Christmas with Family

I made it home for a week(ish) around my mom's birthday, and we took advantage of having the whole family home for a day to go get the Christmas tree. I repeated the tree picking process a week later to kick off the Kentucky Christmas festivities, but that's an entirely different post. We went to the same tree farm we've gone to for the past decade or more, and, while I tried to rescind my opinion on "pokey" trees (more commonly known as Scotch Pines), we picked out a White Pine like we've done for the past twenty-five Christmases (and maybe longer…those are the only ones I can attest to).

While everyone else took the tree choosing seriously, I spent more time with my camera. The lighting that particular day was outstanding. The color I was getting made me want to just keep taking photos. So I did.

We finally just had to choose one so we could get home and make a birthday dinner for Mom. Try as we did, we couldn't get her to leave the kitchen and let us cook. What's the good of having grown (and mostly grown) daughters if you still have to cook your own birthday dinner?

We made her stuffed shells (which were amazing) and garlic bread and a salad and a german chocolate cake. And successfully managed to kick her out of the kitchen.

My family, for the most part, cancelled their weekly activities to be home, and we got some quality Bananagrams playing time. We also fit in a basketball game and I let Kaitlyn drive away in my car. By herself. That was weird.

While the trip seemed to fly by, it was great to get some time there. Due to being in a wedding the week after Christmas and working in retail, I couldn't squeeze in getting home for Christmas itself. I did get to spend some time with my family on Christmas day via Skype, though, and got to celebrate the day with my roommate and church family. While different, I definitely enjoyed the Christmas season (and got some fun kitchen things too!) I'll try to get some KY Christmas (and wedding) pictures up soon.

BitterSweet

After much preparation and planning and anticipation, we finally get to marry Christy off today. The sweet part about the event is that she is marrying a great guy who is crazy about her and respects her and treats her like she deserves to be treated. The bitter part about the event is that he is whisking her off to Iowa, which, last I checked, is not exactly next door.

Having lived with her for pretty much the past 5 1/2 years, this will be a bit of an adjustment for me. We had one major in common and were on the same hall for three years. Our last year at school we technically lived in different dorms but realistically both lived in the library, and logged many hours side-by-side at our table on the main floor. The past year and half we've been housemates, which worked out incredibly well in spite of the fact that dishes are really important to me while not so much to Christy (and the fact that she originally did not like my cat. At all. Fortunately, their relationship improved as the months went on.)

Christy is an amazing girl who has always been there for me and challenged me in my faith when I've needed that accountability. I've held her when she's sobbed and she's done the same to me. She has always had an open ear and her presence alone would be an encouragement during times I was really struggling. We have signed contracts to hold each other accountable and spent hours praying for and over each other and anyone else the Lord laid on our hearts. Most of all, we have just been able to be real with each other.

Christy, thank you for your friendship and the amazing example you have been to me throughout the years. You have blessed my life more than I think you will ever be able to know. Kentucky's loss is Iowa's gain, and I have no doubt that any corn exported from there in the next few years will be that much sweeter because you are there.