Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I have a happy heart and a full belly, stuffed with homemade egg nog and gingersnap cookies. Post-holiday detox? Yes, please! (Not that I ate anything toxic, more like a de-sugar!) I’m trying not to think about getting up in the morning for work… The alarm is set for 5:55am. No thanks.

Christmas came so fast. I can’t believe that last year at this time I was getting my suitcases packed for Mexico… It makes me antsy thinking about it. This winter brings no grand adventures or exciting plans. I graduate this spring, but I honestly can’t say an Associate’s Degree seems like much of an accomplishment, the only thing it means to me is a piece of paper that will let me transfer to a University! With the New Year right around the corner I have been thinking of goals I would like to set for 2012… I don’t do resolutions, but like to write down my plans for the year. Last year I wrote

“In 1 Year……. [18] Studying in Grand Rapids Community College. Have my own apartment. Not in debt. Living healthily, cooking and exercising and living a blogger-perfect life. Continuing to improve my Spanish. Have a clearer direction of where my life is headed.”

GRCC? no. Own apartment? no. Debt-free, healthy living, cooking and exercising, CHECK! Blogger-perfect life? Did I really write that? Improving Spanish? Check. Clearer direction? Thanks to God, yes!

It’s interesting to look back and see where God leads. From where I am now, I can see that choosing to stay up north and study here instead of moving was a better choice for the most part. I was so dead set on moving out that I couldn’t see from behind my blinders of selfishness and ended up causing problems for not only myself but a lot of stress for others as well, which I am very sorry for. If only I had looked first and foremost to God things would have been oh-so-much-simpler. I can now see the benefits of where I am at now, even though small town life still grates on me some days.

While I think about my goals for the upcoming year, looking back at last year puts me in check and reminds me to turn to The Counselor in everything, and not blind myself with selfishness to his will in my life.

Have a wonderful Christmas,

L.

 

The end is near!

At the beginning of the summer I sold my first print at the Hanni Gallery in town! I was so surprised to get the check in the mail :D I didn’t have time to get over to the gallery and see which one it was until the other night! I went to dinner with some friends and also to the Christmas Open House, so we stopped in to the gallery and I hunted around to look for which one was missing!

Me, Mariah and Megs =) We walked around the different shops and galleries in Harbor until our feet froze, then went to the Chart Room for dinner. Meg and I split the calamari, which was pretty good- my first time having it! Then I had a cup of seafood chowder. We ended dinner with bananas foster, which they were giving out for free for the open house! =) I made bananas foster last year around this time… I think it’s about time to do it again =) I was hunting through old posts… I could have sworn I posted the recipe, but I guess not! Definitely a sign that I need to remake it!

(no emergencies, they were handing out cookies and cider =) )

Tomorrow is my LAST DAY of college classes for the semester. One final map quiz and test for geography, and one final sociology exam. I’m so ready to be done. I’m starting to get a little sick too =( I think the long work/study/no sleep weekend did me in. I’m looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break with, hopefully, a not crazy work schedule?! (Is that possible when you work at a ski resort over Christmas break??)

What are you planning on doing with your Christmas holiday?

Christmas Crepes

Christmas dessert was delicious crepes. Apricot filling in one and chocolate creme in the other. Drizzled with Ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate and topped with a spoonful of freshly whipped cream. Oh. So. Good.