Finding God's Voice In Seemingly Random Things

Alternate title: A Story About How A Bishop And Moana Influenced My College Decisions.

You're probably thinking "What does a bishop and a Disney (princess? is Moana considered a princess? let me know.) movie have to do with following God's plan?" Well as I was contemplating these seemingly unconnected events this past summer, I realized a number of things. Firstly has to do with my seriously bad habit of FOMO and the other has to do with my weak confidence level.

Firstly, FOMO. Ever since entering a high intensity academic program at age 11 and skipping a grade to do so, I have been obsessed with being on the same page as my peers. I honestly don't remember a time when I wasn't concerned with what the rest of my class was doing. Now, I'm not hinting at peer pressure. Nobody was smoking or inviting a bunch of friends over to party while they're parents were out. But when 99% of my class was packing up and leaving for college the summer after high school, and my parents weren't letting me do the same, my anxiety skyrocketed. All I could think was "I'm falling behind...and I. Can't. Fall. Behind." As if "falling behind" was the zombie apocalypse or cancer or something.

I look back and I can see God's hand in every event that year, working double time to create the life I have now. That fall, while everyone was off at school, I started dating my now boyfriend of almost two years (turns out he's pretty much the only one who has stood beside me 100% during the difficult school decisions I've had to make as of late.) During those two years, I have learned more about myself, Christ, and humans as a whole than I have in the previous 17 years of my life. Then the following Fall, when I did finally go off to college, I was paired up with the most amazing roommate, and was introduced to some of the most amazing people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I proved to myself that I CAN do a lot of things that previously would've sent me into a tailspin of worry and doubt. I learned and grew so much over that school year, and there's no telling how different my life would be if it hadn't happened exactly as it has up until now.

Once I got adjusted to my new life, I felt good at school. I was growing in friendship and faith, I was doing well in my classes, and I was independent, but with training wheels (which is totally fine by me, haha.) Here I was, living 1400 miles away and conquering my biggest fears, and yet deep down I knew something wasn't right. I felt good, but I didn't feel great. Something was missing. All school year I did the mental tango with these feelings. Then halfway through spring semester, I was hit with housing contracts and class schedules for the Fall, and all I wanted to do was pump the brakes! In March I discussed the idea of not returning to Florida with Mr. Boyfriend. He agreed that I should continue to pray and think about coming home for school.

Back in May, literally a week after coming home for the Summer, my sister made her Confirmation. Before the mass began, the Bishop came in to greet the students and give them a little pep talk. He told the kids that God has a unique mission for each of them, and if they don't step up to the challenge, then there is no one who can or will take their place, and that mission simply "Won't get done." Bishop Earl's words really resonated with me and my current struggles. I'm trying to figure out this college thing, follow my heart, do God's will, maintain a practical frame of mind, all while fighting my human concupiscence and stubborn attitude? Lol. Nice one, God. But I'm gonna need some help here.

Part II. Mom bought Moana on DVD and as of early Summer, I still hadn't seen it yet, so I sat down and gave it a go. As I watched the movie, I couldn't stop thinking about the Christian messages it holds. Moana has a very special, very beautiful gift, and along with this gift, a mission to serve her people that only she can complete. Along the way she encounters countless people, some of which she loves dearly,  telling her she isn't capable, or that she shouldn't do it. At one point, she even feels such discouragement that she angrily yells at and begs the gods to pick someone else for the task. I mean come on...who does that sound like? The answer is all of us, and especially me.

But without a doubt, the best part of the story (and it never ceases to make me cry) is when she's thrown an enormous curveball and realizes that her task is bigger and more daunting then she ever could have imagined. Any ol' person would turn around and run for the HILLS. But instead, we see Moana turn towards the challenge and embrace it, without the slightest bit of fear or trepidation in her body. She knows who she is, what she is capable of, and she goes for it. Reminds me of this super cool lady named Joan, who fought against all odds for her country, and  famously said "I am not afraid, I was born to do this." Holy freakin' cow. Disney's done it again.

As if that wasn't enough, I had two prospective college students ask me for advice on choosing a school. And the real kicker: One of them is unsure about choosing Ave because they don't have her intended major. If that's not a poke in the back from God, then we can all just go home!

