Last Day of OCC!

So today was the last day for dropping off boxes. We finished today at a total of 16,327 boxes. 60 more than last year...Crazy thing ... Spokane collects more boxes than the Seattle - Tacoma area! Now doing the math of people to shoebox ratio... Spokane is one amazing city filled with giving people. Now anyone that watches the stocks fall and the economy fail. God is bigger than any problems we encounter in this short life. It was really a huge surprise and we were all wiped out!!! We filled a whole 18 wheeler today and some of the other 18 wheeler. It just blows my mind to think that. I better of lost some weight with this crazy workout. lol wink wink

Anyways... Today... once again... Testimony time. I heard one that just floored me and made me realize... I am blessed and a little selfish.

So here it is... you have to hear this. It will take 14 minutes to listen to the whole thing... It will make you cry or maybe I just have a sensitive soul and spirit. lol wink wink

Her name is Lejla Allison. She was one of the first kids of OCC when it started. It's amazing and really touching... I am so glad that I am part of this program.

Laughter of A Child... that’s the most amazing sound ever!

Today was slow at the donation center, so it was an amazing day to fellowship with some of the other volunteers and just love on the people that did deliver shoe boxes. I was able to learn more about my future position and what is excepted of me next year. As I learned more about this organization and heard all the different stories... I realized. God put me here on purpose! I was made for this moment.... it's crazy to me to think... what would of happened had I not heard the call from God, when I did. What would of made me listen? Scary to think about but I do.

Anyways... today I was touched. It's amazing to me to see these boxes filled with toys. Then to see the how much work people put into these boxes for these kids that they may never see! Wow... what an amazing organization. We had a group of men from a nursing home, bring in four huge boxes of homemade trucks. I met a girl that got a box when she was a little girl in India. Hearing her story. Just made me realize, I was born to serve others. I love this feeling I get from serving others. I love to love on people. That's what I was made for. As I become more aware of this gift of serving, God gave me... I really understand who I really am. I am one of God's servants to the world but one that can grab the attention of many just with my smile.

Thank you Jesus for this amazing opportunity and all the amazing moments I have already had. I can't wait to see what the next few years bring with this program.

Weird but really cool... I know I am going to the mission field once I am done with school but today I had something brought to my attention. Tell me if this isn't weird.... God has me in a position where I meet every church in Spokane and in the region. I'm not an easy person to forget, so when it comes time for God to send me... I am pretty sure, God is just getting me ready for the future through this program and I am sure... my funding will come from the churches I am going to meet in the next few years! Crazy to think how amazing God is and how He works. I also figured out... my degree... I want to run an orphanage! I want to love on all those kids. I don't want one kid to ever feel like they are not wanted!

I read a story today about an orphan. I cried. Those kids are so amazing and their story would break your heart. At one point this amazing woman felt unloved, tried to commit suicide twice and both time almost succeeded. It wasn't till she was in her twenties, when she found Jesus and his love. However, in her box... she got a doll, which was the doll she had when her mom left her and her sister with their drunken father. It was the same doll she had when she was taken from her dad and put into an orphanage. She still has this doll and she still cherishes! A doll that someone put in their box for some little girl to love. Funny how the simplest gifts can mean the world to someone else. I want to change the world and I want to love on these kids. I want to be a missionary when I grow up... now why did it take me so long to figure that out... Think it would of been cheaper in college loans, had I figured that out sooner! Once again... it's all in God's timing! I do need this degree to run an orphanage... funny how I started this degree to become a 6 figure CEO! hmmm my accounting side is thinking... that math isn't adding up! wink wink

London Bridge is Suppose to Fall, Not My Tears!

Today really tested my Christian disposition... I had to hold my tongue and smile, when the guy driving the "God Fearing Brothers" trailer cut me off on the highway. I needed to hold my tongue when the girl in the fast lane, decide that the set speed of 60 MPH was too fast... So we drove at a speed of 54 MPH from downtown Spokane to the Valley, pacing a 18 wheeler next to me. ARGH!!!! The best situation though... Picture this... I am always late... I mean always! Don't know why, I just am. So running out the door late to meet Carol at the concert, I realize... I don't have my ticket. Nope. My dear ticket was sitting in the middle console of my car, so I wouldn't forget it the night of the concert. Funny... how today I would have my dad's truck to move and my car was way up north!!! I was irritated to say the least. I really wanted to say some nutty things under my breathe... I didn't. I turned on the radio and sang to some DC talk song and laughed at myself because had it been anyone else... I would laughed at them, thinking "Man what luck!" lol wink wink

Well, I made it to the concert late. :) Told you ~ Always late.

I found my dear Carol and got to singing along with Brandon. Totally knowing every song and word... I thought to myself, "okay... I think I have taken this crush a little too far!" Funny thing.... Brandon... He's 5'6 maybe 5'7 (I'm 5'11 and I love to wear heels)! My dreams were crushed, I can't marry a man shorter than me. I know.... Shallow but really... I think a man should be taller than his girl and stronger! I don't know why but that just screams sexy to me.

