What I've Been Up To...

Someday, I will blog about the Dominican Republic. Someday, I will post those pictures. But unfortunately, I need to memorize conversion factors, the Periodic Table of Elements, and the names of ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions first. Fun, right? Welcome to my life. 

Goodbye Minnesota...Hello Dominican Republic!

45.8. Thanks to my biology and chemistry textbooks, as well as my tendency to pack basically all the contents of my dresser because I can't decide what to leave behind, my suitcase weights 45.8 pounds! Oh well, thank goodness for free checked luggage on international flights. 

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to get on the Internet, but I'm hoping to be able to post a few pictures while we're gone. Until then, goodbye! 

Sisters

Today I decided to test Sadie on her knowledge of body parts. She sat on my lap and pointed to whatever I told her (checks, teeth, ears, etc). Once we had exhausted the parts of my face, I pointed to the little puff of hair at the top of her head and then asked, "Sadie, where's Emma's puff?" Puzzled, she searched my head before concluding, "Emma no puff!"

But don't worry, we fixed it right away. 

Love. Peace. And sisters with puffs. 

A Year in Review (In Pictures Of Course!)

We experienced the BIG moments...

staying at Club Med in Sand Piper Bay, FL

going to Ethiopia a second time (with Mekdes, the wonderful girl I sponsor)

taking the ACT

staying at a cabin on Lake Superior

having this beautiful girl (and my best friend), Jeanna, stay with us before she moved to North Carolina! 

attending (and running) fiddle camp

hosting the Button family reunion

attending the amazing (and wet!) U2 concert

saying goodbye to Grace (she started attending school in Mississippi)

visiting Jeanna and her family in North Carolina

going camping (for the first time!) on the north shore with Dad and the boys

cliff jumping - it was so fun! and yes, I don't look too sure in this picture, but I did end up jumping. It only took me fifteen minutes to work up the courage. 

going to the State Fair (for the second time ever!)

attending the Desiring God Conference - Finish the Mission

being accepted to St. Thomas!

visiting colleges and enjoying Chicago 

throwing our first neighborhood party 

having Grace home for the first time since she left

preparing for Christmas with our very first artificial tree

living through Finals Week

enjoying Christmas Eve with old and new friends 

Christmas!

We experienced the FUNNY moments...

Zeke and Sadie both decided to dress up as princesses (one day I will use this picture to blackmail him)

right in the middle of our fiddle performance, tornado sirens went off. we all ended up in the basement of the restaurant until the tornado was gone. 

Sadie wasn't exactly feeling like a very sweet strawberry on Halloween

We experienced the FAMILY moments...

our Christmas card picture

the little kids and their pumpkins

the boys and I in Duluth

we actually set up the tent! 

We experienced the BEAUTIFUL moments...

We (well, actually I) enjoyed the FRIEND moments...

Megan! who would have thought I could meet someone so cool at Century? she's an awesome friend and also the best babysitter in the world. I think Zeke and Lizzie like her more than me!

Tegan! even though we live on practically opposite sides of the country (well, state, although sometimes it feels like the country), we've still managed to stay thisclose! something I can't even do with my neighbors. 

Elise! we went to Ethiopia together and I have loved getting to know her ever since. she's the only friend i've ever quoted Songs of Solomon with (for the curious, it was Songs of Solomon 4:1b-2a). plus she's the best photographer on the face of the earth (photo credits for this one go to her). 

Jeanna! we first met when my family moved to Iowa to work at an international boarding school that her grandparents started (and yes, that is a true story). We've been best friends ever since. Even though we literally live across the country from each other now, we still can (and do!) talk about anything and everything. 

We experienced the GOD moments...

This year wasn't all fond and warm memories. There were a lot of tears, a lot of mistakes, and a lot of pain. But God was through and in it all. Really, all of these moments in 2011 were God moments. And all of the moments in 2012 will be as well. May your heart be filled with gratitude for 2011 and trust for 2012! 

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23