Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad! Wow. To express thankfulness for all Christ did for me coming down as a baby is impossible. I am so incredibly thankful for the love of my Savior, that "God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." I, a sinful creature, can have eternal life. Not only that, I have the presence of my God with me all the time! What greater gift is there than that! What a wonderful God I know and serve! John 3:16 was my third graders' memory verse this past week. I absolutely LOVED hearing them say those words, the words that tell us God loved us enough to send His Son down to die for us. It was amazing having them explain to me what that means and how we can get to heaven. I so often take for granted all that my Savior did for me! May this year be truly different. May I live each and every day in awed reverence of what My Savior did for me all those years ago. My students were amazed that Jesus came over 2000 years ago. Yet the offer he gave 2000 years ago still stands today. Wow.

Christmas this year has been different. My family was able to come down and visit me here in the DR. They spent last week at the beach while I taught. They came down and met my students last Thursday. To say my students enjoyed it was an understatement! Eric played some games with them, and my family also did a craft with them. I loved showing my family my life down here. I was able to go spend time with them last weekend at the beach before we all came down here. What a beautiful country I live in! I was able to go surfing--yes, surfing over Christmas. I am used to going skiing in the snow, not surfing in the ocean! It was great. My dad, brother, and I also had the experience of going to a Dominican baseball game. Boy was it different than any other game I have ever been to! Let's just say I should have worn earplugs! A group of guys were playing the drums and horns and ended up sitting right behind us for a few innings. Trying to talk to each other was impossible! Santiago's team won, and it was a great experience, despite the noise.

The night my parents came in, we had an SCS teacher and staff banquet. Amanda, my roommate, and I had dresses made for it. It was nice to get all dressed up and celebrate Christmas together. I also was invited to one of my student's houses for a Christmas party. They have one every year for all the teachers who have or have had their children. The whole extended family has children at SCS. Paul was so excited for me to come! I was a little late, and he was out pacing the balcony waiting for me. Every time the bell rang, he would run and see if it was me! I love that my students still think it's exciting to hang out with their teachers. We played a couple card games and Battleship. It's neat seeing my students outside of school.

My family left this morning, and I already miss them a lot. I am so glad they could come see my life down here in the DR. I can't wait to see them again in another 6 months. It seems so far away! My friend from Emmaus, Katie, is coming tomorrow to spend time with me. I am excited to see her and show her around this beautiful place!

Today, and every day, may you stand continually amazed at the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason we can have hope! My prayer is that each and every one of you will know the hope of the risen Savior! Merry Christmas!

Life

Hello to my blog readers. I do not know if anyone even checks this anymore, since I struggle to update it. Hopefully I will get better at updating! As I sit here in the 70 plus degree weather it's hard to remember that Christmas is coming. The Christmas music I am listening to doesn't seem to fit. I am excited that Christmas is near. I love this time where we sing and talk about and meditate on the birth of Jesus. What a wonderful gift! God has given me several other gifts recently that have reminded me how amazing he is.

Gift 1: A voice! This is really made me realize that everything I am, everything I have, and everything I do is totally and completely His. He can take away and He can give back. I have been able to talk since Tuesday. It has been nice. I also realized that sometimes it's better not to talk because what I say is not necessary. Hopefully I will remember that.

Gift 2: Being back in the classroom. I missed my kids so much! Though they sometimes drive me up the wall, I love them. I have received about a billion hugs the last couple days, even from my little boys! They are sunshine to me. I hope each and every one of them come to know my amazing Savior. Please pray that God would open their hearts.

Gift 3: My parents and brother are coming TODAY! I can't believe it is already December 13th! That day has been in my head for months as the day my parents come. It's hard to realize that that is now.

Gift 4: My friend Katie is coming the day after my parents leave. I will only have to spend one night alone here. Wow. I am excited to show her around and relax with her.

Gift 5: Grace. I love that God shows me grace each and every day. Praise the name of Jesus! I am so grateful for the gift of His Son! I pray that you will feel His grace today.