A Wedding and Christmas... :)

Alrighty.... these kids: yuppers: love them. This is Koby and Sophie... They are my friend Stephanie's kids... Her eldest son was the cause for the wedding, lol... as he and my friend Terah wedded at, you guessed it, 10:15 am... INSANE, I tell you, insane. No, it was actually, quite breathtaking. I should have taken a picture of the wedding: 'cause it was so elegantly beautiful: with all of Santa Barbara in the background, but of course... I had shut my phone off for DURING there ceremony:) Anyways... so yeah... these are my kids. Love them. I get to spend Thanksgiving with them... so that's QUITE exciting... we're all going to go watch Santa Clause 3 at the movies!! INSANITY! I LOVE IT! :)

The following is regarding Christmas... well, and fall and winter. So basically: I love the weather here... I really do. Getting to wear flip flops and sandals pretty much all the time.. but guess what guys: I've come to miss the rain... and the snow... AHHHHHHHHHHHH. can YOU believe it... 'cause I can't. I just miss the "essence" of... well: everything. It will be like 3pm in the afternoon: and I can just picture all of the leaves that have fallen: and the smell of freshness and OXYGEN.... and the future coming of snow... but there is none to be had here. So: even though I am a HUGE fan of NOT listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving: I have begun to listen to Christmas music already. I made that decision yesterday. I had wondered why people are "christmasy" already out here: and I think that's why: they have to put themselves in the mood!! ahhhhhhhhh. craziness. well, must flee. love ya' all.

...one of the best weekends of my life...

No lie. I just had probably had one of THE best weekends of my life. It was spent in Big Bear, CA... Big Bear is basically at the top of a huge mountain that terrifies you to drive just in a car: so imagine going up and down on a bus, lol.

Anyways, it was an 18-30's "retreat", lol, which ended up being not so much of a "relax and sleep" retreat, but a conference... and it was amazing. The theme of the retreat was "Soon...": symbolizing, the Rapture of the church. See, Reality and Calvary Chapel churches doctrinely teach the Rapture of the Church... (yay!)... so the weekend's focus was totally on that. And how we should be living right now... as He could return at ANY moment! Even before you finish reading this (or me typing) blog! HOW AMAZING IS THAT?! WHAT AN AMAZING GOD WE HAVE! AND HE CALLS US HIS CHILDREN. He is truly more than anyone can ever think, feel or imagine. Praise His name.

Oh yeah, and at church, we often sing this song, called, "Hallejuah Jesus"... and it's one of those songs that, you can't even handle singing it all... 'cause you can't: you seriously just in such awe and praise of Him that you can't handle doing anything more than just thinking. Anyways... so, just so happens: the guy that wrote that song was the Praise & Worship leader for most of the camp:

and so yeah. He's amazing. check out that song and more at www.myspace.com/evanwickham You won't be disapointed.

anyways, so the weekend was amazing. Definitely enjoyed seeing leaves on the ground and the (*Gasp*): 40 something weather, lol. But mostly: there were 2 moments that I honestly thought Jesus was going to come for us right then: 'cause I just couldn't hold in how much I loved Him at those moments. Amazingness. That's our God. My arms: seriously are sore from having them raised for so long. PRAISE HIM.

another, "IT'S OFFICIAL"....

I am legally allowed to drive on the roads--by MYSELF:

BECAUSE I JUST PASSED MY DRIVERS TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)