The Easter Gift.

Easter. Good Friday. Resurrection Sunday. After awhile those words can come so commonplace within my own vocabulary that if I am not careful, I will become numb to the truth and reason why I celebrate this time of year. I definitely do not want to become numb to the greatest time and gift in history.

With an intense focus to think about the reason of the past few days, I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his obedience to the plan of God, the Father. I cannot even begin to understand the depth of what Jesus went through in prayer, through the whips, through the beatings, through the hit of each nail. He did it all for me.

Not too many people know my story of knowing Jesus. After being a Christian for so long and being a leader amidst ministries, it is often times just assumed that my testimony belonged to God and his forgiveness. No one really asks because today I serve Him and know Him well.

The truth is I have often times hid my testimony because it did not seem flashy or so messed up that God's grace and mercy was huge. I was not involved in drugs, alcohol, or impure relationships when I gave my life to Christ. I was not the disobedient or rebellious child. I pretty much was laid back in life to just go with the flow. If I was told to do something, I pretty much did it without too much fuss. I was the smart one. I was the good one. I was the goody-little-two-shoes girl. In most people's minds, I was doing good and therefore I would not need a Savior. But behind the smiles, I was lost, alone, and scared. I was trying to find my place in this world and often times told I was not enough. That is where my testimony begins.

Even though I pretty much played by the rules of life, my parents, and school, all my good deeds and attitude did not earn my way into heaven or God's good graces. Despite all the good I had done or was doing, it would never be enough to pay the price that I owed. Despite all the good I could do, I was still empty. I still needed a Savior. I needed Him so much.

And you know what? I did not have to look to far to find Him. He had always been with me and when I finally took notice, I found Him standing right next to me, pursuing me with His amazing love and compassion, offer the gifts of grace and mercy and forgiveness if I would only accept. Accept I did.

Now almost seventeen years later on Easter Sunday my heart is full of gratitude for Jesus, the cross, for the resurrection, and for salvation. Can I truly say that God delivered me from addictions, from alcohol, from impure relationships? Yes and no. After I allowed God to have my life, I believe that God was my shield who protected me from making choices that would have destroyed me. What I also know is that God saved me from the depression that gripped my mind, from the loneliness that surrounded my heart, from the hate that burned inside, from the fear that immobilized me, and the despair that overwhelmed me.

Today as I praised and worship God, I was filled with such thankfulness and praise. He saved me. He gave me life. He gave me and is giving me abundant life. I serve a great God who gave His son and raised Him up from the grave. Today I love and serve a Risen Savior who loves me in return. That is the Easter gift.

One Answer Received.

After months of waiting and knocking on doors, I finally received word this past week that has now made the future path very known. I received a call from an admissions personnel at Fuller, informing me that I have been accepted into the MS program for Marital and Family Therapy.

I was highly expecting that phone call concerning that information. Almost everyone I knew kept telling me that I was a shoo-in and that I would be accepted without hesitation. But part of me kept holding back until I heard the official word because I know that God could have another plan.

But I also received news that I was not expecting. Along with the news of my acceptance, I was given the news that I was a recipient of one their scholarships. The value blew me away for it was not a small amount. All I could do is stand in awe and excitement at the news. God went beyond what I was expecting and praise Him daily for the news.

Chosen Nails

Passion burning
In silent obedience
As whips whistled
Through the air
Snapping and cracking
Lines went taut
Ripping skin and bone
Being pulled back
Evil taunts of hatred
Stirred the air
While weeping wails whirled
amidst desperate pleas
But battle of love
Pushed through the pain
The unknown journey
Of grace and truth
As fists pound
The face of love
Crowned thorns
Embraced eternal wisdom
Crushing beam
Of death upon the back
Love pouring from
Each faltering step
This journey began
Before the nails were picked
To pierce the hands
Of one man above

Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me, taking the pain and sin upon the horrific death of the cross so that I can have eternal life with you. Your gift of salvation and grace is immeasurable but so precious to me.

