I know you guys have probably heard all you wanted to hear about my fabulous dream trip to NYC! It was spectacular...and looking at the pics makes me eager to go ahead and start planning my next trip up there. I will share below some of the little known facts about the Big Apple:

• There are an assortment of creepy, mangy-looking Disney characters that stand on street corners and attempt to touch tourists and take pics with them. You know those piñatas in the grocery store that look nothing like the actual character, but close enough that you know who they are supposed to be? That's what these costumes were like.
• Here is a piñata example. I think this is  Cat in the Hat, see what I mean?
  
• The really thick, NY accent was not everywhere like I expected it to be...when you heard it, it was usually someone yelling curse words at poor tourists who were stopping to take pictures, but usually, they all sounded...well, normal.
• Getting a taxi is not nearly as challenging as it looks on television. In fact, most cabbies are eagerly searching the streets for tourists and you hardly have to raise your hand before they have busted a U-turn and are screeching towards you.
• The pizza is Chicago was better.
• As long as you have a map, you can navigate the subways, find your favorite store, or make it to any of your destinations WITHOUT asking for directions.
  
• Christmas is done RIGHT in NYC...there's not a tree without lights, not a fountain that doesn't have some festive display right in the middle. Girl in bottom right of pic is Melanie, sorry I cut the rest of your face out of the pic!
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• All Millie could say when we spotted these babies was, "Those are the balls from P.S. I Love You!"
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• Times Square smelled a little rank.
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 Of course, there is much more to tell and many more pictures to share...keep checking back!

As most of you know, we just finished celebrating Sanctity of Human Life Week. This is always a great week to talk about issues that affect all of our lives, issues like abortion, stem cell research, and end of life policies. We spent last Wednesday talking about where life starts - biologically and Biblically - and what God has to say about its value. I hope you all came away with an understanding of our responsibility to defend life - regardless of disability, illness, or deformity. I used alot of resources from a great site that I want you guys to be able to access. The link is below. To see and print off the SOHL ads that are currently hanging in our youth room, you will want to scroll down to "Be a Voice in Your Community" and then click on "Get the Word Out with Our PSA's & Print Ads". I hope you will not soon forget the stories that were shared on those posters - stories that all ultimately pointed us to the Lifegiver Himself. And as Rachel Scott said, "What is life lived without the Lifegiver?"

I should also point out that one of our own, Anna Bratcher, was invited to go and join in the March for Life at the Texas State Capitol. MDBC was represented!

heartlink.org/beavoice

I know you all have missed me. There have been cards, roses, and boxes of candy waiting for me every week as I neglected blogging. To those who longed for my return to the cyberworld, I give you this message - "Have no fear, Maurie's here."

Many exciting things have happened since I last spoke with you all , including some new changes at our church, a magical trip to NYC at Christmas, and a new year! I have been hard at work planning and plotting for our 2009 calendar and look forward to giving you all a sneak peek at what is in store in '09. Check back soon...and keep the gifts coming!