Resolve. It's a loaded word. It requires resolve, something I've never had much of. For example, I resolve to blog more, and yet I can't even post when I promise I will (see the last post). It's a bit late for a New Year's post, but I say better late than never.

The New Year is always a time for resolution. I don't make resolutions. I don't like to let myself down, so I don't focus on all those impossible resolutions that everyone tries to make. Instead, I use the new year to take a deep breath. Usually. This year, we've come off the holidays at a dead sprint that'll last at least through March, perhaps through July. I did make one accidental resolution this year though. I randomly was drinking a Dr. Pepper (oh it's so good) and started thinking about the sugar and caffeine and wondering if I shouldn't cut back. That somehow turned into a full-on cold turkey quitting of ALL sodas and sweet tea too. Let me tell you, for the seven thousand people who have said "oh, so you can fit into your wedding dress", NO. How long have you known me? Have I ever been one to care about my weight? Nope. So why would I start now? That's right, this is purely coincidental. It's a combination of issues, from the fact that there's a lot of sugar to the fact that I get caffeine headaches to just plain testing myself. I don't plan on staying off sodas forever, but I'd like to remain cut back. It's particularly annoying at restaurants when I want anything but water. All that's left is unsweet tea. They overbrew their tea at restaurants. It's downright disgusting and a bit sad when I watch the drinks around me that are all so yummy looking. I've had a lot of water and a lot of unsweet tea.

While I'm on resolutions, let's talk about a resolution I've always wanted to try. Photo-a-day. That's right. Take one photo every day and let it tell it's own story. I would gladly do this on the blog. I just don't know if i want to lug my camera around every day, waiting for the moment that tells the story of my day. Right now the photo would be of a cup of tea, a copy of Science, and my computer. Or perhaps the lamb I'm looking forward to for lunch. Or of my meetings today. My worry is that, once I started, I wouldn't be able to narrow it down to one photo a day. What would TRULY describe the day. A picture is worth a thousand words and I'm feeling particularly verbose, pretty much all the time.

Like I hinted at earlier and described further on the wedding blog, life's busy these days. I'm never happy unless I'm busy, but this is a bit crazy. But we're excited. 38 days until the big day and we're very excited!

I had my first shower this past Sunday. G-ma and G-pa and Aunt Rose came down and we had a fantastic time. I'm blown away (by all the gifts) and uncomfortable (because of all the gifts) all at the same time. People are so generous. It's overwhelming.

Dad and I went to Atlanta last week for my all-day dress fitting extravaganza. We had one in the morning and they were done by 4 in the afternoon. So we killed some time at the High Museum and at Murphy's for lunch. DELICIOUS. We had a good time together, though I'm sure there are a few who are stunned that nobody died.

I am just taking things one week at a time. Looking at the calendar, seeing what I have to do this week, and doing it. Reminder e-mails on Mondays, calls at lunch. One week at a time. Lots of check-lists. LOTS and LOTS of lists. Talk about resolve.

And now I'm going to go make the most of a few more minutes at work.

Lots and lots of love and all that goodness.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas...

It's been quite a year for me, wouldn't you say? I passed a crazy hard qualifier exam, went global jet-setter (and still remember some of my Italian, not that I learned much to begin with), got engaged and have been planning the most awesome wedding ever since then, and I made YAG. Okay, so I wouldn't say those are the things that DEFINE this year, but they have certainly been some major benchmarks. I'll come back next week (or some time later) with a New Year's retrospective post, so I'd like to focus on the chunk of the year between Thanksgiving and now.

It has been a lovely Christmas, certainly full of fun and excitement. Our church small group got together with the other small groups for young adults and had an awesome party with ugly sweaters and white-elephant gifts. There is photo evidence on facebook, if you must see what we wore, but I included some highlight photos in this post's slideshow.

I ended the semester right, if I do say so myself, with a successful batch of YAG. It would take far too long to make you understand why it is that making a jar of white powder is so substantially awesome. Just take my word for it.

