tagback!

kim has tagbacked me, but the closest book is the same one i did on friday! so i will so one tomorrow. or maybe later tonight!!!XOXO

Book sorta reveiw

i havent finished it thats why i say that! evann, loving feelings is from the "love inspired" Christian romance series. it is very good so far!!!!! i have read quite a few of the other books in the series and they are very good too!!!!! yes i do reccommend "loving feelings!"

xoxo

morning!

i finally got to sleep around 12 last night, no, later than that. about 12:45. i got up at 8, my mom woke me up! i just emailed this guy i need to be in the skit, i hope he checks his email more often that his sister! i am so bored. i hope fr dave calls me this afternoon. tonight i am babysitting my cousin makayla for 3 or so hours. money for my Christmas family! and in other news, i am for sure going to the march for life, i rsvpd on sunday as soon as i got the paper, and with 30 dollars of my bday money and the rest from my parents, i am going! i could have paid it on my own with the money i had saved for it, but they said since they paid half of my trip cost i am to use the money i save for food, souveniers, etc. YAY! yesterday at the scrapbook store i bought some DC sticker, now i have 2 sheets of epoxy and popped up stickers!!!! yay!!!

still awake.....

yep! i thinkall my friends left their computers, cuz carliann was entertaining me with forwards and bella was emailing me, but it seems as they have left. I did my dog virginias birthday scrabook page. i may start my bday pages. no, actually i cant because there is glitter glue on the page i just did drying. maybe i will organize my stamp caddy. XOXO

IVE BEEN TAGGED!

I was tagged by Evann

The Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence

4. Post the next three sentences

5. Tag five or more people.


From "Loving Fellings" by Gail Gaymer Martin-
"You remember," he said, chucking her under the chin.
"So tellme, what creative venture do you have for me?"
"Its batches of chocolate laced with raisins and macadamia nuts, plus my secret ingredient."


I tag Bella, Kelli, RosaryGirl, Teen Catholic, Michaela, Dixi, Jessy, Joey, Kim, Evann, Anna, Hannah. If any of you were laready tagged just you dont have to do it! evann you tagged me so you dont have to do it back. it will be like a game of tag with only 2 people LOL!!!!


xoxo

kinda funny

i got up at 8am, my parents had been gone since 4 black fridaying. and i am not tired yet. mom mom and brother are upatirs adleep, and my sister and dad are sleeping on the floor down here, they fell asleep watching the polar express on TV. so i have been emailing, blogging, putting away the excessive amount of scrapbook items i bought today......pretty fun actually!!! i am in charge of a skit for lifeteen on the 7th, so i hope Fr Dave emails me back when he gets home this weekend from visiting family. and i need people to let me know if they will do it! i hate things being put together last minute! my bff should be emailing me the script tonight, i hope. XOXO

my story!

Follow That Star!

