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Friday, December 28, 2007

The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

We're snowed in today! I was supposed to go visit my cousin in Kzoo but the roads are so terrible, the trip is canceled until the roads are cleared. Christmas was enjoyable. I spend half of the day with mom's side of the family as usual and the second half here at my Aunt's with my father's side of the family.

And would you believe, I've been watching Martha Stewart and getting crafting tips! And I wasn't even aware that there are actual scrapbooking shows out there. My eyes have been opened! They have such great ideas. I wish we got this channel at school!

Well Aunt Fran and I have spent the last couple days baking treats for everyone. And apparently we have some family traditions that I was completely unaware of. But they're delicious!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and stays safe!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve is here!

Happy Christmas Eve!! I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow. I really enjoy the preparation of the Holiday.

My song went well yesterday. I actually did remember the words! That was lucky. It was a wonderful sermon yesterday about Mary's journey and our own journey's with God. At the end Pastor asked for everyone's family's to come together and sing silent night. I couldn't tell you how I felt. This Christmas, for my family, is left with several voids. I was sitting with my mother, my uncle, and my cousin. With my father's passing, my uncle's wife running out, my other aunt's husband being asked to leave...our family isn't as complete as it once was. And earlier this season I was having such a difficult time knowing that dad wouldn't be here when I returned.

But as we were singing Silent Night, God whispered hope into my ear. We're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Without this significant event in history, I would have no hope of ever seeing my father again. Without Jesus, none of us could truly overcome the sorrow of this world. Without Jesus there wouldn't be hope of new life and new beginnings. But everything is going to be OK, because there is a God who loves us and will wrap us in His arms when we need Him to.

Sometimes we think that when someone dies, God hasn't answered our prayers. But I can say, after 15 years of asking for my father's complete healing, God finally answered our prayers. He healed him more than He ever could on this earth. Without Jesus, I couldn't have peace with such knowledge. With Jesus, death doesn't need to be a tragedy. It can simply be a new beginning.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Tutti!

I'm supposed to sing at our Christmas special at church on Sunday. Originally I wanted to sing "Jesus, Born on This Day" but I couldn't get the accompaniment in time. I had a dream the other night that Sunday came around and I still didn't have music to sing to! So I was panicking a little bit, and first I thought maybe I could sing it acapella...but that was no good. So I went up there on the stage and said, "So I thought I'd do something a little different...let's have a sing-along!" And I led the congregation into singing Christmas Carols!

It almost sounds like a good idea..but I don't know how well that would go over. Instead I'll just be singing "Child Of Love" by Sara Groves. :)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Home at last

I'm HOME....and there is SO MUCH SNOW. Just yesterday we were taking our luggage out to the car in T-shirts down in Missouri. I got to Carrie's this morning at about 7am...I've been awake for over 24 hours. That's what ya get for riding with a nocturnal driver like Rachel! But we made it, and we made it safely. :) My allergies are already beginning to act up, though. For some reason the further north I go the worse they get.

Cap'n Spencer (my aquatic turtle) made the ride safely and he's having fun swimming around in his tank with fresh new water. Carrie got him a little marble sea turtle to put in his tank as a Christmas gift. It reminds me of Crush from Finding Nemo.

I saw mom for a moment, her hair has gotten so long! we're all going to go cut down a Christmas tree in Aunt Peggy's back yard this weekend and decorate it. That should be fun...although four women trying to cut down a tree in which only one has had prior experience worries me just a bit. Pray for our safety!

It's so cold outside!!! I hope everyone is staying warm in this weather!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

3 Days!

Goodness, have I been busy! I've had all my finals before finals were even supposed to begin! So this means I have nothing to do until my Juries on Tuesday, then Tuesday night we're heading home for the holidays. I'll be staying with Carrie until the 25th, then the rest of the time there I'll be staying at Aunt Fran's. So I'll be moving around a bit while I'm home!

