Well it is the day before the New Year. I have spent it waiting for the phone to ring to tell me if my best friend is going into labor, watching the ISU game that was deeply saddening, and talking more about the book of James how things tempt us in our daily life.
Some of the great wonders of the year I’m going to bring into light with a few words from the New Testament. The key words to focus on here are freedom. Freedom that Chris has set us free. Galatians 5
Last year was my first year for a New Years resolution….it wasn’t about getting thin or eating healthy…it was about focusing more on Christ. This year my resolution will be that of running the race. I don’t mean running the race like a marathon like my friend Mr. GQ, but running a race of truth, running the race with endurance toward Christ. We have been talking a lot about good works in the book of James and one of the verses we look at as Lutherans is from the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8-10 “For it is by Grace you have been save, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
A lot of what we talked about this weekend, put us “Lutherans” in our place, it helped us to remember that when we say that it is by Grace we have been saved, by faith we have been saved….but those actions that we aren’t required to do….are things that we should be doing. Actions like helping your neighbor scoop the snow or the kindness of cleaning up trash in a local park as you walk on the sidewalk. I know that like most people I have this split personality…I go to church but then I leave and some times my actions don’t reflect that. Does it mean that as a Christian I’m not going to mess up…I’m a sinner just like everyone else. Have I gone to the bar on a Saturday night and gotten up for church the next day knowing that there were things I did and said that were wrong….you bet I have. This year I’m going to focus on my actions…how do people see me as a Christian?
New Years resolution: remind myself daily of the actions I should be portraying to help me grow in my faith and to show others my faith…(not just telling them) What does telling some one something going to prove…is giving someone a Bible going to help them or encourage them to want to come to know Christ ( I think not)
In our lesson today we talked about how in most cases we are defined by what we do….is that always true tho? Is what we do something that makes us who we are. It may seem that way, but shouldn’t it be who we are defining the kinds of things we do? I am a Christian so shouldn’t that define the things that I do in my life? Some words to ponder.
Right now is the time were we take about an hour and meditate on things like God’s word and how things have been building up on our hearts we have been putting our sins into the sin box and are getting ready to burn them up to help us recognize how God takes our sins and forgives them…we don’t have to hold on to sooooo much in our lives. God takes all of our burdens.
May God’s blessings be with you on this up coming new year! The Lord has set before us all a race that we can finish with His help. He isn’t going to put something in front of us that we cannot handle. We may walk into a situation where we might not think that we are the right person for the job, but he will equip us with the mean of making it through things. “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
Dear Lord, I know that I have so much on my mind…there are people that I wish I could be with, but can’t be this holiday season. This up coming year I pray that I have the opportunity to know love, Romans 12:9 I feel I have a lot of it in my life, but some times I take it for granted. Lord I ask The to help me show the love I have with others. Lord I pray for those I have met this weekend that are new into my heart may you bless them with safe travel home. May you be with Karin as she travels back to Ghana in January. Please be with Mark as he is serving you in Taiwan and our friend Drew in Kenya. Lord I also ask you to be with those who are like me and are getting ready to go out and student teach. Be with us and we trend in unfamiliar water Lord. May this year bring us al hope and happiness, but yet may we find some struggles and some hardships along the way that will help us grow in our faith in you oh Lord. Thank you for all the blessing you have poured out upon us on Lord. Amen.
*Warning if eye contact with other person screaming must be intense! *
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 30, 2005
RUSH
Happy birthday to Jason, your mom had a wonderful keg for you and cake….way to chug the whole mug full!
You can’t really beat root beer with ice cream and marble cake….MMmmmm
Well here I am at RUSH, ready to relax and enjoy. We did some games to help us get to know each other, sang some music, talked about God and started our skit in our small groups for tomorrow night.
Our focus is on the book James. Not a common book for a Lutheran to focus on because it is the one book that the Catholic church used to defend its practices and used to say that it is not just GRACE that we are saved by but works. I encourage you to take a deeper look with me. We are talking about James the brother of Jesus…. well being his brother why didn’t he write about his brothers birth and resurrection. Well I think it is because he knew things had been written and foretold…why waste the paper. He knew that as a Christian that we might need to focus on how other see us and how we can share the love of God with others.
Number one topic of the day is does God take plastic. I will admit the thing I thought of first was Barbie…I don’t know why maybe it was the special I saw the other day on old toys. I thought, does God except those who walk around, think they are perfect, think they are built and can hide all transgressions.
What are some of the biggest trails and temptations in your life? Does the process of temptation James described in James 1 verse 13-15 fit your experience? I think that the temptation James is talking about is so broad that it just may, and does cover almost everything that tempts me. What kinds of things are tempting me right now? Well things that are tempting me our boys…flirtation, hmmm, food tempts me, sleep even temps me.
In our society today we can be tempted by the smallest things and there are so many thought running through my head. I realize that I’m not perfect, but I should be trying to make a better impression with others about how I portray my Christian faith. I will admit I have gone to church events and then later on headed out to go dancing. Do I see anything wrong with that….well it weighs on my heart some days, but not all the time so I guess that may be a bad thing. I know that one of my biggest temptations is not to try to tempt others as much as I want something I may not always get what I want, I need to except that…I need to come to terms with my life and that things happen for a reason, I need to start looking at the details and not just where I see myself.
In the sin box the things I shall put and burn are: tempting others, doubt, worry, selfishness, and hard headedness, temptation that I get from others, excuses that I make for things, for lies, for miss leading
You can’t really beat root beer with ice cream and marble cake….MMmmmm
Well here I am at RUSH, ready to relax and enjoy. We did some games to help us get to know each other, sang some music, talked about God and started our skit in our small groups for tomorrow night.
