It has been WAY too long since I have updated. Although we have been in Fargo for 6 months now, I still feel the busyness of settling in. I am now working part time at Bethany (instead of On Call) and it has been quite the adjustment trying to bring my "clinical" brain back from my Vanderbilt days four years ago. I have also been really enjoying the Y and working quite a bit of hours there. This month, thankfully, I am getting my work hours a little more "set" and am enjoying developing a little bit of a routine.
My family has been wanting an update of the Fargo winter...So i thought i would do a little post on my new memories of winter and holidays thus far, and then past memories of my grandma who passed away one year ago today.
Honestly, Fargo winter has been very mild so far. My coworker reminded me however that "winter" doesn't officially begin until the 21st or somewhere close to that. The Lord has grace on us and we had the second warmest November in Fargo history. Not much snow and no coat needed (for the most part). We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at the Fishers house filled with crab legs, meatballs, turkey, bacon wrapped shrimp, corn casserole, hashbrown casserole, broccoli casserole, and sweet potato casserole. And cant forget the homemade blueberry and pecan pies thanks to a new friend Sam here in Fargo and my families cookies and cream recipe. We played a game, got google eyed over Jules, and just had a great time relaxing and enjoying time together. I definitely missed not being with my immediate family, as well as extended, but I am thankful for the telephone and being able to share conversations that way!
This week the cold has arrived, and so far we are holding up quite well! (yes i understand we have many more months of cold, but one step at a time). It all the sudden went from the 40s to the teens/single digits in a week. Snow is on the ground and winter is in the air! Me and Jeremy have had a great time this week making new memories and traditions. Going out last night and picking out our first Christmas tree together was one of them (we didnt decorate at all last year with the quick passing of grandma and then Christmas with the fam). When it is 8 degrees and the Boys Scouts tree farm is outside, it makes picking out a Christmas tree quite easy. The first one we saw looked REAL nice! We actually went with the Fishers and it was a nice little outing together. Today, Jeremy and I enjoyed the day home together, putting on the lights, wrapping the tree with ribbon and putting on the ornaments while having the curtains pulled back and snow just a falling outside. We had to decorate the tree today because the branches were frozen yesterday :) But it is all thawed. I have a quick picture of the tree and the view from outdoors. Sadly, we put all the lights and went to take a pictures and the bottom set of brand new lights just died...but a picture none the less. We will work on replacing those this week!
(a look out the window)
(our first Christmas Tree!)
As we decorated...I couldnt help but remember Christmas traditions with grandma. I really cant believe it has been a year since she passed away. Me and my sisters, aunts, mom, and cousins would sit down on Thanksgiving and circle what we wanted in the sale ads. Then come Christmas, we would drive to Ocala after our own Christmas and there they would be. Piles upon Piles of presents for everyone, many of those presents circled from the ads(and definitely some that were not :). Man, I love her so much! Funny looking back how I can be so thankful for some of the most random gifts she gave as well, clothes that were always a few sizes too big and house items I didnt quite know what to do with. All a sacrifice and with love! I was reading my sisters blog full of memories and thought I would do some as well. I know one day I will look back at this and be able to smile of the things we did together.
Memories of "Granny"
1. Socks and more socks! If I liked them one year, I liked them for every year to come :)
2. Our trip to the precious moments house.
3. Her grabbing my wrist, not my hand, but my wrist when we were crossing the road
4. KOA camp ground and lathering on the sunscreen
5. "Be pretty girls....."
6. Her willingness to travel anywhere to be there for big events... and staying for about 24 hours :) (Most recently my wedding in Nashville)
7. Trip to MO--apple butter makin days and to see some big bear in a store in Branson MO
8. Watching her sit down on the floor and play with her grandchildren. Board games, little action figures, it didnt really matter--whatever we wanted to play
9. My nickname "Pammie Poo"
10. Going bowling
11. Birthdays--- she NEVER missed one
12. Going through the McDonalds drive thru.
13. Her and grandpa holding hands
14. Family dinners--- butter noodles for Aunt Annie, the classic rolls that Carla and I loved and just enough for everyone
15. Pinata and "the numbers"
16. Garage Sales
17. Packages at the Holidays (Easter, Halloween) with socks included..of course :)
18. Fudge and peanut butter kisses cookies at Christmas time
19. Utter selflessness
20. Love and Sacrifice
I loved my Granny and am thankful for the hope I can have of being reunited with her again. Praying especially for Gpa as he journeys life without her. I am sure he still hears "Gene..." as she always had something for grandpa to do!