Maybe I'm crazy, and I'm desperately searching for meaning in events that are otherwise completely ordinary. I tend to do that a lot (but then, with the awesome God we have, what does ordinary even mean?) Or maybe God's showing me how He likes to be heard...my experience with the Lord has been that He is not always direct. He is not always crystal clear. Sometimes it seems like He is not even there at all. When you pray for patience, God doesn't just wave his magic want and endow you with patience; He gives you many opportunities to practice it. He 100% makes us work for things, because there is such beauty and merit to be found in work. Nothing worth having comes free. Nothing worth having or doing is easy. And finding a career that is both practical and part of your God-given mission is worth doing!

That being said, I've made my decision to transfer out of Ave Maria. Let me tell you, friends, It was difficult. I am a very emotional, sentimental person. I know the next few weeks will be heartbreaking, as I watch my friends return to school without me. I start to feel that FOMO again....my year at Ave was simply beautiful. It was a struggle, and it was every bit worth it. But in the end, I left feeling like something was missing, and I decided I just can't live like that. I weighed every possible option, tried looking from different perspectives, but at the end of the day, thinking about returning filled me with immense anxiety. Because of how long I took to think things through, I missed a lot of opportunities, and I decided it would be best not to rush anyway. So, this fall I'll be continuing my various Summer jobs, tying up loose ends, and prepping for my transfer in the Spring. Lordy do I wish I was getting back in the classroom in a couple weeks...working just about full time is not exactly fun, haha! But I can't tell you how excited I get when I think about studying in a field that I love. A field that makes me feel as if I have purpose, that will hopefully allow me to share my heart and talents with others. That's all I really want to do in life...share my heart with others in the hopes that through me they may appreciate the beauty of life, creation, and The Lord.

Pray for me, friends. This girl is gonna need a crap ton of em if she's gonna be like Moana.

until next time. xox

Just Say Yes

Today is the feast of the Annunciation, the day that Mary submitted to God's plan for her life and thereby, Christ entered the world. I've been pondering this feast for a couple days now, and just like that, I've fallen in love with it. I often think about the circumstances of the scene; the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has been chosen by God to give birth to and mother the Savior of the world. That's a LOT of responsibility for a fourteen year old girl, amirite? I think about how I would have reacted...fourteen year old me would have straight up had a panic attack if I heard that one. 

And she said yes. 

She said yes despite how crazy and impossible it seemed. Despite the shame and ridicule she would experience. Despite the fact that she very well could have been killed for being unmarried and pregnant, not to mention the unexplainable pain she would experience thirty-three years later when Christ completed His mission on Earth. But she enthusiastically and lovingly says yes. Mary changed the world in an astronomical way...simply by trusting in God.

In Mary's yes, two very important things were contained: trust and obedience. What are two things I struggle with? Yeah...you see where I'm going with this. Mary's Fiat sets off a beautiful chain of trust in and obedience to God; one that will play an enormous/astronomical/massive part in the redemption of the world. How can you NOT be encouraged by that? How can you not want to drop everything and run towards Christ?

This is why the feast of the Annunciation holds so tightly on to my heart. I struggle on a daily basis with trust and obedience, not only to God, but those around me as well. But what if it hurts? What if I look silly? What if I can't handle it? I know myself, so I know what's good and what's bad for me. I'm an adult now, I can make my own decisions. In my life, there are so many what ifs. So many I's. But today, I take a moment to refocus my eyes and heart onto the example that Mary set for me some 2017 years ago when she joyfully proclaimed "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38)

Now, I am by no means trying to hype up Mary and downplay Christ, or say that she is equal to or better than Him. I don't want to romanticize it or make it sound easy. I just think it's so important to recognize the magnitude of this feast. God's love for each and every individual one of us is so deep and so wide that He willed this beautiful miracle of self-gift to happen. Our mother Mary not only loves God, but also loves us so much that she wanted to participate in this gift. When I think about the amount of love that we celebrate, I have never felt more cherished in my life.

When I contemplate these truths, I feel so compelled to see the world with new eyes. To love the world with a new heart. To speak the truth with a new voice. I want to follow in the footsteps of Mary and Christ.

The lesson for today: When God asks of you, just say yes. I promise it will be worth it and more.

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name."

(Lk 1:46-55)

My First College Semester: A Reflection

I can't believe that my first semester flew by so fast; back in September it felt like it would never end, and now I'm sitting here wondering where the time went. The fact that I finished the semester with relative success is a huge deal for me; I want to take some time to look back and share some of the things I've done and learned. Maybe one day I'll address my anxiety on a broader scale, but right now I want to focus on these past few months.

