An afternoon off...

I'm currently at Panera enjoying the bottomless coffee and free wi-fi. It is 70 degrees outside and Christmas is only 3 days away. It feels strange to not have snow, although I did pass a lawn yesterday that was covered in white batting, does that count?

I am looking forward to Christmas break. After we are on Jay Leno tomorrow we will head to camp for nearly two weeks. We will go to a Christmas Eve candlelight service, enjoy Christmas day together, and a numerous amount of other events together. For me that is the key to this Christmas break that will make it wonderful: together. And to top it off my family is coming to visit and I am so ready to see them and spend time with them.

Over the past week I have realized some things and so I will share some of them with you as I enjoy my third cup of coffee:

1) Good conversation is good for the soul. At a host family the other night we sat and talked for two hours. It was great and needed and made me feel at home.

2) People need to be encouraged. The Word tells us this and it is so true. I am realizing that my time to encourage the children and other chaperones is NOW. Every day I have the opportunity to sow truth into each person on this team.

3) I miss driving. It may seem silly, but it has been two months since I have driven and the urge to jump behind the wheel sounds amazing.

4) You don't really need that much stuff to survive. Living out of a suitcase I even feel like I have too much stuff, I can't imagine the purging I will go through when I go home after tour. I like living with less, it somehow simplifies life.

5) I love my friends. I realize how blessed I am. And I miss them. A lot.

6) Sleep is important. Actually it is vital and I am a much happier person when I have more sleep.

7) Wrapping Christmas presents while listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate is wonderful.

8) God has ordained every step that we take. In a conversation today with someone we were talking about how each day, each stay, each place is exactly where God wants us for some reason or another. This isn't limited to the good things or easy things, but everything.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Those are a few of the things on my mind...may you have a very restful few days before Christmas. And remember the real reason we celebrate.