Christmas is over! TTL!! :) I love it while it lasts, but am glad when it is over. The weather has been clear here at the base of the Rockies, although, today was quite chilly! Most of my family headed home today, but I am still here. :) Either for an enjoyable few days of relaxation or some emotional self retrospection. I'm not truly sure which.
Christmas Day was special although, somewhat emotional in more ways than one. First, my father was not with us, for the first time in my life. Second, we decided to share our appreciation of each other, which was a process that was incredibly enlightening, sweet, precious and somewhat traumatic. :D However, we had a wonderful time being together, sharing, loving, giving, laughing and crying together. Only one person other than my father was missing, or maybe missed.
I am so blessed by God to have the family that I have! My siblings are the greatest and my parents are incomparable. :) We have so many good times together and they are not over by far. Seeing friends and loved ones is incredible, however, I am missing my bed and the comfort that distance brings. My Auntie died today, a long day's drive away. The next few days will be busy.
It's amazing how people can be so incredibly connected and a few days later be so incredibly distant. I have never figured out how that works. Life takes some interesting twists and turns. Time tells all and heals all. We have to just keep living, smiling, walking, working, praying and loving. Tomorrow tends to take care of itself. Today, enjoy being alive..... :)
Happy New Year!!!
Christmas in the Rockies
Saying Goodbye.....
....to my father. I have mixed emotions tonight. My father is leaving us for the Holidays. He is heading out on a missions trip to a communist country early in the morning. This is something his heart is strongly tied to and I don't begrudge him this trip at all. In fact, I'm excited about the work that God is doing in the nation he will be working in. He does not typically go at this time of year, however, this is the one time of year that all of the pastors can get together. So, this year he will be spending his christmas holiday teaching an estimated 700, or more, people about the precious doctrines and truths that we hold so dear. He will be teaching on Christmas day in a nation far away, as his family celebrates Christmas in the Rockies. A different Christmas this will be. Dad will not be here.
Name That Tune.... (That Christmas Tune to be Exact!) :)
Get Ready, Get Set.........Go!
01. Felicitations for the Season
02. Sterling Carillon
03. Circuitous gambol of Festive Conifer
04. Awesome hibernal acreage
05. Altitudinous celestials acclaim
06. Senior flattened by cloven aviator
07. Covert observation of matriarch's scandalous osculation
08. Petite birthplace
09. Sprightly venerable benefactor
10. Allegiants proceed
11. Enquiry of mutual auditory perception
12. Hushed darkness
13. Noel - envisage blanched
14. Inaugural Yule
15. Royal Eastern trio
16. Planetary jubilance
17. Theurgical cool guy
18. Matchless season
19. Full-grown enumeration of holiday hopes
20. Commencement of Yuletide complexion
Answers to be posted at a later date. :) How learned, or ponderous are you?
P.s. some of them I was pretty stumped on......
Can't Get Enough....
......of His grace!!!
P.s. Be sure to hit pause on the screen of the minipod in the sidebar.
The View.....
All together now, "It's beginning to look ALOT like Christmassssss.............!" :) :) :) YAY!!!!Decisions, Choices, and A Still, Small Voice....
Sometimes we come to crossroads in our lives and decisions and choices must be made. Decisions that are many times painful, sometimes joyful, other times questionable, but most of the time a necessity. Making such decisions is not always easy especially if they involve others, or are life-changing choices. Many things lead one to such a place. Career choices, future dreams and hopes, a gut feeling, a hunger in the soul, or maybe simply a still, small voice. Often times others cannot understand why. Why one would walk such a path or make such a move. Their wonderings are not always negative, neither are they always positive.
Many people have a vision of what they desire for ones they love. Often times their vision or dreams may not always align with the foundational and structural focus or vision of those they love or care for. Does their lack of understanding mean they are evil, mean, hateful, selfish or manipulative? Not at all! We are human and each of us must walk the road laid before us. Whether others understand or agree, inside of us if we pay attention, we know. We know what feels right or does not feel right. If we follow our gut feeling, most of the time human intuition and observation will not fail us. But most of all, if we pray and listen when that Still, Small Voice speaks, we will not go wrong. Our God hears us when we pray. When we desire his perfect will and sincerely seek him with our whole heart, we will feel inside, as we go, when situations don't feel right. Sometimes God's warnings are for a season, other times they may be for eternity, either way his ways are perfect and higher than our thoughts or ways.
