a lot like christmas

i was rejoicing out loud to k2 that i had monday off (to recuperate from festival) and he said "yay! a four-day weekend!". and we had these huge smiles on our faces. then we looked at each other, focused, and i realized what he then said out loud, "wait - a one-day weekend!". my smile was not as big then.

but i still smiled.

this festival has put a lot of things in perspective for me. i haven't had time to buy gifts. i've declined several invitations to christmas parties. and i've had zero time to figure out what our christmas plans are.

but i have given a lot of my time away. i've invited a lot of people in the community to a church event. i've made free tickets available to people who need them. i've smiled at hundreds of people i don't know and wished them a merry christmas, a great program, or just given them kind attention. i've picked trash up off the floors and wiped soapy water off bathroom counters so people would have a clean church to visit. i've gotten a lot of volunteers involved in the festival, and thus benefiting our church and the community. i've contributed cookies to the bake sale where the proceeds go to 3e McKinney. i've moved furniture. i've stayed up late. i've prayed - no, CRIED out to God for this event to be a success in His eyes.

i've thought about the people coming and how much they just might need God. i've been concerned over how much time and energy other people have been spending and praying they will find rest and peace. i've looked outward instead of inward. i've labored in prayer over those who God is bringing to this event who may, for the very first time, experience God's love.

i've been about God and others.

i'd say it sounds a lot more like christmas than my christmas usually does.

cracking up

today in papa's office, we were having a very serious meeting regarding The Festival. when suddenly, out of nowhere. i laughed. it kind of peeped out. then another. and another! and the next thing i know i've got tear balls racing down my cheeks.

i think my body was releasing stress. i'd much rather do it that way than be having bad dreams.

the other night i dreamt that after the children's drama performance, the audience thought they'd be nice and help us out by stacking all of the chairs up by the walls. when i found out about it, they were done and i went flying in there trying to find someone to help me put the chairs back out yelling [you know, in the slow-mo way of dreams] "wee hhaaaavvve anooottther performance - get the chaaiiiirrrss back out!"

then i tried to get to my boss to tell him what happened so he could make an announcement in the other venue so they don't do the same thing. but i couldn't get to him very easily because we created an obstacle course through the hallway that led to the backstage area where he was. we did that to keep people from going back there. turns out, it was me that was trying to get through.

when i finally made it through and i told him what he needed to announce he asked me to write it in a note for him to take on stage w/him. so i wrote it out and then he acted like he wasn't sure he'd remember to LOOK at the note while on stage and wanted me to bring it out to him at the moment he needed to announce it.

i woke up in a dreadful state.

yeh. i think i'd rather have more laughing fits.