I'm a terrible blogger and tis the season

Well, I was away at my parents who only have a dial-up connection (with only one line) that is frustratingly slow, so I did not get a chance to blog. That and I was busy, cooking, playing with little ones, eating, shopping and playing cards, leaving little time to type out my thoughts.

I absolutely love that it is snowing outside right now. It truely makes me excited for Christmas. On my five hour drive, I was thinking about the state of the world and the up coming holidays. Did anyone else notice that every store skipped Thanksgiving and went straight from Halloween to Christmas? I realize this is part of the economic situation, and retailers are trying to get people thinking about gifts and spending money.

Yes the economy, and reading about the attacks in India, the world seems lost in darkness. The beauty of anticipating Christmas is that we are waiting for the celebration of the Greatest Light, Jesus, entering into this dark world. The world is looking for hope, when the man-made institutions fail us. There is Hope. There is Christ and the eternal security and inheritance He offers.

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I will admit to being one of the people who went shopping on black Friday. Not so crazy to leave the house before 8:00am, but enough to brave the crowds. Got some great deals and have most of my Christmas shopping done. My brother and I, shopping separately, bought the same thing for my dad. We decided it would be easier to split the cost and he got sent back to return his. At least we figured that out sooner than later.

Enjoying one another

Its late on a blustery fall afternoon and already getting dark. A few flakes of snow are in the air. On the stove spaghetti sauce simmers away, next to a pot of boiling water, ready for the pasta. An ice cream dessert stays frozen outside on the deck (There was no freezer space). A dozen and a half sets of plates and sit on the counter. There is a welcoming sense of calm, but also anticipation for several car loads of beautiful women.

As each car pulls up and empties out, the joy, along with the sounds of talking and laughter, builds within the walls of the once quiet home. The call comes to eat and ladies fill plates with food. After a loud shout, a prayer of thanks is given for the food, but more for the surrounding company. Then taking places all over the living room, these women who come from different places and families, share the beauty of friendship and life bonded together by Christ.

I was one of the last to sit down that night. As I glanced around the room, I fought back tears. I been blessed by them in ways I cannot describe. There was such an undescribable joy thinking about conversations, prayers, laughter, tears, and mostly for how I have seen God work in and through them. They love Jesus and it shows in their lives. They are a delight to my heart and I know even more a delight to the heart of God.

A poet once described friends as 'the sunshine of my life.' I myself
have found that the day is certainly brighterwhen I'm sharing it with my
friends. Enjoying fellowship is once of life's sweetest blessings and
joys. What would we do without people and the many shadings of
companionship and camaraderie?
We need friends in out lives, friends with whom we discuss
'deep' issues and confide our secrets, fears or sorrows--- and with whom we can
laugh, play and even cry. The best times in life are made a thousand times
better when shared with a dear friend

Luci Swindoll

Wordless Wednesday

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies...

it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

So many thoughts. There is a great challenge going on in my heart over this verse and what God is calling me to. I have just over a year left on campus. I have not wasted my time on campus up to this point. God has done mighty things in my life and the lives, but there is an urgency and importance for this next year.

There is a beautiful story of a woman, Mrs. J. who prayed for the Navigators to come to campus. This was in the 1960's. I met Mrs. J for the first time in September. She is now 94 and still praying for us. What God is doing through the Navs is simply amazing. It is also a challenge to each of us. So many of us grew up in small towns, and as the group has gotten bigger, it is hard. We don't want to loose the family atmosphere. We love God and each other, and want to serve Him, but there is hesitancy to take the next step of faith, as changes are made so that we can make disciples in the generations to come on this campus.

We are kind of like the disciples. Among us are those going to school for agriculture, nursing, teaching, and engineering among others., but Jesus is flipping our worlds upside down for His kingdom. What lies before us is the call to die to ourselves, to pick up our crosses and daily follow Him. Will you join me in praying?

Not Me! Monday

Okay this week was a good one for me...

I did not drive into town even though there was a sheet of ice on the ground, and there were no classes. That would be unsafe.

Saturday was not the first time I had cleaned my coffee pot in a month. I did not clean it after I did not almost spit my coffee out because it was so bitter.

I did not cringe when 6 kindergarters started coughing next to me. I did not want to run for hand sanitizer and airborne!

I did not get rear-ended on my way to class Monday night. (No damage to me or the car. Thank God!)

Why Just One Day?

