Reflections of Cali # 3 Video Link Edition

So where were we....

Oh yeah Christmas!

So after Christmas I was just visiting friends, going to the prayer meeting in Santa Maria, I went to midweek study in Thousand Oaks; did some shopping and eating frozen yogurt. I was also preparing for Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara's mission Sunday on the 2nd.

But first New Years!

Unlike most people I know, I actually really like New Year's. I find it very anthropologicly (word?) interesting. Here is mankind, who has created a system of tracking time and when the allotted "year" is over mankind celebrates the passing of time and the future all at once. But I have yet to have an amazing New Years. :(

One year I did go to San Francisco, but I had to work the next day which meant I had to get up at 6 am to drive back down to Santa Barbara. Bleh! Then my first New Years in Ireland was fun, but I was with a bunch of people who aren't really so excited about "New Years" so it was more of a holiday party. Fun but not what I was hoping for.

So this time I decided to make New Year's great! Anyone who has known me from my early adult years know I love 80s music. I just can't get enough! ;-)

So there is a place in Hollywood that always has a big 80s New Year's bash. This was what I wanted. I convinced my good friend Bri to join me, even though she said she is not so much into dancing. This just shows you what a great friend she is! SO Bri was on board! Then my brother Nathan lives in LA! A place to say! No one wants to drive 2 hours back to Santa Barbara after dancing all night! Plus how fun to celebrate New Year's with my bro!

So Bri and I drove to LA, to Nathan's house. Then spent a good 2 hours getting all done up with Nathan's girlfriend Cera. I am such a girl because I love the "getting ready" part of an evening our. We teased our hair, adorned loads of jewelry and tried on many variations on the same outfit! Nathan was a dear and went and got pizza for us!

We took to metro to Hollywood Blvd and made it to the club with 5 minutes to spare for the discount early door fee. And then we danced the night away! It was so much fun! We cheered the count down, danced some more and then took the metro home! A good night! A great New Years!

Bri had to work in Santa Maria in the evening so we left LA at about 11. I went home and took a nap! Then went straight to work on my presentation for Mission's Sunday.

I was given the great opportunity to get up before the church and share about what I'm doing in Ireland. Santa Barbara, supports so many great missionaries and many were there so I knew it was a big deal that I got the slot. Unashamedly I know the pendulum swung my way because of my father but as a missionary, any opportunity to get your face out there is appreciated. My dad told me in the days leading up to it, "Aan-Sofie it's got to be good."

"I know dad, I'm working on it."

"No, it's REALLY important that you do really well on Sunday."

"Oh... okay...."

Not that I was going to do a lazy job but I sudden'y realized the gravity of the situation. David Guzik had given a speaking slot to his daughter. If I bombed, it would reflect poorly not only on myself but on my father's judgement and decisions. So I went over and over my text. Saturday afternoon I did a dry run in front of my parents. They said it was great. My dad gave me the nod of approval and I continued to work on my videos and table decorations.

Sunday came, I wore my new dress, curl my hair and read furiously over my notes. I was so anxious as I walked up the steps to the podium. I had decided to have a slideshow of Eoin and me playing while I spoke. Partly to just show people what I do, but also so that they would look at the video and not me! It worked! I was nervous but as I spoke I was more confident. When you are sharing something that you are so passionate and invested in, it is easy to speak. So I was done, my dad gave me a hug and I walked back down, took my seat and breathed!

I had to do it once more for the second service but I was much more confident then.

In between services and after the last one I manned my table in the lobby. I had "lucky" Irish pennies to give out, prayer cards and smiles! I got to speak to many people who had special needs kids or work with them and they were touched by what I do. Since many americans have Irish roots I met several who were glad to hear what God is doing in Ireland.

All around I'd have to say the day was amazing! God blessed me so much, my hard work paid off, and the church was encouraged to hear my story!

You can see my presentation at the link below. It's the whole service. First another missionary speaks, then my dad, then me about 33 minutes in:

http://www.calvarychapelsb.com/videos.php?q=view&id=733

Next up Missions Conference! (but that's for the next post!)

Photo Reflections of Cali #2 (minus the photos)

So I don't have any pictures of Christmas since my mom took them all! I wasn't able to get them off her camera because she lost it at Magic Mountain (they found it and sent it to us praise God!) so for a week when I could have downloaded the pics the camera was mia.

