Family Pictures

Christmas Day

Laura and Carey lovin on each other, and Laura and her fiancé, Josh, being silly.

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few pictures from last night and today...more to come. The first is Chris's happy face about receieving a bucket of popcorn in the mail from Aunt Cathy. He was hoping someone would send one to us this year. The second is a picture of me with a Krispy Kreme hat one. We went out to breakfast yesterday morning. The third is me with my new sword. Just kidding. We were at the mall and found a sword store, so we asked if I could hold one for a picture. It was about 6 feet long and quite heavy. Next is Chris and Carey in one of those funny mirrors that make you wonder how your body really looks...we have no heads. And in the last one, I am wearing a plastic crown that came with a Blockbuster giftcard.

Being a Bonser

We got to the Bonsers last night and have since enjoyed our family time with them. Chris and I got away this morning to start our tradition of going on a date the morning of Christmas Eve Day to celebrate "our" Christmas time and just be together. We ate a breakfast at Krispy Kreme and went among our other tasks for the morning. It was great to just get away for a little while. We got back and Laura and I got to the cooking. Brenda is working today, so it was up to us to prep the dinner for tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to the Christmas morning cinnamon rolls. We'll be here until next Thursday and then we're taking off on another road trip (this time much longer) to Florida. Our friends, Curtis and Catherine, are having a beach wedding in Destin, Florida, and we'll be staying a couple of days at the beach house with the wedding party. It will be our mini-vaca on New Year's. I'm missing my family this year during the holidays, but we are hoping to be there next year for Christmas.

Mi Corte de Pelo

I got 6 inches of my hair cut off today. It had been almost 4 years since I had a real hair cut, not just a trim. It's to my shoulders now, and it flips out a bit. I feel like my head lost some weight.

Perdernales

We had a good time camping this weekend at Perdernales Falls State Park, about 45 minutes west of Austin. It was the perfect getaway. It was great to just leave the city and drive somewhere nice and quiet. It is a beautiful park. We especially enjoyed hiking and rock-hopping at the falls. The actual camping part was fun, but I have to say that I didn't get very much sleep because of how cold it was. I literally put on all the extra clothes that we brought between the two of us and I still was freezing! I'd wake up throughout the night and my hands would be numb and I wasn't sure if that was from laying in a weird position and it cutting off my circulation or if I was just freezing in my sleep. Chris built a great fire before we went to bed and we ate a dinner of salad, and a foil packet full of potatoes, peppers, chicken, mushrooms, and onions. It was tastey. There's something about a campfire that makes life seem to slow down for enough time to catch a breath and keep on. I have a wonderful husband.

Cookies and Camping

Tonight I finished making all the dough for the 10 different kinds of Christmas cookies that we'll be distributing this year. Our freezer is packed. My original idea was to make about 5 kinds, but that fell through and I couldn't stop myself. I told myself that I wouldn't bake or decorate any of them until after Finals are over. So next week I'll get cookin.

This weekend we're getting kicked out of our apartment again for the Steam Team to try to really get the cigarette smoke out of the couches this time. We're hoping there's no odor left afterwards. Instead of bunking at the Fords' again, we're heading to Perdernales Falls State Park in Johnson City, TX--about 45 minutes away. We have a Poker Tournament/Christmas Party for Chris's work (Leave it to a bunch of single AMD engineers to play Poker for Jesus' birthday.) on Friday afternoon, and then we'll head out. We can't come back to our apartment until Saturday afternoon. It's giving us a good excuse to go camping. Hopefully our attempt will work out this time. I'm looking forward to hiking in a quiet forest with no interstates or concrete sidewalks nearby. I've almost forgotten what it's like.

