So in my opinion this year wasn't exactly filled with the greatest of movies. Maybe there was a couple here and there but overall not so good. I was watching some Monday Night Football with friends on (you guessed it) Monday night and since the Niners clearly don't use Duracell the entire stadium lost all its power not once but twice in the game! Imagine standing and cheering the colors of red and gold flowing in the stadium with a few terrible towels scattered in packs when suddenly there's no color at all....no light at all. But I am totally getting off topic (I thought you Jr Highers would understand haha). Anyways my friends and I had plenty of time to not pay attention to the game and talked about movies. We realized there were no "must see" films this year. I know all the twilight fans want to punch me in the face right now....good thing no twilight fan knows how to throw a punch. Next year, however, there's some epic movies I am so pumped about. There's the conclusion to the Batman series The Dark Knight Riseswhich I have been looking forward to since I was first questioned as to why I was so serious. But the only thing I could look forward to more than the barely comprehendable non-hockey pad wearing vigilante is The Hobbit! My favorite of the Lord of the Rings series is finally on its way. The funny thing was the new trailer for it had just come out this week too and my excitement has only grown. The bummer is it comes out next year December...oh I just can't wait that long! If I am not seeing a three foot, pudgy, hairy footed, curly haired, British accented, ring-bearer in the next five minutes I'm going to explode!

After watching the trailer 7 times and going for replay once more I had to take a deep breath and walk slowly away from the computer. To say the least, I realized that I may be suffering from a bit of anticipation. I go to work this morning and open up our Jr High website to make sure its all up to date when I see the Bible passage on the front page that I posted not two days ago. Every time I read about the shepherds hurrying to see the Christ child after being dumb-struck by an entire heavenly host, I get a vivid picture in my mind. I see the shepherds so terrified by the angel that they nearly pass out...maybe the younger shepherd does. Then they listen to the angel tell its amazing news, the Savior is born. The Savior is born! They run down the side of the hill barely able to keep their balance as triumphant music can be heard from who knows where. Their hearts race as they jump fences, traverse fields, and cross roads. They finally get into town and search for the Savior. When they finally find Him they don't even think to question why He is being born in a smelly barn house where the animals are kept. They just sit there and look at Jesus who even as baby is far more glorious and amazing than the entire heavenly host they just were baffled by.

The anticipation of seeing their Savior was so great they had to run. They had to see Jesus right now! What am I looking forward to? A movie? What do any of us look forward to during Christmas? Presents? Time off from school? Time off from work? The chance to play video games all day? The chance to sleep in til the sun is going back down? The chance to not have to get out of what you slept in? I know all of those things come to my mind more quickly than Jesus. Even though its so repeated: Jesus is the reason for the season, it just gets almost numb having to hear about the real meaning of Christmas. But we are so quick to anticipate all the other things that come with Christmas time. Can we really hear about Jesus too much? No way. In fact I would say we don't hear about Him nearly enough. Especially at this time of year. We must not be hearing about Him that much if our minds go right to so many other things. I certainly don't need a movie I want to see to be added to that list of things that distract me from Christ's birth. If I had even a little bit of that anticipation I have for The Hobbit transferred over to the anticipation of celebrating the birth of my Savior, how would that affect my approach to Christmas? It's certainly something I am going to be thinking about and working on. How about you? Let's all work on where our anticipation lies this year.

-Chris La Porte

Do you ever feel lost?  Being lost is the worst feeling. Not know which way is up.  We experience this feeling of confusion often in life (or at least if you are like me) when we travel to a new city, when we are tumbling inside the momentum of a wave while surfing, or when trying to get through life day to day.  Yes, periodically life just manages to feel upside down.  Often we have no real control to prevent feeling upside down, it just happens.  
 
Paul (this guy who wrote some stuff in the Bible) was telling these people that he was having an upside down time in life.  He says he asked God 3 times to hook him up.  But God told him, my grace is sufficient for you.  God’s grace is sufficient.  So basically you are telling me, that no matter what my situation is like, God having that unconditional favor for us is enough?  That’s cool.  I just want to feel that Godly grace more often.  Perhaps all I need to do is ask.  



