Favorite Moments from 2007...

Inspired by my friend Nate Hughes' blog Ive decided to show my 2007 highlights. Most of my stories Ive linked to a blog entry that I wrote during that time. So if you missed something throughout the year you can go back in time to that entry...

January 2007
New Years last year was in the States and just seconds into the New Year one my my dearest friends Heidi Mae got engaged...















I flew back to Slovenija just in time for our annual youth conference in Cakovec, Croatia.













February 2007
JV Womens Conference was in Rome this year... I stood in this field on Palatine Hill and just soaked in the presence of the Lord. It was a precious moment...
















March 2007
Our church went to Crikvenica, Croatia. I LOVE our church retreats. My dear Neja got baptized! AND, Naja was baptized also, earlier in March! This is also my birthday month. 26years old this month!


























April 2007
No travel this month, but with the help of Erin and Amy, we created the camp theme song dance...



May 2008
Busy, Busy, Busy. Began with Spring Conference in Czech...













Then I found myself in North Carolina with Robyn. We picked strawberries, went on a bike ride, the house got robbed, we sipped lemonade while sitting in rocking chairs on the porch, I got stuck overnight in a sketchy hotel in Chicago... Was that only 3 days?!?!
















I found myself in Portland as a bridesmaid at Heidi's wedding.



















And lastly I landed in Kent, WA with the family, for about 3 days.













June 2007
Cakovec Croatia, 7 and 1/2 gallons of pitting cherries. Never done anything quite like that before...













Castle Camp in Austria!!!!! My favorite. English Camp #1. Really doesnt get much better then this.















Then Ljubljana Junior High Camp. Camp #2. I met some pretty awesome kids...













They also put together their own free hugs video... didnt I saw these kids were awesome?!




July 2007
Yes, it was finally released... oh wonderful day.














Cakovec, Croatia English Camp. Camp #3. Team Slovenija!! We were REALLY tired this week.













August 2007
Slovenia's first theological training program, named, Kriz (Cross). Definitely a milestone. Camp #4.













JV Kids Camp. What Camp number am I on?? I forget. Definitely without a doubt the most incredible kids Ive ever met. They amaze me. Challenge me. And Change me.













September 2007
Back up to Czech for fall conference! Here is the Slovenija group,with a few fun visitors!













A new Bible Study small group was born!













October 2007
Italy, Michael Buble, and dear dear friends...Does life get better then this??



















November 2007
Thanksgiving in Czech. I love my JV family...













New Book Club! Every Friday I meet with these junior high girls and we read and talk about the Christy Miller books. Love love love it!













December 2007
Trained it to Zagreb to hang out with some friends.















Jackson Girl Christmas...oh and Terry too, of course! One of the best Christmas Ive had!













Wrapping it all up...
Well as I look at my favorite 2007 moments I see that April was the only month I did not leave the country of Slovenija. I was in the states 2 times, Czech 3 times, Croatia many times, and in many other countries, again, many times. I really travel a lot... I live a pretty exciting life. Its no wonder that this year marks the most Ive ever been sick. In this life I live, I am always surrounded by dear people that I love. Although at times I feel lonely as I look over my life last year, I am definitely not walking through life alone. In fact, the Lord has heaped his blessings upon me. What a year!!

Kinda annoying...

Every time I get into my car I have to go in through the passenger side cause the drivers side lock is frozen shut 90% of the time.

My Christmas Day at the Jacksons...

The Jackson family invited me over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was glorious. The girls woke me up at 7am singing, "Im dreaming of a White Christmas..." And they even had a stocking for me. We opened presents, played games, watched movies, ate good food... it was perfect.

Quote...

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

A few nights a go I was babysitting at the Patty's and I read them this story...

My Disney look a like...

...so, Ive been told by quite a few people. It is my new favorite movie!

talking...you'd think it'd be easy!