It was the last day before Christmas Vacation at Saints Bernadette and Therese High School in Lakeville, Nebraska. Senior Cecelia Starr, 17 years old, captain of the cheerleading and girls basketball teams and a straight-A student, was walking towards the Principals office to do the afternoon announcements. Her long, curly, dark blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders. She was popular, pretty, and class President. She was planning to study elementary education at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, the next fall. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old senior Jacob Richie, captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams, was running his hand through his brown hair (again) waiting for the bell to ring in Government class. Sure, he was going to Stanford University next fall to study law, but he was done with the test, and he wanted the bell to ring. Now. Everyone considered Cece and Jake the perfect couple. They had been voted Homecoming King and Queen, and everyone expected them to be Prom King and Queen as well. In the yearbook, they had recently been voted cutest couple and couple most likely to be married after graduation. 16-year-old Liliana Jenkins, a junior and Cecelia's best friend, was twirling her dark brown hair in Math class. She thought she probably didn't do that well on the test, but as she figured she was going to have to go to community college anyway because of her grades. Plus, she had more important things to worry about. Like making sure she wore her hair differently each day of the week and all her jewelry somewhat coordinated with her navy, tan, and white uniform. Her friends all told her she could do better in school if she only tried, but she just wanted high school to be over. Junior Benjamin Cullins was just finishing his test in Theology class. Theology was his favorite class and he was getting all A's in school so far. He was planning on attending seminary after graduating from high school in two years. He had wanted to be a priest for as long as he could remember. He didn't play very many sports, and had always been a small kid, so his best friend Jacob had looked out for him since he was in kindergarten and Ben got teased constantly on the playground.
"Hi, this is Cecelia Starr with the afternoon announcements," Cecelia's voice came over the PA system, "We only have one, make that two announcements today. First of all, don't forget the special Life Night tonight over at church, we will be wrapping presents for our Christmas families, going to Adoration, and eating pizza. Hope everyone can come! And also, have a fun and safe Christmas vacation, and Saints Bernadette and Therese will be back in session the first week in January." Brrrring! The day was over. School was out for the next two weeks. Cecelia, Jacob, Liliana, and Benjamin all met in front of school. They were planning on going to Lili's to hang out before Lifeteen that night. "How'd your Math test go, Lili?" Jacob asked her. "Good, well I think. Probably not. You know, it's whatever," Lili said, quickly trying to change the subject, "Like, I had so much fun shopping last week for our Christmas families. Did you see all those deals I got? We got those families like twice what we would have been able to afford!" "Yeah, you can really be a little ditzy sometimes, Lili, but you did get some awesome deals! Why can't you apply those shopping-math skills to school math?" Cecelia asked her. "Because school is school," Liliana said, "and shopping is shopping!" Her friends all rolled their eyes. They were sure Liliana just didn't know her full potential! After they arrived at Liliana's house, they changed their clothes (they had packed a change of clothes in their backpacks), and Liliana's mom asked if anyone wanted some fresh-baked Christmas cookies. Of course, they said yes.
Over cookies and hot chocolate they discussed last weeks Lifeteen shopping expedition some more. "I am just so happy we were able to do 10 families this year!" Benjamin said. "I know," Jacob said, "Last year we only did 6, and this year 10? It's amazing how many donations came in!" "Hey Lili," Cecelia asked her, "what did you have to bring for wrapping tonight?" "I think I am bringing a roll of paper," Liliana replied, "What about all of you?" "Tape!" said Jacob. "Scissors!" said Cecelia. "Sharpies!" said Benjamin. "Cool..." Liliana sighed, "So, Cece and Jake! Looks good for the basketball season, eh?" Jake spoke first, "We've only had 3 games, Lili, but the team is doing well! We even beat Lakeville High last week, and they are our biggest rival! And Cece, did I tell you how awesome you did in your game against St. Thomas? You guys, I mean, girls, heh heh, um yeah, Lady Cowbells, really rocked! But you did especially great." Jacob was thinking, "Oh shoot. She really hates when I call her a guy. Please just let her keep talking..." "Thanks, Jake," "Phew," he thought, as Cece continued, "Really, we only beat them by 9 points. You did great in your game, though! You shot 4 three-pointers!" "Oh, come on," Jake replied. "Quit being so modest about it, Jacob," Benjamin told him, "You really are a good basketball player. Why do you think you have a basketball scholarship to Stanford?" "Basketball AND academic," Cecelia reminded all of them. Jacob blushed. "Oh wow it's already 5:00!" Benjamin exclaimed, "We had better head to church."
On thier way to church, snow stared to fall, piling on top of the 3 inches Lakeville had recieved the previous day. Jacob picked up a fistful of snow and threw it at Cece. He then threw one at Lili and then Ben. Cece struck back first, and soon they were all in a snowball fight, continuing as they walked to church. By the time they were to church, they were covered in white splotches of snow. They quickly brushed each other off and headed to the gathering space. Their youth leader, Kelly, came and greeted them, "Hey guys! Did you all bring the supplies?" "Sure did," Cecelia said, holding up Lili's roll of wrapping paper and the bag they had put their other items in at Lili's house. "Great," Kelly said, "Just go put them over there on the floor with the other rolls of wrapping paper." Soon the four friends and many other teens from their youth group, as well as the floor, were covered in rolls of tape, scissors, markers, scrap pieces of paper, and ribbon. Cece and Lili were meticulously packing their boxes and wrapping them carefully, while Jake and Ben simply set the gifts in the box in no order, and then cut a piece of wrapping paper that looked as though it would fit. After they saw it didn't, they found a scrap piece of paper on the floor to tape over the hole. Cece stared at them and said, "What do you call THAT?" Jacob replied, "A masterpiece! It's, oh, what's a good word?" Lili suggested, "Um, abstract?" Jacob's face lit up, "That's perfect! It's an abstract masterpiece!" Ben, always the quieter of the four friends laughed at his friend, "Jacob, you are just so funny!" Jacob replied, "Hey, you just did the same thing!" looking at Ben's box. Ben looked down at his own box and said, "Well, maybe these kids will be more appreciative of our creativity than Lili and Cece!" A shout came from across the room, from both Cece and Lili, "We heard that!" Before long, all of the presents were wrapped for every member of every family. They stacked them according to family on the table in the corner of the room. Kelly said, "OK, all of you! We did great this year! Now, please turn off your cell phones and we will head over to church for a half hour of Adoration."
