The Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

Maybe you were thinking, it's too early for Christmas. Well it is, but it's not too early for HOCKEY! My sisters and I went to the first game this past Saturday and one of them started singing that song. We laughed, but it we do love this time of year. Doesn't seem like it's been 5 months since our last game, seems like 5 years! Just kidding, but it has been a while. 

So, Saturday night, found us at the ice rink, watching the first game of the season. Well, first unofficial game; it was really a scrimmage, but it was still hockey. Here's to a good season. Hoping our incoming freshman can step up and fill some gaps and our returning players ramp it up even more. Conversations the past couple days at our house has included more and more references to hockey. Wouldn't surprise me if one night this next week when I get home, someone puts Miracle on to play. Nothing like watching the 1980 Miracle on ice to get one's blood pumping. 

many of the freshman

almost the whole team

If you notice a lot of bald heads, that's because they all shaved their heads in support of Justin Woods, #8. He is from here and was a freshman on our team last year. He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer this past spring. He's currently undergoing treatments. Hopefully he'll be back next season, ready to skate. :)

Complete Randomness

If you are wondering what my days have been consisting of -

I could tell you of how yesterday I spent hours contemplating Shakespeare, or how this week I've been reading a random, weird, mind-boggling perplexing book (for school), or how I have played volleyball twice this week and lost both times. 

I could tell you about my love/hate relationship with school. Love the learning, hate the mounds of homework. 

Or maybe you want to hear about my sudden aversion to any kind of communication. If I've ignored your calls, texts or emails in the past two weeks, I still like you. Just haven't been in the mood to talk. 

Perhaps, you are wondering when "my next big trip is." Well, join the club, everyone does. At least they all appear to, since that's about the only question I get asked regularly. 

This is a completely random post, but hey, sometimes I am a strange person. So to close out this irregular post, I leave you with a random picture. 

sometimes you just need to act like a kid again :)

Mornings

On my way to work the other day, these random thoughts flooded my mind.... "I have so much energy! I am not tired! It's 7:30 in the morning and I'm wide awake!" 

You know how nice it was to have those thoughts!? It's easy to forget what it's like to not be tired when you live tired all the time. I enjoyed everything this summer, but the lack of sleep does get to a person after a while. Now that things have slowed down some and sleep is a regular part of my schedule again (a full night's sleep), I feel like myself again! And it is a wonderful thing!! I'm not going to make any ridiculous promises like - it will always be like this.... or I'll never have such a crazy schedule again.... cause we all know, those promises wouldn't last. But for now, I'm going to enjoy it! 

Another morning this week, I looked out the window when I first got up. Wow. Looked frantically for a camera, but couldn't find one, so I'll do my best to describe what I saw.... 

The firmament was shrouded with a dark blanket of cloud that ended abruptly just above the visible mountains on the far southeastern horizon. The sun was rising, but was yet unseen from my location; however his rays were cast on the distant mountains, causing it's snowy tops to flaunt their crystal clear details. What were previously dull orange birch leaves encircling my view of the mountains were now illuminated by the sunlight. Brilliant, florescent yellow and orange leaves glowed against the dark gray sky as a forest fire's blaze. Truly amazing morning view. 

Hard to understand how people can look at our world and deny there is a Great Creator. My God is an Amazing artist! 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

Slowing Down....

"Ready for life to get back to normal." My friend recently said this to me about moving to China. We laughed about the irony of that statement. China isn't exactly "normal" for an American. But I understand what she meant. This summer for me had a pretty crazy schedule and I've been looking forward to getting back into a somewhat normal routine. Was hoping with the start of school, my schedule would even out. So far that hasn't happened, but there's potential there. 

Why is it that time/life never seems to slow down? I'm not the type to not be busy, so guess it won't ever slow down for me.

Here's a few more random pictures from Selawik. 

i love reflections

Marie and Clara -  Rock Crossing buddies

sunset on the river