like a fetter

hello.

It seems as if almost everyone is taking a holiday break from blogging. I guess I have too. Most of my post-holiday time has been spent in a support raising freak out haze. I have about $300 in monthly pledges left to raise and I'm at the point where I just have to be faithful in following through and then just TRUST that it will come in. Yikes. That's hard to do. Christmas was good. pretty much completely normal. norwegian christmas eve at grandma b's, church (although it was the 11pm youth service this year...not the same), presents in the morning, breakfast with grandma, dad's side christmas, dinner at aunt sandy's. it actually seemed to be a really calm christmas this year which was just what i wanted.

My aunt jaine (my stepdad's sister) is typically pretty strange, but in really funny and interesting ways. I love talking to her because it's fun to have a conversation with her. she always has such a funny point of view. well anyway, she said she had a gift for me and she pulls out several little fabric parcels and it turns out that it's a piece of fabric with Chutes and Ladders on it and inside the fabric was a pair of dice and some plastic animals. she said that she thought it would be a good thing to take to Africa because it's a game with only numbers so it's easy to understand in any language and I can even practice my Arabic numbers by playing it. She gave me several of them to give as gifts because she knew that at the beginning of my time in Africa I would be really dependent on the hospitality of others and they could make good gifts. I was so overwhelmed. It was such a thoughtful gift. I really don't think I've ever received a gift that had more thought behind it. It was so amazing. I'll post some pictures later.

Christmas with Dad was good until I had to explain to my family AGAIN that I will be gone for TWO YEARS. My step-mom's response was, "Well then we'll have to have lunch sometime soon!" Only a little frustrating.

Got the Sufjan Stevens Christmas CD(s). Very nice. I love it when he sings worship songs.

I quit my job yesterday. My boss was mad and it stressed me out but I think I'm pretty much over it. Everyone else is really excited and that makes me even more excited.

I've gotten to see Crissa a lot and I can't think of anything better to do at Christmas time.

I think that's it.

Ok Bye.