Furnace

Nathan and I are getting broken in to homeowner-ship.  We came home from work last Tuesday to an awful grinding sound coming from our furnace. We tried to run it that night to warm the house, but we soon realized that there was no heat coming out.  So, I sent Nathan out after work on Christmas eve to pick up a few space heaters. 

We called the furnace repairman Christmas eve morning and he gave us the bad news.  Due to the holidays and the fact that our furnace is a less common brand, the parts probably couldn't come in until Monday.  When Monday came around, the parts still weren't in. We finally got our furnace fixed yesterday.

I think the coldest it got in the house was 51 degrees. 

The week felt like an adventure and despite the cold there were plenty of upsides. I learned how to use a kerosene heater. We still have a home warranty, so at least it broke down now. It wasn't too cold out for most of the week, so it was a perfect time for the furnace to break down. I got an awesome fireplace-space heater out of the deal. And, It was perfect camping weather in our house all week. :)

see, doesn't it look cozy. 

In Christ
~Michelle

The Prince of Peace

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting  Father, the Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas :)

It still doesn't feel quite like Christmas. Probably because I had to go back to work the day after Christmas.  

We had our little Christmas on Christmas eve and then spent the rest of the evening at the farm with grandpa, grandma, Pearline, and Clayton.  

table set for two :)

to satisfy my name-nerdness

Pembrick's Creaturepedia and a map of  Aerwiar from the Wingfeather Saga.

(a great read-aloud-to-kids book series. I would highly recommend it)

We spent Christmas day with the Brakers.  It's never very dull around their house, so we had a great time. :) 

Like last year, having Christmas sandwiched with work really puts things in perspective.  My clients really struggle around the holidays. They don't have family to spend time with, their gifts come from donations not from people who know them, and they want those things.  While 'normal' people talk about Love and Joy and Peace on Earth, my clients are surrounded by the opposite. While the coming of Christ brings Christians Hope, my clients feel hopeless. And, it's not just my clients. It is a very rare thing, anymore, to actually feel and share in Christ's peace and love within a family.  I am so used to holidays being times of joy, but the majority (by my guess) of people dread the holidays because of the reminders of their loneliness, pain, and emptiness. That is the price that is paid when Christ is not the center.  When viewed that way it gives us even more reason to celebrate. And, it gives us even more reason to share. 

In Christ
~Michelle

The Brakers and Christmas #1

Saturday, we had the Braker family in.  Everyone was able to make it, which is pretty impressive.  Getting all 14 Brakers together in one room rarely happens. 

It was a bit tight, but we managed.

Sunday, was a relatively quiet day. I think it was a much needed calm before the storm :) or something.

Monday, after work, we went to the farm for our family Christmas.  It was great, as usual :)

lots of packages. 

Cecily's princess tent

Dad's strange hat

Mom found dad this cool old soda shop table

Beardos!!! We gave this to all the men. This was by far my favorite gift :)

Emmy enjoyed watching gussy

Cecily playing on Lena's new Twister game.:)

Some of my presents included: books, fuzzy leggings!!!, a new coat, a large frying pan, an iphone case for an iphone that I don't own yet, cool outdoor lights, and cool vintage maps. 

It was a good evening and a great way to start the rush of Christmas gatherings. We have 5 Christmases in one week. yikes. 

In Christ
~Michelle

Bro Weekend

I've not posted much. Not because there hasn't been much going on, but because I've been so busy there is no time to condense it all into a nice little post. :)

Last weekend, I felt like I ran a marathon (well, actually a 5k would do the trick as well, being as I question the existence of any muscle left on me).  Nathan had his friends over for what they call a "Bro. weekend". I think the weekend would be more correctly called "Nerd weekend" or "geekend" but nobody asks me. 

The guys are Nathan's friends, mostly from high school, and he still gets together with them regularly. They started showing up around 6:00pm on Friday night and didn't leave until about 6 on Sunday night.  They spent their time playing nerdy games, eating man food, and sleeping. 

Man food preparations

Tada! Nathan's masterpiece.  A very wonderful breakfast pizza.

Games.

I went Christmas shopping Satuday and played games with them in the evening. One of Nathan's friend's showed up with his wife.  She was a breath of fresh air. Literally. (Guys get stinky) :) ha. anyway. She's a therapist, so she thinks way more along my lines. We commiserated together about our nerdy husbands, and took part in some medium-nerd-games. 

Really, I had a good time. And, I love letting Nathan let his full nerd out. He doesn't get to do that around me that often. 

Sunday, Nathan and I went to church, and left the guys at our house.  It was the Christmas program so I got the honor of participated by leading my little pre-k class in singing. They really did a pretty good job.  And, I survived.

Our Christmas tree is rapidly shrinking beneath piles of presents! :) hehe. Have I ever said how much I like packages? ;)

Only four more shopping days 'til Christmas!

In Christ
~Michelle

Tidbits and Tales of Woe

We enter December full swing into busyness, stress, food, and all other sorts of things that can leave a person crabby. Or, quite fat. :) 
Nathan and I went to his work Christmas party Friday night.  Nathan doesn't know many people yet, so I was very relieved that the first people we saw when we walked in the door go to church with us. We had a fun evening, Nathan won a door prize, and the food was pretty good. I'm sorry, caterers just can't cook as good as AC women. It's a fact. :)

This week I baked Christmas cookies. :) Molasses cookies, sugar cookies, and what my family calls "point outs" are are by far my favorite cookie.  

