December Adventures

As I write, it is a grand 7 degrees outside and I'm crossing my fingers for a white Christmas...it may go a little north, but one can hope :). You can probably guess that I am certainly not in Florida right now...there is no place I'd rather be than home in Illinois for Christmas with my family! And, it has been quite the adventure of December leading up to being home for the holidays (which probably explains why just relaxing is top on my list)! Three key things have occupied the past 24 days:
1. Gainesville Christmas Festival...one of my favorite times of year. It was the key thing that originally made Westside Baptist my church home and one of the most awesome outreach activities I have ever been a part of...certainly a blessing to all involved (even in the midst of long hours of rehearsals and planning, tired bodies, and the commitment of time during the busiest time of year). It is all worth it for the opportunity to make an eternal impact for the Kingdom! My first week of December was filled with rehearsals and performances! I can't imagine missing out on it, even knowing I would not be there for the second weekend of performances!
2. Finishing out the semester...a crazy, but wonderful semester it was! I had the opportunity to work on several projects with the missions department at Westside this semester...it was such a blessing and offered some great insight for future service!
3. CALS Leadership Institute International Service & Learning Experience: A 10-day adventure to Ecuador with 12 students and my boss. Although I have said this trip is an exception to our typical August travel, given it was in the midst of the previous two items and planning for next semester, it was a trip full of blessings and reminders of what it truly important. Visiting a developing country around the holidays is such a humbling experience...especially when you spend 4 days with a family in an indigenous community. They gave so much for us to be with them and learn about their way of life; our reforestation service project was just a small way to give back to a community that opened their homes to our group. And, it never ceases to amaze me just how beautiful God's creation is in different locations. Blessed and humbled...these are the two words that continue coming to mind as I reflect on this trip.

Now, time to enjoy being with my family and celebrating the miracle of Christmas that began the greatest story of all time...the story of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:9-14

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."