The past few weeks I've found it very hard to be patient and content with where I am in life right now. I'm not sure why I've been so pouty about it lately...all I know is that I have been and it's not good. The things that I want and desire are good things but being all "down in the dumps" about not having these things right NOW....not-so-good. (cue:CanyoutellthatIworkinapreschool?)
Things I have yearned for lately include:
1. A kitten:) If you're a cat person, this needs no explanation whatsoever. If you're a dog person, imagine it says "A puppy" and you'll get the picture.
2. A house to have the kitten play in. No I don't mean a kitty playhouse...I mean an adult house so that I don't have to give our apartment complex some outrageous pet fee just to save a sweet little kitten from getting euthanized at an overcrowded shelter. If I can adopt the kitten for under $20 why do apartment complexes think they have the right to charge like $300 to keep it in my apartment???? Sheesh. Also, paying rent is like throwing money away...and even though I understand that we have NO CLUE where we'll be in July 2014 (thus why we have to rent right now) and that it would be silly to buy a house for only 1.5 years of guaranteed living in it.....I just.....ugh. Eventually it would be kinda nice to own something house-like...(soIcangetakitten).
3. Kids...this is in two parts...
A. I'm reaching a point where I'd like to have a baby. At least in theory. In reality, I just think I'd be really cute pregnant (which is probably a big fairy tale...like watching Disney movies and expecting relationships to be like that)...The idea of having a baby sounds like fun...until you see a frazzled new mom who doesn't get enough sleep and the baby cries allthetime!!!!!!!! That doesn't sound like fun...so on to part B.
B. Hubby and I feel overwhelmingly called to adopt. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to live in an area and go to a church where adoptions are very common:) I've learned a lot from talking to people and it gets me all jittery excited for us to start the process. I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to waste time with things. I'd love for us to have started paperwork yesterday but realistically that is just not where we are right now. For a lot of reasons.
4. Then Friday happened. I'm a teacher...close in age to at least 2 of the teachers that were killed at Sandy Hook. I'm a sister. I'm a wife. I'm heartbroken over what happened. I spent the bulk of both Friday and Saturday crying, praying, and texting all of my teacher friends telling them how much I love them and adore them and wish I could hug them. I miss my students from NC. This weekend brought that to light. So I yearn for Jesus to come back, end this suffering, take me Home, and bring justice to this world. Romans 8:18-25 We yearn, we wait, we groan in waiting.
Throughout the past few weeks, when I've felt particularly overcome with a pity party or overwhelmed with grief, I've turned to a song. This song was introduced to me by the worship director at our church when someone you know decided it would be a good idea to join the Christmas Choir (hint - it was me, and it was not the best idea I assure you - but it was fun). He gave everyone a cd of the music we'd be singing. And really, up until the past 2 weeks I hadn't been practicing on my own at all and thus hadn't been listening to the cd, even though it's been in my car. But a few weeks ago we practiced this song for the bulk of our practice time and I knew...this song gave me the Hope I needed to emerge from the stupid pity parties I was throwing. It's so powerful. And it's the perfect reminder in light of my silly self, in light of the horror of Friday, in light of Christmas.
I've listened to it or sang it probably over 50 times in the past weeks...letting it remind me that He is here, and He's here to save. I'm so thankful I'm never alone. I'm so thankful that He is here to save me and love me and comfort me. I hope and pray that this song provides you with comfort and peace, reminding you what Christmas is really all about.
You can listen to it by clicking on the link below and watch a powerful video to go along with it.
"Here With Us" By Joy Williams
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
I'm ready...
...for Christmas!
Someone asked me last week if I was ready for Christmas and I responded with an excited, YES!
Here are reasons why I'm ready...in no particular order:
1. We picked out a lovely 7ft. Fraser Fir courtesy of Home Depot on Nov. 27 and my sweet hubby put all the lights on that same night!
2. All of the ornaments were placed on the tree, plus some silver icicley things I bought last year by Nov. 28.
3. As of a few days ago, ALL of my Christmas shopping/gifting AND wrapping is COMPLETE! Phew.
4. Our stockings are hung by the digital piano with care.
5. The Christmas dishes and place mats have been making an appearance since Nov. 26.
6. I bought cute decorations a week after Christmas LAST YEAR at 90% off the original price and got to use them THIS YEAR! I have garland on our banister, snowmen at the 1/2 way point on our stairs, over 30 new ornaments, and a Happy Holidays welcome mat.