I just got off the phone with my Slovene teacher. We were chatting and laughing on the phone for about 5 minutes about random things. I only spoke Slovene. I hope she understood me. Im hoping we both had the same conversation...

Christmas Plans...

So up until last week I didn't have any plans for Christmas. I knew it'd be here in Slovenija. But, thats all I knew. At church on Sunday I saw Tomy's mom. Tomy is a student in our youth group and recently his mom has been coming to church. I really like her. My Slovene is better then her English...which means we speak Slovene. Anyway, she asked me where I would be for Christmas. I said I didnt know. And she told me she wanted me to come to her house!! I was sooo touched. The next day the Jacksons invited me to spend the night Christmas Eve and then Christmas day too. So I think I will do that and then visit Tomy's mom in the afternoon!

Weekend in Zagreb

Saturday morning I hopped on a train and went to visit a few of my friends down in Croatia! Ema and Miriam Kreko are sisters that I just love to spend time with any chance i get! They showed me around Zagreb, we met up with some of their girls and went to the theater to watch my new favorite movie, Enchanted! Afterwards we went home to a nice dinner prepared for us by our friend Filip. The night ended with a DVD of one of Michael Buble's concerts, truffles and delicious tasting wine. It was a wonderful weekend!

Slovene Mistakes

Funny story. My friend Brooke gave me the number of the massage therapist--Carmen--I called to set up an appointment. Well...I decided to do it all in Slovene, to work on my language, and The conversation went like this... (translated version)

Me: Hello, my name is Christina. My friend Brooke gave me your number. Do you have time on Friday for a massage??
Carmen: Massage? You mean a haircut??
Me: No...Massage.
Carmen: Haircut?
Me: Massage.
Carmen: I dont do massages. Only haircuts.
Me: Are you Carmen?
Carmen: yes. I do haircuts.

----> Ok at this moment I realize that earlier I had also asked Brooke for a barber's phone number. It is at this moment that I make the connection that the barber and the massage lady have the same name. And I called the wrong one.

Me: ohh....well...I actually do need a haircut too. Do you have time?
Carmen: ....acting very confused..... ummm can I call you back??

Still havent heard from her. Needless to say I called the OTHER Carmen and set up an appt. For a massage. Oh confusion.

Thanksgiving Football...

These are some pictures of a football game on Thanksgiving where I was up in Czech at the JV Conference. Ok, so Im not in any of these... I was inside, in the warmness, looking at magazines with Kristi Patty and drinking coffee, mmmm....but they are all of people I love dearly and consider family. So, here is a pieces of my life!












Brennan Runzo checking out the competition.












Anna being tough.












Caleb Patty getting a concussion. Can you see the elbow to the head in the background? Owch!













The whole group!

Hodgepodge: A lil of this, A lil of that...

Hmm...its been a while since Ive posted. Ok, last time I wrote was just before this English Weekend we were going to have. Huge opportunity, team coming from Germany, awesome potential! Well... it got canceled. But as that door closed another opened. The same weekend David and I met with the headmaster of the best school in Ljubljana (Catholic Private School) and practically got offered jobs! We will see what actually happens but he seemed excited to have us help teach English in his school! Oh and also, even though the weekend was canceled the team came from Germany anyway and we did some English stuff in the school and other events around Lj. We definitely had a lot of fun even though it was different then we expected!!

In other news... I just got back from Thanksgiving Conference in Czech. Seriously one of my favorite things. Ever. Its just GREAT!! Lotsa food, incredible people, puzzles, gingerbread house making, JV Kid talent shows, football, food, JV Kids, food, ...couldn't get better.

Favorite moments: Looking at magazines with Kristi while everyone was out playing football, talking with Amy Ellenwood, watching Gracie do the Rodeo Shimmy, Noah singing Johnny-Be-Good, the talent show, Starbucks in Vienna--Gingerbread Latte, Pictures below...































This is me with the famous Gracie Pitcher, yes, the rodeo shimmy!

