What If...

Christmas - the Old English dictionary defines it as "Christ's Mass". However, as I drive through the traffic each day, listen to horns honking, hear how much people spend on gifts ($1,200 from one of my co-workers), watch the impatience, read the signs of those standing on street corners and become more distraught over the commercialization of Christmas I have begun to wonder how much Christ occupies the season of Christmas.

Yes, I am a Christian and I believe that Christ exists, but somehow when we begin to shop for Christmas in June, put up Christmas trees in November and spend money we do not have on things people do not need I have begun to wonder how much "Christ" is still part of the celebration of "Christmas". I have been thinking...

What If...

• Families ate Christmas dinner together, around a table, with the TV off
• Rather than eating a huge Christmas dinner you served dinner to someone who was only able to eat once a day
• The $1,200 spent on Christmas was donated to an organization working to make a difference in the world
• Barbara Walters' 10 most fascinating people of 2011 did not feature the Kardashian's, celebrities or any other person regaled in the headlines; but rather focused on the people working to pay their bills every month, provide an education for their children, those doing the jobs the rest of us are not willing to do
• We stopped watching reality TV shows and started living in the real world
• Rather than interacting with technology we interacted with our friends and loved ones surrounding us
• We said we were sorry, accepted responsibility and forgave
• Rather than send out cards we called those people
• Instead of wrapping gifts we planted a tree

Whether you believe in Christ or not, there is still meaning surrounding this time of year and I wonder what the world would look like if we simply embraced the meaning.

Fall/Winter or Flinter Season

We had our first, and so far only, snow fall in November and it stuck around for quite a bit. Jack enjoyed his customary snowball catching and then puking cycle and enjoyed leaping around catching snowflakes.



Nick and I went to Walla Walla for Thanksgiving and enjoyed time with family and friends. We ate way too much amazing food, froze to death in the arid, winter environment that is WW in November and even worked on some homework. It is so nice having my grandparents from Alaska living near my parents now and having the ability to spend holidays with them is really special. I took a few shots of their new home, with the new big trees and the iconic moose antlers.



Nick and I have kind of distanced ourselves from the Christmas insanity this year, but we did enjoy walking around Country Village - a quaint, festively decorated, chicken/duck occupied, adorable hangout. We also attended a wonderful celebration of a GI doctor I work with and his years of service at Seattle Children's. It was so much fun to dress up and hang out with friends and co-workers!


No matter how or what holiday season you are celebrating, we want to wish you a fabulous one!!

Long Time Coming...

I know, I know - I haven't blogged since September; however, I have a pretty good excuse! I thought I'd just show some glimpses of what has been happening over the last few months since I started school...

I started my Masters degree at the end of September and have hardly had a chance to lift my head out of the books except to go to work and try and spend time with Nick. This first quarter was the hardest thing I've ever done!! I'm learning so much and with this program being completely different from nursing I feel as though I'm learning a new language - I'm being challenged in my thinking, my beliefs, how I view the world and engage with everything around me. I am looking forward to next quarter and taking my first elective (Environmental Politics) that is geared towards the goals I hope to accomplish with this degree; next quarter I'll also be spending some time out at Jubilee Farm with Erick and Wendy!! I thought I'd share a few photos of some of the study stations I've been occupying this quarter (the carolers were a "bonus" at one of our group project work sessions!):


One of the crazy things at the UW Bothell Campus is the nightly bird horror show. It's like being on the set of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. We're not sure where the crows come from or why they choose to cover nearly every surface each night at UWB, but it is quite the freak show!!


The big event that happened during this quarter was that I sold my lovely Jeep and bought a gorgeous 2012 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI. I could not be happier!! This car embraces everything Nick and I are trying to do with being green, saving fuel and creating a healthier environment. The kicker - I have bought 3.5 tanks of diesel after putting almost 1,800 miles on this baby. So thrilled!!



Nick and I were so privileged to attend a book release for this really amazing lady that I met at work one day! Her name is Erika Klimecky and she spent a month traveling the Everest Highway with a group of musicians raising money and awareness for the 7 Summits Foundation. This lady has inspired me so much and you should check out her website here and her husband, Chris', music here. You can also see Clint McCune's work through Soul Food Books here. This is such a great group of people!



I think those are the main highlights of the quarter, but stay tuned for more great things to come!!