Month: December 2007

Questions for the New Year

I am proud to say that I have made it through 2007, and it wasn’t quite as dark as I originally anticipated. One year ago tonight, I was in a deep depression, and terrified of what the coming year would hold. But now, I am happy – at least, most of the time, which is…

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Like Lewis and Clark

On Friday, on the way back from Taos, Mom and I were driving north on a 2-lane highway through the desert. Snow covered the ground as far as the eye could see, coating the horizon in a uniform white. But suddenly, east of the highway, something caught my eye. “Mom, turn around!” I cried. “What?…

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The entry in which Annie attempts to compare life to cross-stitching

Okay, I admit it: I cannot handle “roughing it.” Yes, the cabin is in the middle of beautiful mountains, amid snowy banks, with plenty of snow-shoeing to be done. But I woke up this morning, and the thermometer read -24. MINUS 24. So today, Mom and I made the 90-minute trek to Taos, NM, in…

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Holiday highlights

Highlight #1 The best moment of the Parsonspalooza Christmas Extravaganza happened when Becca and Sarah were both given small, identical gifts to open. They were obviously gift cards – nothing else is shaped like that – except credit cards, I guess, and business cards, and the lid of an Altoids tin, and I suppose a…

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Christmas creativity

Today, we had our family Christmas celebration. Having a pastor for a dad and a musician for a mom, Christmas Eve has never been a holiday as much as it’s been a “work” day, and this year, we’re leaving on Christmas Day to drive to Colorado for a week. So today was our only chance…

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The Year In Review – 2007

The year is winding down, and 2008 is dawning. As I am a big fan of “closure,” around this time I tend to want to recap the year. Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit down. Stay awhile. This is my version of a Christmas letter. JanuaryLet’s begin the year with heartbreak. I was living…

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Little victories

Today, my mom and I took Micah and Tyler to Union Station in downtown Kansas City to see their favorite thing: TRAINS! After looking at the huge, elaborate model train display, and walking across the Link to Crown Center to color in the Crayola Store, and then back to eat a greasy lunch in the…

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My Christmas present to earth: a new word

Friends. Enemies. Frenemies. I recently learned that “woot” is being inducted into the 2008 version of Webster’s Dictionary. Woot. “Woot” – or “w00t,” as it commonly appears – originated with role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, as a shortened version of, “Wow! Loot!” Wow. Loot. I am amazed that we live in a culture…

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The sad truth about scabby knees

I arrived back in Kansas City last night to find my nephews, Micah and Tyler, spending the night at my parent’s. SLEEPOVER! I know that I say this all the time, but there is nothing that brings me more joy than spending time with those little nuggets. Late in the evening, Tyler, who is 2…

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Overkill

Last night, I left Christina and Dan’s apartment to meet them at their downtown law firm. In addition to running a bit behind, the sidewalks were slushy from the previous day’s snow, so rather than walking, I decided to take a cab. I don’t know how, but I somehow made it to last night without…

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