New Email...

Hey everyone!

 I just wanted to let you all know I got a new email

address! 

sophiamarie4498@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from you! 

;)

UPDATE!!!

Hey guys! So I thought I would let y'all know what's going on! ...

This last week or so has been very full of goodbyes
{or as we call them now- "see ya later"s} to all of our closest friends and family.
It's been really hard but in a way, it's been relieving because
 of all the build-up of anticipation for this adventure!

We've packed up our whole house and repainted it to tons
of dull colors we're not used to since someone
is going to be renting it. Today after church, we had to go
back home and say goodbye to our dogs which was probably
one of the hardest parts of this whole thing.
I know their new family will love them, but honestly,
probably not as much as our family did...

Tonight, we are at a hotel out by the Mall of America.
A few of our closest friends came and swam
with us and had dinner.... It was super fun(:

Tomorrow, we're planning on going
to the mall and our family is coming to the hotel tomorrow night.
Then on Tuesday morning, we leave
the comforts of good 'ol Minnesota!
Our flight is at 9 a.m. so we need to leave
 the hotel at about 6:50 a.m... Not too bad I guess! ;)

First, we're going to be in Georgia for about a day and a half.
The mission agency who is sending us has their
headquarters there so they are going to have a
"send-off" thing...
Then on Thursday, we are leaving the U.S.!
Our first flight is
from Georgia to Amsterdam {8 hours} then
Amsterdam to Nairobi, Kenya {another 8 hours!}
We're going to be spending about 3 weeks in Kenya for some training
and stuff like that...
After those 3 weeks in Kenya, we'll leave for Namibia!
I think we're going to be in the capital of Namibia- Windhoek for a couple days.
THEN FINALLY... Our final destination- Otjiwrango Namibia!

And that's that! Sounds busy and hectic, huh? It is!
I'm filled with so many emotions right now it's crazy!

Off to a good night of sleep in a fluffy hotel bed! ...

Something I've been keeping to myself...

Ok, I'm just gonna go right into it. Some of you may 

know this already. Some may not.

There's something I've chosen to keep to myself... 

My family and I are moving to Namibia, Africa to be 

missionaries for two years and we're leaving on January 31st. 

I'm {obviously} not out-of-my-mind-excited for this and 

didn't really feel like sharing that area of my life. 

Since I started blogging, we already knew we 

were leaving, and my blog turned into a new group of friends that 

didn't know that part about me. I honestly enjoyed talking

with other people and not having Africa coming up in 

every single conversation.

Now I'm beginning to feel guilty I've never shared this with most of you. 

Sometimes I feel sad, mad, worried, or anxious at the 

idea of leaving and was never able to blog about it!

NOW I CAN! 

I can't wait to share with everyone all of the pictures I'm going to be taking 

there and all of the cool things I'm going to experience...

Since the 31st is drawing so close, I probably

 won't be blogging very much...

At least not into the regular flow of things until 

about mid February to March. 

Here's the rundown:

On the 31st we are leaving Minnesota and 

going to Peach Tree, Georgia. 

We'll be staying at the mission agency {A.I.M.} 

headquarters for a couple days...

Then from there we are going to Kenya for some training with 

other missionaries before everyone goes their own ways. 

We'll be there for about 3 weeks.

Then after the 3 weeks in Kenya, we'll be headed to 

the capital of Namibia, Windhoek for a few days.

Then FINALLY to our home in Otjiwrongo, Namibia.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them! 

tot siens bokkie {Goodbye in Afrikaans, the Namibian language}

This is the stuff...

...That makes me happy!

"You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than you dreams."

~Dr. Seuss

“There’s no path for happiness… Happiness is the path.”

"If it can be dreamt, it can be done!"

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"

-Audrey Hepburn

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”

-Walt Disney

"When dreams take flight, follow them."

"If you live to be 100, I hope to live 100 years minus 1 day so that I never have to live without you."

-Winnie The Pooh

Photo Contest! {winners}

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know- YOU DID GREAT!!!!!!! All of the pictures were absolutely beautiful(: 

1ST PLACE WINNER!!!!

{By Book Blogger}

3RD PLACE WINNER!!!!

{By Paige}

{By Book Blogger}

2ND PLACE WINNER!!!!

{By Sierra}

{By Sierra}

{By JesusChick}

{By Paige}

Congratulations you guys! Book Blogger- please email me your mailing info so I can get you your free coffee ASAP! ha ha ha(;  I might even add a little "something" extra too! (;

Here are the blog buttons! (:

{1st Place}

<center><a href="http://lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb434/swandog25/photocontest1stplace.jpg"/></a></center>

{2nd Place}
<center><a href="http://lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb434/swandog25/2ndplace.jpg"/></a></center>

{If you guys don't get around to grabbing those right away, }

I'll have them on my sidebar for awhile...

Alrighty! I think that's all! YAY! I'm super happy this worked out so well! Thanks-a-million, girls!!!(:

Molasses Cookies

The first Christmas cookies of the year... YESSSSSS! (; ha ha ha I made them last night for a Christmas party and they were gone pretty quickly. They were super crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle... YUMMY! Enjoy(:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted margarine, 1 cup sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger; blend into the molasses mixture. Cover, and chill dough for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining white sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until tops are cracked. Cool on wire racks.

Announcements!

Ok, so the first thing I am super excited to tell you guys! Instead of just doing a plain 'ol blog button as the prize for my photo contest {there still will be, so don't worry!}, I'm also going to give the first place winner a...

$5 Caribou Coffee gift card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OHHHHHH yes!... now there's coffee involved so keep the entries comin'! (;
I'm really impressed with how many I've gotten so far! You guys are AWESOME!!!!
And I'm SOOOOOO excited to announce the winner and give them free coffee! lol(;

Second thing {I'm excited for this one too!} ... Nela at "Beloved Star" is having a Foodography contest! 

If you guys are wanting to enter here are the rules! She's giving away some beautiful prizes so be sure to check it out...



I am VERY MUCH ENTERING!!!!!! 

Picture numero uno... 

{White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins}

And numero dos...

{Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting}

YAY! I just wanted to thank all my wonderful readers for all your

encouraging comments and taking time out of your day to read! ... I have come so far with this blog in a semi-short time all because of you guys! I love you all(= 

And to prove it, I'm thinking about having my first giveaway... (;

OOH also! I'm getting ready to post a new recipe this afternoon so get your bakin' bowls ready!!!