The four friends followed the other teens over to church, and soon they were kneeling side-by-side in front of the Monstrance. Music was playing in the backround, and they all linked hands and started to pray the words. Before they knew what was happening, they felt wind swirl around them. They all opened their eyes, but quickly shut them. Sand was flying everywhere! "Where are we?" Liliana shouted. Jacob said, "I have no idea! Come on, let's huddle together until this storm stops!" Soon, the sand stopped flying and the wind settled down. Jacob, Cecelia, Liliana, and Benjamin all opened their eyes. They were in the middle of what looked like a desert. "What happened?" Ben said. "I don't know..." said Cecelia, "I was praying, and then we joined hands and started singing, and then all of a sudden, we were here." Jacob had left and gone to look for a sign of life somewhere, anywhere. He had to protect his girlfriend and his best friends and he had no idea what country they were in, or even what year it was! He went back to Cece, Lili, and Ben, and said "Nothing, I found nothing, no animals, and definetly no humans." "Hey!" Ben shouted, "Look over there!" Everyone directed their attention to where he was pointing. They saw what looked like three men. And they had camels! Liliana said, "Hey, you guys! Let's see where they are going!" They ran over to the men. The men looked them over and said something they couldn't understand. Well, everyone but Cecelia. She knew just about every language. "They want to know what in the world we are wearing!" she laughed. She responded, "We have no idea where we are or even what year it is!" They replied and Cecelia translated, "You are in the Middle East, and you are apparently a very long time in the past," Cece said, while the wise men were surveying their clothing again."Whoa...." Cece stood there shocked, as she realized something, that could only be verifie by the next question, "And where are you headed?" she asked. "See that star? We are following it to the birth of our next great king!" "Just a minute," Cece said, turning to her friends. "OK, these guys say we are in the Middle East a very long time ago! Should we ask them for a ride? It's our only chance out of here!" "Ask them where exactly they are going, Cece," Jacob said. Cece asked and they replied "First we are stopping to see King Herod in Jerusalem and tell him our mission." Cece stared in disbelief. She said to her friends, "You all won't believe this, but if we go with these guys, we might get to see the baby Jesus!" "Are you sure?" the ever-skeptical Ben asked. "Yes!" she replied. "Then c'mon! Let's follow that star!" exclaimed Lili. Jacob and Ben helped the girls onto the camels. The three wise men headed off with the fours friends from Lakeville, Nebraska. They couldn't wait to see where they were going!
Soon, they saw what looked like a city. One of the wise men said something to Cece and she told her friends, "You guys! This is Jerusalem! We're going to see King Herod." Jacob said, "Cece, you know what happens. Herod is going to want us to tell him where the Baby Jesus is so he can go kill him!" Cece replied, "Yeah, but remember? The wise men have a dream and go back to their country by a different way!" Ben chimed in, "She's right, Jake. Don't worry. We'll be fine." "I guess so," Jake said, "I just want to protect all of you. But I am getting hungry, and I know they ate dinner with King Herod, so mmmmmm..." Cece winked at him and said, "Oh, so now you're not going to protect us and stuff your face instead?" He laughed, "No! I need you know, strength so I can protect you!" Ben, Liliana, and Cece laughed. The wise man said something to Cece, and she again translated, "He says we will be at the castle soon!" Jacob and Ben pratically sang Hallelujiah Chorus as they both shouted, "FOOD!!!" Cece and Lili rolled their eyes and laughed at them, and Cece said, "We just ate cookies at Lili's house 3 hours ago! How can you be hungry?" Ben looked at her like she was crazy and said, "Because. We're guys! We need food to live!" Cece rolled her yes and said, "So do girls. Just apparently, not as much!" "Hey!" Lili said, "Look! We are here!" Jake and Ben helped the girls off the camels and the three wise men led them in to the castle.
King Herod greeted the three wise men and then looked over Liliana, Cecelia, Jacob, and Benjamin. He whispered something to one of the men and the man whispered back Cece overheard and said, "King Herod asked what we were wearing!" "Seems as though that is the question of the day!" said Lili, as Cece continued, "The wise man said we weren't from this time, and then King Herod, as you can see, raised his eyebrows, then he said well, they are welcome too." Jacob gave a sigh of relief, "Well, that's a relief. As long as I get to eat!" They all sat down to a delicious dinner of vegetables and fruits, along with some meats that were unidentifiable, so the girls politely refused, while the guys were very intrigued. Ben said, "This stuff is so awesome!" Jake agreed, saying, "I have never tasted anything like it!" Cece turned to Liliana, saying, "Well, that's concerning..." They giggled. While this conversation was going on, King Herod was talking to the three wise men, "Please, once you find this great king, come back and tell me where he is, as I would like to pay him homage." The four friends knew they wouldn't be back this way, but the three wise men told King Herod, "As you wish, my king!" Soon, the three wise men and Lili, Jake, Cece, and Ben were off again on the camels, following the star. Not long after, they found themselves near the village of Bethlehem. They followed the beautiful star to the ever famous Nativity scene. There they stood and stared in awe. Lili, Jake, Cece and Ben knew what they were looking at. The three wise men just knew that this was the next great King, and they were coming to present him with gifts of gold, frakincesnce, and myrrh. The four friends stood aside and watched the scene unfold just as it had in the Bible. Cece and Lili started to cry, and Jacob and Ben gave both of them hugs. After the three wise men had given their gifts, the three friends watched them leave for home....by a different route. Mary noticed them standing over there, and she told them, with Cece's translation, "Hi. You may all come in. This is my husband, Joseph," she said, gesturing to the man sitting next to her, "And this is my baby, Jesus," she told them, uncovering his face so that they could see him. Lili whispered to Cece, "She really is as young as everyone said she was. She can't be more than maybe 16." Cece whispered back, "It's amazing, isn't it?" The friends stood there in awe before sitting down on the floor of the stable with the Holy Family. Mary told Cece and Cece told her friends, "We can hold the baby if we would like." Ben went first, holding the baby carefully. There were 6 kids in his family, but he was the youngest, so he had never held a baby before. The baby started to fuss, so Ben handed the baby Jesus to Liliana. She cooed at the baby, but whispered to Cece, "Cece, I am afraid I am going to drop him. You know how ditzy I can be!" Cece told her, "Lili, you are doing great. You want me to hold him?" Cece took the baby,and she stood there rocking him. Jacob told her, "You look really adorable holding a baby in your arms. Almost as adorable as the baby." Cece looked at him and said, "Almost?" Jake said, "OK, just as adorable." The two of them looked at each other, wondering if one day they would be doing the same thing, holding their own baby. After Jacob took a turn holding baby Jesus, Mary took him back to lay him in the manger to sleep. He slept so peacefully that everyone was entranced on the beautiful and humble face of their Lord and Savior as a baby, that before they knew it, Jacob, Cecelia, Liliana, and Benjamin were back at Saints Bernadette and Therese Church, surrounded by 15 other teens in Adoration. As they left the church, Cece whispered to Lili, "Did that really happen? Was it all a dream?" Lili told her, "You dreamed it too?" Lili asked the boys, "Was it a dream? Were you there? You were in my dream." Their youth leader, Kelly, came up to them, saying, "Hey you guys! Pizza in the gathering space! Oh and Cece? You have a piece of straw in your hair." Her friends looked at each other and laughed. They had truly experienced something amazing. Jacob said, "This is one Christmas we will never forget."