In August, about a week before I left Michigan, I posted a little blurb about my anxieties (you can read it here.) It was short and sweet, and pretty tame. What you don't know is that in reality, my emotions were not tame, at ALL. Moving to Florida is the biggest and scariest thing I have ever, ever done in my entire life, and I in no way felt ready. I'm a rather independent person; ask anyone who's known me since I was a kid. But all of a sudden, every ounce of independence in me shrank to the size of a pin head. All I wanted was to STAY HOME.

Regardless of all this, I willingly got on a plane and flew down to campus. I met my roommate (who is now one of my best friends) and went through orientation pretty painlessly. Then came my parent's last night in Florida. I said goodbye and went off to my activities with anxiety brewing thicker and deeper. An hour later, I snuck out of orientation to go see my parents again. The second I saw them I was in tears. We sat in the rental car for about an hour while I cried. I pretty much let out an entire summer's worth of anxiety and sludge. I was in hysterics, begging mom to take me home, telling her I couldn't handle this big of a step. Mom spoke a few encouraging words, but mainly she just let me cry.

Obviously I stayed at school, because otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. But the first month was some of the loneliest weeks of my life. I pretty much just existed; went to meals, went to classes, went to bed. Lots of crying myself to sleep, and lots of fears and doubts. Having my brother and countless other friends from home on campus was a huge blessing, but despite all of the support it provided, I still felt really really awful. That's really the only way to describe it; I hadn't been this deep in anxiety since middle school/the beginning of high school. The only real relief I got was from the sock hop dance that I went to with my roommate and a friend down the hall (as I said earlier, these two girls have become my closest sisters. What a blessing they are.) Even when I didn't seem anxious, I was. If any of my school friends are reading this, they're probably thinking "Whaaaat? But you seemed so calm?" Yep, I did seem cool on the outside. But the inside is a totally different story!

And then things started feeling better. I still didn't get out much, but at least I was happier. I did well in my classes, I had fun times with friends, and I learned to get out of my comfort zone a bit. Time has a funny way of fixing things up, even in seemingly unnoticeable ways, and making whatever it is just a little more bearable.

There was one point in the semester when I was hit with a huge thought. I was driving back to campus with friends, when I realized...a year ago, I didn't have my license, I was living at home, and I was missing out on countless opportunities, all because of fear. Yet here I am, living away from home, succeeding in my studies, driving on a crazy busy street-at night!! I started to think about how many years ago, in the thick of my anxiety, I told myself I'd never be able to go away to college. If only I could go back and tell my younger self about all the crazy adventures I was yet to have during my first semester. How amazing it would be if I could give her a hug and dry her tears. She has no clue how strong she is.

When I look at the challenges I'll face this coming semester (college algebra, I'm looking at you) and realize that despite these challenges, I'm *still* excited to go back...I realize how much has changed in me. I can honestly say I didn't do anything to exact this change in myself. It is all completely 100% Him. Christ came to me, through this beautiful struggle, and He helped me carry the weight until I was strong enough to take it on fully. Through this semester, He's shown me that I'm capable of anything, and I've learned what the true meaning of joy is. Of course, sometimes I start thinking about everything I *could* have done this semester, but that's just more lies.

This does *not* mean I've conquered all my fears, that I'm perpetually abiding in comfort and happiness, or anything like that. But it does mean that I have a renewed sense of hope for my future, and I wanted to share the lessons I've learned; I think everyone can apply them in one way or another. I'm looking forward to all the blessings to come. I've grown so incredibly in my faith, and I can't wait to see where it takes me.

Thanks for listening, friend :)

out with 2016, in with 2017

the internet agrees that 2016 was trash, but my 2016 was the opposite. It's been hard, but this year has definitely been my favorite. I've received so many blessings, along with challenges; I feel like I'm a completely different person. It's amazing how much I've grown this year, and it's even more amazing how fast it's gone by! I'm excited to see what 2017 has in the cards; Maybe this year I'll actually keep some of my resolutions, haha :) I've been keeping track of everything I've done and experienced this past year:

2016

january: traded in my single card for a cute guy. booked my first ever vacation without adults. took my driver's test. passed said driver's test. 

february: had my first not-single valentine's day. spent spring break in florida with a friend. turned 18. 

march: had a lovely, spontaneous catch up with an old high school friend. got accepted to colleges. surprised my little sister at school on her birthday (with cake!)

april: went to disney world. got a surprise visit from my older brother.

may: hatched a baby duckling. named him Finn. committed to college. went to prom with my boyfriend.

june: lost Finn. got back into swing dancing. fell in love with Ben Rector's music.

july: spent ten days camping with my mom's side of the family. hatched two more baby ducklings. had a ton of summer fun with my boyfriend. went on a Wisconsin adventure for the weekend. 

