What I Love: 12/31/12

Wow. The last day of 2012. What do I love today? The amazing year I have had. I look back, and remember all the things I have done. I have changed, grown, matured in so many ways. And yet, I still have so far to go.

What I Love: 12/30/12

Babysitting. Kids are so fun.

What I Love: 12/29/12

Having a foot of snow outside! And it's still falling!

What I Love: 12/28/12

My sister's handmade ceramic bowls and things. She is really talented, and she just has an eye for elegant sculptures.

What I Love: 12/27/12

How refreshing, brisk, and beautiful Winter is!

What I Love: 12/26/12

These precious moments I get to spend with my family. We are all growing up, and it's not often anymore that all six of us are together. That is special.

What I Love: 12/25/12

CHRISTMAS. Every little thing about it. Family, Tradition, Food, Giving, Receiving.


being Together.

What I Love: 12/24/12

The anticipation Christmas Eve brings. I can't wait for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service, our family tradition of watching a Christmas movie after, and our other tradition of all sleeping under the Christmas tree!

What I Love: 12/23/12

My daddy's homemade chicken soup. It is always different, and always delicious. Combined with my Mama's fresh-baked bread, well, that's just a match made in heaven.

What I Love: 12/21/12

e6000 Glue. The stuff is pretty impressive. I used it to repair my TOMS, and it's supposed to dry flexible but waterproof and permanent.

What I Love: 12/20/12

Sitting on the couch surrounded by my siblings...being teased.

What I Love: 12/19/12

Grabbing coffee with my lovely friend Stephanie. I can't wait to hear what God has been doing in her life, and catch her up on what's been happening in mine!

What I Love: 12/18/12

The most delicious cake in the history of ever! My grandmother passed on this recipe for Chocolate Pistachio Pudding cake, and it is one of my favorites. The best part is, it could be adapted for any cake mix/pudding flavor combination. Think of the possibilities!

Chocolate Pistachio Pudding Cake
Cake:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 box instant pistachio pudding mix
1 cup cooking oil
1 cup club soda
3 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Frosting:
1 envelope Dream Whip
1 box instant pistachio pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all cake ingredients in a large bowl, and blend for 2 min. Pour into a well-greased Bundt pan, and bake for 50 min. Let the cake cool and remove from pan. As it continues to  cool, mix frosting ingredients and beat until thick and frosty. Thickly frost the cake, and let it sit before serving. Enjoy!

What I Love: 12/17/12

The Open House! It's the party my family throws every year for my church, and it is always a blast! (and yes, my definition of "a blast" does include cooking for the whole month of december, sticking tea lights in paper bags, and having 60+ people tromp through our house).

What I Love: 12/16/12

Watching my sister play Just Dance 3. It's quite the entertaining experience.

What I Love: 12/15/12

That I have faith in a God who will make things right. My heart aches for the families of 20 children in Connecticut right now. That such pain, such devastation, such evil exists in the world is irrevocable proof for me that our world is a battleground, that we are standing in enemy territory, and Satan will stop at nothing. But I also know in my heart that he cannot win this battle. His fate, his loss has already been set. One day soon, God will return and VANQUISH him.

What I Love: 12/14/12

Christmas trees :)

What I Love: 12/13/12

Chilling on the couch with my sister, doing some online shopping. :)

What I Love: 12/12/12

That it is 12-12-12! That is the last time there will be a repeat date like that in my lifetime. The next will be 01-01-2101.

What I Love: 12/11/12

I LOVE the fact that I am headed for home and soon to be reunited with my family. I have to admit, though, it is tough saying goodbye to friends at AU. I know I'll see most of them in a month, but still, goodbyes suck. On the bright side, though, that is another thing I love...the wonderful friends I have at school.

What I Love: 12/10/12

Snow. In all it's freezing, fluffy, gorgeous glory.

What I Love: 12/9/12

Today, I really enjoyed AU's Festival of Lights. It's a Christmas Candlelight service put on by the music department each year, and it is absolutely beautiful.

What I Love: 12/8/12

This:

Christmas in Clayton 825!!

What I Love: 12/7/12

Being done with finals! At least mostly. I have one more test to go, and then I'm free!

What I Love: 12/5/12

I love the unexpected. Unexpected moments of joy, unexpected conversations, unexpected gifts. They are so special.

What I Love: 12/4/12

Compliments. Seriously, unexpected compliments just make my day like no other. Especially on days when I just want to curl up in sweatpants. :D

What I Love: 12/3/12

Getting pacakages from my Mama right before finals. Now I have lots of cookies and fruit to eat while studying. :)

What I Love: 12/2/12

The Christmas song "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day". Here's a video if you're unfamiliar with it:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this song during the Civil War when both his wife and son had died. The world seemed lie it was spiraling out of control, but the bells keep ringing "Peace on earth, goodwill to men".

What I Love: 12/1/12

Service. Today was Freebay, an event put on by 5stones and Park Street Brethren for the people to come get free stuff donated by the community for Christmas. I got to help serve by wrapping people's gifts. It was so moving to see their joy in being able to make Christmas special, especially if they didn't have much for Christmas gifts.

Also, I love my Mama! Today is her birthday. She is amazing. :)