my grandma and grandpa Rhymes.

Tuesday morning, I made breakfast for my grandparents and for my uncle (he's staying with them to help out around the house, etc).  Swedish pancakes have been a family favorite for years, and I thought I'd find the recipe and whip some up that morning.  I feel a little tricked as the recipe was under Norwegian, which referenced French pancakes...but, my grandma had added her own writing into the cookbook making them 'Swedish'. :)  I also thought the cookbook was too funny not to include a picture.

Tuesday afternoon, my friend Kristel, former roommate, picked me up so we could hang out until my flight on Wednesday morning.  And where did we stop for lunch?!   In-N-Out!  Yumm! 

We had a wonderful visit, even though it was short.  I miss my southern California friends, Kristel being one of them!  I was bummed I couldn't get down there this year, however, grateful I was able to spend some quality time with Kristel (as her family lives in northern California).

In other news...I began to panic on Tuesday when I hadn't received email check in information for my Wednesday flight.  Long story short, apparently I didn't book the flight.  Which is odd, because I remember exactly where I was when I bought it.  In case you wanted to know, I was sitting at Common Ground parking lot on Wednesday (before Thanksgiving) in the Tiff-terra, as CG was actually closed, but their free wi-fi still worked.  I remember purchasing it before going to dinner with my friend Kelley.  I remember.  I remember.  Only, they don't.  And there was no record.  And it wasn't on my credit card.  So Tuesday night, I frantically called Alaska Airlines to double check, and to repurchase, or purchase for the first time, my flight from California to Oregon.

It was a close call, the flight was overbooked by one, me.  But thankfully, and with much prayer, I was able to get on the flight!

Oregon, here I come.

End of part two.

Christmas 2010 (part I)

Christmas is usually crazy.  Ever since I left California, Christmas has been a bit of a fiasco.  I have many friends who live in southern California; my dad lives outside of Sacramento and my grandparents on my mom's side live near my dad (a random coincidence).  Additionally, my dad's extended family does a Christmas celebration the Saturday before Christmas.  It's a lot of Christmas, a lot of people to see, and a lot of time traveling.  This is before I usually head to Oregon to visit my mom and sister.

Are you tired yet?

I have grown to appreciate Thanksgiving more and more these last few years.  Partly because it's a time to pause and reflect on my many blessings, and partly because it's too short of a holiday to do too much.

However, this post is about Christmas :)

This year, my sister and I decided to try and make it to my dad's extended family Christmas.  We hadn't been there in three or four years, and since I had a longer break (an advantage of being a student again), we decided this would be a good year to do it.

On Friday morning, I woke up at 5:30am and Mallory and I headed to the airport.  Her flight left at noon and mine at 3pm.  Upon arriving in Houston, Texas, I awaited my next flight to California.  A few delays, 5 hours worth of a layover, and a 4.5 hour flight, I was finally landing in California.  My Aunt and Uncle were kind enough to pick me up from the airport ... late.  We arrived at their home at 1:30am (PST) ie. 3:30am EST...almost 24 hours worth of travel.  Phew.

Saturday morning came, and my body woke up as if it were on the east coast.  Boo.  However, we went to work peeling potatoes and preparing for the party.  I had a wonderful time visiting with the two of them before everyone else joined!

Dad's family Christmas is a tradition that's gone on for roughly 30 years, nearly all my life.  Every year we play Christmas bingo, sing the 12 days of Christmas, and have some sort of gift exchange.

Here are some pictures from the day!

I won!  Don't worry, we play enough rounds so that everyone can win!  My half brother Joey is next to me.

Below is a picture of Joey, me, my sister, and my dad.  We're only missing Kevin, my other half brother.  That, however, is a long story...and one I'm not even sure I know all the details to.

Aren't we cute?!  Do you see the resemblance?

We have two cousins closest in age to us, Lauren and Scott.  They are wonderful people and truly make these family get togethers a blast.  Anyway, Scott is now engaged to Lauren (who is featured on the left) and that's his sister Lauren in the middle.  Guess what his mom (my aunts) name is?  No, it's not Lauren, but it is Laura. 

Here's my sister, AJ (cousin Lauren's husband), and Scott.  Like I said, they were cracking me up...and apparently themselves as well.

Since there were 29 of us this Christmas, we had to partner up for the 12 days of Christmas.  My sister and I were ... yes, eleven pipers piping.

After the singing, we did a closet item gift exchange.  I'm not even sure I want to explain how it was played this year, but I'll say it involved my uncle and cousin playing the bongos.  Here is what we won! :)

I think, no, I know there was some tampering with the outcome...in our favor.  All this to say, the day was extremely enjoyable.  I had a good time catching up with family I hadn't seen in a long time.

That night, my sister and I celebrated Christmas with our dad.  As part of our family tradition, we exchange Hallmark ornaments.  I have a collection of puppy dogs, my sister has gingerbread houses, and my dad collects football players.  This tradition started when I was born.  I've gone through one other collection, rocking horses.  My sister, however, has gone through multiple collections.  Anyway, it's a fun tradition that has continued even into our adult lives, and I love that!  It was a nice ending to a nice day.

End of part one.