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.

Day 318: Coffee Night

All three of us were finally able to get together for our Saturday night coffee. JoAnna was in town again this weekend, and Anna was here this time as well! We had a great time chatting, catching up and enjoying gingerbread lattes. I love these ladies so much and am so thankful for the time we got to spend together.

Day 317: Twilight Hair

Seriously?!? I saw this display at Walmart today, and I laughed out loud. It's a set of hairstyling products that you can buy to style your hair like the actors in Twilight. Wow.

Day 316: Tea

British tea at Walmart! Yum. And McVitie's digestive biscuits too. Now, this is my very favourite brand of British tea, but it's close! I was so excited to see all of this British fare at Walmart.

Day 315: Bare

The leaves are falling from the trees, leaving them bare and heralding the arrival of fall. Except here the leaves are blown from the trees with ferocious winds!

Day 314: Tide To Go

I am frequently thankful for this little invention. Today it took coffee and pomegranate juice out of my white shirt at work. It's such an unfortunate feeling when you realize you've spilt something on your clothes. But then this makes it all better!

Day 313: Cloudy

It's been nice and cloudy today, and it even rained a little. Not nearly enough, of course, but we're thankful for all that we get. On an unrelated note, I saw a dead porcupine on the side of this road today. Those suckers are big!

Day 312: Tigger

This is Tigger, the horse that we have not been riding. And the only horse who didn't misbehave today! He's had a hurt hoof, and we haven't ridden him in over a year. He's all healed up now, though, so it could be interesting to stick a saddle back up on him!

Day 311: Pomegranates

Because of the hot and dry summer, our garden didn't do to well this year. Thankfully, the pomegranate tree still put off plenty of fruit. We're harvesting a bit late this year, but it's worth it. Look at all of those yummy seeds! I've been snacking on them all day and I look forward to enjoying them for a while.

Day 310: Heartbroken

I didn't get a picture today, but these are photos that others took today. I'm at the far right of the top one.

A bus carrying 12 ACU students, 3 faculty and 1 spouse rolled today while traveling on a mission trip. One sophomore was killed instantly. Many of the others are still in various hospitals, some in critical condition. Seeing the pictures of the bus, it's hard to believe there were not more fatalities. This is the type of tragedy that has a profound impact on so many. Hundreds gathered together in a prayer vigil tonight and it was a sacred time of prayer and worship.

For some of us, it brought back memories of a blustery January day, almost six years ago. We know what it's like to wait anxiously for news of a loved one. We know the pain involved in watching a family work through the sudden death of a child. And we also know the peace that only Jesus can bring, and the truth that he has overcome this world and it's troubles.

Maranatha!

Day 309: Rare

I'm afraid this steak might start mooing at me.

The reps brought steak and potatoes for lunch today and I was so excited. Until I cut into my meat, that is. I know that a lot of people like their steaks cooked rare, but I am not one of them. Seriously, look at the color of that meat. It's not even pink; it's just bright red!

Day 308: Holidays

After church, I headed over to Starbucks with a couple of friends. Their holiday cups always make me so happy. They remind me that the holidays are just around the corner - this month, in fact! It got cold here today, with a low in the 30s. There's nothing like a hot drink to cheer you up.

Day 307: Blank

No picture today. I'm not sure why, but this seems to be a more frequent thing. Oops.