Epilouge

The four friends never did forget that amazing Christmas. The next fall, Cece and Jake headed their seperate ways, one to Ohio, the other to California. They didn't see each other again until spring break of their senior year, at Mass at their home parish of Saints Bernadette and Therese. Cece went up to the familiar looking and handsome young man after Mass, saying, "Jacob Richie?" He turned around, saying, "Cece! You look absolutely amazing!" Cece giggled and blushed. How did he always know what to say to her? He ran his fingers through his hair and asked her, "You have any plans for tonight? I was going to help with the Jr. High kids youth group, and wondered..." Before he could even finish, Cece said, "Of course I'll come! So it's a date?" He replied, "You know, I haven't even been on a date since senior prom with you." She looked at him, looked in his eyes, and said, "You know I'll always love you, Jacob Richie." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. He proposed that summer, and they were married the next summer, by Fr. Benjamin Cullins. It meant so much to them to be married by one of their best friends. Jacob opened a law firm in Lakeville, and Cecelia was accepted as a teacher at Saints Bernadette and Therese elementary school. They had the large family they had always dreamed of, eight kids. They had five boys and three girls, including one set of twin girls. Liliana Jenkins went off to Lakeville Junior College to earn her degree in cosmetology. One day at the coffee shop, she met a boy named Edward, an engineer, who loved her, even for all her ditzyness. They were married the summer after Jacob and Cece, also by Fr. Benjamin Cullins. They had four kids, and stayed in Lakeville, Nebraska, one block from their church, and two houses down from Jacob and Cece. All four of the friends told their amazing Christmas story every year. Fr. Benjamin told this story to all of the Sunday school kids, Jacob and Cece told the story to their kids, and Lili told the story to her husband and children. They knew that no one would truly know what an amazing journey they had been on, but the story touched everyone's hearts. And just as Jacob had said, "This is one Christmas we will never forget." And they never did.

thanks to kelli for this list

and i am now commenting on the list kelli has made!

Bratty relatives-you have that right, kelli....some of my cousins are totally disrespectful and talk about things they should NOT be talking about at thier age!

Being the odd one out-vegetarian on thanksgiving-yep.....odd one out! and i am the only really Catholic-Catholic in my family, my family is Catholic and so is my moms, but my dads is Lutheran, and people ask me about church and they dont get it like the stuff i do! and also at my moms parents, they went obama, and my mom and dad and aunt and uncle went mccain, so my aunt and i were having a sarah palin rocks fest, and my grandma was just kinda sitting there, not saying anything, with a i wish this would stop soon look!!!

Turkey-dont eat it!!!

Crazy relatives-verrrrry! i do love them though! (storge;-))

Cold-but at least i have a new cute coat from my bday!

Long car rides-luckily my family is all in town, kelli i feel bad for you!

Family gossip-not that bad this year, some years though.....OMG!!!

Overeating-yep i did that.....and if i got on the scale i would be paying the prcie LOL!!!

Food coma-i was soooo tired yesterday;-)

Pulling an all-nighter.-nope kelli didnt do that. hope your shopping went well tho!

The worst materialistic holiday eve-well yeah thats true

Knowing that I participate in the selfish materialism-me too, just not as early as you kelli!

Planning out for the next day-thats fun! ads on my grandmas table, us kids sitting around grandma telling her what we want!

Awkward conversations-oh yes. many of those.

Cliche conversations-especially hard when you are 15, the oldest grandkid by 2 years, the next kid being a boy, and all the adults talk to each other. at least i have my cell phone;-(

Leftovers-now kelli, i have to disagree. we have an awesome day after thanksgiving leftover dinner!


ok thats all!!!! thanks kelli for this post idea!XOXO

being thankful

yesterday was thanksgiving(i bet you are like, duh!) yes it was. so in the morning we went to church, i lectored, we couldnt find the thanksgivining readings(me, the mass coordinators, Fr Phil, Deacon Kishore.....none of us!).....so, we went with the daily readings. so we just did the one reading and the gospel, but of all books in the Bible, guess which one the reading i read was from? Revelation! on thanksgiving! so anyways at church I got to talk to my BFF bella afterwards. after church we went home and watched the parade, then went to my dads parents. my great grandparents were there, but my great grandpa was really sick and not doing very well. please pray for him and my great grandma too. then we stopped by my dads aunts house to see his cousin beth and her husband and boys, they were in from out of town. beth lost her leg in an accident this spring. so we went there, stayed for about half and hour. got to talk to beth, she is a k-3 techer, like i want to be, so thats pretty sweet. she showed us her leg, it is robotic. and she didnt take her shoe off, but told us that the foot looks so real, and she can even paint the toes! and on the one part of her leg, she has a "tatoo" of the school mascot, and when she gets her final fitted leg, she is gonna get an ohio state O or something like that. so when she wears shorts, she says, people can see the "tattoo"......anyways we got to talk to her oldest son, he is s a sophomore like me, he just turned 16 last month. anyways, after that we went home for a bit, and then went to my moms parents. my great aunt was going to come, but she insisted she wouldnt because she is sick and would ruin our day. she is so stubborn, just like my great grandpa! he wont go to the doctor. i got to see my cousins from out of town at my moms parents, they are so cute! ok well my brother wants on here. like now. so i gtg!!!xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great day! We are off to Mass here in a bit, I am lectoring, my mom signed me up, then asked me if I wanted to do it LOL!!! I like lectoring but I make sure I tell everyone not to look at me, like my friends and family. It makes me happier. I may be able to post later. IDK. XOXO

