It was 2006 and we’d been on two dates. I tried not to think too far into the future, but he was listening to Boyz II Men that night when he picked up me and Aaryn and didn’t appear to be ashamed. I was sold.

Here we are, two years later, and how are we spending this December 31st? Staying the night at my folks (he gets to sleep on his favorite brown sectional, circa 1975…only 5 more months Kevin, keep telling yourself that) and then waking up to drive about 5.5 hours with Mom and Dad to visit her mom who lives somewhere near Austin.

Perk of This Trip: Blue Mesa on the way back through the Metroplex!

Updates are now posted here.

It’s a miracle I lasted this long. I came down with a cold on Saturday evening and am now suffering something fierce. Instead of hanging out with my fiancé tonight like I would prefer, I’ll be soaking in a Burt’s Bees milk bath, watching Arthur from the tub, drinking some hot hot tea, disinfecting my nesting areas around the house, and washing the piles of laundry I’ve been putting off. And maybe polishing the day off with the (literal) bloody mess that is Breaking Dawn.

Is that a Desmond and Penny BABY?

Much like Twilight, I never wanted to like this song, but the way her little nose scrunches up has kinda grown on me. Still, I hate that she refers to herself as “a scarlet letter” and the video bugs me because if you’re going to bother dressing in period costumes for something, at least get the period correct. Oh, and the fact that the “dress” she’s wearing while she stands waiting for Romeo looks a whole lot more like underwear.

Umm…the veterinarian on today’s Luann is sort of a cartoon babe.

Peppermint Bark for office Christmas party – DONE
Dirty dishes – SOAKING
Podcast processed and almost ready to be released – CHECK
Fiance in North Carolina for our last Christmas apart – :[
Christmas cat sweater out and ready to be worn tomorrow – YOU BETCHA
Eclipse waiting on my night table – *SPARKLE*
House still in shambles after an evening of high productivity – SIGH

Threatening Your Grandmother With “No Storytelling” To Get Your Little Brother To Leave You Alone

I still pout the same way (can’t keep a straight face if I’m pretending) and sometimes my bottom lip sticks out involuntarily when I am sad, but I’m not quite as manipulative.

(Kyle, if you are reading this, I have tried to keep you out of this as much as possible since I know you don’t like it. But if you’re cool with Bethlehem now that you are 21-years-old and not 2.4 years, then we can talk. Not going to post that one without your permission. Because you are wearing little underpants.)

My Christmas gift to you: me, telling the Christmas story to my grandparents, aunt, and uncle. It’s basically me making a lot of excuses, stalling for time, and thinking of things as I go along.

Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller is an atheist, but he recently posted this video blog that is pretty AMAZING and really encouraging to me. I know not all atheists share his view (in fact, probably very few) but this is something to keep in mind whenever you are hesitant to share the gospel with someone.

Like he says, it’s like seeing someone about to be hit by a truck–at some point, you’re going to lunge for them to save them. And according to Penn, “this is more important.”

“How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that. I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming to hit you and you didn’t believe it, that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

He’s right. It is.

But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. – Jeremiah 20:9 (NASB)

(Cross-posted at Kick the Anthill)