Day 366: Say What?

Day 366? Either my year had more days in it than everyone else's, or I made a mistake somewhere along the way. The latter seems more likely.

Amara turned 21 today, so we celebrated with lunch and then cake and ice cream. Mom made this awesome cupcake cake. Isn't it fun?

Well, 2011 has been a pretty good year. It included trips to Egypt, New York and Washington D.C. It also included graduating from college. I wonder what next year will hold for me?

Day 365: Mediterranean Chips

I love these chips. They have cilantro and basil. They remind of eating cilantro potato chips in Greece. They remind me of eating tomato basil chips in Egypt. And they're just yummy!

Day 364: Winter

I love these winter coke cans. They make me want to drink Coke and save the polar bears!

Day 363: Clouds

Yet another picture of the sky. As everyone knows, I take a lot  of these pictures. I wish I could have gone out to some abandoned dirt road to take a picture of these clouds stretching into the distance.

Day 362: Published?

Okay, this probably doesn't really count as being published, but it's close! People can now check out my paper from the library. Pretty cool, huh? I've always wanted to have my name on a book in a library!

Day 361: Random

I had the day off from work today, which gave me time to play with my new toys and just enjoy relaxing. I also goofed off a little. Nothing wrong with that, though!

Day 360: Christmas

I love having Christmas on a Sunday. It's such a joy to gather at church and sing Christmas carols to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We went British this year, with a goose, sticky toffee pudding and Christmas crackers. It was a lot of fun, and we hadn't had a goose in years. We have several traditions from our years in England, and it was fun to celebrate with all of them this year.

Day 359: Snow

It snowed for several hours today, which made for a wonderful Christmas Eve. The flakes were huge, some of them a couple of inches big. Unfortunately, it wasn't very cold and none it stuck. It was still beautiful, though.

After a game of hide and seek (we turn all the lights off in the house except for the Christmas tree), we opened one present. We get new pajamas each year as our Christmas Eve gift. We posed in our new jimjams (aka pajamas) and my brother took this pic. He said it's my model face, whatever that means!

Day 358: Clean

When I got home from work this afternoon, my mom had cleaned my room. It's great, and I know she spent a ton of time on it. It also means that there is now room for my keyboard, which I enjoyed playing this evening. I have a wonderful mom!

Day 357: Advent Calendar

This is our family's Advent calendar, which Mom made years ago. Each day, we move a piece from the calendar to the tree. Just a few more days to go!

Day 356: Ready

We're ready for Christmas around here. The presents are all under the tree, and I'm excited for everyone to open them. I always love giving when I know people will enjoy what I've got for them!

Day 355: Silly

My dad switched my camera setting to fisheye and snapped this picture of me. Very silly, I know.

Day 354: First Christmas

I got this ornament for my first Christmas, way back all those years ago. Each kid has a collection of ornaments that we've received over the years. That way, when we move out we'll already have ornaments to put on our own trees!

Day 353: Emmanuel

This was one of those weeks. One where you wonder why things are the way they are. Why do children die from cancer? Why is this world so difficult that people take their own lives? My brother attended a funeral of a classmate this week who shot himself. Little Liam probably won't live to see this next Christmas. Why?

What I do know is that this world does not win. Cancer does not win. Death does not win. Jesus has overcome this world. And this is the season to remember the Advent of Jesus and that God stepped down into our world to be with us - Emmanuel. After all is said and done, we know how the story ends. And it is God who wins.

Day 352: Life

It's so amazing to me that flowers are blooming in the middle of December. I thought roses were supposed to bring in spring! This splash of colour is so welcome in the middle of winter.

Day 351: Lights

I think I might have mentioned a couple of times that I love Christmas decorations. And our tree is so pretty! So there might be quite a few Christmas pictures over the next few days. Besides, that's about all I have to take pictures of! Oh, Christmas lights, keep shining on!

Day 350: Sunset

I often get pictures of the sunrise as I drive to work, but today I got the sunset as I came home. We've got a fair amount of rain this week, which is much needed.

Day 349: Water

Several months ago, I mentioned this precious six-year-old boy at our church who has leukemia. He was in remission and then relapsed. He decided to raise money to build water wells in developing countries through The Water Project. The first go-around he raised over $16,000 and now he's back at it again.

A couple of weeks ago, it looked like he was again in remission. And then the shocking and devastating news today - the leukemia is back and this time there is no further treatment. Tomorrow he'll leave St. Jude's and come back to Abilene to spend his last few days at home. This is devastating news for Liam's family and our church family.

