A few things.

Going to Japan seems feasible now, I still don't have my full support but I am close enough to start getting my hopes high. I am incredibly amazed by the way my support is coming in and how people have faith in me. At my last support raising evening, people gathered around and prayed for me, in that circle of hands I felt at home, like I haven't since leaving Norway in October.

sloth.

I just laughed a whole bunch.

a gift given.

Gift giving is a tricky business, in which I often find a bit of anxiety. I feel that if I give someone a bad gift then I am saying "I don't know you at all!" Which is a horrible message to send a loved one. But when it comes down to it, you win some and you loose some.

image source: thxthxthx.com

artist video.

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Bernhoft.

Thanks Alida!

I trust that you use the willing not just the perfect.

change.

Kathleen Edwards was just introduced to me. I really like some of the shots in this film.

Do you like the huge photo of the bearded man in a sweater?

(in a previous post)

I liked this sweater so I was going to post it but I did it the short cut way and he ended being quite large, this made me laugh quite a lot, so I decided to keep him.
cred: american apparel model.

My days are spent huddled in warm places for the last couple weeks because of frigid temperatures ranging from -27F to -7F. When I venture from the house in my lovely woolen scarf, red down coat, mittens, headband, and wool socks it is only for the essentials, work and friend dates. I am hoping for some clouds to roll in so I can go for walks again. It has encouraged much more reading, tea, enjoying the fire place, and online shopping for cashmere sweater deals.

Bonus today: I got to see four moose on my way home. I really love them. Poor things in this weather, can you imagine!?

Image by Vladimir Kostromitsky

follow.

from: See Me Everywhere

Cher and I have decided that singing cards are the worst gift ever.

frustration.

I would like to call myself a realist but often I edge on being pessimistic. This is not my personal rant corner of the internet. There for I am making a list of what is fantastic cause today I am not feeling so hot.

Melissa living in Soldotna. Coffee with Donna. Having a key to my sister's apartment even though I never use it. My mom makes brown rice for me. There is a sewing machine that I can use at my leisure. I have some hilarious coworkers. I have two arms with two hands and two legs with two feet that enable me to do awesome things. My tea is from India and tastes really good. Our fire place is oh so warm. and on and on my friends...

Lars.

That boy, he is my brother. He is an unusual one, but not in obvious ways. He dresses pretty cool but not in a stand out way. He is smart but not your obvious nerd. He is friendly and socially perfect, not loud or quiet. If you met him you would like him, you wouldn't call him weird but I am his sister and I know better.
He is an artist, he can build things, draw things, and know if it is brilliant or awful. But the peculiarity I would like to highlight today is the fact that he can sew. I am not sure when it started but I do recall him fashioning capes and satchels out of fake leather for treks in the woods to middle earth as a boy. Today the fake swords and cheap fake leather Lord of the Rings inspired accessories are gone but the skills remain. Today he is wearing sweatpants with a geometrical pocket that he made and I am the owner of a new fleece lined headband. Thanks Lars, I like you.

I leave you with this terribly awkward photo.

pages.

This is adorable!

Date a girl who reads.

flowers

Lovely right, once again I bring you Amy Merrick.

sweet.

food swings.

(like my cheese ball title?)

"I am sorry I spoke unkind words out of hunger." -Unknown

Yesterday, my favorite customer came in, she was in a big hurry and was a fraction less polite then usual. She skipped the "How are you doing, honey?" and went straight to, "I really need two bowls of soup, right away, because my daughters blood sugar is down and having a total melt down." Sure enough, in walks a young girl, red faced and miserable with tear streaming down her face. This is nothing good food couldn't handle because fifteen minutes, soup and a piece of pie later she was smiling.

I can identify with this completely. When I was young and competing I recall coming home after a two and a half hour practice and bursting into tears while waiting ten minutes for dinner to be ready. Or after church, my parents would be the last ones to leave because they could talk for hours and we would sneak into the nursery and steal the goldfish and animal crackers. As my sisters best friends said on one of these Sunday afternoons, "I'm so hungry I could cry." Thank goodness that with age come self control and I don't have to become an emotional time bomb when I miss my regular feeding.
Food still effects my mood immensely, I know this to be true because when I am having a not so cheery day my coworkers insist I make the cookie dough.

no.

The dictionary defines sass as: to be cheeky or rude to someone.
I would have to disagree.

Oh Megan.

"That is straight up British Royalty."

what the good man said...

I got to go to my favorite church last week. It is an hour and half drive from my home but when I make the distance to visit a dear sweet friend, we go. The message was talking about what the gospel means for family, for children and parents. Rather than try to reiterate the whole thing I will tell you this, I was realigned in a wonderful, New Years kind of way.
Each day I battle with the flesh, and every time I give in I must pay the consequence. God he loves me the same as before however normally the consequence effects my relationships and that is a rough way to pay.
So here is to a brand new year, may my spirit be strengthened, my flesh be deprived of sinful satisfaction, and may my God be glorified in word and in deed.