Close to Christmas

December always goes so fast!!

The last few weeks have been crazy at school. It seems that there has been meetings almost every day, or some kind of commitment that I have to keep. They are all good things too, but man, I've been tired. I'm guessing that is why I had to go to the doctor's and get some antibiotics. I am doing better now- for awhile there I could barely talk! Now it's just a bit of a runny nose. But the research essays are almost all graded, and I'm starting to feel like I have a little bit of breathing room.

I am super excited to see Justin in a few days, and also to pick up his parents from the airport. It is going to be nice to all get together for Christmas. We were at their place last year. I already have things cleaned and the munchies set out...

Speaking of munchies, grandma and I were at it again this year. It has become a tradition of sorts to get together and make candy. We dip pretzels, and make buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate), toffee and peppermint bark. This year we added orange hard candy too. MMM. Then on Sunday I made Muddy Buddies, cookies, haystacks, and dipped more pretzels. Delicious! It sure it a lot of sweets, but it's the holidays so I'm letting myself splurge a bit.

I'm all done with shopping, though I am sad that one of my orders hasn't come in yet. I need to ship it out when it comes in; I couldn't have it shipped to each person. Oh well, I sure they will understand. I like being on time with these things though! Besides that, I am all done with my shopping.

On a super sad note, I seem to have a bum Christmas tree. The needles are all brittle. It seems to be holding green, so I just has to last a few more days. I've never had that happen before!

Well, I am going to head to bed soon and get some zzz's. Merry Christmas to all. Good luck with the rest of your shopping!

Random Holidays

So I'm discovering that there is pretty much a holiday for everything. Take, for example, Paul Bunyan Day. In the explanation of what he did, it says:  

He trained ants to do logging work. They were, of course, Carpenter Ants.

For some reason, this is just way too funny for me.

Did you know there was a Waffle Iron Day? Splurge Day? Picnic Day? Donald Duck Day? Hug Your Cat Day? Applesauce Cake Day?

I'm waiting for the Wash Your Hair Day or Trim Your Toenails Day. The latter would be helpful for my husband.... JUST KIDDING!!!

Here's the site in case you have time to waste:  http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm

Updating the contacts...

For a few months, literally, I've had "update address list" on my to-do list. I haven't updated it since the wedding, really. Occasionally I would add a few new addresses, scribbled in at the bottom, but I never updated the file on the computer. Which really, I needed to do! So, as I started sending out Christmas cards this week, I sent a Facebook message to people I needed new addresses from. They have been coming in and I FINALLY opened the file and started editing some things.

I even went so far as to color code with categories for each side of the family, CU friends, family friends, and our old church. I supposed I do need to add current ones from our church too. But still, I got quite a bit done.

I also finished grading 100+ book reviews. Granted, I wasn't very picky, I just wanted to see that the students critiqued the book they read instead of just summarizing it. Most did an OK job- probably the average grade was a B- 21/25 or so. Really, I am just glad that they are reading. If I knew they would read without me giving them an assignment, I would skip the assignment. However,  any slightly seasoned teacher, however high expectations they may hold, knows that a product has to be created in order to guarantee that something is done. :)

All in all, a pretty productive night. One my next big projects before the new year is to make a hybrid Bible reading calendar. I used a chronological one in 2010, but the one I had been using for 5 years before that has a really good pace when it comes to how many chapters your read a night. For example, it gives you 10 chapters in Chronicles to skim through, then slows down to one chapter for Proverbs. So, I hope to combine these somehow to have the best of both worlds. I really did like doing it in chronological order, and I think I can make it work. It is going to take a little bit of time though. :)

I keep meaning to blog about the book Tears of a Tiger, but I'll have to get to it later. I'm so sniffly and snotty, I think I just need to go to bed!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Recently I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. It is set, of course, in Brooklyn, New York, at the beginning of the 20th century. At first, I thought it was going to be one of those overly-descriptive books. But after I got through a few pages, I realized how important the setting of the city was to the story. Francie, the main character who we watch grow into a young woman, experiences many trials from poverty and from a father who cannot shake his love of drink. While the father loves his family too, he never seems to be able to keep a steady job. Besides this, he is a loving and caring father, and Francie even feels that he understands her more than her mother, Katie, does. Francie's younger brother, Neeley, is the one who holds Katie's affections, though she tries not to show it.

Even in their poverty, Katie works relentlessly to pay the bills by cleaning the other flats in the building where they rent. Barely scraping by, the author heartrendingly describes Francie and Neeley hauling junk to the collector for a few extra pennies to spend on candy. However, Francie reads and reads and reads, and it is this love and curiosity for another world that drives her through this coming-of-age story. Katie pounds the importance of education and never taking a handout into their young minds, and it forces them to overcome what setbacks they might face.

It was so refreshing to see a family that stuck together no matter what. Even when Katie had to work more because Johnny, the father, couldn't hold a steady job as a singing waiter, she still loved him no matter what. While the novel never excuses Johnny's behavior, it instead highlights the faithfulness and love of Katie as she chooses to focus on the good qualities- his care for the children, his passion for her, and his carefree spirit that united the family. While the family sees much hardship before the end of the story, they remain close and uncompromising in their love for each other.

It was also very refreshing to see education and reading held in high esteem. Katie's mother tells her that she must read a page of the Bible (as good Catholics should) and a page of a great book (Katie was able to obtain a secondhand copy of Shakespeare's works) each night with the children. She does. Only seldom do they miss. When Francie can start going to the library by herself, she commits to reading a book every day. She starts with "A" and is working her way through the whole alphabet. Consequently, her imagination is ignited to the possibilities that life has to offer. If only our children at the beginning of the 21st century had this much enthusiasm for the printed word!!! (I continually commit to give my children that same exposure to books one day- starting when they are little ones.)

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is a great read, although it is a bit long. Still, each story folds into the over themes of the book and relates to Francie's growth as a young woman. I certainly came to tears at several points throughout the book. I am amazed how relevant the book was to our culture even today. Go get it. Read it soon!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Justin and I traveled back to see my dad's side of the family. It's really the only time of year that we all get together because each of the three sons has their own Christmas routine. Needless to say, I was looking forward to it because I hadn't been back.

In the new wing of the Sacramento Airport, I was greeted by the Spiderman bunny. Or at least, that is what I am calling this artwork. It's kinda crazy, that's for sure. And somehow I kept thinking that it was going to drop on me or something! Justin laughed at me when I took a picture. I actually think that we was a little embarrassed... But anyways,you can see it for yourself in the picture on the left.


Back home, Justin and I visited a few graduate schools to see what he might want to do. We are still deciding, but it helped us with information that we needed. I also got some shopping in. But I was really, really looking forward to seeing Crystal, by best friend. She's been going through a lot and I feel like I haven't been there for her like I should. So we got to hang out and she made me a yummy, healthy salad. The dressing wasn't my favorite but I liked everything else!

At grandma and grandpa's, the whole gang was there. In the picture, one of my cousins hadn't quite arrived, but besides that, everyone is in the picture. Now there are two great-grandchildren, Lauren and Danielle. So cute they are! It was a wonderful and precious time. Scrumptious edibles too!

Lauren (above) and Dani (below) are just too cute!!!