Almost to Christmas...

We're just finishing up the third week of Term II already! I did well last term, considering the laments of my previous blogs, with a B in Hebrew and Church History, and a C in Old Testament (and a Pass in Spiritual Formation). Not the 3.5 GPA I wanted, but I'll take it!
This term I have continued Hebrew, Church History (the Reformation), Prophets & Psalms, and added New Testament. They're all pretty good classes, and thankfully, it doesn't seem as overwhelming as last term. I don't know if I'm just getting acclimated or if there really is less reading than last term!
The readings on Luther have actually been very interesting, and I've read 1 Kings, Amos, & Mark with 2 Kings, Hosea, Matthew, & Luke on the reading list for the break. Thankfully they haven't loaded us up too much over the break.
We're counting the days til we leave for Colorado! We leave the morning of the 20th and fly to Denver to stay near Sarah, Rob, and Rilo through Christmas. Sean and Megan will be coming over the mountains to see her mom and Tom in Colorado Springs, and then they'll stay in Denver Christmas Eve so we can all be together on Christmas! Yeah!!! Then they're driving back to GJ in the afternoon to be with Megan's dad for Christmas dinner.
Kim and I hop the train on Saturday morning the 26th and ride it to GJ where we'll stay with my sister Ellen til the 30th when we ride it back to Denver and fly back on New Year's Eve. Seems long, but I know it's going to go way too quick - and I can already see that we're going to want more time with Rilo after the GJ portion!! But we'll take what we can get.
Three of my girlfriends and I sang in a Christmas program a couple of weeks ago. It was so neat because it was hosted by the NIA group at the seminary (I believe the word means "diversity") and the program had us 4 white girls (actually, one Asian!), an older student who played a really mean recorder (yep, recorder, and I'm serious!), three different African-American groups - one a rockin' gospel church choir, another more of a praise band (but not like I'VE ever seen in church!), and a youth group that did interpretive dance/rap. It was awesome. About as diverse as you can get, and everyone just really enjoyed it and appreciated each other so much! THAT'S why we came to the city!
Last Saturday night our church had its annual "Light Up Night" where they had a parade with marching band, bagpipers, horse and carriage w/Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus, and camels! Then the family came and were in the stable with other farm animals, there were stands with free kettle corn and frito pies. Inside was the Urban Impact choir (probably 75 youth) doing some really rockin' Christmas songs, cookies and goodies, a prayer station, and Christmas trees decorated by country (probably 8-10 of them). It was only from 6-8pm, but it was amazing and they had a huge crowd. It's one of their larger outreaches to the community. I was an angel by the stable and at first handed out candy canes and later free new testaments. It was really impressive, and thankfully it didn't snow or rain.
The next morning was the rain, and then it froze, and churches all over were closed! Luckily most of our folks are local so we were all there. I tried walking (since Kim had to work - and got there before it even rained), but it was WAY too slick. My girlfriend picked me up and we drove the 4 blocks to church very slowly! Ha! I now understand about ice storms! With all the hills and bridges around here, when they happen everything just stops.
Last Friday we had a gift exchange at the house with all the Friday night folks...I've posted our group shot here in the upper right corner. What a bunch of great kids - and some not kids! It was such an awesome evening. Not just a big group, but real connecting with each other throughout the evening. I've printed out the group shot on an 8x10 to frame it. They truly are our Pittsburgh family.
Kim is making more connections as well and has started meeting weekly with one of the guys and just talked with another about meeting with him weekly as well. I think maybe he's finding out one of the reasons HE's here. These guys want mentors in a bad way, and they've come and asked Kim to share his life with them. Pretty cool. Kim is honored, and so are they...a good combination.
Our friend Brian, a single dad with four kids (ages 2, 3, 10 & 12) will be staying here while we're gone, to watch Charlie. He and the kids are really excited...I hope Charlie survives! I feel bad that it's going to be such a drastic lifestyle change for her. I'm sure she'll make it though.
Well, two more days of school then it's break time!! (Kind of!) Can't wait to see our kids, grandson, and many GJ friends and family. We are blessed.
I pray this is a time when the love of Christ is very really for you. For us it certainly has been. Blessings to you this Christmas.
~Sally