Late Christmas Blog

Wow! I am really bad at this blogging thing. I am good at reading other people's blogs but not so great at writing my own. Not to say I haven't thought about blogging. I have thought of several things to blog about and have written them out in my head...they just did not make to the keyboard :) The past few weeks have been crazy busy! Christmas seems to be a blur now...like it was so long ago...it was a strange Christmas...it was good but emotionally draining...It felt like it was my first "grown up" Christmas...don't get me wrong it was filled with good times with friends and family...but I couldn't help think of the loved ones that we have lost in the past few years...I guess Christmas will always be kind of bittersweet without them but they have left me with many wonderful memories of childhood and Christmas's past....it did help me to remember the true meaning of why we celebrate such a special day...it's not about the gifts we did or didn't get or about who was there or who wasn't...it is about the fact that we have a God who loves us enough to leave the comfort and glory of heaven and come humbly as a human, one of us...a baby and be born in a stable...a smelly barn full of animals...live life the same as we do..with all the feelings, pain, and heartaches we face...be betrayed and die the most excruciating and humiliating death one can imagine...death on a cross...because He loves us so much that He did not want a single human to suffer a fate worse than death...an eternity in hell away from Him...He came to give us life...so we could live with Him for all eternity...what an amazing thing!!! It is so wonderful sometimes I can't seem to wrap my mind around it...I know it's normal to miss those we love...especially at certain times of the year...but the hope we have as Christians is that if they believed in Christ we will never lose them.. we may not see them for awhile here on earth and it may seem like an eternity to us..but in God's timing it's only like a millisecond...we will see them again and they will be better than the last time we saw them...happy and healthy...in a place where there is no sadness, no tears, only joy... and a place where they are full of life...life given to them by the one who died and defeated death, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I really did not plan on making this a late Christmas blog..but then again I live not by my plans but by HIS!

Sweet Sounds of Christmas...

The children at church were practicing for their Christmas musical tonight, since we did not have missions I snuck in to watch them sing. Seeing their bright, excited faces and hearing their voices singing praises in celebration of the birth of Christ really made it feel like Christmas. The bright red poinsettias were on the stage and all the teachers and kids were working hard practicing their songs for Sunday nights program. It is amazing to see how much they grow and change from year to year. I taught some the children in preschool when they were 2 years old and now they are in the 3rd grade (makes me feel kinda old!). Some of them were baptized this year and it is so awesome to see God at work in their young lives. I can't wait until Sunday night to watch the final production! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night :)

Good friends, Good times

Today is the day, I have finally started to blog! I made a blog about a month ago with good intentions but am just now getting around to blogging! I was inspired by my sis Kel and our friend Shanna. We are having a fun girls night in. I have been reminded of how much I miss my childhood!!! Kelli made some yummy chicken noodle soup, and Shanna made so tasty lemon cookies. I also got in touch with my "inner rock star" hehe..we sang and danced to some old school music (NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and Hanson). Just like old times!I have been reminded of just how blessed I am so have such wonderful friends and family! I love you girls and can't wait to come back and party in Troy again soon :)