Karen Jernigan The Jernigans send Merry Christmas greetings to the Shaheen family. We look forward to your return and to seeing your pictures and hearing your stories.

Karen Jernigan Hi Jessica and all of the Shaheens. We've enjoyed reading your blog and hope you have a wonderful time in Ireland. We just got back from Colorado Springs and New York City. Brandon flew back to Denver and is driving his car back to California today and planning to stop in Provo, UT to see his friend Terry Jacobs. We look forward to seeing more pictures of your adventures when you return to Arroyo Seco. Blessings for a meaningful time connecting with your family and the people in another country. Karen

Karen Jernigan Hi Jessica. I'm glad you got to visit the Hillsong Church. I'm wondering if it was just the music that made it memorable or were they doing and saying other things that had meaning to you. I suspect that the experience was so different from traditional church that its hard to wrap your mind around the contrast. Just follow your heart to find how God can best connect with you. Sometimes it might be with tradition and other times it might be with the inovation of the contemporary styles. I think God is smiling down on both when each of us is able to connect with him in a spiritual experience regardless of the style. Blessings to you as a you finish your time in England. I'll look forward to seeing your pictures. Karen

Linda Shaheen Hi Jessie I have been very busy this week. I had to plan and deliver a full day of staff development (training) yesterday. Now that it's over I can relax a little . . before the next big thing (on Monday). I was thinking of you so I read your blog. It's so amazing that you have been able to connect with so many people who have things in common with you. I am looking forward to visiting your church (we will only be able to visit one before we have to leave for Dublin, I think). If you happen to meet any Christians who have been to Ireland I would love to hear of churches that we could visit there, as we will be there one Sunday. I'm hoping that our hosts in Northern Ireland can direct us to a church for Christmas Eve as well. Tomorrow we will go to Ming Lake near Bakersfield to see Denis Porter race his boat. I hope nothing terrible happens. We heard that last time he raced the wind came up and he lifted off briefly. I will be contacting you soon about your Stafford loans. I am worried that you are going into repayment mode and I don't think you are ready for that. I want to hear positively from you are sure of whatever your status is. Hope you have a fun weekend in Edinburgh. By the way, what is the weather like in London? The Silva's said that when Joana was there she regreted that she did not have good boots for the snow and ice. Apparently it can get pretty slick. Of course, you may figure that Joana was trying to walk around in her nice heels! And she wasn't in London, so maybe the weather was differnt. At any rate, we need to know about any special gear, besides raincoats, that we should have when we arrive. Love, Mom

Karen Jernigan Hi Jessica. I have heard of Hillsong in Australia. It's on my list of places to visit in my lifetime. Some amazing music has come out of Hillsong. If you end up at a church that has a website, I'd be interested in looking at it. There are a wide variety of spiritual experiences out there as John and I have learned since we made "church visiting" our hobby. I hope you can find one that is meaningful to you. I'll be interested to hear what you think as you visit a variety of churches. Blessings. Karen

Jessie No...everyone at my church seems to like being there. I haven't really been to an English church yet, but I'm sure you're right...it's a different experience and people don't seem to go for the same reasons. I recently started talking with a guy in my philosophy class who attends a church called Hill Song...you've probably heard of it. Anyway...it's huge and they hold the services in a theater. I'm pretty excited to go and see it. When I do, I will let you know what I thought.

Karen Jernigan Jessica. I'm interested in what church you attended and more of the details. Was the message relevent? Did the people appear excited or devoted to their faith or were they just attending out of obligation? When I was in England, it seemed as if most of the churches were gorgeous but empty. Have you run into my favorite singers yet--Matt Redmon or Tim Hughes? Blessings. Karen

Jessie Yes mom...this is an extended vacation. I am doing work, but there is so little of it that this really feels like an occasional job. I love it in here in London. Sarah and Lee Lee should really do this...everyone should.

Karen Jernigan Jessica, It was great to see some of your adventures from the comfort of my own home. My favorite picture was of the flower garden. Such beautiful colors. The beach in Brighton reminds me of how cold Capitola Beach seems to be each year during Labor Day weekend...but not this year! Life goes on at King City Glass. We have a new gal, Karina, who took your place. She's having to learn all those things you did. We will look forward to checking your blog for updates. I went to London when Missy graduated from high school. Seems to me it was cloudy and dreary a lot of the time but so many historic buildings. Hope you can check out some exciting churches. Blessings. Karen

Phoebe Cheney This website is terrific! I visited Windsor Castle in the snow ... all I remember is cold feet and lots of stairs. Your trip to Paris sounds like fun, Jessica. Are you taking a tour or exploring on your own? How much French do you and your friend speak? Maybe you will write a song while you're there ... "Paris in the Fall." Your hometown is getting its first traffic light. Maybe you already heard that on the international news. Love from us all!

Linda Shaheen Jessica, I loved your Sunday blog. I have not been able to check your blogs every day da day because there are two computer hogs at home and I have been really bu busy at work. We had a nice weekend. Hope today went well for you. Love you!