It's Christmastime.

We're in Savannah for Christmas, spending it at my grandparents like we do every year.  The siblings came down on Sunday, and have done all sorts of things with the cousins.

Christmas Road Trip!

Coffee + Slippers + Christmas Tree + Christmas Movies

The Cousins go skating.

Aaaaand come home and crashed.

Yes, it was 76 degrees.

Callie came down from Statesboro and we met for lunch downtown.  It was a beautiful day, and it was so good to get time with her!

Bridge + River

Downtown + Independent's steeple

Nothing beats these trees.

Christmas Dinner, Round 1. This happened Thursday night when the parents arrived.  So good.

Tonight, we will be going to the Christmas Eve service at Independent Presbyterian Church, just like every year.  There is a lot of "just like every year" at Christmas.  It's funny, I don't think I've really stopped to realize that next year, I won't be participating in the "just like every year" sort of things.  Hopefully, I'll be in Scotland, making new traditions.  For now, I'll enjoy being here.  And I'll soak up every minute.

Listen to "O Come O Come Emmanuel."  Read Luke 2.  God sent his Son to save us.  This is the celebration of his birth, the first coming of the King.

Finished.

Today, I finished.

I finished my SIP. I finished my papers. I finished college.

Last night, I had my last family dinner with Allie. We went to mexican, and blasted T-Swift with the sun roof open and the heat on. I went to Amy's and watched one last Glee with the Office Girls. I went to the Yellow Deli with Josiah and Matt. I pulled an all-nighter, going to sleep at 8 this morning for a couple of hours.

Today, I started saying goodbye. I turned in my SIP. I turned in my papers. I went downtown with Lyss. [I needed that.] I took a nap. I prayed. I watched the sunset.

I have taken advantage of living on this mountain. Of seeing the sky painted orange and pink and yellow every night. I don't remember the last time that I stopped to watch. Tonight, I did.

I came back to catch the end of hall dinner and spend some sweet time with the women of Jungle. They have my heart. I hope they know that.

Tonight, I'm going to Rock City to see the lights with the roommates + Lyss. Can't wait.

My heart is so full.

Founders Nights.

Josiah made this. I love it.

founder's nights from josiah meneghini on Vimeo.

This makes my heart want to burst.

Peppermint bark. Tea. Christmas cookies. Christmas music. Cuddle puddle.

Happy December, everybody.

[t-minus 12 days until graduation.]

The Little Things, Number Ten.

105. Advent and the Christmas season.

106. Peppermint Hot Chocolate. And by this, I mean peppermint tea brewed for about two minutes, and then three (large) spoonfuls of hot chocolate mix stirred in.

107. The first snow of the winter.

108. The squeals and giggles that arose around campus as the first flurries made their appearance.

109. Jars of Clay's Christmas Songs album.

110. Boots + jeans.

111. Laughing with sweet friends.

112. Yoga class.

113. "George Whitefield was cross eyed. That means you'll be a great missionary." Hah. Right.

114. Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's.

115. Good conversations with family.

116. Thanksgiving.

117. Late night drives.

118. Christmas lights.

119. Feeling like I've accomplished something after working for hours on my SIP.

120. Tuesday night "family dinners."

121. Documentaries. Recently, Life in a Day. Watch it.

122. iMessages.

123. Pink fuzzy slippers + leggings + x-large t-shirts.

124. The way the snow lays on the tree branches, outlining the bark.

125. 100 blog posts.

Good friends.

I know that I mention my friends a lot. I talk about how great they are and how they love me well, how we have way too much fun together and speak the Gospel to each other every day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got it.

Ok, but really.

This past weekend was CPC's missions conference. (You'll hear about that soon.) Part of the weekend was to speak in a Sunday school class about Scotland. I was nervous, felt unprepared, and was just overall uncomfortable with the idea of having to speak for over thirty minutes to a room full of people. So. I brought my friends.

Anna Clare, Caroline, Tyler and Josiah got up earlier than usual on Sunday morning and came to the church service and to hear me speak in Sunday school. (I'm still trying to decide if it was more intimidating or more comforting having some of my best friends AND my family there listening.) It went well, and we spent the afternoon eating lunch and hanging out with my family.

I really can't even begin to explain how much it meant to me for them to be there. I asked them to come, expecting a really nice, "Oh, I'd love to, but I need to go to my church this Sunday..." I should have known better. They love me, and wanted to support me.

These are our photo attempts. I'm posting all of them, because there isn't a single one where we're all making normal faces. (typical.)

Thanks for being the best, guys. I love you.

