Today I went to the Hope Mills 2nd Ward and it was so great! They do things a little differently (Sacrament then Sunday School then Relief Society) but it felt just like I belonged, I loved it. The building was only about 5 miles from my dads house, a little less actually, and it was the stake center for the Fayetteville Stake. The Stake President was there and when I walked in he greeted me and asked if I was new and I told him I was visiting from GA and he told me the order of the meetings and showed me to the chapel. They have a lot more people than little ole Chatt Valley, but I love my sweet little ward. I was sitting behind the pews in these comfy chairs and the lady in front of me started talking to me and invited me to come sit with her and her daughter and I did. Sacrament meeting was really nice, they had 8 Deacons, we have 4, I was all wow, cool. The speakers in Sacrament meeting both had very nice talks, and the primary sang two songs and then thier YW sang a beautiful song, they had lots of YW too, I'd say about 40. After that I went to Principles and the teacher there was pretty good, but he was no Bro. Vanderslice, I love that guy. I gave the missionaries (Elder Loftus and Elder ?) my dads address and told them a bit about him and they're going to stop by and talk to him about the church, so everyone pray that he listens. Relief Society there was so cool, the Spirit was very strong in the room. I sat beside the Sister I met in Sacrament Meeting and the teacher was so great. She was a really funny lady who made the lesson great. It was about how the atonement isn't just for sins, it's for other pains as well. She had this whole illustration on the board and it was a really good lesson, I need to draw it out so I don't forget. Anyway.. that's about it for church.

Tonight we had our Christmas dinner because we're driving to Savannah tomorrow to have a big family Christmas. We opened presents tonight after our big dinner and I got some really cool stuff. My favorite gift is from my dad, he went to the jewelers and got me some beautiful earrings, I'll post a pic later.

Okay I'm about to go watch Rent with my big sis so I'll do a list of gifts later. Peace out-

Love--Julie