Happy New Year

The last day Tunesday of the Year, hey the last day of the year!!!  This day call for this song!

Here's wishing everyone a great day and a Happy New Year filled with blessings!!!

New Year's Resolutions (or lack of)

I have mixed feelings about New Year's Resolutions.  It seems like a lot of pressure to put on yourself only to fail and stop doing whatever you said you were going to do, and then you feel awful about yourself for quitting and you fall back into bad habits or start doing something worse.  I really only have two resolutions that I have to do everyday. They are give up soda completely and to make my bed up everyday.  I know they are simple but I need simple.

That being said, while I don't have many resolutions for the New Year, I do have goals that I want to accomplish in this next year.  I am going to sit down soon and write each of these goals down and how to accomplish them.  This is not an exhaustive list, because I think as people we should always be looking to improve ourselves.  But here is the rough draft of goals for 2014.

1) To start my Master's in Psychology.
2) To lose at least 20 more pounds and get extremely healthy.
3) To spend more time on this blog. This blog has become an outlet for me and I feel mentally and spiritually healthier. I hope to incorporate physically with that in the next year also.
4) To be more financially responsible.  I am not the best with finances and realizing that I want to put more effort into being more responsible.
5) To sew about 90% of my clothes in the next year. I love to sew and I have wonderful fabrics just waiting to be used and that keeps me from shopping as much.
6) To find an outlet where I get to help people, whether it be volunteering or an actual job.
7) To start up an Etsy store.  I love the crafty things but could never use them all myself and I think that would be a great way to make a little extra income.


That is what I have had floating in my head. I may think of others later and hopefully I can sit down later and expound on each of these.

What New Year's Resolutions or Goals do you have?

The Meaning of Christmas

A friend of mine and I were talking last night, mostly about Christmas and our plans and we both really like Christmas, but we came to the realization on how many people really don't like Christmas.  They told me to pay attention to when others were asked were they ready for Christmas, and the majority of the time the answer is "I'm ready for it to be over."

This extremely saddens me!  Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and giving in remembrance of why Christ came to Earth.  People have taken this holiday so out of context, all they see is misery.  Everyone looks at the presents.  Presents they are getting. Presents they have to get for family. Presents they have to get for Co workers. Presents they are getting people they don't even like.  Presents that cost more money than what they make in a year just to make a spoiled child happy for five minutes.  The one Present no one thinks of anymore was the first Present ever given on Christmas-Jesus.  If more people would think about why He came and what He did while He was here, and tried to do similar, they would be sooooooo much happier.  

My family has decided that we have so much more stuff than what we really need, that we are going to find people who can't afford anything for Christmas and spend our money on them.  We are all stubborn in our family, so everyone will still get everyone else a little something, but the majority of our Christmas money will go to someone less fortunate. (Next year, I will also be supporting only local stores and vendors for Christmas presents, if I don't make them myself, but that is a whole different rant in itself.) I believe our family will be so much happier doing this anyway.  We have always tried to help others around this season anyway, and we enjoy that more than when we get together and give our Christmas gifts to each other. We went to Kentucky last weekend to give away gifts and food, and that might as well have been Christmas day for me to see the gratefulness of those families. And then, last night at the nursing home, singing Christmas carols to those people and seeing them sing with us just made my heart soar. (I know that sounds cheesy, but that's how I felt.)  

I hope with just a week from Christmas that we (and I say we because I get caught up in this mentality too.) can remember the real reason for Christmas and that we can try to act like He did with love and compassion for others!

Joy to the World

I absolutely love this version of Joy to the World.  Mom and I love to go see Christmas lights, and  one house puts theirs to music. That is where I first heard it.  I found it on the radio just the other day and caught the artist and bought it as soon as I was at a computer.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!!!

And this one is just amazing!!!

Applause

So there is a Lady Gaga song on the radio right now, and all it talks about is how she lives for the applause of her fans and peers.  That song seemed really sad to me after I got to thinking about the implications and meanings.  It is a catchy tune, and once you hear it, it is STUCK in your brain and won't go away while you are trying to sleep, but it is still sad.  If all she is living for is the applause of others, she will never be satisfied.

Then I got to thinking about other people that call themselves Christians (myself included). Do we really live for the approval of God or the applause of others? Do we do things for others because we know we are being Jesus to a hurting people or because the pastor will be proud of us and the church members will talk about how good we are?  Do we go to church because it satisfies our need to fellowship with God or because we get approval for being faithful?

I tend to go out of my way not to be like others because I don't like cookie cutter people, and I tend to get applauded for that, for just being myself. Now I could let that applause go to my head and go to more and more extremes to "just be different", but I would be exactly like Lady Gaga. She goes to extremes to shock her fans and hope that they approve of her methods.  I think its a little crazy to show up to an awards ceremony in an egg, but her goal was to shock and I was shocked and therefore she got the applause she craved so badly, but after that show was done, the applause and shock died, and now she has to think of even more shocking methods to get applauded, to fulfill that craving.

I have nothing against Lady Gaga at all, but I do think it is important for us as individuals to examine our motivation behind the things we do.  If we are just living for the applause like the song says, we will never be satisfied.  If we do our Christian deeds because we know Christ will approve of us, then we will know true satisfaction.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

Just a Reminder

There is so much pressure in the world to be beautiful and perfect and I think this picture sums up what we should be thinking about when it comes to beauty and perfection! It's found in Jesus!


Have a Wonderful Wednesday Everyone!

All I Want for Christmas

I have always loved this song. It really doesn't matter that I am single almost always on Christmas, it's just a really fun song!

Have a great Tuesday Everyone!!!