Fresh food.

Lately, I've been craving healthy food. I've been working on getting in shape (p90x. again.) and have just really wanted good food.

The kind that you don't feel guilty about eating.

The kind that is organic.

The kind that makes your body feel better after you eat it.

The kind that you spend too much money on, but don't eat it alone because that's no fun.

(And roommates are the best to share with.)

So this is what happened:

Yoga. Avocados. Hummus. Multigrain Pita Chips. Water.

Aaaand Roommates.

The Little Things, Number Nine.

88. Learning.

89. Drinking Scottish tea on a foggy day out of my blue mug.

90. The fantastic feeling of accomplishment that only comes from finishing a paper.

91. Grace that I receive every day.

92. Friends who pray for me.

93. The anonymous notes that are being left in my SIP carrel. Whoever you are, thank you.

94. Learning that I am loved.

95. Counseling. Thank you, Cov Col, for offering it for free. (Everyone should take advantage.)

96. New glasses coming in the mail!

97. The leaves that are falling off of the trees, littering the ground and crunching under my feet.

98. This view from my window.

99. Class discussions that make me think.

100. Brainstorming ministry ideas. Coffee shop at Mosaic, anyone?

101. Global Gospel Advancement Week.

102. Knowing that I have written the words, "I have to go." in my journal and on my sermon notes countless times in the last few years with every intention of pursuing the call to go. It's happening.

103. Emails from Scotland.

104. Nights involving 7+ hours of sleep.

CPC Missions Conference.

This weekend is Covenant Presbyterian Church's missions conference. CPC Chattanooga has been my home church for the past two years. My family started attending there when they moved to Ringgold from Lawrenceville, and we became members within a few months. I have been involved with the youth there for about a year and a half now, and I love my middle school girls. The CPC community is solid, and is a blessing to be a part of.

So what's the big deal? Well.

Yours truly, third from the bottom.

This is my first missions conference. I'm so excited, absolutely terrified, and really anxious to see how God is going to use it.

As I was thinking about it the other night, forming what my talk will look like and thinking through what pictures I should use in my presentation, my thoughts drifted to what could happen. My church has over 300 members. I need 180 people giving me $25 a month.

What if all of my support came in.

Seriously. What if all of my support came in? It could happen. God could say do it, and people could jump. I'm not expecting this to happen. My pessimism tends to take over and not even let me think that it's a possibility. (Which it probably isn't. It would be a huge blessing if I get ONE supporter.) But why not ask. Why not pray big? God has done bigger things. He has turned water to wine, healed the sick, and raised the dead to life. He can do big things.

Here's where you come in. Will you pray with me? Will you join me in asking God to bring me to full support in one weekend, from one church? My friends and family are already on it. Prayer makes things happen. Prayer changes things. I know it's a big ask, but why not try?

Every day.

I need this. Every day, I need this.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price... 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Other refuge have I none,
I helpless, hang on Thee;
Leave, oh leave me not alone,
Support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
In the shadow of Thy wing.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul.

November.

It's November.

I LOVE October and the pumpkin spice lattes and beautiful leaves that go with it. However, I also have a great appreciation for beards. So, considering November means No Shave November, it might be in the running for my favorite month.

Just sayin'.

Get it together.

It's time to get it together.

I've been distracted, unmotivated, and trying too hard to control. This week, it was time to get it together. I've met with all of my professors, talked with wonderful friends and mentors, and filled up my iCal with what I have to do and when I have to do it for the next two months.

"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Ready, go.

Fall Break in photos.

Fall break, according to my iPhone.

Ready to go!

Mornin', sunshine.

AC + DC

I see you, New York!

Libs.

St. Patrick's.

City.

Summit Friends!

Dan, Zac, Isaac, and Steven.

City.

Apple Store. Thanks, Steve.

Rach + scrunchie face.

Side Note: Em + Matt came down from Maine. There is no photo proof on the iPhone, but seeing them was wonderful. I wish I could have had more time with them. Guess I'll have to go to Maine.

Beach + Friends.

Beach.

Bridgehampton.

Wall Street...

Occupy it.

Subway.

Greenwich Village view.

Friends + City.

Love. (-Anna)

Me + City.

Greenwich Village.

Cupcakes!

Brooklyn Bridge at Sunset.

Bye, City.

Fall in Virginia.

Caroline came home to flowers on her desk. Josiah gave them to her (+ us) because he loves her (+us.) White daisies are her favorite, and the orange one for me and the yellow one is for Anna Clare.

Thanks for being you, Fall Break. You are just what I needed.