Test Week 3: Sami

Ok you get 2 Pictures of the Day today. Today was our family Christmas.

The Official Pic of the Day: Sami in the Presents


The Unofficial Pic of the Day: Sami Wants Communion Too. My family all took Communion together before we dove into the Christmas festivities. Sami wanted in too. She didn't get any but that didn't stop her from begging as Pastor Dad blessed the sacraments.

Test Week 2: Under the Tree

Hmmmmm

I'm intrigued. My mom was telling me about a guy who decided to post a photo a day of his life, every day over the course of a year. That sounds like fun. And a challenge. I love challenges. I also love to take pictures. And some of mine turn out halfway decent. I think it would be interesting to daily examine my life in East Africa and try to explain it in one picture each day. The question is can I commit to taking a half way decent picture EVERY SINGLE DAY for a year? Because if I start- I'll hate it if I quit half way through (I HATE quitting- I'm such a goody-two-shoes). The other major challenge is I can't post pics I take a work (which are some of my best). But I do love a challenge. And I do love to take pics. And it would be pretty cool to have 365 days of life in East Africa. Will they all be quality? Probably not. But it could be cool.

So I'm thinking. Maybe I'll try a pic a day for the week and see if I can manage to find a post-worthy pic each day this week.

To start the trial off, here's today's pic (obviously not in East Africa yet):
My Dad's famous Special Recipe Chex Mix for the masses (yummy!!!). You know its Christmas when this stuff appears!! By the way, I know that TECHNICALLY Christmas was a few days ago but my fam is celebrating it together later this week so we are dragging the whole season out.

Christmas Off-Road Snow Shoeing

I love love love snow shoeing!


My dad and I went out Christmas day- down their property to the river, along the river to the railroad crossing, over into some unknown property, fording the Roaring Brook (in snow shoes) and back home.


I love this pic- its like winter and spring in the same picture- the left bank is snowy and wintery, the right bank is green and not very winter-like at all.


We came across this random kiddie chair in the woods under a tree. Maybe someone hunts from it. Or they just like to hide in a tree. Regardless, it wasn't as strange as the old school chair/desk combo that we found farther up that hill. THAT was just strange!

I HEART Snow Shoeing

The lunar eclipse on the night of the winter solstice wasn't as exciting as I anticipated. It was so cloudy that you could hardly see the moon at all. I went out a few times to check it out but it if I didn't KNOW there was an eclipse, I wouldn't have noticed a thing.


But today I went snow shoeing and I LOVED it!!! I didn't go far- just around my parent's property but it was a blast! I don't think that I've ever been snow shoeing before- I used to cross country ski but I never did snow shoeing.


I miss snow! And fun snow stuff!!

Eclipse Tonight!

We'll see if the clouds will hold off for some cool eclipse viewing but even if we miss the eclipse, the rising moon tonight was amazing!!

The Wedding!!!!

The Big Day was this weekend! And it was wonderful. It was full of fun, family, hilarity.

It was beautiful.

Here's some shots from the rehearsal dinner:




Pastor Dad conducted the ceremony- gotta love the sermon when you're dad is the pastor- you never know WHAT'S going to come back to haunt you!
I love it- they are so happy!

Ok this was one of my favorite parts of the wedding reception: DJ and his buddies have a tradition of serenading any military bride with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" - just like Goose and Maverick in Top Gun. The video is hilarious but too long to upload :(

The newest Mr. and Mrs. Dan Clise:

DJ and Kel dancin'

And of us kids

There were so many great moments- when someone, who shall remain nameless, busted out some serious 90's Boy Band moves on the dance floor! Spending time with so much of our family and friends. And even though the storm of the century blew in late that night- we all had a blast.

A Weekend in Indiana

This weekend I got to go down and spend time with 2 of my greatest friends. We went to college together, lived together in India. These are the friends who literally know everything about you and still like you- so you know you will be friends for life.

It was a great time of talking, laughing, playing with 2 of the cutest kids in the world and just catching up on life now that we are scattered all over the globe.

We ended up driving through Amish country on one of the snowiest days I've seen in a while.


This sure looks like one cold ride!!


Now I'm off again for the wedding!! Lots to do but it will be a great day!!!

Home in MI

I'm back in MI. And back in the freezing cold. Complete with snow and everything!!!


Right now we are all a flurry of wedding prep, and I'm visiting friends, eating all my local favorite foods (Schubergs Caesar Chicken Salad Burger= amazing!!!! SOOOOO miss that!) and enjoying the fact that I'm on vacation.

Oh and making about 40 lbs of rock candy!


Tomorrow I'm off to spend the weekend with some friends from college!!! And meet the newest addition to my friends' family!!