[ Special Moments, Lasting Memories ]

Christmas in California

It took 5 long days to get out of Chicago to San Diego. But the way I look at it, a travel situation like that will probably (aka "hopefully") never happen again... And, I was able to get a nice reimbursement for my airplane ticket. Sweeet! Thank you Jesus!

As for California, wow, I don't know where to begin...

My week and a half spent there was so full and packed, in the best possible way. Looking back, I'm not sure how I kept going at such a busy pace, but I'm glad I did because now I'm home with loads of new memories...

Some highlights from the trip...

* Being reunited with so many dear friends on New Year's Eve * Meeting new friends from all over the states and Canada * Our winter retreat in the breath-taking mountains (at 6,000 ft!) * Times of worship together * Dancing! Lots of dancing... :) * Good conversations by the fire * Laughing very hard with friends * California Sunshine * Making snowmen and having snowball fights in the mountains * Knowing I will see my beautiful friends again *

Ironies of all ironies, my flight from San Diego to Philadelphia was cancelled on Wednesday morning. That's where my amazing Dad who works in the airline industry comes in yet again. He got me on another flight safe and sound. Love you Daddy! ;)

It's supposed to snow here tomorrow. I just bought a used pair of Columbia snow pants today for 7 bucks, and I'm looking forward to using them. But I'm sure I'll be thinking of my friends I spent these last few weeks with and our time together. I'll admit it's really hard adjusting to not being around so many people. I can't wait for heaven. :)

Love you all,
kristen

I Promise

...to update soon. And by soon, I mean by today or tomorrow. ;) Life has been a little busy.

Until then,
k

Surprise 5 Day Trip to Chicago

My oh my, life is a wild ride!!

I left my house in Pennsylvania on Friday morning with a simple plan: Take a short flight to Chicago, have a 2 hour layover, then fly to San Diego for 2 weeks of fun, friends, and sun.

Instead, today is my fourth day straight in the Windy City. And it actually began in misery...

When I arrived Chicago, I went to the gate where I would catch my next flight to San Diego. The airport was so crowded, and I was anticipating separating myself from the massive groups of people around me. 1 hour later they announced a delay, and all went down hill from there. The delay for my flight grew longer, and the Chicago sun was setting. Then, the worst news came: my flight was cancelled. I was struck with panic.

After waiting in long lines to get re-booked on another flight and a failed attempt to pick up my checked bag along with the crowd of hundreds, I found myself lying uncomfortably on an airport cot eagerly awaiting the morning when I could leave the airport. But unfortunately, my next flight canceled as well. My heart dropped.

The insane crowd, news cameras,and pessimistic flight schedules on the boards made me want to give up. I decided to call my friend Bonnie who lives in Chicago. If I didn't reach her,I was ready to make myself comfy in a hotel room for a while...anything to get out of the airport.

In an amazing act of kindness, Bonnie answered her phone(in the very am on a Saturday morning) and picked me up at the airport. I have been staying with her and her family until I leave on my re-booked flight to San Diego tomorrow.

My friends have shown me such kindness. They are AMAZING! And our time seeing Chicago has been so FUN! (This city was on the top of my "to visit" list!) God is so good. Who knew this situation would turn out to be filled with such great memories?!


Bonnie and I visiting "The Bean"...It's one of the coolest things ever!! :D



Full shot of the bean!



We walked to the Sear's Tower (one of the tallest buildings in the world!)It was soo cold that we were laughing so hard because we were so numb!



You can see the train on stilts...one of my favorite things about this city :)



Here's the Griff man!! He really likes to eat and cuddle...and watch TV...:)



Bonnie and I took a little ride on the Train on stilts today...We saw some really pretty sites, but Bonnie's was by far the new Trump Tower(Back Left)...You can ask her about it someday if you'd like. I'm sure she won't get tired of talking about it.;)



"We were bad...like P-H-A-T." -Anonymous (aka Bonnie)




One last funny conversation...

Bonnie: You know, Picasso made that statue right there. Gary, can you look up that statue that Picasso made?
Gary: Sure...
(Meanwhile)
(Speaking like art afficiandos) Kristen: Where is Picasso from? Isn't he from Italy? (Kind of arrogantly) That's just a guess...
Bonnie: Yeah, I think he was Italian, so he probably lived in Italy...
Gary: PABLO Picasso was born in Spain. He was SPANISH...PABLO! It wasn't "Tony Picasso"...It was PABLO.

.......Five minutes later after we're laughing about the previous conversation.......

Gary (on his laptop): ...HOLY COW, that thing weighs more than THE BEAN!!!

......From a previous conversation three days ago.....

Gary (still on his laptop): Yeah...Bon Jovi is from New Jersey...(sigh...)
(long pause)Hum...Bob Saget is from Philadelphia!....And Joey Laurence, Kevin Bacon, Peter Boyle........AND TELLER!!

(PS) The Bean = 110 (short) tons!
Picasso's Mystery Statue in front of ultra-large Chicago Christmas tree and where Rob Blagojevich is going to be tried = 162 tons!

(PSS) On this trip, I have seen more (lookalike) celebrities than ever before. Just imagine...The Olsen Twin's Sister ( I don't really know what she looks like, but if they had a sister, this is what she'd look like)...Orlando Bloom...John Mayer...and Rick Steves (from PBS Travel Show). Bonnie wanted to have a special dinner and invite all my friends. ;)

'Ello again... :)

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope today was really special for you all. :)

It has been a relaxing day here at our house. Besides having yummy meals together and giving each other some special gifts, the highlight of the day was taking our dog over to a nearby nursing home to visit the patients there. My Dad organized our time there, and it was such a great memory. Seems like what Christmas should be about; loving one another.

Well, the good news is that I'm headed out to CA in tomorrow morn. :) The bad news is...I just began packing about an hour ago. Christmas is just too busy of a time to think of much else! haha

I'm really anticipating my time out there...good friends, the beach, time away at a retreat, warm(er) weather...what could be better before starting a new year? I smiled when I saw these perdictions on weather.com:

Tue, Dec 30 - Mostly Sunny, 70°
Wed, Dec 31 - Mostly Sunny, 70°
Thu, Jan 1 - Mostly Sunny, 70°
Fri, Jan 2 -Mostly Sunny, 70°

As strange as it sounds, I look forward to some undivided time on the airplane to catch up on journaling and reading... :)Please pray for safe travels.

Anyhow, hope you have a great time between Christmas and New Years!

All the best,
Kristen

Just Because I Can't Forget...

I can't tell you how great it is to be home in Pennsylvania. Spending time with kids in my preschool class or in my neighborhood brings so much life into my world!

But I'll never forget China, the people I love there, and my friends who continue to help the cause. Please don't be done using me there Lord...

Few have said it better...

"Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer."