missing my family

i miss my family so much more than i thought i would. all of us living in arkansas made us closer than we ever had been. then i go and leave. i appreciate them more and more everyday. i've missed them dearly during this christmas and wish i could have seen them at least one day.

but it is okay because i live with incredible girls and god is blessing me.

i do miss watching my niece grow up as well. she is such a blessing to our family. we love her SO much.
here is a picture of her this christmas. i love this picture! how could you not love this little face?

what a wonderful christmas

christmas was rather splendid besides having to work most of the day.
my roomies got up early so we could have banana pancakes and open presents.

then off to work some of us went.... having never worked christmas before, i was in for an interesting day that made my heart sad...so many unhappy people irritated with their families coming to rent movies so they don't have to talk to eachother... and to be rude to someone who is working on christmas is just plain ridiculous. i was treated so poorly by several customers. this whole season has put customer service and the value of retail workers into perspective for me. good lessons. and i can't wait to be out of retail. i loathe it.

anyway, back to christmas... it was good to have people to spend it with, girls who have become family to me. i am blessed.
we ate dinner around midnight once everyone was home and the turkey finished baking. we got dressed up and sat together formally at our wonderfully decorated table. we shared laughs and wonderful thoughts, toasted in the life of christ and how god has brought the four of us together. the food was delectable and we had an amazing time.
here are a few pictures:

christmas is here

christmas is here and i'm so excited. but sad i can't be with my family and that i have to work today and tomorrow.
but, this season is such a great time to reflect on god's love for all of us.
worship yesterday was so amazing! i love my church! it's so focused and i love how artsy it is!
i also saw a jbu alum who was a youth pastor in siloam and is now the junior high pastor at rock harbor. small world. the world got smaller as i went and said hello even though i don't know the guy too well and there were 2 other jbu alum couples there. it was so great. i was so happy to see familiar faces (even though i didn't know them too well) and it made me get tears in my eyes because i miss my friends and family in arkansas so much. so i went out to lunch with the couples...haha...all marrieds...but god answered about 3 prayers yesterday morning with those people. it was incredible. i'm hanging out with them tonight and i am so excited. i'm also going to probably start helping with the youth at rock harbor...something i was already thinking of and now i know there is a need. i'm excited!
christmas day will be interesting. my roomies and i are getting up for pancakes and presents...then off to work. we are making a great dinner after we all get home and i'm excited since we didn't do anything for thanksgiving.

so thank you jesus for the little things and coming to save us from our sin.

word of the day: excited. :)

o christmas tree

it's christmas!



new roomies!






















our beautiful tree!