A faith boost.

Every once in awhile I need a faith booster. One that shoots me full of adrenaline to keep me persevering in prayer, trust, and faith that God will answer me. This past weekend was such a boost.

For the past fifteen years, I lived in house that was truly a gift of God to my parents. And those of you who read this and were a part of Awakening know the house well. I think the highest I have ever had a party at my home was 40-50 people. Good times...and my father being the awesome dad that he is, kept the house so I could have a place to live as I stayed in Des Moines. Plus it gave my parents a place to stay when they visited.

After much prayer, I believed that God was leading me to California this past summer so we put the house up for sale. After several miracles of previous houses, we left for California full of faith that God will sell it. (Previous example: God sold our house in Panora the same day we moved into Des Moines.) We truly believed that God would do it again.

With the housing market as it is for sellers, the house has sat on the market since July with hardly any nibbles or bites. As you can imagine, the days that have slipped by has worn a bit of that faith down, wondering what plan God has for the house when my parents truly need it sold.

This past weekend we received word that we have a bid and the bid seems so promising. At a time when we did not think the house would be looked at, we received a bid. How awesome God is! With all the logistics to accomplish, I do not know if this bid will go through but just having it gave me a boost of faith to keep persevering in prayer for the buyers to come.

So for those of you who are praying for God to meet a need, reach a family or friend, answer a request, keep praying, seeking, and persevering. God is faithful to answer!

I AM.

And in the days to come, when you’re questioning, needing, searching, wondering, asking and struggling, you will find His sufficiency at the end of every desperate prayer. When you cry out all the things that you are not, you’ll know His answer is, “I AM.”

For every cry, there is one answer:

I need help. I AM.
I need hope. I AM.
Who could possibly be smart enough to figure this out? I AM.
What works? I AM.
What lasts? I AM.
What’s the latest thing? I AM.
What’s the hippest thing? I AM.
I need a fresh start. I AM.
I need a bigger story. I AM.
My vision is bigger than my resources. I AM.
Nothing’s real anymore. I AM.
Who can I trust? I AM.
I’m not sure who’s on my team. I AM.
Nobody’s listening to me. I AM.
I don’t have a prayer. I AM.
My marriage is sinking and I don’t know where to turn. I AM.
I can’t hold on. I AM.
My kids deserve more. I AM.
I’m pouring into others, who’s pouring into me? I AM.
If we fail, who will get the job done? I AM.
I’m not sure why I am here. I AM.
I’ve given all I can give and it’s not enough. I AM.
I’m tired. I AM.
I quit! I AM.
I can’t! I AM.
I need a drink. I AM.
I need a fix. I AM.
I need a lover. I AM.
Somebody just hold me. I AM.

(excerpt from "I am not but I know the I AM, by Louie Giglio.)

Battle of the Sexes.

The battle of the sexes…an interesting topic. It has been going on since the beginning of time. (The game is fun as well!) This past Sunday I saw a battle of the sexes that I have never seen before, and quite frankly, I was in awe and laughing at the same time. The setting was the best place of all, church.

For several weeks, the senior pastor has been asking the congregation to show him our bibles. So those in the congregation who had theirs would raise it up in the air. He would ask the floor to show theirs, then the balcony, then the women, and then the men.

This past Sunday he asked the congregation once again to show him our Bibles. He asked the men to show him the theirs and with a sea of hands and a roar of manly yells, the Bibles went up in the air. Then he asked for the women to share theirs. With shrieks of joy and a few dancing feet, the women raised their Bibles in the air with pride and joy. With a reluctant admission, the pastor claimed that the women had more Bibles than the men. Not to be outdone, the men stood up with yet more manly roars and Bibles in the air, proudly raising their swords of truth. To take it one step more, the women stood up with their Bibles waving in their hands and shrieks of joy to out do the men. This went on for almost five minutes. What a battle! What a fun and amazing battle to have!

