Its been a fun ride...

... but after 5 years and about 65,000, the time has come for me and the little Celica to part ways.

We've been through a lot together... (these are not necessarily in chronological order)

• The Break in at my apartment during the first year I had the car
  
• Keys locked in the car in Ramseur on my way from Raleigh to Charlotte
• Flat tire after NA in 2002
• Broken antenna (after I went through a car wash without putting it down)
  
• Keys locked in the car with the car running at the Charlotte basketball game
• Flat tire on the way home in the middle of the night, (razor)
  
• Broken trunk
• Fixed trunk
• Broken trunk again
  
• Countless rides back and forth between Raleigh and Charlotte
• Coming within 2 inches of being hit by the big SUV that slid on the ice in front of the Bakita's house (instead it took out the mailbox)
  
• Several dents and scratches...from hitting things and being hit by things
  
• The speeding ticket on Mallard Creek Church Road (on the way to church)
• Flat tire after the State Fair in 04 (nail)
• Speeding ticket in Richfield on the way to the Paul Tripp conference
• Flat tire in the neighborhood (nail)
• A few dead batteries
• About 3 more flat tires...can't remember when they all were
• And, of course, the famous half spoiler!
  

She was a great first car... I'll miss her... but at 17, it is definitely time for her to retire...so, on Monday I replaced the Celica.

Pictures of the new car are coming...

Random Thoughts...

Today in 2nd Grade we took a field trip to downtown Raleigh where we visited the Capitol Building, Legislative Building and History Museum, and.... Krispy Kreme :) Unfortunately, I forgot my camera...so I don't have any pictures. But, it was great fun. The weather was perfect for walking around downtown... and of course the time with the kids provided some good entertainment (and blog material)... here's some highlights...
(keep in mind...I rode there and back with one of the other teachers and 4 boys - who, by the way, think they can rap - - fun times...really!)

Teacher: So, boys, tell me what you want to be when you grow up...
Boy #1: I want to be a vegetarian.
Teacher: ummm I think you mean veternarian...
Boy #1: oh, yeah, that's it.
Boy #2: What's a veternarian?
Me: it is a doctor who takes care of animals
Boy #1: And they make lots of money!
Boy #2: I want to be a bounty hunter!
me and other teacher: a bounty hunter?!....okay....
Boy #2: but if I can't be that, I want to work at the State Fair! .... in one of the food stands, yeah, I want to work in the Lemonade Stand at the State Fair or be a bounty hunter.

Christmas break starts tomorrow afternoon. I'm looking forward to the time off... but, you know, I think I might miss these guys :)

In other news...

• Ava is now quite mobile...There are some adorable pictures of my neice on Joy & Dan's blog

• Last weekend the single guys in my church put on a great Christmas dinner party! There are pictures from the evening and a video on Melissa's blog of a skit that they did... Matt has the script on his site. (my snowflake happened to win an honorable mention in the snowflake contest....according to the judge it was a mediocre snowflake, but was placed well) They also said they wouldn't mind throwing rocks in my car windshield... but that problem has sinced been solved. In all seriousness... it was a great evening... I echo everything Missy said! I really appreciate you guys :)
  

Christmas time is here...happiness and cheer...

This past week has been filled with Christmas decorating, shopping, Christmas programs at school, and now to finish it off I am heading out tonight to see the Nutcracker ballet with my friend Jaime! Tomorrow starts a new week...Christmas baking and a few Christmas parties.

I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music and I've been thinking about the lyrics of "Good Christian Men Rejoice. They are so true! I especially like these last two verses:

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened the heavenly door, and man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

Hope you have a joyful weekend... He has opened the heavenly door, and man is blessed forevermore...Christ was born to save!

My last blog post included an obituary for Cheryl Stolldorf and encouragement from my pastor. We lived next door to the Stolldorfs for 10 years after both of our families moved to Raleigh to start a church. Her daughter Terri is one of my very good friends. I sat and listened Monday as family and friends shared memories they had of Cheryl, what they had learned from her, and how she had affected their lives. Many memories and things I admired about her have flooded my mind over the last few days... here are a few of them...

-- I still remember the first time I met the Stolldorfs when we visited them in Richmond... Cheryl made us the best waffles I've ever had.

-- Almost every Christmas Eve when we lived next door to them, the Stolldorfs would come over (or we'd go over there) and Cheryl would leave us a plate of her homemade cinniman rolls for Christmas morning.

-- Countless meals, youth group parties, church events, and just times of hanging out at their house... she always made us feel welcome!

-- When our church had a men's retreat and our dad's were gone, Cheryl would invite us over for milkshakes, popcorn, and a movie!

-- Cheryl was an example to me in the way she cared for her family and her home. Her house was always neat and clean and ready for visitors (planned or unexpected!).

Please keep the Stolldorfs in your prayers, as well as my friend Jeanie and her family (Jeanie also lost her mom this fall), and any others you know who have lost family members. The holidays are an especially hard time when you have lost someone you love.