Christmas Time is Here!

So it snowed in Beaumont! Last Thursday I woke up to 4 inches of snow outside, with no time to play in it! Apparently this only happens once every 20 years or so haha, so I did manage to grab this quick pic with my phone (all the other ones turned out way blurry!):

With the snow, it finally felt like Christmas time! It's really snuck up on me this year, especially with the warm Texas weather, and the long work hours - which of course means I am quite behind on Christmas shopping! I did manage to finally put together an array of mint-chocolate treats for our gift exchange game tomorrow at work, and I've got the family covered (almost...) but I've got nothing yet for Rob - eek! I'm sure I can come up with something this week though.

I'm flying home on Saturday night, and I am super excited! Although work has been stressful, I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel. Can't wait to see the fam and spend 6 days in NC!!!

Good Reads

So I really enjoy learning about other cultures and places, so for the past year or so, I've been searching out books that will teach me something about somewhere new. Luckily, these sorts of books seem to be popular with the rest of the world recently too - so it isn't too hard to find a good piece of fiction that will teach you something new!

I just finished reading "Three Cups of Tea" - a book along those same lines, but instead of a novel, a nonfiction account of the work of Greg Mortensen and the Central Asia Institute in building schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was a great book with a different perspective on two countries that we are generally influenced to fear/despise in America - I would highly recommend reading it! (Other awesome books: The Poisonwood Bible, The Power of One, A Thousand Splendid Suns... annnnd lots more)

Thanksgiving in Sugarland!

For Thanksgiving I was unable to go home to NC, but I had a great time at the hospitality of the Morgan family in Sugarland (outside of Houston). Erik Morgan is a co-op at ExxonMobil and a good friend of Rob's, so we, along with our friends James and Braden, spent Thanksgiving with the Morgans. A few pics:

James and Braden working hard on the Christmas decowhile Rob and I attempt to make lemonade
with tons of lemon we found beside the house

Lunch for James's birthday
Decorating the tree
Finished product!

We had such a nice time with the Morgan's and I'm grateful that they took me in over Thanksgiving! Luckily its not so long before I'll get to spend the holidays with my family in NC!!