Au revoir, 2013!

This year has been amazing. No matter which way you look at it, it's true. My sweet and beautiful friend, Abigail wrote an article that put a spotlight on the segregation of UA's Greek system. As a result, changes were made. She also spent her summer in New York City as an intern! The ever wonderful and wise Tess is kicking ass in Nursing school and is well on her way to reviving human hearts with her bare hands. She also has met the man that she is going to marry and I must say, he is wonderful. He has a fantastic sense of humor and he and Tess are truly a match made in heaven. 

She thinks the world of him and I know that he thinks the world of her, too. One of my oldest and greatest friends, Hope got engaged! She has been praying for her husband for as long as I can remember and now she found him. He treats her like the goddess that she is, and I am so thankful for their love. I know that he will appreciate and admire her the way that she deserves to be appreciated and admired. 

Andy is teaching littles and not-so-littles in China. He is sharing American traditions with them and looking healthier than he has in years and years and years. 

As for me?

I spent the year working towards my career, bettering myself, and strengthening my spirit. Two years ago, I would have insisted that I did this alone. But, I met someone this year and I know that God wanted me to share my life with this person. So, that's what I did. This past year, I have been more positive, more self assured, more motivated, and more carefree than in any year prior. I have no doubt in my mind that Trey's presence in my life is a gift from God and that it is a gift that I should thank Him daily for. Life is better when it is shared with someone and I can't imagine that someone being anyone but Trey. I've known from the start that he's the one and I'm learning that everyone else has known, too.

I can't wait to see where the next year takes me and all of my loved ones.

Happy New Year!

Since I'm in bed with the flu and still recovering from wisdom tooth surgery, Trey and Tess have planned to postpone the start of the new year until I feel better and until we all can get together.  So, a post with New Year's resolutions will come at a later date.

Smoothies for days and days and days.

December 26

Someone else needs to write about me getting my wisdom teeth out. All I know is that I loved my nurse and that right before surgery I told her that I felt like I was getting lethally injected, and I apologized for how morbid that was. Then, I cried the whole way home. For no reason.  

From the videos:

"I just don't understand why I'm so emotional."

"You're emotional because of the medicine."

"What?      So.. it's not me?"

Then, Trey helped me take videos for Andy. In the videos, I cried and apologized for crying.

It was a roller coaster, I think.

It's currently 2:23 a.m. and I am wide awake and am going to eat mashed potatoes or soup or something.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

It's the hap-happiest season of all.

Christmas Eve was splendid, as always. I had a wonderful dinner where I ate way, way, way, way too much. Then I received the typography books that I asked for! Then, I received the doll house that my dad built me when I was a little girl. But, this time, it was painted and looked even more beautiful than I remembered. I had to wipe a few tears away for that one. 

I have the most incredible men in my life. 

This Christmas was more unlike any other. The most noticeable difference was Andy's absence. I missed hearing his laugh coming from around the corner. I missed sitting next to him at the dinner table. Fortunately, I suppose, there wasn't really a "dinner" this year. I actually overheard my grandmother saying that she was just going to go pick up a bucket of chicken. Of course, me, my mom, and my aunts would never allow that. But, we didn't know that there wasn't a ham until it was too late, so we just snacked on dips, spreads, and pies. Food brings people together and when there is someone special missing, maybe the special foods should be missing, too. 

There wasn't a Christmas tree this year. At first, I was shocked and quietly disappointed. Then I remembered how magical last year's tree had been and how big of a deal it was that my Papa had even put it up, since he had been so tired and sick. So, after Trey kindly, and discretely shifted my point of view and showed me the very small, table top tree that sat proudly in the hallway floor, I felt better. 

Truly, it didn't matter that there wasn't a ham, seven casseroles, mashed potatoes, or a tree. All that mattered was that once again, we were all able to get together. And while Andy wasn't able to physically be there, I know that all the way over in China, he was celebrating in his own way.

