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Image via Wikipedia
Every year on Christmas Eve, my family gathers together for delicious food, delightful conversation, and decidedly good cheer. Despite weather and distance, we’ve all always made it to Christmas Eve dinner ever since I can remember. While other holidays have given way to new traditions with the addition of new family members, Christmas Eve is special. Even as family members have moved out of the area and grown older, we all still come together at least this one night. The warmth and companionship from that one night can almost tide me over the whole year long. For one night, all worries and fears and conflicts are forgotten. We share stories next to the log fire and stuff ourselves on pie. Many times the stories turn to Christmas Eves past, back when my mother and aunt were small girls. In this way, I’ve come to know those grandparents I’ve never met. In this way, our family bonds extend into the past and into the future, holding us all together despite what might come in the new year. One day my children and my husband will get to be a part of this wonderful night of sharing, too.
Jul
7
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Japan is a gorgeously peaceful country. In a perfect world, I would have my honeymoon in Japan during the cherry blossom festivals. We would spend a lot of time walking through the crowded streets and secluded parks, sitting peacefully amid the shrines and religious atmosphere of the temples. I want to see the country, roam up to Hokkaido and down to Kyoto. We could spend an eternity soaking up the lyrical language and pondering the hidden messages in kanji. Everything is so hopeful there, a perfect way to start a new life. My feelings about Japan are summed up in the word for “tomorrow.” Its components mean “bright day.”
Jul
7
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Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr
Although I’ve had pretty good academic success, I’ve never counted things in that field as “achievements.” It’s just what happens when you’re interested in school. I am a highly uncompetitive person, so I’ve never helped a team reach some great goal or won any medals. Athletic prowess is not my forte. What I consider to be my greatest achievement is something that has had no material influence on my life or reputation. It’s something that most people don’t know about me. It’s something that is not hugely impressive. However, the 2009 National Novel Writing Month changed my life just a bit. The goal is to write 50,000 words of a novel within the month of November. I’ve long aspired to be a writer but have never just sat down and pounded out the words. After weeks of coffee, sleep deprivation, and sore fingers, I won NaNoWriMo. I still think that was the most awesome thing I ever accomplished.
- NaNoWriMo (dcnewlyweds.wordpress.com)
- Camp NaNoWriMo! My playlist and plans (annelessing.wordpress.com)
Jul
7
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Although there are many awesome sea creatures out there, when considering what sort of animal I would want to be several factors come into play. I would want to be an animal that lives in pods and communicates. I would want to have some awesome athletic ability as well the ability to defend myself. Dolphins come to mind, but I’ve never liked the way dolphins look. I have always loved sharks and found them extremely interesting, but I would not want to be such a loner. It would be cool to be a huge whale – simply having a body that huge would certainly be a new experience! The best compromise between all of these ideas is the killer whale, I think. They live in groups, are rather agile and can defend themselves. Plus, they are rather larger than humans. The only weird part would be learning to eat fish!
Jul
7
