Tag: holidays

Refiner’s Fire

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, my friends!! It’s a beautifully cold morning in Houston, what! I think it’s approximately forty degrees, which is…surprising. But hey, I’m not complaining. I feel like I’m back in Scotland, as I’m pretty much wearing exactly what I would be wearing in Aberdeen – scarf, coat, boots and all!. So I could almost feel like I walked down George St. to Books and Beans today and sat at my normal table. Alas, that is not true. I drove down Westheimer and am now at my (semi)normal table at Beans! Still enjoying my mocha. Some things never change. God is good. Always.

And because it’s almost Christmas and I feel like it – listening to the Messiah right now. Simply lovely. I don’t think I’m going to see it in person this year – there’s a surprising lack of people who want to see it, and I’m not quite desperate enough to go alone! Maybe next year. I can still enjoy it on my iTunes…yeah.

Anyways, you all may have to get used to more sporadic updates from now on, as I’ve still not got Internet in my flat yet. I may soon, but holding off as long as I can. So – coffeeshop updates for now! Today’s going to be a fun day – a very much Saturday kind of day. Once I meander home from here(which may be a while), I’m going to go to the store(i.e., Super-Target!) and get cookie-making ingredients and cleaning supplies. Then home-time to make Christmas cookies! Of course, I’ve already had a few of Mom’s when I was home over Thanksgiving. That whetted my appetite enough that I simply must make my own now. And Abby, Claire and Charlotte are throwing a Christmas party tonight, so I want to take my cookies there(speaking of, I need to find a tacky Christmas sweater for aforesaid party. Hm. Let’s hope Target can provide). Anyways, besides making cookies this afternoon, I’ll probably just be continuing to go through some of my boxes that I haven’t opened yet(all clothes I’ve not worn in three years..) and I also need to do some cleaning and some laundry. Typical. To make it all more fun, I figure I’ll throw on Star Wars to play in background.

And this is a very chatty post – my apologies if I’ve bored you to death!!

I think I’m going to enjoy the coffeeshop here a bit more(not time to go out in cold yet). I might even write a bit more later, we shall see. Peace and love, my friends!

Star Dream

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello there!

I’m currently writing from Beans coffeeshop in Houston. Yes, back in Houston! I had a ridiculously early flight this morning(6:30AM flight, which means I was awake at 3:30…fun times…). For some reason, I decided to still go to church. Which was good, but I must confess I felt quite sleepy while there. I’m still sleepy now, but since I don’t have internet in the flat yet, figured I should come here so I could get some work done online. So I’ve had my lunch and now just need to get some shopping done(no food in apartment!) before I can go home and take a nap. A nap sounds simply delightful right now. Stef invited me and others to go see a movie this afternoon(Thor!) but I’m going to pass, as much as I’d like hanging out with people. I think falling asleep in the cinema is probably not the best plan.

Anyways, I did want to write a little bit here of Thanksgiving fun times. Not long though! I got in to Tampa on Wednesday night, and after enjoying a delicious chicken caesar salad dinner(plus cinnamon rolls!) with the fam, went to bed. Thursday – Thanksgiving day! And I still maintain Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays. So much less pageantry surrounding it, compared to the other holidays. Just a time to be together with family and relax together and enjoy the many many blessings we have been given by our Lord. And so Thursday we enjoyed more cinnamon rolls and crunchy bacon and delicious coffee and then in the afternoon, we all went over to Steve and Vickie’s and had the most awesome afternoon with standard Thanksgiving fare. Oh lovely.

And you can tell I’m tired in that I’m really finding it difficult to find the words to describe these last few days! Anyways, on Friday and Saturday, the best parts of the time was just being with Dad and Mom and Maryanne and Laura…talking and laughing and loving and being together. You know. Friday night, had some sweet game night action(with Megan G – we got to play our homemade Star Wars game(which is pretty sweet if I say so myself) and Taboo! I was victorious all night long). Saturday, got to make a yummy lasagna for the fam(with Laura’s help!) and then last night we got to be together just a little more.

And now I’m back in Houston. And while I fear this entry has been all over the place – lack of sleep will do that! – I will let this stand. Now, time to log off and go shopping. Burritos tonight, I think. And then, prepare for the week ahead. Go forth and conquer, my friends.

James HoganLeave a comment

I am ever so thankful!

I’m back in Tampa right now and have had an absolutely lovely couple of days with the family, relaxing and enjoying being with the parents and sisters…such good times!!! I’ve had to do a little work on the side(oh, finance lectures!), but mostly I’ve just been resting here at home!! And today was ever so fun, waking up late(hey, 9am is pretty late for me now..) and then going over to Steve and Vickie’s for our Thanksgiving dinner!! We all miss Katharyn a lot(but at least we got to talk to her on the phone for a while!), but being with the parents and Steve and Vickie and Maryanne and Laura…joyous times indeed! From eating(turkey, potatoes, stuffing, olives, asparagus, cranberries, cherry pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie….mmm) to talking about important matters while enjoying yummy coffee with dessert to playing games(Maryanne and Laura’s and mine homemade Star Wars game…YES) to singing the Hallelujah chorus in their driveway…God is so good to us!! And after we came home, did we go to bed? Nah, me and mom and Laura and Maryanne sang the Hallelujah chorus some more while Esther stood around and stared at us in amazement. Yeah, you had to be there.

I am ever so blessed!!

And then as I think about all that God has done for me the past four years and all that He provides me with now…my family AND all the amazing friends He’s given me…what would I do without Him?? So I am so thankful to Him and also to all of you that stick beside me no matter what and encourage me constantly…y’all are awesome. And that is truth.

And now as I need to go and get some good sleep(well, I may read a little of my Wheel of Time book first…hehehe)…I say farewell. Goodbye and goodnight!!