august: made the most of what was left of summer. Said a lot of emotional goodbyes. moved to Florida for school.

september: adjusted to living away from home for the first time. struggled (a lot) with said adjustments. 

october: drove 7 hours in a 24 hour time span. saw Ben Rector in concert. visited home for the first time. had lots of fall food/cuddles on my visit home. 

november: binge watched multiple seasons of The Office. voted for the first time. Went home for Thanksgiving break. Came home for Thanksgiving early to surprise mom at her show. 

december: finished my first semester of college. pet a real live corgi (this was honestly the highlight of my year.) conquered a spiritual fear. celebrated Christmas with family. Visited grandma in Pennsylvania. 

randoms, vol. 1

watching: say anything. such a cute movie with some really good quotes.

eating: these amazing smores cookies from target, because it's not quite time for the real thing yet.

listening: really a mixed bag of things...some top 40, adele, and lots of singer/songwriter.

reading: looking for alaska by john green. i haven't gotten too far though.

thinking: that i need to get a better routine in place. i'm not exercising or doing laundry regularly, which is bad. gotta get moving!

making: nothing at the moment, which is bumming me out. i really need to get those creative juices flowing. 

quoting: "He counts the stars and calls them all by name" psalm 147:4

missing: the feeling of the florida sun on my skin. also, shorts. 

looking forward to: spring. i have such horrible spring fever right now, it's crazy. 

xoxo kate

18 things i've learned in 18 years

today i turn 18! in honor of my 18th year, i want to share 18 bits of wisdom i've acquired over the past 18 years. i don't always apply these to my life, but that's the cool thing--every day is a fresh start :)

kindness is free 
it takes way more energy to be mean than it does to smile, give a compliment, or simply not say anything. in the end, both parties leave happy--instead of feeling gross and mucky. it's the little things

seek to understand, not to be understood
did you listen to them, or did you simply just hear them?

time is precious 
i've spent so much time doing focusing on the wrong things, or worse--doing nothing. time is very valuable; it's one of the few things in life that you will never get back. use it wisely. however, don't rush it. which leads us to...

moderation is key
i can't think of much that is totally wrong and evil--most things in life are okay, so long as moderation is exercised. finding balance is essential

there is strength in vulnerability 
the world we live in today seems to have a very flat, very incorrect definition of strength. not being afraid to admit you're imperfect, owning your soft side, letting yourself be sad or hurt, and therefore human...those take incredible strength. don't let people roughen up your edges.

change is okay
part of being human is evolving and changing. life is a journey, and if you stay the same throughout, you're doing something wrong. fighting change is fighting human nature. let it be.

honesty is (usually) the best policy
if you do something wrong, own up to it. if you have an opinion, state it. this doesn't mean you can be loud about it--grace is key. but don't just sit in the corner like a mouse either.

don't take their word for it
take your life into your own hands and educate yourself. do your own research, have your own opinions. don't let people just tell you what something is. just make sure to honestly hear them out when they express their side of the topic.

seek to serve rather than be served
the secret to a happy, healthy, fulfilling life is to serve others. give your heart--all of it. share your struggles with people. help them with their own struggles.

don't assume--EVER.
it makes an ass our of you and me--plain and simple.

YOLO
kidding--you actually live twice. the first is for as long as God wills, the second is forever. Act accordingly.

it's okay to ask for help
one of the greatest things about community is the support it provides. you don't have to do everything by yourself--let people help you.

beauty is more than skin deep
it's also incredibly subjective. you're beautiful. don't sweat it.

fake it till you make it
confidence goes a long way--if you don't have any, then just pretend you do, and poof! you have confidence. See how that works? ;)

it's okay to put yourself first sometimes
i know i literally *just* said to serve instead of be served, and i meant every word of it. however, there is a time when it's appropriate to say no and look out for yourself first. the line is usually pretty clear, and you'll know it when you see it.

surround yourself with the right people
a friend should be loyal, honest, uplifting and generous, so hold yours to a high standard.  if you feel like crap on a regular basis, take a look around.  it's a two way street, so make sure you're being a good friend, too. also, notice I used the plural people. More than one. 

know your worth
if someone isn't appreciating you, then leave. it sounds simple, but it's not always easy. this is where those super loving supportive friends come in.

do everything for (and with) the Lord
this one is definitely the most important--that's why I saved it for last. God is *the* only one you need to please. don't ever forget that.


now i'm going to go eat another donut, cause I'm an adult.
xoxo, kate

goodbye 2015, hello 2016

it's been a crazy twelve months.

