#1-I am feeling like this . . .

#2-I wish I was better at playing this.

#3-I feel scared when the top of the neighbors big tree falls into our yard during a wind storm.

#4-This is what I wish I was doing right now (sleeping) . . . . but I'm not, sigh.

#5-I know this seems like a contradiction after #3; but if I can't sleep, I'd like to play volleyball with my cool team.

#6-eating cake.

#7-But have a supper of homade Won Ton soup (my newest accomplishment) first, before indulging in #5

#8-What I'll have to do after I indulge in every crumb of #5--brush my teeth. But I won't mind it at all because I like the way my teeth feel after baking soda brushing--I know, I am wierd.

"Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent."

My mom is trying a free trial month of Netflix. While we aren't huge movie watchers, but so far we have really liked what we ordered. The last movie that came was Forever Strong--a true story about a rugby team--we all really liked it. In the extra features interview with the real coach, Coach Gelwix, he gives a lot of tips about being on a team that can be applied to life, too! Here are some of the ones I appreciated along with my last volleyball tournament pictures.

~

"Don't waste time comparing yourself to others There will always be a bigger, better, faster smarter person. Instead, compare yourself to who you want to be tomorrow and in the future."

"The true test of a man is what he will do when no one will know."

"Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent."

''Play with perfection, knowing that you will make mistakes along the way--but learn from your mistakes."

"Pain of hard work is temporary. Pain of regret never goes away."

"It doesn't matter where you are at the moment . . . focus on the future."

"Hang out with people who have no regrets."

''God doesn't make a no-good anything."

"Attitude and effort are everything. You will get further in life with a good attitude than you will with smarts or great athletic gifts."

The Board Walk

We walked on the board walk in Bellingham last weekend. It was a little windy, but it was still so beautiful!

Mia came with me and my parents--which was a lot of fun!

Afterwards we went to the new Woods Coffee in downtown Bellingham and bought hot chocolates to help us warm up!

Psalm 24:1‑2

"The earth is the LORD's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."



"Tis the season for . . .

hot chocolate . . . .

scarves . . .

photos with the BEST sisters ever (!!!) . . .

good movies (Flipped, the Pacific, the Bourne movies), although not as fun as time with family . . .

sugar cookies . . .

homeade bread . . .

coconut cake . . .

puzzles . . .

fun times with sisters . . .

good music (not everyone agrees that Tobymac is satisfactory) and extra time to read . . .

Curious George picture books . . .

sewing projects to complete (or start) . . .

a lopsided Christmas tree . . .

time with relatives . . .

homeade cinnamon rolls . . .

and time with friends and family.

This Christmas break was a lot of fun, but there is a time to get back into the routine. As my sisters get older I apprecitate the time I have with them and my Mom and Dad more and more.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Projects

Over Christmas break I was able to do a lot of painting, drawing, and sewing.

It was really freeing to finish a baby quilt that I have been working on FOREVER-or at least it feels like it. It is also the first quilt I have made! I was postponing sewing the binding of the quilt because I have never been that nuts about hand sewing. But it turned out to be a lot of fun!

The next project that I worked on was a Tiny Toons cartoon, pictured below. I also posted the video that I drew it from (hopefully it plays for you!).

It took me two days to draw and color it and I love how it turned out!!!

Sumi art sign for Breanna and her roommate.

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Last night I taught Breanna and her friends how to do block printing and stamping. Below, are the tools to use for carving.

First you pencil your own design onto the blocks; then you carve out along the lines.

The snowmen block I did previously, Breanna carved the branch with berries, Heather did the snowflakes, and I did the oak tree.

Then you ink the blocks with a mini brayer (far left corner) and ink.

And the finished products.

"Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers."

~Psalm 1:1-3~