So yeah..........anyone who reads this must've figured out that I either live an extremely exciting life or an extremely boring life since the last time I posted was in (GULP!!) August! Well, it's usually the latter, so you haven't missed anything.  It has been a good fall, although it's been very busy with 'mother-ish' stuff, including being a spectator at soccer games and volleyball matches. . .working part-time at FHS (here's to those lucky people who work as 'nutritional providers in academic settings', AKA 'lunchladies'!). . .lots of laundry. . .lots of meal preparations (We eat a lot of 'crock' during various sports seasons!). . .sometimes homework help, sometimes counsel-giver (Lord-willing, it's wise counsel). . .all the time prayer warrior. Along with that, I continue to enjoy teaching Sunday school lessons to 3rd/4th graders and being council time leader in AWANA to K-2nd graders. Along that front, I'm toying with the idea of starting some sort of Bible club/class/thing in my home for neighborhood kids who have never been told about Jesus' love. It's been on my heart a lot lately, but I'm just not sure of the timing of it. I'd love to have another sister in Christ, maybe even a sister of color, as a co-leader, but not sure of that either. I feel sometimes that AWANA is too 'churchy' and that the kids in my neighborhood just wouldn't get it. . .I'm just praying about the whole thing. Bottomline: THEY NEED JESUS! I've been getting to know the family across the street pretty well. They are a family of color--mom, dad, and 3 kids, the youngest of which is autistic. It's been quite a journey for me to walk alongside the mom as she fights for services from the public schools for her autistic son--an eye opening journey of just what the public schools are like and how they treat people of color. Let's just say it's not a pretty picture. . . I am looking forward to opportunities to encourage her and share God's love, grace, and mercy with her. Today was our annual family Christmas get-together on my mom's side. . .oh man. . .am I ever full of sugar!! My aunts are all such good cooks, so in addition to a fabulous 'bring a dish to pass' meal, there were soooooooooooo many sweet treats, as it was also a 'cookie exchange'! I'm not going to eat again until tomorrow lunch, I think!!  You've heard of 'bluetooth technology'. . .well, this is 'blue tongue technology'! This is my brother and Mell--he is never serious!! Can you tell. . .? This is my littlest niece--my brother's daughter. She was quite entranced by Rudolph's red nose.  Christmas break is going to be too short for all the things we want to do over the week and few days, I think. One thing I need to start thinking about is helping Matt get ready to go to Lock Haven in mid-January. I have such a peace about him going--it's not a "Boy am I glad he'll be out of the house!" sentiment, but more of a "Yes, it's perfect timing. . .thank you, Lord!" sentiment. So many pieces have fallen together due to God's grace and mercy. | 