Anyways... After the shock of how shorter he was, wore off!

Brandon got me crying. Bawling would be the best way of describing it and I felt stupid. He had to go and sing London. All my feelings of a past love, came billowing up and I found myself praying... God why can't you teach me to lose this love? Why does it still hurt, if you wanted me to let go? WHY do I still cry? Why? As I sat there crying and trying not to draw attention to myself... I still love my Superman! With all my heart. Wow... When I get upstairs and meet the Big Guy... We are going to talk. Couple of topics on the list!

1) My Superman... Why then? Why Now? why Not? just a few of the questions... the list could go on though.

2) My hair... I think I should be a red head... God thinks I should be a Blonde... Funny thing, God is winning because no matter how much money I put into this head of hair of mine... I always end up a blonde, when it is all said and done.

3) yeah... let's be real... this list could go on too! God I think will have to tell me to breathe a couple of times too! lol wink wink

SO I didn't get my picture with Brandon because my make-up... Well, my eyes were down by my cheecks. I wasn't looking too hot and I really didn't want to explain to the world for years to come.... Christina, Why do you look like you were crying... lol wink wink Oh... I wish you could learn not to love but then... I wouldn't be me! I still love him and even though I try to tell myself that I am cool. I realized tonight, that I keep myself busy just so I don't think about Superman and how hurt I am. WOW.... That was a hard cookie to chew tonight. I thought I was strong but now... starting to think... Man, Love kicks everyone's butt, even mine!

A Messianic Jew, a 7th day Adventist and a room Full of Agnostics!

Work lately has been interesting. I guess this change in me is really starting to get noticed. Many people have shared with me their feelings from being totally amazed to being completely in dismay. It's interesting to me, as people share with me their feelings... "why is does this decision I make to follow Jesus, effect so many people!" It's not like I am out there with a Bull Horn screaming it to the world or wearing a T-shirt that says, "Hey.. I'm going to Heaven to see Jesus and this t-shirt is all I am bring!" It's crazy!

Yesterday though, I really understood why it's such a topic of discussion lately. Jesus comes up every time I start a conversation and I don't even try. I can start talking to someone about something so far away from church, Jesus and God but for some crazy reason... my decision to follow Christ and read the bible always come up somehow.....

For example.... Yesterday I was talking about Dog walking with a friend in the break room. Now at first it was just me and her but within 10 minutes, most everyone that works in my department was in the break room. So here we are sharing funny dog walking moments and the crazy things that our pets do.... Then somewhere out of the blue, God gets brought up and to tell you the truth... I don't even know how or when. It's like the "Jesus Talk" just slipped in there.... no warning or any barriers to stop it... it's just like BAM here you go. So our conversation of crazy pets we've owned, turns into Jesus and why people believe and why they don't.

So when I realized the topic change and maybe even became a comprehending participant in the conversation... I stopped and looked around the room. Here in a room of about 9 people, sat one Messianic Jew, a 7th day Adventist and a room Full of Agnostics than me! In a facility, where we are told to keep our baggage at the door when we come to work and never talk about your beliefs... here we sat in the break room talking church! It was awesome and even though it brought out a lot of crazy and funny moments.... I sat in my chair totally in love with my Jesus and knowing... the Holy Spirit was talking through me. The Holy Spirit started that conversation and to tell you the truth... I don't think I started the conversation. It's interesting to me how that stuff happens.

Later when I was talking to Clayton, my messianic Jew.... He told me... "Christina, God is using you like crazy and it's funny to watch you in disbelief sometimes at God's power!" I am in awe of God's power and Love! It's crazy for me to understand how God can use little old me... Me, the girl who is just trying to read the bible for the first time ever in her life. The girl who doesn't have a single bible verse memorized and couldn't even find a book in the bible, without flipping through the bible 50 times to find it! The girl with a background check that could be a little shady for most Church goers but God has used me in the last three months like crazy... you will see me caught up in a conversation with someone about God and most of the time, I am not the one who starts it. It's like God put this sign over my head, with Neon Lights pointing down saying, "She's a non-judgemental Christian... talk to her!" I've had so many co-workers share with me some very personal stories and moments in their life. I've had doctors ask me to pray for them... Doctors who are Gods in most of my patients eyes. I don't know what my future holds but if it is anything like the last few months... I can't wait... God is amazing, All Powerful and Knowing!

Prayer Requests...

1) My dear Andy... please pray over him. Please pray for an army of angels to surround him and his Maria! Then pray for the team. I pray for such unity between them all, that this holiday season which is quickly approaching... they will feel at home down in Mexico and know they are where God wanted them this Christmas and Thanksgiving!

