December 31st, 2008

Greetings! Hope you all enjoyed the snow/ice/freezing rain/more snow/rain we've had in the last week or so and survived the cabin fever if you were snowed in. Even if you were not snowed in, unlike me, hopefully you still enjoyed the snow and were kept safe. It was really interesting watching people in their cars trying to attempt to drive up our hilly street in the snow and ice, thinking they could make it up. A lot of them only made it up to the first street and went down that street instead of going backwards or continuing up. I, along with my sister, with my dad's help, made it out of our neighborhood Friday and took us to work. I also worked a few hours on Saturday before going to the Blazer game with my sister and niece that night, which we won 102-89 against Toronto. Sunday I went to church where a good message was spoken by one of our younger pastors in 2 Corinthians 5. It was nice to be at church again since the last two services had been cancelled because of the weather. I am hoping that what they had planned for this Christmas Eve service they will do next year. Oh, I also went in to work a few hours on Sunday afternoon as we had to get ready to transmit payroll on Monday. Because of the holiday tomorrow, we had one less day to get payroll in and done.
I bet you want to know how Christmas went. 2000 years ago, a baby was born to Mary and Joseph, to be named Jesus, Son of God. He would be the one to save the world and be known as the Messiah. Now, the present...we had our own family Christmas as we always do on Christmas Eve evening, only after watching the movie, The Nativity Story. We decided to watch that rather the read aloud the story from the Bible as that would be of more greater detail and visual of how it came to be. Christmas Day we had probably 10 different plans of how the day was going to go. It finally ended up as my brother and sister-in-law came as far as about three blocks away and then walked up to the house. Celebrating with my aunt and cousin will happen in January. A nice time was had by all that afternoon, and then we watched the Blazers lose to Dallas on tv. Hope you had a nice and blessed Christmas.
Work was crazy on Monday as we scurried to get all the branches done and ready to be sent. Last night, dad, my sister and I went to the Blazer game where we played the world champs Boston Celtics. Now, the first half, I don't think the refs liked the Blazers, although I don't think they really are to like any one team. Plus there was a lot of cheering and screaming at this game. Second half got really exciting and close. Guess what???!!!! The Blazers win, the Blazers win!!!!! You heard it correctly! Final score 91-86. You also know what? They won without Brandon Roy...he had an injury and didn't feel good enough to play. I must commend the Blazers for their teamwork, AND we outrebounded them 42-29.
Last, but not least, it is what it is! The Blazers are now 19-12 heading into 2009 with a win. Hope you all have a good and safe New Years!!!

I would say 'White as Snow'

I say that because of what the weather has done this week and right now as I am typing this post. It is snowing and has been off and on all this week. Last weekend when we were having our Christmas choir/orchestra weekend at church, I was standing by the door looking at the snowfall. There were a couple of guys also looking and one of them said, 'He washed us white as snow' referring to how Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins and make us white as snow. To see that beautiful white stuff falling from the sky and hearing that comment, it really spoke truth. I am so glad that we had that celebration last weekend as we just found out that they canceled church service tonight and 1st service in the morning.
Speaking of choir and orchestra, as I mentioned before, we did Send the Messiah again this year. Saturday when we rehearsed it, it didn't go too well, and I had said a prayer that we would do better in service. Well, it was almost fine Saturday service and then we went through it Sunday morning before service and did a lot better. I hope everyone enjoyed the services that came and celebrated the season with us. The pastor told a Christmas story using a stuffed lion and lamb which I thought was cute for visual aids.
Two Saturdays ago, I went to my great-great aunt's 90th birthday party in Canby. She is on my mom's side of the family and I got to wish her a happy birthday, and she looks really good for being 90 years old. Actually, her birthday is right after Christmas and they figured that would probably not be a good time to get everyone together. On that same day was my great-aunt's birthday so it was like a double birthday celebration. There were a lot of people there I did not know at the party but there were people on the 'other' side of her family that we hadn't met. So, after the party, I left with Alyssa and went to the Woodburn outlets to do a little Christmas shopping. That was fun as we don't get to do a whole lot together just the two of us. I treated ourselves to pretzels before we left, which were really good. Once we got out of the parking lot and out of the traffic and taking a detour because of an accident, we got to church late. Service was good though and we had group afterwards. I taught in our group last weekend and I thought it went pretty good.
Well, I hope you enjoy the snow and be safe and warm these next couple days. I do have to thank the Lord as He kept my sister and I safe getting to/from work each day this week. Some days were not full days but I think our bosses were happy we made the effort to get in. Bad timing though as it was a payroll week at my work, but managed to get it done.

Winter is soon upon us

Wishing you December greetings! Here's a 'freaky cool' thing that happened. In my last post, I did my word study on manifest. In services at church the next day, the pastor talked about being manifested in the word and what it meant (to set open, understand). It's so cool how God works in that way. For instance, at the last Women's Bible study meeting, one of the ladies shared of when she was in Chicago visiting family. The church service that weekend studied the same passage from Romans that we were studying here!
'Tis the season for preparing the house for Christmas with decorations. We have been doing that since the weekend after Thanksgiving, and we got our live tree to go in the living room just this Monday. It's looking more and more like Christmas around here. Especially with what the weathermen are forecasting for this coming weekend with the super cold air coming in and more than possible snow showers. Winter is definitely around the corner! Speaking of this weekend, it's the annual Christmas choir/orchestra services. We had another rehearsal last night and it went well and at a faster pace as we had to get through all of the songs. Also this Saturday is the Tuba Christmas downtown which of course Dad will be there playing, so please pray for everyone's safety and health.
A couple weeks ago, my niece's school did a fundraiser/Christmas caroling event at a major bookstore in town. The family went and listened to the two ensembles play familiar carols and we sang along to them. It did make me get a bit teary eyed...I think because some of the words spoke to me and brought back the memory of when my family played carols at the center where my grandparents lived a couple years ago. The kids all did a great job, and there were other groups from the school as well.
Speaking of my niece, she has started basketball practice with the school team. I just found out that she will be a point guard on the team which will be a good challenge for her. I have enjoyed watching her play basketball in the past so any games I can go to this year will be exciting.