Beckah's Refugee Camp

I love friends. I am so appreciative and in awe of the many people I have the pleasure of calling my friends.

This week, the three SPEC YAGMs began their 3 week Christmas break away from SPEC. Unfortunately, this meant not only a break from work but a break from our accomodation at SPEC for which we needed to find places to stay over the holiday.

Fortunately, this has resulted in one of the best slumber parties I have experienced in my 23 years of friendships! The beautiful Bath Abbey volunteer/tour guide/fellow YAGM Beckah Selnick took the three of us in, in what can only be described as a YAGM refugee camp! Sprawled out on camping sleep pads on her floor, we have had quite the week. There has been no topic of random conversation, Christmas iTunes song, or Youtube video off limits as we've enjoyed each others company and basked in the Advent glow of friendship! Yesterday, as December 17th rolled around and I turned 23, we indulged in some of my favorite things: sleeping in, a Youtube viewing of David Cook's American Idol journey, holiday window shopping in Bath, Pan-Asian cuisine at Wagamamas, chocolake birthday cake made by Kris, and some Friends' Christmas episodes!

This week of fun winds down on Sunday when I head on to Portchester for a Brillhart family Christmas! (With some lovely representatives from my Grandma Martin's side of the family.) I will always look back with fond memories of our awesome laziness and friendship of our Bath Advent. I've happily uncovered that the Christmas season isn't necessarily about who you're with, what you do, or even WHERE you are in the world- but rather embracing the love and promise of Christ in whatever form he comes to you!

Much Love from Bath,
Marta