highlights

top 10 highlights from my last week in the states...in no particular order!

1) LB and I went to Wilmington and did some MAD shopping. She was a huge help and we accomplished a lot in a few hours...even getting lunch with her roommate!

2) Going to see Yes Man with LB! Not the greatest movie I have ever seen but it was funny. I still want to see Marley and Me, 7lbs, and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button!

3) Spending time with Haley in Greensboro, and quoting Sue from "Surprise Party"

4) Finding my pink hair brush. I was in Greensboro back in November for something with the Board and left my hair brush. I am sure the lady in housekeeping thought I was crazy, but she found it and returned it to me...for some reason it was really exciting!

5) For the last 4 years I have spent New Years in Greensboro at CCC Winter Conference. And I decided that was how I wanted to spend this new years! It was such a fun night...singing p&w, praying in the new year, and then having a crazy dance party! I am still recovering from staying up till 4am, but it was so worth it and a lot of fun!
6) LIFETIME REUNION. All 5 of the lifetime girls got to eat dinner together on New Years Day. It was the first time we had been together in over a year! I loved living with these girls my junior year of college...it was always a party :) We have added 3 boys to our group...a husband, baby, and fiance' 7) Surprise Party my dear friends threw for me. I had no idea and was totally surprised. When I walked in the house and they yelled SURPRISE, I was so confused, thinking it was a surprise birthday party for someone. Then I started looking around the room and seeing faces of dear friends and realized it was for me. It was a special night.

8) Spending intentional time with each of my friends, while being in Raleigh :)

9) Sunday! My last Sunday in Rose Hill was filled with some very special moments...RHBC is like family and it was a joy to share with them about my upcoming trip. My parents hosted a goodbye party at the house afterwards, which was so nice and good to see people and say goodbye!

10) The last few days I have been busy packing and trying to organize my life. Sometimes I get really stressed when I think about all I have to do and how its not going to happen! Then I remember Who is in control and I rest in that.

Alright enjoy the pictures :)

Rose Hill

When people ask where I am from, I normally just tell
them eastern NC - because not many people have heard of Rose Hill. With a population of less than 2,000 it is your typical small town - no fast food restaurants, no movie theater, no mall, nothing much really. BUT I loved growing up in Rose Hill! Even though it was all I knew I loved it, I love the people and the memories I have of growing up here. When I think about my childhood one of the things that stick out the most is playing outside with Daniel and LB. Our house is surrounded by woods that are full of lots of exciting things - animals, cemetary, deer stands, old vehicles, etc. Every afternoon after school and HW, we would venture out into the woods to find a new place to play and hide. Dad would cut out trails for us to walk, bike, or drive the go-cart through. And everyonce in a while we could talk my mom into letting us sleep out in the woods!
One of my cousins in a real history buff and when he found out that there were some old graves out behind our house he just had to go. So the day after Christmas we all piled on the golfcart and headed into the woods....Daniel and I hadnt been back there in years! It was so fun to drive around and be back in the woods where I spent so much of my time as a little girl. I had forgotten how beautiful it is out there.




Everyone is home for Christmas...can you tell we like Volvo! Our house could be a Volvo Advertisement!

Christmas Day

My family LOVES to sleep and so we didnt even get up on Christmas day until 10am! It was so nice to sleep in. Once we did get up we did stockings, opened gifts and ate a big, yummy breakfast - cheese grits, breakfast casserole, fruit, and coffee! My dad's family arrived around 3pm, and we did Christmas with them. Probably my favorite gift was a coin collection (of the 50 quarters) that my Grandma Price has started for each of her grandchildren. My aunt finished it and gave it to us for Christmas. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas dinner together and then played games! It was so funny watching my parents and aunt/uncle play catchphrase...lets just say the whole night was out of control. It was a great day, full of special memories and sweet time with family. And a wonderful way to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

more updates

When I left ILC on Thursday, I was glad that I didnt have to drive the 4 hours back to Rose Hill. Instead I headed to Suffolk to see my good friend Megan, she is home from CA for Christmas. Since I saw her last she got a diamond ring!! It was really good to see her...we did a lot of sleeping, watching movies, catching up, and even some fun wedding stuff. I left Megan's on Saturday morning and drove to Kinston for Christmas with the Washburns (my mom's family). It was so good to see everyone and just be together. I love my family and am so thankful for the values and faith we share. My grandparents have left quite a legacy to their children and grandchildren. Here are the "four older"ones...before reading the Christmas story and singing Christmas songs and PRESENTS! yayyy All the grandkids and MawMaw and PawPaw.