But it's pretty amazing to see the kind of difference a young boy can make in the world as Liam builds wells and gives life, even as his own slips away.

Day 348: Mincemeat Pies

We enjoyed mincemeat pies tonight with some good family friends. These yummy little pies are my favourite Christmas treat! There's not actually any meat in them, just a lot of fruit and spices. They are a British holiday treat, and we make them each year. And they're especially nice served with some mulled wine.

Day 347: LSU

One of my coworkers is a huge LSU fan. Her car is all decked out with flags, decals, and an LSU license plate. She's definitely a committed fan!

Day 346: Puppy

Not a lot to photograph today, so you just get another picture of my sweet doggy. Well, she's sweet to me anyway. She's not really a big fan of other people, though!

Day 345: Friends

Several of us who have been hanging out since high school (and even before) got together for lunch today. It was a lot of fun to catch up, since we're all going our separate ways. I'll definitely miss these ladies!

Day 344: Silly Dog

This is so typical of Java. She's jumping up, to be as close to me as possible, and has her tongue out to lick whatever person's body part is closest to her. She's a goofy dog, but she's probably the sweetest dog ever.

Day 343: I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me

The moon is almost full tonight, and it's big and bright and beautiful. My new camera has a 14x optical zoom and 56x digital zoom, which means I was able to snap this picture (something not possible with my old camera.

The bad news is, I'm going to have to return my new camera. When uploaded to the computer, the pictures are all fuzzy and out focus - in a way that is not caused by the photographer. So that's pretty disappointing.

Day 342: Snowman Family

Several years ago, Mom made this snowman family for our front yard. Aren't they adorable? She started with her and Dad and Joel, but never made it to Amara and me. Oh well. I still think they're pretty fantastic.

Day 341: O Tannenbaum

We had a good time decorating our Christmas tree this year. Our ornaments are mostly from places we've traveled, though there are other special ones thrown in as well. We drank egg nog and ate Christmas cookies and minced pies while we decorated. Such a fun night!

Day 340: In the Lane, Snow is Glistening

It snowed last night! Not a lot, obviously, but enough to make me happy. I had to work today, so I didn't get to play in it at all, but I still enjoyed looking at it.

I hope this isn't the only snow this winter season.

Day 339: Tree

We bought our Christmas tree today! We still buy a real one each year, which I love. I love the piney smell of Christmas, and I love picking the tree out as a family. It's chilly out today, though, so we chose this one real fast!

Day 338: Sweet Hearts

Yep, that sounds about right. This article is all about how eating chocolate is good for you! Chocolate is full of antioxidants. Scientists have also found that chocolate suppresses cell-damaging chemicals and boost the immune system, thereby fight heart disease and cancer. Of course, dark chocolate is much better for you than milk chocolate.

So go ahead and eat more chocolate!

Day 337: Coasters

I made these coasters to give to a coworker today. We are doing a Secret Santa gift exchange. On the first three Fridays of December, we bring a $5 gift. For the Friday before Christmas, we bring a $20 gift. Today was the first day, and I made these super-cute coasters. Honestly, I really thought about keeping them for myself!

Day 336: Chocolate

Mom bought us these wonderful little Advent calendars this year. Eating a chocolate each day is definitely a wonderful way to countdown to Christmas!

Day 335: Camera

I ordered a new camera on Black Friday, and it came in the mail today. My camera doesn't always take great pictures, and it's over six years old. It took me forever to choose a camera, and I hope this one works well. I really want a DSLR, but I also really wanted something that I can carry with me in my purse. I finally decided on a nice point-and-shoot that I can keep with me to take my pictures of the day!

Day 334: Frosty

It was chilly out this morning when I left for work - 26 degrees. This was the sight that greeted me when I looked at my windshield. Interestingly enough, this is the third time this fall/winter that I've had to scrape my windshield. And it's not even December yet!

Day 334: Christmas

Just another picture of Christmas decorations in our house. I love the holiday season so much! I love the cold weather and I love the joys of the Christmas season. All of these decorations and lights just make me so happy.

Day 333: Advent

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. Every year, for as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated Advent with an Advent wreath.

Obviously this picture has nothing to do with Advent. Before we lit our candle, though, I went out riding with Stacie.

Day 332: Faces

What a weirdo! Haha. I love this girl so much and I must admit that she's not any weirder than me. JoAnna came in town again this weekend and we had our Saturday night coffee tonight. I miss the days when we would hang out every day and spend hours discussing theology or laughing hysterically together. I'm so glad she her husband's family is here in town, so I can still see her fairy often!