I laughed as the women screamed and jumped and danced with their Bibles in their hands, excited to share the joy of God’s word. I was more in awe as the men matched and at times tried to outdo the women with having their Bibles. In a time when the roles of the sexes has often times left the women being the leaders and the men standing by to let them, to see men take the stand and proudly declare their faith, dependence, and joy in the word of God is an amazing sight to see.

The battle of the sexes for Bibles…that is one battle that should exist in our church today! I will share a little a secret that women scream daily…we would love it if the men would win every week.

You Are.

You Are…

You are the God of faithfulness
You are there before I call;
You are the God of love
When I sinned, you gave it all;
You are the God of grace
You accepted me as I came back to you;
You are the God of mercy
You spared the judgment I was due;
You are the God of patience
You’ve waited as, like You, I learned to be;
You are the God of peace
You calm the murky storms in me;
You are God, King and Saviour
In whom else do I trust but in you;
For in you, I am complete and whole
Where else can I go but to you?
You are…

Random thoughts on nature.

I hear the rain outside as it plops against the houses. Tonight, it’s fall is softly gentle as it descends from the heavens above. Many people dread the constant threat of rain, longing for the warmth of the sunny weather that is so common, But I, I am strangely comforted by the drops’ gentle sounds. Its dreariness has yet to depress me for I find an unique beauty in it’s touch.

The sound of the rain causes my mind to travel to a distant memory. A memory that entails a booming sound and flashing light. Oh, I loved the sound of thunderstorms with their rolling thunder that stretched the skies and the brilliant flashes of light that would quickly follow, illuminating the land for just a brief glimpse. I enjoyed the midnight morning booms that would awaken me from a sound sleep, only to realize I still had hours yet to sleep. With a gentle smile that grew at the thought of such beauty, the rains steady ease would lull me back to sleep.

I am not sure why I have found so much beauty in the grayness of rain. Maybe because I know its Creator. Maybe because I know rain heals the land, prepares the land, and grows the land. The sunshine and warmth would be quite ideal to the cold, wet gray of the passing days, but then I would miss the needed beauty of such a day; making me grateful for the coming sunny days. May that is why I like the rain.

A Herrick Adventure

Another Herrick adventure. They never are easy despite the ease of plans at the beginning of the day. With just an object in mind, a place to find, the adventure begins with our curiousity. With the empty hours of time away from work, my parents and I decided to skip town for the day and discover an unknown place in a very familiar city. We headed to San Francisco to find a Mission.

Built in the late 1700’s, this mission has stood as a place for agriculture and connection for the Indians of the land. Despite the massive destruction of the 1906 earthquake and fires, this mission stood the test of time and still operates today. We knew the crossroad, we knew the exit; we thought we had it made. We thought we would find it quite easily. Wrong!

As I mentioned before, a Herrick adventure are never easy but full of fun. We turned off the freeway full of confidence that we would be able to find the mission without a mishap. I lost count of how many times we took a turn onto a street we thought would lead us to the right street but we had a great time seeing a new section of San Francisco. Finally we decided to head to our favorite spot in the city, Pier 39. We were hungry.

At Pier 39, we walked around the pier, enjoying the smell of the bay and the warmth of the sun. Languages swirled around us as visitors walked around us and I heard the familiar honking of the pier natives, the sea lions.

On our way home, we tried one more time to find the mission after obtaining a city map with a more detailed street names. Still the trip was not without mishaps as we were pushed off onto the freeway from a turning lane but after a few turn-arounds and a determination to find our goal, we pulled up in front of the mission. We found our objective and I can turn a day trip into another Herrick family adventure story.

Valentine's Day.

I used to dread Valentine’s Day because I did not have a date or boyfriend with whom to celebrate. My freshman year of college I once again faced a dateless Valentine’s Day and I was dreading the day. Then God taught me a great lesson that year. It was my choice how I wanted to spend my day. I could wallow in my self-pity or I could live what the day represented. So I choose to have an awesome day and share God’s love with others. So I bought a box of valentine day cards, candy and a bag of suckers. I gave cards to all my floor mates, and throughout the day, I handed out suckers. I ended up getting blessed when my secret sister spoiled me with a huge card, chocolate and sparkling grape juice. Every year since, I have found a way to celebrate the day by loving others.

