year in review*

*As recorded by my blog.

March:

Started blogging.

Ran/Walked my first 5K.

April:

Decided to transfer colleges in the fall.

Adopted Gus-Gus

May:

Began my vlogging adventure.

Finished my first year in college. Yay!

June:

Redecorated my room at home.

Worked at Vacation Bible School with super cute first graders!

July:

Went to St.George Island with the family.

Turned 19. (see above)

August:

Made my bucket list.

Gus-gus died on my first day at the new college.

Learned how to work that photoshop.

Watched Desi play football for the first time.

September:

First Auburn game of the season.

Went to the lake with friends.

October:

Desi played some more football.

Saw Fee with madre.

Dressed up as Hannah Montana for Halloween.

November:

Listened to Desi make up his own version of "Joy to the World".

Got sick on Thanksgiving for year two.

Iron Bowl. (see above)

December:

Learned how to make knot blankets.

Made a cute webshow with Max.

Decorated for Christmas!

An Adam Family Christmas: Part 2

Christmas Eve Eve, we went to go look at Christmas lights in our pajamas.

We found a game machine at one of the houses, but it was broke and stole our quarters. :(

We even found SANTA at one of the houses!

This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. We make so many fun memories and have so much fun as a family. :)

Merry Christmas!

An Adam Family Christmas: Part 1

Since it's the week before Christmas, I decided it was time for the festivities to start. I know I tweeted about my Christmas tree a few weeks ago (okay...the day after Thanksgiving), but I haven't posted a picture of the finished product. The last picture was sans tree skirt and star. And also, since then, I've put a wreath on the door. But, before we get too far...let me explain to people who aren't familiar with the blog (anyone from over at The Inspired Room blog hop!) Long story short (you can read a longer version on the sidebar), I'm a Sophomore in college living at home with my parents. Hence the reason most of the decorations I'm about to show are in my bedroom with a four foot tree. And hence the reason it's "Christmas with the Adam Family".

This is my tree. Daddy and I got is last year on sale after Christmas for the apartment that I'm supposed to be living in this year. That was back before I decided to transfer back home. So, since we already had it and all and I like Christmas because it's like...my favorite holiday ever...I put it in my room. I wanted to put it up early, but decided it was best to wait until the day after Thanksgiving. Or the day after, the day after Thanksgiving. I put brightly colored ornaments on the tree in pink, purple, green, and blue. I was just going to do those and tie a big pink bow on top, but then, I found a bright pink star that was glittery. And I have a weakness for bright pink, glittery things. I think we got it at Target....it was 99 cents....and PERFECT.

The snowman is an ornament I got at the Dirty Santa ornament exchange from the women's group at church. I'm claiming it to be the first ever ornament I have all to myself. I mean, I have other ornaments that are "mine"...but they're on the family Christmas tree downstairs. And while that's cool and all...it's cooler when I have real ornament on my tree. Even if it makes my tree lean a little. And also, it's super cool because it lights up and glows different colors. Also, I forgot to mention, the wreath on the "Christmas with the Adam Family Banner" at the top is on my door. I made it last year in Auburn for my dorm room. Its a basic wreath from Walmart with one of those red bows that they sell tied on to it. It was under $5 to make,and for a college student..

Now, we're going to go downstairs. This is the part that Mom decorated, so I don't have that much to say. Every year, we hang all the Christmas Cards we get on the stairs. We usually hang the stockings on the mantle by the fireplace, but we don't have one anymore (it was taken out when we removed the chimney during home renovations...I think I might have pictures up from all of that..maybe?) So, Mom hung the stockings up on the stairs this year. All of our stockings were made by my Great Grandma Bea. I think it makes them that more special to know that they were homemade by someone that loves us and not just some store. :)

Last thing. We always have a tree downstairs. Our family has always been one of those one-tree families. Each kid doesn't get their own tree in their room. That's just how its always been. A couple times, the tree has been in the dining room, and last year it was in the hallway, but I like it best in the living room. It makes things a lot easier on Christmas morning! The second picture is of Desmond and one of the crafts that he made a school before Christmas. I think it was a really cute idea. They shaped a coat hanger and then pulled pantyhose over it and decorated it with construction paper. Super cute.

