Saturday, December 18, 2010

Blessings

Last night, I did something I don't do often enough. I counted my blessings. Not just the normal I'm thankful for food and a house kind of thing, but really. what is a real blessing in my life now? Here are some of the things I came up with
I'm blessed to have people that care about me and want what's best for me
I'm blessed to have friends that make me laugh
I'm blessed with peace and hope and joy and a content heart
I'm blessed with a God who loves me, no matter what, and will never leave me
It doesn't matter what's going on around me, I can choose how I want to respond.
It doesn't matter how everything is playing out, I have a God who will always love me
and that alone, is enough to make me start counting my blessings

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My Quote wall

"Sometimes just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves"
"Hapiness is a choice, it isn't something that just happens to people."
"Love is a choice, not a feeling."
"And just when the caterpillar thought his life was over, he turned into a butterfly."
"Circumstances don't dictate how I feel, I do"
"It saved your life, and that makes it beautiful"
"God is with us wheither we're running away from Him or to Him"
"Real breakthrough happens when someone is scared to death to stop trying"
"Every hardship we face is an opportunity to either break down or break through"
"Crazy people don't know they're crazy, you're dealing with life"

Monday, December 6, 2010

With Love, from Mary

Since Christmas isn't very far away, does that seem unreal to anyone else, I wanted to share something that I wrote for Christmas.

My dearest Elizabeth,
It has been a while since that glorious night when Jesus was born, and I have yet to tell you all about it. As you know, an angel appeared to me and told me I was about to have a son. And, as you know, I was nervous and excited all at the same time. So, when it came time for a census to be taken in Bethlehem, Josheph and I packed up and went. The town was full of people. Everything was so full and crowded. All the inns were full, and there was no room, anywhere. It was coming time for Jesus to be born, and Joseph was frantically trying to find a place for me to stay. One of the inn owners offered us a place in his stable. It was smelly and dirty, but it provided a shelter from the cold. The pain was unlike anything else I had ever felt, Elizabeth. But the love I felt when Jesus was born erased all the memories. He was so perfect. I held him in my arms, memorizing every detail. Even though I was captivated by this child, I still felt some longing for the voices of women to welcome my son into the world. It was a selfish desire, a small want in the midst of Jesus's arrival, but I felt it all the same. Joseph made a bed for Jesus in a manger, and I wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him down. Somewhere in the night, shepherds were watching their flocks. Angels came to tell them that the newborn king had arrived and they came to worship him. I nearly cried when they told me of how a heavenly host of angels had sang their heavenly song. Instead of women's voices welcoming my son into this world, it was something of more value and importance, angels sent from heaven. Every little detail was so perfect, it was like God has arranged it with his own hands. I treasured each detail in my heart, wanting to remember every moment of this night. I am God's chosen one. I wish to see you and little John again, so that you may see little Jesus face to face. He still is a perfect child. I wonder how you are doing, and how God is blessing your life, my dear cousin. Write soon and tell me all about your life
With love, from Mary

As Christmas time is approaching, I think I connect with Mary more then I ever did before. It wasn't just some story. Mary was an average girl, who did average things. She would have been the same age that I am now when she has Jesus. It's hard for me to imagine. She embraced the gift that God gave her, Jesus, with great joy. She even said "My soul glorifies the Lord." It wasn't an easy journey for her, or for Joseph, but she embraced it with courage and grace. I only wish that I could embrace the challenges in my life the same way that Mary did. I wish, in the middle of my trials, I had the strength to say, My soul glorifies the Lord.

Friday, December 3, 2010

What Happened today

So, this is what happened today.
I woke up, and started doing school. I finished school around 2 something, and then I read and painted my nails and ate supper, and then my parents went to a Christmas party. So... I hung out with my siblings, and they were all ready to go to bed when... Jaxon puked, all over the floor. It was really gross. So, between the three of us, we managed to get it all cleaned up. We had to take shifts because one of us would start gagging and run outside, so we wouldn't puke. It was really gross. I really hope we don't get that flu that's going around. So now me and Jaxon are watching Dora the Explorer and the other kids are in bed. I cleaned the floor with disinfectent, and washed my hands about 12 times. Jaxon, and both the other kids, are armed with puke buckets. Oh yes, it has been an eventful evening. I hope tomorrow goes better.