2) Operation Christmas Child... this is such a huge blessing in my life and I am starting to understand why God sent it my way. It was for me to meet Lisa. I've been praying for teachers and strong women to help me along this journey with GOD. Now God has sent me some amazing people, who have loved on me like crazy. You would really think that we were all friends for years, the way we all click... I love this experience! Please also pray over the boxes that we are preparing to ship down to Colorado. I pray for each box that I hold and each kid that will be holding them soon. God is amazing and I thank you Jesus for getting me connected into this group.

3) I am still moving... This week has been crazy! I work in the morning, go volunteer after work for a couple hours and then come home to pack a couple more hours. I've been living off coffee and rice cakes... which maybe isn't the best but I can't really find time to eat. So please pray over my move and the people who will help me! Thank you for praying and I am so blessed that you found the time to read this blog of mine.

I am a scrapbooking nerd.... Found my favorite picture of Mylah... She was only 14 months. Seriously though.... she looks like a sleeping angel... I love that little girl! My little Princess.

I am so excited and in a "high school crush" kind of a way.. I can't believe that tomorrow tonight, I will be standing next to Brandon Heath. Oh... I really hope I don't do anything stupid but my excitement is totally childish and funny. Carol is making fun of me and thinks that it's cute but I am starting to feel stupid. lol wink wink However... I can't wait and think this concert will be amazing! Plus... who knows... I might be able to get a picture with him!!! Oh yeah.... Add to my celebratity pictures I already have.

I love CHRISTMAS!!!!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year... Actually a week after October, when the leaves start to change colors... my excitement for this holiday season starts to bubble up!!! I just love this part of the year! Thanksgiving with the fam bam and the turkey... and oh my... my dad's stuffing... let me tell you... Nothing compares!

The thing I love the most is, knowing that my family will get together for a dinner around my mom's huge dinning room table. My family will laugh for hours about life and catching up. I am very blessed because unlike most families, my family is very close and there is never a fight or a situation that would make the holidays dreadful. So I thank God for that!

My little brother Steven just started his first year at WSU, so it will be awesome to catch up with him. Then Robby and Meg are so busy with school and work, that it's hard to get together with them too. Then mom and dad work on the weekends, so if it wasn't for the fact that my parents watch Mylah for me after Mylah's classes during the week. I don't think I would ever see them. So getting together with my family is one of my most favorites moments about the holidays; but my next best thing has to be the 12 days before Christmas, Secret Santa that I do.

My junior year of high school, my BBF Annience and me started this thing called Secret Santa. Basically, the 12 days before Christmas we leave presents for a family on their porch or windows or whatever ledge we can find, that won't get us caught! Throughout the 12 days, I find cute ways of expressing my love for this season and the family I choose. I always pick a family that isn't connected to me at all and normally someone that needs a little pick me up for the season. Then on the last day, I leave them a nativity scene and a note... It's been fun this year. Thank you for letting me bless you and please remember this next year for another person. Love Secret Santa "X".. Annience was "O"!

Annience moved away right after high school and I had to keep this going on by myself. I can't wait till Mylah is old enough to join me... I think this will be an amazing way of teaching what Christmas is really about. Now each year has special moments that I cherish and will always remember for years to come. However, there is a family that will forever be the family above all families... My favorite moment ever... My favorite family was a mother who had MS, lost her husband that year and she had 7 kids. Seven kids that didn't like the idea that I was secret, so they would chase me. That year, I really had to work on my 007 skills and I was in tip top shape, thanks to the workout those kids gave me! :)

Now there were a couple of nights, where I thought those kids were going to catch me. One night, I had to jump under their neighbor's porch. Mind you... I am terrified of spiders and then... not too many people rake under a porch... so dead leaves everywhere! Prefect spots for spiders to live and noise makers!!! I was freaking out but those amazing kids stayed outside for 45 minutes just watching for anything to move. I couldn't breathe normal and then I couldn't move because the leaves would make a sound. After 45 minutes the kids finally decided to give up searching for me. Then people's whose porch I was under had company show up. I was stuck under that porch another 20 minutes. I thought for sure, I was getting caught but I didn't.

Then there was another night... where the kids must of been right by the door because the second they heard something outside... the porch light flickered on and I heard feet running towards the door. SO I ran across the street and mashed myself between a car and the curb. I am so lucky no one called the cops on me!!! However, thanks to the shade of the car and me being all in black... the kids didn't see me when they came running around the car I was smashed up against. I was telling myself... "I am shade.. I am shade! Be ONE WITH THE SHADE!" I couldn't breathe because my breathe would give me away! I didn't want to look at them because I thought they would feel my eyes! It was an awesome year!!! I did make it through the 12 days without the family finding out who I was, which was awesome. None of my families ever find out who I am but I do send them Christmas cards each every. Which I think must bring a smile to their face!

So that is just a couple of reasons... why I love this season!!! Nothing compares!!!