True Love

Ok so this last week has been very emotional for me for several reasons.  I sat down yesterday morning with tears streaming down my face while I scribbled my frustrations with the world and life in general. I don't understand people or why they do the things they do.  While last week was tough, everytime I went to church I heard exactly what I needed to hear.  To not give up and to keep going and to work on myself and not worry so much about other people that are knowingly doing wrong and getting by with it for now.

So after crying most of the morning, church was cancelled last night because of the weather.  I worked on some crafts and finished a baby blanket for a very dear friend, and then had a different friend take me out to eat and we watched Christmas movies and the end of the football game.  It was exactly what I needed. I could literally feel my insides healing.

I have been thinking alot about what I want to do with my life next year and the next few years. (I am a little early on the New's Years Resolutions, so I will save the details until later!)  I have so many opportunities if I just work at it, I feel like I could really make something of myself.  Part of last week's frustrations were me not feeling good enough or like I have accomplished enough for my age.

I don't feel like I will be single forever, and I have in my head the kind of man I want.  I read the Advent reading for today, and it is a passage people read every year.  (Matthew 1:18-21)  Something jumped out at me that really I had never noticed.  Joseph truly loved Mary.  He wasn't willing to turn her in because of what looked like her sin.  He had to be hurt with the thought of her having another man's child, but instead of having her killed (which in those days was his right) he tried to put her away somewhere where she could have the child. At this point, the angel had not come to him yet.  He had to be dealing with feelings of hurt and betrayal, but still he loved her.  That is not only the kind of man I want, but also the kind of person I want to be.  I am trying so hard not to let my feelings of hurt turn into bitterness and anger.  Right now, I am just thankful for the supporting friends (including my mom) who just listen to me rant and support me when I am at my lowest.

One other thing Joseph did that I find an amazing quality, he listened to God and trusted Him completely when God told him about Mary.  It takes a strong person to listen to God and hold on to what He says when the situation seems hopeless. That is what I am trying to do right now. Just hold onto the promises He has given me!


I hope everyone stays dry and has a wonderful Monday!

 Keria's Birthday Party Saturday

Keria and I before the parade Saturday

My phone died so I didn't get my pictures of the parade.

Sydney eating a lemon!

Promises

Day Four and Five of the Advent reading are filled with promise.  The first passage was Jeremiah 33:14-16 and the second was Luke 1:5-10.

They both talk about how the Lord is righteous and because of His righteousness He will fulfill His promises to Judah and Elizabeth.  I find it encouraging that in both instances the promises came true. The fact that He kept His promises in those two instances, proof that whatever He has promised us will come true.  The Bible is filled with promises to us, that we can claim because we know that He will keep them.   This life would be awful if we didn't have any assurance that He would do what He said.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday. Mine is quite rainy!

Christmas Music

Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely LOVE Christmas music and some of it I will listen to year round.  So the next few Tunesday Tuesdays it will be Christmas music, and it will probably be more than one song.

My all time favorite is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They combine classic orchestras with electric guitars and amazing vocals in a way you wouldn't dream of them being put together.  Each of their albums tell a story. It is so unique and cool that I never get tired of it.  I have found one song that I didn't like, and that is off of five albums.

This the first song I heard from them on the radio and I was hooked. It still is my all time favorite.

I also really love this Canon. The vocals and the electric guitars together make it perfect!

This is a really long one, but totally worth it!  Love the light shows they put on too!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Advent Reading

So it is the Christmas season, and I am completely guilty, like everyone else, about getting caught up in the gifts and rush and the business of the season.  The other day I found a pin on Pinterest that was an Advent reading list.  It is a list of verses for everyday leading up to Christmas day.  I find that it makes me stop for just a few minutes and remember the real reason we even have a Christmas season.

 I do have to admit that I only started last night, but I went ahead and read two days worth, and the passages really seemed to go together.

The first day was John 1:1-5. It talks about how Christ is the light of the world and came to save us from the darkness that consumes us.  The fifth verse talks about how He shined in the darkness but the darkness comprehended it not.  If we as Christians make sense to the population who are not Christians then something is wrong.  That light should give us a peace and joy that the world who are in darkness cannot comprehend.  I had never looked at it like that before last night and it just stuck out to me.


The second day was Isaiah 9:2-7. This passage talks about what the Light does when He comes into your life.  He brings joy, relieves burdens of stress, and brings a peace that knows no end.  It also calls Him Wonderful, Counsellor, and the Mighty God, just to name a few of His names.  I know in my life He has done all these things for me and so much more.

The third day is Isaiah 11:1-10, and it is talking about how righteous and fair God is. He will come in and rescue the oppressed that depend on Him for Salvation.  It also talks about how peaceful everything will be after He takes the rescued and redeemed to Heaven.  He paints pictures of lambs lying with lions and children playing with poisonous snakes, all with no fear and no harm.  In a world with so much unrest and confusion today, a world of peace sounds like a dream.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday, and hopefully it will snow soon!

Day 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30

So as promised I fell behind on the last week.  Sooo with no further ado the last five thankful days.

26- Everything I touched this day broke, tore up, or didnt add up, but at the end of the day everything was fixed. Very thankful for that!

27- Half a day of work and the grocery stores weren't too crowded.

28- I got to spend the day with my family and drink coffee and do crafts and sleep.  It was a really good day.

29- I got to go shopping with mom and SIL this day and found some really cute things.

30- I got to spend the WHOLE DAY with friends from out of town and I have pictures to prove it!

Kenny and Kloe

Picture with the bear!

Fish faces

Silly faces

Tongues

Giggles

Me and Kloe

Me and Trisha

Trisha

Possum face

 She was drawing and every picture she drew she would make this face and ask, "Does this look like a flower to you?"

Me and Julie for Coffee

Coffee

 

Gorgeous sign at the coffee shop

Definitely picture overload, and this isn't all of them from the day.