Weekend

This weekend I went to visit my mom.  Zephan was working and had to stay behind, so I got some good girl time in with Mom and Grandma. 

The goal for the weekend was to get started on a baby quilt, which is the project that will be absorbing my prepare-for-baby energy for the time being.  This meant that I had to tackle the sewing machine.  My sister gave me one to use for this, and it's probably one of the most intimidating things that I've ever owned.  My mom was much more patient teaching me to use it than she was teaching me how to drive.  I was much less patient at learning to do this than I was learning to drive.  Probably because I spent hours ripping out seams. 

Also, I went to church at Southern Heights, and after the service a group of people prayed for all of the crazy undecidedness that is our lives right now.  It was perfect and encouraging and I can't wait to go back next month.

Quilting

This is something I don't think I've ever imagined myself wanting to do.  A sure sign that pregnancy does weird things to women.

I'm making a baby quilt.  I spent probably two hours at JoAnn's a few days ago selecting the perfect material (in brown and orange and green and blue, in order of prominence) and listening to the employees discuss their dinner plans.  Said material has been washed and ironed and is now waiting to make the journey to see my mom this weekend.  It's going to be a party.

Christmas

I love Christmas even more now than I probably ever did when I was a kid.  I think because seeing family and getting new things has been happening less and less and less and less since I moved to Columbia two and a half years ago.  In the last six months or so . . . we've been nearly at a standstill in those areas of life.

This Christmas was especially special because . . . I enjoyed it so much?   Reasons:

• It snowed 5 inches the morning of Christmas Eve.  Granted, the most I got to enjoy this was primarily while driving through it, which was an awful thing to do at 5:30 in the morning.  There was considerably less snow at Mom & Dad's, but they got enough for satisfaction by Christmas morning.
• I was witness to my father taking extremely potent pain killer.  (Much less distressing than not on Vidacin in this instance).  He hurt his knee and neglected to go to the doctor before Christmas, so he had to wait until Monday.  = he was pretty stuck in one place the whole time we were there.  = we got to enjoy much more of his company than usual.
• Our whole family (minus Zephan) was together for a few days the weekend before Christmas.  
• My youngest niece informed me while I was making a birthday card for my grandma that "When [she] was [my] age, [she] used to like to do that."
• I played an excellent new game with my husband, favorite little bro and fun, nerdy cousin at my aunt's house.  Zephan was exposed to some aspects of my family that had been lacking entirely from his life experience.  :)
• My mom finished a quilt that my great grandma Gertie started.  I made her keep the quilt top probably seven years ago.  I knew it would be good if someone got around to quilting it.  And it is SO good.  
• I also received an iTunes gift card, which I am enjoying as I'm writing.  What is it about buying new music that makes life so bright and sparkly?
• Zephan got me a super nice camera.  = new hobby, lots of pictures (mostly of cats, so far).  Unfortunately, I'm separated from the products of this new toy.  I will share soon, though.

Reducing Stress

I have to come up with a topic for two huge papers.  This happens to be my least favorite part of paper-writing.  And because these papers are so huge, I have to make a really good decision or the rest of my college career will be horrible.  I took a midterm today.  I was under-prepared.  And in one of my classes we're reading Maus.  Also, I have a French midterm on Thursday that I feel under-prepared for, I'm behind on my reading, and I have another midterm next week.  Plus, I'd rather do fun things with my time than complete my list of things to do for the rest of the month.  Thanksgiving can't come too soon.

Feeling like this last year, I know exactly what I would have done.  I'd have hopped in my car, gone down College, left on Bus. Loop, right on Rangeline, stopped at Taco Bell, and sat at my sister's kitchen table while she contemplated dinner.  And I would have stayed while she made dinner.  And then I would have stayed for dinner.  Because I'm (she's) a great sister.

Unfortunately, I'm recovering from Holocaust comics on my own.  No kids to play with, no Taco Bell, nothing.  *sigh*

The only solace I have is this picture, which is dedicated to Jenny.