Whew. What a semester it was!

I knew going into it that it was going to be a busy one—I had classes, Global Business Law Review, work, The Gavel, and fantasy football on my plate! I am very grateful that Sheila had the sense to convince me to drop a class that I didn’t need to take for the bar or for graduation, because I honestly don’t know how I would have been able to handle it.

I’m still not sure if I liked or disliked the constant busy-ness. Perhaps like most other things in life, evaluating this past semester is best done with varying shades of gray instead of taking a purely black or white approach. It sucked not to have as much time to do fun things with Sheila. I am looking forward to many fun dates in the springtime and using the 5 gift certificates that I purchased from restaurant.com, as well as the gift card to Buca Di Beppo that Sara gave us for Christmas! It also stunk to have to do work during Browns games on Sundays (something I never used to do before!). However, I enjoyed having a variety of activities to do. No two days were ever exactly the same, and that was one of the things I liked most about teaching. Furthermore, I also liked having the opportunity to mix both work and school. One of the things I dislike the most about full-time education is the fact that it doesn’t leave me much time to use my education to give back to the community; however, one of the things I dislike the most about full-time work is that it doesn’t leave me much time to learn, grow, and acquire new education. Having the opportunity to experience both on a daily basis was a blessing. I will say, though, that it felt great to sit on the couch in Potomac and relax with a Corona Light during the Browns game on Sunday without a deadline, assignment, or responsibility looming imminently on the horizon!

One of the unique characteristics of this semester… Read the rest of this entry

We have no plans for a real vacation anytime soon, but Joe’s been working harder than I’ve ever seen. He’s even cramming in work after his last final tomorrow. Every time I ask him why he crams in work in his busy schedule, he says he does it so that we don’t have to worry about money. So… I just booked an overnight getaway at Kalahari during Joe’s winter break! We got a great deal, and it’s totally worth it to have some time together to relax and think about where we are in our relationship and in our careers. 2010 was a whirlwind, and 2011 looks like it will be, too. This will be a nice way to set it off with a bang!

For those of you who don’t know, Kalahari is a resort containing America’s biggest indoor waterpark! It’ll give us the tropical feel just an hour away from home. I’m so looking forward to it!

...Not the way Kalahari will look in January...

A Bad Day on Vacay is Better than a Good Day at Work! And believe you me, this was one gross day in Cancun.

Funship Freddy? Is that you?

Yup, that's him!

Man. I definitely have island fever. Well, not literally. Just a strong desire to go to the Caribbean… smell the salty air, take in the delicious food, get scammed in the markets (haha)… It doesn’t help that I really enjoy listening to reggae when it’s snowing and freezing. Oh well, got awhile ahead of us before we can enjoy the tropics. But time will just make it that much better. Then again, we like anticipating a vacation more than the vacation itself. Better start planning!

Coco Cay - My island drink came in a travel mug that I still use constantly to remind me of the good times!

Irony at Dunkies

Joe is in reading days, which mean I get to be blessed to be a part of his daily routine – today, that included a trip to Dunkies, where a cool iced coffee played with a beach ball… next to a very cold, bundled up lady…

Butters Practicing for Santa

Butters looks like a little child in his Christmas sweater. It says “Santa’s Little Helper”. When he sits on Joe’s lap, it looks like he’s practicing to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas. I think that list contains pigs ears, pupperoni, and bil-jac – but no sweaters…

Blackberry and Apricot Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Anyone who knows Joe’s mom has probably tasted her delicious baking, which she calls “The Bakery”. She bakes for Scranton’s monthly Hot Meal, and our former pastor has joked that she should know she can’t bake her way into heaven. But really, she should go pro with her baking.

Anyone who knows me knows that I often claim that I am a cooker, not a baker. I like adding, subtracting, substituting, a pinch of this, a dash of that. Not a good recipe for baking.