One of the biggest events was Trey meeting Clovis and Imogene. I had prepped Trey for his handshake with Clovis, telling him how important handshakes are in my family. I had prepped him for the possibility of Imogene giving him an endearing pat on his bottom. But, I don't think that he was at all prepared for actually being in my Papa's presence. On Christmas Eve, I showed him picture after picture of Clovis and Imogene in their heydays. He was in awe. He couldn't get over how stunning my Papa was. Then, the next morning when he met him in person, he was in shock. The handshake went very well. All day, I could see him watching my sweet Papa. He listened intently when Papa told the story about winning first place in a greased-pole climbing race in '57. He decided that he needed a pocked knife, after seeing that my Papa always has one. He decided that he needed to carry a handkerchief, after learning that my Papa always has one handy. After Papa told him that he was built like he was, I think Trey blushed. When Papa said that he liked Trey's haircut that I gave him, Trey beamed. I have always felt like every man should strive to be like my Papa. So, when my already spectacular boyfriend tells me that he wants to be like my Papa, goes out and buys a pocket knife and handkerchief, and says that he is going to quit cursing (which he seldom did to begin with)...my heart flutters. 

Oh, and Imogene... 

When she first saw him on Christmas morning, he was asleep on the floor next to my bed. "Now, who am I looking at?" she said as she smiled. Then, when she saw him awake, she exclaimed, "Oh, wow. You are handsome!" All day, that's how it went. She led him around the house, showing him pictures and telling him stories. She gave him butterfly kisses, and then gave him a big kiss, right on the tip of his nose. In his Christmas card she wrote, "We love you already!"

Papa told him that he was impressed by him.

Nanny asked me if he tells me that he loves me, and then if he likes me. To both, I answered "he sure does."

It was a beautiful Christmas.

Trey is spending Christmas with me and my family this year! His family is going to Pennsylvania and his work schedule just doesn't allow for him to go, too. So, we get to keep him for Christmas! Though I would love for him to be able to have his traditional Christmas, I am overjoyed. Christmas cookie making, tree decorating, present wrapping, holiday song jamming, stocking stuffing, hot cocoa sipping, movie watching, and SO. MUCH. MORE. 

Christmas is a week away and things have been delightfully busy! I'm home and beyond pleased to sit beside a stunning fir tree that has been trimmed with everything Dr. Seuss recommends and more, and play Mario Party with Jon and Trey. Every time I wrap a present, I give it to Jon to place underneath the beautiful evergreen and he beams. The tree really is something this year. My dad did a great job. 

All is merry and bright.

I qualified for the Dean's List.

I've got an incredible, supportive family.

I've been welcomed into another family with chocolate cakes and open arms from the very beginning!

Andy is doing well in China. The smog is the worst part about it, it seems. 

Now, let's sing Christmas carols for days and days. Let's watch Christmas movies and give hugs that last a couple of second longer than usual. Let's bake treats and cook goodies. Let's laugh louder and smile wider. It's Christmas!

College Traditions

I remember unpacking the Christmas decorations with my mom every Christmas and coming across this one box of ornaments. Every year she would say some variation of, "Be careful. I've had those since college." The wreath that has always hung on her door... yeah, she made that when she was my age. College. 

Sophomore year, Abbey and I made pomanders. Later, some weirdo at a party picked the cloves out of them and ate them. That was weird. But, still. We had a sensational time and our kitchen smelled like Christmas. It grew into a tradition. We get a tree, we decorate it, and we make pomanders. I'm so thankful for these memories and the traditions that we have made, Miss. Crain. Thank you! 

And hey, who knows, maybe I'll go out and buy some beautiful Christmas ornaments and then one day tell my daughter, "I got them in college, so be very careful!"

And, I would love to make a wreath...

2011

2012

Lately...

-I've been listening to only Christmas music on the radio, cassette tapes of Christmas music, and Sufjan's Christmas albums.

-I've been making Christmas tree ornaments, wrapping paper, paper snowflakes and reindeer mobiles, glitter bunting, ceramic mugs and bowls, memories, and pumpkin pies.

-I've been reading my text books. Only textbooks. Sigh.

