Seattle

Brad and I are back in sunny Florida, exhausted from our trip but happy about fun memories made! Here are some of the highlights for me:

Family Bonding. All seven of us stayed in Alan and Melissa's house - in beds, on floors, on couches... So, there was plenty of family togetherness, and it was great. We talked a lot, ate a lot, and played a lot. And, we got to meet little Noah!

Endless games of Settlers of Catan. This will go down in my memory as the "Christmas of settlers" because we played so many games over the week. This is a fun game that Brad and I play with friends from church, and we thought that the family might enjoy it, too. It was fun - a nice break from the traditional games of Uno!

Downtown Seattle. I loved Seattle, in particular the fish market and the first Starbucks!

Seeing caramel corn being made at Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory and then buying/eating more of it than I should ever buy or eat.

A snow moment. I went for a run Christmas afternoon, and after a few minutes, big white flakes started falling hard all around me. It hadn't snowed on Christmas in Seattle in years, and it was our only snow all week. As it stuck to my hair and clothes, and as my ears became numb, I just ran and smiled, thanking the Lord for that little gift.

Thanks Chappells for our fun time together. I can't wait until the next time!

Our little monsters...

I think we've created three little monsters.

Last week, Brad let the dogs sleep with him while I stayed up late working, and when I came to bed, I was too tired to care, so I just pushed them over and let them stay. That was 4 nights ago.

Last night, I tried to get Turk out of the "big" bed and into his crate, and he literally put on his little doggy brakes and would not be coaxed (or pulled) out of the room. He just looked at me like, "daddy lets me stay!" and even gave a little *play* growl. (that update is for you, mama :)

Oh boy.

This situation would not be a problem if our dogs were smaller or if our bed was bigger. When you add together the weight of the two dogs (100 lbs), the weight of me and Brad (300 lbs), the size of our bed (queen) and the combined space and body heat, you'll find a crowded mess.

Also, I'm pretty sure Sport is feeling left out of all this fun, so she is also driving me crazy. She used to sleep on top of me (yes, on top of me - and she's no small cat, folks) most nights, but since 2 large drooly dogs are filling up the bed, she has resorted to sleeping under the Christmas tree. Since she doesn't get her full dose of kitty-lovin' during the night, she follows me around the house all day looking pitiful.

In order to give Sport ample playing time, I'm giving you her newest glamour-shot (note the very lady-like pose), along with one of me and my study-buddy. We just love that little dog...

More Sweeney Todd

Here's some background information about Stephen Sondheim's original Broadway play, Sweeney Todd, and how Tim Burton adapted it for the movie version. Great stuff.

The Beach

Brad and I are at the beach with KK, Larry, Memama and Papa! It's been wonderful to see family, eat seafood, and play Uno! And, I love the beach in December, sans tourists with their smelly sunscreen and boogie boards.

I have been writing (with a little internet surfing and blog/email writing mixed in) at Panera bread, and in the evenings I play with the fam. How do I have time to go to the beach and play online in the middle of finals week? Let me put it this way: I do well under pressure. When I have 2 days until the deadline, I tend to be stressed but yet unmotivated. However, when I have 6 hours left and 10 pages to write, I can birth the child in record time.

In other news, Brad and I did our long run this morning on the beach road. The air was salty and muggy, but the view was beautiful! I learned a few things about my husband, though. First of all, he prefers a 8-minute mile pace; I prefer a 20-minute mile pace. I kept saying "um, sweetie, can we go back to snail pace, please?" He very sweetly slowed to what for him was a near-walk. Secondly, he is a very anticlimactic running buddy. When the girls and I finish a long run, we have a little celebration right in the middle of the road (or sidewalk - wherever we may be). We high-five and dance around a little (just a little). I tried to get excited when we finished, but Brad muttered, "yeah, good job. Let's go back." I don't understand it, but I love him still the same.

Anyway, what is everyone else doing this weekend? What are your Christmas plans? Please post in your blogs so I'll have another way to waste a few precious minutes.

