Photo Challenge ... finish or fail

ummm ... I didn't really finish my photo challenge

that I started in ... ahem ... November. 

But here are some pictures that I took to finish it off. 

My sister in law is doing a photo challenge for the new year, 

one picture a day.

Not me but I will enjoy her pictures! 

Something Orange

 

Faceless Self Portrait

Sunflare

Animal

 

 

yes, he's under there ... i know, he has it rough

 From a Distance

Close up

Flowers (??)

  

Black and White

okay, all done! clearly taking - and posting - a picture every day is too much for me. 

In fact, the most inspiration I have had lately has come from Whitnall Park. 

Maybe this week will change that ...

End-of-the year thanksgiving

 this was titled "Christmas thanksgiving" but that would imply that I actually would post it around Christmas. now it's longer and I changed the name.

1918. Advent and the promise of new life, given for us and to us
1919. working with some pretty amazing people
1920. a phone call from my cousin, inviting us to visit in Jan. I was touched that she remembered our conversation from this summer and am excited to visit and see their kids.
1921. Christopher, who works hard a school and finished the semester well!!!
1922. Loki's little winter jacket. he is so cute!
1923. the first snow of the season
1924. tis the season ... for clementines!
1925. making Christmas gifts
1926. having enough time off to go see our families over Christmas
1927. a Christmas party with friends. nerf guns = cool
1928. music
1929. our second Christmas - making traditions for our little family
1930. a whole month of no classes for Christopher! In the interest of full disclosure, this also means several weeks that i don't have to do the cooking. =)
1931. the beautiful babies that my friends are having.
1932. good weather to drive to MN
1933. and a husband who drives while I sleep
1934. spending Christmas Eve with my family ... seeing my brother for the evening even though he was on "main call"
1935. Christmas carols sung by a choir
1936. Loki opening presents.
1937. skyping with the Butz family. Can someone please tell the kids to stop growing?
1938. thoughtful gifts from family
1939. being a push-over when it comes to Loki. I've decided that sometimes it is okay, besides, I really can't resist his brown eyes.
1940. amazon's awesome customer service.
1941. seeing extended family at my grandma's.
1942. knowing and expressing my emotions to friends.
1943. giving away knitted gifts (mainly headbands but I also made a tie for my brother and he says he really likes it)
1944. sleeping after busy nights at work.
1945. extending our Christmas til Jan 6th with dates and gifts and fun.

well, i think there will be pictures in the next post. =)

2012 goals

(in no particular order)

Make bread. 
I changed this from "Make bread consistently" because my husband is a little doubtful that that is a good goal. But after looking at bread that is a week past it's expiration date and noticing that it still looks okay and wondering how, whatever is in that could possibly be good for us, I am determined to try. Without a bread maker. With good quality ingredients.

Make a quilt. =)

Have one internet free evening a week and one internet free day a month.

Increase our giving.
We saved well last year and we would like to continue that and focus on our giving this year.

Continue our "state of the union" weekly updates.
This fall Christopher and I began weekly discussions about our marriage, our goals and what we are doing to reflect those. Turns out he is energized by the "big picture" and I am energized by actions toward goals so we are making time to talk about both ... works out pretty well, don't you think?

Research CSAs and hopefully find a good fit for us.
We will continue to buy mostly organic eggs, milk and meat and I have plans to improve my little garden this year. I was given a canning pot and I will can this summer again and there is chatter about a marathon tomato canning session with some work friends. Basically, I think we will eat really well this year!

Finish memorizing Colossians.  have the first chapter memorized and have three left.

Be more intentional about building relationships.
This is a vague goal but my ideas include: having lunch regularly with my grandma, write letters (like real, snail-mail letters) to several people who I think would really enjoy that, figure out how to invest in relationships at work (this has always been very difficult for me), and put more time into my friendships here.


I'll be working over New Year's ... hoping for a couple of uneventful nights at our suddenly busy hospital.

Happy New Years and many blessings to you and your families!

Merry Christmas!

We have spent the last couple of days driving through WI, attending a candlelight service, feasting on food prepared by our moms, eating cookies for breakfast, skyping, and spending time with family. Loki has helped us unwrap gifts and is my constant companion while at the Brenna household, as we think he knows that I didn't initially live here. We will see some friends and make some yummy cake pops before going home sometime tomorrow.

I am thankful for my co-workers who worked their holiday rotation and for a long weekend off so that I could spend Christmas with my family. I know that many people - whether from work or distance or illness - don't have the opportunity to be with their loved ones. It is a blessing to come "home" to connect and relax.

 I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas as well.  

Of the Father's love begotten, err the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega, the source, the ending he

Of the things that are, the have been, and that future years shall see.

Evermore and evermore.

Oh that birth forever blessed when the virgin full of grace, 

By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race, 

And the babe, the world's Redeemer, first revealed his sacred face

Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven adore him: angel hosts, his praises sing;

Powers, dominions, bow before him and extol our God and King.

Let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert ring

Evermore and evermore. 

Christ, to thee with God the Father, and O Holy Ghost, to thee

Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unending praises be,

Honor, glory and cominion, nd eternal victory 

Evermore and evermore. 

Amen

(Corde natus ex Parentis, Aureluis C. Prudentuis, 4th century) 

Photo Challenge: a sunset from the summer, 13 things and eyes

Day 12: Sunset

It's a little difficult to find a sunset when you need it. 

So, instead, a sunset from the summer: 

Day 13: {yourself with} 13 things

Since I already "broke the rules," I choose to just do the 13 things on my bedside table, sans me. 

1) lamp 2) alarm clock - that fails to wake me up most of the time 3) thermometer

4) electric mattress pad control 5&6) Bibles 7&8) small books 9) hair clip

10) work tape 11&12) earrings - that replaced my favorite pair that I lost on our honeymoon

and 13) body butter jar

Day 14: eyes

Christopher's eyes - from a drawing that was given to us for our 1st anniversary (which is paper) by Christopher's sister