and let the new year begin

well, folks, it's been a while since i posted anything on this here blog.

updates since the last posting some time ago:

spent christmas with a local family. and had a good time but still missed my fam. i got some nice crocheted kitchentowels. and some fishhooks. and i told people that i would let them use the hooks if they took me with when fishing.

plus i realized as i watched the snow fall that it has been ingrained to the very core of my being that when heavy snow is falling, i need to get on the road.

i made it home for part of the holidays. not christmas, since there was no way through the blizzard conditions and road closures. but for new year's.

hung out with three of four sisters (kayla, kiana, krissa, no kendra). casey, kayla's boyfriend who was our bartender for the night and made some excellent concoctions. and a good friend from college, jess. all in omaha.

cause of course, who doesn't like to go south in the middle of winter?

stopped by the hospital (where my grandpa was) three times over my four-day trip home. saw some cousins (steven and eugene) i hadn't seen in some time.

then the day after new year's my sis krissa and i started the trek up north to bemidji so she could stay a few days with me.
and it got colder.
and colder.
and colder the farther we drove.

survived the cold. as in, low overnight temps of around -30. which was cold.

preached on sunday the 3rd. i don't know what it is, but i have just not enjoyed preaching lately. perhaps constantly getting mixed reviews doesn't help. it seems like every time i have a sermon i like, there is someone who has nothing but negative to say while others love it. or the ones i'm personally disappointed with are the ones a lot of people appreciate. i know you can't win em all, but still...

saw avatar in 3-d on sunday afternoon. which was pretty awesome. i loved the movie and think i'll have to buy it when it comes out on dvd. cause i loved it that much. loved the special effects. and the planet. and the na'vi people.and the storyline.

and managed to not freeze to death when leaving the theater.

cause it was cold last weekend.

then made some goodies like caramel corn and banana bread. which i'm working on giving away to people.

then said farewell to krissa on tuesday morning as she trekked southeast to the twin cities to see a friend.

and got to work a couple days.

tuesday afternoon drove a few miles on lake bemidji with mom's little suburu forrester as it has all-wheel drive. kinda freaky to be driving out on water, plowing through about a foot of snow. but i lived to tell the tale. and that is the most important thing.

then today got a call from krissa as she was trying to decide what to do since there is yet another winter storm/blizzard in south dakota. and frigid temps and wind chills in north dakota.

so she decided to come back for yet another visit with me. and then attempt to cut north of the major portion of the storm which is located primarily in south dakota by going through north dakota.

so while here we went and bought nail polish and rented a movie. nothing like a girl night in.

and just so everyone knows, i cried during the movie we watched "my sister's keeper"

oh, and i ordered a wii. cause i wanted one for a few years now. so i bought one.