Over a week ago, I started writing a post about Christmas. I never finished it. Turns out it’s easy to get distracted around here. Who woulda thought?
As always, it’s been pretty busy, especially now that it’s crunch time for Austria preparations. All of a sudden I realized that this thing is legit. Me. Foreign countries. It’s gonna happen.
Half of me is really pumped. I can’t wait to hike my way through Europe, and take a billion pictures, have adventures, get lost, laugh and cry with my friends, get to know our household’s intents, visit every single Catholic Church I come across, see miracles, pray, praise, learn, and have my life changed. It generally sounds like a pleasant experience.
The other half of me is aware that five months is a long time, and I’m going to miss a lot. I have a few really close friends that I love and will miss, but saying goodbye to my family will be even harder. Five months is a lot of time to miss out on when siblings are growing a few inches every week. Or something like that. Birthdays. Musicals. Life lessons. Accomplishments. Easter. People say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I say having distance between you and people you love really sucks. I know God is calling me to do this though. He has provided for it, and I am so grateful! I know it will be a blessing. Goodbyes are just hard. Part of life, but hard nonetheless. And please, don’t try to tell me “It’s not goodbye, it’s I’ll see you later.” because that’s dumb. Goodbyes are real and I’d rather say them than spend the rest of my life wishing I had. Lesson learned.
All that aside, we’re gonna rock Austria ;)
Oh my. I meant to write about Christmas and other happenings, didn’t I? Good plan.
Christmas Eve was a little hard. It wasn’t just the night before Christmas, it was also the 8 month anniversary of my daddy dying. I was having a hard time, but my family was there for me, as always.
Alaina Berry, Jordan’s beautiful girlfriend, and her family, bought us the Just Dance game for our Wii. One of the most incredible experiences of my life was watching my little brothers and our friend Dylan discovering their hips while dancing to Katy Perry and Spice Girls. Hate the songs, LOVE the dancers (; .
Mama, Dad, and Hannah all came with me to the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass. Best present I could have ever asked for, and I didn’t even have to ask. When we got home we did a few last minute preparations, and then Hannah and I stayed up until ridiculous hours talking (a habit we’ve fallen into recently. recently = since break started). I’d written her a song as a present, and I’d been dying to tell her about it for days. I’d been hinting obnoxiously, simply because I couldn’t help myself, and finally when I saw the clock was past midnight, I had to show her. Somehow, despite the fact that it is basically the hardest thing ever for me to keep a secret from this girl, she still managed to be surprised. She seemed to like it, which was good (:
The next morning (an hour or so after we went to bed) Timmy came running in. I tried to shush him so he wouldn’t wake Hannah, but that didn’t work. Apparently there is no shushing on Christmas morning. Then it was downstairs in PJ’s and sweats for presents and pictures. Everyone was happy with their presents. Hannah got me harmonicas! I’d mentioned that I wanted them, but she wasn’t sure if I was kidding or not. I wasn’t, so I was super happy. There are seven on them, and if space allows, they will totally be coming to Austria with me. My guitar is coming for sure, so no matter what there are going to me some jam sessions taking place. (:
Later that night we had a big Christmas dinner with the slightly more extended family, followed by a giant nerf gun war. Naturally.
It was awesome. I love Christmas. I love my family. I love my life.
Happy belated birthday Jesus! <3
Well, that’s all for now. Still to come:
Family trip to Kentucky
New Years
Shopping with my mother
Planning for Austria???
Peace and blessings everybody. Peace and blessings.
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