Merry Christmas! I hope your Christmas has been as bright as mine. It has been so nice to be on vacation. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to be consumed by graduate school...but I'm sure I'll be reminded around January 12... Abby and I had such a nice Christmas. It has been very relaxing. It's going to be hard to take down all the decorations in our house. It looks so nice, that I hate to part with the festive decor! Abby's favorite Christmas gift is her new froggy toy. Mine is my new camera. : )I have some really kinda good news. Too good to write on here...Here's a list of things I consider on a daily basis...some life-altering and some, well, not so much..- Moving...out of state...(post-master's)
- Going to school...PhD...(post-master's)
- Preparing for the very long process of saving money for the purpose of adoption
- Eating healthier...more veggies
- Exercising more frequently...aside from walking Abby twice a day...
- Getting rid of everything I don't use--Minimizing...
- Getting another dog...for Abby
- Traveling more
- Re-painting my dinining room
- Organizing my closets
- Going to the bookstore
- Wasting time...
- Purchasing an easle..for painting
- Planting new trees in my back yard
Today I opened a piece of mail and framed it. Okay, that's a figure of speech, but after I make my rounds with it to the bank, bill companies, and find the perfect frame, I will give it the honor of a good framin'.Happy Thanksgiving. Hope yours was as blessed as mine and that you had turkey half as delicious as mine was (ha). I cannot list all I am thankful for here, so I'll just list a few: My savior=Christ, my family and friends and puppy-dog, my golden-sealed wall-art that just arrived. The blessings that this year has brought are unmeasureable. I cannot begin to explain how God works to bring us joy, even through a lot of hurt and pain. Thanks be to God for the changes he has made in my life in 2008 and will continue to make in 2009. Praise Him! The Christmas lights are hung outside and currently burning up my electricity bill. I figured since I have a house now, I am obligated to deorate the front for this Holiday. So, I have a lovely wreath on the door and beaming white lights out front. Right now, they are just covering the shrubs along the brick, but if I get crazy and up on my ladder this weekend, there will also be icicle lights hanging from the second story overhang on my house. I'd have to get really wild to get those hung up though, so don't count on it. Just be satisfied that there are lights out front and that I have my tree up and copious decorations throught the interior. Abby should have a nice 2nd Christmas. After all, she has a stocking and I do not. In fact, all of the gifts are for her. I know, she's a brat-dog...The 10-Step Ten Year List:1. Find, join, become involved, and be financial able to give to a church, rather than just attending.2. Master's degree (well on the way to finishing that one)3. Begin PhD program, if convinced4. Qualify for, become approved for, and start international adoption process (one of my callings in life, or so I believe, as decided at the ripe age of 7)5. Established job. J-o-b. Yes. Um hmm. Can't wait. 6. Move somewhere. Out of state. For a limited time or forever. Who knows. I'm wild (snicker if you want, that's fine...). 7. Own a home with a larger backyard (Abby has informed me that this criteria is on her priority list for our second home)8. Another puppy. That might move up to the 1 year plan. Yeah, right. Abby is too spoiled.9. Learn how to be a really good cook.10. A Christ-loving man to share the best part of my life with (optional: husband). And, you can put the part after the ":" at the very end of the 10 year plan and not count on it any sooner, unless God changes my plan--again.Quit planning you life. I have. And, I'm better (i.e. happier) because of that. ~A salute to the new wall art~