In these times we must support and love one another no matter what or why. Whether our hopes and desires for those we love are fulfilled, if they are following what they feel in the spirit and if it is in alignment with their pastoral guidance, we must step back and let God do his perfect work. Without fire, gold cannot be refined. Our will is not always consistent with God's will. True character and integrity will be respectful of the choices one who is attempting to be obedient to God's leading makes. True character and integrity, and truly spiritual people will not attempt to push their will on another, despite another's misgivings. True character and integrity will keep itself in order through adversity and handle itself through disappointment with aplomb. Individuals with true character and integrity will not try to dominate or manipulate in their attempt to confuse one, make one question that still, small voice or try to reason one down the path of their own desires or the path of least resistance.
None of us are perfect and it is easy to get caught up in the emotions of a moment. Emotions of disappointment, frustration, and hurt. We, however, owe each other kindness regardless, or the courtesy of an apology if kindness is forgotten in the heat of a momentous decision or occurance. Humanity is certainly not perfect and does not always follow the high road. However, respect and trust tends to be the results of extending kindness and patience in times of momentous decisions and choices.
If we but listen, our God will speak. "Be still and know that I am God" many times he has spoken to my heart. In great booming phrases or with an angelic audience applauding in the background? No, simply through a thought that comes in prayer, or a feeling in the heart, or through his precious word, but most of the time in a still, small voice. I want to listen. I will listen! I love him; therefore, I must obey. His ways are beyond my understanding but his plans for me are perfect.
Just like Elijah in I Kings 19 we many times look for the signs and the voice of God to be exhibited through magnificent events or the booming voices of authoritative figures. However, like Elijah, when we cannot hear through the wind, nor in the earthquake or in the fire, our God speak; when we calm ourselves and humble ourselves to listen we'll hear him in a still, small voice. Then it is our choice whether we will trust, obey, and wait.
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
"11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He's never failed me yet. Therefore, I will be still, I will stand, I will work, I will trust, and I will obey!
Quick Update
Life has been extremely busy the last few weeks so blogging has kind of been pushed to the back burner. However, the semester is finally almost over and the papers are mostly all graded and will be returned by tonight and tomorrow. Life is calming somewhat and Christmas is in the air. I'm so happy! I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are times for family, friends, traveling, greetings, games, fellowship, reflecting and so much more. God is so incredibly good!
Thanksgiving was a good and special time as always. The family was here, not all at the same time, but none the less, we still were together. This year I've had much to be thankful for. God has brought me through many things and kept me, restored me, loved me and repaired me. :) This year was a year of many firsts; my first trip to the PI, my first time on an Island, my first time in a Master's program, my first time teaching multiple classes, my first time scuba diving, and my first time having a guy "friend" of mine celebrate with my family for thanksgiving. Just to name a few..... It has all been very interesting, thought provoking, and mind-boggling. I don't know what tomorrow holds and am learning to take one day at a time. Being thankful for every step and enjoying the journey has been my goal.
The next few weeks are busy with the fun stuff; the ladies cookie exchange, my job party, the church Christmas banquet, the Christmas play and an upcoming trip to Colorado. I always look forward to seeing all of my family and friends that mean so much to me. Shopping is fun, but this year I hope to get creative and make some gifts. We shall see. School is going good. I love the new program I am in! Business is so interesting and we are living in an extremely interesting time to study business and the economy. Give and it shall be given, is my motto. My sis and I stuffed the bus today and will donate to the food bank tomorrow. I love it, that is some of the most fun of Christmas shopping one can have. I hope to volunteer the next few weeks, maybe ring a bell.;) We shall see. However, Life is good, God is good, and its time to keep moving. Snow has been in the air a tad, and hot chocolate is always in order on a good, frosty day. This week my nephew, Jeffrey, is with us so fun, fun, fun is in order. Teenagers keep us young. Maybe I will treat him to the Trans-Siberian Christmas Orchestra this Friday night. Hmmmm...... Enjoy the Season and remember why we celebrate! :)
