December 8, 2008

Well, another month has went by so quickly!! It's the Christmas season and even though NYC is decorated as usual, you can really feel a sense of worry about the economy. People are out shopping, but buying little. And a lot of people are waiting till closer to Christmas to see if prices will go down further. It makes the giftwrapping teams a little anxious. But people are even more aware of our Free Giftwrapping services in Herald Square.

Speaking of the giftwrapping project, we have a team here from Branden Florida in this week. And, boy, is it cold!!!!! I hope the weather will hold out from precipitation while we're working. It's fun to be out on the streets among the many people.

I'm feeling much better. It will be a long road to getting my liver happy and healthy, but I'm being pretty disciplined while here. Now, being in Indiana with family over Thanksgiving was another story. While I didn't really eat anything considered 'bad' to normal people, I did eat too much 'normal' food and made myself sick. I'm getting over that and working on the 'Vickie rules' for food. Thank you for everyone praying for me to be disciplined. If you know me well at all, you know I'm not disciplined in much of anything!!! Please keep praying for me.

I spent Thanksgiving with my family for the second time in 18 years. It was restful, but way too quiet! My sis lives in the middle of 15 acres. It was beautiful and restful. I had technology withdrawals sometimes, though. Sporadic dial-up internet, no cable (akkk!), limited service on my cell phone, my blackberry phone went caput on the first day there and Verizon had to express me another one... But on the upside - deer in the yard one morning. (there's usually more, but it was still hunting season, so they were hiding deep in the woods). I also got to cook in a REAL kitchen! woohoo! I loved helping with Thanksgiving dinner (we actually had 2) and other meals. We baked cookies and shipped 10 boxes of goodies to soldiers in Afghanistan. Visited Walmart frequently, went with my sister to church twice, wedding planned/shopped with my niece, saw a movie with my sis, babysat my 2 year old great-nephew, played with his 4 year old brother. Saw some family and took a lot of naps. I couldn't believe how quickly 2 weeks went by.

You know how weird things are always happening to me, and how God uses unusual ways to get my attention. Well, one day I was at a Christian bookstore treating myself to a new compact Bible for my bag. While kneeling down looking through my choices on the bottom shelf, a regular size (softbound-thank you) Bible fell off a higher shelf and hit me right on the head! I still haven't figured out what God was telling me with that, except that maybe to remember that even though I wasn't around a lot of Christian friends and influence at the time, that HE was still around and able to help me 'feel' His presence!

I received a copy of the Christmas CD recorded by my home church, FBC Rogers. It is so awesome! Their concert was last night and my heart was there, even if my ears and the rest of my body wasn't. I love my home church and all the people there, especially those that share their talents and gifts for His glory!

We're chugging along here at Parable Church. We're stronger everyday as a body of Believers. It's a privilege to walk this path with people I never would have met if not for God's hand. Please keep Parable in your prayers as we go through the tough times of living in NYC. Shows are closing, people are losing jobs all over the place. Even small shifts in the economy can be major challenges here where everything costs so very much. People are looking for hope and reasons to feel joyful. It's the perfect time to share the one source of true joy with them. Pray we stay faithful and ready to speak and share.

I'll try to write more before Christmas. Until then, I pray you are all having a wonderfully reflective holiday season. Advent is such a wonderful time and I am striving to make it more of a focus for my December.

Blessings!