But... Christmas! It was a 3 days event! Our family traditionally does everything on Christmas Eve but Calvary Santa Barbara was putting on a huge production, actually 2! A christmas play and then my dad did a message. Plus it was at a real theater downtown! So Christmas Eve my family, myself and Nathan's girlfriend Cera opened presents, had an early dinner, then got ready for the event. We had to get a bit dressed up so Cera and I spent some fun girl time in the bathroom curling our hair and putting on makeup. Then when we got to the theater we were shown our seats and we were sitting in those raised box alcove seats! I've never sat in the box before! I felt like character in a Austen novel, although usually the rich characters were not the nicest so never mind. The play was amazing and dad's message was great. But as there were two performances my brother, Cera and I hoped in the car and went home to have some dessert. Then Cera had to go to her mom's house and Jonathan and I watched tv. Mom and dad came home, then Nathan and we probable ate some more then we went to bed.

Christmas day just so happens to be Nathan's birthday! Another tradition in our family is breakfast in bed on your birthday. Since the emptying of the Guzik nest there hasn't been a birthday breakfast in bed in I don't know how many years. So it was really special to be able to all be together for this. What you do is walking into the birthday-ee's room carrying a tray of their requested breakfast foods and everyone sings "Happy Birthday". Then you watch them eat, take pictures of their "just woken up" sate and hand them gifts in between bits of lucky charms and french toast. It is loads of fun! Then we kinda just chilled the rest of the day. Nathan went to spend some of the day with Cera's family.

In the evening Jonathan and I went to our uncle's house in Ventura where the Guzik clan was gathering for the sake of the cousins to see each other. Hannah now lives in Oregon, Sam in Washington, Josiah goes to school in San Diego, I'm in Ireland, Nathan in L.A., Jonathan had been in Germany, Melissa, Mark live in Carlsbad. So needless to ay we don't get together very often. My Aunt Carrie made food, we ate said food. Then we played games and watched old movies of us as kids! Oh, I forgot to mention, Nathan joined us! So were were all together!

Almost done! This was a three day event remember!

The day after Christmas there was church in the morning. That was fun because I ran into so many people that I remembered from my time in SB! We went home and then had a traditional Swedish Christmas Smorgasbord! Pickled herring, hard boiled eggs, crisp bread, meatballs, potatoes, pickles, smoked cheese. Amazing! We opened a few more gifts, ate more sweet things and then Nathan had to go home.

the best thing of all was being with my family. Merry Christmas!

Photo Reflection of Cali #1

I have to admit two of the things I was most looking forward to on my great big trip to California the past Christmas were 1. The Beach and 2. Driving.

True there is coast and beaches in Ireland but they are not the same. It is almost never hot or even sunny. You would never dream of getting in the water. When I lived in California I would make it to the beach a couple times a month. Even it just to sit and watch the waves. Being near the ocean make me feel closer to God somehow and being in California, especially Santa Barbara is just glorious.

So nice! And this was December!

Then there is DRVING! I actually don't drive in Ireland at all. Once I moved someone car back and forth while they were on vacation but that is it. I can drive, I can even drive manual cars so that's not the issue. But I'm actually terrified to drive in a right-side driver car. The pedals are the same but the shifting feels totally weird. I know all it would take is practice but since I can't afford to have a car here anyway, why bother! So I was very happy to come to California and drive! And not just get from A to B but to drive the short stretch between Ventura and Santa Barbara. I think it is the prettiest drive ever. I'm sure there are ones more lovely but not to me!

This is the view while you drive!

Combine it with some great music and nothing makes me more content!

Oh yeah! I'm driving!

So this is post one of my trip! I finally got my pictures sorted and I can't wait to start reminiscing!

Jet Laggin' with a Cape

So I'm still fighting the Jet Lag monster. It is nearly 1am and I'm not tired. I could start on a number of projects but I don't want to stay up to 4 am! So I thought I'd shoot out a quick post since I am on a roll for updating my blog!

Though I did a lot of shopping in California when I got back in Cork I still had the shopping bug. Ladies you know what I mean! A few days ago i trotted down to Penny's. Penny's is the best store ever for a missionary. It's a store filled with cheap clothes and accessories that you can also find great treasures in. I found a cape.

Not a super hero, bright red one. But a jersey, navy blue hooded one. And I have to saw it is my favorite new item of clothing! It is the comfy-est coat! Plus it has the added whimsy of being a cape! I think it may just help be get though the rest of the winter!

Anyway, don't want to go on and on about a cape cause that would be just too silly. I just am so excited to have a fun cosy new warming device that is cute to boot!

Hopefully I'll have some pictures of it soon!