Crazy Corrie's Chronicles

     I write this somewhat in haste. With less than 15 hours to go before my plane departs Green Bay, I'm in a bit of a flurry trying to get everything done that I've either put off  till the last minute (i.e. posting to my blog) or as an over-achieving goal-maker I've not satisfactorily completed as of yet. (i.e. posting to my blog). But my laundry is clean, my bags are (mostly) packed, my paper work is printed, and my tablet has been sufficiently stocked with library books for the journey. All systems would appear go! This is the moment I've been waiting for since I last came home from Washington back in October. I've been diligently studying since then - ever adding to my already bursting brain; I've been pouring over books and diving into documentaries in anticipation of again sharing my gleaned knowledge with hundreds of "enthusiastic" (which here means selfie-crazed, often oblivious, but O so lovable) 8th graders! So why am I so nervous? It's...

     The title is a bit misleading - because as it turns out, I took shamefully few pictures during this most wonderful and event-filled part of the year! But between my mother's purposeful shots, and my sisters' candids I think I'll have enough to go on! For the rest of this holiday recap, however, you may simply have to use your imagination.      Let's begin where I left off a month ago. The Friday before Christmas was the only day our whole family was gathered at home: my brother had arrived early that morning, and I was scheduled to leave early the next day for Chicago. So as tradition would have it, that was the day we opened our presents! Yes, I know it's terribly unfair for the rest of you who have to wait until Christmas day for all of your sugar plum dreams to come true, but this is the way we've always done because we've always been with extended family in Illinois on the actual 25th; and I can't help the way that makes you feel. I will not bo...

     I haven't really anything to say exactly. No profound thoughts have come to me. I haven't picked up my pen to record an epic tale or hilarious story! But with a full schedule ahead of me, I thought now might be a good time to catch up before all the crazy of family, friends, and traveling begins. For those of you who for whatever reason seem compelled to read these posts regularly and stay informed of my life, you may appreciate the little things that have accumulated to make such a splendid Christmas Season thus far. For lack of a better system, I shall simply narrate the pictures from my camera & phone that have captured my life these past few weeks.      First things first - we got our Christmas tree! I don't care what Febreeze or Yankee claims: there is no substitute for a fresh cut pine in one's house at Christmas time! Traditionally, we get our tree the Friday after Thanksgiving. But as weather and travels would have it, we had to wait ti...

     Another Thanksgiving. Another trite attempt at encapsulating everything one is thankful for into one Facebook status. Another feeble go at trying not to forget someone or something for fear of judgement. Another impossible make-up day for being ungrateful the rest of the year! Another fake smile, another glib catch phrase, another excuse to make tasty food that OF COURSE you're thankful for! Really? Is this what we've come to celebrate? What are we celebrating? the traditions? The food? The Parade? The football? The Family? Or are we really *supposed to be celebrating the Lord, life, and liberty? I'm pretty sure that's what the Pilgrims were celebrating after all...      Don't get me wrong: Thanksgiving is probably my favourite holiday! For all of the above reasons - food, football, family, and let's not forget the best part: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!! But really?! Oughtn't this day be called Hypocriting day? Or Oximoroning Day? After we...

     Well, I've done it again. I've not written a word in months! I have no excuses, no defense really - just lazy! Well, that, and... no, just lazy! I could have written about 4th of July parades, and summer travels, camp, or the county fair. I might have mentioned our growing kids club programs or the many other things that have kept me busy these four months. However, I haven't. And that's an end of it.      But let me relate some events that I always find interesting to write about: 8th grade trips to Washington, DC! I had three tours this fall - in a row - with 2 days off stuck in there and a wonderful 5 day getaway to visit friends in South Carolina afterwards.      I didn't realize how much I missed DC until I was there. As we were landing at Dulles International Airport my first day back, a special needs boy in the back of the plane could be heard narrating our descent. "THAT has got to be the Potomac!" I heard him exclaim as we dip...

     I know what you're thinking: 5 months of silence, now we can't get her to shut up! Okay, I promise this will be the last post for a while! I just have so many crazy stories to tell!! :)       Part 1 , of this miracle series, you'll remember, entailed a great deal of logistical impossibilities which were all wondrously accomplished by the hand of my Gracious Heavenly Father. Well, this story is perhaps even more unbelievable! First of all ...well, let me start at the beginning!      At the end of a wonderful tour in DC with many adventures of its own, I flew to Philadelphia to spend the weekend with dear old friends and make a few more along the way. I enjoyed myself immensely! (Alas, this post isn't about the weekend, or I'd tell you more.) But Monday rolled around and  it was back to the grind. I had to fly out in the AM, but I had a few errands on the way: I had to print off my itinerary at the school where my friend's mum works...

     I know it's not Thursday, but I'm going to "throw back" nonetheless. I'm not certain why I never recorded this story back in November: perhaps because I retold it orally so often that I'd convinced myself that I'd chronicled it as well. Whatever the case, this is one of my favorite little moments from last season's escapades. "a pleasant stroll along the Tidal Basin"      I was walking along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, with my favorite group from Michigan. It was a pleasant stroll in the cool of an autumn evening, and as we meandered towards the memorial of my favorite historical figure, I couldn't help but gush a bit when asked by my "duckling" girls (the gaggle who followed me everywhere) about what was so special about Thomas Jefferson. Young TJ? They giggled and chided and in typical 8th grade fashion, asked if I'd marry him if he were alive. I paused to consider the man - who though incredibly fasc...