Christmas By Candlelight

December 25, Christmas Day. Personally Christmas Day is not my favorite part of the advent season. Last night, Christmas Eve is the night I look forward to the most. I don't know what it is about Christmas Eve but it is so joyous in a world that honestly can be rough. There is just something about sitting with people you care about, singing Christmas carols by candlelight. Last night I went to the 7:00 and 11:00 services. One because I sang in a trio at 7, and played with the praise band at 11. And two, because I just love Christmas Eve and worshipping and thanking our father in Heaven for putting his son as a human on earth to save us and bridge the gap between God and us. So back to the services...I was sitting there with about 400 or more people in the sanctuary and the lights are dimmed and we're singing Christmas carols and its right after midnight, so its Christmas morning and the last carol we sing is Silent Night. With about 400+ people all having candles is such a precious sight. On every verse of Silent Night, the candles we hold go higher and higher. By the third and final verse we are holding the candles above our heads. Now this is one of the most beautiful sights to see and hear! Because everyone is singing and no matter if you say you can't sing or not, it is just so beautiful. It just rounded out the whole night because Rev, dressed as a monk, talked about candles and "Lux Aeterna", the eternal light. So as the Christmas Advent season comes to a close, and we move on to the year 2010, one of my goals is to make Jesus Christ be my light inside of me and shine through me and let others see the light of him and stand in awe of him, just as I was on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!!

The Trip to the Doctors

So last night we had our first trip to the doctors for shots. Out of the ten shots I listed, I only had to get five. Last night I got three shots: Typhoid, Polio and Hepatitis A. So I have two shots in one arm and one in the other arm. I go back in June for the Hepatitis A booster and Yellow Fever. They have to specifically order Yellow Fever because it is not a normal shot to give a person. Last night, I was like a little kid, I had my eyes shut the whole time and I was squeezing my dad's hand. Luckily I went first so once I was done I was fine. I'm so glad to be done most of the medical stuff needed for Senegal. Now that it is out of the way I can put my energy in things that is more important, getting ready for the trip. I am very excited because the trip is about seven months away. I am looking forward to the different things that will happen between now and then. I will keep you all in touch with the know about the trip.

Have a very blessed Christmas!!