But lately, I’ve come to discover a love of baking, especially around the holiday season. Everyone has a favorite cookie, and you can put your money on it being on present that won’t go to waste. And what more fun way to show a little love? I think my mother-in-law has really gone pro at showing love.

To come this season, I hope to make Chocolate and Peanut Butter Thumbprints, Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels, Kahlua Fudge Brownies, and more… dare I try Paula’s Loaded Oatmeal cookies!? That’s a lotta lovin’ for my oven.

This season’s bakery, so far:

Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies

http://www.food.com/recipe/soft-and-chewy-m-m-cookies-49591

Yield: 36 cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup Crisco shortening

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups M&M’s plain chocolate candy

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

1 Cream together shortening and sugars until light and fluffy.

2 Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

3 Add combined flour, salt, and baking soda and mix until well combined.

4 Stir in 1/2 cup M&Ms.

5 Drop by Tbsp onto ungreased cookie sheet.

6 Press 2-3 M&Ms onto top of each cookie.

7 Bake in 375°F for 10-12 minutes.

Butter and Jam Thumbprint Cookies

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/butter-and-jam-thumbprints-recipe2/index.html

Serves: about 24 to 30 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
• 2/3 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped from pod, or 1/8 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup raspberry, cherry or strawberry jam (*I used apricot and blackberry!*)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.

In another bowl, whip the butter and the sugar with a hand-held mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing just until incorporated.

Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls with a cookie or ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place about 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a thumbprint into the center of each ball, about 1/2-inch deep. Fill each indentation with about 3/4 teaspoon jam.

Bake cookies until the edges are golden, about 15 minutes. (For even color, rotate the pans from top to bottom about halfway through baking.) Cool cookies on the baking sheets. Serve.

Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

Peppermint Bark

Chop 2 candy canes into small pieces and reserve. Pour half a bag of white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Pour onto greased pan or cookie sheet. (I use aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.) Use a spatula to spread out mixture in a thin layer. Repeat melting with semisweet chocolate chips. Pour and spread over white chocolate mixture – try not to mix the layers. Sprinkle candy canes on chocolate and refrigerate for 45 minutes. Break into pieces and serve.

Has America become too blase about divorce?

I think the obvious answer is a resounding ‘yes’, but it gets more complicated when you talk reasons. Someone posted this article on facebook – kind of a ‘secular’ perspective behind the seriousness of marriage. We have many reasons to commit to marriage in the long run, spiritually, morally, emotionally, practically…

Occasionally, I check out the message boards on thenest.com – it is incredibly sad to read the threads about divorce. The posters divorce for all sorts of reasons, legit or not. I don’t know what that feels like really, so I can’t and shouldn’t judge reasons. But what is so appalling is the congratulations, excitement, and praises people pour out on newly separated and divorced women. “Way to go!” “You deserve better!” “Kick him to the curb!”  There’s a little bit of a sense that everyone is entitled to happiness, that certain faults are unforgivable, and that divorce is just another part of life’s journey. Or maybe that it’s okay to just have an accidental marriage and try again next time.

Maybe I just don’t understand what it feels like or how bad it can get. No one gets married thinking they’ll get divorced, and plenty of people have good reasons for getting divorced. Or maybe I just have an amazing husband (I do! Get it?!). But we have certainly had our struggles – moments of frustration, tears, storming out, staying up all night so we don’t go to bed angry – and I deeply believe in sharing about marital struggles (with the permission of one’s spouse).

I do see a common thread in our culture’s  “marriage talk” of an emphasis on happiness, and I appreciate that this article suggests that marriage isn’t all about being happy – and that when it is, it will inevitably disappoint. Like in the Christian faith, the unhappy moments in marriage are the most powerful and growthful – they build the relationship into something that requires sacrifice and becomes so much more meaningful. I’m very proud of my friends who have patiently worked through painful struggles with the counsel of God, friends, and others. And I realize that I am incredibly blessed to have a husband that is not only willing to be “pruned” of his weeds, but who is patient with me when I’m blind and stubborn to my own. <3