Yesterday was such a fun day. My friend Brianna and I went Christmas shopping, and in the midst of it we went to JC Penny's and tried on a bunch of dresses! Afterward we did some more Christmas shopping, then went back to her room and decorated a gingerbread house! It was so much fun. It was just one of those days were we just got to be girls and enjoy a day off.

I can't believe I'm going back to Michigan in three days! And next semester is going to be so amazing, there are so many new experiences in store.

Well, I'm going to get some scrapbooking done with all this free time I have! :)

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Thoughts for a Thursday

I love people. I love communicating with them and building relationships. I was in a meeting last night for my missions trip to Mexico and we have a very small group going there (7 people total). As we were concluding the meeting I just felt such an appreciation for that group. I'm happy that it's a small group, and none of us really know each other that well. This way we can build deeper relationships with each other. The leader, Emily, is absolutely amazing. Everyone has something different to offer. All I could say before we left was, "Guys, I'm so excited about this group!" I can sense God doing something spectacular in and with each one of us.

Speaking of loving people, getting ready for the Christmas season makes it seem almost necessary. Especially during Christmas shopping. BLACK FRIDAY. My goodness. I didn't see many smiles on Black Friday. Everyone is so busy shopping and decorating and putting on performances. I was at rehearsal for A James River Christmas the other night and all the people doing "behind-the-scenes" stuff seemed so uptight. I thought, what can I do to even in the slightest bit make someone's day brighter? Well, we weren't supposed to talk...or move...or really do anything but pay close attention and sing. So I picked out one of the ladies who looked very stressed, caught her eye, and just smiled. And she didn't just smile back in dismissal because she had a lot to do, she genuinely smiled back and you could just see a little tension release from her. It was small, but I noticed it. And I think it made both of our nights just a little bit better.

I went to Dillard's to purchase some Estee Lauder "Beautiful" lotion for my mother for Christmas and this incredibly sweet elderly woman assisted me in my purchase. It took some time because someone had called and asked her several questions, so you know what she did? She gave me two dual Lip Cromatix! She told me she was only supposed to give me one, but she was going to give me two. It was so nice of her, and it truly made my day!

Even the smallest acts of kindness matter. I am so much happier when I take focus off myself and pour into other people. My roommate, Tristen, and I put up on our wall the fruits of the spirit, one sheet for each of us, and when one of us sees the other displaying one of the fruits of the spirit, we put a sticker next to it on their sheet. It's helped us to encourage each other and just by doing that I think both of us have become a little stronger in bearing much fruit. :)

Anyway, I hope whoever visits my blog is having a wonderful start of the season. And I hope that God is using you to brighten someone's day and vise versa! :)

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Silver Dollar City

Today I had the opportunity to sing at Silver Dollar City for Concert Choir. I actually just sang there two weeks ago with the James River Choir as well! It was a lot of fun, and I rode my first roller-coaster that went upside-down! I almost chickened out but I was already strapped in so I couldn't do anything. It was actually a lot of fun! Although...I had my eyes closed most of the time...but I couldn't even tell when we went upside-down. One day I'll try it again with my eyes open! I love going to Silver Dollar City though. Besides the two times I've gone this year, the last time I went when I was much younger with my family. It's one of those memories I hold close to my heart and thank God that I was able to have some of those moments to remember. Christmas just isn't going to be the same this year as every other year...but I know it's all in God's perfect plan.

The next few weeks are going to be so crammed! Between multiple rehearsals and performances as well as finals and trying to figure out where it is I'll be staying once I get home, my work is certainly cut out for me. But I knew it would be when I decided to join three choirs.

It's already December!!! Can you believe it?? The year 2007 is almost over and I feel like it had only just begun! And Christmas is only a couple weeks away...better get on top of Christmas shopping pretty quick. And making Christmas cards. I really hope I have the time to do that, I got some really awesome Christmas paper and embellishments when I went to Archiver's in Des Moines.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Beginning

I always love journaling, whether it's online or in my own special book meant for only God and myself to see. Thus, I've begun a new one. :) I'm going to play around a little bit since I'm new to this particular website!