So from Kinston, LaLa and I went to Nashville, NC to see the Dempseys. They had an open house at their house for their church and it was great to meet some of their new friends. I also got to share some about my upcoming trip. It was so fun to see Coleston and Rylen...they are a mess...and will be 5 and 7 when I come back! WOW. Coleston rode back with LB and I to Rose Hill and kept talking smack about NC State. I told him I was going to pull over and leave him on the side of the road! About 10 minutes later I did pull over so he could go "pee pee!"
So I finally made it home to Rose Hill on Sunday night around 9pm. Elizabeth was here to meet me and it was refreshing to see her! She just got home from living in Argentina for 14 months and now I am leaving...so we have gotten real good at being long distance friends. We headed to Wilmington on Monday to see Katherine, Shelly, and Catherine and do some Christmas shopping.

Here I am with Catherine and Shelly...my suitemates from Sophomore year! It was so fun to be with everybody. It really just feels like I am home for Christmas break and will head back up to Raleigh in January for school. Then I remember I am going to Raleigh in January...only to fly across the ocean!

GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING.

This is my new favorite Christmas song. It is so beautifully written and beautifully sung. I love how the song builds to portray the truth of the Gospel and the gift of Jesus.

My whole life has turned around
I was lost, but now I'm found
A baby changes everything

That sweet baby that was born 2,000 years ago has certainly changed my life. To think that God Almighty came to us in the form of a baby is incredible. I love celebrating this season of Christmas. My hope and prayer for tomorrow is that with every gift I receive and every gift I give I will remember the gift of Jesus and how that has forever changed my life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

January 8th, 2009

One month from today I will be on a plane to Turkey! WOW. I cannot believe it is approaching so quickly. But I am excited and I am ready. To think that God would call me to go and plant my life overseas is beyond me. I really cannot wait to be there...to live there! To meet the people and build relationships. To learn the language. To teach...oh to teach, I cannot wait :) I have lots to do before I leave. Lots of goodbyes and packing and at times it is overwhelming all that has to be done. I love this Amy Grant (DUH!) song. And I am clinging to the fact that it everything is going to be all right.

Looking out to the hills,To the setting sun

I feel a cold wind Bound to come

Another change, Another end I cannot see

But your faithfulness to me is making it

All right I fall down on my knees

Tell me that it's all right, You give me what I need

Years of knocking on heaven's door

Have taught me this if nothing more

That it's all right, what may come

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Last night a group of us went into town to get dinner at Jason’s Deli. Never been there before but it was quite yummy! And while we were out we found these amazing houses that were decorated for Christmas. These families are undoubtedly embracing the Christmas Season. Seeing these houses got me so excited and brought me so much joy. I started blaring the Christmas music in my car and just had to take some pictures.










I love Christmas….the cards…the music…the decorations…the weather…the colors…the parties…the food…the church services…the whole Spirit of Christmas. I could go on and on and on, but the point is that I just love Christmas. The season is so merry and bright. It is full of love, as we celebrate a happy and joyous season. The anticipation and excitement that comes along is so fun! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
But my very favorite part of the Christmas season is the reason behind it all. Jesus. Immanuel, God with us, was born. He came to live among us, to give us life and hope and joy. He came to save us and present us holy before God Almighty. Jesus is the reason for the season…the reason we have joy, the reason we celebrate, the reason for it all. And no matter your religious affliction, this season of the year is celebrated around the United States. It is the one time when majority of our nation is accepting the Good News in some way or another. In Luke 2 the angel said, Behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for ALL PEOPLE, for today in the city of David a Savior is born, He is Christ the Lord. And what good news it is. Praise God.