This Valentine’s Day, I celebrated it as I always do. I gave gifts away. I made a cheesecake for my co-workers at the bank, which they all loved. (The girls complained about the calories but I noticed that they went back for seconds.) I made oatmeal raison cookies for my manager and security guard. (My manager had been sick all week and in a bad mood. The cookies were a big hit!) I made Valentine day cards on my computer and passed it out to my co-workers at both jobs. The results: I had an awesome day to the point where I was laughing so hard I was crying and I got hugs from friends, and smiles from everyone involved. I had fun sharing God’s love to others on this day.

Unforgettable.

So this past Tuesday has etched a memory that I will carry with me for quite some time. I attended “The Last Chance” this past Tuesday night and once again served as an altar worker. This one scene I touched my heart so much that I do not ever want to forget. I saw two young girls walking down front. One was crying as she came, coming down to make a public statement of her acceptance of salvation. She had to be around 10 or 11 years old and she wanted Jesus Christ. Those tears undid me. And everything about that night centered on that young girl who is now on the path of living a life with a Saviour who loves her.

An Amazing Night.

Ever have those nights that will be etched in your mind for a long time and may, if you allow it, change your life? Last night was such a night for me. Normally the one behind the scenes putting together the final details to make sure everything runs smoothly, I took a step of faith into a new servant's role that I have often times left for others. It was an amazing experience for me and I cannot wait to do it again.

So what in the world am I writing about? My new home church is conducting the evangelistic outreach program called "The Last Chance." Created by the creators of Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames, this cinematic theatric event is an opportunity to reach people with the truth of heaven and hell and a person's choice of eternity. Several weeks ago the church was requesting volunteers. Normally I would take the service opportunity to run errands or stay behind the scenes but at the suggestion of a new friend, I signed up for the position of altar worker. I will be on the front lines.

Last night I showed up at the church. I did not sit through the program as you might wonder but instead they had the altar workers gather in the prayer chapel and spend the time of the show in prayer and intercession for those in the sanctuary to heed the calling of God and accept his gift of salvation. That hour plus time was so full of God's spirit, voices raised in intercession for the lost in the sanctuary, that I did not want to leave the room.

As we moved to the side doors, waiting for our cue to enter the sanctuary to hand out salvation cards to those who came down front, I was just waiting in anticipation and excitement to see the people who made the decision for Jesus Christ. I stood there praying even then and the slightest noise just seemed to be in interruption to the Spirit of God that had enveloped me.

The moment came and we went in. The aisle ways, the front, the side areas were filled as hundreds of people came down front in response to the decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. It was an amazing feeling to stand among them, children, youth, adults, fathers with children. I cannot wait until the tomorrow night when I get to go again.

An Update

So life continues to get hectic and busy with all those little details that can seem to sneak up on a person. But for those of you who have been tracking my new journey to California, here is what is going on:

As of today, I am about 98% finished with my application to Fuller Theological Seminary. My test scores are in, my application is in, three references are in, and so are my housing and financial aid applications. I am only missing one more reference which I am following up on to make sure everything has come together. I am not sure when I will receive the final word on my application but it will be in the next month or two.

So beyond that I have been working on my taxes from 2007 so I can apply for financial aid through the government and comply with the tax code of filing taxes. My taxes are going to be so interesting with two state tax forms, six months of self-employment, and four months of regular employment. I will need extra help getting those done.

Plus I have been looking at housing in the area of the school as well as the school housing offers. The school has a studio/loft apartment option that I would really love to get. Plus I have been looking for job opportunities around the area and have been applying even now to see what might open up for me in the coming months. There are a lot of great opportunities, including working at Fuller as well as another known school called Azusa Pacific University.

