12/23/10

Oh The Pilgrimage Home is Always Good!


It is nice to be home. I feel very lucky to have made it to Rhinelander last night. My flight out of Salt Lake City was actually delayed by an hour and a half and I was cutting it real close to get my connection in Minneapolis. I ran across the airport and luckily had just enough time to hit the bathroom before catching the flight. Isn't that a pretty picture that I took from thousands of feet above the ground? The skies were pretty friendly yesterday! Oh and I didn't have to be groped by security or go through the body scanner...I found that to be a good thing!

I set up my parents manger this morning because I reminded my parents that we can't have Christmas without Christ. Please remember the true meaning for the season. I think we often get too caught up in the giving and receiving of presents that we forget the biggest gift we have all been given. The little babe that was born in Bethlehem is the best gift of all. I am very grateful to know that my Savior was born to make it possible for me to return to my Heavenly Father. Knowing that I do not have to be perfect and that Jesus not only died for me but was born to live a life full of love and great example is truly the most comforting thing that I know to be true. My life is blessed everyday because of Jesus' sacrifice. Please take time to reflect on that sometime during your celebrations in the next few days! May the Peace of Christmas be with each of you!

I also bought some clothes today. I think it was very clever to have decided to pack light and not pay luggage fees. You can but a lot of clothes with 100 dollars. Not that I bought 100 dollars worth of clothes but I could for what I would pay to have a full bag go both ways on Delta. Stupid luggage fees!

Today we drove to Green Bay. My dad thought it was silly that I was taking a picture of the road while he was driving. He said: "What are you taking a picture of now?" I told him I was taking a picture of Wisconsin. Isn't the winter wonderland here pretty? I think so.

I like the new shirt I bought today. I may have stared at it in the mirror for a few minutes. I often check myself out in the mirror these days. It is fun. I looked good today! :) (and no I don't think Carley Simon was singing about me, either!)

I drove past Lambeau Field on the way to eat at Kroll's. I had a yummy butter cheese burger with bacon. It was fabulous. Just as fabulous as my eggnog shake from McDonald's I had on the way here. What an evil and yummy bunch of food I partook of today. My mom actually said to me today: "You really do like food, don't you?," after I said something about the Port Wine Cheese Spread that I put on a few of the crackers I ate at lunch. I really do have a love affair with food!

It was fun to have dinner with my cousin, Shannon, my Grandma, my Aunt Jeanie, and my mom. It was nice to have conversation with them. I have a great family. It will be fun to be here in Green Bay the next few days and catch up with everybody. Life is good and I love mine.

Cheers!

Fun school day!


Tuesday was a fun day. The half day of school before Christmas Break is always one of my favorite days at work. This year it snowed a ton the night before. It was pretty but driving to work was challenging. I went sideways as I tried to stop for the stoplight near my house and some idiot pedestrians jaywalked right in front of me. Sillies.

I helped mop up the mess from snow covered shoes, so the kids wouldn't slip as they came in the door. We also did our traditional cheer for each kid as they came in. Their faces of confusion are always one of my favorite things.

We did the usual writing of Christmas letters to former students who are now serving in the military. It was fun to be able to write to my former students. I am very proud of them. We then had games down in the gym. I was in charge of running a three on three basketball tournament and it was a hit and very fun. The day really went fast.

We then had our work Christmas party at Magelby's. It was a blast with an ugly sweater contest(Matt pictured above won fair and square!!!) We also had a white elephant exchange and I was sorely disappointed that I did not get a new elephant. ha ha. I loved my present though...an original painting by one of our instructional assistants. I picked it because I thought the wrapping with left-handed writing was hilarious.

Later, Jane, Janette, and I went and delivered our turkeys that the school district gave us to three of our students' families. (What are single people to do with a turkey anyway!) It was fun to give in this way and I hope the three families we gave the food to use it to have a good holiday this weekend! We saw that really tall and cool snowman while out and about.

I also received my lifetime membership at Weight Watchers. You can read about it here. It was fun to make this big goal and I am proud of my journey.

Later that night, I had a date after much picking on by my friends and leaders at the WW meeting. I love those sillies.

It was the best date I have been on in years. I won't give you too much detail here because I don't want to jinx anything and really I don't think this is the venue for it. Just know I had a great time and hope to hang out with the nice man another time next week! The END.