Chris and I went to Charlotte 2 weekends before Christmas. We picked up my wedding band, which matches my ring, so it's all EXTRA sparkly when it's together. After that, we visited Chris' grandparents, who I hadn't met yet. We had a lovely time chatting with them that afternoon, then we hit the road and came home to Clemson.

Jeff and Julie had their baby, miss Tegan Lydia Castor, in the wee hours of December 18. Let me tell you, Amy and I have declared this to be the coolest and cutest baby on the planet. You may judge for yourself. 

Our friends Jessica and Ross got engaged over Thanksgiving, as did our friend Julie to a guy named Zach. We had a little party in our small group for Jess and Ross, because they are in our small group. I am honored to be a bridesmaid in Jess' wedding, and I am learning from my experience exactly what she does and doesn't need from me. It's definitely interesting from this side of the ring. Their wedding is April 30, so we will be quite busy this spring.

Last year, Chris and I celebrated Christmas with our families and found time to visit each others' family outside of that. This year, we stuck together and split our time. We spent Christmas eve with the Hills, having lasagna and enjoying their traditions. Mom never fell for the one present on Christmas Eve thing, so it was fun to join them in that. After we got up Christmas morning, we opened presents with his family. Chris' sister is still younger, so it's fun to see her all excited. After that, we headed to Greenville, where my family had kindly waited until AFTER sunrise to open presents with us, then we had our Christmas Chili meal. Darren, a friend of Chris' and mine, joined us for that, since he wasn't able to make it all the way north to be with his family. Just after lunch, it started snowing, so the guys left and we enjoyed watching the snow come down for the rest of the day. It mostly consisted of the three girls circled around the bay window in the kitchen, watching the snow fall while reading or typing or knitting or having tea or whatever we felt like doing.

On G-ma's birthday, which has yet to become a national holiday, we celebrated by walking up the road and inspecting the ice. Carson had a little battle with a ball of ice, which can be seen in the slideshow. Also visible is her dislike of her new dog bed. She looks at you like you've just done something terrible and tries to guilt you into letting her out. Also yesterday, the newest 'Burka' joined the clan, and I'm pretty sure that's all G-ma really wanted for her birthday. Congrats to Zach and Stacy and sister Wendy!

That's all from here! Enjoy the pictures!

A Photo Story

I am going to do something unusual, a little throwback to the way I used to write my blogs. I feel like these pictures demand commentary. Something to help my small collection of readers understand what it's like to be a part of my family. Perhaps it'll end with you feeling sorry for Chris but, don't worry, he's taking it in stride. :)

Now here's a picture of the guys I went hiking with the weekend before Thanksgiving. Chris (of course), Benji, Pepper and I went up to Table Rock State Park and did some hiking. BEAUTIFUL weather for that trip. And NO SNAKES.

 

And here's where you start feeling sorry for Chris. Not two minutes after I pull in to the driveway on Wednesday night Amy demands that we all sit down and color our turkey placemats and informs us that there will be judging. We voted and everything. Chris' Tigurkey won. See the cute little tail and hat? I told you he was taking it all in stride.

And now for a lovely picture of Carson. Quite appropriate that her tail is still in motion. Took a lot of work to get her to look at the camera. I think there may have been food over my head.

Here's a pretty typical scene. Pretty much every time I bring out the camera at the holidays.

So then we tried to take a picture of the whole family. I'll just let you enjoy the progression of activity. Notice the wet paw print on dad's sleeve toward the end. 

 

And then Mom and Amy got into a bit of a brawl in the kitchen.

While that was going on, dad was slaving away in the kitchen. Hahahahahahahahahaha.

 

And then our family went on a walk. First everyone posed. Amy's was normal. Dad's was...scary. And Chris gave us his best Zoolander.

Look at our pretty house!

 

Then, out of nowhere, mom started to serpentine and dad started to follow her. I honestly don't know.

 

 

 

 

 But she turned on him without warning.

 

"Now this here's a stick-out..."

This has been a production of the Burka Family Holiday Corp. Tune in next time when we'll discuss surviving family weddings. ;)