The Kohlmans

Nope, not the holiday season or basketball season. 'Tis the season for shenanigans. But really, who needs Christmas lights in your trees when you have toilet paper, put there by thoughtful teenage girls?! We got the worst of it down, but I'm hoping our neighbors don't mind a little tp in the 'hood. I'm totally cool with being tp'd and having the lawn silly stringed. They could definitely be up to much worse. I'm not totally cool with the ding-dong-ditch ending to these shenanigans at 12:30 am. (Yes, that's half past midnight.) Oh well.

Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror in the morning and think, Wow. I did a good job of putting myself together today! and then want to take a picture of yourself to commemorate the occasion (but don't because you hate how you look in pictures)? No? Really?! Are you sure? Maybe it's just me... (Today, I gave in to the urge to photograph.) (It only took 10 tries to get a decent self-portrait. I'm going to blame the poor lighting in my yellow bathroom.)

A few random things to keep you occupied... I have a student who sometimes raises his hand to tell me that I'm: nice, a good teacher, or fun. It's usually right at a moment when I don't feel like I'm any of these things. Things people want to buy on craigslist = dog house, ottomans, a recliner, a DVD/VCR player. Things people apparently do not want to buy on craigslist = Arrested Development seasons 1-3, The Office seasons 1-5, never used crystal beverage glasses. I am at the point in the semester where I have to bribe myself to do classwork. Last week it was... "finish the paper, and you get to put up Christmas decorations." This week it will be "finish the other paper, and you get to go shopping for craft supplies and Christmas gifts." After this semester I will be halfway done with my master's, semester-wise. But, I will have 21 of my 36 hours finished. All because of my practicums that have to be done during the school year. It's ...

I (sort of) fixed up my book wreath. Remember, the center wasn't exactly a circle?! I took a bowl (thanks to Katy's great suggestion)... And ended up with this... Still not perfect, but definitely better. I made another wreath today. All it takes is a wire hanger and ornaments.   If I make another, I'll probably use smaller ornaments and make sure the hanger is dark, not a weird beige color. Other than that, I love it! Now I just need a place to hang it...

Happy Thanksgiving! The sun is shining, and my grass is greener than it was all summer. Today, I'm thankful for so many things... so many of them cliches.  And here are just a few... Brad my family my in-laws a job I (mostly) love and amazing coworkers (and a good evaluation from my principal, that I've been so worried about!) my health and the health of my family home my crazy dog sunshine our church family friends that friends have had healthy babies in the past couple of weeks that I have family members who will appreciate my handmade Christmas goodies I know there's so much more, but here's the quick list. What are you thankful for today?! Have a great Thanksgiving!

I'm about to embark on my first annual (maybe) pre-Thanksgiving baking extravaganza. I'm making butterhorn rolls, pecan pie, double-crust apple pie, and pumpkin pie for the first time . For the in-laws, no less. (I've made dutch apple pie a lot, just never the double crust version. And now that I've committed that to writing, I can't chicken out.) But first.... Need an easy to make supper? Maybe for post-shopping nourishment on Black Friday? Or Small Business Saturday? Or, quite possibly, Cyber Monday? Last night I made my new favorite meal... at least, my new favorite meal to make. It's quite possible the easiest thing I've ever cooked thrown in the crock pot. Here it is: 1 package round steak (or minute steak or any other stew meat) 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can french onion soup 1/2 an onion, sliced Throw into crock pot on low all day. Serve with rice. Or noodles. Or alone. That's it. The onion wasn't in the original recipe; I ...

Sometimes life is heavy. Like right now. It's almost Thanksgiving, and there is so much to be thankful for. Yet there is a lot of hurt happening as well. In the past week, we have had friends announce diagnoses of their own and their family members. Colon cancer, severe pneumonia and blood infection, congenital heart defect, lung cancer. It is a tough list to type. It is a tough list to pray. It is so easy for me to become consumed with all that might or could happen. The reality is that we just have to live the best way we know how, love others as well as we can, and trust that we are doing all we are able. I wish I had more to say, or some words that are more comforting to offer to my friends. But this is the best I can do.