Christmas Recap!

I've been noticeably absent from my blog these past couple weeks, but I am also completely unapologetic. Upon finishing and submitting my final papers I hopped in my car and took off to my home-away-from-home and home to my future in-laws and some of my best friends in the world.

My days were spent having long overdue lunch dates with good friends, cuddling in bed with my love and abundant Christmas movies. My nights were spent rocking out in my lace gloves and side ponytail for a righteous birthday celebration, enjoying live music at our favorite pub and getting into some serious Christmas spirit at the in-laws' annual Christmas extravaganza. On Christmas Eve (after a full day of Christmas party hangover recovery) we made the 8-hour trip to Boonie-town, NY. Aka: My hometown.

Future family...as depicted by Danni Byrd.

Chuck, my baby sister and I had a sleepover in our living room as The Santa Clause lulled us to asleep and awoke Christmas morning to stockings and terrific presents from my Mama. After we indulged our consumerist sides, we introduced my Mom and step-dad to Apple to Apples and had an absolute hoot! The time spent at home was much-needed as I've been absent from my family and best friends' lives since moving to Ohio and then to Pittsburgh.

We arrived back in Ohio after another 8 hours to ensure that our first New Years celebration was spent together having a memorable time that our memory of will likely be foggy. This year has easily been the happiest of my life and I can't begin to imagine what 2012 has in store for me. Stay tuned for what's to come!

Until then...some gratuitous engagement shots by Byrd Photography :)

Sunday Blessings VII

Whew- what a week! It's been a whirlwind of emotion, but an amazing learning opportunity in just what faith, trust and love looks like and how it has manifested itself in my life. So without further ado...

school

It's finals week! Aah! My impending deadlines don't have me as stressed as I imagined they would. On the contrary, they've given me the push of motivation and productivity I've been lacking all semester. I've spent much of the last couple months completely taking for granted this opportunity I've been given, but that stops today! I'm praising God for allowing me to pursue a higher education and I will do my utmost to make the most of it from this point forward!

love

Hubby and I are constantly thinking about the future (our future). It's so nice to have someone with the same dreams and ambitions. Someone who wants to see the world, experience new cultures and revel in the beauty of God's magnificent and expansive creation..."before we start poppin' out gingas." He makes me giggle :)

thelittlethings

Last night I was lulled to sleep by the sound of hubs reading The Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol (complete with Scrooge voices). Visions of Christmases to come with little ginger babies in footie pajamas eager listening to Daddy read Christmas tales flooded my mind. Just when I think it's impossible, he makes me fall even deeper in love with him. I can't wait to marry this man!

Bourbon Balls

 As part of my Food Systems class, we're required to bring in a food that is particularly significant to us to share with the class. We go into the historical and cultural background of the food and then top it off by making it ourselves. Today is my day to share with the class and I chose...BOURBON BALLS!

My mom has been making these at Christmas time for as long as I can remember. Although I couldn't find much history on this variation of the traditional Bourbon Ball candy recipe, they've been a holiday staple in our household. I called my Mommy to see where she originally learned the recipe and she honestly couldn't remember. Her response was, "I made them for your Dad one time and he liked them so I just kept making them."

Well, there you have it folks!

Bourbon Balls

2 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1/3 cup Jim Beam bourbon

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Combine wafer crumbs, sugar and pecans in a medium sized bowl.

2. In a small bowl, combine bourbon and corn syrup and then add to wafer mixture.

3. Shape into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Melt chocolate chips and dip 1/2 bourbon ball into chocolate.

5. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be refrigerated up to two weeks (before alcohol begins to evaporate).

*Tips:

1. Mom says, be sure to use Jim Beam. It has a sweeter, more pleasant taste than other type of bourbon.

2. When melting chocolate, stir continuously. If microwaving, do so in very small increments (I used 12 seconds) being careful not to burn it.

