Sunday night I got a text from my friend Stephanie. It started with "2011 will be a year of healthy eating, Holy living and money saving for us..." What a goal for 2011! I think ours should be the same. It sounds like a simple statement, but it has challenged me to really think about changes for us in 2011.
To accomplish the healthy eating and money saving, she and Tim have proposed that we have many more nights cooking and eating at home together and then playing games (as opposed to our usual catch-up time at a near-by restaurant). I like eating out, but I'm not opposed to fellowship nights at home. I actually like the relaxed atmosphere that comes with that. In fact, growing up, most nights when we went out to eat with friends, dinner was followed by us all going to one family's house for the remainder of the evening. In the craziness of our busy lives, I miss not having as many of those low-key nights. As a bonus, most of you know that I LOVE games, so I was pumped to hear that part of the plan. This was an added treat since Stephanie is not a big game person - one of my resolutions should be to change that by the end of the year...I think this is my chance!
To start out the new year according to plan, we went to their house tonight. We had yummy lasagna for dinner and then played some dominoes. Even though Stephanie hasn't necessarily come around on all games, she has recently starting enjoying
42. Somehow, I missed the boat on the
42 craze at A&M, and I didn't learn to play until close to graduation, which could have been very bad.
(***See side story below.) I haven't had a lot of practice, but I'm getting better and enjoying it more each time we play.
Tim and Stephanie went to Muenster earlier today, and we had lots of yummy cheeses for an appetizer.
Finishing preparations for dinner
Dinner was delicious!
Even though I didn't get a great picture, we had a lot fun hanging out and PLAYING GAMES!
Oscar and Izzie wanted to join in the fun.
Even though it probably didn't play into the healthy eating, the cookies we made were delicious!
All in all, it was a great night! We had wonderful food and enjoyed the fellowship while working towards accomplishing goals set for 2011. Tim and Stephanie, thank you for a fun evening! Maybe next time we'll host, and I will choose the game. I have to show you how fun games can be. :o)
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***Side story - In 2000, I went on AFCO (Aggies for Christ in the Orient), an 8-week trip to SE Asia with a group from Aggies for Christ (AFC). I went over late because I stayed home for my brother's high school graduation before meeting up with the group in the Philippines. When I got there the big 42 tournament was already underway, so I was exempt. I tried to watch and learn, but I just didn't get it. It's a good thing I wasn't in the tournament, or I probably would have been the one stuck eating balut (a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a very small and disgusting bird in it). - I'll hopefully find and add a picture soon.
I did learn to play a while after this trip, but I wasn't very good and didn't have much practice. Then in 2003, shortly after my graduation from A&M, I actually narrowly missed being the biggest loser in the 42 tournament on my South America trip with AFC. Like the tournament on the previous trip, we had it set up bracket style, but rather than winning to move on, the losers moved to the next round. The ultimate losers (those who lost ALL their games) had to eat one of the local delicacies, lovingly chosen by one of the missionaries and bought from the local market. Thankfully, my partner and I won our very last game!
I had to study/practice every chance I could get.
Getting ready to start the last game.
The last game was pretty intense.
We had some great coaches helping us out! (Almost 8 years later, I could still use that reminder sometimes.)
Thank goodness this wasn't me!
I don't think I'll be playing for these kind of stakes again any time soon, but at least I'm getting my practice in!
