trains, planes, & automobiles...

Okay, okay... minus the planes.. but what an adventure it was getting to NJ yesterday! Phew!  I had my first ever Amtrak experience. (sidenote: I decided to leave my car in Norfolk over break and hitch a ride with a friend who was driving to Baltimore, then take a train from there to NJ)

And what an experience it was! Who knew the fun you could have on public transportation?

I decided to keep a running list during my 2 1/2 hour long ride. Before this list let me explain that I have never been in the Baltimore Penn Station before and had NO idea what to expect.  Was it like an airport? Was it like NY Penn Station? Was it even a building? Do I "check" my bags?  Who knew???

Turns out that Baltimore Penn Station is a building, a little like NY Penn Station, a little smaller.

Now for all the funny things that happened to me today (in my mind I laughed a lot...)

• a man at the newspaper station convinced me not to buy the apple crisps I was trying to purchase with my coke and Real Simple mag.  Without looking up he said to me..."These are $4.99.." I took it as a hint that I should not buy them..
• a fellow Mountaineer approached me and started to talk WVU.. thank God for WVU apparel in public places. :)  He was too cute.. and 75 years old, married, with two grown children.. only 2 grandchildren.. his son is 45 and unmarried.  
• I encountered a handful of Spaniards who were in America on holiday.. their English was excellent! But they did create quite a frenzy in the seats next to me.
• Grandma to my left speaking on her cell phone at a completely inappropriate decibel... apparently the money she loaned her friend was still available if she needs it.. 
• Grandma to my left hangs up... glances at texting Spaniard and gives her unapproving opinion of the Text Messaging trend.
• European teenage girl.. maybe she was 20 something... lunges down the already cramped aisle
• 3 sneezes from the man behind me..
• me sitting in an aisle seat....ouch elbows..
• 2 more sneezes from man.. swine.
• I think I hear Uncle Louis from Christmas Vacation a few seats ahead of me.. turns out its not Uncle Louis... just his voice.. as he talks to stranger next to him.."In 1950 when I was fighting in Korea..."  "I think Obama is making a huge mistake in Afghanistan.."   "Tiger Woods... what a jerk."  Way to hit on all of the hot topics Uncle Louis.
• I start to wonder if there is such a think as a snack car on this train somewhere...still somewhat a mystery.
• I learned the ins and outs of the universities in Spain, Germany, and America.  Also how to cheat in college in Germany.  
• Yes, it is official, there is a snack car on this train.. in fact they sell Bud Light cans. Interesting..
• Yes! Although I got separated from my mountaineer friend, we met up again at Metropark!  He made me smile :)

What a day.. what a day!  I didnt realize I'd learn so much from a 2.5 hour train ride.  Thanks Amtrak for getting me home safe and sound.

You may ask what I did with all my luggage.. cause I was also a bit unsure what I was going to do with it... but here is my big suitcase... in view from my seat... the red one on the left. ;)

Ornery...

I got to see her today :)

light, lights, lights!

a good friend from the area took me and Amy to see the boardwalk Christmas lights in Virginia Beach.  It was so fun!  They even give you a Christmas CD to listen to as you drive through the lights on the boardwalk.  It was especially fun to see the crazy waves in the ocean... remnants from the Nor Easter we had that week.

tis the season!

Snow in Colonial Williamsburg!

What a lovely, lovely evening in Colonial Williamsburg!  When we got there it was verrrry chilly. We ate at the Cheese Shop and before we knew it, the flakes began to dance outside! Soooo magical!

very snowy

the marching drummers and piccolos, look at the snow!

in the candy shop

caramel apples :) mmm..

in good taste.

an irish blessing in the book store

a fun night.

Thank you Jesus for the snow!

*Celebrating Semester One*

Thanks to Brooke who took the time to make this! What a great way to celebrate all the God has done these past 16 weeks!

Glory in the Highest

Tonight our staff team celebrated Christmas with Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Christy Nockels in Virginia Beach.  What a fun night! I laughed, cried, and worshiped.  Louie Giglio brought the word... never had I heard a better rendition of Luke 2, the Christmas Story.  He invited us into the first Christmas night in Bethlehem and taught how God came down into the nitty gritty of this broken world.  I loved how he illustrated the night of Jesus' birth and how the circumstances surrounding His birth were so far from perfect in the eyes of the world.  Mary and Joseph were probably looked down upon for supposedly conceiving this child out of wedlock, it was tax day, and this child would be born in unsanitary conditions in a cave on the side of a mountain.  Imagine that you were Mary at this time.  Consider for a minute what was running though her mind.  Consider the exhaustion after traveling to Bethlehem.  Consider the uncertainty and confusion and dealing with the stares of judgement from outsiders.  Consider Joseph and his role in it all. Phew!

