Forgotten Videos

I posted a while back about my trip to see our good friends, the Clarke family. I put up pictures in that particular post, but neglected to add the videos that summed up the fun that we had that weekend. So anyhow, here they are! They're kinda random :P

This first one is of Jordan doing who-knows-what.

This one makes me laugh. Catherine is such a character! The ending 

is really funny; she starts singing "Crazier" by Taylor Swift, 

and then stops abruptly to make faces :D

I like this one for some reason...when our heads are together

it looks like a jigsaw puzzle :P

This one's a bit longer, but Natalie is SO funny! 

And the end makes me smile; Catherine is such a cutie!

'Tis The Season...

I love the season of Christmas. Not the crazy rush in the grocery store or Target leading up to Christmas, or the commercialization of the holiday that makes us think we need the newest gadgets. What I love about the season is what I'm experiencing right now. I'm sitting in front of a cozy, crackling fire watching the blizzard that's going on outside. On the mantle hangs six stockings, and the newly decorated Christmas tree sits in the corner, adorned with memories of childhood Christmas crafts past (Ian's strategy for decorating the tree; "I put the breakable things on the bottom so that when we knock them off, they don't have so far to fall!). The flickering candles makes up for our lack of a real Christmas tree by giving off a wonderful pine smell. The speakers are piping out one of my favorite Christmas CDs.  There's just something about the togetherness of the holiday that is special. The traditions of families and friends coming together to celebrate the holiday.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is our Ladies' Christmas Tea at church. The event is looked forward to by all, from the little girls all the way to the grandmas of the church.

Lizzie!!!

Yummy finger food :)

Joy Shupe and Grace

I took Lizzie's picture...

...and then she took mine :)

Some of the young girls :)

This pretty much sums up my relationship with Hope and Joy...
whenever I give them a hug or they give me one, tickling ensues <3

Hehe...not really sure what this was about :P

the girls at my table; Lizzie, me, Lizzie, and Jessie

ELISE!!!

She's such a cutie!!!

And in other news, when we got home from church today I set up my tripod and we took our Christmas picture. We usually take it on the hearth in our family room, but I wanted to expand my family's- Christmas-picture-taking-horizons, so I moved it outside :D It was chilly (ok, FREEZING!) so I set up the camera, took 2 continuous sets of 10 pictures each, and then we all high-tailed it back inside to a warm fire. For as quick as it was, I'm pretty happy with the turnout.

And since this rather non-specific post, the last Christmas related item of the evening is a really neat project that we're doing with our church this year. This evening after the service, we gathered around the tables in the kitchen and packed up 500 Christmas kits to distribute to the neighborhoods around the church. The kits contained a tract with the Christmas story, an invitation to our church's Christmas Eve service, and a New Testament. We're distributing them next Saturday and it's neat to think that there could be 500 homes that have Bibles in them that may not have had them before. The Gospel transforms lives, and our prayer is that these Bibles will be a blessing in these homes, and will bring people to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

Blessing #14- Best Friends

        Last Monday, Rachel came in town and we had a girl party at Angela and Peter's (we kicked Peter out :P). I didn't realize how much I needed that time with my friends. School this semester is crazy (it's gonna get better though, especially after next semester- I just have to keep telling myself that!) and I honestly don't think I realized just how little time I was spending with my friends until I got to see them again.
      Anyways, Chloe, Ruby, Rachel, Angela and I had a wonderful time! The only thing that could have made our evening better is if Ashlee *sniffs* would have been there. We made cookies, ate too many, fel t sick, didn't feel like having dinner, ran to the library for a movie, got back and realized that we were all hungry, ordered pizza, went back out to pick up the pizza, and then crashed on the couch (yes, all 5 of us on one couch :D) to watch a movie. What.A.Blast.

Angela and Joyce, the little girl she nannies.

Angela looks emo in the background :P

This is what was happening in the back of my car. I'm glad
they got pictures cause I wasn't paying attention to them.

They loved my stethoscope...

Angela "O my gosh, it actually works!!!!

<3 I'd been missing her <3

 ***All photos taken by Rachel Clarke or someone's random arm stretched out in front of our faces for self-portraits :D

The Longest Post Ever.

              This past weekend was the best! I put all thoughts of homework and exams behind me and headed for Saint Clairsville to spend the weekend with the Clarke family. We had a blast! From watching Julian Smith videos, to using my computer's camera to capture some of the most hysterical videos ever (no seriously, my stomach hurt SO badly from laughing), it was a memorable weekend!

On Saturday morning we went to the mall.

Best 75 cents I've ever spent :P

Another of the ride, taken by Rachel :)

I <3 mirrors

Um, yeah... we were in really strange moods. Oh, and just in case
there's any doubt in your minds, I don't like Justin Bieber. AT.ALL.

oooooooh, lip gloss!

They lip gloss smelled really good ;)

Hello, this is Shoe-zy, how may I help you?

"this is the shoe I want to wear for my weddin'"

 And then to Starbucks :D :D :D

I love Izzes (or is it Izzie's???)

Saturday evening we went to the Clarke's friends' house to play games.

Beautiful sunset over the fields. Unfortunately, it had to be while we
were in the car, so the picture isn't the best...

Heading into WV for the evening.

Yup, that's right, I went to BETHLEHEM :P

Apples to Apples :)

Alex was building a mint-tower.

Sunday was amazing :) Of the group of girls in and around Saint Clairsville that are good friends with a lot of my other friends, the only one that I hadn't met yet was McKenna. So, the plan was to surprise McKenna on Sunday after church by showing up at her house. Well, what I didn't know was that when you email someone enough who also has gmail, they automatically get added to your chat list. McKenna and I have emailed a few times...And of course, since I was so excited for my weekend away, I announced it as my status on gchat. Anyways...long story short, she knew that I was in town, and got a bit suspicious. Sooo, it wasn't quite the surprise we'd planned, but definitely fun just the same!

*shakes head* that's Rachel :P

                            

I think they all like my computer better than me :P

AH! It's McKenna!

Quit being so darn cute, would ya?

and you too, Jordan!

                        

                        

Miss you guys and can't wait till next time!!!!

Oh, and last but not least, while I was there, I started writing down the funny sayings that went on in the Clarke household. I'm sure there were plenty that I missed, but here are the ones that I've got; 

You can be my McRib. - Rach

Can you help me kiss myself? -Rachel on using the "mirror" setting on my computer's camera.

Me: "Catherine, your  eyes are SO big!"

Catherine: "Your nose is so big."

"Why don't you just hurry up and knife him?" -Catherine on the scene in LOTR Return of the King where Gollum attacks Frodo and then convinces Frodo not to hurt him.

Me: "Rachel, can I help you?"

Mr. Clarke: "The kind of help that she needs you can't give her."

"See, I told you she was crazy." Mr. Clarke regarding Rachel.

"I play music, you don't." -Rachel

"I'm the best friend I know." -Rach

"We're having rabbits ears and camel rears." -Rachel in response to what was for breakfast

"Daddy, are you fat now?" -Catherine after Mr. Clarke finished dinner.

"Ashley, you need to eat without utensils so that we can see how you McMichaels' eat at home." -Mr. Clarke

"Wow, I feel like I'm meeting Oprah or something." -McKenna on our meeting for the first time