Little did she know...

I ran across these pictures the other day... good times. I can't wait for next year's Hills Alive. There's some more pictures here in case you wanted to feast your eyes. [Jars of Clay]

Little Miss Cutie Pie Princess Bi-lingual Drama Queen Diva Enthusiastic Talented Niece of mine :) Looooove

I am blessed... that, even though I am yet again away from family, I have a second family to adopt me here in Hot Springs. I have an amazing church family and network of friends. I have co workers who bring poor, starving EMT's a delish meal. I have Celeste to drink hot chocolate and watch netflix in mah livin room. I have Skype to connect me with my niece so we can sing "Drummer Boy" together. I have a gracious, merciful, loving God to give me the unfathomable gift of salvation. ...and so it was merry and bright. Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God in the highest! Our Hope has appeared. God has drawn near. Glory to God alone! -SGM

Excuse me? But is he not the most adorable thing you have ever seen? [We cuddled a lot and often.] Carter David, also known as Cheese Cloth. Or Piglet. Either one.

We may or may not have frequented many coffee shops.

Feliz Natal, everyone. [It suddenly feels like time here is zipping by]

People? I am going to be here in less than 48 hours. View Larger Map I can't really describe what I'm feeling right now. Sure, international travel is going to be amazing. [That and the fact that it's going to be summer down there.] But do you know what is going to be more amazing? Hugging my brother and sister in-law and their two adorable children. That and getting to spend two weeks with them. Can.not.wait.

Do you want to know something? I feel terribly guilty. And halfway sheepish. Because? Well because... I didn't take any pictures on Thanksgiving. Not even one. No still life. No action shots. No posses. No self portraits. Nothing. And all this after I admonished half of my far away relatives and friends to take lots of pictures. hmph. SO. Sorry, people. No documentation of the First Thanksgiving Away. Maybe I'm more bummed than anyone else... ahem. moving on. This last entry [of thankfulness] is nothing profound (not that any of these have been profound). It's just what made me smile yesterday at work as I drove to Rapid one more time. [Sometimes being the driver is the funniest place to be.] [note: the names have been changed to protect the innocent] Frank had been drifting in and out of coherency, and really, really wanted to go to sleep, so my partner kept up a loud and sporadic conversation with him the whole way up. He got asked multiple times where he was at, where ...

It's Thanksgiving (in case you were wondering) I'm thankful for a lot of things today. Like, my wonderful family all gathered in Kansas City, my wonderful other family here in Hot Springs. Love. Laughter. The fact that God is God and God is good. But, I'm mostly thankful for my Coleman mom and dad. They adopted me four years ago and welcomed me into their crazy family (crazy in a good way). I'm thankful for all the laughs and tears and talks and hugs. I want to know them for always. They're the best. [me and Coleman mom being rednecks]

Dunn Bro's On a loner night [unless you count eavesdropping. then I had company. lots of it :)] [Chicken noodle soup, Raspberry and white chocolate scone, White chocolate latte -for the soul] [comics. I'm a sucker] [So I read kids' books for fun] [journal and sharpies. good combination]

when I haven't gotten much sleep because of work all.night.long. and when it is National Fall Down and Can't Get Up night. and when I have to drink hospital coffee to survive the drive home. and when it is FREEZING outside. and when it's impossible to catch up on sleep because of the stupid yapping dog down the alley. and when I have the Best Couch to recover on. Bring on the Calming chamomile for quiet moments.

the first foot prints in fresh snow and squeaky snow and air so cold it takes your breath away and a night that is super bright because of the moon reflecting off of the snow