…except for the sound of the rice cooker, Dad's online conference thing over in the family room, and my poor laptop grunting because it doesn’t want to hold all the important (and unimportant) stuff that I’ve put on it. We sent Evange back to California on Sunday, and Mom dropped Zac off at Bio class earlier before going out with a friend (I believe the two ladies are “taking a walk” in the mall). I’ve been going back and forth all break trying to figure out if I really like “quietness” or not (not that it really matters if I do or don't), and I’ve concluded that…there’s a time for everything. *grin*
Last semester ended rather quickly—or so it seems, now that it’s behind us—and I’d say it was the hardest thus far, but I thank God that His mercies are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness. And…break has been wonderful. 
More than ever, I’ve enjoyed just spending time with family and treasuring each moment. We had relatives over for Christmas (12 people including our family) and New Year (down to 8), and at times it was definitely noisy, but in good ways. Mostly. (I didn’t particularly enjoy hearing Alan Jackson’s Christmas CD about 23476 times because Mom didn’t like my choice of Christmas music…or being dubbed the tester of a “primitive security alarm system,” as Zac once called it, and hearing a tin full of coins crash to the ground every time I tried opening Zac’s room door. How’d he save up so many coins anyway?) I was constantly in awe as I looked around me and saw people I love…laughing, eating amazing food, playing, just enjoying each other’s company… Truly, I am blessed.
Of course, a big part of “enjoying family” includes Evange. *big smile* Last time she was home, it was August and she had a grand total of 5 days (and she was sick after being on the missions trip in Kenya), and with both of our schedules during the semester, we didn’t get to talk half as much as I would’ve liked. So I’d say we did a decent job of catching up over the past few weeks. Whether it was the late-night-talking, spontaneous jamming, granolaing in front of the fireplace (a must for the Lee sisters), introducing each other to “new music,” movie-watching, praying together…it was just what I needed and I treasured every moment. I loved—and sometimes didn’t love—how she could still read my mind perfectly, even after going to school/working on the other side of the country for “all this time.” hehe.
Anyway, I won’t keep going now, but I’m hoping to write more often. Like practicing piano, I’ve been recently reminded that I do love it. *grin* It helps me remember…and I realize how blessed I am. Blessed, and very grateful.
