A recent conversation (over a computer) between Ben (poolhouseblue) & I:

poolhouseblue:  so, i got home and the freezer was a little bit open, something pushed the door open a bit from inside, everything seemed ok except the bit of fruit and the icecream, which was totally melted.

We had a low-key Christmas this year. We stayed at home, just the two of us. Might be the first time we’ve done that in 8 years of marriage.

We talked with our families via phone & skype. And missed being with all of them. But this has been a full year for us (traveling-wise) & having just moved a few weeks ago, it has been nice to have a few very quiet days at home (and at work.)

It has been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year, I think because of all the craziness of the last month. But we did do a few things to get all holly & jolly…

• We went to see the 91st presentation of Handel’s Messiah by the Lutheran churches here in town. It’s a small presentation, but we always really enjoy the simple simplicity of it.
  
• We made & decorated Christmas cookies with our small group & gave them to our neighbors. (We also ate some of them ourselves.)
  
•  We continued our tradition of getting our Christmas trees with our friends the Burrys. Love those Wilkinsons!

• We went downtown to go ice skating with some friends from our small group. There’s a really big tree down there. Really big.
  
  
• And today after church we came home & made aebleskivers for lunch. They aren’t something we make very often, so it’s always a fun treat.
  
  

Merry Christmas!

• Cut my hair pretty short. And I wish I would have done it a long time ago. I love it!
   
• Started selling my cards more at local craft shows. I even have them in a retail store in Northwest Arkansas!https://www.facebook.com/mustachegw
• Took a road trip along old Rte. 66 to Oklahoma City.
• Got snowed into our apartment for a whole week. (Which I sort of loved.)
• Started taking Pilates classes. (Which we LOVE).
• Discovered that the stick of butter that is called for in my corn casserole recipe is not entirely necessary. I put a stick of butter in the microwave to melt it; made the casserole; ate it (& it tasted awesome, as it usually does.) The next day at lunch when I opened the microwave to re-heat a piece I found the butter like this. Crazy that I didn’t notice it was missing AT ALL.
  
  
• Spent two weeks in Uganda.
  
  
• Spent 2 weeks in Europe.

[Our typical lunch meal. Bread + Cheese + Nutella]

• Went to a family reunion in Estes Park.
• Started working full time at our church as the Guest Services Director. This is one of my favorite things I’ve done so far. It’s a wall of canvases in the Cafe Mosaic/lobby area.
  
  
• Installed a coffee bar in our dining room.

• celebrated our 8th anniversary.
• moved.
  

I am also thankful for travel & adventures. Specifically the ones we were able to have this year.

I saw Africa (or at least a small portion of it). And I saw Europe (again, a small portion of it).

{This is me turning 31 over a banana & chocolate Dutch pancake.}
{In Amsterdam.}
{Which was approximately the size of my face.}

I am a blessed lady.

I know, I know. It’s December. (Well into December, actually.)

But I am thankful for people in our lives who care for us. Who look out for us. Who encourage us. And who challenge us. We are blessed.

I am thankful for stories {books & movies} that remind us where we’ve come from. I just recently finished “Amazing Grace” {movie} & “The Help” {movie, then book}.

I am grateful we are where we are now, but am hopeful for more change {love for each other} to come.

I am thankful for this guy:

He has done a really great job taking care of me during this crazy-I-can’t-take-any-more month.

{And I’m thankful for the lovely Esther for this amazing shot!}

I am thankful for these tomatoes.

We planted them in the spring. And {amazingly} they survived the millions of days this summer with 100+ degree heat.

{And near misses w/ tornadoes}

{And earthquakes}

{And freezing temps at night}

They finally started producing tomatoes in September. And when it started freezing at night, we would bring them in off the porch & then put them back outside the next morning. After only a few days of this I got tired of lugging them in & out. {They are heavy!}

So I just started leaving them out there. And a few days after, I realized the tomatoes were still green. I figured they’d never ripen because it hasn’t been getting very warm {or sunny} lately. So I picked them all off, and thought about frying them up.

But they sat in the bowl on the counter for a few days before I did anything with them. And then one day, I realized they were turning red.

I’m calling these my “magic tomatoes”. They are troopers.

I am thankful for the holiday of being thankful. We had a nice time taking a break from packing & moving decision-making with a Community meal at church, a visit to New Life Ranch, and Thanksgiving dinner outside by a fire with Ben’s parents.
And today we continued one of my favorite traditions: cutting down our Christmas tree.

We always meet our friends, Tom & Leah there. And this year Levi was introduced to this Burry/West tradition. He might have been less than enthused. But he sure is cute!

And of course, we finish the outing at our favorite {Tahlequah} pizza place.

I am thankful for toaster ovens. The best way to reheat leftovers.