Well, that's Part 1! Come back in a few days to see what else we've been up to this Christmas season! (I really need to get off this computer now...need to finish working on my Sunday School lesson and bake some brownies for a Christmas party tonight! Fun, fun!)

Merry Christmas,

"Totally Epic"

Saturday night, Max and I were home alone.

In addition to eating pizza and making a blanket, we made a "webshow".

Yes.

You should be scared.

Warning: I'm not the only random one in the family.

how to.

how to make a knot blanket (since i know you ALL were wondering).

wow. this is lame. i think the only person that reads this thing is my mom. and she's the one who told me how to make these things. so, if you're here....let me know! :)

first, you have to get your supplies. i made baby blankets, so i used 1 yard of fleece for each side of the blanket (2 yards total). you also need scissors and a ruler that is at least 4 inches long.

lay out your material, one kind on top of the other. see?

next. in each of the corners, cut out 4 inch squares.

then, cut 1 inch wide and 4 inches long strips along the sides.

finally. tie each of the strips into knots.

it should look like this when it's all finished. :)

how to.

how to make a knot blanket (since i know you ALL were wondering).

wow. this is lame. i think the only person that reads this thing is my mom. and she's the one who told me how to make these things. so, if you're here....let me know! :)

first, you have to get your supplies. i made baby blankets, so i used 1 yard of fleece for each side of the blanket (2 yards total). you also need scissors and a ruler that is at least 4 inches long.

lay out your material, one kind on top of the other. see?

next. in each of the corners, cut out 4 inch squares.

then, cut 1 inch wide and 4 inches long strips along the sides.

finally. tie each of the strips into knots.

it should look like this when it's all finished. :)

guess what?

Can you tell what I did today?

Well...other than procrastinating studying for finals?

If you guessed making a knot blanket (well...that's what I call them...) than you're right! Mom and I have a baby shower to go to and I'm making two of them (twins). So, I have one more to make before Sunday...and I might get super creative and take pictures of the process for the next on to post. Depends how much procrastinating I decide to do. (shh...don't tell Mom!)

ten things.

10. I hate end of semester with a passion. Work, work, work...and then finals. And frankly, I'm pretty unmotivated at the moment to study.

9. "It sounds like bacon" -Max, referring to a tire on Mom's van going flat.

8. I miss Auburn terribly. And my social life. That's pretty nonexistant right now.

7. Tomorrow is Dead Day, which means NO classes. Yay.

6. In the next week, I have four finals. Two of which are at 8 am. Yikes.

5. I need to do laundry.

4. I made super cute recipe cards yesterday for a potluck at church. See?

3. I have no idea what I'm doing with my life right now and what the future looks like. Except that a school and kids may be involved. And probably teaching. But honestly...I have no clue. Except for the fact I'm not going to medschool. I don't like germs.

2. My Christmas tree needs a tree topper/bow. Preferably before Christmas. And preferably something pink.

1. I just realized my recipe card matches my blog layout. Score. :)

thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving this year wasn't super exciting.

I was sick for the second year in a row and didn't really eat anything for thanksgiving.

But, the night before Thanksgiving, I started making these really cute cupcakes from FamilyFun. I think they turned out really cute. But, I don't think I'll be making them again anytime soon. Because the feathers were a pain to cut out of the fruit roll ups. I cut like over 50 of them out. And my hands turned blue from all the dyes. And I still get sick at the thought of Fruit Roll ups after looking at them all. And because, since I came down with the mysterious virus later that night nobody would eat those things I slaved over for hours. But, I think they were still cute.