John 1:14 tells us that "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." 

or in the Message Version "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood."

God decided to come down to earth.  He became flesh, human form, in the form of an infant.  I love how the message version says that He became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.  He came TO us. Humbled himself and moved into our neighborhood! In the midst of the brokenness, sinfulness, and self-gratifying ways of the world, HE MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US.  I don't know what is a more beautiful love than that.

Amy, Matt, Brian, Brooke and me

me and the girls with Christy Nockels

always love a party.

Last night we had our Cru Christmas party for the ODU students here at mine and Amy's place.  It was really fun to decorate and entertain at our apartment.

The Blessing Tree

Everyone that came in was able to write a blessing and add it to our Christmas Tree.

It was a fun way to keep our hearts focused on Jesus during this busy Christmas season.

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." -John 1:16

Me and Laurin

Staff Team Love

The men.

o christmas tree...

I am loving our 7 foot christmas tree in our apartment! Gives the room a nice glow and it is quite festive!  ODU Cru christmas party at our apartment this Thursday!

Ornaments from my mom. M for Matt, A for Amy, and K for Kristin ;)

gingerbread + icing + candy = sweetness!

Thanks mama for the ginderbread man kit!

Tidewater Scope

I love maps.

Here is a map that shows the colleges in our scope for Tidewater. We currently have movements at Old Dominion Univ. and Christopher Newport Univ.  Would you continue to pray for the Tidewater Launch?

Interns Unite.

Soul Sisters

I wish I could articulate how blessed I feel by the sisters in this picture. These girls make my heart happy and I LOVED seeing them this past weekend in North East, Maryland at our Crusade Regional Staff Conference. Back in August we spent a week together in Valley Forge, PA as we briefed for our first year internship. From left to right in the above picture, Moe is interning at UVA, Sara at WVU, Lindsay Lifelines at UVA, Sarah at WVU, me at Tidewater.

It was so fun to connect with these girls last weekend. I loved talking about life as an intern and doing full time ministry on our campuses. They get me and the crazy life that we live.

I am so thankful for these ladies and the friendship we have in Christ and in the Crusade Family. Can't wait for our time at Radiate!

One reason I love Beth Moore...

Beth Moore is crazy about coffee too...

:) I read this as I sip my medium coffee with cream and one sugar from Dunkin. Due to the power outage our cream and milk suffered. To-go coffee this morning. I feel your pain Beth.

lookie, lookie!!

This makes for one happy girl. Just down the street! Opened a week ago! Thanks DD.

got mah hurr did

Meet some [fun] CNU Students!

Halloween

Happy Halloween, friends!

I forgot tomorrow was Halloween. I did find it rather strange to see EVERY talk show host dressed up for this silly holiday including, but not limited to, Hoda & Kathy Lee, Racheal Ray (and guest Rosie O'Donnell), Ellen, and Jimmy Kimmel. So funny.

Check out these cuties ;)

Love her.

I LOVE this child.  Sometimes I wonder how much I will love my own children if I love her this much. The only time this child stops smiling is if you pull out a camera.  She is just so darn sweet and is growing up so fast. I can't believe she is already 18 months old. (btw she belongs to my friend Brianne, who I grew up with in Neptune City) I got to see her this weekend!

Sweet Aubrey Grace

Olivia Newton John protege'

Uncle Patty

with her Favorite Aunt and Mama

Quick trip to Rahway.

During my 48 hours home this weekend, I got to spend a few of those hours with Cait!

We had a fun (rainy) afternoon in good old Rahway, her new place of residence.

I loved reminiscing and catching up on life. Did I mention that she is getting married! SO exciting.

We laughed.

And drank Pumpkin Mocha Lattes in a yuppy little town.

She even took me for a ride in her new wheels.  There it is in the background. ;)

Jae, wish you coulda been there!

Thanks for a fun afternoon Cait.

The James River

Sarah & Amory took me to this beautiful surprise

last week in Newport News :)

Share a Sunset!