Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Years

So, some slightly better news ...

Emily's surgery apparently went very well. The wound wasn't as bad as they expected, so the healing should be much quicker. She still won't be able to try out for the Alabama band scholarship, so she now can't go to Alabama.

My uncle's family is over for New Years. My mother is a Bama grad, and she's currently wrestling with the dilemma of cheering for some team with a nasty player or for the dreaded Auburn.

Okay, they're talking about starting a pinochle game. Be back when it's over!

Monday, December 30, 2013

2013

I was browsing my old posts and realized that last year, I wrote that I hoped 2013 would be a better year than 2012. It wasn't - it was far worse. And guess what? It's not over yet!

Yesterday, my little cousin Emily (who's not really little - she's just younger than me) was opening something with her knife and wound up stabbing her left forefinger. The knife went all the way through and severed two tendons. (Just typing that gave me chillls.) She's in surgery today to hopefully repair her finger, but it's possible she may lose the use of that finger altogether.

Why now? Emily's going to college next year! She's in band, and she needs that finger to play! Jeepers. I cannot wait to see the back of 2013. Hopefully 2014 will be a better year than 2013! As it is, Emily is in God's hands. Prayers are appreciated.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Home Stuff

So, I posted a bunch of pictures a couple days ago, and my blog got 227 views that day. Would whoever looked at them please, pretty please, leave a comment? :)

Anyway... I'm home, after a long, frustrating semester. Yesterday, Caleb and Selah got home, too, and I'm going to get to see them tonight at ELHS's Christmas Concert. It's the first one in the new building! I'll get to see Caleb and Kelsey, as well as a bunch of my friends who are still in high school. Two of them will be singing their last high school Christmas concert tonight, and I remember when they were itty bitty freshmen.

Saturday night, some of my relatives met my immediate family went to see the new Hobbit, and my friends Anne and Keely met us there, too. Beforehand I got my hair cut to my shoulders, which is the shortest it's been in years. I haven't decided whether I like it or not. Anyway, the new Hobbit was... how to say, inferior. Still good, but the storyline was only half-full. I strongly suspect that when the third one comes out I'll say that the last two could easily have been made into one. Heck, I'm sure all three of them could have been squeezed into one. There were also a couple of deja-vu moments too. For example:

Thorin: Who would see the glory of Esgaroth restored? (Desolation of Smaug)
Boromir: I would see the glory of Gondor restored. (Fellowship of the Ring.)

Tauriel: I'm going to save him. (DoS)
Eowyn: I'm going to save you. (Return of the King) 

Don't get me wrong, I still really loved it. The acting was quite good, and cudos to whoever designed the sets and constumes.

On Monday I had the great joy of stopping at ELHS to see people during lunch. I also met Anne and Keely for dinner that day.

Yesterday we decorated our Christmas tree, and it looks beautiful. I love Christmas trees. Caleb and Selah also finished their finals and landed in Seattle. They were glad to be home from Minnesota.

Then this morning, I found out they brought Minnesota with them. There were a few inches of snow on the ground. And, predictably, the entire city shut down. I asked Caleb why he had to bring back the Minnesnowta weather with him, and he replied that he didn't want a complete culture shock. It's raining right now, so if I were so inclined, I could go puddle jumping in the snow. Meh - maybe another time.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

My Autumnal Trip to New Ulm

Me and Selah

Caleb and me in front of a fountain


Caleb actually volunteered for this picture!


This one too. :)

The Glochenspiel, or Clocktower

A better picture

In front of the tower

A better picture

The fountain - I think it's called the Angel of Bathesda?

I had such a wonderful time!

Boat Trip Around Lake Michigan

This was the day after the museum. School trip. :)


My good friend


Taking the canal out to the lake








We had some pretty good waves






















Pictures from the Museum of Something-or-Other in Milwaukee

So, as I was uploading the page of pictures about the Fall Retreat, I noticed that someone had already looked at the previous two picture pages. Whoever you are, please leave a comment! :)

Anyway, these pictures are from when the Fairview Youth Group - otherwise known as the Isle of Misfit Toys Youth Group - took a trip to some museum in downtown Milwaukee.




Anna, Tammy, and Michael






My awesome roommate, Faith!

Michael the Masai




Michael, Tammy, Anna, and Faith

The Arctic - my favorite exhibit!

Explorers of the Arctic!