The day after Thanksgiving, Mom and I got up for all the fun Black Friday sales. We went to three WalMarts (I know, we're crazy!), Michael's, BestBuy, Academy, you get the idea. I was pretty tired at the end of all that, but we met Daddy and Max for a quick lunch in town before heading home to watch the Iron Bowl! (also knows as the Auburn-Alabama game for anyone that's not from around here). It's a pretty intense rivalry and a lot of my friends are Alabama fans. Okay, pretty much all of them that don't go to Auburn are. So, it's a pretty big deal. And after last year's game where we lost 36-0, I knew that I just wanted us to do something. Well. We did do something. We were winning for all but 2 minutes of the game. Even though we lost, I still think the Tigers played their best. After all, we're an unranked team playing the number 2 team in the nation. I think a 21-26 loss isn't that bad!As you can see, Max and I got all decked out in our Auburn gear. I had on my t-shirt, and since Max couldn't find his jersey, he decided to paint himself up with markers. Training him up early, I am!

Then today, we put up the Christmas tree! I love Christmas, it's like my favorite holiday! So, we put on some Christmas music and put on the ornaments together (well, the kids did) and Mom put on the ting-ting and we had fun! I just can't wait until we go drive around and look at the Christmas lights in our pajamas. That's one of my favorite parts!

Now, the end of Thanksgiving Break is near. I'm kind of sad. I liked not having to drive into town and go to class every day! But, good news is the end of term is near. A week from Tuesday is the last day of class (December 8th). The bad news is that time span I have some last minute tests and quizzes and term papers due. And then...finals. But then, it'll be Christmas Break and I'll be out for a month! And I really like my schedule next term. So, happy days are to come! I'm off to work on that aforementioned term paper and listen to Christmas Music! :)

giving thanks.

I'm thankful....

that I have parents that love me and take care of me when I'm sick.

that I live in a country where I can worship my God without fear of persecution.

that I have clean drinking water.

that I have a house to keep me warm and dry in the rain and cold.

that I don't have to worry if there will be dinner tonight.

that I have the opportunity to go to college and get an education

What can I say? I'm blessed. :)

lydia's miracle.

One of the many blogs that I stalk is The 30 Day Journey for Hope. It tells the story of a family of seven, two are adopted and two have Down's Syndrome. I think the reason why I like this blog wo much is the joy that radiates from each post. Even through a heart surgery for their daughter Hope, they looked for the positive.

Last week, the family was reading Crazy Love by Frances Chan. The mom encouraged the children (that were school-aged and able to read!) to find ways to live out their faith and be "crazy about Jesus"! Eight days ago, Lydia, the eleven year old, came up to her mom and asked her if she raised $20,000 before Thanksgiving if they could adopt Darya, a child with Down's Syndrome from an orphanage through the organization Reece's Rainbow. Of course, the mother said she would probably not be able to do that. After all, $20,000 is a lot of money.But, she responded that, yes, if she by some chance could raise the money by Thanksgiving, they would know that God was in it and would travel to adopt Darya.

I have to admit. I was skeptical. As of Monday, she only had $7,000. She raised this money by doing bake sales, going door to door, and some from posting on her Mom's blog. Yesterday morning, they had $13,000. Lydia posted updates that exemplified childlike faith. She didn't wonder if God was going to work it all out how she wanted, she just trusted and believed wholeheartedly. Kids sent in money...one little girl gave her $20 she was saving to buy a digital camera.

This morning, I checked the blog to see if Lydia had met her goal.

She didn't just meet it.

She surpassed it.

As of now, they raised $26,550. The excess is going to help another family that is adopting from Reece's Rainbow. And...donations are still pouring in.

I think that this shows that when God shows up, anything can happen.

When I read this morning, I felt chillbumps. For real. I mean, what if we all lived with complete trust in God and that he would provide, given we're going where he leads?

http://the30dayjourneyforhope.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving.html

joy to the world?

oh yes.

Desmond strikes again. (remember the marriage video?)

This time, he gives his own special rendition of "Joy to the World".

[note: I know it's a Christmas song and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But, I think it's cute.]