Cookie Monster Draws a Puppy

Lynae N.

December 20, 2009 - 9:59 AM

The term is over and the holidays are here and it's time to have some fun, to read because and only because I want to, and to bust out the drawing pencils before they become completely covered in cobwebs. It is time to sleep in, to hang out with my Mom and Dad, and to call long lost friends. Although this is sometimes difficult for me to do because it doesn't really feel like I'm doing stuff, well academic stuff, I have been able to enjoy myself very much.

The first thing I did was bake tons of cookies with my parents, my husband, and my daughter. We made cookie platters with white chocolate covered pretzels, cranberry-orange bread, holiday spice biscotti, gingersnap cookies, peppermint mocha brownies, and frosted sugar cookies. My personal favorite is the peppermint mocha brownies. They are easy too. All you do is take a regular box mix for brownies and add some peppermint flavoring and decaffeinated coffee grounds to the batter before baking. Afterwards, frost with LOTS of chocolate cream cheese frosting and sprinkle crushed candy cane and whole coffee beans on top to make them look festive.

I was also able to finish a drawing I started about 8 or so months ago for my daughter. She is obsessed with puppies and I meant to have this drawing done for her by her birthday, but finding time to draw is hard enough without having to worry about keeping the project a secret. But I was finally able to finish it and I am eager to start my next drawing. . . I think it will be a pod of dolphins because they remind me of Hawaii and that's always a warm thought on cold rainy winter days.

And reading! I picked up Prophetic Fishing, a book written by a dear friend Jean Kristle-Blasi, creator of Kingdom Craftsmen Ministries Int.. It is not a book that will feed my mind but it feeds my spirit and it is so refreshing to spend a little bit of extra attention to other parts of me besides my brain. I'm not done with the book yet but I am very much enjoying savoring each and every page.

Also, I got to spend both last weekend and yesterday with my parents. I know I'm grown and have a family of my own and I love them very much and am deeply passionate about them, but it is still comforting to be with my Mom and Dad. We all have such fun together and it is great to be able to see them so often and not have to wait two months in between visits.

All in all I am LOVING break! I hope your holidays are as merry and as bright as mine. Merry Christmas!