A historic day...

Does anyone else find it strange that everyone keeps talking about this being a pivotal moment in history? As if previous inaugurations have not been momentous? I agree that it is amazing that we have come so far in the last 40 years so that we can elect an African American to the oval office but is that really what any of this should be about? If we really are supposed to look beyond color and race and only see people then why is it constantly being thrown in our face that he is a black man and no other president has been? Does that make those former presidents and founding fathers and less notable and honorable? It is wonderful for America that we can elect a man and not worry about the color of his skin, however, that is not what an election is for! We should have been watching the inauguration thinking about how this is going to change the nation for the better or worse not about the color of the mans skin. Hooray for the African American race, that they are finally being treated equally....oh wait, I've been doing that my whole life. I think it's about time we all get back to what actually matters here, policy and moral standard. I couldn't give one flying flip whether he was black, white or purple! I want a president who will fight for the moral majority and not for the left-wing, morally bankrupt minority! I am upset that this election has fallen to the left wing but I am confident that God has a plan and that even if we did not support him in the election, we must support him now through our prayers. It will do no America any good to speak ill of the President or his Party. Prayer is our strongest weapon! Let's use it!

Topsy Turvy

This month has given us some suprises so far. We are halfway into January and barely into a new year and we are looking into some major changes in our little family. Jared's company has had setbacks for the last few months and just had a lay-off. Unfortunately Jared was a part of that lay-off and he is now job-hunting and looking into other options. Until this, the economic downturn of the nation hadn't really affected us but now we are acutely aware of how bad things are getting. On the plus side, I am learning how to budget meals better and Jared is learning all about budgets and cutbacks. We are trying to look at this as an oppurtunity, maybe for him to go back to school and maybe just as a jumpstart to changing careers. Luckily for him, I am a positive thinker and I have no worries because I know God always cares for His own. Prayers are always appreciated although I don't know what I should be asking for just yet. I will keep you filled in!

Our First Christmas

I think that as far as first Christmas's go, ours was a winner. We did nothing at all and it was wonderful! After sleeping in til almost afternoon we spent the entire day watching movies and playing with our puppies. I think that everybody should have the oppurtunity to spend Christmas alone and with no obligations and no chores. This may have to become a tradition in my house. Perhaps I should dedicate one day a month to just vegging on the couch or playing a game together. That is my new years resolution, a bit too early perhaps but worthwhile all the same!

Can you believe that it is a mere 9 days til Christmas? It seem's like this year has gone by much faster than those in the past. I am a reminiscer (I don't think that is actually a word) and so I spend most of my time around this time of year thinking about years past. Last year was very special for me and my close friends because we got to spend it together for perhaps the last time in a very long time. Now my best friend Rileigh is in a different country and my bestest friend plans on marrying him and moving there with him. It's sad for me but I know it is a happy and exciting time for them so I try to smile.

This year is my first as a wife and so I am trying to be all domestic and bake Christmas goodies. I have a long to do list before my family comes to my house for a Christmas gathering but I have inlisted the help of my brother and his girlfriend. He will do anything for food!

I mad Caramel Corn for the first time last night and I was quite surprised with how it turned out. I guess I do remember some of the things my Mom tried so hard to teach me! My gift buying is almost complete and my house is decorated so I am ready to enjoy this Christmas with my husband! Christmas day is going to be just the two of us and I am really looking forward to a tranquil holiday. So often holidays are less than enjoyable because of all the work that must go into them. I hope that this year will be different.

As always December is a bittersweet month for us and hours. Not only is it the last month of a year that we will never see again but it once again marks an anniversary of a dreadful moment in our lives. My dearest friends and I were changed thoroughly 3 years ago and our lives have not been the same since. I look forward to spending the Season with my family but I pray for some solace for a family that is no longer whole. Time does not heal all wounds as the saying says but it does soothe them. I trust my pain to Christ and I pray that they also will be able to give up their sorrow to God and let a tragedy be turned to something good in His name.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas already?

I just got an e-mail saying that Christmas is only 43 days away! That doesn't seem possible! Have you ever wondered why they put the two largest and most expensive holidays so close together? I am getting a head start on Christmas this year. I have decided that I will shop early and decorate as soon as I can so then I can focus on how wonderful this season really is! I get to shop for children this year again and that is my favorite part of it all. Why aren't adult gifts as much fun as kids? I already bought my husbands present so I have that one out of the way but I am still stumped for almost everyone else!

My brother is always difficult! He always asks for socks. It gets really boring buying him socks every year! I had a great idea for him this year though! In fact I had two great ideas so I gave away one to his girlfriend.

Dad is difficult but this year I just decided that I would go simple with him and make him a pie. He seems to appreciate that more than anything else anyway!

Since the economy is in such a slump this year I have decided to put a price limit on every gift I buy. I don't know how easy that is going to be though especially when it comes to my nephews!

If anyone has any grand ideas for holidays I would love to hear them! We are all going to be a little crunched for money this year and I would love to hear how you are handling that!

Nostalgia

I love the smell of fall in Hastings. It smells of the bread factory and ethanol with a crisp coolness to the air that reminds me of apple tree. It brings back so many wonderful memories of the days spent here. I love the way the colors change all of a sudden here. There is no slow bleeding of colors from green to brown. It is almost instant. One day they are a lovely green and the next they are the brown that lets you know, winter is coming. It helps you remember how quickly things can change. I find it amazing that everyone I know seeks to get away from this community and I can't seem to bury myself deep enough into it. God sure knew where I belonged. I am looking forward to a walk tonite in the brisk fall air with the scents of fall surrounding my husband and I as we pick our usual fall/winter conversation. He hates winter you see. I think he is insane. I look forward to our first snowfall and how beautiful the ground looks for those first few undisturbed hours. He will tell me that snow is awful and that we shouldn't talk about it because it makes him depressed and I will tell him that he has to take me sledding and he will say no. Ahhh, I love fall!

Can anyone tell that I am easily amused?

Back to the real world

So I took two days off of being an adult. I spent a great Sunday afternoon with two of the best friends a girl could want. We watched movies and talked until 2:30 in the morning. It's a good thing I don't work Monday mornings! Now it is back to the real world. I am at school today working on some projects I don't understand.
This week another of my friends is entering the married life. I am leaving on Thursday to help her with all of the work that a venture like this requires.
In another couple of weeks I will be shopping with another friend for her wedding dress. We are all growing up. Pretty soon we will be scattered across states and continents. As we grow up I tend to miss the old days. I truly miss the days when our biggest worry was our homework.
I suppose we have to grow up but I do wish that time would go by slower!

I intend on preserving these friendships. No matter how hard it is across an ocean or a stateline! We are friends and I intend on keeping it that way. So often people stop communicating when there is distance between them. I know I have done it.

I am not sure what my life will be like without my sisters. That is what they are to me, sisters. I don't know how I am going to feel when I can't just pick up the phone and call them whenever I want or spend a weekend with them for no other reason than because I want to.

This is such a bittersweet time on our lives because we are all moving on to what we have always wanted but at the same time we are going to lose these connections that have been there for so long. I guess that is the price we pay for moving on. Does anyone else wish Never-Never-Land was real?