Crashing California

(a holiday breakfast for two) Well, seems that Christmas has come and gone for another year. For me this year, two things highlight the season. This Christmas Eve we were a part of a Christmas Eve service at the church that we've been going to :Generation Church in Oceanside. We did 3 services and one "midnight mass" of sorts. I got to play piano on one song (!!!) during the first three services, (and sang, of course ) and Jay played electric. Then last service of the night, we gathered at 11:30 p.m. as the Winter rains sprinkled down on Southern California and sang and lit candles and truly worshiped God. A memory special to me, was the last song of the night, Silent Night, where everyone in the congregation lit candles and we sang the old classic acapella ... it was such a precious moment, I will not soon forget. Christmas morning was totally chill, I made "Wifesaver" (thanks Momma H.!!) Jay and I opened gifts (Jay got a new hoodie and I got a great new eas...

(Photo from my JC Christmas Party last Saturday -- they had a photo booth set up with props -- was pretty fun) I am right now as I type, filling my face with Minestrone soup from the cafeteria downstairs and thinking of how warm my insides feel. It's been a good and busy week for me. My supervisor is now officially coming back for the 22nd, which is a comfort to me, since I am tired of doing everything here at JC's CS for the last 3 weeks, it's been good, and if one thing, at least is shown me, to myself that I can hold my own, but i am indeed only one person -- I need my supervisor here, and I am SO GLAD that the hectic pace is almost over. It's been an absolute juggling act between JC work, freelance work, home time, visiting and music stuff. Though "the band" is taking a wee Christmas Break, with some good thinking and praying and deciding where we want to go next year (and with *whom* we're going to go there with). I am playing piano more, and want to ...

Our Show last Thursday (for M. and others) The black and white's are taken by Kristin, John's fiance ... the color's are from Peter. Enjoy =) love, a.

It's been a very busy 10 or so days -- we've just finished a visit with Jaci this last week, which was really good, but honestly felt a bit under-rated, I wish we could have spent more time with her, but with work for both of us and no times off, it was hard -- but it was a good visit. We dropped Jaci and Jay's Dad off at the airport this a.m. and had sort of a quiet drive back In all honesty I've had a rough week and a rather anti-climatic-feeling weekend, and I'm having trouble feeling "Christmassy" at all. There is no snow here (obviously), none of the tell-tale signs of "Christmas in North America" (snow, christmas music, buying and wrapping gifts, baking, the feel-goodish feelings of peace on earth and good will to man) for some reason all those things are elluding me at present Rather I feel overworked -- AT JC inparticluar (my supervisor has taken an extra week, and perhaps even more, so all the stuff is falling on me, and keeping me non-s...

Life keeps flying by -- that's just the way it seems to be. And I suppose it doesn't get any better as we get older. I've been "manning the fort" here @ JC CS for a week now ... so far so good, but I do miss my supervisor -- who is on medical leave until Dec. 15th. People everywhere seem to be going on holidays now, for Christmas already (can you believe it?) so the office is getting sparser and sparser. But I don't feel lonely, if anything it's nice to be able to pour myself exclusively into work here (though I have to say my freelance is beginning to suffer some) and it's not getting any better, because ... Jaci (and Jay's dad) are here for 1o days!! Their trip was pretty short notice, for us and them, so I admit it did feel a bit weird yesterday, kind of like, anti-climactic meeting of sorts, but when we finally did show up at their hotel to say hi, I hugged Jac and I just didn't want to let go! It's so strange, with everything that has...

Well, tomorrow is American Thanksgiving ... Jay has been super sick for the last 4 days, but we are supposed to be going to a friends house for dinner. It's crazy what a big deal it is down here ... I mean, I guess it does make sense it is "their" holiday (as one co-oworker informed me today!) so I am going with the flow. And even though it is an American thing ... I find myself (at this time) missing family, I guess that comes with the "holidays" ... which are in FULL swing down here now. Work this (short) week has been CRAZY busy ... well, not CRAZY, just steady (which in JC terms is like hold the freakin' phone) it's nothing I can't handle ... though I "miss-slept" on my neck somehow last night and today I cannot move my head in two directions. (yah!) so, I've been in pain and dealing with business and been fighting the "feeling-fairy" all day. (It's amazing how when you are down physically, your mental condition just ...

1 mission 1 God 2 Years since we left home thousands of miles driven 2 cars that get us there 6 different roofs (that's "ruffs" in american) over our heads 4 churches 1 beautiful ocean many people some good friends some broken relationships others fortified stronger 3 jobs 1 provider 1 band / 3 brothers 8 songs to an audience of 1 affecting many 2 changed lives, for the better Happy Anniversary =)