I graduated from Snohomish in 09, since then they have rebuilt the CRAP out of the high school. Gotta keep up with GP I guess.

Anyways, my friend had a dance recital at the pac the other week. LET ME TELL YOU, it was awkwarddd. It’s so not my high school anymore and the chance of running into… her… is HUGE. Not something I’d care to do any time soon.

Thankfully, no drama went down. [Unlike the last time we saw each other but that’s a totally different story.]

I’m getting off topic here. My point is that Snohomish: I’ve happily outgrown you.

Probably about the same time the school tore out the toaster.

When I was growing up, I went to a church with an amazing pastor. I spent close to ten years at this church. As I grew older, I ended up looking for a church I could better feel accepted at.

With one exception. Pastor Kevin.

In my mind he has always been “my pastor” whether I went to the church he preached at or not. It wasn’t the congregation that keeps me coming back (I feel very much like an outsider among them); it was him.

I have to admit, I haven’t been in a while. But today of all days, my parents decide to give me the letter he sent us.

It turns out he’s leaving. And going to a different church. Even though I have not been in some time, I couldn’t help but cry. He was there for me when I felt I couldn’t turn to my parents, when I couldn’t face them with the truth, when I was struggling to find my way through school years ago and again last year, and even when I was so happy I felt I could burst at times.

I am at a loss of words as to how I feel about this. I do know, he is making this decision in the interest of his family, and they do come first. But selfishly, I don’t want him to leave the area. Knowing he was there to listen was more comforting than he will probably ever know.

In my family, we celebrate Christmas December 24th. Dinner this year was not at my grandparents’ house. Instead it was at my house for the first time EVER. And leave it to my mom to prove why it should be at my grandparents’ house.

First- We don’t have enough seating in the living room with the tree and presents and food for the nine of us to reasonably fit. Include my dog and it’s something that we should have never attempted.

Second- Our new kitchen is evidently harder to work than my mom led on. Not only did the oil in the steak pan get too hot, it set off the fire alarm. While in the oven. THEN someone (not to point fingers or anything Mom) forgot to change the settings of the oven when it came time to cook the rolls. Round two of trying to shut the fire alarm off was in full swing.

Third- My dog benefited from our lack of attention for probably the first time ever. As it so happens those burnt rolls ended up outside. Where the dog was. They were placed on the ground. You see where I’m going with this? Yeah. She ate them. ALL 10 of them.

Moral of the story- Christmas dinner with my mom’s side of the family should stay at my grandparents’ house despite how funny the whole night was.

Yesterday was a good friend of mine’s dance recital. Mini Nutcracker. She was the lead flower. And also in charge of the little kids backstage.

Best part was the little kids who didn’t know what was going on. The fight scene in the mini Nutcracker was hilarious. The “mice” had no idea what was going on so they kept running around in circles. haha

So, here in Washington a trip to Leavenworth for the tree lighting is pretty much MANDATORY. I went yesterday with Kristina and Zach. Let me just say, it was one of the BEST days of my life.

Granted, it didn’t start off that way (we had the pleasure of riding the entire trip with seniors citizens much to our surprise) BUT the only thing that would have made it perfect was if it had snowed. I’m so not complaining though.

Who knew the candle shop would be the highlight of the day? <3