i know i say this almost every year, but this year was honestly my favorite yet.

i've made new friendships, and strengthened old ones. i've expanded my comfort zone. i've cried desperately, and i've laughed endlessly, and i've read books, and i've found songs that speak to my soul. i've cut my hair and traveled to another country, things that i never thought i would have the courage to do. i've been swept off my feet. i've discovered my true style. i've discovered my purpose in life. i've sat around on my butt for days on end with nothing but a box of cookies and the TV remote. i've gone on spontaneous adventures. 

i feel like i've grown so much through these past twelve months, and i am so excited to see what 2016 has in store for me.

memories are magic, folks. treat them as such.

-2015-

january: started my last semester ever of high school. froze my toes off in the cold.
february: celebrated my 17th birthday. hatched three beautiful baby ducklings. got an iphone. hit an emotional rough patch.
march: went for a windows-down-on-the-highway drive with old friends. developed an obsession with cookie-dough.
april: visited my brother at college in florida. finished high school, resulting in lots of bittersweet feels.
may: hit another emotional rough patch. graduated high school. survived my very last (bittersweet) tech week with my high school friends. got the best surprise of my life when conner flew in for the show without telling me. left for england.
june: returned from england a different person. went to a ton of grad parties. did a lot of soul searching. did a lot of swing dancing. did even more swing dancing. made a lot of sweet memories with friends.
july: fell in love with tori kelly's new album. saw a bunch of old friends at my graduation party. continued aforementioned soul searching. took a beautiful class trip up north. fried like a lobster. bought my very own macbook. had a blast volunteering at vbs.
august: camped on lake michigan with my family. felt really nostalgic/sad about not going back to my high school in the fall. watched my classmates/friends go off to college.
september: felt very sad about all my friends leaving. found a new perspective. got swept off my feet. got my very first debit card.
october: went to an amazing francesca battiscelli/matthew west concert with an old friend. got addicted to glee. bought way too many sweaters at target.
november: hit yet another emotional rough patch. really fell in love with music. saw the very last hunger games movie. had my first black friday shopping trip.
december: hosted an advent by candlelight table. started a new phase of my life. had a lot of ups and downs. visited my grandparents in pennsylvania. got a polaroid camera for christmas.
here's to a beautiful new year.
xo, kate

things I love about autumn

/ crisp air / tall leather boots / pumpkin spice / smoky bonfires / ripped jeans / hearty stews & pot roasts / fuzzy blankets / chunky knit scarves / warm knit hats / candles / spending time with family / sweater tights / new school supplies / country walks / baked goods / chill, jazzy music / clear, cool starry nights / crunchy leaves / warm apple cider / snuggles / dark, rich colors / carving pumpkins / harvest decor / big hoodies / everything halloween / 

summer's end, new adventure

the weather's been getting chilly here, and although autumn is an amazing time of year, i can't help but feel sad about summer's end. it's like an old friend has come to stay, and the reunion is so sweet that you forget that they're only visiting. and when it's time for them to leave, it's just as painful as the last time they left. it never gets easier. the end of summer will never get any easier for me.

and i'm not gonna lie, it's been tough. back in may when i graduated, the promise of an adventurous summer kept me hopeful. but now that the air is cold and summer is fading, it's harder to stay positive about all this change. my classmates have all left for college. in a new town, with new people. and yet i'm the one who feels alone.

as bleak as it may sound, God has shown His love for me in little ways. one of my friends just returned from a trip to ireland. She brought me back a claddagh ring--from ireland. how legit is that? i was so touched that she thought of me enough to bring me back such a thoughtful and beautiful gift, especially since i take such pride in my irish heritage. i wear it every day and every time i see it i think of her. i'm so incredibly thankful to have her as a gap year buddy.

it is then that i realize summer isn't a season. summer is a feeling; it's a state of mind. and just because the season of summer is over doesn't mean that the feeling has to be over, too.

the weather's getting chilly here, but i'm slowly becoming okay with it. i feel excitement in the cold. i see adventure in the turning leaves. i hear promise in the whistling wind. because when i realize that life is changing, and my old friends have gone their separate ways, and i don't have new classes to look forward to, it's not the end of summer. it's the beginning of a new adventure. 

here's to new adventures.

