I am back from Thanksgiving break. The trip was amazing. Airports were not as busy as I thought they would be, the weather cooperated for travel, and I had a great time visiting family and friends. I managed to visit just about everybody. My brother, his wife, their HUGE dog, and I all climbed into their tiny Honda Civic and traveled all over the state to see family and friends.

Mom and the bird.

The Dog, dressed for deer season.

The family, enjoying a game of "Cranium" on Turkey Day.

Stormie and Wyatt enjoying a snowmobile ride on the Kitty Cat.

Going home to Bottineau was great. It was so peaceful and quiet at home, up in the hills. It was cold, with a beautiful snowfall during much of my stay.

So anyway, back to my studies. Do you ever have a week that is inexplicably great? A week when you just walk about with a smile on your face and a sense of peace in your heart? It really hit me Wednesday night while I was praying a Divine Mercy Chaplet with my youth group that, hey, this is an excellent week.

Classes have been interesting. Prayer - well, I can say I've made time for it. Study time has been productive, and the end is in sight. And I finished off the week by watching an excellent movie: Into Great Silence. I love that movie.

I have a strong feeling that this sense of peace is about to give way to stress as the due date for everything, December 14th, quickly approaches. In no time at all, I will be driving back home for Christmas break.

I haven't posted in a while, but I assure you that I am still alive. I have the video to prove it: