I realize I haven't updated in a while. It has been cool to see God at work around me. I have friends who we have been praying for and God just answers them in the nic of time. God has funny timing. That saying: Never early, Never late, always on time. It can be so hard to wait on God. We get antsy and think we have to figure it out on our own. I have truly been blessed in my life with people who give God the credit for the work that He does, b/c of this my faith is stronger. Watching God provide for others makes me feel confident that He will and does provide for me. Too often people ask him and then when He does provide (in his time) they forget to give God the credit. Not only are they hurting themselves b/c of this but God isn't getting the glory, and boy does He deserve it all. There are so many examples that I can think of in my own life recently where God's timing has made all the difference in the world! For me personally God's timing has allowed issues to not be issues b/c He already had it worked out months before hand. Or God's time has given me peace prior to a situation that is happening. He really is amazing!

How does God's timing effect you? Emelie..... I already know the answer for this concerning your job so pic another example :) :)

So this year most of our older, responsible (I say that loosely)kids are singing with the Choir so that kind of ties up their time, which is fine. We are having the choir's Christmas program the same night as the youth Christmas program. This program has greatly evolved in the last couple of years. The first year we were here (like a month after we got here) the older kids did this really cheesy play that was all about a poor kid giving the teacher a gift and all the kids joking on her for it, only for the teacher to explain to them that it's not the gift that matters just the thought behind it. Following the play Santa came, old Christmas songs like Santa Claus is coming to town, Rudolf the red nose reindeer ect... were joyfully sang and then Santa handed out gifts to the children whose parents remembered to bring them gifts, while if your parent didn't bring a gift you got nothing from Santa........yeah I was shocked, saddened, and just felt a little sick that no emphasis was put on the true reason for Christmas.

After that I was probably totally against the idea of Santa......I have shifted some in my thinking. Last year I suggested doing away with Santa............ohhhh noooo. I tried to compromise by saying well lets have Santa pass out only "christian gifts" you know, no guns, and crap like that.......oh nooooo we couldn't force families to do that. So thankfully some compromise was given and we sang songs like Joy to the World, and O little town of Bethlehem and someone read a poem about SANTA with each letter talking about Jesus or something to do with Faith.. then Santa passed out gifts.......again from parents who remembered. I bought 5-10 extra's so no one would be left out.

But this year.............Oh I am excited about this year. Still have to plan it out but that's where you come in. After the choir sings their hearts out, we are going to transition into a full out "Birthday Party for Jesus" Santa will push a cake on a cart with lit candles, while the children carry gifts to fill Santa's bag. The gifts will be given to several of the families that have already contacted our church this year for help. After this we will have a full out Birthday Party, with cupcakes and ice cream and other birthday party food, and birthday party games and Santa will be mingling and celebrating Jesus' birthday with the rest of us.

What do you think? What are some games and stuff that we could do during the celebration?

I realized Friday after talking with a co-worker that it isn't normal to have people stay at your house. This came as a surprise to me since I have been on the receiving end many times to others hospitality. I realized that this must be a "christian" thing. I would have thought maybe it is a southern thing but I was discussing this with southern folks. So alas a lesson learned.

However I used this unusual situation to share about some of the amazing people I have met in my relatively short lift time because I shared my home with them or they shared their home with me. This weekend was no exception. Keith and Nicole Woods with their beautiful family stayed at our house. Nicole is AMAZING!!! wow I was blessed so much by her :)

I want people to feel comfortable in my home. I want people to look back over their life and think about the hospitality that we offered to them. I can remember many homes that I have stayed in......some were...........interesting.........most were comfortable.........some were extremely awkward.........and a few were simply amazing. I remember how awkward it was to stay with this one family that had like 6 grown children and they were married and a few had kids and they all lived in this 4 bedroom house with a basement and we stayed downstairs in the basement with one of the couples and their newborn.......and there were no doors :) :) that was awkward. On the flip side I remember staying at this one house where they treated us like royalty........we're talking chocolate on the pillows and everything :) . Marty's stepmom always puts fresh flowers in the guest rooms, love that. I was able to put fresh flowers in the guest room this weekend b/c my rose bush has been blooming like crazy!

So I guess what I am trying to say is............if you are in or around Greenville, NC and you need a place to stay. Hit us up........I'd love to meet you friend :)