 -I've been lusting after the Bosc pear and honey pop at Steel City Pops. So far, it's topped them all and I just can't get enough.
- I've been excited for everything. But, to name a few... going home and having my mom's beef stew, my dad's potato soup, Christmas trees, time with Jon, and more. Making memories and traditions. Finishing up my fall semester. Seeing The Nutcracker.
-I'm planning to have my third annual Christmas with Abbey on Wednesday. Tree decorating, pomanders, and catching up.
-I was surprised to pose nude for Abbey for her figure drawing class project. New experiences.

-I'm thankful that I was able to Skype Andy in China on Thanksgiving with my Grandparents. It made their day. They were thrilled to see him looking happy and healthy. I'm also thankful that my grandfather's heart has healed from working at only 15% to working at 45%.

-I'm praying for wisdom from the doctors and for God to work more miracles and heal my Papa's insides a bit more so that surgery can be done, if surgery is the best bet. I'm praying for peace of mind for all of my family members in their every day lives. I'm praying for my friends, that they will breathe and love the life that they've been given and make the most of the time that they have.

-I'm missing Andy. Every day.

It's the holiday season...

Abbey and I,  2012.

I know that it isn't Thanksgiving yet and I am in no way wanting to rush through that joyous, gluttonous holiday. But, I see no problem in reflecting on Christmases past and decorating for Christmas early and buying Christmas presents early and listening to Christmas music everywhere I go and talking about Christmas and thinking about Christmas, etc. I mean, I'm wearing Thanksgiving earrings every day. So, I am still honoring the approaching holiday. 

Sometimes, you just shouldn't repress what you're feeling. October through February is that time. 

Merry Freaking Christmas. I can't hold it in anymore.

Momentum

Alejandro Guijarro photographed the blackboards of quantum physicists as he found them in their institution's classrooms. Out of their normal context, we see that they are works of art. We can see the layers and layers of thought, time, and effort. We can see the carefully placed lines drawn to divide the works into segments. We see the eraser marks that cover the blackness with a thick, foggy film. We see the finger prints that broke through the misty, chalk dust film to point to numbers and symbols that were once of great importance. 

Too perfect.

"Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." -Ernest Hemingway

A wise woman once told me that she strongly believed that couples should travel before they get married. She said that traveling is a test. You get to see how your traveling partner handles money, lost tickets, late arrivals, lost reservations, wrong turns, delayed flights, layovers, stolen necessities, etc. Weichman, you passed.

It doesn't matter that the ATM ate your debit card. It doesn't matter that you forgot to pack all of your pants. It doesn't matter than Savannah was hot, sticky, filled with weird, tense people, and not near as great as we imagined it would be. 

When things went wrong, we laughed harder.

...

But thankfully, most everything went according to plan.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina OR Heaven on Earth

No building can be taller than the tallest tree. No building can be painted anything other than neutral colors. There aren't hundreds of street lights lining the roads, blinding you as you try to see the stars. Clean streets and bike trails everywhere you go. Happy people and empty East Coast beaches.

Perfect weather and perfect company.

Shrimp boils, steaks, waffles, lobster, homemade breakfasts, sweaters, morning coffee, Phase 10 games with my family, playing with Wybie in the ocean, feeding monster horses, taking carriage tours of Beaufort, chocolate shops, biking, biking, biking, more biking, sampling local honeys, cemeteries, ice cream, and more biking. It was the perfect vacation. 

Hey, Trey. Let's go back.

I am thankful for so many things.

Super Ghoul Finds

I'm glad that these items exist, even if I don't particularly want some of them (pyro pet).

 Pyro Pet

Bat Platter

Sugar Skull Wallpaper

Skull Planters

A Very Empty Tree

Nightmare Before Christmas Salt and Pepper Shakers

Skull Necklace

Dancing Skeleton Tank

Monster Madness

John Kenn does these amazing drawings of monster and human interactions. Some of these interactions could be quite alright. Others...not so much. But what masterpieces!

My Beloved Monster

Eels

This has been the most wonderful Halloween season ever. October, I'll be sad to see you go.

Three days until a trip to Hilton Head Island with Mr. Weichman, my dad, stepmother, and Wybie!