Holiday Review

So, I dropped off the planet for a few months. Sorry about that. For those of you who'd like to know, here's a quick recap of what you missed out on (it's not really that exciting):

November

• I did a cooking demonstration at church of Yams and Apples, a Karpowitz family tradition at Thanksgiving. I learned it works in the microwave and in the oven (recipe to follow).
• Thanksgiving dinner was great.
• The day after Thanksgiving was not. Joel got food poisoning and was sicker than I've ever seen him for 3 days.
• The day after the day after Thanksgiving was great again - my cousin Andy was commissioned as an officer in the Navy, and our grandmother, his parents, siblings and neice and nephew flew down to celebrate with him. It was a really cool day, and I was so so so proud of him. (photos to follow)

December

• The first weekend in December was our annual Nativity Display and Christmas Devotional. You may have heard me complain about it last year ... but this year it was FABULOUS! Andy and Leigh even came up from Jacksonville to see (thanks, guys)!
• Later that week we had more reductions at work. Once again, I escaped by the skin of my teeth (man that stuff has come in handy this year!), but my director of Service Quality was let go, and our director of HR resigned. I have now officially stayed longer than all of my supervisors since I was hired (7 so far).
  
• As a result of the reductions, I was asked to organize and MC the company Christmas celebration. We had 400 employees attend, a guest choir, 2 guest soloists, a donation campaign, and employee awards. It was a big day, went very well, and I'm so glad it's over!
• We attended Joel's faculty party - good food and great friends
• Andy and Leigh invited us to go to an AMAZING sushi place in Jacksonville called Sake House (promise we didn't have sake, Mom!). The sushi was the best I've had stateside, and a veritable piece of artwork on the plate (photos to follow).
• The holidays were in full swing at the Karpowitz house this year - we hosted Joel's parents, and his sister Beth with her husband Tim for Christmas. We had such a good time playing games, eating good food, shopping, and seeing Sea Island. I am so glad they were able to come - it was a great way to spend the holidays.

Look forward to pictures, recipes, New Year's resolutions! I'm back!