we disappeared again

After doing so well with updating our blog this fall, I have fallen back behind again. You would think with three full weeks off that I would have had plenty of time to write an entry or two. Not the case though!

As I mentioned above, I had three full weeks off for Christmas. They were wonderful. I stayed up late, slept in, read books, watched TV, scrapbooked, jogged, did school work, spent time with friends and family, and just mainly relaxed. Coming back to school this week was not as difficult as I thought it would be. A part of me was ready for more structure to my days. The biggest adjustment is always altering my sleeping schedule.

Seth and I got to spend Christmas with both of our immediate families. We spent Christmas morning and early afternoon with my family and the later afternoon and evening in Middlebury with Seth's family. It is always good to be with family. Rebekah was able to come home for 11 days, which is the longest trip she's made home since she moved away 5 years ago. Although most of her time was spent with Chris Westerbeek. It was still good to have her around. Colin also had 3 weeks off from school. So everyone was around for an extended amount of time.

Seth and I spent New Year's Eve at Jeff and Mariko Claassen's house with friends and Seth and Joel moved into a new shop in Middlebury. Seth and I celebrated our 4th, yes 4th, anniversary at the end of December. Wow! I can't believe it has been 4 years already. We also said goodbye to Dave and Sue Bontrager as they moved to Colorado at the first of the year. We will miss not having them around.

I got a good chunk of my lessons done for the sociology class I am taking. I took my midterm earlier this week and will be ready for my final after I finish my last lesson. I have enjoyed reading, studying, and thinking again. I think I will start another class after I finish this one. Next on the list is a political science class. I have also signed up to take my social studies content Praxis test for the middle of March. This is a requirement for a teaching licence in Indiana. I also have to take a pre-professional test that I signed up to take in May. I want to get those two things done so that I can apply for next falls Transition to Teaching classes at Goshen College.

Well I think that covered the highlights from the last month of my life. This picture was taken on Christmas day and it was a momentous moment when Mom and Dad let Sophie come upstairs to be with the rest of the family. See how happy she looks in her Christmas sweater!

Oh yeah! I dyed my hair dark brown, but it actually came out black! Yikes! I am hoping it calms down a little!