This is what I've done with my time.
-spoke to a 6th grade girls Sunday school time about what I do in Mexico. They had great questions!
-had
-decided there are too many parties this time of year
-ate a lot of sushi
-enjoyed spending time with my brother and his fiancé, and my sister.
-made biscotti for the first time
-went to several Christmas concerts (teared up when the little kids sang "Feliz Navidad" and saw my Aunt dance HULA at Christmas Eve service)
-enjoyed the architecture of the Athenaeum (Catholic Seminary in Cincinnati)
-insulted my sister after she got me a cd for Christmas b/c I didn't realize it was from her... "I would much rather have an older album than their greatest hits album, b/c I already own some of these songs..." opps!!!
-drove north twice, and south 3 times...
***I saw perfect white smoke at a farm hanging in the dark, so still and heavy and not moving. It was brighter than the moon and time was frozen. I saw the sun setting and bleeding pink into everything like a paper towel had soaked up a kool aide spill. Sweet victorian houses with such ice sickles hanging off them that might kill a man. A river completely filled with snow and not moving. The moon, a gigantic milky glass plate low on the horizon. All the trees clean and white with their blanket of snow, and all the bushes encased in ice. Enough to distract me from driving :) I don't mind the long drives, going to Mandy's house was like driving to San Diego.
-saw Over the Rhine play, twice, two completely different set lists...realized I should have taken my ear plugs, and also noticed their line "from Cincinnati to Ensenada" for possibly the first time. (I live two hours south of Ensenada in Mexico)
-contemplated my future, talked, contemplated some more
-didn't go skiing, ice skating, or dancing... maybe next year? I did go climbing!
-ran 5K on Thanksgiving Morning...on a treadmill, INSIDE. since I'm a wimp.
-watched too many movies, slept through Prince Caspian
-got my car cleaned off twice by fabulous service oriented men (one brother, one friend) I was oblivious! "there's ICE on my windshield??? But I needed to leave 5 minutes ago, oh! that's why they had a two house school delay"
-sang Karaoke (for the first time)- "All I want for Christmas is You" and "Someday We'll Know"
-lost my voice
-went Caroling in below 0 weather (didn't talk for 2.5 days prior to see if I could un-laryngitis my voice!) I had been looking forward to it since September. We sang at 3 houses then went and warmed up, then at 3 more houses!
-learned a lot of new songs on the piano, tried to use my musical ability as a way to serve and worship the Lord
-realized the difference between cooking b/c you have to, and cooking for people you love
-tried to pray for and forgive my "enemies"
-got rid of more of my stuff that i don't need
-substitute taught, about 3 weeks worth. here are some excerpts...
***Me, explaining what I do in Mexico to 3rd grader-"I work with foster kids, you guys know what those are?"
***3rd grade girl- "I do! My grandma OWNS some foster kids!!!"
***Disrespectful High School boy- "How old are you?"
***Me-"Old enough to be your momma."
***Disrespectful High School Boy- "My momma don't dress like THAT."
***explained a students Spanish notes to him b/c he was confused. turns out, he hadn't even read them over himself!
***embarrassed a student from Puerto Rico when her classmates started asking her if she had her green card and what not!
finished these books:
Black Swan Green, The Minotaur, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I am America (and so can you!), An Idiot Girl's Christmas, The Beatrice Letters, Horseradish: Bitter truths you can't avoid, Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Authobiography, Pardon my Spanglish, The Latke who couldn't stop screaming, The lump of coal, Never Let me Go, the Power and the Glory, Belly Laughs, Baby Laughs, Life Laughs, My Dad John McCain, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, Plan B: Further thoughts on Faith, Sex God, some medical Spanish book
started these books:
God was in this place and I, i did not know, Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul, Theology of the Body, Unsung
felt bad that I didn't read these books:
Eat Pray Love, Contemplative Prayer, Architecture of Happiness, How to read a film, Bird by Bird, Green Mansions, Wanderings, Man in White
listened to: Christopher West's commentary on Theology of the Body, Iron and Wine, Mindy Smith, Jon Foreman, Over the Rhine, Mars Hill sermons, Apex sermons, the RADIO!!!
I look forward to celebrating a New Year tonite, and to celebrating a marriage on Saturday...
a quote from Foer: “So many people enter and leave your life! Hundred of thousands of people! You have to keep the door open so they can come in! But it also means you have to let them go!”
a quote about weddings from Lamott: "Building a wedding is a recipe for muddle—the bridal party, the families, the guests, the minister, the vows, the food. You’re attempting to make something beautiful out of unruly and unpredictable elements- the weather, the nuttier relatives, the rivalries, disorders, and dreams. Out of mostly old neurotic family and friends, you hope to create something harmonious. You do so as an act of faith, hoping that for a brief period of time, the love and commitment of two people will unite everyone; and it will sort of work. Even if the weather or personalities are worrisome, the breezes and water will flow through the structure of your wedding, will sanctify and change it, and it will hold."
