Books

This past year, Dan and I decided to recommend books to each other. This worked out really well, as we both like a lot of the same type of books and it also pushed us out of our comfort zones as I made him read Christian fiction and he had me read some history books. Though some of the books I wouldn't have chosen for myself, I can say I enjoyed reading them and it was always fun finding out what my next book would be. :) Here is a list of the books we read...and recommend:


 BOOKS KARA READ

Lost Hero, Rick Riordan
SoulShift, Drury & DeNeff
Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God, McCastle
Son of Nepture, Rick Riordan
Mark of Athena, Rick Riordan
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Daniel, Rev. Chrysler
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Anne Rice
Founding Brothers, Joseph Ellis
King of the North, Rev. Chrysler
Unspoken, Francine Rivers
Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
Wicked
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, Chuck Klosterman
Last Lecture
Bossypants, Tina Fey
Jesus for President, Shane Claiborne
Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz
Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X
Mary Poppins


BOOKS READ BY DAN

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Anne Rice
Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, Anne RiceIrresistible Revolution, Shane ClaiborneMoneyball, Michael LewisRahab, Francine RiversRedeeming Love, Francine RiversHalf the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunnRuth, Francine RiversTerrify No More, Gary Haugen1812: The War That Forged a Nation, Walter R. BornemanPoisonwood Bible, Barbara KingsolverBathsheba, Francine RiversJesus for President, Shane ClaiborneThe Last Lecture, Randy PauschToxic Charity, Robert D. LuptonThe New TestamentBossypants, Tina FeyWillie Mays, James S. HirschLife Together, Dietrich BonhoefferMemoirs of a Geisha, Arthur GoldenNot For Sale, David BatstoneThree Cups of Tea, Greg MortensonMark of the Lion, Francine RiversThe Help, Kathryn StockettThe Giver, Lois LowryProfiles in Courage, by John F. Kennedy

Winter Weather

Here are some pictures of all the snow we got:

Dan shoveling to help keep it from piling up

After all of our snow we had temperatures in the negative's on Monday. In the afternoon Dan's dad came over with his snow plow to help clear us a path for our cars.

Notice the strong wind

 I went out to our garage to get in more vegetable oil and found our frozen....I have never seen that happen before.

The New Year

Dan and I brought in the New Year by spending time with a few friends. We met a friend for dinner and drove through Marion`'s walkway of lights to kick off the evening followed by hanging out with Jason and Angie, chatting and playing cards till we hit 2014. Here are a few pictures from the walkway of lights:

along the river

Santa

Dunking the ball (it moved)

As we entered the park

a Mill

a car

 We had a great time with our friends and spent the first day of the year relaxing and enjoying the day off. We did venture out later and saw the lights in town...it was cold but beautiful.

Happy New Year!!

Wallinga Christmas

On the Saturday after Christmas we had a day full of family Christmas. We started off in the morning with my dad's family, getting together for breakfast. We had fun chatting with my cousin's son who is a junior in college. And we got to see and find out how my cousin who had a stroke earlier this year has been doing. I took my camera with me and then completely forgot to take pictures.

For dinner we got together with my mom's family, who we also go camping with a couple times a year. We had a nice spread of food and had fun chatting and playing cards for a while. We also started counting down till we go camping in May :)

Pete, Michael, Jodi, Tami, and Hope

Amanda, Bob, and Uncle Ron

Tami, Hope, Brenda, Nicole, Megan, Courtney, and Kevin

My mom, Beth, Aunt Carol, Emily, and Dan

Christmas with family

On Christmas we opened presents with my parents and enjoyed a huge breakfast. We spent the afternoon going to a movie (Saving Mr. Banks) and then spent the rest of the night hanging out at my parent's house.

New shirt and PJ pants

Dan's cereal for Christmas

 On the 26th my sister and her family came to spend time together and open gifts...

My parents

Damaris and Titus opening gifts

Quick picture :)

Dan helping Titus with his new robots

Stephen playing with his puzzle

Michelle with the blanket I made for her

Damaris in her new dress

Sharing :)

Coloring her new doll

 In the afternoon we headed to the ice skating rink by my parent's house and spent time skating. Dan and I had never gone together before and it was the kids first time. They had plastic frames for the kids to use to help them as they got the feel for skating.

Out on the ice

Stephen and Michelle

Dan helping Damaris

Waiting for the Zamboni

 We had a lot of fun ice skating and spent the rest of the afternoon working on a punch out wooden ship we got for Titus. We had a great day and were sad they couldn't stay longer.