Christmas morning my family and I. for the past four years, wake up around 5am and head to Life Challenge. When we arrive we meet up with a few other families and we begin preparing a big Christmas breakfast for the men & women who are in the program at LC. We cook eggs, hash browns, french toast, and there's always yummy cookies too. When they come in to eat at about 8 we serve them and spend time with them. My older sister Charis and I played music for them to listen to and singalong to as well. After we finished eating and cleaned up we moved over to the little chapel (attached to the dining hall) and played, sang, & worshiped our Savior and Lord in song... Many of the students there got out their guitars, drums, saxophone, etc. and we jammed together for almost 2 hrs. It was a truly joyous time as we raised our hands and praised God, our Maker!
Following are a few photos from the morning:






I feel SOOO blessed to have this opportunity each year on Christmas. Thanks LORD!

In October Mike and I were kind of set up through a family from my church. We met on the first Sunday of October. He took me a Tigers baseball game and to lunch at a Mexican place downtown. We talked later that week and began seeing each other quite regularly after that. A few weeks ago we talked about where we're at and decided to officially begin a relationship. So, we are getting to know each other more and praying for God to guide our steps as we move forward. This photo was taken a couple weeks ago when he took me out for my 22nd birthday :)

Last week we had our church youth group over for a Christmas party! We enjoyed a delicious potluck meal, had fun with a white-elephant gift exchange, and we went caroling in the neighborhood. Here are some photos of us :) I have been helping lead the group for the past couple years and have thoroughly enjoyed spending time getting to know all of the youth and planning fun activities for them. I will miss them, and my small group girls, when I go to Colorado next semester.

As I sit here Christmas Eve and think about the past year and past Christmases... so many memories fill my mind. I think about the time when we were little and the car broke down on the way to Grandpa & Grandma Jones' house. And the days when we would celebrate Christmas Day at Opa & Oma's with the French cousins. I also remember playing Christmas carols with Mrs. Reiter and 35 other violin students on Christmas Eve at Sacred Heart and Brady First Pres. I remember coming upstairs to the tree on Christmas morning and seeing what gifts there were. We would read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2. Dad would make the best breakfast of Sausage Souffle. We would go around the room youngest to oldest or in order of birthday months and take turns opening gifts. It was always a joyous time together. Four years ago we began getting up really early on Christmas morning to go cook & serve breakfast at Life Challenge (a nearby Bible-based ministry to men and women recovering/overcoming drug addictions of various kinds). We also play songs for them to singalong with. It is a blessing to them and to us as well to be able to share Christmas Day with these men and women. So, as I reminisce on Christmases past... I also think about how much life has changed in the past several years, even this past year. We will continue to grow and change as each year passes. Life is often very different then we might expect or plan for. I know that God is in control of my life and He has a beautiful plan that is unfolding daily. I am sometimes surprised by what a day brings. I am so thankful God is Lord of my life and I can entrust my life and all of my days to Him and His will. I know His will is perfect, and living in that reality gives me peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! With love, Priscilla

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." -Luke 2:10-12

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10

My dear friend Priscila took me to out for breakfast at Coney Island for my 22nd birthday. She's a huge blessing in my life!
Love you Pris.

Next 2010.

Check out Joshua Harris's upcoming Next conference in May 2010.

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by His love; he will exult over you with loud singing." --Zephaniah 3:17

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:4-7

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." --Luke 19:10

"Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today..." --Deuteronomy 8:11

"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." --Deuteronomy 7:6-8


Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God... //Deuteronomy 8:3