Cell Phone Fwd

Cell Phones V. The Bible

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket? what if we flipped thru it several times a day? what if we turned back to get it if we forgot it? what if we treated it like we couldnt live without it? what if we gave it to kids as gifts? what if we used it when we traveled? what if we used in in case of emergency? This is something that makes you go....hmmmm....wheres my Bible? And unlike our cell phone, we dont need to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!!!







I got this on my celly today. yesterday actually! i figured i would share it. K, i must go load the dishwasher now!!!

LM

hey-ey!

I got my MRI done this morning. It was very boring. I had to keep my left arm still for an hour, and they had to redo some because my hand twitched because I hadnt moved it in so long! But I get those results next week! I hope I dont need surgery but if I do at least my wrsit will feel a bit better!!! I finally got my contatcs in today it is taking a while to get used to!!! I have to take them out around 4:30 and back in again around 5:30 til around 9:30 I am working at cheer evaluations tonight for Upwards cheerleading. If you havent heard of it is a Christian basketball/cheer program and in the fall they do soccer. I am a cheer coach, this year I am doing the 5 and 6 grade girls, including my sister. My mom is also coaching with me. I am excited! It is so fun cuz I get to teach the girls cheers and be loud (something I am really good at if I am allowed to be!)

XOXO

g'nite

well i guess i am off to bed i have to be up early because of my MRI for my wrist! i will try and do story details tomorrow. please comment on my story. i mean you bella! have you read the epilouge yet??? i love my epilouge!!! i like my last line!!!XOXO

the 4 types of love

so this is what we learned about at Lifeteen yesterday!

Storge-affection(family love)
Philia-friendship(people united for a cause, ie football team)
Eros-being in love(you know lovey dovey stuff like in movies)
Agape-charity

We spilt into small groups and each picked a kind of love to do a skit on (it seems that out of 6 groups somehow everyone avoided eros LOL!) my group did Agape. We did a skit on getting presents for a family for Christmas because their family could not afford them. It was funny because the seminarian giving the talk said afterwards "and that was an advertisement for out Christmas family project'! Please pick up a paper when you leave today!" We didnt even think of that! We didnt win(again) it wasnt the same people and all....although we should have named our group the scuba steves because that was the best name ever. we simply went by group 2!!!!(we actually said group dos!!! hows that for spanglish?)

XOXO

ps i am trying contacts right now! i havent seen myself w/o glasses since i was 8!!!! it is so weird!!!

look!

the story is mostly done, minus a few deets i will add as i do my million read thrus. you all loike the epiloouge?XOXO

Morning!

It is a beautiful Ohio day, made more beautiful because the Buckeyes beat Michigan(again) yesterday! Today we are going to Sams Club for lunch(Christmas food preview!!!!! yippeee!!!) and I have lifeteen tonight!!!! yay!!!! And if I get a chance i will work on my story, finishing some details and writing the AWESOME epilouge i have planned!!!XOXO

storytime!

