Christmas Break!!

I hope it's not cold where you are - because Winnipeg is dang cold. Hence, frost forms on the insides of doors... sick, right?

I spent Christmas break with my roommate Carolyn's family here in Winnipeg. And over the week I pretty much fell in love with them - they are great!! It's definitely different from what I know - BIG family. There's mom and dad (Ginny and Kim), Carolyn (19), Ethan (18), Amanda (17), Danielle (15), Isaiah (8) and Rashaan (6). Ginny told me that I'm part of their family now, which makes me the oldest!! Now I have to learn how to terrorize little siblings... muhahaaaaaa...

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Left to right:

Ethan, Mark (Carolyn's boyfriend),

Danielle, Carolyn, Me, Amanda,

Isaiah, Rashaan, Ginny

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Friday, I went out with Jeremy Jones (one of those names that when you say it in full, it just rolls off the tongue!), Carolyn's cousin, to a Christmas party his friends were hosting. I've met a few of them before - they had come to one of our Sunday community dinners and a few I met at LBE at Carolyn's church back in October. But for the most part, I was meeting new people. We mostly played games (I love group games!! : D) and just hung out. Jeremy Jones is one of those people that could entertain me for hours - the kid is hilarious and I've realized over the week that he's just a really good friend. I don't know him that well - we've all hung out at the YWAM house a few times. But he has treated me with the utmost respect, even to the point of standing up for me to someone when I wasn't even there, which I am amazed at! [I guess I'm causing a little drama here in the peg - oops!]

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Carolyn's family goes to church (West End Christian Community - WECC) on Sunday nights. I really like their church because it's small, creating a closely-knit community. It's great to see. This week was their Christmas pageant. Oof - it was awesome!! Laughed my butt off (but I guess that doesn't say much). We had a little bit of worship, too. It was interesting - maracas, shakers, etc. were handed out and we jammed a bit. Cool.

Sarah [my bestie from home for those who don't know : P] and I have been planning for her to come up and visit this weekend. But Sunday, we came to the conclusion that it won't be able to happen. Oh sad day. It was really difficult - I was looking forward to a refreshing weekend with Sarah after a few very hard weeks. So, Carolyn decided to pamper me (what a sweetheart to take care of me) and take me out on the town Monday! I realized that even though I've been in Winnipeg for a few months, I haven't done many tourist-y things (oh to be in a different city, but to be financially unsound...)

Carolyn took me to Winnipeg's museum, which was really cool! There was lots of Manitoba history, aboriginal art, and even a big SHIP!! Carolyn was a great tour guide. She's very animated and has many accents. So on the ship, she was a pirate and told me about her stories on the main seas. There was a small town in the museum and she escorted me around like I was her fair maiden. Oh so funny. And I think just what I needed at that point.

Native art.
I think this one depicts how they interpret creation.

Carolyn sing "Bring back my Bonnie"

to the Nonsuch (the ship).
Yup, that's how interesting my day was.

We then went to the Forks for lunch (Mmmmmm chinese food and Jone's Soda) and ended our day in the glass elevator, which you can see all of downtown from. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Don't take my word for it though:

(The train station is in front and

the frozen Forks is behind)

Wednesday was Christmas Eve. We went to church for the candlelight service (again at WECC). Afterward, I got to be included in their family tradition of reading the nativity story from Luke, talking about our response to it (which makes it more fresh and less redundant!), and having milk and cookies before bed. Amanda talked about how she was amazed that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit - how amazing! That made me realize that Mary, like Jesus later on, was humiliated. Think about it --- a baby bump is virtually unhidable. And as an unmarried woman, you would have to wear the consequence of that sin every second and instantly, everyone knows what you did. Or in Mary's case, what she didn't do. Bearing a sin you are innocent of. Who does that sound like?

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I've been studying and reading a lot about suffering for the sake of Christ. Mary's suffering in pregnancy brings more insight to that.

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Mood swing.

The next day was Christmas!!! Yaaaaay!!! I was definitely taken in as part of the family that day. I even had presents and a stocking hanging from the mantle full of goodies. : ) It was a pretty chill day - we just opened presents, hung out with each other, and had a GREAT Polish dinner that Ginny and Ethan put together. Mmmm I love pierogis...

Rashaan and Isaiah opening gifts!
I just love Rashaan's face in this one.
He's that animated all the time!

He became my little buddy over the week -

He even cuddled with me a few times.

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The next day (boxing day) was more eventful. We went to Ginny's brother's house to spend time with that side of the family. It was so fun! I was really blessed by Carolyn's grandma. She greeted me with a hug, a wet kiss, and a smack on the arm. Is this both of my grandmas in one person? Ha. She truly treated me like a grandkid. She was such a sweetheart. Ginny was impressed with me because I "held my own with her family." I guess they're tough - but I had good preparation for that with my own family! Weirdos...

Me, Danielle, Amanda

Hehe!

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We later went to Kim's mother's house (Auntie Peryl! - also Jeremy Jones' grandma) to visit with that side of the family. Peryl is a cute little Jamaican lady - oh my goodness, I think I'm in love with her! She fed me some traditional Jamaican food (I ate lamb - busted! : P) and then came at me with "sin," a bowl full of chocolatey goodness. Oof. So yummy. Since I'm doomed to be a clutz all my life, I got the "sin" all over myself (oh no - I am so sinful...) and had to have her help me wipe it from off my chest, my arms, my fingers... and she was giggling at me the whole time! Now there's a moment I wish I had on tape so I could just show you all!! Cute ol' lady...

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Auntie Peryl also has a dog named Mars, who looks just like our neighbors' dog when I was a kid (Brutus). Brought me back : ). And guess what? Mars just had puppies!!! So I got to play with the cutest li'l things in the world!!

Hey Mom... Jeremy said I can take one home if I want...