the attack of strep throat

Well, I found out shortly after my last post that I had strep throat! I was down for the count for about a week and it was probably the sickest that I've been in a long time, if not ever.  I was able to lay on the couch for about four days straight and the medicine started battling the nasty virus, but it took awhile for me to be back to healthy again.  I had waited so long to go to the doctor that the strep had actually been in my system for about three days prior to the diagnosis.  I'm just glad that I went because it could have been a lot worse if I had waited even a day.  My mom was a hero because I was so sick that it was difficult for me to call around and find a doctor to go to...from NY my mom took care of that for me! She's amazing! 

I am all better now! In fact, I was in NYC this weekend visiting Jack and Jenny! It was so awesome to see them in their new place living their life together as newlyweds! I had a great time and it just got me even more excited to go home for Christmas and spend some quality time with my family!  While in NYC I tried sushi for the first time and Jack and Jenny got their first Christmas tree together! Here are some photos:

In other news...Christmas is around the corner! There are so many organizations out there that offer unconventional Christmas catalogs for giving presents and National Community Church has put out their first Christmas catalog.  NCC is taking 10 mission trips to 10 different countries this year and the Christmas catalog is a way to leave a lasting impression that goes beyond the 10 days that teams spend in the country! There are some great opportunities to bless complete strangers for Christmas and it's a beautiful thing! A lot of us have a lot and don't really need anything more, but there are people in other countries that need basic things to survive from day to day! Maybe think of them while giving this Christmas! How cool would it be to add a complete stranger to your Christmas list? Check it out

ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS! I love this time of year...for all it means.  In celebrating the birth of our Savior I think it should cause us to ask ourselves how we can be Christ to others in this time of year especially! What are you doing?