Poker night

Tonight was poker night! I learned how to play this summer and played off and on with friends until school started in August. I didn't find the time to do it during the fall semester, so it became one of my goals for Christmas break to have a Poker Night. It was a lot of fun. Megan and her husband Dave came, as did Love. Kyle from church came and brought along his friend - Lindsay who used to live in my residence hall back when I first started at GC. It was a nice mix of people and a pretty relaxed game. I was the second one to lose all my chips, but that was ok with me. I realize that I'm still not very good at the game, so I don't expect to win. We, as always, did not play for money - just bragging rights. Love walked away with the bragging rights this time! People brought yummy snacks and were here for about 5 hours. Overall it was a success! I'm looking forward to when school is out and I can host these games more often.

p.s. I love you

Today I cried and cried and cried...over a movie! The Rissers, Cara (home from Texas), and I went to see the new movie "p.s. I love you" starring Hilary Swank. It was such a good movie. It made me laugh and made me cry. It dealt with a woman's grief over the death of her husband. It had flashbacks of their relationship and promises of hope for her future. She didn't deal with her grief in entirely healthy ways (or moral ways at times - this was made by Hollywood afterall), but I don't think any of us deal with grief in accordance with the "5 stages of grief", instead we sort it out as we go along with the help of those around us.

Much of the movie rang true to me and offered something I could relate to. Of course I haven't dealt with the loss of a spouse, but I do face the uncertainly and scariness of a future alone. I think it hit me in a poignant way with this being the Christmas season with its focus on families and "that special someone" in your life. I appreciated how the movie didn't end all neatly wrapped up in a predictable "chick flick" ending, but instead left the viewer with a sense of hope for the future amidst the uncertainty of the present.

It is my prayer that during this holiday season and into the new year that I am able to carry that same sense of hope for my own life - that while not entirely sure what is next or if I'll have another person by my side, I am able to continue to hold on to the hope that whatever it looks like I will be ok - more than ok in fact...I will be great!

Snow!

I LOVE snow! The world looks lovely with a nice thick blanket of powdery snow covering it. I was delighted this weekend when we received a generous amount of the pretty white stuff while the family was down at Camp Mack. Here are a few photos of it...

The Wampler Lodge sign covered in snow.

Our cars during the night.

The bushes covered in snow.

Camp Mack

This past weekend was my family's annual Christmas get together down at Camp Mack in Milford, IN. Here are a few photos from the weekend...

Gary and Daisy

Mom with Gavin & Lily

Kathy & Chris...newly engaged!

Santa...aka my brother Mike

Today is a day of great accomplishment!

About 2 years ago I found myself in a heap of financial trouble. I was at the point of despair and didn't know where to look for help and was pretty certain there was no way to ever get out of the pit I was in. Two very loving people stepped up to the plate and talked straight to me...laying out the consequences for continuing along the path I was on and offering a life preserver for me to grab if I chose. I chose and it's made all the difference! They helped me secure a loan that would consolidate all my credit card/car debt and have helped keep me on the right path. Today I paid off that loan. I have never been prouder of myself than I am today! It has not been an easy journey and I know I still have a ways to go until I am "debt-free" but this first hurdle has been crossed and the others don't look nearly as tough!