Oh Boy(s)!

This weekend we had the privilege of hosting two boys from Uganda. They were part of the Children of the world choir that visits our church each year.
I was called Friday morning and the church was in a frenzy because they didn't have enough host families. Me being me said yes without even thinking or consulting David . and of course me being me panicked as soon as I hung up at realised what I had done. Then I went into a flurry of cleaning and laundry and grocery shopping in preparation of their arrival, all the while thinking what am I going to with 2 boys for an entire weekend?

overall the weekend went well. We had Swaibu (11) and Shadrach (8). we played Lego's, massive amounts of uno(which Swaibu liked to cheat at) went to the movies and took the "train"(BART) to a near by town and wandered around the mall. there were only a couple times where Shadrach broke down and pouted because he didn't get his way but overall they were well behaved, ate all their food, including massive amounts of ketchup with almost everything i served and generally were well behaved, good natured, smiled and laughed alot and called David and I "Auntie and Uncle" it was a good experience and I'm glad I agreed even before I thought of the ramifications.

today at church all the kids performed and it was great, I cried and admired on like a proud mama. It makes me even more impatient to have my own. I wish we were in a position right now to sponsor a child of our own through World Help (http://www.worldhelp.net/) there are so many needy children out there and in the grand scheme of things $30 a month is not that much. someday we will though and I will know exactly where the money is going, to awesome and deserving children.

(Swaibu is in the background and Shadrach is in the foreground)

I Love Christmas

So Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, I cant even begin to describe how much I truly love it. the lights , Christmas tree, carols, every last bit.

This year I have found that I can love the season even more than I thought I could. This last weekend was crazy busy but every last minute was truly the Christmas spirit. Saturday we had the Christmas banquet at church. we haven't been able to go the last 2 years because of lack of funding, but this year I was bound and determined to go, heck I was even on the committee to help plan it, I was in. Well once again there was major lack of fundage and we just couldn't find the 25 dollars a person for tickets, well long story short someone found out we wernt going to be going and they bought our tickets for us! I am continually amazed by and blessed by my church family. This isn't the first time a need has been filled by someone at my church, as Toni so aptly put it a while back, its the body of Christ working the way it should, and it makes me cry. needless to say the Christmas banquet was amazing and it was mostly because I looked around and I belonged, it is home.

I was recently reminded that I am home here, I belong. I've always had this feeling that I didn't really belong and despite being a christian for most of my life, I was reminded that it wasn't so much that I have found great friends and a church family (which I truly have) but its that I belong in Jesus and I am actively seeking the plan he has for me and not the perfectly (ha!)constructed one I have for myself.

Yesterday we had a guest worship pastor, Rick Muchow from Saddleback Church, Rick Warren's church. The leadership had the chance afterwards to have a little get together and he gave a little bit of his testimony about helping grow saddleback and it gave me a renewed spirit to step up and help in youth ministry.

This weekend was very and long and very exhausting but it was so great to get to celebrate the spirit of the season with a great group of people.

the icing on the cake was a cookie party tonight where everyone baked cookies and then exchanged, it had been a long day and it was fun and relaxing and cozy, complete with a crackling fire and warm apple cider.

God makes me smile and I am so thankful that despite the fact that I'm jobless and don't know where rent is coming from next month I am truly loved by him and he knows where my rent is coming from!

my memory verses for discipleship this month, Phil. 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.