Reasons To Celebrate!

Well, it is almost New Year's Eve!! Almost 2007. Almost time for us to resume our world travels. We have had a wonderful Christmas and a very relaxing break. Karmyn's first turkey turned out delicious and the left-overs are almost gone. Chad survived the day of shopping he gave Karmyn for Christmas and didn't even whine about the 5 hours in a mall! Knowing he was getting a Red Robbins' hamburger at the end probably helped!

We were able to talk to our families and lots of friends over Christmas which was so wonderful.

Perhaps the best news of today is.... I finally got my SSN!! This 'should' be the 'final' hurdle to start working. I have received my orientation schedule for January.

We will have a fairly quiet New Years. We will watch "The Sound of Music"- Chad is VERY excited to return to this weekly-viewed movie as he was growing up (his sis apparently loved it... but who doesn't, really?) And have meaty-cheesy nachos.

On the first we will drive to New York and on the second we head to ISRAEL!! We will be on a 10 day study tour with our school. We will be following the gospel of Mark. We are SOOOOOO excited about this opportunity. Please pray for safety as we travel. We will stay in Jerusalem, Tiberius, swim in the Dead Sea, have a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, walk in the Garden of Gethsemane, and see tonnes of cool Biblical sites! And don't worry, we will take a tonne of pics and we will try to post some stuff on here while we are there.

So, we are busy packing and getting ready to leave. We have a friend coming from Canada to do an intensive class at the Seminary, and he will stay in our place while we are gone, and we are looking forward to seeing him when we return.

Hope everyone had fabulous Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!

p.s. I have taken off the restrictions for commenting, so it should work for everyone now.

The REAL Deal

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem- Luke 2:1-20

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.

Did I Mention?

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!
There is just something about this special time of year. The memories of this season make my heart smile! I love the REAL reason for the season along with everything else about it! I love decorating at the end of November and leaving it up well past New Years. I love sitting in the dark with Christmas lights on. I love falling asleep and making Chad unplug all the lights, night after night. I love the houses down here have wreaths on the door and all the windows. I love that they put a single candle in every window. I love wrapping and giving gifts. I love driving around looking at lights. I love getting a new ornament from my parents every year. I love carols. I love the cheesy music they play over and over and over and over again. I love the Charlie Brown soundtrack. I love the TV specials. I love the traditions. I love the baking (especially Nanimo bars...even though no one knows what they even are down here!), and chocolates (Tofifee, anyone?) I love all the special foods (Lefse, flatbread, Rossettes, popycock, tri-buns, layered salad, seafood dip, oranges, Grandma's punch, homemade icecream, turkey and all the trimmings, midnight snack...I could go on and on!) I love the Jello that melts into the hot turkey. I love pancakes, fruit and whipped cream for Christmas morning breakfast. I love wearing PJ's all day on the 25th and doing as little as possible. I love wishing (secretly) for a giant snow storm. I love studying the story of the birth of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I love spending special time with Chad (though we wish we could be with our families and dream of the time we can be together again). I love remembering the warm feeling of Christmases growing up on the farm. I love remembering my Grandparents and our extended family all together.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!