A D.C. Weekend

With Brandon's finals finally over, we used the free weekend to drive up to see S&A in Washington D.C! They have recently moved back there and it was sooooo great to see them and to get to see some cool sites! Ironically enough...it was our second time there with them. We were all three spoiled with good food, too much attention, comfy beds, and our very own escort around the city doubling as our very own photographer. :) What more could you ask for?! I opted to leave my camera at home most of the time since S is a former Washington Post photographer (but currently still working there), so I can't take credit for most of the pictures!

Our first afternoon there we got a personal tour of the S's office at the Post which was really cool and made us feel important. Then A hung out with Eden so that Brandon and I could go see the Holocaust Museum. This was our third trip to D.C. and both times before we wanted to see the museum but never had the time. So it was at the top of our list this time around. There aren't words to describe it, so I won't attempt to. But if you ever have the opportunity to visit D.C. put it as a priority on your list!

Saturday evening S&A took us out to eat at Old Ebbitt's Grill, a popular restaurant barely a block from the White House. We got reservations for 3 in the afternoon and even then, there was a line out the front door. The place is literally packed around the clock. 

Then we walked over to the White House. It was freeeeeeeeeeeeeezing!!!!

We thought this was funny sitting out in front.

Eden with S&A and the White House Christmas Tree.

And of course Brandon overheard some Chinese while near the Christmas Tree and stopped for a short conversation! :)

Since we've visited most of the touristy monuments, smithosonians, and archives museums we didn't do a whole lot of sight seeing. But every time we've been to D.C. the Lincoln Memorial has been under construction. So we really wanted to see Lincoln. 

The view of the Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial. It was amazing at night with the reflection on the water!

We had so much fun walking around downtown even though our fingers were frozen! We enjoyed it so much that we think we would definitely love living there if we ever have the opportunity!!

And this last picture is just cute. Eden loved S&A so much! And for some reason always got really relaxed in S's lap. This is sunday morning during Church. 

Tomorrow we leave bright and early...well techinally it won't even be light yet...for Texas to spend Christmas with family! Luckly, we're flying this time. yippeeee!

In DESPERATE Need of some Snow

We miss snow.

We miss the shimmering whiteness that blinds you when it covers the ground.

We miss the *crunch* that it makes as you walk over it.

We miss snow ice cream.

We miss snow balls.

We miss snow.

And it's been a long time since we've seen it. While in the Big Chicken we saw snow flakes twice. And both times it lasted for a mere 5 minutes...obviously not covering anything.

Since we've been in NC it has snowed twice. Once for 5 minutes or so. And once it was enough to leave a tiny layer on the cars one morning...melting away by 9 a.m.

Snow has a strange effect on us. It doesn't really feel like Christmas until the first big snow, so obviously as it was 60 degrees today, it doesn't feel like Christmas around these parts. And I find it a little depressing.

Thinking back to my childhood, I can remember times that my dad would pull us on the sled behind Cookie, my brother's horse with a little too much "mmmph" in his step...perfect for sled pulling. I can remember digging tunnels through snow drifts 5 feet high out beside the barn. I remember making snow men taller than we were...leaving an eery snow man grave yard a week or so later. And in high school I remember on more than one occasion having to dig my truck out of snow drifts in order to make it to school on time (the regularly scheduled time). 

*Side note...around here they let out school for a High Wind Advisory with wind gusts up to what the average is on any given day in Amarillo. And that day that we had the light "dusting" of snow, yeah, no school. weird.

Anyways. We miss snow. And if we don't see snow this year we're going to make a special trip up north. Where? We don't care. We'll drive north until we see snow. And then we'll stay there for awhile. We'll let Eden get out and roll around in it. We'll let her eat it and laugh about how cold it is. We'll make snow angels, throw snow balls, and accidentally track some into the car leaving little puddles on the floor boards. And maybe we'll pack our poor and neglected boots and skis just in case we run across a decent ski resort on this end of the U.S.

Am I beginning to sound bitter?

Maybe I am.

I hope it snows during the 2 weeks we're in Texas.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Well they all are really. But I was going for a "catchy" title.

We spent the Turkey day with a conglomeration of people...Bek & Kev stuck around so we at least had some family to spend the day with this year! All five of us decided that doing all the work that a Thanksgiving meal entails was too much for us to handle. So we went to Brandon's boss' house where some of their family, some other SEBTS families, and a sweet Chinese family all enjoyed the holiday together. It was a big crowd with lots of kids (read: lots of noise), lots of fun and lots of food!

I was in charge of the dressing this year. Which shouldn't sound like a daunting task since that's been my job the last two years. However, the last two years our Thanksgiving feast was in China which basically means that my dressing didn't really have to be THAT impressive since anything tastes good after eat so much soy sauce. But this year making the Thanksgiving staple for a bunch of fellow Americans who hadn't been eating dumplings several times a week for the last year...well...it was a little intimidating. So what did I do? I stuck with my trusty Ghetto Chinese Cornbread Dressing. Sure I had all the amenities of an American grocery store, but my instinct told me to stick with what was familiar. So in went the Ritz crackers and chicken bullion cubes (I just made my Aunt Susie faint) . And lo and behold...even Ghetto Chinese Cornbread Dressing can be a hit in America.

A little intimidated by the large crowd at first, Eden became fast friends with Brandon's boss when she figured out he was the one with the strawberries.

This week we put up our Christmas tree! And you'd think that having a giant green prickly thing in our living room would draw more attention from a curious toddler. Surprisingly, Eden is not that interested in it. She's interested in taking the candy canes off of it, but then again so is Brandon. We had fun putting it up though, listening to our fav Christmas cd, and discussing how we don't have that many ornaments. (thus...candy canes).

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. We're happy, healthy, and have an exciting new family member joining us soon. We're blessed in LOTS of ways and thankful for so many things!

But this year we're celebrating being thankful for something a little different. God has used the last few months at SEBTS to confirm his calling for us to return overseas for long term service. And even though submission to this sort of calling can bring heartache...the thought of missing family and friends and not seeing nieces and nephews grow up...it brings incredible joy and peace to be able to just say yes to what we know God wants for our family. We're so overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for this peace that comes with knowing we're headed to where He wants us. There's so much more to say on this subject, which includes plans for returning to Texas for the next few years before headed back overseas. More to come on this later.

We pray your Thanksgiving holiday was fun and turkey-filled! But most of all we pray your Thanksgiving was full of the peace that passes all understanding!