A.  The kickball tournament totally rocked.  I saw tons of amazing plays.  The kids played awesome.  I literally say every player on each team contribute.  Some fantastic and memorable plays, thanks to Jessica for a one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Overall kickball killed it.  I think we will do it again in a couple months.  I can’t wait to see where “El Gato” will end up.  Hopefully we can get some pics online for you.  
2.  My son Nolan is turning 1 in like a week.  Do you know how fast time flies?  My son is almost walking, he says ‘Da Da’ and he can find his ear 90% of the time.  Little kids are the greatest treasures in the world.  For Nolan’s first birthday party I thought it would be awesome if we had a toga party.  A bunch of little kids and adults wearing togas sounds like a great idea.  But that is not what is going to happen because I get no real say when it comes to certain things.



I recently was pointed out that a dog (that will remain nameless) while chilling in my backyard scratch a couple holes in my in-law’s screen door.  If any of you live with someone who likes to keep things orderly, neat, clean, pristine, and not broken then you will know torn holes in the screen door can be a problem.  The thing is, it wasn’t even my dog that did it.  I don’t even own a dog.  It was a friends dog.  So who is to blame?  Sometimes our friends can get us into trouble.  I remember once in jr. high I was skateboarding in my garage with my friend.  My friend tried to do a trick, he fell, and his board went right into the dry wall knocking a huge hole in it.  My dad was so mad.  But what can I do?  I’m not going to tell my friend not to come over.  Anyways, when your friend gets you in trouble know that I feel your pain.



This week has been rough.  My week has been filled with tears.  Why?  Because my son cried for an hour and a half because he didn't want to sleep in his crib.  Parenting is hard.  It is hard to know what to do and how to do it.  If you are a Jr. High kid and are reading this write now, cut your parents some slack.  It is really hard.  But back to my kid crying.  It's wierd.  My kid will be sound asleep in my arms, but the second his sleepy body hits the bed, he becomes alive!!!  I mean immediately, while stilll asleep some how, he pops right up, stands up, and jumps up and down while screaming bloody murder.  I have no idea how he does it.  Usually we give in right away and pick him up.  But this teaches him that he can get what he wants.  This is not true in life.  We can't always have things the way we want them.  We often have to do hard difficult things.  We have work and school.  We have chores and duties.  All of which aren't always the most fun to do.  But we have to do them.  And my son has to sleep in his bed.  Now he just needs to learn to take naps in his bed, but that will be another tearfilled adventure.  PEACE



I would like to point out my world domination from last Friday night while playing RISK. From South Africa to the west and then down through Australia.  For now I am the victor.  My competitors fought valiantly but only the strongest survive.  And in the end I barely toppled Courtney and Jessica.  Fun fun Friday was a blast.  The next one is March 5th. Please feel welcome to bring a friend or come solo.  You won’t regret it.  

I would also like to point out that yesterday I was fortunate to pick up a brand new surf board.  There is nothing like getting a new toy.  I felt like a 9 year old on Christmas Eve when I was driving to go pick it up.  I can’t wait to try it.

I love to surf.  There is something special about being active in nature.  That is different things to different people.  But if you are crept up in a classroom and in front of the TV all day, the artificial lights can really get to you.  It takes a toll on the soul.  My recommendation: talk some time to walk where there are more trees than cement for an hour a couple times a week.  Find nature. Not sure where?  There are lots of places.  Ask someone who is old and trustworthy.  Try surfing.  If you want to learn maybe I will take you with me and show you sometime.     

What’s up?  Waz Up?  Feel free to peruse the brilliant new website.  Isn’t it fresh?  A huge thanks to the queen of the Kimes clan for hook’n it up.  You are the best.
 
I would like to make a prediction.  I am going to scratch my way to the top in an epic battle of RISK on Friday Feb. 5th. My last campaign was cut short because of the workings of 1 Jessica Cernik.  Who if I remember correctly had some secret alliance with a bunch of people.  My favorite part of the game is the alliance stuff.  I mean, how great is a game where you can tell one person something and then do the exact opposite when it best suites your personal interest.  Come to think of it, it sounds like most Politian’s in real life.  But either way, this game is great.  I have been practicing rolling 3 dice all week.  Let’s battle.
 
I hope everyone is having a great week.  Remember to be persistent with your prayers to God.  



Winter camp was a blast!!! Email camp photos to akramer@wacc.net if you want them posted to the WACC jh High Facebook page.