Jumble of Tumble

We bought our first washer and dryer delievered to our apartment yesterday. Today we spoke with a real estate agent and our "mortgage mom" about details. We're still not sure if buying would be the best decision for us right now considering that in a few years, we might move so that Chris can go to seminary. We're not sure where yet, but that's a long-term goal of ours. It seems that we wouldn't get our money's worth out of such an investment in just 3 years, so we're praying about it to see what to do. We got to have lunch today with Greg, Lela, and April Leman. They were in town picking up their daughter, Jessica, from the airport for the holidays. We introduced them to Mama Mam's, the best Thai place in Austin. Their food is so good that when you eat it you just want to say, "Mama Mam!" We love the Lemans. They are such good friends to us and a huge blessing living just an hour and a half away. Hopefully we'll get to see them on our way up to Dallas for Christmas. Finals are this week. One down, three to go. It's difficult to get motivated to study since none of my classes will I need in culinary school. However, I don't know what's to come down the road. Who knows...maybe 5 years from now I'll be itching to get back into school and then my credits will be useful--even the classes I'm taking now. So I'll keep truckin.

Some of my reading tonight:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2)

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine..." (Isaiah 43:?)

"Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's..." (2 Chronicles 20:5)

Just Checking In

Let me tell you about these pictures. The first one shows what I am up to today...making Christmas cookies! I thought I'd take a picture of the table full of yummy items of which I will use in my baking.
Secondly, about 2 weeks ago, we bought a used (about 2 weeks old) furniture set; a sofa, loveseat, and ottoman. They look great and we got a really good deal on them, but once they were in our apartment we realized how badly they smelled of cigarette smoke. We hadn't noticed it before for some reason, but we are both sensitive to smoke, so we had to get something done. Monday we had them professionally steam cleaned and they smell great now, no sign of smoker's. We were really appreciative especially since we were having cancer boogers when we'd blow our noses (black!) and difficulty breathing! It's great to have a cancer-free home again.
Lastly, here's a picture of my wonderful 97-year old Grandma, Agnes. Actually, this is a picture of a photo of her that I made into a fridge magnet--so I can always look at her sweet face. :)

Brrr

Never in my years at Purdue did they cancel or delay classes because of weather conditions. I remember my first winter there, having to walk through a foot or more of snow all the way from Stewart to my first class in Beering, which was normally about a 15 minute walk, but it took a lot longer that season. I would bundle up from head to toe, with my eyes being the only thing you could see. There'd be icy sidewalks and sludge to tromp through, yet classes were never cancelled. So it's a little odd to me that it's only 25 degrees here, no snow, some ice on the roads, and classes are cancelled. I'm certainly not complaining because I had a Physics exam on the schedule for today, and that would be my only class. So, now I'm contemplating starting on my Christmas cookie dough and freezing it until after Finals are over next week for when we'll be baking and distributing them to friends. We are determined to not turn on our heat all winter and so far we've done good. We are on the middle floor, so we receive heat from above and below. It's actually quick chilly today, but nothing that layers of clothing can't take care of. Coffee or hot tea sounds nice, but from my faulty endevour a couple days ago, I'm not so sure I'm up for it today. I bet it's quite the freezer up in Indiana. I talked to Dad last night and he said that they are expecting 6-7 inches of snow today and tomorrow. I like sweaters, cuddling up in a thick quilt, fire places, snowmen, and hot chocolate...but I think I'm getting acclamated well to this weather down South and enjoy not freezing all the time. Snow is pretty to look at and that's about it. I think I've officially been brainwashed by these Texans. Pretty soon I'll be buying out all the water and bread at the store when a few dustings of snow come like everyone else down here.

Setting the Kitchen on Fire

So I set the kitchen on fire last night...making hot tea. It was my first experience using a fire extinguisher, which now I kind of regret because I think we have to pay a fine for it. The plan was to soak up the rest of our weekend with a movie and some hot tea, cuddling on our cancerous couch (we regretfully bought it used from a smoker--the odor will be gone today, however, because we're getting it steam cleaned). Chris was in the other room, and as the water was boiling, all of a sudden I looked at the stove and there were flames about 3 feet high. I yelled for him so that he could come help me. He thought (after hashing the situation thereafter) I had said, "Spider!" instead of "Fire!" and that's why he didn't come to the rescue. So, in a moment of panic and quick determination, I pulled out the extinguisher from under the sink and started spraying. For some reason, in my head, water just didn't seem like it would do the trick. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? I learned that it leaves a THICK yellow dust everywhere. The smoke detector went off (I'm sure our neighbors were happy abou that.) and I opened the screen door to help the smoke filter out. Finally Chris came into the kitchen to check on the status with the spider. He was thoroughly confused when he saw the yellow remains. Thus, I set the kitchen on fire. Looking back, I wish I would have used my fire protection knowledge to "beef up" the situation; like, I should have stopped, dropped, and rolled once the fire was out, just to make sure...then, I should have Army-crawled into the bedroom, where Chris was, felt the door with the back of my hand first, then entered to save him. Oh, the fun we can have with everyday experiences!

