Merry belated Christmas!

I didn't have a chance to blog yesterday, but I hope everyone's last few days of celebrating Jesus' birth was great and filled with food, presents, and cheery faces. My Christmas Eve was spent with my immediate family. We had a delicious feast of Chinese food (our favorite), followed by a gift exchange, fondue, and then watching Despicable Me 2!

On Christmas day my family trudged through the slick Minnesota roads to my Aunt and Uncle's barn where several of my relatives gathered. We had a much larger feast here, and played some board games and the cousin's had our annual "Obstacle Course Relay Race" to win a little cash. Here's the video!

 

Towards the end of the night, we also decorated some Christmas cookies! Overall, it was a pretty good Christmas, besides the chilly weather. Happy Birthday Jesus!

 

 Sardine Time!

Do You Know The Way You Move Me?

This is so good.

Holidazzle Parade and Downtown Lights

 Plus a few oldies :)

Downtown Walks Through Minnesota's Winter Wonderland

Not a Time to be Selfish

Tonight I got to go sing some Christmas carols down at a local homeless shelter downtown to not only spread some Christmas cheer but also to share the love of Jesus. Around the Christmas season it seems like we can sometimes forget the importance of giving during this season and that its more about the getting. In just the simple act of singing tonight, I realized how easy it was to make someones night. I didn't go tonight with knowing I was going to have a good time and enjoy myself, I did it  to bless others. Seeing all the smiles, the tears, and the thanks for being selfless for just a few moments in this busy time of the year though ended up really blessing me in return, and I actually ended up having a good time! 

One thing that did somewhat sadden me was in seeing two soldiers staying in the shelter. Here these guys have fought overseas for their country, and when they return this is how they live? Things like this really make me mad. (This is me venting if you hadn't noticed.)

Anyways, let's just try to remember that Christmas isn't only about what I want, and what I get, but that there are others less fortunate who could use some cheering up and support.

 

Winter Bucket List?

I'm contemplating whether or not I should have a winter bucket list, I've already lost a few weeks. All I did today though was discover the TV show 7th Heaven and watch a few episodes. Add that to the list of shows I'm addicted to at the moment, because I obviously needed another-- not. This winter though I really hope to get out and do more photography, that will be #1 on my list. Here are a few others I hope to do:

• Make a gingerbread house
• Build a snowman
• Go sledding
• Go Christmas caroling
• Watch several cheesy ABC family "25 days till Christmas" countdown movies
• Buy an ugly Christmas sweater
• Go to the Holidazzle parade
• Look at several light decorated houses
• Bake some goodies
•  Make it through winter without getting a cold
• Get a boyfriend

Eh the last two probably won't end up coming true, but I'll add them anyways. Any other ideas on what I could add? Or what you have on your winter bucket list? Also, this picture really doesn't apply to my blog post at all except that its a puppy, tangled in Christmas lights. Let's be honest it was too cute to pass up.

Freedom!

Today I completed my first semester of my senior year and so begins my winter break! Being able to do PSEO (getting free college credit as a high schooler) has been SO nice. I am so thankful for all of the friends and memories I have made so far and will continue to make as this year progresses. It's so cool to see where God is leading me in life, even though I still really don't have a clue. At least for now I'm not going to worry what I'm doing next fall, and I am going to enjoy this month winter break off of school! I feel free and it feels amazing. I feel this picture is appropriate seeing is how the new Hobbit movie part just came out. This pretty sums up my feelings for the semester.