It was the last day before Christmas Vacation at Saints Bernadette and Therese High School in Lakeville, Nebraska. Senior Cecelia Starr, 17 years old, captain of the cheerleading and girls basketball teams and a straight-A student, was walking towards the Principals office to do the afternoon announcements. Her long, curly, dark blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders. She was popular, pretty, and class President. She was planning to study elementary education at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, the next fall. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old senior Jacob Richie, captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams, was running his hand through his hair (again) waiting for the bell to ring in Government class. Sure, he was going to Stanford University next fall to study law, but he was done with the test, and he wanted the bell to ring. Now. Everyone considered Cece and Jake the perfect couple. They had been voted Homecoming King and Queen, and everyone expected them to be Prom King and Queen as well. 16-year-old Liliana Jenkins, a junior and Cecelia's best friend, was twirling her dark brown hair in Math class. She thought she probably didn't do that well on the test, but as she figured she was going to have to go to community college anyway because of her grades. Plus, she had more important things to worry about. Like making sure she wore her hair differently each day of the week and all her jewelry somewhat coordinated with her navy, tan, and white uniform. Junior Benjamin Cullins was just finishing his test in Theology class. Theology was his favorite class and he was getting all A's in school so far. He was planning on attending seminary after graduating from high school in two years. He had wanted to be a priest for as long as he could remember. He didn't play very many sports, and had always been a small kid, so his best friend Jacob had looked out for him since he was in kindergarten and got teased constantly on the playground.
"Hi, this is Cecelia Starr with the afternoon announcements," Cecelia's voice came over the PA system, "We only have one, make that two announcements today. First of all, don't forget the special Life Night tonight over at church, we will be wrapping presents for our Christmas families, going to Adoration, and eating pizza. Hope everyone can come! And also, have a fun and safe Christmas vacation, and Saints Bernadette and Therese will be back in session the first week in January." Brrrring! The day was over. School was out for the next two weeks. Cecelia, Jacob, Liliana, and Benjamin all met in front of school. They were planning on going to Lili's to hang out before Lifeteen that night. "How'd your Math test go, Lili?" Jacob asked her. "Good, well I think. Probably not. You know, it's whatever," Lili said, quickly trying to change the subject, "Like, I had so much fun shopping last week for our Christmas families. Did you see all those deals I got? We got those families like twice what we would have been able to afford!" "Yeah, you can really be a little ditzy sometimes, Lili, but you did get some awesome deals! Why can't you apply those shopping-math skills to school math?" Cecelia asked her. "Because school is school," Liliana said, "and shopping is shopping!" Her friends all rolled their eyes. They were sure Liliana just didn't know her full potential! After they arrived at Liliana's house, they changed their clothes (they had packed a change of clothes in their backpacks), and Liliana's mom asked if anyone wanted some fresh-baked Christmas cookies. Of course, they said yes.
Over cookies and hot chocolate they discussed last weeks Lifeteen shopping expedition some more. "I am just so happy we were able to do 10 families this year!" Benjamin said. "I know," Jacob said, "Last year we only did 6, and this year 10? It's amazing how many donations came in!" "Hey Lili," Cecelia asked her, "what did you have to bring for wrapping tonight?" "I think I am bringing a roll of paper," Liliana replied, "What about all of you?" "Tape!" said Jacob. "Scissors!" said Cecelia. "Sharpies!" said Benjamin. "Cool..." Liliana sighed, "So, Cece and Jake! Looks good for the basketball season, eh?" Jake spoke first, "We've only had 3 games, Lili, but the team is doing well! We even beat Lakeville High last week, and they are our biggest rival! And Cece, did I tell you how awesome you did in your game against St. Thomas? You guys, I mean, girls, heh heh, um yeah, Lady Cowbells, really rocked! But you did especially great." "Thanks, Jake. Really, we only beat them by 9 points. You did great in your game, though! You shot 4 three-pointers!" "Oh, come on," Jake replied. "Quit being so modest about it, Jacob," Benjamin told him, "You really are a good basketball player. Why do you think you have a basketball scholarship to Stanford?" "Basketball AND academic," Cecelia reminded all of them. Jacob blushed. "Oh wow it's already 5:00!" Benjamin exclaimed, "We had better head to church."
On thier way to church, snow stared to fall, piling on top of the 3 inches Lakeville had recieved the previous day. Jacob picked up a fistful of snow and threw it at Cece. He then threw one at Lili and then Ben. Cece struck back first, and soon they were all in a snowball fight, continuing as they walked to church. By the time they were to church, they were covered in white splotches of snow. They quickly brushed each other off and headed to the gathering space. Their youth leader, Kelly, came and greeted them, "Hey guys! Did you all bring the supplies?" "Sure did," Cecelia said, holding up Lili's roll of wrapping paper and the bag they had put their other items in at Lili's house. "Great," Kelly said, "Just go put them over there on the floor with the other rolls of wrapping paper." Soon the four friends and many other teens from their youth group, as well as the floor, were covered in rolls of tape, scissors, markers, scrap pieces of paper, and ribbon. Cece and Lili were meticulously packing their boxes and wrapping them carefully, while Jake and Ben simply set the gifts in the box in no order, and then cut a piece of wrapping paper that looked as though it would fit. After they saw it didn't, they found a scrap piece of paper on the floor to tape over the hole. Cece stared at them and said, "What do you call THAT?" Jacob replied, "A masterpiece! It's, oh, what's a good word?" Lili suggested, "Um, abstract?" Jacob's face lit up, "That's perfect! It's an abstract masterpiece!" Ben, always the quieter of the four friends laughed at his friend, "Jacob, you are just so funny!" Before long, all of the presents were wrapped for every member of every family. They stacked them according to family on the table in the corner of the room. Kelly said, "OK, all of you! We did great this year! Now, please turn off your cell phones and we will head over to church for a half hour of Adoration."