Day 331: Santa

It's the day after Thanksgiving, which means our Christmas decorations have gone up! Or least, we're in the process of putting them up. Mom has a collection of international Santas, which we set up each year. We only set out the ones from countries that someone in our family has visited, which is still a lot. This year, we get to include the Egyptian Santa in our display!

I'm certainly reminded again of how blessed I am.

Day 330: Thankful

I love that today is a day of thankfulness and gratitude. It's so easy for us to express our discontent and frustrations, and it doesn't always feel natural for us to express thanksgivings.

I'm thankful for so many things today. For a wonderful family, willing to put up with me for yet another year at home. For a job, with good people, when so many cannot find work. For health and life, in the midst of a fallen world full of despair and illness and cancer. For the love that I feel around me every day, from my family and friends. For the goodness of God, even in times of hardship and frustration and pain.

Day 329: Ghiradelli

Dad returned yesterday from a trip to the SBL conference, which was held in San Francisco this year. He brought us back this lovely Christmas tin of Ghirardelli chocolates from Ghirardelli Square. I'm excited about these!

Day 328: Hot Chocolate

What's better on a cold day after work than hot chocolate? Well, I'm not sure I can think of anything. I made this hot chocolate and it was so good! As much as I enjoy a good cup of chocolate from a packet, nothing beats the homemade stuff!

Day 327: Fog

It was foggy today leaving work. There is something about fog that is so eerie and stifling, yet at the same time somehow calming. It got foggier and darker than this as I drove home, and I was thankful to have a safe drive home. We don't know how to drive in fog around here. Or in rain, or ice, or snow for that matter. Or really just in any kind of weather.

Day 326: Sack Sunday

How's this for one of those horribly blurry photos that no one wants to look at? Sorry about that! Today was sack Sunday at my church. Everyone fills sacks with groceries to take to a food pantry that we support. It's always so moving to see everyone bringing all of sacks to the front and offering them up. And this picture is of half of the sacks from the smaller service! God is pretty amazing.

And speaking of God being amazing, this is pretty awesome: As of yesterday, one woman from the ACU bus crash was still in critical condition. She suffered head injuries and has been in a coma since the accident two weeks ago. Multiple tests and doctors all confirmed that there was no brain activity. Based on this and her wishes expressed in her living will, her husband made the difficult decision yesterday morning to remove her from life support and into hospice saying, "we are allowing her wishes of going home where she will no longer hurt but rejoice in heaven with those have gone before."

And then yesterday evening she suddenly, and inexplicably, woke up. She's responsive and asking about people and no one's really sure what happened. But it sure sounds a lot like a miracle to me!

Day 325: Running

Stacie and I rode this morning, and it was a beautiful day. The horses were frisky, because of the wind and cool weather, so we got in a lot of good trotting and loping (aka we'll be sore tomorrow).

We turned them out after we rode, and they were happy to kick up their heels and take off! Horses are so beautiful, but they run they are absolutely magnificent .

Day 324: Shoes

I got my new shoes today! The new shoe is the one on the right. I've had the one on the left for four years now, and they are wearing out. They've taken me to Alaska, Colorado, Egypt, England, France, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, New York and Massachusetts - plus a few other places in between. I love them so much that I ordered a new pair. I was disappointed to find that my new pair is actually a different colour, but I'm still happy about them.

Day 323: Cake in a Cup

Today at work, we had these tasty cupcakes from Cake in a Cup, a cupcakery in San Angelo. Now, they weren't as good as DC Cupcakes (see below). The icing on top was really tall, which made it hard to take a good, balanced bite with cake and icing.

Day 322: Simon Says

After our lesson and activity time at church tonight, we played Simon Says with the kindergardeners. Well, I watched and took pictures, but the other teachers played! Of course, the kids like to say things like, "Simon says 'crawl under the table,'" which is a feat for us adults!

Day 320: Office

This is the office of one of the doctors that I work for. Can you tell that he likes to hunt? It was a little surprising the first time I walked in, to see all of those animals staring down at me. I'm used to it now, though!

Day 319: Leaves

We certainly don't see the type of fall colours here that one might see in the Northeast. However, the leaves do change colour and it makes me happy. It feels like autumn today, which is nice. These orange and yellow leaves contribute to this. I enjoyed sitting out in the leaves under the sun this afternoon.