Oh Im including a few other random pictures. Recently Ive been listening to some Rob Bell sermons called, "God is Green". And its all about how God cares for our environment and the world we live in. Well, Ive affectionately entitled this picture series "God is Green". Anna and I hadn't taken out our recycle in like...a month...late one night we decided to do it and it turned out to be my most memorable taking out the trash moment!













































In the Spirit of Thanksgiving Id like to say a few things Im thankful for. Im thankful for...

Bicycles, fall leaves, early winter snow, long road trips to Czech, Gingerbread Lattes, JV Kids, Cooking Magazines, candles, messages on my answering machine (especially from my family) blue skies, good books, Amy Grant Christmas, my Slovenia Family, hearing truth that changes me, my mom, home cooked meals, mash potatoes, getting an email, growing and trusting.

English Weekend...

This month one of the English teachers approached us and asked if we would be willing to organize a weekend English camp for the kids in the medical high school. She said, "I'm inviting you on one condition, that in the evenings you do something 'spiritual'. My students desperately need something in their lives and I don't know how to give it to them, but I think you do."

These students are all studying medicine and although we can't be overtly "religious"; we have chosen the theme "Body and Soul" for the weekend. We'll be talking about how people are more than just a body and that people have a need for both the soul and the body to be healed.

The dates for this camp are the 16^th-18^th of Nov. Right now we have 21 students signed up, but the school says 30 need to sign up before they OK the trip. Will you be praying for those last few sign-ups and for God to work during the weekend? The principle and several teachers are planning on attending too. This event has huge ramifications and could possibly open many doors for us in the future so we would really appreciate your prayers.

(PS-I totally stole this from Josh's update...THANKS!)

Sick Sick Sick...

Ive been feeling like Ive had a cold for a while. So, today I went to the doctor. Well, the diagnosis is that I have a double ear infection, a sinus infection, bronchitis, and angina--which i think translates into tonsillitis. I have some antibiotics and a bunch of tv shows to watch... Im suppose to stay home. So Miso...I guess I should have listened to you! Thanks for looking out for me!

Getting Ready...

Last night Kristi and Christina's Christmas Movie Night featured Miracle on 34th Street. There was, hot chocolate, sugar cookies, a fireplace with fire, and little kids running around the living room...

Its true.

Two weeks a go...in October...we got our first camp sign up. Unbelievable.

Kinda bizarre....but kinda cool....

So, I have this friend named Meta and she is learning the Czech language. Well, this one time we were hanging out I started showing off my Czech language abilities (you are free to laugh out loud at this point)....I know like two phrases...but at the time could only think of one. So, I told her my Czech phrase and she started laughing. Honestly, its a pretty normal response in my life when I try to speak Slovene, so it didn't phase me too much. But what she told me next was really surprising!!! She told me,

"Christina!! You spoke that Czech phrase with a Slovene accent!! You definitely did not have an American accent, it was purely Slovene!"

I was speechless. Kinda bizarre...but kinda cool...

I was impressed...

Yesterday the Jackson Girls, Sarah Vuletić (missionary in Croatia) and I went bowling. I bowled 113. The bumpers helped.

Girls Night!

Girls Night at Katka's! Kristi Patty talked to us about friendship, we had snacks, and talked about who we are by using pictures from magazines. Here is a picture of Polona, her sister Katja, and Barbara in the background. Great Girls!! Great Night!!

The Perfect Day...

On Sunday my two friends Ema and Miriam and I headed down to Padova (right next to Venice) and went to a Michael Bublé concert. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!! First we explored the city of Padova and had so much fun we forgot that we the concert that night. Then came the concert... Michael Bublé is a GREAT performer and sounds a lot like a modern day Frank Sinatra. At the end of the concert they opened up the front and so we got to go right up to the stage! We got so close! Not only was it a great day in Padova and a great concert, Miriam and Ema and I just really enjoyed getting to spend time together. It was definitely a perfect day! Here are a few pictures. For videos and more pictures click HERE! Or go to my photo album on the side of my blog.

