25

(This is actually a picture of a picture on my phone. Ergo, the quality is terrible. Using the word 'ergo' in a sentence makes me feel intelligent. Ergo, that's why I'm using it.)

After six children and 25 years of marriage, my parents love each other more than ever.

Happy 25th Anniversary to some wonderful, favorite parents of mine!

This is the part where I tell you about my Christmas. Just like everybody else.

How original.

(This is assuming you actually care. If not, you can stop reading now.)

(Or now.)

(Now would be good.)

For those who do care, Christmas morning went something like this: My little brother was up and pacing the hallway at precisely 6:20 A.M. on Christmas day. Just waiting. He had to wait. He knew no one can go downstairs until at least 7:00 A.M. It's a rule. Always has been. Always will be. It's funny how that rule used to torture me and now I could go for a little more sleep on Christmas morning. Funny how things change.

But I woke up soon enough. Just to humor myself since I had heard so much talk about the chance of snow, I looked out my window.

I saw this:

Okay, okay. So it actually looked something more like this:

Which was a welcome sight on Christmas morning to a Mississippi girl!
My reaction went something along these lines: "A white Christmas! In Mississippi! It's a Christmas miracle! I think all my dreams just came true."

So, it was around six in the morning, I was tired and a tad bit delirious. But it was awesome! When I showed my sister the snow, she literally jumped up and down on the bed.

My sister's 22.

We all were pretty ecstatic and immediately turned this on, just to really characterize and dramatize the special moment.

This quickly became the theme song of Christmas 2010. (Except we didn't even have to dream!)

Christmas morning and a gimplse at the "Christmas Spider web."

Christmas afternoon/evening is usually a let-down. Every year, we have our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve and on Christmas day, after all of our morning activities, we have an annual brunch at our house with different families from around here. So afterward things are usually slow and boring. But this year, we ate chips and dip and some sandwiches and lounged around in our pj's watching Wives and Daughters. Good movie. Good time. I love my family. I love Christmastime.

I think I can safely say this was the best Christmas ever.

Santa's been good to me.

I think it's a little strange I'm typing this on my phone. I think it's strange that I can really, truly, honestly say that I have the world at my fingertips.
Strange and really, really awesome.
Helloooo, iTouch 4. Where have you been all my life?

I hope everyone's had a lovely Christmas. I know I have.

Merry Christmas! (I believe it's still acceptable to say on the 26th, right?)

Dear blank, please blank.

-Dear Taylor Swift,

     

     If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                          Sincerely, Shakespeare.

-Dear World,

                               

                                                                                            Sincerely, Ninjas.

-Dear Justin Bieber,

 

     Ariel would really love her voice back.

                                         

                                                Sincerely, King Triton.

 

 -Dear Yahoo,

   

     I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...

                                                                                                  Sincerely, Google.

-Dear girls who have been dumped,

 

     There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead. 

                                                                                      

                                                                                         Sincerely, BP.

-Dear Facebook,

 

     Just wait, one day they'll abandon you as well.

                                                          Sincerely, Myspace.

-Dear Noah,

      

     We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.

                                                                            Sincerely, Unicorns.

-Dear World,

     If you don't want us to take all of the jobs, start actually studying in school.

                                                                                                Sincerely, The Asians.

-Dear life,

 

     Please get theme music.

                              Sincerely, my life would be so much more epic.

-Dear Glass of Water,

     You are half-full of emptiness.

                               Sincerely, an Optimistic Pessimist.

Source: dearblankpleaseblank.com. But, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this website. So, I just picked out some good, wholesome, hilarious ones to share.

Christmas is coming.

Is anyone else amazed that Christmas is 4 days away?
Or that 2011 is just around the river bend? (Oh how I love Disney songs.)
This. Is. Strange.
But I'm excited about all that 2011 has in store. It should be a pretty eventful year. Which is always better than a boring year.

I've also been overwhelmed with all this first-rate and incredible music that I've recently (re)discovered. But. It's not Christmas music, so I feel ashamed to share it. So it'll have to wait 'till after Christmas!