So with all that going on in my spare time, working my two jobs which my hours vary week to week, and volunteering at my church for their evangelistic outreach for the next two weeks, life has gotten really interesting lately.

But the temps have begun to rise into the 60's, the skies have become blue again, and the sun is shining all around. Life is good and I am loving every minute of it.

A Hopeful Romantic

For the past few days, I have been watching this one movie, Syndey White. A modern day adapted version of the old fairy tale Snow White, Syndey White was not a huge blockbuster hit and it is a bit teeny-bobbish in its content, but overall, a really cute movie with a good message. Amanda Bynes plays a college freshman who lacks the refined, elegant graces of the Kappa sorority but brings in a fresh, comic face to the otherwise stuck up Kappas. Somehow through her interactions she has snagged the attention of the BMOC, Tyler Prince. Due to a humiliating experience with the Kappas, Sydney will not have anything to do with the Greeks which Tyler is one of the leading ones. But Tyler is not willing to give up. Thus, the story line leads the watcher to this very scene...

The scene begins in the college library with Sydney studying at a cubicle. She is looking at the names carved on the desk when a red rose is placed on her desk. The guy who placed it there begins to sing a melody. Sydney of course is confused and tells the guy that he has the wrong desk. A few seconds later another rose is placed on her desk, and another guy adds his tune to the first one. This happens two more times until there is a four man harmony humming a melody. Then they begin to sing, "When I See You Smile" with Tyler Prince stepping out from behind a stack of books to serenade Sydney. Sydney asks Tyler if he has lost his mind for him to only answer that no, but that he will keep singing until she agrees to go out with him. She says no, so he begins to sing again which she quickly says yes to shut him up. Although Sydney is embarrassed by the whole scene, she really likes Tyler and enjoys the roses he gave her. Tyler walks away with a confident smile and disappears behind the stack of books from which he came.

For the realist in me, I know that it is only a scene in a movie that these actors were paid to play. Even though at first, I thought the scene was corny and if it happened to me in real life, I would be embarrassed and ducking my head as Sydney did.

But the hopeful romantic in me finds the scene very enduring and my favorite scene in the whole movie.

The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

This journey of taking His hand and jumping has taken on many different facets that I am still absorbing all that God is revealing to me.

I first heard this song at The Fuse, the young adults service at Calvary Temple. I thought the house band had written it so I did not search very hard for it, but the words buried deep in my heart even then. Last night I was working my taxes and had worship music going. This song came on from one of my new CD's. I had to put it on repeat for this song, this spirit, this cry pulled at me. I love the imagery of sitting at the feet of God, content, loved and resting against him so I can hear his heartbeat. The intimacy, the closeness, the relationship, His love is so overwhelming but everyday I want to delve into His love. I pray that this song also speaks to your heart.

A Foreigner's Faith

He was a Centurion. He was used to being the big wig, the one whose orders were followed without a second guess or questioning word. He said “go” and that person would go. He would call for a certain person, and that person would drop all that he was doing to meet the demands of this man. Now this Roman wanted Jesus.

He was Roman. Jesus was Jewish. He could have ordered Jesus to come to his office and if Jesus refused, he could have had Jesus punished. Yet even before the cross and its purpose were obtained, the power of a Saviour had reached the heart of a Gentile. Before Paul was ever sent to reach the Gentile world with the amazing salvation of Jesus Christ, this Roman believed in Jesus.

The Centurion sent for Jesus because his beloved slave was dying. With incredible words, the centurion tells Jesus, “if you say the word, whether you are here in this house or in another place, I know that your word will be followed out. Jesus, you do not even have to come all the way to my home, but even if a messenger brings your words to me, whatever they are will be fulfilled. Lord, even if you do not send your words to me but say them right where you are, those words are carried out.” And Jesus stops in his tracks, turns to the chosen people of God and says, “not in all of Israel have I found such faith.” In my inadequate words, the centurion’s faith was this: If Jesus said it, it would be done. No questions, no musings, no discussions, no debates. Jesus’s words would be done.

