It's a Wonderful Life!

Today was a great day.

Growing up, my family opened presents from family and friends on Christmas Eve and those from Santa on Christmas day. This tradition has continued and "Santa" still visits our family every year. So naturally today being Christmas Eve, we opened each others presents this evening.

I made out well this year! Highlights from the day include:
1) An opaque satellite image of the Black Hills
2) An enlarged photo from 20 years ago of Sis and me sitting in Paul Bunyan's hand (keep in mind I am a geographer studying Paul Bunyan!)
and...
3) The Broncos clinching the AFC West and a first-round bye!

From here, the evening only got better.

After opening presents, it has become a tradition of my mom and me to spend some time together looking at Christmas lights. We took our annual drive along Rimrock Highway and went as far west as Johnson Siding. On the way back, we stopped by Thunderhead Falls and Hisega. It was spectacular! To add to the evening, we arrived home just in time to catch It's a Wonderful Life. I sipped hot chai and snacked through the holiday classic. The movie is one of my favorites.

God is good, for it truly is a wonderful life. Merry Christmas everyone!

Luke 2:11

Last Bell...

One of my favorite memories of Uzbekistan is that of "First Bell". At the beginning of each school year, the seniors choose one of the smallest 1st graders (I think it may actually be THE smallest) and carry them around on their shoulders. All the students gather outside the school and watch as the tiny first year rings a bell signaling the beginning of a new year.

Today, I had my last bell. NO MORE SCHOOL!!! Well, almost...

I went to class for the last time as a student today. I still have a paper to write (by Friday) and an exam to take (Tuesday)--so there is still some work to be done, but otherwise...I AM DONE!

The beginning of a new chapter. Great feeling indeed!