Our Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Nic's family came over and we did our traditional Secret Santa gift exchange. We played Pictionary, decorated cookies and had a yummy dinner: Clam Chowder in bread bowls, barbecue ribs and caesar salad. Aaron was my secret santa and he got me a sweatshirt blanket from MI and a cool stained glass picture that you hang on the window, and a silly U.P. comic book. And Isaac was Nic's santa and he got Nic a stud finder and a level that sticks to the wall like a gecko. That way when you need to draw a straight line on the wall you just press the level up to the wall where you want it and it doesn't slip... Pretty neat, if you ask me!

For Christmas Nic and I enjoyed our morning at home together this year. We got up and exchanged stockings, then made breakfast together: Bacon, eggs and waffles! (with our new waffle maker!) Then presents! Nic loved the iPod dock, along with other little things, that I got him. And Nic showered me with gifts, he's so giving. A fuzzy sweater, a fuzzy sweatshirt and an amazing coat. The book Twelve Extraordinary Women (MacArthur) on disc so I can listen to it in the car on my way to work! He's so thoughtful.

Later in the afternoon, we headed down to my parent's house to spend the evening with them. There were supposed to be more extended family there, but they were coming from Bainbridge and I guess they got a lot of snow and couldn't go off the island. We missed seeing them, for sure! Straight away when we got there we opened presents! My parents got Nic a Leatherman tool and they got me a sewing machine!!! Hooray, I can finally finish my T-shirt quilt!!! Amy got Nic the long awaited sweatshirt and Chris got him a cool hat. For me, Amy gave a really cute dress outfit and Chris gave me a baking cook book and a chia herb garden. I'm really excited to use both! We had a really great time hanging out after that. We played some Rock Band, Pictionary, and had a delicious ham dinner! Scott, Amy's boyfriend was able to come, too, we sure love that guy! After dinner Scott and Amy went out to return some movies and Chris, Nic and I set up a sabotage for when they got back. We built a snowman and put it in front of their parking spot and made a pile of snow balls to throw at them when they got back! ;) Our sabotage was a success! Hahaha :) Nic and I decided to spend the night, too, since it was getting really late by the time we were thinking of leaving and we both were feeling SO tired. So we stayed! I just love spending morning-time with my parents. To see my Dad in the Word, Mom serving cheerfully. They are such a great example of a godly marriage and terrific parents!! I love you guys! ;)

Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas and are eternally grateful to our Lord and Savior :

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" Phil. 2:6-8

Praise and glory be to our God forever and ever, Amen.

Stranded And We Like It!

We're stranded in Snohomish - and we don't even mind ;) We came up here Friday night after community group to stay the night for the Meyer Christmas party Saturday and ended up staying another night because of the weather! It's been really fun to spend some time with Nic's family. Doing Christmas puzzles, eating delicious food, decadent desserts, and a quirky white elephant gift exchange. Lots 'o fun! And last night after the party we went out and did a little shopping here in town. We were able to knock out a few people for Christmas...only a few more presents to buy. I'm a total procrastinator, but I love buying presents for people, so it's probably better that I run out of time because I usually run out of money, too! Now, we're all sitting around watching football...but I think I'm going to go work on that puzzle downstairs...I just love those! Good times :)

P.S. I think we're not REALLY stranded here, but we're enjoying the idea of being stranded because of the snow...it's romantic ;)

More Snow, Please!

Here I am, sipping my hot cocoa, waiting for dinner to finish baking. What a week it has been! I've done lots of driving in the snow...and finally got cables for my car last night. I really needed them. The roads are okay until I get up to around Marysville and on to Arlington. It's really bad the closer to the hospital I get. I've gotten 'almost' stuck a couple times already. But now I have chains and they make me feel unstoppable in the snow! Although, I'm still a really careful driver. It's just not worth goofing around! It's been really weird to be going out and braving the weather. I am so used to being excused from any sort of responsibility by school closure! And, yes, I miss being able to stay all cozy in my pjs and flip on the tv in the morning and look for my school and see if the district is closed or even, late arrival. Then promptly climb back into my warm bed and enjoy at least another hour or so of snoozing. Those days are long gone, baby! And, for now, that's okay with me...

Also, throughout the past few days I've been doing an all encompassing balance of our 'checkbook'. Oh my word, that was tedious! And I only came out about 11 cents off once I found all the mistakes I'd made in the past year. Oops, miss-adding and losing about 300 bucks in the mix. That was a nice find!

