Lily...WHY WERE WE HOLDING THEIR CHINS??

Merry Christmas to all!  Last night Lily, Logan, Allan and I all went to Krystal for dinner (in which Logan downed 8 krystals...might I add!) and then went out to Opryland for the lights.  They were absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  It finally truly felt like Christmas season.  I am so glad we didn't miss out on them this year :)

We continued the Christmas traditions today by finishing our final Christmas movie:  Miracle on 34th street, and then went to the Hancock's Christmas party as always.  The kids were cute and the food was good so overall it was a fun holiday day!  

If you've ever heard Ray Lamontagne's voice, you will want him to sing to you everyday.  Every song on this cd is soulful with the most beautiful melodies.  

FINALLY I am able to admit that the Twilight series and Heroes have lost their hold on me!  And now I am thankful for time to do other things, like get Christmas presents ready, read (Persuasion by Jane Austen...I forget how eloquent her writing is!), and enjoy this break from school.  

I am so very blessed with the people God has put in my life right now.  When He says that brothers and sisters in Christ are our "inheritance," I finally can understand what that means.  Mom's side of the family celebrated Christmas and I have forgotten how much joy gifts bring, whether it is the gift of family or seeing little Owen scream in excitement at his Hot Wheels track or Nintendo DS game.  I am a rich woman!

 

CD: Jason Mraz:  We sing.  we dance.  we steal things.  

(pick it up!)

Today was just wonderful.  That is my favorite word to describe it!  And God is so much more faithful than my weak self gives him credit for.  There IS goodness still in the land of the living (ps. 27:13), and it is amazing to see it revealed in people I care about.

Speaking of an amazing God, my journal ran out of pages today and it felt like I was cut short of my enjoyment of my time with Him.  And Levi, I know you teased me about reading Isaiah for FOREVER, but after finishing what felt like the journey of a lifetime, I was reluctant when I started reading Nehemiah at what it might hold for me.  Let me tell you, Be Determined, a commentary by Wiersbe has made me desire to live like Nehemiah everyday.  It is such an incredible blessing that God loves me enough to choose to open up my eyes to His wonders again and again.  He lets me discover things about Him everyday when He could hold all His glory to Himself.  

I can't help but be filled with joy at His precious care for me.  Real life=so much better than Heroes

So I've been blessed to enjoy a whole week of living in my house without having to do school, and it is simply amazing. I wish I could always live in Knoxville without it! Dad came up the other day and took me to Stir Fry Cafe...(which I highly recommend! They put local art work up all around the walls and it's like being in an art museum while you eat) Also Levi, I have a new addiction....drum roll please..........I recently watched the first three episodes of Heroes with friends and I am simply OBSESSED! We're having a marathon tomorrow, but we should rent them over the break and watch them.

Another obsession I am almost over (and thankfully): the Twilight series! I am finally finishing the last book, and I have to say I'm ready for the fad in general to be over as well. The books are a little unhealthy for high school girls to read because their depiction of love is dark, warped, and not as it should be at all. Their redeeming quality comes in Meyer's character development and her ability to create a story that intrigues you enough to finish.

Anyways, off to finish it and listen to my Josh Groban Christmas cd :) Be home in 2 days!

I got a haircut the other day...what do yall think?

It was a free haircut from Belleza spa, which I like to say because it means beauty in Spanish!  

The same day as the haircut I decided to watch Casablanca (once again) as I was taking a nap.  I don't know what it is about that movie that makes it such an amazing classic.  The movie itself had been produced in a rush but now it has become one of my absolute favorites.  Everytime I watch it, I am constantly asking myself: what should triumph:  virtue or love?  Anyone who's seen it, what have you decided?  Should Ilsa stay in Casablanca with Rick, her long lost lover, or go to the states with Victor Laslow, her loyal husband and leader in the world?  Anyone have a defining pro or con that I should know about??

Yesterday I found A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken and a book of sonnets by Shakespeare for only 1.25 at McKay's (used bookstore)!!!  I do believe that is the best find I've ever had.  A Severe Mercy is a memoir of a couple who were both searching in college for their purpose and find it after meeting and befriending C.S. Lewis.  It's set in the 40s so it makes me wish that I could have lived then.  I just can't wait to finish it!

Okay Logan, in a vain attempt to procrastinate on studying...I have finally joined the blogging world!  Instead of studying for my last two exams today, I have spent the past hour listening to music, reading a book, and only sometimes taking breaks to "study."  I hope you don't take notes on college from me! 

Song of the moment:  "Beyond Words" by Tenth Avenue North

You can only get this song on youtube or another website that streams music online, because it is impossible to download, but it has got me through many hours of being ready for Christmas break!  My favorite line is this, "In every love song there's a lover, in your heart I hope it's me."  Okay family, I know it's cheesy, but who would your heart be singing to?  Family, faith, friends?  

Book of the moment:  Educating Esme by Esme Raji Codell

I highly recommend this book, especially to aspiring teachers!  (Sheryl, pick it up!)  It is entertaining and inspiring, as Esme, a first year teacher, journals her frustrations and joys as she attempts to inspire the love of learning into the lives of inner-city, underprivileged, kids.  It has got me very excited about the Alcoa/Lenoir City school system that I will one day teach in!  One of my  new favs :)