The four friends followed the other teens over to church, and soon they were kneeling side-by-side in front of the Monstrance. Music was playing in the backround, and they all linked hands and started to pray the words. Before they knew what was happening, they felt wind swirl around them. They all opened their eyes, but quickly shut them. Sand was flying everywhere! "Where are we?" Liliana shouted. Jacob said, "I have no idea! Come on, let's huddle together until this storm stops!" Soon, the sand stopped flying and the wind settled down. Jacob, Cecelia, Liliana, and Benjamin all opened their eyes. They were in the middle of what looked like a desert. "What happened?" Ben said. "I don't know..." said Cecelia, "I was praying, and then we joined hands and started singing, and then all of a sudden, we were here." Jacob had left and gone to look for a sign of life somewhere, anywhere. He had to protect his girlfriend and his best friends and he had no idea where they were. He went back to Cece, Lili, and Ben, and said "Nothing, I found nothing, no animals, and definetly no humans." "Hey!" Ben shouted, "Look over there!" Everyone directed their attention to where he was pointing. They saw what looked like three men. And they had camels! Liliana said, "Hey, you guys! Let's see where they are going!" They ran over to the men. The men looked them over and said something they couldn't understand. Well, everyone but Cecelia. She knew just about every language. "They want to know what in the world we are wearing!" she laughed. She responded, "We have no idea where we are or even what year it is!" They replied and Cecelia translated, "You are in the Middle East, and you are apparently a very long time in the past," Cece said, while the wise men were surveying their clothing again."Whoa...." Cece stood there shocked. "And where are you headed?" she asked. "See that star? We are following it to the birth of our next great king!" "Just a minute," Cece said, turning to her friends. "OK, these guys say we are in the Middle East a very long time ago! Should we ask them for a ride? It's our only chance out of here!" "Ask them where they are going, Cece," Jacob said. Cece asked and they replied "First we are stopping to see King Herod in Jerusalem and tell him our mission." Cece stared in disbelief. She said to her friends, "You all won't believe this, but if we go with these guys, we might get to see the baby Jesus!" "Are you sure?" the ever-skeptical Ben asked. "Yes!" she replied. "Then c'mon! Let's follow that star!" exclaimed Lili. Jacob and Ben helped the girls onto the camels. The three wise men headed off with the fours friends from Lakeville, Nebraska. They couldn't wait to see where they were going!
Soon, they saw what looked like a city. One of the wise men said something to Cece and she told her friends, "You guys! This is Jerusalem! We're going to see King Herod." Jacob said, "Cece, you know what happens. Herod is going to want us to tell him where the Baby Jesus is so he can go kill him!" Cece replied, "Yeah, but remember? The wise men have a dream and go back to their country by a different way!" Ben chimed in, "She's right, Jake. Don't worry. We'll be fine." "I guess so," Jake said, "I just want to protect all of you. But I am getting hungry, and I know they ate dinner with King Herod, so mmmmmm..." Cece winked at him and said, "Oh, so now you're not going to protect us and stuff your face instead?" He laughed, "No! I need you know, strength so I can protect you!" Ben, Liliana, and Cece laughed. The wise man said something to Cece, and she again translated, "He says we will be at the castle soon!" Jacob and Ben pratically sang Hallelujiah Chorus as they both shouted, "FOOD!!!" Cece and Lili rolled their eyes and laughed at them, and Cece said, "We just ate cookies at Lili's house 3 hours ago! How can you be hungry?" Ben looked at her like she was crazy and said, "Because. We're guys! We need food to live!" "Hey!" Lili said, "Look! We are here!" Jake and Ben helped the girls off the camels and the three wise men led them in to the castle.
King Herod greeted the three wise men and then looked over Liliana, Cecelia, Jacob, and Benjamin. He whispered something to one of the men and the man whispered back Cece overheard and said, "King Herod asked what we were wearing! The wise man saidwe weren't from this time, and then King Herod, as you can see, raised his eyebrows, then he said well, they are welcome too." Jacob gave a sigh of relief, "Well, that's a relief. As long as I get to eat!" They all sat down to a delicious dinner of vegetablesand fruits, along with some meats that were unidentifiable, so the girls politely refused, while the guys were very intrigued. Ben said, "This stuff is so awesome!" Jake agreed, saying, "I have never tasted anything like it!" Cece turned to Liliana, saying, "Well, that's concerning..." They giggled. While this conversation was going on, King Herod was talking to the three wise men, "Please, once you find this great king, come back and tell me where he is, as I would like to pay him homage." The four friends knew they wouldn't be back this way, but the three wise men told King Herod, "As you wish, my king!" Soon, the three wise men and Lili, Jake, Cece, and Ben were off again on the camels, following the star. Not long after, they found themselves near the village of Bethlehem. They followed the beautiful star to the ever famous Nativity scene. There they stood and stared in awe. Lili, Jake, Cece and Ben knew what they were looking at. The three wise men just knew that this was the next great King, and they were coming to present him with gifts of gold, frakincesnce, and myrrh. The four friends stood aside and watched the scene unfold just as it had in the Bible. Cece and Lili started to cry, and Jacob and Ben gave both of them hugs. After the three wise men had given their gifts, the three friends watched them leave for home....by a different route. Mary noticed them standing over there, and she told them, with Cece's translation, "Hi. You may all come in. This is my husband, Joseph," she said, gesturing to the man sitting next to her, "And this is my baby, Jesus," she told them, uncovering his face so that they could see him. Lili whispered to Cece, "She really is as young as everyone said she was. She can't be more than maybe 16." Cece whispered back, "It's amazing, isn't it?" The friends stood there in awe before sitting down on the floor of the stable with the Holy Family. Mary told Cece and Cece told her friends, "We can hold the baby if we would like." Ben went first, holding the baby carefully. There were 6 kids in his family, but he was the youngest, so he had never held a baby before. The baby started to fuss, so Ben handed the baby Jesus to Liliana. She cooed at the baby, but whispered to Cece, "Cece, I am afraid I am going to drop him. You know how ditzy I can be!" Cece told her, "Lili, you are doing great. You want me to hold him?" Cece took the baby,and she stood there rocking him. Jacob told her, "You look really adorable holding a baby in your arms. Almost as adorable as the baby." Cece looked at him and said, "Almost?" Jake said, "OK, just as adorable." The two of them looked at each other, wondering if one day they would be doing the same thing, holding their own baby. After Jacob took a turn holding baby Jesus, Mary took him back to lay him in the manger to sleep. He slept so peacefully that everyone was entranced on the beautiful and humble face of their Lord and Savior as a baby, that before they knew it, Jacob, Cecelia, Liliana, and Benjamin were back at Saints Bernadette and Therese Church, surrounded by 15 other teens in Adoration. As they left the church, Cece whispered to Lili, "Did that really happen? Was it all a dream?" Lili told her, "You dreamed it too?" Lili aasked the boys, "Was it a dream? Were you there? You were in my dream." Their youth leader, Kelly, came up to them, saying, "Hey you guys! Pizza in the gathering space! Oh and Cece? You have a piece of straw in your hair." Her friends looked at each other and laughed. Jacob said, "This is one Christmas I will never forget."