Remember Christ and His rich mercy toward undeserving sinners - toward us! - and in this busy Christmas season, seek Him:
"'And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.'
It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Isaiah 11:10-12

And life goes by.

Hi, I'm Courtney. Remember the days when I actually wrote decent posts? Or maybe I'm just imagining this?

Life has been a little crazy over here. Tests, papers, midterms, babysitting jobs, applications, TeenPact staff prep, Bible study, etc.

But right now, I'm putting all that aside and writing. This time with thought.

I've just noticed that this blogging thing has all of the sudden become a trend with Tupelo girls. I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing, I think it's great. I just wonder what started it all? I don't know. There's something for you to ponder.

Here's another. Jamie's back home and Joseph will be here Thursday. It's been too long since we've all been together at home. This is yet another reason why I love Christmastime.

Tonight's sunset was absolutely beautiful. I actually had my camera this time. But a camera can't even really capture the vividness of the colors I saw in the sky. That pinkish color was actually a burning red. (By the way, photographers anywhere near the vicinity of a  certain pick-up soccer game will be hit. Holy guacamole! It's like they were aiming for me.)

The lights on the tree and the stockings above the fireplace make studying cozy and bit more happy. (If that's even possible. Well, I guess it is. You can always get more happy - happier - when in a state of complete misery.)

On first glance: Oh, what a cute little nativity scene.

Now look again.

I just found out our Christmas break is about two weeks. I was counting on getting a lot done over this break. Why can't we have a whole month, please?

I've also been thinking about the best movie soundtracks of all time. (You know, really using my time wisely. Taking advantage of every moment.) Here's what I've got:

1. To Kill a Mockinbird Theme

2. Gone With the Wind - Tara's Theme

3. The Fellowship of the Ring - Concerning Hobbits

4. Pride and Prejudice - The Secret Life of Daydreams

5. Sense and Sensibility - Throw the Coins

6. Master and Commander - Bach's Prelude

I hate to leave it at six. What a random number. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot. I want to hear your favorites. Name three. Or one. Or six. Whatever floats your boat, suits your fancy, creams your twinkie, toasts your bagel. . .yeah, I think you catch my drift.

Oh, that was me putting thought into a post (not only thought, but actually time, too). This is sad. Maybe I left my thoughts back with those tests. Now I'm not even making sense. Do I ever?

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.

It still hasn't quite hit me yet that school is out for 2010. I guess it's because I still have "THE test" to take.

These past few weeks have been draining. Physically and mentally. It's over now. So, yay.

It's Christmas time and I'm (basically) out of school. This is good.

You know what else is good? The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Go see it.

More good stuff: I got to play hide-and-seek twice this week with two different sets of awesome kids. You know you're growing up when you can't find [fit in] good hiding places anymore. (I also got to watch Snow White and the old Rudolph claymation! Yes!)

How cute is this?

I watched It's a Wonderful Life tonight with my family. I still have mixed feelings about it. So much of the movie is oppressively sad, but I've finally decided that even the few happy moments at the end make the whole movie worth it.
"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives."

And He shall reign forever and ever.

This video pretty much made my day. How amazing.

Also, remember Pearl Harbor. Never forget the "day that will live in infamy." (El Pensador)

So. . .my thoughts on National No-Makeup day? She said it far better than I can.

Right now, I'm searching for cheap flights to Austin, Texas (and listening to Christmas music. Mulit-tasking, you know.) Let me tell you, there's no such thing as a cheap flight. Especially when you have to add food and boarding into the mix. Bummer.

I'm also thinkin' I really should give up Facebook until this semester is over, 'cause it's getting intense. It feels like we have a busload due on Friday. So why am I still here?

Ciao.

P.S. Mrs. Becker would probably have a cow if she knew that I just began a post, much less a sentence, with the word "so." But, this is not formal writing. Thank goodness. So (ha!) let's keep this as our secret.