Christmas 2010

                            Christmas 2010

                                              Kendall and Blake

Wow, Christmas is almost here!  A week away and not one gift has been bought.  Somehow I know I should be stressed but I'm not.  Blake and I were thinking back to where things were a year ago and I feel like having my sister here with us, completely healed, is a gift in itself.  Last year Christmas was spent at the hospital with little hope that she would come home.  The world says "little hope" but my heart says with Christ, there is always hope. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  He brings peace to the world and more specifically to my burdened soul.  Now here we are a year later. God is good.  We've decked the house out and the parties and planning have all begun but surrounded by all the glitz and glam, chaos and gifts I can't help but think of a baby, born to die.  We get so wrapped up in Christmas lists, meal planning and decorations that we miss the cradle, we miss the cross.  The true Christmas tree wasn't

wrapped in garland and twinkling lights, rather it was adorned with the Light of the World.  No evergreen branches, but rugged wood.  The red that dressed the tree was not fancy ribbon woven throughout but dripped with the blood of our Savior, the same blood that purchased my freedom. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  I so want to esteem my Lord this holiday season.  I want him to be the reason my family celebrates the season.  Let it not be about gifts but about THE GIFT.  Let it not only be about the meal but the Bread of Life.  O taste and see that the Lord is good!  As I gather with my friends and family over the next few days, I pray that the Lord will remind me that love is the most important thing we can give one another.  This is just a dress rehearsal, eternity is what matters.  Set my mind on the things of eternity Jesus and let me honor you in all I do.  Your name be exalted and glorified in the days to come. 

Back to the Real World

Well, my days of sleeping late and doing nothing are over.  It's back to work for me.  Been at it for about a month now and I'm looking something like this....

It's alot of information to remember and a whole new area of the medical field for me, but I'm enjoying the variety of patient care, coding and desk work.  I missed working with people when I was stuck in an office reviewing charts all day.  Being 5 minutes from home and not having to come in until 9 is an added perk.  I'm hoping all of this will become second nautre in the future.  Right now my head feels like it can't absorb nuch more information but I know I will overcome and hey, I'll gain alot of experience..if you need me you can find me under the mound of paper work with my sign in the air :) 

Faith Adventure

"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her:  "You are the God who sees me,"  for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."  Genesis 16:13.

Have you read the magnificent history of the Patriarchs?  I'm sure many of you like myself had heard the story here and there throughout your childhood in Sunday school or children's church.  Maybe a portion had been read from the pulpit at one time or another.  I have to say reading and studying it all together in context over the past several weeks has been like reading a best seller, oh wait..my bad, the Bible is the number one best seller of all time :)  Well, you know what I mean, one of those books you can't put down, that you'll stay up all night to read.  I guess that's where things start to shift for some of us.  We'll stay up all night reading Twilight, John Grisham's new creation or maybe even a good work of Christian fiction by someone like Liz Curtis Higgs or Francine Rivers.  The Bible may be the number one best seller of all time but is it the number one "read" book of all time?  I doubt it.  We carry it to church but I'm confident the masses don't stay up all night reading it or dare I say even pick it up the rest of the week?  Don't get confused thinking I'm preaching at you trying to exonerate myself, I'm guilty too.  I've read all those books I listed!  I try to have a quiet time every day and lately I have been better at it than other times but we all have room for improvement.  More time..isn't that what we all dream of?  I have to admit, I've had alot of time on my hands lately.  Resigning my job in November of 2009  has left me with more time than I've had in the past 25 years.  Unemployment is sometimes a scary and uncertain place.  At the same time it's an adventure in faith.  I have to stop and give praise here.  God has not failed my family.  He has provided abundantly.  This study has come at the most appropriate time for me and where I am in my life right now.  "Leave and go" the Lord told Abraham.  "To a land that I will show you."  Abraham had no idea where he was going!  This is where I can relate.  I have no idea what God has in store for me, where I will work or when he will say "It's time, this is the place I have called you to."  but I'm learning from Abraham that I don't have to know, I just need to obey and have faith that he knows the plans he has for me.  Some days I feel like Hagar as she wandered in the desert alone and then God will speak to me through his word, assuring me that he will never leave me or forsake me, that he is my shepherd, I shall not want.  Like Hagar I can say that in an uncertain season of my life I have become certain of one thing..He is El Roi.  The God who sees me.  You want to know what else?  I have seen him.  I've seen his hand at work because I realize he sees me.  He sees and knows because he is Omniscient (knowing all things).  What about you?  Do you feel like God cares about you?  That he sees you?  That he knows you?  Let me assure you, he does and he does.  We can face uncertain days and continue on our faith adventure because he sees and knows. Praise God!

  

Finally Fall

To everything there is a season

Ecclesiastes 3:1

I absolutely LOOOVE fall! To say that it is my favorite season would be a gross understatement. I was born in the fall, maybe that's why I like it so much. Maybe it has to do with the milder temperatures, the brisk air, flavored coffees, full moons, harvest festivals, fires, pumpkins, spiced tea..speaking of spiced tea, one of my favorite memories of fall is sitting around my friend Nina's green 50's style table sipping her warm spiced tea, sharing conversation and friendship. Then there is the beautiful display of nature and the colors of fall as the leaves transform and take on a new shade of mahogany, gold, umber, orange and red. Sunday mornings are lovely as I drive to church and take in the majestic display of God's creation. It is a canvas all it's own. I can hardly wait to see it through the lens of my camera this season. Fall is the kick off for the holiday season with all the fabulous foods that revolve around Thanksgiving and Christmas and the soups, chilis, smores and hotdogs roasted over the open fire we will console oursleves with until the celebration time arrives. I have wonderful memories of fall camping with Blake and his cousins and friends at Wynne, carving pumpkins, making dream catchers, hiking. Reading ghost stories and sitting by the crackling fire mesmerized by the dancing flames. What do you love about fall? What are some of your favorite memories? Have you turned off the air and opened the windows like we have, snuggling under a down comforter with the crisp breeze floating through the rooms creating the perfect sleeping environment? Have you dressed your home with pumpkins, gourds, hay, and scarecrows? Are you attending a costume party or a special event at your church? Are you as excited about the fall season as I am? I pray that you will find the beauty in this fall season. That the Lord will bless your family with wonderful times together that will fill your own memory bank for the coming years. I pray that you will take the time to spend with your friends, those people that enhance your life. Maybe over a cup of coffee and dessert, or maybe under a quilt opening up and really sharing, maybe we'll find you hanging out around a fire with marshmallows and chocolate dripping from your fingers and a smile on your face. I hope so. I hope you really take it all in and experience it with joy. I can hardly stand the anticipation, Fall is finally here!

Getting ready to paint my bedroom and pull together all this lushness :) I have no idea how it is all going to turn out but I have gone back to my "If you love it then buy it concept" without thought or eye toward the going fad of "modern" I guess I could call it "Old Modern". Anyway I am holding on to a paint swatch from Lowe's called Winter Delta and the colors are jewel toned and rich. Copper, red, purple, chartrueise, with a backdrop of crisp linens to make it all pop. I love white linens. I've been running around downtown taking pictures for art work and am very pleased with the outcome of those. Maybe I'll get around to posting pictures of them soon. They are all framed and lying in wait. My closet is overflowing housing all of this while I accumulate all the peices. It's getting a little crazy! When I open the door to get dressed it's a risky situation. I'm excited with all my choices and especially the good prices, because as we all know it's bargain or bust for me. But it usually turns out beautiful anyway :)