Library Love

I have a confession to make...I love going to the library. I know that probably makes me a dork, but I'm okay with that.

I am forever astounded at the amount of information and the resources that are available to us for FREE at the local library. In high school, our local library was a great place to do research for school papers, but it also had a large collection of VHS tapes (you know, pre-DVD days) and CDs available for check-out. Who needs to pay $3.99 at Blockbuster for a movie that you check out for free at the library?

In college, the library was "social central," as our three-story library was one of the main hubs of campus. The first floor of the library was a great place to find people you were looking for and catch up on the latest news. Thankfully, the upper two floors were quieter and more conducive to studying, paper writing, and napping (I took more than one nap on the cushy third-floor sofas!).

Now that I'm an adult (and paying my own bills!), I think I love the library even more. I love to read, but I hate to spend money on something that I'm going to read once and then leave on the shelf to collect dust. So I go to the library, where a wealth of knowledge (and some unexpected resources) are there waiting for me.

"It is impossible to enter a large library... without feeling an inward sensation of reverence, and without catching some sparks of noble emulation, from the mass of mind which is scattered around you."- James Crossley

Something new...

Sigh. Time goes fast when you're having fun...or something like that. I feel like this week has been a whirlwind of activity. But then, compared to last week when I mainly hung out on the couch and got caught up on TV, I guess it has been busy!

Last Sunday, our pastor started a new series called "Be the Change." The series is based around us being the change that we want to see in others and starting the new year out right. While I don't really believe in making New Year's resolutions (they're just asking to be broken!), I think it's a good reminder to stop and take stock of where your priorities are.

I think my biggest "priority change" for 2009 is to be more deliberate (and consistent!) with my time spent with God. It has been my experience that when that's in place, the rest of life sort of sorts itself out.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Angels Among Us

The world got just a little darker this week as one of the brightest stars was laid to rest. Without a doubt, Rosa Mae Morgan Canady, my grandmother, was one of the sweetest individuals that I have ever met and likely ever will. Her life was far from perfect, but she delighted in even the smallest things -- visits from her many friends, crocheting blankets for a new born baby, spending time with her family. I suspect that my love of all things pink and all things chocolate came directly from her.

The baby of the family and the only granddaughter in the midst of seven grandchildren, I enjoyed the time that I got to spend with Grandmother. My visits with her as a child include memories of sleeping on "palettes" on the floor at the bottom of her bed, going to the get the mail from her little box (she would always lift me up so that I could be the one to get it...and I learned the hard way to always check my pocket for her keys BEFORE we left to go home!), wonderful food and treats, and countless colorful expressions that often found themselves merged into the daily lexicon of my family ("Lord, Randy...you know not!" and "oh, foot!" being among the favorites).

We learned many things from Grandmother -- that going out with a "wet head" was a horrible thing and that walking around with your hair in your face was nearly as bad. And did you know that an "eggshell and a half" of milk could make the sweet chocolate chess pie? Most of all, though, I think we learned what living life as a woman of God was all about. Grandmother's life, disposition, and faith were a living reminder of what we were put on Earth for -- to serve God and to love others.

For all the sadness that my family has felt this week, I know that there is great rejoicing in heaven -- one of the faithful has returned home.

We love you, Grandmother...and we always will.

Rosa Mae Morgan Canady
1911 - 2008

Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)!

Hope you and yours had a good Christmas. Ours was a good time spent with family -- Christmas Eve with Dave's side of the family and Christmas Day with my side.



Check out more Christmas pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/merth2erth.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

A few of my favorite Christmas decorations...


Our old apartment had a bar/counter where we could hang up our stockings. I wasn't sure where we were going to hang them in our house (no fireplace = no mantel), but I've decided that the piano makes a perfect location! (The little stocking is Sadie's!)

Our Christmas tree in its decorated glory. Dave always makes me "fluff" out the tree, but then he helps put the ornaments on. Our ornaments are a blend of things we each got as children and a few items that we've gotten since we've been together. As much as I like the pretty and polished trees that some people have where everything matches and is color coordinated, I've always really liked the homey feel of a mix-matched tree of memories.

A few other pictures of our holiday decor...

Introducing...

My brother and I have a long history of naming our cars. I'm not exactly sure why we insist on our cars having names, but we do.

To name just a few, we've had Christine (a fire-engine red Chevy Nova that was originally the color of blue-green rust), Quince (named for the number of miles that the car had when bought), Helga (an old German name for an old German car), and Corolla de Ville (which always inspired a certain catchy Disney song).

Now, there's a new car to add to the list -- meet Fiona, our "new" (read: new to us) Suzuki Forenza.

Tis the Season

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children,
they are all 30 feet tall." --Larry Wilde

It would appear that Christmas time has arrived. Dave and I decorated our house last Friday, but the pictures are still on my camera, so this will have to do for now.

This is the (slightly sad looking) stuffed Christmas tree that adorns my desk at work. I've had the tree for a very long time -- I think I received it in a gift exchange in high school or possibly even middle school. Though certainly not the most beautiful decoration that I've ever owned, it is easily portable and virtually indestructible and has served as my own personal dose of Christmas cheer no matter where I have found myself around Christmas.

The Christmas that I spent in Bolivia, the little tree was the only Christmas tree that I had. I wrapped my gifts, stacked them in a pile, and placed the tree on top (you know, because presents are supposed to be under the tree!). My brother laughed when I packed the tree in my luggage that July, but come December, I was glad that I had it!