Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year. I love the festive spirit and the excitement everywhere I go.

John and I start of by getting a Christmas tree and carrying it home – because our car is too small to have a tree tied to it. Decorating is fun – but the most exciting part is preparing to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday! I love to read and reread the story of Jesus and listen to Christmas songs that are all about this gift that God has given us.

This year, I am trying really hard to not get caught up in the business of shopping, but instead give my attention to the one we are celebrating. However, this is ALWAYS a hard task. The past couple of weeks have been busy with dinners, parties, Christmas shows, wedding….and to be honest, it is hard to focus on Jesus.

So, today I am intentionally setting aside some time to be still and thank God for giving us a Savior.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas where ever you are!



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Monday, December 14, 2009

Not the Same Without You

This past weekend was a big one for many reasons – but one specific reason is a bigger deal than others.

John and I were apart for two nights for the first time since we got married 1.5 years ago.

I know that couples all over the world spend days, weeks, months and even years far away from each other, but I can barely handle a weekend – and I’m ok with that.

Since John was gone for a bachelor party, I spent time with my family – and had a great time, just not as great was it could have been if John had been there with me.

Multiple times I thought about what John would have said if he was part of a conversation…I wondered what he was doing at specific times of the day and wished he was close to me.

These feelings came and surprised John and I quite a bit – because we were unaware that we have become one in so many ways. It is interesting that we discovered how much we love being with each other once we were far apart.

Although I do not like the feeling of being far away from John, I delight in the fact that we miss each other that much because we value what we have. I enjoyed coming home last night to find John passed out on the couch waiting for me.

We chatted for a long time. I could not keep my mouth quiet for a single minute until I told him everything in detail that had happened while he was gone. John showed me pictures of the weekend and filled me in the ‘important’ parts.

Needless to say, our time together was not enough because soon the alarm went off and it was time to go to work. I look forward to some free time together this coming Christmas!

Here are some of the things that happened to me while John was gone:
  • I got my hair straightened. Yes, my hair is straight right now and I have not taken a picture yet. I better work on that before the hair goes back to its natural state.
  • I went to a Christmas party by myself (and it felt weird to be dateless).
  • I did an amazing parking job at a very full garage. This is a big deal too because I drive a manual and I didn’t think I could do what I did so beautifully. I wish I had taken a picture of it and the people who gave me thumbs up…but I was already late and had to run (in heals, while very dressed up with my straight hair flying everywhere).
  • I watched Invictus and liked it.
  • I got big blisters from running in heals, but I would like to think that it was worth it!
  • I went to church and watched the ECF children do great at the Christmas play.
  • I got to be with wonderful women all afternoon doing a service project.
So, I did miss John a lot, but I can't really complain about my weekend. I just wish John had been there to do some of these thigs with me.

Well, that is it for now. I will work on getting some pictures next time.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Life Right Now

Time is flying by and I can’t keep up with all the little things I have to do. But really, I can’t complain. In the past couple of weeks I have had a blast spending time with wonderful people!

A dear friend of ours is getting married in a couple of days and I cannot wait! But for now, I have lots of little things to get ready for his bachelor party.

Ok. So, I am not going to the bachelor party – because I am not a male – but I wish I could be there. Since John was in charge of organizing the food for this ‘guys only weekend,’ I had to put on my male brain and try to figure out what guys like to eat and how much they eat.

The food is purchased and ready to go – and I want to be there to eat it too!

…I want to be there for other reasons as well…

Anyways, knowing that this week was going to be super busy, John and I went out on a date last Saturday and we even dressed up!

I got to wear this little black dress that had patiently waited for an opportunity to come out of the closet.

My favorite memory?

Well, there are two.

1. John said after seeing me all dressed up: “You are so beautiful…and this dress is so you!”
2. I discovered my new favorite drink: A Mint Kiss


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Friday, December 4, 2009

I'm not Going Under

Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is the potter and I am the clay. Although I am pretty sure that the clay never starts trying to be the potter in the pottery world – but I try to be God all the time.

During my 24 (almost) years of life, God has ALWAYS been faithful and I have no complaints. Sure, things don’t always never go as I plan, but I have watched his plans come to reality and they are always better than mine. I say all this to make the point that I have no reason to doubt God. In my heart I don’t want to doubt him.

However, recently I have been consumed with worries. I worry about some heath issues, I worry about job security, about my relationship with John, about our future plans.

Yesterday these worries impacted me in a physical way and I felt like my heart was heavy – like I could barely breathe.

I spent hours reading the word and praying that God would help me have faith….that he would help me with my unbelief. I prayed that He would help me be more like him – steadfast.

Well, the Jejovah-Jireh - the provider – brought me a message from a program called Walk in the Word that spoke to the fears that I am going through. In this message, pastor James MacDonald said:

“God knows you better than you know yourself. You're not going to lose it; you're going to be okay.
You don't know what you are capable of when you're resting in God's strength and not your own.
You're going to get through this one way or another. It's not going to last forever and you will get through it - because God is faithful. He's not tired and He's not wondering when this is going to be over.

Reassure yourself, "I'm not going under." You can keep going for another day, another week because God is producing staying power in you. The ability to remain in that marriage - as hard as it is. The ability to remain in that job - as hard as it is. The ability to stick with it in that difficult circumstance - no matter what.
If God can produce in you that staying power, He can give you everything else.

The good's not coming if you quit. Listen, God can get every characteristic of Christ into your life if He can just teach you to stay in the game.”

I want to stay in the game! I want to walk on water and be able to keep my eyes on Jesus – for if I don’t I start to sink. I want to trust God with all my heart.

None of this is easy, but I want it. In the mean time I will keep reminding myself that I'm not going under.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

A Good Surprise

I am the kind of person that really enjoys surprises good surprises...although I have not been surprised too many times in life.

My husband surprised me in a big way almost two years ago when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I still feel giggly inside when I remember that day.

Well, another one of those good surprises happened yesterday when two friends of ours who are supposed to be in Costa Rica showed up at our door at dinner time!!! We have missed them and are SO happy to have them back close to us.

I can’t wait for our future gatherings!

Welcome back Steve and Kara.



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