I was talking to my friend Carolina the other day and she tells me about this half marathon she’s doing for her birthday (yeah, not my kind of birthday fun)…so, on a whim, I tell her I’ll train with her.

uh…are there still “take backs” as adults?

The schedule isn’t really that bad. The big runs are just on Saturdays. Tomorrow is 6 miles. In my head all week it has been 6 kilometers. So, I’m telling someone what my route is going to be tomorrow and they tell me I’ll have to double that for 6 miles. Say, wha?!

Oops.

So, either my Saturday big runs are going to be in kilometers, making it more manageable. Or, I’ll suck it up and go for two run/walks (I’m not kidding myself thinking I can run 6ks, much less 6 miles).

All that to say, that I’ve officially started to acclimate to the metric system.

Oh, and a plus…the 10 weeks end a week before Marc & I go to America to get hitched. Hopefully that’s enough motivation to get my bum off the couch!

At the grocery store today, I almost picked up applesauce. But, it’s more expensive than at home and, besides, homemade is so much better.

So, here’s what I did:

• chopped up a bag of apples (about 10)
• put them in a pot with 2 cups of water and 3/4 cup of sugar
• simmered for 30 minutes

side note: that might be one of my favorite parts, it smells AMAZING.

• added a couple pinches of cinnamon
• let it cool a little, then mix with a hand mixer until it’s just a little chunky

and ENJOY!

We have a scheduled power outage all day tomorrow. If I get up before 8 I’ll make pancakes (doubtful, it’s the last day of vacation), but hopefully we’ll have electricity in time for dinner. I love applesauce and pancakes!

At the stroke of midnight this year I was doing about the same thing as last year, just 8000 miles away. Sitting on the couch. I did make pancakes though (my substitute for my family’s speckendicken tradition)–complete with American maple syrup…so tasty!

Last year, I wrote my about my hope for 2009. As I look back on the past year, I can see how many opportunities God’s given me to put that hope into action–to act on what I’d hoped and prayed for. Sometimes, I did well. Despite challenges, I held on to Truth, walking by faith and not by sight. And sometimes, I scrambled. I clung to what I knew and what was familiar, rather than clinging to Him.

I want to do better this year.

I’ve seen God work in mighty ways this past year. I’m hopeful I will see that again in 2010. As we enter into marriage, I’m hopeful for Marc and I’s future together. I’m hopeful that I will stay focused on Him–that He will remain the center of both of our lives, and our relationship with each other. I’m hopeful that this will be a year of growth.

Most of all, I’m hopeful that the challenges of the past year will give way to victories in 2010.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. — Psalms 33:22

What are you hopeful for?

As Marc & I were leaving his house tonight, I couldn’t stop thinking about how 2009 could have been. And how I expected it to be.

I was totally clueless.

In many ways, 2009 was extremely difficult. But, even through especially through the hard stuff, God showed up in big ways. Through all of the crap, His glory is being revealed.

And in other ways, 2009 was downright amazing. Marc proposed (we’ll be America bound in less than 3 months, crazy!) and I was able to spend quality time with some of my favorite people earlier in the year (I was even home long enough to unpack). My closest friends opened up their homes in Orlando and Chicago–it was fabulous being able to do life with them again–even if it was just for a few days.

Entering the next decade, I am overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness. His plans are FAR better than mine. I’m excited to see what the next 365 days bring!

Although he’s definitely not the reason for the season, we had to make sure Father Christmas had an appropriate place to enter our house Christmas Eve night.

Amazing what you can do with some tissue paper and construction paper. As soon as Santa fills them, we’ll hang the stockings over our mantle.

Merry Christmas Eve!

It’s not that weird for me to not be home for Christmas. When I lived in Orlando, I ended up working a lot of holidays. But, this is my first Christmas away from home where I’m not working 17+ hours a day and where I actually have time to think about not being home. As much as I’m loving the warm weather, I’m hoping this doesn’t become the norm for the holidays.

But, I’m trying to make the best of it. I spent a full day baking this week. I made a couple batches of sugar cookies, melting moments (or mexican wedding cakes or whatever else you like to call them), mint chocolate chip cookie bars cut into Christmas shapes and shortbread.

Oh, and I made a carrot cake in the shape of the Mac logo for Marc’s birthday yesterday (we had a great day hiking here to celebrate his 26th). Needless to say, I feel like I’m on a perminent sugar rush.

I have also instituted family craft night at our house. We’ve made snowflakes, garland, decorated cookies. Tonight we skipped the craft and watched a Christmas movie. Hopefully I can come up with something equally festive for tomorrow…caroling perhaps?!

AND, my mom sent presents and they’re waiting for us under the tree! Yay for my mom.

Merry (almost) Christmas!

My heart feels heavy.

Three years ago yesterday one of my grandpas died.

Yesterday the other one did.

It feels a little bit like a cruel joke. Partially because I wasn’t there for either. But, three years ago, I was on a plane by this time today. There’s no chance of that this time (I’m not sure why plane tickets have to be so dang expensive).

Even when something, like death, seems inevitable, it doesn’t feel easy. Even when I know what’s next for him, and how amazing that is…selfishly, I’m not ready.

94 years is a long time. I know that people will tell my dad and his sisters that over and over during the next few days…that they were lucky to have him that long. But, I also know that doesn’t make it easier.

Today, I’m even more thankful for this.

Okay, that part won’t be for a few months. but, we’re knee deep in planning.

There is such a sense of satisfaction when we are able to check something off our list (okay, this hasn’t happened much yet). But, we did order the save the dates today. Most are going out via email, but we did print some for our not-so-technologically saavy friends and family.

I’m pretty lucky to be marrying a graphic designer, because they’re pretty sweet! I’m trying to not to show them off too much yet…but I’ve totally caved under pressure and sent them to a few people.

AND (okay, this is really exciting), we took our first round of engagement photos last weekend. I really wanted to do them, and as we looked at photographers, even here, it seemed totally out of the question. There’s no way we could have paid a couple hundred dollars for photos. But, our lovely friend Jace agreed to take the photos with Marc’s SLR. Between her mad skills and Lightroom, we have some rad photos! We have a few more ideas, so maybe we’ll go out again tomorrow.

Sometimes 129 days (and counting…) feels like a lot and sometimes it’s totally overwhelming. I know (and hope) that the next few months are going to fly by.

I’ve planned a lot of events in my day. I love it. Some with some pretty hefty price tags (okay, now that I think about it…I’m pretty sure my budget for a two hour cocktail reception was more than what my gross income will be this year…but, that’s another story…).

But, yesterday might top the list.

Here are photos from our Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

We hosted Thanksgiving at my house this year. Over 30 people joined us for our American Thanksgiving. For many of them, it was their first Thanksgiving experience! A few of our guests had never even eaten turkey. It was fun to be able to share such a big part of our culture with our non-American friends.

My heart is full, but my feet are tired! It’s nearly 11 and Marc & I just finished up all of the dishes. Of all of the days it would have been helpful to have a dishwasher…today tops the list! Every inch of table and counter space has been taken up by dishes air drying.

I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!