Work has been unusually crazy this week. You'd think that no patients would show up since the weather is so ridiculous to drive in. And Arlington is the worst! Take it from me. It's only by the grace of God that I have even made it to work this week! My theory on patients coming for their surgery in this weather is that they just really want to get it done because they'd rather be out of commission during Christmas break than when they need to be going back to work. And I bet it's a huge hassle to reschedule a surgery. But anyway, it's been busy busy and I've been really enjoying it! With the snow brings lots of broken bones. Stay safe out there, it's SLICK! You don't want to have an ORIF if you can help it, seriously, keep all your bones intact, that's how our bodies work best, you know ;)

Okay, I'm going to go give Nic a kiss...and have dinner - Yum! I'm hungry!

One Last Week

Happy Sunday Evening ;)

This weekend has been busy - like usual. We always come up to the weekend and hope for a nice relaxing couple days. It always turns out that, although we have nothing officially planned to begin with, we keep too busy to rest...and do things around the condo, like take care of this heaping pile of laundry in our room. Not only has this weekend not been real restful, my body is doing weird things. I've been having cramps and this weird blocked feeling in my chest. I can't think of how better to describe it than blocked - almost like there's something stuck or putting pressure on my esophagus. It's weird. I have an appointment with my dr. tomorrow, I'll ask about this.

Enough complaining and onto another week! It is, amazingly, my last week of work before the week of Christmas break that I planned for myself :) Hip-hip-Hooray!

Can't wait to see Charlie Brown's Christmas this year ;)

Let it Snow!

Today has been a terrific Saturday. Nic and I went to our respective parents' homes. Nic to his parent's to do some maintenance on the Focus. And I to my parent's to spend some time with my mom for her birthday! Things went well with fixin' the car. And I had a great time with my mom and dad. I brought her a bouquet of flowers...roses and such, spent some time hanging out, then took my mom, dad and Chris to lunch at Claim Jumper! It was a treat to see Chris...he was working when we called him, but got let off early, so he could join us for lunch instead of serve us. Spending time with my family made me start getting even more excited about Christmas when we get to spend all day with them - and we'll all be together, even Amy!

When both Nic and I got home, we put up some more Christmas lights around our fireplace, then decided to watch a movie...The Day After Tomorrow. So appropriate since it's snowing out. It made us feel like we were surviving the next Ice Age ;) Now, we're going to go for a walk in the beautiful snow. We'll get all bundled up...and maybe there will be enough snow that's stuck to make a few snow balls!

Christmas is coming!

I got this for Nic for Christmas - online shopping IS stressful!
And yet, always proves to be a better price than an in-store purchase.

Thanks to a guy at work who's really into his iPod and
all the accessories - this is what he
highly recommended!

It's the iGroove HG by Klipsch.



This is something that he doesn't know he wants...but "I-know-he-wants-it", kinda thing :)

Football Night...

...turned into Guitar Hero/Rock Band night for us this time! :)

The Friends - Nic & me, Johnny & Lauren, and Rob

The Menu - Fish Tacos, Eggnog+7up, Tortilla chips & salsa con queso dip, TGIF Potato skins and mozzarella sticks w/marinara sauce...typical football night greasy yucky foods ;)

Nic and I have a date tonight, late. Praise the Lord! It's been too long.

Looking Back...

So, tomorrow I'll send in my registration fee of 5 bucks to the Washington Department of Health marking the beginning of my second year of being a registered Surgical Technologist. Kinda crazy...There was a point in my schooling - last winter - that I was anxious about even finishing school, let alone having a job that I LOVE. Sure shows me to be anxious when God is taking perfect care of me. I was hired immediately upon reception of my diploma at the hospital that I interned at, am being paid well, absolutely love the people I work with, and although it's quite a commute, I enjoy that, too, because for the first half I get to spend time with my Nic and for the second, time with my Lord.

And so, looking back over this year, I can see clearly that the Lord has blessed me in ways I couldn't even begin to see as I was venturing through. But, it's encouraging to know and remember how the Lord preserved my faith and hope in Him to be true to His Name and faithfulness. (Please remember that as I am saying 'me' and 'I' and 'my', that I'm not neglecting the fact that I am a married woman - there is plenty of US! :) But that I'm reflecting on my own walk with the Lord and how He has been personal to ME. And I am so glad that He desires intimacy with me.)

Anyway, I am daily praising God for his obvious faithfulness to me. I am glad to be right here in this place he has me. I am eager, too, to see where he leads Nic and me in the future!! :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Go Ahead - Supersize US

Okay, folks, we watched the movie and we're going drastic, huge, incredible.





No fast food of any kind for a year. Ready, set, GO!