Epilouge

The four friends never did forget that amazing Christmas. The next fall, Cece and Jake headed their seperate ways, one to Ohio, the other to California. They didn't see each other again until spring break of their senior year, at Mass at their home parish of Saints Bernadette and Therese. Cece went up to the handsome young man after Mass, saying, "Jacob Richie?" He turned around, saying, "Cece! You look absolutely amazing!" Cece giggled and blushed. How did he always know what to say to her? He ran his fingers through his hair and asked her, "You have any plans for tonight? I was going to help with the Jr. High kids youth group, and wondered..." Before he could even finish, Cece said, "Of course I'll come! So it's a date?" He replied, "You know, I haven't even been on a date since senior prom with you." She looked at him, looked in his eyes, and said, "You know I'll always love you, Jacob Richie." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. He proposed that summer, and they were married the next summer, by Fr. Benjamin Cummins. It meant so much to them to be married by one of their best friends. Jacob opened a law firm in Lakeville, and Cecelia was accepted as a teacher at Saints Bernadette and Therese elementary school. They had the large family they had always dreamed of, eight kids. They had five boys and three girls, including one set of twin girls. Liliana Jenkins went off to Lakeville Junior College to earn her degree in cosmetology. One day at the coffee shop, she met a boy named Edward, an engineer, who loved her, even for all her ditzyness. They were married the summer after Jacob and Cece, also by Fr. Benjamin Cullins. They had four kids, and stayed in Lakeville, Nebraska, one block from their church, and two houses down from Jacob and Cece. All four of the friends told their amazing Christmas story every year, Fr. Benjamin told this story to all of the Sunday school kids, Jacob and Cece told the story to their kids, and Lili told the story to her husband and children. They knew that no one would truly know what an amazing journey they had been on, but the story touched everyone's hearts. And just as Jacob had said, "This is one Christmas we will never forget." And they never did.




So you all like it? I have a few more deets to add etc that I will do when I have more time. Any suggestions leave me a comment or email me!!!XOXO

POST 100!!!!

I MADE 100 POSTS ON MY BDAY!!! HAPPY BDAY TO ME AND HAPPY 100 POSTS BDAY TO MY BLOG!!! YAYAYAYAYAY! AND THANKS TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS ITS SO GREAT TO KNOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ WHAT I AM WRITING!!!XOXO TO YOU ALL, LITTLE MARY

post 99...

nextwill be post 100!!! but i have some taylor swift lyrics to share!!!

"fifteen"
:
You take a deep breath and walk through the doors. It's the morning of your very first day.
You say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while. Try and stay out of everybody's way.
It's your freshmen year and you're gonna be here for the next four years in this town. Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say you know I haven't seen you around, before.

{{Chorus}}

Cause when you're Fifteen and somebody tells you that they love you you're gonna believe them and when you're fifteen, feeling like there's nothing to figure out well count to ten, take it in this is life before you know who you're gonna be fifteen.

You sit in class next to a redhead girl named Abigail and soon enough you're best friends laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool. We'll be out of here as soon as we can and then you're on you're way.

First date and he's got a car and you're feeling like flying and you're moma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one and you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends...when the night ends.

{{Chorus}}

Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you that they love you you're gonna believe them and when you're fifteen, feeling like there's nothing to figure out well count to ten, take it in this is life before you know who you're gonna be fifteen.

Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you you're gonna believe them when you're fifteen and your first kiss makes your head spin 'round but in your life you'll do things greater than dating a boy on the football team...but I didn't know that at fifteen.
[ Fifteen lyrics from http://www.lyricsyoulove.com/ ]

When all you wanted was to be wanted wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now.

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday but I realized some bigger dreams of mine and Abigail gave everything she had to a boy who changed his mind and we both cried

{{Chorus}}

Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you that they love you you're gonna believe them and when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall. I've found time can heal most anything and you just might find who you're supposed to be. I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen.

la la la la la...la la la la la...la la la la la

Your very first day take a deep breath girl take a deep breath as your walk through the doors.

i love this song! and it says so much!!!xoxo

Thank you!

thanks to everyone who has wished me a happy bday! i have had a great day too! i got to go to Mass(tho not at my church.....we got out of the movie too late and went to sts peter and paul 4:30!!!) i got the taylor swift CD too and a adorable coat with hat/gloves/scarf set the hat is a beret!!! and the HSM3 soundtrack, that was from my mom and dad and brother and sister. i also got some other great stuff!!! and i am not done yet either!!! the talor swift cd rocks so expect qquotes from it in future posts!!!xoxo