Saturday, December 31, 2011

What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

Hello beautiful!

Today is the last day of 2011. Obviously. But instead of sitting back and writing for hours about this past year, I have a party to prepare for. Yes, in this little apartment tonight will be a little party. Nothing too exciting but it's with our dear friends, and I couldn't welcome the new year with better pals.

This morning, I just can't handle reminicing about the past 364 days. They haven't all been bad, but right now, this morning, I just can't muster up the words or have my heart walk through the year quite yet.

But something I CAN do is tell you that I am praying and hoping that this next year, 2012, looks much different. Even if that means that its similar in challenges, I'm jonesing for good things, a positive heart, the courage to open my eyes every morning, but moreso than anything to have a much closer walk with the Lord. I don't say that to seem overly holy and spiritual, but simply that I need more of Him and I want my heart and my life to be more honoring to the way He calls me to live. To have a closer walk with Him in this life.

So with that said, at midnight, I will be welcoming the new year with JOY. That deeply rooted, God-given, ever present no matter how little it feels, joy.

Today I end this post with this sweetness. What better way to start the day with Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt:



Happy New Years Eve everyone!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The best Christmas present. Ever.

Talk about good timing. My sweet nephew came to join us on Christmas Eve and I could not think of a better gift.

My sister chose to do a home birth, which we all know even without experiencing, would be a completely difficult challenge. She was an absolute rockstar momma and I was so thoroughly impressed.

It's been such a joy being able to be around the house the past few days. I haven't actually helped out at all if I'm being honest. Most of my time here has included eating and sleeping and holding a baby...and eating more. But I'm enjoying every minute of being able to be apart of such a special time and such a special baby!!!




Saturday, December 24, 2011

Movies. Babies. Purpose.

There is a lot going on among our family this Christmas season. Our Christmas celebrations are looking quite different than they usually do. My second oldest sister will soon have her first sweet baby. And since he is officially one week overdue, our attention is very much set on him.

My bag has been packed for almost a week now. One would think a baby would come right on time, but as we all know, God's timing, while perfect and complete, is usually not the way we would plan. I've been thinking so much about this sweet baby. And although I haven't yet seen his face, and although I am not his mother, he already has my whole heart. I cannot seem to get him out of my mind, especially considering the fact that as soon as he decides to come, I'm heading three and a half hours south of here!

I watched It's a Wonderful Life the other day for the first time with my roommate as we made coffee and a Christmas wreath for our little apartment door. While I know it is almost unbelieveable that I have lived 24 years without seeing that movie, it was such special timing to see it precisely when I did.

I know this is a strange thought coupled with a strange comparison, but there's such a oneness with my nephew and this movie....

See, in the film, George Bailey came to a point in his life when he thought he was useless and insignificant because of who he was. Well God moved in such a way as to show him his significance and importance of living his life with the purpose God gave to him by revealing the way he impacts an innumerable amount of other people's lives.

In the same way, although this little man has yet to grace us with his presence, he is already impacting many people's lives. At the same time, I also know with full confidence that God has him on this earth with a significance and a purpose. He is already loved so deeply and is wanted and cared for by so many people. And notice, that just because he hasn't physically come out of his mother's womb, he is already here on this earth. All that separates us from him is someone's body. Which therefore means he is already created with a purpose for his life on this earth. I could go further to other points with that but I won't tonight.

Another thought is that the exact time in which a person comes into this earth, has to also directly impact the way life happens. So I take this "being overdue" not as a completely horrendous thing, but that God's exact time that he wants my nephew to come is absolutely not when the doctors said would be time, but just right. My sister has one of the best perspectives about this and is being SO patient, even though she might tell you otherwise.

So with that thought, I am ready to meet this new man/baby in my life. Ready to hold him and yes, change any diapers because I love him that much. And as I told my sister, "He will come out. That is an absolute. You can bank on that one."

Now it's all a matter of time...

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Video Update...Finally

Hellooo! It feels like I've been gone almost four months...because I have. 

I decided to put together a poorly made video update for you. It's a WHOPPING 20 minutes long. Bare with me. I wanted to share a number of different thoughts and share my heart in it as well. So if you decide to graciously watch the entire thing, God bless you. If not, I won't be offended, you'll just miss out on getting to know me a little better.

Here are my previous posts that really explain in detail what I'm discussing in the video. I realized that my explanation is a bit vague after now watching it, so reading these posts first might be helpful, if you'd like. 

The last two are the most recent:







Now here is the latest update via video. Sit back, turn off my (possibly obnoxious) music, grab some coffee, and pardon my figity hands:





If you have any questions or suggestions (I don't know of what kind, maybe ones of how to not make unecessarily long videos), feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me. 

Love ya.