Once again I find myself at Starbucks, indulging myself in my favorite drink from this place, their Strawberries & Crème frappuccino. My mind is swirling with the events and information of the past two days. Bits of words and conversation from a dear friend keep resounding in my mind as I, through human eyes, view the main event in my life. The decision to go to graduate school.

Although the visit to the school was good and I have a peace about the surroundings, I think that I waiting for this “ah-ha” moment, waiting for the light bulb to turn on to confirm probably what I already know that I am suppose to do. I think I am waiting for this rush of emotions and passion to surge through me to the point where I cannot imagine doing anything else but this one thing. Truthfully that has not happen but the words from a conversation yesterday keep blowing through my mind, the words of a friend when he said, “sounds like you have a passion there.” I have not told my friend that his words stopped my train of thought at the moment he said them nor that they have not left my mind since. But in my mind, those words rest, causing me to revisit the story of the Centurion whose faith in God even astounded Jesus.

Being the detailed-oriented person that I am, I know all the logistics that will go into moving to Pasadena, finding housing, finances, and the schoolwork. It is daunting to say the least. Part of me keeps trying to find another path to it that will not be as trusting as this route but I do not think that will come. This time around I am going to have to take a deep breathe, close my eyes, run, and jump straight into the pool of faith, letting its presence wrapped completely around me, drenching me completely, and believing that I will reach the surface to breathe. That will take the faith of a centurion.

The Visit.

Something as a visiting a school should be a simple feat. For me, it entails an interesting twist of adventure. Being a born and raised Midwest girl and the largest freeway that I have driven the most is the one that wraps around the metro side of Des Moines, the prospect of navigating my way through LA traffic was not a thought I was very excited about. But to pursue the journey that is before me now included such a journey down the cement pathway of opportunity.

I woke up yesterday morning all prepared to gather my things, pack the car, and a file folder full of maps and directions. I walked downstairs to get a drink. A quick glance out the window brought a damper to the excited emotions churning in me for what I saw would be an obstacle; I saw fog. Not just a few clouds here and there or a misty veil that draped itself along the land to provide a translucent view of the world. No this fog is the heavy, cottony blanket that makes the world disappear within a few feet. And yet, with determination and a prayer of protection, I packed my car and ventured out.

The drive down to Los Angeles was not bad considering the fog that hugged the land and blotted out the sun that tried so desperately to light the land. With its steely, gray color, I would have thought I was viewing a Midwestern winter day rather than the sunny day of the land of eternal sunshine.

Navigating myself between various freeways and cars, I finally arrived to my destination. Well, sort of. As I mentioned before, any road trip for me always entails a certain aspect of adventure. (Just ask my friend Marla.) Mainly I get lost. But thanks to the inherited gene of navigation from my father and the ingenious invention called a map, I always seem to find my way back again. Such an adventure happened on this trip as well.

I know that I was watching the exits carefully, looking for the number or street that I was suppose to take, but I swear to you, I never saw it. Following the road to its very end, I turned onto a street that I did not know and continued to follow it, wondering if I would find a street that I should now. Not knowing if I was heading north, south, east or west, I just kept turning around to repeat the path I was traveling. With a bit of navigation and a quick look at a map, I found my way to Fuller Theological Seminary with a half an hour to spare before the night's events.

I found the Guest House where I was staying for the night. My check-in experience was unique. I was given a room which I did not request and was quoted a price much higher than previous stated. After a bit of discussion I was given a new room at a lower cost. So I went to my room, opened the door and went inside to settle in for a few minutes. I went into the bedroom only to discover that someone else was already assigned the room. I spotted handwritten notes for assignments, a pile of books and a closet full of clothes. Luckily no one was in the room at that moment but I hurried out there quickly, just in case the occupant came while I was there. I went back down to the check-in, explained the situation and was given a key to the original room that I was assigned. As I was leaving, the occupant of the room I hastily vacated was behind me because his key would no longer work. (I am not making this up!)But I got all settled into my room, leaving me five minutes to freshen up and get to registration.