So you know...

So, I'll taking off tomorrow for Italy. Spending time with some friends... Miriam and Ema (from Zagreb, Croatia), Stephanie (CA) and Michael Bublé. If you need any one of us you can call our cells...

I travel... A lot.

Next up, the states. January, February, and March... I feel like I travel a lot. Probably because I do. When will I be in your city?? Just ask. I will tell.

I like them...

I recently stumbled across this picture on the Ellenwoods Blog. Its from conference last month. I like these people a lot!!

Josh and Terry in the back. (l-r) Daniela (lives in Czech), Anna, and Mateja.

Survey...

Im taking a little survey. In America I was told to change the oil in my car every 3 months or after 3,000 miles. Here in Slovenija I've been told once a year or after 20,000 kilometers (12,427miles). Is this something that truly differs from country to country?? How often do you change your oil?

Swimming...

I haven't recorded my receipts since June... Im so overwhelmed...

Jackson Girls. I like them.

Already!

Today at work we were planning for camps.....

Fall Conference!

JV Conference continually marks an incredible time in my life. I feel like the Lord always does something significant in my heart and I walk away changed. This week at conference was just that! Through Dave's talks, Josh Patty's teaching and the teaching of many other skilled and gifted men, I was really challenged with the way I live my life and do ministry. The Lord went after some huge areas of my heart and through times of prayer, journaling, and talks with my JV family I am now rejoicing in the goodness of our God! Im so thankful He never wants me to remain stagnant but is always pushing me towards growth and towards His Person. Josiah Venture has truly shaped me these last few years and I know that I am a different person then I was three years a go. I really thank the Lord that he called me to this Body of Believers.












Team Slovenija! Plus a few special visitors. And one cardboard sheep.











Dave Patty, president of JV, is very expressively teaching us about Leading the way Jesus leads... as well as how not to...











JV is now in 10 different Eastern European countries!

Fall is here...

Today feels like the first day of Fall. Technically I think the first day of Fall was a few days a go, but today it actually felt like it. I could see it in the leaves and feel it in the air--ok, the terenchal downpour! This week has marked a bunch of firsts for me. I just had the first day working in the office. The first time meeting in our girls Bible group. And my first Slovene Class.

I always like new beginnings. Lucy Maud Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables says, "Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it!" I feel like that with a new season. So many promises yet to unfold...

Im attaching a picture of my new girls group. (l-r Tjasa, Polona, Urska, and me!) We are doing a new study that JV has just released called, Elements. I really really like these girls!!

Goodbye Metka....

Our dear friend Metka left for the year for Belfast Bible College! We had a going away party for her at my house. I read her the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh the Places You'll Go" and we talked about what we loved about her.

We love you Metka and are excited for what God will do in your life in Ireland!

So fun I had to post them again!

Heidi just sent me some of her wedding photo's and they were just so fun that I had to post 'em! We are fun friends!!

(Wanna see more of my life? Click on My Photo Album!)

The coolest kids in the world...

JV Kids just happen to be the greatest!! Camp was so so much fun, here is a little taste...

My group--the Ducks.
Our own beach!
Wet swimsuits...all week long...
Lots and lots of sunscreen!
Playing Ultimate What?! with squid.
The Ducks wanting to take the squid home.
Scavenger hunt, deserted island, a few monks and a solitary monastery.
Gracie asking if the monks did crafts.
Learning from Andrea.
Praying for the persecuted church.
Praying for our friends.
Praying together.
Becca Patty's sweet prayers.
Nina, my little surfer girl.
Kelsie's gift.
Gracie announcing she had Hug Deprivation.
Emily's hugs.
Kiley's amazing cleaning skills.
Many little girls falling out of beds and talking in their sleep.
Late night runs with Katka.
Staff meetings.
Staff Perks.
Worshiping together with Hannah and Tyler.
Sunsets.
Many Hugs.