Don't worry, but

I had an existential breakdown today. I'm just telling you because I'm honest with my blog; we're friends. My scottie dog and my husband helped me work through it. I'll update more later. Existential crises are tiring. 

The Goods

Note: this is my strictly materialistic holiday break update. It's about the goods, the gadgets and the clothes. If this doesn't interest you, rest assured, I will update soon about the more important (i.e. family, friends, Jesus) aspects of the break. With that said, here's what I scored this year...

1. iRobot Roomba 540.

I mentioned this to my mom as more of a dream gift; not something I thought they'd actually get us. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when we opened it. Travis was excited because it's a robot. I was excited because it's a house-cleaning robot.
We tried it out a couple of days ago and it's AMAZING! It comes with little "lighthouses" that you can set up so that the Roomba stays in a certain area. Sure, it takes longer to vacuum a room than I would, but the point is that I'm not doing the cleaning. And that is awesome.






2. Good fleece jacket. I knew I was probably going to get this, so I was pretty dang specific. Somehow, I still had to exchange it. Parents mean so well, though, don't they?












3. Swiss Army watch.
Actually, this was an anniversary present from Travis, but it still counts as a holiday present. I used to have one of these in high school and lost it several years ago. I think it's such a classic, go-anywhere watch. Obviously, I love it.









4. Tiffany ring.

In the middle of opening presents, my dad went into his office and came out with two Tiffany bags. He gave one to me and one to my sister and said, "Here's just a little something." My sister and I looked at one another and said in unison: "Nothing from Tiffany is 'a little something'." We each got one of these Somerset silver rings. I love, love, LOVE it. It means so much to me that my dad still thinks of (and likes to spoil) his little girls. Also, I love that Monica has the same one. I'm a sucker for mushy, sentimental stuff like that.

5. Cute gray sweater. It's soft, from Nordstrom and fits great. Thanks, sister.

6. Fun, ridiculous book.
It's called The Daring Book for Girls and Travis' brother, Kevin got it for me. It's full of fun facts and how-to advice for girls, like how to tie knots and put up your hair with just a pencil. I immediately read most of it, but it's one of those books you can pick up and find something new everytime. Travis got the guy version, The Dangerous Book for Boys.







I think that's about it. Okay, off to play with my new toys :)

For now

I'm going to do a more thorough update soon, but for now I want to write about something from today. Let me preface by saying that I don't ever, ever, EVER take horoscopes seriously; sometimes I like to read them for kicks, though. Today, while perusing Durham's local arts/music/culture newspaper, the Pisces horoscope started with this William Blake quote: "I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's." The horoscope writer went on to say that this meant that we should have a disciplined approach to living the life we want to live, so that we avoid being controlled by the world's or another person's life plan. While the horoscope prescribed a more self-directed, you-against-the-world outlook, I think there's much for the Christian to gain from the Blake quote and the horoscope writer's train of thought. No, we shouldn't aim to create a system, but if we fail to participate, live, and enter in to life with Christ and in the body, we will surely be enslaved by another system.

Sometimes God finds my eye when I least expect it.