Weekend Synopsis

We had a great Thanksgiving. We made the journey up to Indiana and loved seeing my family. It was especially awesome to get together with my best high school friends; Jenny, Steph, Susan, and Michelle. They are such wonderful girls in my life. Another highlight was getting to see the Burkholders. It had been too long, and it was our first time meeting AnnaMary Ruth. Elias is just so big and I was surprised at how much Aidan is talking now. They are good people...good for the soul. The trip back was so exhausting and we even got ourselves almost caught up in tornado weather, on the eastern side of Oklahoma. There was hail and 70 mile hour wind gusts that moved the car while I was driving. It made me feel like my heart jumped out of my mouth, then retreated back into my stomach. It stayed there until I pulled over and handed over the wheel to Chris, with his persistence. You know how over the holidays you always feel like you've eaten too much? Well, traveling does that, too. We sit in the car all day long and do nothing but move occasionally from the position of sitting to maybe turning our heads every now and then to look at the scenery or check the cross traffic. It's easy to feel lazy, but when we stopped for Arby's and Subway, and with Panda Express to top it off, I felt almost sick by the time we got home. It was a late return, and we knew that the morning with work and school would come all too soon as we laid our heads down to sleep.

I've decided to go to culinary school. I will be earning a degree from the Le Cordon Bleu program based out of Paris, from Texas Culinary Academy. Classes begin January 9th, so I'm super excited about it. It is a 60-week program, so I will be finished in March of 2007; that includes the required intern/externship. Man, that sure beats 3 1/2 more years of normal book work, papers, homework, projects, etc. to become a teacher. All those "Why I Want to Be a Teacher" essays are going down the drain. :) I have always loved cooking, but culinary school will really help enhance, enrich, and encourage my skills. I am looking forward to learning to make wedding cakes, and especially carving ice sculptures...with a chainsaw!

2 weeks left until this semester is over. It is especially hard to find the motivation to keep doing well in school, now that I know I will be doing something completely different. I have learned a lot this semester though and I'm glad I got to take the classes I did. I met a lot of interesting people, and although it seems like since the summer I have been in the 'waiting room,' I think God has shown me direction with all of this. Praise His name.

"If we say that we have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as he himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

I'm a happy person.

My sister's engaged/To be a chef or not to be

Exciting news this weekend. My wonderful sister-in-law, Laura Bonser, got engaged! Her 3-year courtship with Josh Wilkerson has finally come to a new season. I am thrilled to share in her joy. Praise God for Godly men.

Culinary? On another note, for the last week, I've been praying about going to culinary school. In fact, I was accepted into the nation's #2 ranked culinary school. It's a huge decision because it's so drastically different than the road I've been on for 3 years now. I would be turning my back on everything I've invested in learning and starting something completely different. There's a lot to consider and I have to make a choice soon. If you read this, I'd appreciate your prayers. My ultimate prayer is simply that my life would be one that gives more glory to His name. I desire to live out His will, but pray for clarity that I would be able to discern what that is.

If you notice the timestamp, I am up at 6:30 in the morning blogging. I woke up awhile ago and couldn't go back to sleep. Part of it is the decision hanging over my head that I have to make about school, but most of it was pure excitement for Laura. I kept thinking about all the fun stuff ahead; wedding planning, pre-marital counseling, dress shopping, etc. You'd think I would have gotten my fill of all that, but I think it just peaked my interest for it. I am just so excited for her. I know how incredible it is to be in a Christ-centered marriage and I want that for all my friends, too. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Friendship Reunited

Really quick and really short, I'd just like to mention that my friendship has been reunited with Craig Scarberry. We hadn't talked in about 3 1/2 years, so it was about time. We lost touch and were both in the military for awhile and now we're both married. He was a great friend in high school and I'm blessed to have his friendship once again!

