Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Messiah

We arrived safely home from our trip to Chicago! Participating in "Handel's Messiah" at the Civic Opera House was a marvelous experience and such fun was had by all! The participants were Mrs. Sanford, Melinda, Peter, Ashton, Anna Price, Tiffany, Melissa, Caleb, Daniel, Christa, Joshua and myself. We all headed north ot invade...er....stay with the VERY hospitable Erber family! :-)


It was all perfectly lovely, though very cold. Chicago was exciting and the Civic Opera House was absolutely GORGEOUS! I have always dreamed of stepping foot into an opera house and that dream was so beautifully fulfilled on Monday night! My next ambition is to visit one in Europe! :)


The train was also exciting! I've never been on a train so that was also a new experience for me. I was so very glad that I was able to experience all of this with some of my nearest and dearest friends...there's nothing like trying something new with the people you love and know so well! I'm so glad that all of y'all could come!!


A HUGE thank you to the Erber family for hosting our crowd and for giving us warm beds to sleep in on that very cold winter night! Also for the huge delicious breakfast that greeted us in the morning before we left for the long, icy trip home! And another HUGE thank you to Mrs. Sanford for her care and protection! Thank you for taking us, Mrs. Sanford!!


Remember the true reason for the season, as you admire those sparkling lights on the trees, the snow outside, and the Christmas music resounding through your ears. Remember that God sent His Son, who emptied himself so that he might become a babe...fully God and yet fully Man, so that he might grow to be a man, and die for our sins. He did all of this for us, unworthy and ungrateful creatures that we are. How very humbling. And exciting...that God loves us so much that He would empty Himself for you and for me! No amount of jolly men in big red suits and "Season's Greetings" can ever take away the glory of His birth!




Chicago


In Christ Alone, Jessica


I'm Feeling:pleasedPleased





8 comments:

Tara Janelle said...

I am so glad you all came! I was such fun! Isn't the opera house beautiful? You will have to come next year!

Anonymous said...

WOW!! The Messiah sounds really cool! I've never been on a train or an airplane for that matter. :(

Anonymous said...

hey, didn't Christa, Daniel, and Joshua go to Chicago as well??

Faith said...

It was fun seeing you guys again!

Ella said...

I wish I lived someplace where I was able to take a train. I hate flying! So.....

Hope you had a great Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Jessica,

That looks like loads of fun!! After seeing "Phantom of the Opera", I've been inspired to one day go to see a real opera!

Hope you had a very blessed Christmas!

Love in Christ,
Achaia

www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com

Joanna said...

I gave you an award! :)
~Joanna

Jessica McDonald said...

Tara, I'm so glad we went too!! And you're so right, the Opera House was beautiful!! I had such a wonderful time...I am EAGERLY anticipating next year and hoping we can go!!!

Brooke, I've been on plenty of airplanes before but no trains. It was LOTS of fun! You will definitely have to do it someday!

Anonymous, I will blame it on lack of sleep, caffeine and um...lack of warm weather. ;-D

Faith, And y'all too! It was so nice to be able to finally formally "meet" y'all! :-D

Ella, That would be so neat to be able to travel everywhere by train!! I hope you had a Merry Christmas!!!

Achaia, Oh yes! And a big chandelier would add a nice touch too! :-D The Opera House in Chicago wasn't quite as gorgeously stunning as the one in Phantom of the Opera, though. The one's in Europe must be incredible! I hope you had a Merry Christmas, as well!

Jo, Thank you so much! That was so sweet of you to award me!!

Thank you everyone for your sweet comments! I really appreciate it! Happy New Year!!!

~Jess