The visitation night was good and I got a chance just to be on campus. I did not get to see much of it since night had already fallen but I got a good sense of being there. The city itself is very beautiful and active. I felt quite at home in the area and had a great sense of peace being at the school. Now, I await the final steps of application and the final word of acceptance which will not come for another couple of months. Then a more definite direction can be established.

A difference a degree makes.

For those who are from the state of eternal sunshine, the bleakness of the recent days affects them greatly. The leaden skies hide the normal shine of yellow rays and with that coverage, the warmth that allows the human world here to walk around. With just a few degrees lower and a slight chilly wind, my neighbors feel as if the world has come once again into the ice age.

Yet here I am in, sitting at the local Starbucks, sipping a Strawberries and Crème frappuccino. Granted I am shivering a bit from the iciness sweetness of the strawberries, yet I am not lamenting the fact of the temperature change that has grasped the world in which I now live. My co-workers cringe when I recall my memories of my times in the Midwest, talking of snow covered streets, ice covered trees, and chilly winds. They look in horror at me when I calmly share of my previous winters of life spent locked indoors as the temperatures outside reach to single digits, and many times, a little line appears before those numbers. They shake their heads in wonderment how I could have survived living in such a state of coldness and sing praises that they have not had to live where cold is the norm.

As I listen to the complaints of how cold it is from those who truly do not know what a winter should be, I chuckle softly to myself as memories of snow covered cars, ice covered trees dance in my head. I smile gently to myself as I listen to them adamantly state that they will die if they ever lived in a state where snow is common as the sun, yet memories of snow angels, snow ball fights, and warm nights snuggled indoors watching a new movie slide before my eyes. Just to throw in a few gasps of horror, I will spin a tale of wild blizzards and icy nights, yet deep down inside I know that I do not miss the very things that my co-workers fear. I do not mind the winter I am experiencing at the moment. It is nice yet what I miss is the beauty of the sunlight dancing off the whitened land, sending its glittering beauty to every eye who stops to breathe in the brisk newness of the day. Now that I miss.

The Joy of Christmas.

This season has been so nuts and crazy. I had not worked in retail during the Christmas season for a long time. I forgot how crazy it can truly get. The past several weeks of working at the bookstore, I found myself behind the register without a moment of breathe between customers. Just when it seems that the line has finally reached an end, I would glance up to see that a new line had formed and stretched beyond the scope of my eyesight. I also forgot how the sales world commercializes the Christmas season so much and how attitudes and temperaments can exceed the rudeness scale like no other time in the year. I am so glad that this time has finally passed.

But the past five days is what Christmas is all about; well, at least for me. Love was always at the center of Christmas. A love that started at the beginning of time with God and then expanded to family. I heard love in an excited, small voice in a little boy that captured my heart from the moment I held him in my arms. For the past few days, I heard words such as this"

"I love you Auntie Kara."
"I am so glad that I came."
"Where's Auntie Kara?"
"She's Auntie Kara!"
"Auntie Kara, play with me."
"I told them that you are beautiful!"

I spent this Christmas with those I love the most, my parents, my grandmother, my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephew. Having them here was all that matter. It was hectic, it was crazy. I had to sleep on the couch with the cats walking over me at midnight or later, but I would not trade any moment for any amount of money or for the all the gifts in the world.

One moment that I will cherish since it is quite a new memory is hearing my brother request prayer so that our family would not lose sight that Christmas is about Jesus Christ than the presents we received. He lead our family in prayer right after we opened our presents. Another amazing gift that cannot be bought. This was a good Christmas.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

For all those of us who grew up watching the cartoon will like this movie. It captures all that we remember from those cartoons with the remake of the original songs that they all sang. A good family movie with no profanity, no sexuality, no violence. I laughed at a few moments, had my memory jogged at a childhood memory. My nephew had so much fun and the whole theater rang with the sound of his laughter. It is a good movie to watch if you want a fun, good-feeling movie.