Christmas Eve!

Change of plans this year! We are planning on staying in town with the Deyles-LeMars and Annette, and Elizabeth and Greg. Unfortunately the weather has prohibited us to travel to Napoleon to see Mike's aunt Ardell. We will come to see you soon, Ardell!

It has been harder for Sarah this year since it's the first Christmas without her family. She'll get over it soon enough when they come up to see her for her birthday on Sunday!

The snow is really making this year memorable – so much in such a short time and right over the holiday! I hear complaining but I know that it makes it so much more Christmas-like. We are truly having a white Christmas. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I will post some pictures soon from all of the festivities!

 

Jesus Christ – What Christmas is all about.

Happy Thanksgiving, from the Deyles

We had a wonderful time at the Brauses for Thanksgiving this year. I think what made it so special was that EVERYONE was there except the Florida family. It was nice to see Emily (Jordan's gf) and of course there are always more extended family coming and going. The best part: Lara brought her Wii and we played Mario Cart and Beatles rock band! My mom brought my aunt Shary over to play it and that was SO FUNNY! Shary on vocals, me on drums, and my mom playing guitar. Shary kept getting mad because she was failing and finally Lara said, "just sing closer to the mic" and she started getting fabulouses! Gotta love family...

Jordan and Emily waiting for the Wii to be set up completely.

Shary, Grandma Joyce, and my mom Laurie. Check out Grandma winking!! So funny.

Squash and apples? Before Thanksgiving even!

I tried to be creative with a squash I randomly picked up after work one day. I really hope I don't get carried away with these ideas too often! Just because I am conveniently located in a grocery store does NOT mean I need to think of new fancy recipes and buy anything I want every day. Good bye money!

So today, I made squash with apples. It was delicious! But judge for yourself, at least on how it looks! Here is what it is SUPPOSED to look like:

And this is mine!

Ok but just remember it isn't nicely placed on a plate for the professional picture.

IT WAS SO GOOD! Tasted like pumpkin pie; just missing the whipped cream!

recipe can be found at: http://startcooking.com/blog/98/How-To-Make-Butternut-Squash

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! Praying for safe travels and lovely weather!

3 months down

Today is M and I's three month anniversary! And it has flown by! That being said, just the other day we talked about how it seems we have been living together forever. It is such a relief to have a roommate that I love and respect instead of someone that I can tolerate and sometimes get along with. I pray that M never becomes that for me! I like the loving him forever part. :)









And more big news! Southgate has officially opened (although it was just the "soft opening so not too many customers yet), and I have a home away from home again. I am so blessed to have coworkers that I get along with and responsibilities that keep me moving and not staring at the clock. I think that might be the worst possible thing for me. Anything that is super quiet and routine causes anxiety and impatience. I have one major complaint. The ice cream aisle is right in front of us and I see it all day long. I will have to make it a personal goal to NOT give in to that temptation each and every day.

We started youth group last week, so tonight will be the second week. It is a lot of responsibility and involves a lot of people asking us questions without helping is with the answers. We can use prayers of course! Dealing with other people's kids is always more complicated as it is like working with each parent's prize possession. Of course they are more protective, I just hope they can trust and support us instead of making it more difficult. So far so good for the most part and I just put the rest of it in the hands of the Lord. It is all I can do!

This is a fun day to just watch football (M, not me), nap (me, not M), and prepare for youth group. LOVE WEEKENDS!

Welcome!

Don't all newlyweds need a blog to share new family experiences?

That's what I thought, so here it is!

Tonight, Mike and I stayed in and are watching Unsinkable Molly Brown. Good old fashion movies that make me feel so cozy and happy. Of course, Mike is probably bored out of his mind but what else are we supposed to do on a Saturday night?

We also had our marriage retreat type thing called "A Weekend to Remember" this weekend. It was pretty good except for a few moments of extreme fatigue and a slow speaker. It's amazing how quickly we forget these things. We just had our marriage counseling and we already forgot most of it! So then, we go to this retreat, hear it all over again, and recommit to it hoping that we will actually remember it this time. If anyone is interested in this, it is pretty useful and it had couples of all ages. Newlyweds, 2nd marriage couples, marriage pros married for 50+ years. It applies to everyone. The Faith spin is great too, which of course is what got us there in the first place. Thank you to Pastor Ted for having us do this for our marriage counseling, even if it was AFTER the wedding. :)

Tomorrow, we will have the last section and then the rest of the day will be for Mike to study for his MN contrasting license. Yippee.

Goodnight!