Happy 2009!

We had a pretty low key New Year's Eve, which was just fine with us after all the traveling we have done lately! Last night we hung out with 4 other friends playing Trivial Pursuit and then this morning we got up early and did what every sane Pasadena resident did. We left town to see the Parade. This place is chaos during the parade, traffic is awful, and we didn't feel like standing on the street corner for hours staking out spots. So we had a parade watching party with my girls' small group out at Christina and Steve's apartment in Simi Valley (about 45 minutes from here). We all brought breakfast food and had fun hanging out, eating, drinking mimosas, and watching the festivities.

Jenn and Megan toasting the new year with mimosasBecca and I--Becca sporting her hometown colors--go trojans!Clemson happened to be in the Gator bowl which was on out here this morning, so we switched back and forth to it for Chuck. Here's the team pep talk.Jenn and Becca saying GO TROJANS!Christina and Steve, our newly-wed hosts :)Ryan and AlethiaThe guys went to watching full-time football. So one by one the girls migrated into the bedroom to "nap"--or catch up after 3 weeks away! I can't even tell you how much I love this small group! We just missed Tera!

School starts Monday--between now and then I have a LOT of grading to do and we are going to get our invitations assembled and ready to mail. I'm not sure how I feel about starting yet another quarter of classes, but it is my last quarter in school so I am hoping it will fly by. We do have other stuff coming up that I am looking forward to though. Monday we resume our pre-marital counseling which we are both looking forward to, it's been really helpful for us and I know we would both recommend it! Wednesday night we start what was my Christmas gift from Chuck--6 weeks of ballroom dancing lessons! I didn't even ask for it or bring it up, he came up with this on his own, but starting Wed. we are going to learn basic ballroom dance steps for the next 6 weeks--hopefully we won't look ridiculous at our wedding!

This quarter I have 2 classes and will be the teaching assistant for 2. My last two classes of my seminary career are one preaching practicum and a class that will trace the theme of race and identity throughout the new testament. I'm looking forward to both, although I'm not super excited about more homework! I'll be TA-ing for Chap Clark's Youth Outreach and Evangelism class and for Dr. Schmidts' homiletics (beginning preaching) class. Happy new year everyone!