Christmas!!!

Well, I hope everyone had a very merry and Blessed Christmas! I know I did! It had been a crazy few weeks and weekends there getting ready. I spent about every Sunday, shopping with my siblings and running around town. We managed to look at some Christmas lights a couple of times which was nice, cause last year, due to us busy moving, we didn't get to look at any of them. We also baked lots of goodies, wrapped presents together, watched the classic Christmas movies, etc. But despite ALL that craziness we call, "Christmas Traditions," I was still having a hard time finding the, "Christmas Spirit." I love to have it and some years I haven't and it's sad. What a joyful time it is meant to be! Our Lord Jesus Christ came to us as an infant and humbled Himself to us and our way of living and was born among animals and wrapped in rags. How could I not be joyful!!!?? So, among all the Christmas chaos, I managed to take a brief walk through our beautiful woods I so dearly love. I cherish the woods we have at our house. We only have a few acres, but they are liked 100 to me! I don't get to walk in them nearly as much as I'd like to. My Dad and brother even made some awesome trails that connect, so it's like walking through your very own park. But it seems like every morning, as I'm rushing to get ready for work, I look out my window, which faces the woods and just sigh, cause I so wish I could take a quick walk in them. Once spring hits, I MUST, every morning if I can! Anyway...I managed to take a walk and just be still, completely still- not just physically still, but mentally and more importantly, spiritually still, which in my case- needs to happen more often. But I was so still and could just feel God's presense so close and He was so almighty. What a loving God we have! Could you imagine giving your child to the world, not to mention be born in a stable with animals, to save the wretches like you and I!!!!??? Oh, how awesome He is! How loving He is! He IS love!!! That moment, I had the Christmas spirit, the Christmas reason and the whole meaning for all the hustle and bustle.
Also- I hope you got to hear Casting Crowns new and AMAZING hit version of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Awesome song!!! If that won't get you into the Christmas spirit, then what will!!!?? I also adore and cherish their song. "While You Were Sleeping." The ending of our nation being a nation that sleeps to the sounds of thieves in a country where we save the trees and kill the children just pulls my heart every time. I so want a bumper sticker or t-shirt with that. I cannot fathom how we can save trees and kill children. But God is in control and those unborn and killed children are holding the scarred hands of our Savior, knowing they do have a reason for being. I only hope I can embrace each of them someday!
Well, Christmas was good. I got to go to my future-in-laws on Christmas Eve with my wonderful man. It was so nice to see everyone, cause we don't get to visit nearly enough. But it was great! Great food, lots of laughs and hugs, kids running around, babies crawling and presents with thoughts! Christmas Eve night, my 5 siblings and I did our gift exchange. Since there's 6 of us- different ages from 22 to 6, we each draw names a few weeks before Christmas and we all get the other one a small, simple, yet special gift and we give them Christmas Eve. This year, I got my sister, Katlin who is 14. She's easy to shop for and liked the cross necklace I got her and I'm also taking her to see a movie, just the two of us, after New Year's. My darling and only brother, Seth, got me, and gave me some of my favorite chocolate. :) But it was so special, us 6 there together, my older sister home from college and our folks. Christmas Day was nice too! My sister, Rosie age 7, watched the animals, cause she has read the story of how the animals are different that night and they certainly were. She was amazed!
Ok, back to work- more later.
God Bless your New Year!!! May 2009 be a year in the Lord!

My First Post

Well, what a busy week is has been and we're only have way through. Yesterday, before going into work, I stopped at the local Christian Bookstore and picked up some Christmas gifts for family. I also found some adorable Christian stickers for the envelopes on my Christmas cards. Last year I made all my Christmas cards, with the help of my future sister-in-law, Bridgett Owens. She is awesome at cards and always has great ideas. This year however, I have been busier than ever, and went ahead and purchased already-made cards. They have little penguins on them, cause my youngest sister, Tula, loves penguins and they had a verse inside. But, I did get to make 7 amazingly, beautiful Christmas cards. Bridgett and I had a card night last Friday. We enjoy those so much and don't get to have them very often, but always have lots of fun when we do. Bridgett picked out some gorgeous and shimmering black and silver designed papaer and we used my Christmas stamps with black ink and made some really classy looking cards. It's hard to pick who to give them to, cause they're all so great.
Last night, we closed down the library early due to ice. I hope it stays nice tonight, although it was nice having two extra hours in the evening. Getting home after 8, leaves little time to get things done, such as laundry, getting stuff ready for the next day, reading to my little siblings and also visiting with Mom and Dad. But it's ok, there's always time to do that later. I have so much to do this weekend. I have to run up to Bloomington to pick up some stuff, so hopefully my fiance and I can run up there. We always love going out to eat up there, then hitting a bookstore and just walk around and look. I usually end up sitting cross-legged on the floor, reading the backs of books and jotting down the titles and authors so I can search for them at the library. Arnold, my fiance, usually ends up in the music, computer or politic section of the books. And I always have to make a stop at the cookbooks and the Christian books. :)
For those of you reading, pray for my grandfather,Lee Percifield. He has been in the hospital for awhile with severe heart problems and now the flu. Also for my cousin's wife. She had a c-section two weeks ago and had a healthy baby boy, Hunter Lee. The doctors made a mistake during her surgery and how she cannot have anymore children. She was hoping for another and then maybe 1 more and now can't, so she and my cousin are devastated, but praising God for their son they do have. God is good!
Thank you all! Bless and Be Blessed!