He's such a good helper

 

point outs!!!

cookie decorating station

:) hehe

eee!

Ilovethem :)

Some day last week, I was running late for work, and had an encounter with the side of our garage. My poor car is now missing a side mirror. :( 

So, I spent Saturday calling around getting quotes on what it would cost to fix it.  One of the places I called, the conversation went something like this:
Hello, I broke my side mirror off of my car and I was wondering what it would cost to fix it.
Well, it looks like we could order you one online, my lady. 
um, thanks. Would that come painted, or would I have to pay for the cost of painting it too?
I can check, my lady. 
...
I'm not seeing it here my lady, it looks like it would come in flat black and need to be painted.
  Creeper! No man anywhere should ever refer to a woman he's never met as "my lady," unless she is in fact a Lady. Ugh. and from a random dude on the phone at a random car parts place.


AND THEN...
The fated day this week, when I drove my client to school.  As I pulled in to the parking lot, the district food truck pulled away from the loading dock and slammed into the side of my car.
my. pretty. car. :(

yah, I'm sad.  But, It is drive-able and  I am uninjured.


In happier news, packages have been arriving! :) I love packages, even if they aren't for me. I'm like a child, I get so excited. :) I can't wait to wrap them and stick them under the tree. I could giggle with glee. :)

In Christ
~Michelle 

Decorating and Wedding

I love four day weekends. Everyday feels like a Saturday, or a Sunday, or who knows what day, but it isn't a Monday. :)

Friday, Nathan and I went to his family's Thanksgiving.  I think I'm officially a stuffed turkey.  His family are all good at cracking stupid jokes and puns. Which makes me laugh.  Don't start talking about eggs because they will 'scramble' to 'crack' more 'yolks' and while you might be quite 'white' they will still 'beat' you. :)

I started decorating for Christmas. And, I broke my tradition of not singing or listening to Christmas music until December 1st.  It seemed close enough and it would be silly to decorate and not sing. 

Christmas tree. :) I just need some eggnog now.

I'm quite excited about this little chalk board.

Last night, I got to serve at Ann and Grant's rehearsal dinner.  It was fancy. I wore black and white, served h'orderves with a towel, served from the right, and took from the left. I was glad I got to, because I love the families and I was able to see more of them in one place then I normally get to. 

Today was their wedding and Ann looked beautiful. Everything was so classy.  I'm so happy for them both. Ann was a role model to me. She was  so involved, successful, caring, adventurous, and cool. She traveled all over, did mission work, and still had time to talk to me in church. She was an example of how to not just be content with single-hood, but how to thrive in it.  And, when I was back in the stage of thousands of unknowns, she was the example I needed.  

Alas, the four day weekend is over.

Well, actually, we should be heading off to cousins night soon. So, it's not quite over. :)

In Christ
~Michelle

Thanksgiving and Praise

Thanksgiving means a short work week but a full calendar.

Monday, Nathan and I went out to eat alone for the first time in months. We still have gift cards from our wedding, proof that we rarely go out to eat.

Tuesday, we went out to Pizza ranch with Matt and Lena and my parents.  That evening, Nathan helped me make two pies for thanksgiving.

pumpkin and apple

Wednesday, I took a client up to visit his sister in Chicago.  I dropped him off at 3:00 and had four hours to kill. I had called ahead and asked the Eisenmann's if I could crash there for a few hours.  It turns out they only live 15 minutes from the sister's foster home.  I'm so grateful for friendships and connections. :) I had a great time chatting with Cindy and her mom, and surprising Ryan and Sarah when they showed up. 

I picked up my client at 7:00 and made it home by 10.

Thanksgiving day, we went to church and then spent the afternoon and evening at Fred and Di's.

The boys played a game

relaxing on the couch.

In Church, Ron read Woodrow Wilson's 1916 Thanksgiving day proclamation.  I think it is one of the best that I have heard.  It seems to still be true today. Work has opened my eyes to the harsh realities people can face even here the the US and none of us can close our eyes to the diseases, terror, and persecution going on all over the world. 

It has long been the custom of our people to turn in the fruitful autumn of the year in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to us as a nation. The year that has elapsed since we last observed our day of thanksgiving has been rich in blessings to us as a people, but the whole face of the world has been darkened by war. In the midst of our peace and happiness, our thoughts dwell with painful disquiet upon the struggles and sufferings of the nations at war and of the peoples upon whom war has brought disaster without choice or possibility of escape on their part. We cannot think of our own happiness without thinking also of their pitiful distress.

Now, Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do appoint Thursday, the thirtieth of November, as a day of National Thanksgiving and Prayer, and urge and advise the people to resort to their several places of worship on that day to render thanks to Almighty God for the blessings of peace and unbroken prosperity which He has bestowed upon our beloved country in such unstinted measure. And I also urge and suggest our duty in this our day of peace and abundance to think in deep sympathy of the stricken peoples of the world upon whom the curse and terror of war has so pitilessly fallen, and to contribute out of our abundant means to the relief of their suffering. Our people could in no better way show their real attitude towards the present struggle of the nations than by contributing out of their abundance to the relief of the suffering which war has brought in its train.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixteen and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and forty-first.

                          

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

In Christ
~Michelle