A much needed post, after many months of silence

Today i realized i haven't written here since March. I don't know why i didn't, maybe i was too busy- maybe i just forgot how much i like writing, how much it relaxes me... For some reason, the process of getting my ideas out in the form of written language, relaxes me more than any cup of tea in the world... Even more than a massage.
Life has evolved since i last posted anything... I am no longer a child: i can drive now. Before getting this valuable piece of plastic, i didn't know that i was missing an important part of being an adult: the ability to take me to places without having to ask anybody, or wait for anybody. I didn't know it was going to be so liberating... I got it last October, in the first blizzard of this season. I'll never forget that i couldn't see beyond 100 yards, or the stop sign that blew away with the wind... Only in North Dakota. One time i read that some city had canceled a whole bunch of stuff for 2 inches of snow. The said city obviously isn't in ND.
Lara goes to Preschool now, and comes home with a never ending stream of stories about children i don't know, but that she plays with even when she's pretending to play with other people. She loves it, and has learned a lot- but I'm not much concerned about her "academical achievements", she's got plenty of time to build up her resume. What is important for me right now is that she has a great time, and she learns about Jesus, and learns to resolve conflicts and follow directions from more people. Specially that she has a great time.
My photography hobby got a step forward in August, when Peter decided it was time for me to have a real camera. I've been playing with her (yes, it's a girl camera), and have gotten really nice examples of what it could be, if i decide to take it seriously. And that is on my mind, the plan is to find a way to go to college at some point... Maybe i should start selling them...
What can i say? it has been a regular year, with lots of blessings. In September, i had a chance to go visit my family in the Dominican Republic, and Lara had a chance to see and experience the beach in all its warm glory, and she loved it. She really enjoyed spending time with my aunts, and my brother and sisters, and with her favorite, her cousin, or Pima, as she calls her.
When we came back, my mom tagged along, and we had a nice few weeks with her here. She got to see this area on my favorite season, and she even rode a combine with Bart. Next year, the Schotts want to go together to have a tropical Christmas, we'll see how that goes...
This Thanksgiving i had my initiation as a Schott wife: i made not one, but two turkeys. From scratch. And i forgot to get the paper bag with the inside organs out of the turkey. But they tasted good, and got the seal of approval from the Schott men. They basically ate most of them.
It was fun having family and friends together in what has become my home. It doesn't feel like a house i live in anymore, when i think of home, the warm fuzzy feeling points me here, to this house. And a home is better when it's full of family.
We also got a Kinect around that time, that has been VERY much used by all of us. I loved it.
Now it's time for me to go to sleep... Alone, for Peter went to Minneapolis for a couple of days... I don't like to sleep alone, so it might take me a few hours and an artful arrangement of pillows to fall asleep at last. He's been gone a few hours and i already miss him. I couldn't love him more right now, even if i tried. It's strange how love deepens and changes as the years go by. I thought i loved him more than anyone when we got married. I thought i couldn't possibly love him more than when i first saw him holding our baby girl... But yet my love for him grows and changes, and becomes greater every day...
I have liked what I've lived this year, the people I've seen, the friends I've met. I wouldn't change anything about it, even if i could. Now I'm looking forward to a nice Christmas with the family, and a great end to a great year, thanks to a Lord that loves me.
Thanks for reading my ramblings ;)
Julia