It's Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Although my weekly post took a short break for the Thanksgiving holiday, my blessings have not!

wedding

As previously mentioned, our parents are paying for the BIG parts of our day which we cannot express our thanks for enough! My Mommy is purchasing my wedding dress this week as we speak!

school

This semester has not been an easy one, but the good news is- it's almost over! It's not that I don't appreciate all I've learned these past few months. But truthfully, I can't wait to start anew and have a clean academic slate!

christmaschristmaschristmas

I. Am. So. Excited. Two and a half weeks with the love of my life. Christmas party at this home. Christmas morning at mine. SonJane Fest 2011. Our 1-year anniversary. And more Christmas movies than a normal person should ever watch. Christmas magic is what keeps me going as the mean Mr. SnowMeiser begins to show himself.

love

Some of the conversation topics we happen upon are just insane. It only serves as a reminder, however, of how perfect we are for each other. My baby loves me just the way that I am. 

10 down, 103 to go...

I think everyone, once in awhile, experiences the awful feeling of complacency. When you wake up, look around and ask yourself, "What happened to my dreams?" You look back fondly on the times you believed you were going to do something world-changing. You were going to be someone of significance. It's hard after reality continues to shut down your hopes and leaves you feeling ultimately defeated. It hurts.

But I, for one, will never stop pursuing the things that matter. I will never stop believing in the beauty of tomorrow. I will never question that I was lovingly created for a purpose. I am a lover of silver linings.

Rachel Carson, world-renowned environmentalist, author of Silent Spring and alum of my current graduate institution is quoted as saying, "I am always more interested in what I am about to do than in what I have already done."

As much as I fall victim to this line of thinking constantly, I believe there is value in looking back on all you have achieved, gaining perspective on how far you've come and appreciating the person you are because of your past experiences. 

So without further ado, these are the items on my Bucket List I have joyously crossed off:

#10- Have my very own vegetable garden

#17- Make love to the man I love

#19- Show someone the love of Christ

#21- Write an anonymous letter

#22- Live in a major city

#59- Ride the fastest, tallest rollercoaster

#64- Fall in love

#76- Meet a handsome stranger

#83- Maintain a strictly vegan diet

#97- Fearlessly confront [insert evil ex-step dad here]

Ten down, 103 to go. Can't wait to look back on this a year from now and see how far I've come. Stay tuned!

World AIDS Day

 Today, December 1st, 2011 is World AIDS Day. 

Some of you may not know that I have seen the affects of HIV/AIDS firsthand. When I was in Uganda we devoted a week of our studies to learning about HIV/AIDS. Separating fact from fallacy, learning of the impact in Uganda and how the country was combating it. We concluded our AIDS-oriented week with a visit to an orphanage for children who had been orphaned by AIDS. Many of the children were living with the disease themselves and the manifestation of the evil sickness was apparent in their small little bodies. A handful of children were simply wasting away.

Upon my return to the states, I moved to Philadelphia for the summer to intern with an organization called Philadelphia FIGHT which served as a comprehensive HIV/AIDS services agency. My role was to serve the AIDS Library in whatever capacity was needed. This meant manning the front desk of the country's largest library devoted to HIV/AIDS resources, helping to assemble community presentation literature and aiding in organizing AIDS Education Month events. The majority of the people that were served there were African-American and/or members of the LGBT community.

Two completely demographics. And yet the results were equally as devastating. In Uganda, it's estimated that 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. 1.2 million is the population of Dallas, Texas. The ninth largest city in the U.S. Imagine 1.2 million children growing up in unstable environments, grieving the loss of their Mommies and Daddies while trying to access food, clean water and possibly battling the disease themselves. It's simply unforgivable.

In the other instance, you have people in the city of Philadelphia who are mostly low-income and unable to cover the wholly expensive medication their treatment requires. You also have people who have been stigmatized as sexually promiscuous and/or drug users. They are literally lepers in modern day society.

There is so much global suffering because of this terrible and life-destroying disease. Will you help?

Visit the (Red) campaign website to learn what they're doing to help eliminate AIDS by 2015.