Monday, December 22, 2008

December 22...3 days and counting.

It's been a busy end of the year:

Last month dad, mom, A, and I packed up and headed North to Seattle for a wedding. We had a great time. The weather was sooo great, a true fall. It was slightly rainy, cold, and overcast. The trees were all shedding for winter and everyone was decked in their winter-wear. The wedding was beautiful too. But two things stood out in my mind about our short Thanksgiving weekend trip:

1. The Sekijima Family. I love each and every one of them. We had a chance to spend practically the whole weekend with them and it was great! John and Celia are fantastic people, and they are completely reflected in their kids. Even though we don't get to see each other very often, every time we do, we just pick up right where we left off. I appreciate them for their love for the Lord, their honesty in life, and their love for our family. Sunday night we had a 3 hour dinner... and it felt like 30 minutes. That is one special clan and it is a privilege to know them.

2. Seattle. Aimee and I were in season heaven! Monday we drove to downtown Seattle and it was so great! Christmas was everywhere! Every window dressing was decked out in Christmas, every lamp and street light was decorated. The Seattle's Best's were giving out real gingerbread men with their gingerbread latte's. The people were so friendly and in the Spirit of the season! We even saw the most amazing gingerbread house competition on display! I actually saw Santa too. It was so fun, so cold, and so festive. We were in heaven. I even shopped for a long period of time with Aimee and mom without complaining!

I love Seattle and I love the Sekijima's.

Since then we have been busy shopping for presents, buying Christmas trees, practicing for Christmas Sunday at the Community Center, celebrating birthday's (A's and mom's), and all in the midst of work and school. It's been a busy end of the year. I suppose it's always a busy end of the year.

In the midst of life's craziness, I attempted to be domestic tonight and try and cook dinner. I went food shopping at Mitsuwa, I prepped for two and a half hours...I read, reread, and reread the cooking directions, I cleaned...and just when I thought I was in the clear...just when I was about the put the food in the oven and pat myself on the back, I smelled something funny from the oven. Like something putrid was burning. But I hadn't yet put any of the food in there. I opened it up and realized I had forgotten to take out the griddle we store in the oven, before I had turned the oven on. There was melted plastic EVERYWHERE! I freaked out, opened all the doors and windows, turned all the fire alarms off, pulled the fans out of the garage, shut the hallway door and then called dad sobbing. He had me call the Fire Department. They said beyond the loss of the appliance in the oven, and the oven itself we should be fine. Are you hearing what I'm saying?

In an attempt to cook dinner for my family, I not only burned an appliance, but I also broke our oven.

I've tried to convince myself that it's not a big deal, don't be upset...at least you didn't burn down the house. But such rationalization is no longer working. I must not be made to cook. Bummer.

Also, I figured I would use this as a lesson to all who use the oven; Remember to always take anything out of the oven, before attempting to use it.

Merry Christmas Everyone. As Warren told us all this Christmas Sunday, may Christ reign in each one of our hearts as we celebrate his birth.