Thanksgiving With The Valles'

I thought I would write a post about my Thanksgiving with my family, to give everyone a look as to what the holidays are like with the Valles'.

First off, I had to work that morning at Starbucks. Can I just say I really enjoying working at Starbucks durning the holiday seasson. The company does a really good job dressing up the store and making it inviting. The store was pretty busy that day, a lot of travelers going in and out of town. I started at 6am, and was off by 145pm.
I was pretty tired and wanted to take a nap when I got home before out guests arrived.

When I got to the house, the kitchen was in full swing with my mom and my sister doing the last finishing toches on dinner. I told my family I was home, and then told them my plan to take a shower, and a nap before company arrived. Well, after my shower, I was ready to sleep, when I got a call from my Uncle Anthony who needed to know what street he needed to turn down to get to our house, because he was only 5 minutes away. Well, there went my nap. My Uncle and in laws arrived at the same time and Thanksgiving was about to start. The rest of the day was spent catching up with my Uncle whom I have not seen in a while. We talked about all sorts of stuff, as we ate from the snack trays my sister had made for us. My Mom's mom joined was shortly along with my cousin Shelly. Then my brother Nathan and his kind of girlfriend Rosa (I really don't know what she is to him) came over with the kids. (Alexis, and Mia)

With the whole family there, Thanksgiving could finally start.
The food was brought out and the spread looked like it could be in one of those home maker magazines. My sister-in laws husband gave the blessing (in Spanish because he doesn't know much English) and the feast was ready to start.

The night was filled with great food, awesome conversation, and time spent with family. Christmas promises to be the same, only this time my amazing girlfriend Allison will be there to join in all the fun. Trust me I will be posting that.

That was just a little glimpse of what life in my family is like. untill next time

Love Everybody?

So, as I mentioned in my first Post, I had worked sound for the Women of RCA. (For those of you who don't know RCA is Reformed Church of America) There was this lady speaking about what it means to love everybody. As she was sharing with the audience about making soup for neighbors, and visiting sick friends in the hospital,I couldn't help but wonder if the people she was speaking of were easy to love in the first place. Now I'm not saying that she is guilty of this, but how many of us at one time or another have been? It's easy to love the people who are like us and the people we have most in common with. But could you love the chain smoking, pot using, low income woman who works at the local smoke shop? Would you call her from time to time to see how she is doing, or how her family is doing, or how her marriage is doing?

I can't help but wonder, how we as Christians are doing in this area.

Here is a true story: I have a friend who we will call Joe. Joe is gay. He is dating a guy we will call Ben. Ben has a Best friend girl who we'll call Sara. Sara is pregnant with a baby she conceived when she was raped. Ben is going to the Navy and has agreed to merry Sara so that she can be covered by Ben's medical insurance form the Navy, all the while he is dating Joe.

Now my question is if you met anyone of these people, what would you do? Would you preach to them? Judge them? Or just love them, and be there as a friend.

I just couldn't help but wonder.