Christmastime would just not be as enjoyable without the companionship of three very special women. Life would not be as enjoyable without them; college would definitely not be as enjoyable (or survivable) without them. You've already met them in previous posts, the most recent being about our Christmas tree hunt.

I'm feeling rather sentimental tonight, perhaps because of the hour, perhaps because the stress of finals has worn us all out, or perhaps because it is the time of year when we all leave our lives for a few weeks and return to the place that had once been home. Whatever the reason, the fact remains: I love these women and will miss them, beginning tomorrow when Meredith leaves.

"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice." - Samuel Johnson

We began our evening with dinner at our apartment.

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." Thomas Aquinas

"My true friend is the one who brings out the best in me." - Henry Ford

"Friendship without self interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life." - James Francis Byrnes

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him (her) I may think aloud." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." - C.S. Lewis

"Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant." - Socrates

After dinner we opened presents and then went to Konditerei for desert, hit Coffee-In-Motion on the way home and then watched a movie.

In the midst of papers and projects, studying and tests, classes and jobs, there's nothing better than an evening of uninterrupted time spent with true friends.

"It is one of the blessing of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christmastime is here! Heather and I lost no time getting our tree set up. We spent yesterday making our apartment ready for the holiday season.

Our decorated tree

Nativity scene from Rothenburg, Germany

It all began with a trip to a Christmas tree farm. Friends of mine have farm in/around Sublimity. They are selling their trees for $12. They were open yesterday, and will be open today from 1-4 and then next weekend as well (if any of you Oregon readers are still looking for a tree).

Megan and Meredith came along too. Meredith has never cut down her own tree before, so it was quite the entertaining adventure for all of us.

Heather and I found a tree almost immediately.

Once we had our tree Christena gave us some hot apple cider and we chatted for awhile. It was such a fun trip and will be an annual tradition, I'm sure.

The night didn't end there. Heather made mexican lasagna and we watched two Christmas movies over dinner and decorating.

Apple Pie

I stood in the Winco produce section staring at the aisle of apples. Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard someone say that you had to have just the right apples for a pie. I have no idea what kind of apple is a pie apple! I looked around the nearly empty store. I need to find a woman who looks like she has baked a few apple pies in her life. No. Nope. Aha! "Excuse me ma'am, can you tell me which apples would be best for a pie?"

She marched down the aisle. "Let's see. I think Jonagold would be the best out of this selection."

"Thank you!"

I began packing apples into a bag. "You want them to be on the tart side," she said as she walked away.

I panicked. Really? Is she sure? Pie is sweet. Shouldn't the apples be sweet? I went ahead and took her word for it anyways.

We don't have an apple peeler that cores and slices at the same time as peeling.

The apples weren't quite tender enough. But it still tasted delicious (if I do say so myself).

Heather's friend made the apron. Heather and I both have one. Aren't they cute?

OSYR Week #1 - Officially

I'd like to introduce you to my first two students. Caleb has been the pick for both of them. Both girls are very eager to learn how to continue their equestrian education (they've had a little bit of experience before). They are both very helpful too. Katharine asked if she could clean the stalls before we went to catch Caleb, and Alissa wants to wash the outside of the barn this coming week.

Due to un-foreseeable circumstances my third student was not able to make it this week. Please pray for him, that he will be able to come next week.

Our garage sale went well. We made over a hundred dollars. Thank you to those of you who donated stuff for us to sell.

OSYR

The first student of OSYR (Oak Springs Youth Ranch) came today!

Garage Sale for Oak Springs Youth Ranch

For those of you who have not viewed www.oakspringsyouthcamp.com in the last 24 hours, we are having a garage sale at 1460 Wallace Rd. on Saturday. Hours are approximately 9-4. We are raising money to become a non-profit organization. For those of you who are local you should stop by. I would love to see you. And maybe you'll find something that you just can't live without.

A Mattress with a Bed Frame Attached

I have a bed. I have, in all honesty, had a bed for a few weeks now. I just haven't put it together until this morning. But I didn't mind because I had a very comfortable mattress to sleep on. The bed frame - in my mind - is just to look nice and is not necessary for a delightful night's sleep.

(Does it look like a crib in this picture to anyone else?)

The bed was a gift from Grandma Bonnie. I never thought I'd say this about furniture, but it was a wonderful gift! I love it! Thank you, Grandma Bonnie.

Some of you may recognize it as the bed that used to stand in Grandma's office as an extra place for grandchildren to spend the night, or great-grandchildren to nap.
Until a few weeks ago I have been sleeping on a mattress on the floor courtesy of Black Lake Bible Camp. They had inherited from somewhere where it was necessary to indicate which end was for the feet. It is also too long for my extra-long sheets. It was with much frustration that I would lay down exhausted at night, only to hear a phwip! as the sheet popped off one corner, and then the same phwip! from another corner when I had secured the first unruly corner. I did learn how to be, for the most part, more clever than the mattress, but every once in awhile another phwip! would come along, just to annoy me.
Don't get me wrong, I was, and am, very grateful for the mattress. It was much better than sleeping on the floor. But I still prefer the bed with a mattress that is just the right size for the sheets.