Snow Day

It snowed in coastal North Carolina today!

The afternoon has been quiet and restful.  Naps, laundry, eating leftovers, packing, and intense Wii playing.

My sisters built this cute snowman named Fritz.  His eyes are now oozing green dye, but I snapped a photo before he started deteriorating.

My family had planned to spend this evening with my fiance and his family, but the icy roads have eliminated that possibility.  Tonight we are eating [awesome] leftovers and watching TV instead.   "Ruined" plans are disappointing, but a quiet evening is a welcome end to a busy week.

This week has flown past, and I return to Chicago tomorrow!  This has been a blessed time with family, and I will miss them very much.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have been fantastic.  The candlelight service was beautiful, and my family enjoyed a late dinner at a local Mexican restaurant!  We came home, watched Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean on YouTube, and laid out cookies for Santa.

Today has been delightful.  We had three (yes, three) rounds of gift-opening in our house today, the first beginning at 7:00 am.  I was surprised by a stocking from Josh (he snuck it to my parents yesterday) filled with chocolates and a sweet letter. 

Josh and I received a few gifts for our upcoming life together!  A blender, a crock pot, a few utensils, and even Apples to Apples!  My sister even gave me an apron.

It has been a blessed day spent with family.  Time passes too fast! 

Cookies and Consignment

It is wonderful to be home!  This house is comfortable and familiar, decorated for Christmas and bustling with my siblings.  This is a fun place to be!

We spent this afternoon decorating our famous (well, they should be famous) sugar cookies.

My sister and I also ventured to Second Go-Round!  It was great to visit old friends and hunt for bargains.  As always, I was not disappointed.

I even found a suitcase for $5!  Score!  During this brief visit, I have also gone to the seamstress with my bridesmaids, had lunch with dear high school friends at a local Mexican restaurant, rehearsed music for an eclectic, candlelight, Christmas Eve service, and decorated a Christmas tree with my fiance's family.  Even more memories are to come!

Christmas time is here!

Christkindlmarket

The fall semester is OVER!  I took my last final exam this afternoon.  Assuming I passed my classes, I am now a senior at Moody Bible Institute.  Crazy, eh?  Josh and I celebrated by going to the Christkindlmarket with his German class!

Browsing the adorable booths in Daley Plaza was very fun!  It was only 20 degrees outside, but the eating area was enclosed and heated.  I even tried wiener schnitzel for the first time!

I have a few more days in the Windy City before returning home on Monday.  Most of them will be spent working at Panera, but I am enjoying my alone time in the apartment!  Snuggled with a blanket on the couch, watching "House" and drinking hot tea is a relaxing end to busy semester.

 

(Massive Christmas trees are so awesome!)

Anticipation

My fiance signed the lease for his first apartment!  He is moving in after Christmas, and I will join him after our wedding in June.  Today I was able to see it for the first time!

 

The apartment building was constructed in the 1920s!  It has an urban, retro feel.  Note the enamel, black, white, and green cabinets.  So much character!

Even the bathroom has a retro feel!

This one-bedroom apartment is sunny and surprisingly spacious!  Josh made a good choice.  Check out the inside and outside sets of stairs!

This apartment is not yet my home, but it is his home, and his home will soon be our home. This season is one of joyful expectancy!

Note the misspelled name.  I'm sure we'll get used to it.  :)

Christmas is coming!

Well, my goal to be in the library by 9am has been thwarted by this beautiful snowfall!

Christmas is almost here!

Last Sunday, my roommates and I decorated the apartment for the Christmas season.  We have the cutest little tree!

It is crunch time at Moody Bible Institute!  There is much work to be done before Christmas break!  The amount of papers, projects, and finals can be overwhelming, but I am "allllmost there..."!