(NYC last year... i miss it! oh well, maybe next christmas when we're rich ;-)

9) Driving around checking out Christmas lights and saying "ooooohhhh ahhhh" every two seconds

(random pic that I found on google images :-P

8) Hot apple cider with friends

(Kimberly and Lori from last year's BBC treelighting)

7) Christmas Trees (REAL ONES) I love the smell and decorating them

(Matteo loves them a little too much ;-)

6) Making Presents for people, and letting my creative side come out :-)


If I put a picture of your Christmas presents....

then it wouldn't be a surprise now would it? :-)

5) Holiday Events- (Holiday Stroll, cheesy small town fairs, BBC treelighting.... ;-)

(lyss and I at the holiday stroll, pic from her new amazing phone)

4) Playing outside- Snow ball fights (as long as i'm doing the throwing), making snowmen, pushing people in the snow, snow angels, walks... you get the idea....

(haha... no comment :-)

3) Being home!

(Me with my "little" brothers from a couple of winters ago)

2) Christmas Music (and Christmas Movies, but music is better)!!!!

1) Spending time with those I love

As the Christmas Season approaches I pray that your focus would be on Christ. I love you all and I'm so excited for this year, Christmas season is definetley a favorite time of the year for me and I can't wait to be home to spend it with you all. God is so good and is teaching me so much (as usual) I'm sure I will be writing more about life soon. I hope this was a fun read :-) If you want click the comment button and share what you like about Christmas or just leave me a fun message because I like getting them! I can't wait to see all that God will do this season.

"For unto us a child is born"

How amazing is this???

"That You were born to die, So I could one day pray for You to save my life"~Relient K

We have over 30 Porter Potties on Campus... yup... gross...

We are on water conserving mode so here is Hannah and Lyss getting water jugs filled by a huge water tank truck that came to visit our campus.

So basically we are all grumpy half the time/ laughing the other half of the time at how ridiculous this whole thing is and how God has a funny sense of humor. It's funny how we have been here all weekend and they are making a decision TOMORROW morning by chapel whether to let us go early, they are even giving us a dress down day to be nice. Hehe... even though there is a hint of bitterness the campus has done a lot to meet our needs. But as a new facebook group said... Send us out! (a song we sing in chapel) and someone commented on the group saying:

"Let my people go" ~Moses

Although we didn't many of us wanted to have a prayer vigil outside of our president's lawn.

We also have been concerned with some of the guys on campus who go around shirtless saying, "No water- No clothes"

I'm pretty sure this is the most drama BBC has yet to have....

So all in all I think our spirits are pretty high despite everything, but either way I will be coming home tomorrow, maybe earlier or later depending on this whole situation. No one's allowed to tell my mommy though because she thinks I'm coming home tuesday if they don't let us go early. I am excited for a much needed break, and I cannot wait to hit the highway :-) miss you all. Hope our misery gives way for your entertainment ;-) Here's an article with the latest updates!

http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5699618

So an eventful week it has been! My double ear infections are almost gone, but unfortunetley my mom is trying to get me a doctor's appointment when I get home to have them checked out because I have had so many this past year, not looking forward to that. But 8 days till I come home! I remember when that number was so much higher! Crazy how time is flying! My dad's surgery went well and he is safe and sound, praise God for that and for keeping him safe. It's always so hard for me to be away when things like that are going on. Thank you for all of the encouraging comments and phone calls, I can't even express how much they lift my spirits and they always come at just the right time.

What other life updates can I share? I'm working again, and it's going well. I work a couple of hours during the week at a school, and I start working at Express again this weekend, something I told myself I wouldn't do again, yet here I go! Gordy (the affectionate nickname for alyssa's boyfriend) came to visit this past weekend and we got to jam together and he took us out to chili's. We had a blast and our tummies appreciated non cafeteria food. Gordy also introduced me to Jessie Daniels who is currently in my cd player and she's awesome!

I think the biggest update is I wrote a new song this week! It's funny how with both of my songs God completley gave me the words and music, because there's no way this mind can normally come up with something in under a half an hour. So here are the lyrics, you can't really get the ful effect without the music, but enjoy and who knows maybe if I'm brave enough I'll play it for you :-)

Can't wait to see you all!!! love you guys!