xoxo, 

kate

lots of goals

 \\ goals for the next eleven months //

•take singing lessons•read all the books on my list•learn to sew•get back in the saddle•volunteer more•learn to do the splits•eat healthier•learn to play guitar•practice the virtue of patience•learn to ice skate•try a new recipe every week•do a 30 day photo challenge•learn my favorite songs on the piano•always have a craft to work on•pick up an adoration hour•wear more bold outfits•learn to like veggies•get better at baseball•learn sign language•break my bad habit of self-deprecation•memorize a different prayer or bible verse each month•take a ballroom dancing class•drink more water•get over 100 followers on my photography Facebook page•be able to do a flawless cateye•take archery lessons•get my driver's license•branch out my musical taste•learn to watercolor•be more organized•blog more frequently•practice calligraphy•get outside more•plant and maintain a garden in the springtime•learn a new practical skill each month (how to jump a car, balance a checkbook, etc)•take more risks•memorize my favorite shakespeare monologues•take a self defense or kick boxing class•take a photography class•learn proper etiquette•learn to speak better•be more present•

reflecting on 2014

January: celebrated the new year with friends. watched Forest Gump for the first time.

February: celebrated my 16th birthday. bought a moose pillow pet with my birthday money.

March: prayed outside of the local planned parenthood. experienced God through a person in a very real, life-changing way.

April: got chickens. finished school before easter. prayed for a bit more sunshine and a lot less snow.

May: got my first job. sang in front of a crowd of people three nights in a row during my high school's production of Shakespeare's Tempest. finished my junior year of high school. watched my baby brother receive Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.

June: started my blog. did a lot of swing dancing. drank a lot of lemonade. went to one of my close friends' grad parties. attempted to tan. failed at tanning. said a painful goodbye to a friend.

July: launched my photography business. had a pedal boat adventure with friends. visited the upper peninsula. saw lake michigan for the first time. read The Help. and loved it. a lot.

August: had a huge bonfire with a bunch of friends. sucked really bad at volleyball. said a really bittersweet goodbye.

September: started my senior year of high school. found out I'm going to England next may. got insanely excited for said trip to England. visited the cider mill.

October: made my entire halloween costume from scratch. tried really hard to like pumpkin spice lattes. failed at liking pumpkin spice lattes. decorated our car for the church trunk or treat. had a crazy time celebrating halloween with friends. got surprised with a huge bag of brookside candy.

November: saw mockingjay part 1 with my best nerd friend. saw it again with my brother. sobbed both times. pined the lack of mockingjay part 2 leaks. started eating only free trade chocolate.

December: made all my Christmas gifts from scratch. finally decided on a major. got really excited for said major. started watching parks & rec. visited my grandparents in the mountains of pennsylvania. fell in love with taylor swift's album 1989.

the christmas rush

I just want to say that we haven't gotten a good snow yet and I'm starting to freak out. If I don't get my white Christmas, so help me God...hehe ;)

I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow! My brother, Conner, started college in Florida last year, and it doesn't truly feel like Christmas until he gets home, since we usually save all the festivities for him. We're always packing in the tradition until the last minute. 

I think we tend to get lost in the to do lists that the season brings; cooking, wrapping, decorating, shopping. Even things like watching festive movies become rote. I'm the kind of person that wants to maximize the "fun" but it always ends up being at the expense of the true virtues of the season. I have to watch myself and make sure that I savor each moment instead of rushing through Advent.

We picked up Conner from the airport (after a six hour delay) on Friday, which was mom's last day of school until the new year. Saturday was a girl's shopping day, and coincidentally, the busiest shopping day of the year. I had a ton of shopping to do since I decided to make all of my gifts this year, and I hadn't purchased any supplies yet. We also watched the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol and decorated the little gingerbread village. Conner decorated his to be like the Tardis :) Sunday was the guy shopping day, and the girls started on the Christmas cookies and cleaning, since we're hosting Christmas dinner this year. I finished making three of the five gifts I had planned. Crafting is really tiring!

Monday we went with my grandma to visit my grandfather's headstone at the cemetery. This is one of my favorite traditions because it reminds me that in the end, all the food, gifts and decorations can't come with you. It puts everything in perspective and reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. Then grandma took mom out to lunch so that I could snap a few pictures of me and the siblings. I'm going to frame the picture and give it to mom and dad (and give one to grandma as a thank you, but shh, it's a surprise!!) I finished all my gifts, and wrapped them too. Conner and I went to a friend's house for a little Christmas party. I'm excited to see people, since I've been out of school since December 12th.

There is still a lot to do,but I'm making sure that I cherish the little things, especially my time with Conner. He goes back in a few weeks so I want to make sure I spend every moment possible with him. I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear that :P

xoxo,