Because today is December 1, 2011. That means I have been working with South Florida Urban Ministries for exactly 3 months (and obviously living in Florida for, probably, the same amount of time). That is crazy to think about. It does not feel like 9 weeks of my life have gone by... More like ZiPpEd by!
November was not even that crazy of a month, until my FAVORITE holiday in world came passing through.
I am trying to allow myself to scribble some thoughts down about events that happened prior to the greatest holiday ever, and the one thing that is standing out is....................... the mouse wont leave our house.
Those are details that I will leave to your imagination.
Except for this fun fact.... We brought in our handy dandy exterminator.... TwoTone! The stray cat that lives on the farm. Let me just say, he efforts were valiant, but he too was defeated by the rodents...
A+ for effort TwoTone.
So lets move forward and talk about the most spectacular, amazing, scrumptious, delicious, glorious, friend-filled holiday ever.... the day to be OH SO THANKFUL.
My 4 day weekends was so wonderful, that these next few sentences describing them will do no justice.
Thanksgiving Thursday -
Morning : Woke up early, and went to help South Florida Urban Ministries package and deliver meals to those who, otherwise, would had gotten your traditional meal. I registered and welcomed everyone to Coral Gables (1 of 10 sites that were serving/packaging/delivering meals to over 6000 people in South Florida). 200+ volunteers showed up at Coral Gables that morning. I cannot even being to describe the amount of work that was put in that morning. It was amazing how efficiently everything was packaged, it was a machine! Pumpkin pie, cranberries, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans... All the must haves... 1000 meals wrapped and ready to be delivered in less than 2 hours. Seriously ridiculous.
After registration, I was given the opportunity to help deliver meals. 4 of my friends and I went to an apartment complex. Very run-down with all types of people living in it. Floor by floor we knocked on doors. Every single person whose door I knocked on was very timid, very scared, and very nervous to open their door for me. But once they knew I was there to give, they smiled. Every single one of them.
They were all so grateful for just one meal.... And some were just grateful for human interaction. Hugs, kisses, thank yous, God Bless You's, smiles... That is what I got from my new friends who I made that Thanksgiving morning. It was by far one of the most humbling experiences of my life. It is hard to describe the emotion I felt, but it was one that I know I have longed for. Their appreciation was powerful beyond words. God was working very hard through the volunteers and was radiating off of those who received meals that morning. God is seriously so awesome. That morning experience elevated my mood to the highest and most chipper... which THANKFULLY (!!) lasted throughout the entire rest of the weekends activities :)
Evening : Skyped with my family!!! Mom, Dad, David, Grandma, Oma, and Opa... and the puppies Yoko and Ruby. It was so wonderful seeing thier faces on the holiday :) I love you all so so so so much! And I know that I definitely would not be here today without their constant support and love. My family deserves a huge huge huge shout-out for being the best :)
So.... Two of my roommates (Bekah and Lydia) went home for Thanksgiving... Since our house was half empty, Callie and I decided to gather up those on the farm and have a meal together! Because really.... Thanksgiving is the greatest holiday ever BECAUSE there is yummy yummy amazing delicious fooooood :) and great friends to eat with. And Thanksgiving without either of those is just absurd.
So Callie made this yam and apple dish (amazing!), green beans (so good!), cornbread (bomb), and I made the instant stuffing (was delicious, but not the same as Moms turkey stuffing), canned jellied cranberries (its not thanksgiving with cranberries!!) and instant mashed potatoes (ddeeffiinneetteellyy not as good as real ones... but they did the job!) Our friends who live two doors down (Melissa and Keith) made the turkey (really fast... Keith is professional chef, and NOT a vegetarian. So the turkey - which most people didnt eat - was absoluetly beyond scrumptious), vegan mashed potatoes, vegan gravy, regular gravy, and banana/blueberry bread. All of those foods put together means FOOD COMA TO THE EXTREME. There were 10 of us from the farm who enjoyed the great food and fellowship. Good food + good friends = successful Thanksgiving meal :)
The Evenings Evening : Of course that means I went Black Friday Shopping at midnight with Callie and Athena and waited in a 30 minutes line to get in Target, bought 5 DVD's, and waiting in a 30 minute line to check out.... Do not fret, no one got hurt at this Target - people were civil :)
Friday -
Slept till 6pm. What better way to take a day off from work, especially when you are up till 4:30am the morning before watching a Black Friday movie deal. And how about we throw in some Wii Bowling, Tennis, and Michael Jackson Experience Dancing with Callie and Athena later that lovely Friday evening. Sounds like a good day to meeee :)
Saturday -
My dear friend Kevin proposed to his (then) girlfriend Mary at the beach..... And Callie and I were there to help set up the entire thing. It was truly romantic for them. I mean, it was on the beach, absolutely beautiful out, and a proposal.... Totally perfect.
Can I just say that I AM SO EXCITED! I love weddings :) I am so excited for them! Both of them are near and dear to my heart, and they are some of the greatest people you will ever meet.... Congrats!
Sunday -
Church. Barnes and Noble. Nap. Attempt to clean my room. More church. More Thanksgiving food. Friends. God. Sun. Books. You know..... your typical lovely Sunday :)
Most relaxing weekend yet, and I am so thankful for everyone that I interacted with, saw, hugged, smiled at, prayed for, skyped with, talked on the phone with, thought of..... Just everyone! So thankful for everyone in my life, and on this planet. So many things about our lives that need to be rejoiced, and so many people in our lives that just need to be loved. God is so great and is truly working tremndously through the people that are in Miami. Lately I have been acknowledging God's presence in my life, allowing the Spirit to rush through my soul, giving myself the chance to question aspects of life without guilt, and loving everyone that I possibly can with my whole heart. This past weekend was a definite high for me. There was a lot that happened to me, and God gave wonderful opportunities for our whole community. So many people were blessed, and that is just an amazing thought. If only every single day was like Thanksgiving day!
God is seriously too awesome for words. I am so blessed, and I have no reason to be.
Thank you for all of your support! And prayers! And smiles! And packages :)
Love you all.
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