Very Exciting

Yes, I Wrote a Book

by Tim Keller

"How do you tell people something they probably want to know without playing into the great American hype machine? I've been getting so many questions about this I thought I would write a simple newsletter article to members and friends to let you know that, yes, I wrote a book.

I've been working for some time on a book for the ordinary (which means very sharp) spiritually skeptical New Yorker. Ever since I got to New York nearly two decades ago I've wished I had a volume to give people that not only answered objections to Christianity (what has been called 'apologetics') but also positively presented the basics of the gospel in an accessible yet substantial way. I had some books that did the one and some that did the other, but only one did both—Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. As you know, I think Lewis' book is peerless, and foolish would be the author who tried to replace him!

However, the issues in the public discourse around Christianity have become much more complex than they were in the mid and late 20th century. The questions are now not just philosophical (e.g. Is there evidence for God's existence?) They are also now cultural (Doesn't strong faith make a multicultural society impossible?), political (Doesn't orthodox religion undermine freedom?) and personal. Also fifty years ago, when C.S. Lewis was writing, there was general agreement that rational argument and empirical method were the best ways to discover truth. That consensus has vanished. Today there are deep disagreements over how we know things and how certain we can be about anything. Most of the older books presenting Christianity now are only persuasive and even comprehensible to a very narrow range of people.

All this means that there is a great need for new literature that speaks to our time and says, "Christianity makes sense." I know I'm only one of many who are trying to do this over the next few years. My contribution is slated to be released February 14, 2008, by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Books. Its title is The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. You can find a little more information about it on Amazon.com.

Even though the book is not addressing believers, I still hope it will be a help to the members and friends of Redeemer. It may make it easier to represent your heartfelt beliefs to people you love. That's my prayer."

taken from http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/

Matt Lauer calls Foy

This is too funny.

My sister-in-law Melissa just sent me an email about Matt Lauer's call to Foy Student Union, and I had to share it here in case someone hasn't seen it. It's so funny.

Remember: call eight-foy-foy-foy-two-foy-foy to have any of your questions answered!

The small things...

I'm taking a break from the books to write a "things I've been loving lately" list!


1. The Fresh Market

This is a new discovery, a new amazing discovery. They have apples the size of grapefruit. They have the best whole-wheat pasta I've ever tasted. The store is absolutely beautiful, especially at Christmas. It's an experience just to visit.


2. Erin Fetherston at Target

So cute. Really.


3. L.L. Bean's doggy tote

I wanted to order one for everyone I know. Unfortunately I can't afford to do so.


4. James Taylor at Christmas

It really doesn't get any better.


5. Kurt Halsey art.

so pretty and sad... his art always makes me want to hug someone.


6. Burts Bees Cuticle Cream

I have one in my backpack, one in my purse, and one by my bed. Amazing.



What have you been loving lately?

Fall in Florida

Now that it's December, the leaves have finally fallen in Florida. So, here are pictures of our fall boys...

6 weeks out...

Just to give you an update, our Disney Half-Marathon packets came in the mail! Exactly 6 weeks from now, we will be finished with the race and will be riding Space Mountain and eating churros. Here's the course route that came in the packet.




The full marathon course is much more impressive as it goes through all the parks. A few of the guys are bravely attempting this one.




So far, this experience has been fun and challenging.

It has been challenging because I never know what to expect from my body. Some days, I feel great and barely break a sweat. Other days, I feel like puking and collapsing in the road. Brad has had the same experience.

It has been fun because the good days feel great. And, we have gotten to train with friends from church and through the process have gotten to know them better. Today, the girls (Sarah, Betsy, Kendra) and I ran seven miles. We left Sarah's house, ran the trails up to Betsy's, grabbed water, and ran back. We ran slowly, but it felt great. I wouldn't have been able to do these runs without friends to push me.

Anyway, 6 weeks and counting... wish us luck!