Christmas Travels!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had a great time. My parents came to Chicago to spend the holiday with us. We were really busy the entire time, but it was so much fun. It was a perfect time of eating good food, seeing Chicago, shoppping, playing games, and laughing.

We also spent some time with my sister, Allison, and her family. We got to attend my nephew's Christmas performance at his school. We had a really fun time with Allison's family. Her kids make us laugh so hard. I got my hair highlighted while visiting them, so I am no longer a brunette...I am so happy to be blonde again. We went on a double date and had so much fun catching up with Ty and Alli.

Before heading to see my sister, we spent time with Brandon's family. We celebrated Christmas with the Mick's. Christmas was extra special this year due to three new babies! It was so fun to be around our nephews who are 6 mo. and 9 mo.

After a few quiet days in Chicago we leave again tomorrow to head to Des Moines for two weddings.

Merry Christmas!

One Semester Down!

Today was the last day that students were allowed to be on campus for the fall semester. The second floor (where we live) of the girls dorm is a ghost town. I cannot believe that my first semester here is over. It went so fast. One of the perks of my job is that I do not have to work over breaks. My fellow RS's and I split up the total days of winter break to be "on duty". My days are the 24-27th of December. So, Brandon and I are taking off tomorrow for time with family. Here is our schedule for the next couple weeks. If we are going to be near any of you and you want to see us, call and we will try to work it out!

December 15-18 Christmas with the Mick's
December 19-21 Lincoln, NE to see the Thomas Family
December 21 Over night in Des Moines
December 22-27 Chicago....Christmas with my parents and "duty"
December 28-1 Des Moines for two weddings ( you know who you are!!)
January 1 Back to Chicago

Guys weekend.

This past weekend, I took a 7 hour car ride (one way) to beautiful Slim Lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin to spend some time with old college friends. My friend Ben's (green shirt) parents own a wonderful cabin on a very pleasant lake there. Due to ministry obligations and general life getting in the way, I have been unable to spend much time with my friends from college. Also in attendance were: Aaron a.k.a. Karona (yellow shirt), Shane (gray fleece on far right, your right not his), and BJ (black hooded sweatshirt...okay if I just said "he's the really hot one" you'd be able to find him). I have shared much of myself and many life experiences with these guys and love them dearly. The other guys in the picture are roommates and friends of Ben. Most of them were fellow NWC grads and all around good guys. We reminisced much and laughed so hard that our sides hurt by the end of the weekend. Thanks guys for a great weekend.

4 years!

Can you believe that I have been married to this woman for 4 years? Well believe it, yesterday marked our 4 year anniversary. I am so blessed.

I'm not sure why, but....

I recently began a list of television shows I would like to see taken off the air with great celerity. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the shows which no person should bear, but this is where it stands including the reason for a swift disposal:

1. The NEW Jim Bakker Show -- scam artist, Scam Artist, SCAM ARTIST!
2. Last Call with Carson Daily -- Carson Daily's categorical lack of personality and his supreme inability to come across as anything other than CREEPY.
3. The Tyra Banks Show -- The Tyra Banks Show
4. The Megan Mullally Show -- It just doesn't work.
5. Nancy Grace -- Besides the eye makeup... well, there's the pushing people to suicide for starters.
6. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno -- It's just a time-slot that should include humor, originality, and talent. Somebody call up the bullpen and get Conan in here.
7. Show Me the Money -- Captain Kirk urging you to pick your "Dancer with the answer!" Please, make it stop.

Feel free to add to this list. Maybe we could draft a letter to the President of TV and voice our collective discontent.

Congrats Aaron and Jess!

Over Thanksgiving break we had the pleasure of seeing Aaron and Jess get married. We met Jess last year through Epoch. She is an amazing woman whom I miss dearly. Brandon sang in their wedding and did a wonderful job (I'm not biased at all). Jess was a beautiful bride! I meant to post some of these pictures last week, but we got sick and busy. Happy one week anniversary Jess and Aaron!