Christmas Vacation

Two reasons I've been barely seen on blogspot for the past week, both are reasons I have to be thankful to God for! Family, and job!

I was stationed in Effingham last week with the hopes of getting sponsors on board to help us bring free Christian children's books into their local schools and churches.  I got to stay in their Super 8, and I must say, I was very comfortable!  Even though I came back home with no solid financial partners, it is a community I see a LOT of potential in!  God blessed me by getting to meet several wonderful people, and find out that the town really is a simple joy.

After finding their local movie theater, I got to see Sherlock Holmes 2 and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  (short reviews - Sherlock gets an 8 out of 10: The CGI was incredibly detailed and the action had a lot of variety to it with all the slow down and speed up scenes, but I am just not a major fan of action movies having a lot of dialogue to explain what's going on; Dragon Tattoo also gets an 8 out of 10 - very well made mystery plot, amazing actors and actresses, but be careful who goes to see it due to the very graphic scenes in certain parts.)  The theater was the first I had been to that doesn't show trivia or ads before the movie is scheduled to begin; it's interesting how this seems to be the local hang out spot for people to mingle right up until showtime, and if you don't know anyone you're basically sitting in the shadows until the screen lights up, but the quality and cleanliness of the theater was top notch, and the staff was very friendly!

I got to visit the giant cross by the interstate Effingham is so famous for.  I had it as a mission of mine to finally go there in person instead of just passing it while driving by.  It wasn't until I ended up in the industrial park that I started noticing the signs that led to the park.  It's a beautiful lot, and would be great for a pik-nik in warmer weather!

Lastly, I closed out Christmas week with my familia.  It was great to spend time with my mom, dad, sister, her husband, and my two nieces Christmas day.  I went up after Parkview's Candlelight service Saturday night.  (even with a small church family, candles have a way of making a sanctuary feel so warm and connected)  The family didn't think I was coming down till after our Sunday Morning service, but I felt God really pushin me to surprise them by worshiping with them at their church for a change.  It was a gift just to see more church family that I haven't seen in a few months!  What an honor to get to worship with two extended church families for Christmas!

Everyone loved their gifts.  I can't help but rejoice about what I recieved this year from my friends and family!  Katie (one of the teens at Parkview) got me a handmade leather woven wristband from Hawaii with my Hawaiian name engraved on it!  Haylee (another one of the teens) surprised me with one of those snap wristbands that says "AUTOBOTS" (with the logo of course!) and a mini Transformer toy Bumblebee!  Maddy (a former teen and now college/career student, and also the daughter of the family that gives me shelter at their home) got me the classic version of "Clash of the Titans" on DVD, a black belt with a hybernating white tree on the buckle, and a very warm winter hat that looks like a shark! 

My youngest niece, Larisa, got me an all in one screwdriver/flashlight set from the Santa's Workshop store at her school, my sister, Heather, and her husband, Terry, gave me $50, and my parents surprised me with a new iPhone 4!  (I've already spent part of the $50 on a new pair of grey Khakis from American Eagle!)

I also recieved cash from my church, a gift card to my favorite restaurant, Red Lobster!, from Keith and Paula, a gift card to McDonald's from my boss, James, and cards from so many of the friends I've come to feel so blessed to have in my life!

The only regret that I had was that I didn't get the white Christmas I hope for every year...oh well!  It wasn't part of God's amazing plan!  Who can complain when you get to spend time with family, see friends you haven't seen in a long time, and make new friends and hear from them on the phone!?  I can't wait to see what God has in store for 2012, just a few more days away!