This is my favorite holiday. I love the lights, the music, the smell of Christmas tree’s, and most of all Eggnog(TG Lee). I wish Christmas was two months long. Christmas day, and presents are just the added bonus. Christmas for me is the reward for surviving summer, love bugs, and horrible drivers (go back to the north ya yanks) ((sorry if you’re a yank reading this)). I have good, and sad memories of Christmas. I’ll share a fun one with you.

Once upon a time around the year of 1998 I believe, I was Albany New York with a friend Ben Sebban. We decided to work on our Christmas break instead of going home. We worked for a Rescue Mission and lived there for a month with the other homeless people of Albany NY. The Rescue Mission had us go to the local Mall and wrap presents for Donations from 7am – 11pm every day (open to close mall hours). We had a couple of bucks and a free bus pass to get us back to the rescue mission every night. The Mall walkers (super human elderlies) felt a compassion for us 2 college students working for tips only open to close everyday for a month at there mall, so the would bring us cookies and brownies every once and awhile. They were sweet and sort of adopted us. Later on a couple managers from the local fast food delicacies gave us free food coupons to use when ever we got hungry. The best was Cinn a Bun lady, every morning she worked she would bring a fresh Cinn A Bun, which soon caused competition with the Pretzel lady, who brought us two free pretzels everyday she worked. Point: God provided our food needs through out the month, like He did for the Israelites and Elijah.

We met so many people, and learned so much about the American culture. For instance, most of the time the people who looked well off tipped very poorly, and the not so well off looking tipped very kindly. This wasn’t the case all the time, but once the local news weather lady for Albany had us wrap 20 or so sweaters and other gifts and left us $1 for tip, and donation combined. A young man had us wrap a gift for his wife, while my friend argued with him about Aliens and Jehovah Witness’s, he left us a $20 donation, and $5 tip for each of us. It was crazy to see how each person responded to free wrapping for donations, plus to college students giving up there Christmas break to live in a Rescue Mission, and wrap presents for no pay. Part 2 next week!

This Year the Galletta's were The Bumble Bee Family.

Two years ago Mary and I were Zombie Hill Billies.

This is our Trunk or Treat outfit as "Leave it to Beaver" as the Cleavers.

We have a Youtube page, please check it out.

 www.youtube.com/C5YM

www.myspace.com/C5YM

www.facebook.com/pages/lakeland/Oasis-community-church

 C-5 is now the new Youth Group name. In a few week we will explain in more detail what it means. We have new shirts to go with it and a new logo coming soon. Please check out our website for further event details. www.myspace.com/c5ym

 I hope everyone is having a great summer. Mary, Emmersyn, and I have had one full of surprises, and relaxation. The Youth Group is up for some big things soon. At our upcoming Warehouse August 29^th we are announcing our new name along with new T-shirts. Then our Wednesday night youth group will start up September 2^nd at 7pm with some new energy and a more passionate focus. Please pray for our students, their families, and our leaders that God can use them and bless them. The rest of this year if full of some fun surprises. 

I love Louis L’amour books. I have read at least 25 of his books. Last night I finished his Collection of short stories Vol. 5. The last story was called “The Cactus kid”, and was about the Cactus kid in the late 1800, Wild West times. In this story we find C.K. (Cactus Kid for those who are lost already) has just delivered some cattle to a small town in Mexico for his boss. C.K. decides to reward himself with a fancy steak dinner. Any who, he is mistaken to be someone else, and all these little crazy things start happen, and he can’t for the life of him figure out who they think he is. So he decides to split before things get worse. On the way out he see’s this really hot lady (sub plot). As C.K. is several miles out side of town he discovers a Peno’(I don’t know what that is) trying to help someone out. It ends up being the person who everyone thinks he is. So C.K. talks with this person and finds out that this dude was on his way to this town to save the day but was ambushed and will most likely die from his wounds soon. He tells C.K. he needs to go back and help these people out. C.K. does this that is requested of with no question, and after a few little rough spots saves the day, and gets to hang with Hot lady! Yeah! So the reason I told you this story is to share the challenge I got out of it, even though there really wasn’t a challenge posed.

How often do we run from a situation where could be a help or servant?

How many times have we said that’s not my responsibility and do not help?

In Proverbs (book of the bible) it says “if you have the power to do good, the n DO IT!”

I know there has a few times where I have skirted helping, or taking a good opportunity share of Christ love. Any who, just a random thought for you to ponder today.

 For parents who wanna stay up-to-date with the youth group.

myspace.com/craveyouthgroup

You do not have to have a myspace account to look at this site. I regularly post dates and info of what's to come with details.

I have a Twitter for those of you who are Techies twitter.com/bumpgalletta 

Parents if you read this, I need your email address if you haven't received our first email update for the Youth Group

 Ok! Fun time.

10 things you might not know about me ( they are in no special order)

1. I love music, my itunes has over 16,500 songs if that is a hint. I love opening CD's looking at booklet and listen to the music.

2. I read World War II books like there is no tomorrow, I love history, but mainly 1941-1945

3. I get extreme motion sickness. I throw up very easy if your driving, flying, and boating. I am rarely a passenger.

4. Gadgets = Fun

5. You will never hear me sing, if you do you will wish you were deaf, I'm not playin.

6. Rap would be so much better if they put the "C" in the front again

7. I am not competitive all, I don't care if I lose, or get beat, hence I don't get picked often to play on peoples teams

8. I like Dinosaurs

9. When I am out on my own I seem to always run into some celebrity (Derek Jeter, Nbc News sports guy, and the Chick-fil-a Cow)

10. I am not that great at grammar, and english.

11. I believe Chick Flicks are just as bad as leprosy 

So there are some of my top 10 things ( actually they were the first 10 random things I could think of at this moment)

God still thinks we are interesting even when we think our friends, family, and ourselves don't.

Dear readers please leave a comment

For example:

This was stupid

my life is forever changed

i just wasted 5 min. of my life

Who are you?

Just splendid, you deserve a ribbon

 1440

 We will have 1440 minutes of Excitement, games, food, guest speaker, and a little sleep.

We are going to camp Gilead Wednesday April 1st 7pm and come back Thursday April 2nd 7pm. The cost is $45, which cover our meals, and lodging.

We encourage students to bring one change of clothes, and a sleeping bag. This is our chance to have as much fun as we can in this break from school in 1440 minutes. Visitors are welcomed!

 So here I am again right on time, consistent with my blogging schedule. (Sarcasm) Anyhooo, (I know misspelled) Things in the youth ministry are going great, we have a lot of Amazing things coming up.

Warehouse this Saturday at Lake Bonny park 1-4 $2 to get in, and visitors get in for free. Games, food, and Crazy outside fun!

April breaks our Spring Break activity, (cool, clever name theme coming soon) its April 1^st 7pm – 2^nd 7pm. 24 hours pack full of games, special speaker, more games, and maybe a little sleep.

Next some more Warehouse’s, and Jr. high activities, then SUMMER CAMP. We will be going to Word of Life Summer Camp in Hudson Florida, June 20-27.

So keep your eyes out for some fund raisers coming your way, we really need to help these students get to camp, and if you could pray for our ministry to the youth that would be the greatest help you could give us. God has brought these students here for a reason.

I just want to send a shout out to my Amazing Leaders Boone, Jason, Alysa, Lori, Sarah, Teresa, and Allen. This youth ministry could not do what it does without them. They have been there every week, and for every activity. Its creates the best ministry opportunity for the students to see these people there who care for and love them. Thanks you guys for your help and support.

Check out our new website myspace.com/craveyouthgroup

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