One true meaning of Christmas

Every holiday season my family and lots of our friends from church experience one of the true meanings of Christmas.  It usually comes about 2 weeks before Christmas day and there are no physical gifts on the receiving side for us.  However, as they are receiving gifts from us they are giving us a gift they don't even realize.

                                                  

The Austinville Church of Christ has hosted the "Adult Handicap Christmas Party" for as long as I can remember.  I have no idea when it started or how many years we have had this party, I just know I look forward to this party every year.  Each December we are blessed to welcome many adults and children who have various neurological disorders and are intellectually delayed.  These precious guests still have a child-like mind and truly enjoy the holiday of Christmas.

This year we had a special guest, the real Santa Claus was able to join us! My mom works with a wonderfully nice orthopedic surgeon from Birmingham who dresses up in a real Santa suit and visits his patients and many other children during the Christmas season.  When Dr. Killian heard about our party he volunteered to come to Decatur and play our Santa.  Dr. Kilian was joined by his elf, Dr. Mayberry, who is his partner in Birmingham.

The expression our guests had on their face when Santa and his Elf entered the gym was priceless.  Their innocence and pure joy about seeing Santa was all the reward we workers needed that day. As Santa found his chair, a long line formed on the red carpet while each guest pulled out their wish list to read to Santa. He sat patiently as they read him their list and explained why they should be on the "Nice" list this year.  Each guest received a present from Santa and a hug after talking with him.  A couple of our guests took it upon themselves to re-see Santa three or four times, just in case Santa had forgotten what they asked for or if they came up with another idea!

After seeing Santa, each guest made their way over to the "Build A Bear Workshop". Many of Santa's helpers were eager to assist them in making a bear to take home or give away as a gift.  They were able to pick out a bear, stuff it with stuffing, place some "Christmas Love" inside it, sew it up and put a pretty ribbon around its neck.  At the end of the workshop they were able to obtain a birth certificate and name their bear. 

At the end of day when my feet were killing me and my face hurt from smiling so much, I was able to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas I learn at this party each year.  I am very thankful for my life and for all of the blessings God has blessed me with.  I am thankful for the gift I have to work in the health care field that assists many of our guests who came today. I am thankful for my church family who looks forward to volunteering at this party and probably has more fun than our guests do.  The best gift of Christmas is truly the gift of giving and through our giving today, we received so much more than we gave.

Oh, Harry...

So, I am beginning to realize that when you start a blog you have so many things you want to write about, it’s hard to choose what to write in each entry! I have been contemplating on what tonight's blog should be about all weekend.  On one hand, I realized I have not devoted a blog to wonderful fiancé Aaron, so thought about devoting this one to him. Then I thought about other activities that occurred this weekend that I also wanted to write about.  I finally narrowed it down to one activity in particular that my dear sister Kana and I encountered together. So, I am sorry Aaron, but your own blog will have to wait, because this blog is devoted to another man who has been a part of my life for a long time...Harry Potter.


Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I am not ashamed to admit it.  I love Harry Potter.  Call me a dork, but I don't care.  I was introduced to HP about six years ago and pretty much been obsessed since then.  I have experienced so much fun and excitement reading and re-reading the series of books. I loved how my imagination was taken on a wild ride with each page I turned.  I loved it when a book was released and I would read for about 48 hours straight because I couldn't put the book down!  


We all know the movies are not as good as the books, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was pretty close! I absolutely loved the movie! I wasn't a big fan of the movie HP and the Half Blood Prince, so I was little nervous of what the director had up his sleeves for this movie. At the end of the movie all I could say was Wow! The entire two and half hours I sat in my chair, in a packed movie theater, in shear awe and amazement.  There were so many scenes in the movie that were very similar to how I imagined them in my head.  Isn't that such a treat when the picture in your head is how others see it too? I have to admit there were times I was nervous and scared for the characters, as if I didn't know what was going to happen to them! Yes, there were scenes in the movie that were not in the book, or times the movie didn't portray a scene correctly. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my night watching HP.  Thanks to my awesome non -HP fan sister, Kana for agreeing to go with me! 


The final chapter of Harry Potter is coming to theaters this summer.  HP and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is coming out on July 15, 2011.  Well, I will be on a cruise headed to Egypt, Turkey and Israel at that time.  Are there movie theaters on cruise ships? Maybe Aaron and I will make a pit stop in some foreign country to enjoy the final chapter of the beloved story of Harry Potter.

                                                    In London at Platform 9 3/4

                                    Midnight Deathly Hallows Release at Books a Million

                                          Midnight showing of the Order of the Phoenix

                                                                           New York

                                                               Daniel Radcliffe in person!

                                                Harry Potter snowglobe from Aaron

Two Friends Growing Up

My senior year of high school I was chosen to attend Presidential Classroom in Washington, DC.  It was a weekend long conference focusing on the world of politics with hundreds of students from all around the world. So there I was the only person from the state of Alabama . I was fasinated with people of various cultures and traditions and all they kept wanting me to do was talk for them to hear my accent "one more time" . Who knew I would meet one of the best friends I have ever had. 


Robert and I met in the middle of the week at P.C.. Instantly we knew, we were as different as night and day. Robert was from New Jersey and I was a southern girl brought up in the Bible belt. Yet, some how our frienship clicked.  After our week in D.C. we kept in contact through cell phone conversations and instant messaging.  When my family planned a road trip to New York that summer after my graduation we arranged to visit Robert and his family in NJ. I now have made countless visits to NJ and NYC to visit Robert and his wonderful family.  I even convinced him to fly to Alabama and stay for a week! We have so many funny and memorable memories from our adventures together and I am so grateful for them.


Well, I received a text from Robert this week saying he and his beautiful fiance Stephanie have set a date for their wedding.  I teased Robert that he would get married before me, but he totally proved me wrong.  They have set their date for March 24, 2012 in New Jersey.  Since there is no way Aaron and I are waiting that long, looks like I'll be the first one to say "I do". 


My friendship with Robert is truly unqiue.  He definantly added the gift of true friendship in my life of Love and Laughter!

                                                         At Presidential Classroom

                                             Us with two of our good friends while at P.C.

Our traditional visit to the Today Show. All of our trips to the city included this stop.

                                         The Jersey Boardwalk.  Kana came with me on this trip.

                         My latest trip to the city to see Robert.  I finally was able to meet Stephanie!

                                         Robert's family: His dad, mom, grandmother and grandfather.  What an  inviting and wonderful family I am blessed to know!

Ok, Let's see how this works!

Welcome to my first blog entry.  I can honestly say I have no idea how to use this blog.  I managed to pick out a picture, color and font I liked and I think that will do for day one.

I am finally at a time in my life where I can sit down and think about what to write in a blog.  The last two and half years of my life have been centered around school and studying.  As much fun as that was, I am excited about being able to sit down with a computer in my lap and let my mind think on whatever I want.

So here goes a new hobby and project to add to my Life of Love and Laughter