6a. My mom moved into a new house and the people living there previously gave her a lot of their old things...and she gave what she didn't want to me and my sister! Score:) So I walked away with even more ornaments and a wreath for our front door!!!!
7. Our church is beautifully decorated!
8. The children's choir sang last week and the adult choir is singing next week - so fun!
9. I got a manicure (for free!) last week and made sure the color was as close to Christmas red as humanly possible.
10. We've attended our first of 3 Christmas parties already:) Yay for meeting hubby's work friends!
11. We went to the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade last night and it was so much fun. There were over 100 floats to see. It was a great parade, and we got some free candy to boot!
12. We have a basic traveling plan already laid out.
13. The series at our church this month is called Glimpse. We are going through the OT looking at glimpses of our Savior who is coming. It has been very good and rewarding.
14. I'm eagerly anticipating the celebration of Jesus' arrival. My Deliverer. Immanuel. God with me.
Are you ready?
Honestly now, this is the first year where I'm not seriously stressing about this holiday. It's very tempting to get stressed this time of year. But because of #14 on my list, I don't have to stress. And you don't either. He is coming. Whether your gifts are all bought, wrapped, and delivered on time, or not...whether your tree is up or not...whether you've drank egg nog already or not...He is coming...whether you visit your family or not...whether you sing carols or bah humbug your way through the season, Christ is coming. For you. For me.
He is coming because we need saving, and He loves us that much...to humble Himself in the form of man, to walk on earth, and deliver us from sin's grasp. He is coming to offer you freedom. This Christmas season, will you be set free? Or will you remain wrapped up in just a "snuggie" feel good Jesus that sounds nice, and looks cute in a nativity scene...never to really impact your life at all.
It's your choice.
Someone asked me last week if I was ready for Christmas and I responded with an excited, YES!
Here are reasons why I'm ready...in no particular order:
1. We picked out a lovely 7ft. Fraser Fir courtesy of Home Depot on Nov. 27 and my sweet hubby put all the lights on that same night!
2. All of the ornaments were placed on the tree, plus some silver icicley things I bought last year by Nov. 28.
3. As of a few days ago, ALL of my Christmas shopping/gifting AND wrapping is COMPLETE! Phew.
4. Our stockings are hung by the digital piano with care.
5. The Christmas dishes and place mats have been making an appearance since Nov. 26.
6. I bought cute decorations a week after Christmas LAST YEAR at 90% off the original price and got to use them THIS YEAR! I have garland on our banister, snowmen at the 1/2 way point on our stairs, over 30 new ornaments, and a Happy Holidays welcome mat.
6a. My mom moved into a new house and the people living there previously gave her a lot of their old things...and she gave what she didn't want to me and my sister! Score:) So I walked away with even more ornaments and a wreath for our front door!!!!
7. Our church is beautifully decorated!
8. The children's choir sang last week and the adult choir is singing next week - so fun!
9. I got a manicure (for free!) last week and made sure the color was as close to Christmas red as humanly possible.
10. We've attended our first of 3 Christmas parties already:) Yay for meeting hubby's work friends!
11. We went to the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade last night and it was so much fun. There were over 100 floats to see. It was a great parade, and we got some free candy to boot!
12. We have a basic traveling plan already laid out.
13. The series at our church this month is called Glimpse. We are going through the OT looking at glimpses of our Savior who is coming. It has been very good and rewarding.
14. I'm eagerly anticipating the celebration of Jesus' arrival. My Deliverer. Immanuel. God with me.
Are you ready?
Honestly now, this is the first year where I'm not seriously stressing about this holiday. It's very tempting to get stressed this time of year. But because of #14 on my list, I don't have to stress. And you don't either. He is coming. Whether your gifts are all bought, wrapped, and delivered on time, or not...whether your tree is up or not...whether you've drank egg nog already or not...He is coming...whether you visit your family or not...whether you sing carols or bah humbug your way through the season, Christ is coming. For you. For me.
He is coming because we need saving, and He loves us that much...to humble Himself in the form of man, to walk on earth, and deliver us from sin's grasp. He is coming to offer you freedom. This Christmas season, will you be set free? Or will you remain wrapped up in just a "snuggie" feel good Jesus that sounds nice, and looks cute in a nativity scene...never to really impact your life at all.
It's your choice.
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