Go Andrew, it's your birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!!!
Don't grow up too fast! :)
Your auntie loves you!

*Insert witty/symbolic/serious title here*

When it's too hard to come up with a title for your blog, maybe you shouldn't, but I am anyway :)

IT'S THURSDAY!!!
The day when I work my last early shift for the year 2008!
The day I check my school mailbox for the last time in the fall 2008 semester!
The day I am still not fully packed and leaving for TEXAS!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!
It's a good day :)

Every Christmas (for the past 2-3 years, ha) my roommate and two of our best friends (basically roommates) celebrate Christmas together. We hang stockings, which are gradually filled, set up our 2.5 foot Charlie Brown Tree, make hot chocolate and brownies and enjoy each others' company.

Merry Christmas, girls :)

On my walk to work this morning...

...the sky was a brilliant teal color. This cell-phone picture does not do it justice, by any means, but use your imagination :) It was beautiful.

Enjoy the day!

Faithfulness

This post is a mix 'n match of stories from this week...

Post office faith...
Yesterday was my last opportunity to get Christmas packages mailed out to my siblings! Oh what a day... After my 8am final, I grabbed my 4 big packages and my wallet from my room and scuttled to the campus post office. When I got to CPO, I opened my wallet as they weighed the packages, only to find $27 in cash and some change. Now, the cost of mailing A package at Christmas time is about $15 from Chicago. You do the math...4 packages...$27...not enough (mind you, it's a cash only post office). I stood at the counter, wishing/hoping/praying that somehow I wouldn't have to take some of the packages home, trudge out in the snow, find an ATM, withdraw money, and go back to CPO before work at 11am. God likes to laugh with me sometimes. They rang up the bill...$27.21. :D Dingdingding! Packages sent!

Conversations...
A few nights ago, Jesse and I were meeting two of our homeless friends to celebrate Christmas with them. They weren't able to show up, so Jesse and I had dinner together. As we were getting ready to leave, a woman sitting at the table in front of us gets our attention and smiles so calmly :) She asked if we had a few minutes to sit and talk with her, so we did. It was providential that our friends did not show up--we spent the next hour or so talking with this lady, Ava was her name. Her Bible had been open to Genesis. It was one of those texts that had be scribbled over with years of wear, highlighting, special dates, prayers, and sermon notes in the margins. Back and forth, we shared Scriptures of God's faithfulness to the people in the Bible as well as His goodness to us. She is walking through a "dark valley" as the Christianese would term it, but her hope is so strong. Ava is homeless by way of identity theft. It's a very hard situation for her ethically--she's not sure if she should sue those that did this or if God would have her forgive and make due. Please pray for her wisdom and that she would not seek her own revenge.

Real life, real world...
I work for Moody's Customer Service Center and answer phones. These are some true story examples.

Speaking slowly...."Hello...I had called once before to ask for prayer...I need it again. My name's Bernice...I just became a Christian...I have no Christian friends. The man I'm living with is not a good person...a very controlling man. Please pray for me...I have no where else to go." This was from one of my calls yesterday at work. Please pray for her. She was in tears over the phone by the end of our conversation.

A Pakistani gentleman named Habeeb called today. He told me he is a Muslim but he listens to WMBI all the time when he can. "I wish we (Muslims) had people like Moody Bible people in our religion...we need them!" There was a program on the radio a few days ago that was talking about the organization Jihad Watch and some books about Islam from a Christian perspective. He was so excited and wanting to learn what the Bible would have to say about faith. Truth is so appealing, yet so hard for the lost to find. Pray that God would reveal the truth to Habeeb and bring him to salvation.

Thoughts from a silly college student...
I just put Christmas lights up in my cubicle...they twinkle :) I'm happy.

BE BLESSED.
Em

Little bits of winter

In the fall...

my walk to work...

snowing...

the city :)

Merry Christmas :)

So this is Christmas...

I am such a romantic. Have you ever watched all those old black and white Christmas movies where the main character contently crunches through the snow, passing by window displays of toy trains and porcelain dolls...or how about those fabulous (over-dramatic) hallmark movies where tragedy takes hold of a couple's life, they grow apart the days before Christmas, then after decorating their trees alone and realizing their need for each other, they get back together in time for Christmas eve :) *sigh*

Every time I take a walk in the city, I think, "Why can't real life have a soundtrack?" The chorus of violins never seems to take my cues: "Okay, this is a sad moment! Play something depressing!" A taxi honked once, though! ;)

Where are you this Christmas? I've tried to get in my usual reflective mode to evaluate where I've been these last few months--have I learned and if so, what? How have I impacted people? Where do I go from here? I think these questions are good and serve their purpose. Be encouraged to really learn the art of reflection. How can you move forward if you don't know where you've been? God gifts us this gift of memory and a processing mechanism to work through it. Take advantage of such.

As you think through, be mindful and watchful of people near to you--not necessarily just those you know. I read an incredible book last night titled, "Days of Glory, Seasons of Night." The daughter of a famed missionary described her families struggles through life and rejection. Her older sister was an outward example of everything a Christian young woman should be, yet her journals and letters reveal an open wound of a life. She committed suicide at the age of 28, not because she doubted God's love for her, but because her anxieties were so overwhelming that she could not hold her head above them. No one knew of her struggles until after her first failed attempt to take her life. We all have heard that suicide rates rise during the Christmas season, much due to the fact that it's hard for people to be alone during these special times. OPEN YOUR HOME TO THOSE THAT ARE ALONE. No one should dread Christmas or "celebrate" it alone.

Be glad for this season. I know it's hard for non-snowed folks to understand the concept of winter ;) but the idea of a season for things to die off and wash out seems sad. Spring comes soon, though, and new life grows. This is the whole idea: regeneration. God gives us some wonderful visible examples for what He does in our lives.

This morning, Mike Kellogg, one of the famous radio voices of WMBI, is coming to chapel. Every year, one day at the end of school, Mr. Kellogg sits in his big leather chair, the auditorium lights dim, and he reads us Christmas stories :) A room full of young and old adults reverts back to childhood as we listen to stories of snowflakes and Christmas cookies :) Create Christmas traditions in your families...they provide wonderful memories for your kids when they are grown.

Blessings,
Emily

Turkey Day!!!!