November happenings.

November

- My friend and roommate, Lindsay came home from Benin where she has been serving with Mercy Ships for the past 6 months. We met her at the airport with a sign, hugs and love. It has been fun hearing about her time as she prepares to serve with them next year as well. And, I am reminded how much I LOVE having a roommate.

- Chris finished his thesis; he defends it in December. =) That was a happy day.


- We celebrated Chris' birthday. With friends, family and together. A party with good food and games, a nice dinner at Victorias and tiramisu cake and another nice dinner at Newts and a quiet evening at the house with the dog.

- I raked and rakes leaves and brought them to the compost pile. Doing the fall stuff seemed easier this year ... maybe because I learned from last year and also probably because of the milder weather.

- Books. I am currenlty reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian, a shower gift from a family friend. Also reading Grace Walk by Steve McVey on the bus ride on the way to and from work. We are talking about it at Salt and Light and I am enjoying the book. And Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, a recommendation from my dear friend Chinwe. There have been varying opinions about Gilead but I like it.

- Wedding stuff. The invitations were sent out! Many other details finalized too. I have been praying for a balance between preparing for the wedding and preparing for the marriage and I think that we have been doing a good job of not letting the wedding "take over." While I have enjoyed our engagement and we have grown closer, I CAN'T WAIT to be married.



- Let it rain! Three showers this month. The first was a baby shower for Jackie, a friend from childhood who now lives in Rochester (fun!!!). Her baby is due in December and I am excited to meet that little one.


The ladies in Rochester threw me a fun shower, complete with a Dairy Queen cake that one of the girls picked up in Zumbrota. We played a (non-bridal shower) game and we laughed a lot. Then, over Thanksgiving weekend, my aunts had a lovely shower for me in Oshkosh with both sides of my family. It was special to have both sides of the family there and both my grandmas. It was a really nice time and the food was wonderful, as usual. In the words of my brother "I don't think there is anything they would make that I wouldn't like."

- Over the course of Thanksgiving weekend, I saw all of my family within driving distance and also spent time with people who will (officially) be family soon. The food was good and the company was fun. It was lovely to have some time off of work (especially to keep a normal day-time schedule) and to get out of town for a while.

It has been a busy and fun month. =)

Thanksgiving Post

62. - 68. are for Chris only. I can do that 'cuz this is my blog
69. smart wool socks. (i think i love them more than it is right to love socks)
70. learning to let go of the things I can't control
71. finding things to be thankful for even what I am frustrated and discouraged
72. enjoying a whole day with my love, playing and talking about our future
73. anticipating the holiday weekend with family
74. sharing a secret
75. re-reading my journal about love
76. reading James by my fireplace

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Getting all caught up ...

From 11/10:

25. electric blankets
26. cool scarfs
27. the slippers Mrs. Brenna gave me to keep at their house
28. A clean garage
29. clean windows
30. Celebrating Chris' birthday with good friends ... good food, games, fun and laughter
31. Hummus
32. eating at Pho Thai (my favorite place) with my honey
33. neat bracelets
34. hugging Lindsay after 6 months
35. going to the store and making my budget
36. sweet kisses
37. Reading "A very hungry caterpillar" with Amabelle
38. Snuggling with baby Jaden
39. A clear sky to look at the stars
40. Conversations under a clear sky on a roof top
41. making cute baby hats
42. Counting down the days until I am married (69!!)
43. whipped cream
44. quiet evenings at home
45. snuggling into sweatshirts
46. taking bags and bags of leaves to the compost pile.

From 11/16:
47. Friendships
48. a fun bridal shower given by good friends
49. cute, new sleepwear given by those good friends
50. Ice cream cake
51. Two newsy, unexpected e-mails from friends from far away
52. Anticipating getting married in two months (yes, I will count down every day until jan 16)
53. Knowing a sense of pride and wonder when I look at my handsome, thoughtful fiancee
54. Time together to celebrate his birthday and talk about our relationship
55. Listening to Linds talk about Mercy Ships and her plans to go back
56. Long hugs with Chinwe
57. cold morning, reading my bible on the couch with the sun shining in the window
58. finishing my half of the wedding invites
59. making plans to see family over the holiday
60. the fireplace downstairs
61. The little lights and the plants on the window sill

On my way to 1,000 gifts ...

The beginning of my gratitude list, an idea from A Holy Experience and Ann Voskamp. A few people I know recently began sharing their list, I figured I might as well too. So here's the start of my list from last month:

1. Having my heater programmed to turn up a few minutes before I wake up

2. E-motions =)

3. Grace that I don't understand

4. Tea. anykind. anywhere

5. Google calendars

6. Walking and listening to the leaves crunch under my feet

7. Feeling like part of the team at work

8. Noticing, again, the the bulbs of the ferns in my yard look like aliens and, again, thinking that it is funny

9. My fiance's strong arms that hold me

10. My Savior's strong arms that hold me

11. Making a chai latte that is just as good as Paneras in my own kitchen

12. Frugal Club!

13. Knowing that in 81 days, i'll be married.

14. Finding the right piece of art for my bathroom wall that makes me kinda like the black dimonds around my bathroom

15. the leaves turning and the first snow fall ... on the same day

16. no alarm clock mornings

17. the farmer's market

18. Farmer's market breakfasts with Chris.

19. Friendship Bread

20. Friendship tea at the Brenna's. just wouldn't be the same anywhere else.

21. my bedtime ritual:

22. body butter

23. re-reading Come Away My Beloved

24. prayer