The $1 Check

Workin ahead. 4 weeks left of the semester and Carey still has enough steam to pump out the knowledge for homeworks, papers, projects, exams, and other assignments. Woo hoo. Tonight I am meeting with my Philosophy group to cram for our Ethics exam next Monday. The day we talked about hedonism and utilitarianism in class I should have worn my tee shirt that says, "Christian Hedonist." On the back it says, "Delight yourself in the Lord." Christ is the one and only thing in which we are able to find complete pleasure and happiness. Jonathon Edwards had a lot to say about that, too. And check out John Piper. That's some serious enjoyment when you delight in the Lord! On a random note...today I received a card in the mail from Disabled Veterans that thanked me for serving my country when I was in the Army. It was a nice gesture because I don't think I ever considered that I did much for my country since I pretty much just did a bunch of office work. Also, it was about 3 years ago that I got out of the military, so I hadn't expected to receive recognition, but, included in the card was a check for $1. I found that rather humerous.

Failed Attempt With a Good Ending

Well, our excitement of camping and hiking this weekend got squelched. Friday night we ate a quick dinner of quail and rice (yes, as in the bird) and hopped in the car for the 2 hour drive to the park. We got there around 7:30pm, drove up to the gate, and they informed us that all of the camp sites were full. Silly me, I hadn't considered that many people would be camping in the middle of November. So, we made the 2 hour trek back home, stopping on the way to share a banana split at Sonic. When we got back to our apartment, we considered popping the tent in our living room, but we weren't sure if our living room contained enough square footage in order for us to do so. Instead, we enjoyed a lazy weekend watching lots of West Wing and playing lots of Yahtzee. Good times.

All Things Considered

Exams are over, dinner is done, and my weekend begins. Tomorrow night we're heading out to Guadalupe River State Park, about 2 hours away, for our first official camping trip. Yay! I have a packing list ready full of all the essentials that we need for a pleasant outdoor weekend. :) We're really looking forward to hiking and hopefully we'll get to canoe some, too. We've never been there, but the pictures we've seen look beautiful. The weather here is still in the upper 80's, believe it or not, so that'll be nice for us. On the note of weather, I must admit that I'm really missing the cool, breezy Midwest Fall this year. We'll be heading back to Indiana in a couple of weeks for Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to seeing the beautiful trees. I'm excited even moreso to see family and friends! We will be going up to Purdue on Saturday and we are SOO excited for that. Just can't say how much we've missed our community there. Those friends will never be replaced. They are just too special for words. It's sad to move away and communicate less often with everyone, but for some crazy reason, God calls us out of our comfort zone and away from all that we know in order that we learn to simply put our complete and utmost reliance, dependence, faith, and trust in Him. His is most worthy of praise, and I could just write on and on about the blessings He's poured out on us. In fact, if you're interested, email me and I'll let you know. Otherwise, you can just take my word for it.

Anticipation

I have been anticipating this week to be a crazy one. On the calendar were three exams and a paper due. Well, now two exams to go. My head is spinning with ontological, cosmological, and teleological phrasing, as well as the history of the Mayans, Incans, and Aztecs. I'll most likely dream about all that tonight. Spaghetti for dinner because it's quick, easy, and yummy. I will be homeworkin' it tonight with the Physics. Oh, the joys of being a student. Oh, yeah, and of course "Prison Break" is on tonight. I might be the only person I know (besides my husand) that watches it. I love it. It gives me weekly suspense and something to look forward to seeing the next week...kind of like reading a book and anticipating the next chapter, but not quite.

Race for the Cure

This morning we got up early to head downtown for the Race for the Cure. We heard that there were about 20,000 people there. Lots of pink.

And I've Joined

I do care...in fact, I care so much that I've joined the cult...of bloggers, that is. This is so exciting.

Chris and I went to see Nickel Creek Friday night. Awesome concert. Here are a few pictures of us enjoying ourselves. You can just trust that the music was good.