Distraction from Finals...aka

THE CHRISTMAS SURVEY

I've been tagged! Here it is, thanks for the break from studying!



1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Hot Chocolate! Especially with honey, vanilla and cinnamon, it's the perfect drink to curl up with a good book and a blanket in front of the fire!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
They are always wrapped, and there's usually at least one in a trashbag with a big bow on it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I don't remember anything other than colored lights. The tree lights used to twinkle but they don't anymore.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but we do hang christmas cards.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
They're spread out over the whole month. One weekend it's the lights and the garlands, then the stockings and the nativity scenes, the wreaths and special figurines. The tree is always last.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Borscht. I used to hate it but now I look forward to it every year.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
One night I had a bad dream so I went downstairs and I sat under the christmas tree. We always leave it lit up at night and sitting underneath it with all the ornaments we had made, all the memories and the soft lights, you could feel the joy radiating from the tree. It made me feel better, and I went back to bed with a smile on my face.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
One of my friends told me, and after that I realized she was right.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No, we used to when we were little.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree
Lights, ornaments, garlands, Candy canes, icicles and the topper, which sometimes is broken.

11. Snow? Love it or Dread it?
Love love love love!

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. Also love that.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
That's a toughy. I don't really have a favorite because they all end up coming in handy. One that sticks out in my mind was when Mom gave me and Mary each a set of three books. Mary wasn't happy at all, so I got to read them instead!

14. What's the most exciting thing about the Holidays for you?
Going home and seeing my whole family! Snowboarding!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Fudge, ribbon candy, peanut butter kisses cookies, gingerbread

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
The Polish Christmas Eve Dinner, Vigilia.

17. What tops your tree?
An angel. Unless she broke again... (?) Sometimes our tree is too tall to have an actual topper.

18. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving?
Giving, I always feel good when someone takes pleasure in something that I thought they would.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
The little Christmas Tree song that my sisters sing, O Holy Night.

20. Candy canes?
Yes!

Reflections over the semester.

My apologies for not posting in awhile, Latin is proving a bit of a challenge recently and Philosophy isn't much better.

Speaking of which, I have a major test tomorrow in Latin, kind of like an exam but - well, not. Please keep me in your prayers tomorrow afternoon.

We had our last Philosophy class today, our last Lab class tomorrow and our last Theology and Math classes on Thursday. It's all winding down to a close.

I can't believe I've only been out here for a few months. I've learned so much about...alot of stuff, especially Aristotle and the ancients. It's amazing the things they've come up with without modern technology or computers. You're so taken in by their arguments that even I thought that the stomach was something different than it actually is. whew.

I feel closer to God and I'm more secure in my religion, especially how it fits into my life as a whole instead of parts of it. I feel like I've aged considerably, but I've only been here for four months. The breakthroughs come every day, and there's always a Eureka! moment somewhere. It makes learning extremely enjoyable.

I had a talk with Kaitlin last night, about what we were doing here, and we both agreed that it was the best place for us to be. We truly belong here. Furthermore, we belong here, together. We played such an important role in each other's lives two summers ago, our influence survived senior year of high school. We're still going strong. You may send our anniversary gifts via FedEx, "To Kaitlin and Katy, celebrating four months of bliss."

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers, I love you, and I can't wait to see you in two weeks.

xoxoxo