We're done with classes! This day seemed so far away. It seems like since we've been down here (three years in November) at least one of us has been busy with some sort of education. I'm not sure what we'll do with all this free time!


We've been caught up in the Christmas hubbub this month. And we're looking forward to another whirlwind Oregon visit. If only we (and our friends and family) didn't need to sleep, it would be so much easier to see everyone. We'll be making the usual Eugene-Portland-Corvallis-Eugene loop again, fueled by a lot of coffee.


Particularly exciting will be seeing the newly-engaged couple: my sister and Dennis! I can't wait to get all giddy about it with her in person! 

I shared my favorite Christmas cd of the year in an earlier post, but wanted to share the lyrics to the Christmas hymn that has touched my heart most this year. It's simple, but sweet. More about the big picture than just the manger scene. Maybe it will encourage you too in this Advent season.


Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
By Charles Wesley


Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.


Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

A flu bug has made its way through our home. On Wednesday night I had a tickle in my throat. On Thursday morning I woke up with a fever, a pounding headache, and a constant cough. I stayed home and slept and watched Christmas movies. I could barely drag myself around. Friday wasn't much better. Saturday I continued in my laying around and sleeping (but managed to watch the Civil War, Go Ducks!) and Sunday was finally feeling well enough to go out in public.


I like to think of my kitchen as my laboratory. On Wednesday I got a happy little package from Mountain Rose Herbs which included dried elderberries. I have read a lot about elderberry syrup lately for fighting colds and flu and decided I wanted to try making my own. I made my first bottle mere hours before the tickle in my throat started. I think it was too late for me, though it was soothing to take throughout being sick. But Jonathan was a good sport and started taking spoonfuls of the syrup each day. It actually tastes pretty decent and I didn't even use as much honey as the recipe calls for.


Well, the inevitable happened. It's pretty impossible for two people living in a one bedroom apartment to not share germs. Jonathan got the tickle in his throat on Sunday night. Monday morning he had a low fever, headache, and was coughing. He worked from home and took some naps. I'm proud to report that he is feeling better and back to work this morning! That's only 24 hours of being sick compared to my 60+ hours! 


Now, some may question my science. But I think that the elderberry syrup Jonathan took for the four days before he got sick and throughout being sick definitely played a role in his quick recovery. Try it for yourself! It's not expensive to make, definitely less than cough medicine from the store.

I just discovered a Christmas cd so good, I had to share. It's called Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson. The tenth Anniversary cd came out last year, so apparently it isn't new. But it's new to me and maybe it is new to you! It's full of mellow tunes and beautiful harmonies and it tells the amazing story of Christ from Genesis through his birth and beyond. Very worshipful.

We were inspired by my Dad recently completing P90X and decided to start it again today. It also helps that an indoor workout is more tolerable than an outdoor workout with the colder temperatures. We'll be going at a bit slower of a pace than the program because we are busy still, but we figure every bit helps fight Desk Body Syndrome.


We had a nice holiday weekend. Thursday's Thunderwolves Thanksgiving Potluck was a lot of fun and there was a very abundant amount of food. We are so blessed. On Friday we saw Harry Potter with the Shulls and then had them over to watch the Duck game. We made sandwiches with Charissa's delicious leftover turkey, Stacey's tasty cranberry sauce, and some bacon that Jonathan picked out. Saturday Jonathan met up with some old Varsity House guys who were in town for the OSU vs. Stanford game. Today was church and youth group. Our church put together an Advent devotional this year and I am really excited about going through it. We started tonight with Hope. 


Any other gaps were filled with homework, walking the dog, and running errands. Hugs to everyone, we're thankful for you!

We have been bundled up for our nightly walks the past couple days. It's no Pacific NW snow, but it's been very chilly. We've been having tea each night too. Did you know that there are a lot of benefits to consuming ginger? I have been adding a sliver of fresh ginger to our mugs to steep with the tea and it's quite tasty and warming.

The end of our classes is in sight! And I've had a bit more time lately to read for fun, crochet a hat for a friend's baby, and make up a granola recipe. If you enjoy oranges and spices like cloves and cinnamon, you better find a way onto my Nice List this year, because I'm planning to make a giant batch to hand out :). It made the apartment smell so good! We've been enjoying it sprinkled on vanilla ice cream. 

It would be so nice to be with family for Thanksgiving this year, but we are looking forward to a potluck with our home group tomorrow. Yum!

Here's a quote from Pastor Richard Baxter that Randy Alcorn shared on his blog today:

“Resolve to spend most of your time in thanksgiving and praising God. If you cannot do it with the joy that you should, yet do it as you can.… Doing it as you can is the way to be able to do it better. Thanksgiving stirreth up thankfulness in the heart.”