Disneyland and Commodity Classic

This month was really great for us, we got to travel with Bart and Linsey, and got to go to Disneyland with Lara for her 3rd birthday. Going there has been a dream of mine ever since i can remember, so i think i had more fun than Lara there. A few years ago there was a TV campaign that showed a mother that magically turns into a little girl as soon as she comes into the park. I believe that's what happened to me. I was laughing so hard the whole time i was there, my cheeks hurt that night. I also got to spend time with my brother and his family, and that made it even better, that was a week to remember for sure :) I hope we can do that more often. when we came back home, we celebrated with her friends and cousins in Fargo, with a Dora The Explorer fiesta, complete with a Dora Cake (baked and decorated by me), Dora Balloons and a piñata...That refused to open when we pulled on it. We didn't have enough chairs, so most of us sat on the floor for Tacos and cake. It was a lot of fun too.
The real reason for us to go there, to Anahaim, was because this year's Commodity Classic was there. If you are not in the Farm bussiness, i'll explain what this conference looked like to me- It's another version of Disneyland, but for farmers. You got a lot to see, and lots of people around you, big things to ride (tractors and combines, the biggest and meanest i've seen), lots of stuff to put in your bag (that they provide) and lots of interesting characters to look at :) they are not in a costume though... The people walk around with a look of wonder in their eyes, or maybe just sleepiness- the meetings start at 6 am-, and the atmosphere is light, with music in the air. Just like Disneyland.
My father in Law, Bart, spent the whole time working, so hard we'd only see him at dinner and most times talking to a whole bunch of people that seem to follow him around all the time. He would walk so fast, that half the time we lost him in the crowd. Linsey was working hard too, she couldn't come with us to Disney, but found some time to spend time with her favorite grand daughter at supper too. Peter went to a few things as well, but not as many as his mom and dad.
My first surprise was just arriving to the hotel, and finding some goodies they left for us there, really good cheese, wine, fruit- and a present for Lara (that we lost the next day in Downtown Disney). We had an unbelievable room, on the 17th floor, with a great view of Anahaim and the far away mountains. It even had a door chime, that freaked me out the first time i heard it :) It came with access to a room on the next floor, that had breakfast in the morning and appetizers at night. I was in hotel heaven. We were close enough to Disney to walk there, and also really close to all the Commodity action going on. I loved it. I even got to dress up a couple times.
One of the reasons why i was so excited to go to Anahaim, was because i'd have the chance to meet my brother Eric and his wife, and their two girls: Erica and Keilah. It was the first time in our life spending time together, so it was a big deal. We had so much fun together, laughed so much- that i didn't want to leave their side when it was time for us to go. I hope to be able to get together with them more often in the future.
Next year's Commodity Classic is in Florida. It is going to be very important, because Bart is going to be the president this time, and he gets a party. I wonder if i'll get a turn on the microphone... Maybe i should start compiling all the juicy bits from now :)
Can't wait to go climbing combines with Peter again- That was a lot of fun. Just like Disneyland.

My new old brothers and sisters

Something really interesting happened this year. For some reason, God decided it was time for me and my brothers and sisters to be reunited, to start building relationships. Our father here didn't invest any time getting us acquainted, so we grew up knowing next to nothing about each other, just that somewhere in the world, there were other people that shared our blood. I grew up in a small town, but my mother made sure i had contact with my siblings living in the city, and that enriched my life immensely. Now i have met so many new ones, so many different people, with lives that are a mystery to me, with so many different ways of life, and yet so similar to me. Looking at them, i see so many common physical traits, it's weird- after all, we were not born from the same woman. It seems to me that these common traits are more than skin deep however- we seem to think alike in many ways, and most of all we share that craziness that makes us shine (or be embarrassed, depending on the day)... I can't wait to see my brothers and sisters, to get to know them, to learn about them. Will they like me? I hope so.
Now i have so many things to learn: Italian, sign language, how to behave in public - wait, that last one might be impossible, baby steps: try to be less crazy might work better ;) - and hopefully be a better sister than i have been until now.
For the ones i grew up seeing, i wish i could bring them here with me (in the winter, so we can be miserable together? no? ok ok), i miss you all so much. Tony, there's not one day that i don't think about you, specially when i see comic books and other things that i am sure you'd be crazy about... I wish i was rich, so i could send you all the things you'd like. I even miss fighting with you, and having you call me names. Marianth, i am so sad i'm missing Jael's growing up years, and hanging out with you in Zona Colonial. My times sitting with you, Gloria and your mom have been the happiest of my adult life, besides getting married and having Lara. I think of you too every day, specially on Tuesdays, i don't know why. Gloria, i miss you too- even though it really hurt my feelings that the last time i went to Santo Domingo, you couldn't give me one minute of your time to let me see you... And i don't even know what i did to offend you. And Carolina, even though the past 10 years i've only seen you about three times, i miss you too. And I love you all, even if i probably never said it.
I don't know how it is for all of you, but meeting you like this has brought out lots of things i hadn't thought about before. And a lot of anger with myself for not trying hard enough to find you. Hope we can get to love each other, and that our relationship grows in years to come... Let's not make this facebook thing the only meaningful interaction we have- Let's work on getting together and building up on this, so we can truly call each other sister and brother.
Anyway, i've gotten emotional again- as usual. I better get my butt to bed, i think i had enough of that for now. Hugs to you all- if you kept reading my ramblings, that is.