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away! I get to go home for the first time since July. I love college town, and because I am here most of the year, it has really become my home. At times it is hard for me to return home, because it represents the person I used to be. Yet, I know that when I walk in that door that Wednesday, I will be welcomed into a hug with my mom. I get to drop my laundry next to the washing machine, and sit down to a meal after the five hour drive.

Being out on my own for the most part, it is a blessing to be taken care of for a few days. Mom loves to do it and it reminds me that God is like that too. He loves for me to come, drop everything at the door, be wrapped up in His arms, and give my needs to Him to be cared for.

And now to what the title infers. I hope that I live a life of thankfulness not just a day to think of the things I am thankful for. I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah on the radio last night and he spoke directly into my heart, that as a follower of Jesus, we need only think of the cross and be filled with gratitude. I don't always, or nearly enough, think that my every need is met with the gospel. I desire to live that way, in thankfulness that God has chosen me, adopted me as His daughter through Jesus Christ, and that I have a relationship with my creator. I have reason to be thankful everyday! May I live in gratitude more and more.

This was taken while I was coming home for thanksgiving a couple of years ago. I stopped for two reasons, it was gorgeous, and I wanted out of the crazy pack of cars I had been stuck in for the last 20 miles.

What's Normal Anyway?

The last few weeks have been anything but normal. Between traveling to a conference, family issues, the election, and a holiday, the last few weeks have taken me out of my typical routine. I won't say this is a bad thing, but there have been a few times where I would get thrown for a loop because things weren't routine.



The extent to which I want to be in control of my circumstances is not good for me, or anyone around me either. I, at times, will panic when I realize the extent to which I can do nothing. What amazes me is that when it feels like everything is shaking and falling apart, it is truely God's mercy and grace. It is there I find that I am putting my hope and my trust in things other than God. And so I repent, I turn around and run back to my Savior again.

Not Me! Monday

• I did not stuff the garbage down in the can 7 or 8 times to avoid taking it out. I didn't hope that my roommate would finally get aggrivated and do it for me.
  
  
• It wasn't me you saw driving, while trying to see through the little hole made by the defroster because I would never be too lazy to go start my car 5 minutes early.
  
  
• I did not eat apple crisp for breakfast two mornings in a row. As a physical education teacher, I know better.

• I do not absolutely LOVE my friends Em, Karissa and Larissa. Karissa, Larissa and I have not dubbed ourselved the Issas and we would never spend 20 minutes trying to imitate a picture on a birthday card I gave Karissa, while Emilie directed us.

The best of the bunch

We aren't related but we are sisters!

Do Something!

I have been all over the map emotionally and physically this week. My great-grandma is doing okay for now. The prognosis is a couple weeks to a couple of months left. I found this out the day after I was told a couple of days. I lost it. I don't understand and the ups and downs are just agonizing.

Well, I then spent 3 days at my state's health physical education and recreation professional's conference. It was my first time attending and I did not know what to expect. I did get to meet other teachers from around the state and I picked up some great ideas for curriculum. I also had an idea to combine what I know as a physical educator with teaching people to walk deeper with Christ. I haven't really developed the idea at all, but I have some thoughts that I want to work through.

What I learned from this conference is that we are often all too like our students, whether as a teacher or as a follower of Jesus. We don't want to work hard to improve what we are doing. If a road block gets in the way, it is more likely that we will complain, rather than look for the positives and solutions, or pray. I do this far more often than I would like to admit.

"Attitude reflects leadership."

The people I love being around are those who have a positive attitude, and enjoy people and life. I can't just force myself to be more like this. I know it arises out of a thankful heart. So this is my prayer: Lord, Thank You for everything, may I grow in gratitude.

Not Me! Monday

Ahh...time for free therapy. Its Not Me! Monday. I'm not crazy, I promise. Check out what everyone else did not do this week at mycharmingkids.net.

• I did not sit on my cell phone and break the hinge where it opens. I did not try to superglue the piece of plastic back on and I would never glue the broken piece to my fingers.

• I did not laugh hysterically when a drunk Indiana Jones ran away from and then back over to the table where we were serving free coffee and cocoa on Holloween.

• I did not spend an hour trying to attach glow sticks to a shirt for a Holloween costume, and I did not abandon the idea after one poked me in the eye. (Not a story I wish to elaborate)

Short list this week only because I couldn't remember everything that happened. Really I do lots of interesting things during the week. I mean seriously, I do remember laughing more than this.