I cry in the shower
Because it's the only place
Where I can be alone
I'm so tired
Probably for all those days
Praying you'd pick up the phone
But this heart of mine that's been slowly breaking
Says its time to let you go

Chorus:
Oh God
I turn to you
I'm sorry for being satisfied in everything but You
I've turned away
Wanting to be loved
But all along
You were the greatest love of all


Your will
So quiet
But whispered all along
Yet hearts desires
Far too often
Sing another song
Time will tell they say
Doesn't make it any easier
So goodbye for now
I'm learning to love my Savior

(Chorus)

Bridge:
I fell for mystery
Instead of the Creator of it all
It's about time I see
That You are all I need

(Chorus x2)
You ARE the greatest Love of all
You ARE the greatest Love of all

I just scheduled my last semester of classes :-) and am filling out a graduation application

I'm sick which makes me miss home.... alot

I've had a rocky past few days, but I was encouraged tonight by an amazing woman who reminded me of the passage in Hebrew's 6, where it says that Jesus is our anchor. He is the one that is stable and holds us together :-)

I taught Sunday school yesterday... it was pretty neat, but I miss being at a church where I feel involved and feel like I am apart of something. I miss the loving, family atmosphere of CCA, and I especially miss some very special youth group girls who I feel so disconnected from

My daddy is having surgery on thursday and I just want to give him a hug

I love my mom, and I don't think I could be here and survive without her encouraging phone calls and for putting up with me

I'm scared

I'm really excited for the turkey bowl!!! lyss and gordy are coming :-)

gordy is coming to visit again this weekend and alyssa and I are making him take us out to chili's and we can't wait :-)

I've cried a bit the past few days, haven't really done that since October 15th, but thankfully I couldn't have been around a more loving couple and a cuter baby :-) i suppose there is a positive outlook on every situation

I was thinking today that I would rather have my feelings hurt than live a lie

I got to hold a precious baby kitten today!

I'm wearing Jace's hat which I tend to do when I'm homesick because it makes me feel closer to home

This passage of scripture (Lamentations 3) has been helping me:

18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

I really value the truthful and honest relationships in my life and miss them

I need to change the strings on geetar when I come home

Lisa has been on my heart a lot this week and I am anxiously awaiting a phone call (hint hint)... and in reality I should just pick up the phone and call you, but you are at youth group right now so i can't.... stink!

I want someone who doesn't forget to care

Sometimes I wish I could just run away and move to namibia or something and escape myself, but then I remember that running from my problems doesn't solve them

I am so thankful that Jesus is always there because I have been feeling so alone, and I know thats because I have a lot to do before thanksgiving which makes me want to fastforward

Lord willing my best friend will be getting married this summer :-D (SHHHH!!!! :-)


Psalm 139- Jesus knows me like no one else, and He knows what is best for me even when I can't see it or don't want to see

Sin sucks and so does dissapointment

but HOPE does not dissapoint us!

Someone just walked through top floor lounge and in a frusterated voice said, "no more college" hehe... i agree with that sentiment although BBC is amazing even if it is hard

I have the line from the fourth Jesus video in my head- "What in the name of me is going on in here!?!"

"oh no you never let go, through the calm and through the storm"

I'm praying that I can continually learn to encourage others and take the focus off of myself

God is awesome! (In a Joan accent ;-)


Phil 4:6-7

So there are some videos I MUST share with you all. I still feel bad about laughing and rewatching them, but I really believe they are a perfect depiction of how some people think of Jesus.

Even the makers of these videos have a disclaimer saying,
"This is a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like. Thank goodness He's not."

So in looking at these I hope you not only get a good laugh, and be thankful that Jesus is not like that, but to also think of those around you and be burdened for those who actually believe that the Christian life is what these videos portray. Hopefully they in some weird way will help us be more sensitive to sharing the gospel, knowing the stereotypes that are out there.

There's 4 videos so take a look at them. The first part of number 2 had me rolling, and let's see if you can pick up on my favorite line in number 4.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1020885658453744931&q=vintage21

Pastor Darin i'm thinking you might get the biggest kick out of these :-)