Our focus is on the book James. Not a common book for a Lutheran to focus on because it is the one book that the Catholic church used to defend its practices and used to say that it is not just GRACE that we are saved by but works. I encourage you to take a deeper look with me. We are talking about James the brother of Jesus…. well being his brother why didn’t he write about his brothers birth and resurrection. Well I think it is because he knew things had been written and foretold…why waste the paper. He knew that as a Christian that we might need to focus on how other see us and how we can share the love of God with others.
Number one topic of the day is does God take plastic. I will admit the thing I thought of first was Barbie…I don’t know why maybe it was the special I saw the other day on old toys. I thought, does God except those who walk around, think they are perfect, think they are built and can hide all transgressions.
What are some of the biggest trails and temptations in your life? Does the process of temptation James described in James 1 verse 13-15 fit your experience? I think that the temptation James is talking about is so broad that it just may, and does cover almost everything that tempts me. What kinds of things are tempting me right now? Well things that are tempting me our boys…flirtation, hmmm, food tempts me, sleep even temps me.
In our society today we can be tempted by the smallest things and there are so many thought running through my head. I realize that I’m not perfect, but I should be trying to make a better impression with others about how I portray my Christian faith. I will admit I have gone to church events and then later on headed out to go dancing. Do I see anything wrong with that….well it weighs on my heart some days, but not all the time so I guess that may be a bad thing. I know that one of my biggest temptations is not to try to tempt others as much as I want something I may not always get what I want, I need to except that…I need to come to terms with my life and that things happen for a reason, I need to start looking at the details and not just where I see myself.
In the sin box the things I shall put and burn are: tempting others, doubt, worry, selfishness, and hard headedness, temptation that I get from others, excuses that I make for things, for lies, for miss leading
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause"
Santa…
Big jolly fat man with red rosy cheeks that brings us presents during the holiday season.
One of the topics of a hot discussion with a friend last night was “when did you stop believing in Santa?” I was in grade school; pretty young, my mom says Santa didn’t really faze me. When would you tell your child or have told your child that Santa isn’t real or would you. Would you even let them believe in a figure such as that of Santa, the Easter bunny, or the tooth fairy?
Kind of almost spilled the beans last year, almost told a kid Santa wasn’t real…oops
Exception would be if they caught mommy kissing Santa…then it might have to be explained earlier but,
I think that I would wait until my child was at least 7 before telling them.
The thought of not giving children that little part of magic in their lives is kind of sad.
Haven’t you ever wanted something to be true just keep dreams alive?
What is your Santa story…or the tooth fairy?
That is all I got for tonight. As of today I have one week until my last day of work. (only 2 days or actual work tho.) L
I went grocery shopping for the first time in a month and a half…my mom wasn’t happy with me just eating crackers so I’m going to go eat some dinner!
Dream Sweet
Big jolly fat man with red rosy cheeks that brings us presents during the holiday season.
One of the topics of a hot discussion with a friend last night was “when did you stop believing in Santa?” I was in grade school; pretty young, my mom says Santa didn’t really faze me. When would you tell your child or have told your child that Santa isn’t real or would you. Would you even let them believe in a figure such as that of Santa, the Easter bunny, or the tooth fairy?
Kind of almost spilled the beans last year, almost told a kid Santa wasn’t real…oops
Exception would be if they caught mommy kissing Santa…then it might have to be explained earlier but,
I think that I would wait until my child was at least 7 before telling them.
The thought of not giving children that little part of magic in their lives is kind of sad.
Haven’t you ever wanted something to be true just keep dreams alive?
What is your Santa story…or the tooth fairy?
That is all I got for tonight. As of today I have one week until my last day of work. (only 2 days or actual work tho.) L
I went grocery shopping for the first time in a month and a half…my mom wasn’t happy with me just eating crackers so I’m going to go eat some dinner!
Dream Sweet
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
“George Bailey Experience”
So I have been working on my blog, I’ve been a little bored. I decided to go back to when I began my blog in January and reread some of my past thoughts on the year and spend some time reflecting on them. I ran across one that sparked my interest, being the Christmas season, my brother-in-law has a tradition of watching the black and white version of Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life.
Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you had never been born? Jeremiah did. (Jeremiah 20:14 talks about how Jeremiah wishes he was never born)He was set up to fail in this world…to go through life telling the people of his time about the love of God…and was persecuted for it. Who would have thought back then that we would be reading about his struggles this far into the future? His life has defiantly influenced people’s life. Can you say that about your life? Have you made a difference in someone’s life in the slightest way or better yet who has influenced your own life? Matthew10:41-42 is saying that the smallest act done out of love, God remembers. John 6 is the story of the feeding of the 5,000 men where a small boy had a small amount of food, but when it was blessed it could feed so many. It wasn’t that God couldn’t do any of this within the snap of fingers, but it is obvious to us now that he used that boy so we could see his contribution and remember it. This shows me how we can take something so small and make it grow into something spectacular because God chooses to use us to serve Him. Matthew 26:6 is a story that includes a bottle of perfume and an act of a young woman that was remembered throughout history. In the movie It’s a "Wonderful Life", George Bailey goes through a night in his life if he was not even born and only then did he see that he made a huge difference in the lives of the people around him no matter how insignificant his life truly seemed to him. Please realize that every life has a purpose everyone is important. We have a chance to have this “George Bailey experience” when we enter the kingdom of God, the Day of Judgment. Matthew: 25:31 says this is when we will see how full our cup really is and how Christ’s love leads us. Look at your life today and see what and who influences you, are you showing the love of God in even the smallest ways?
The comment that followed was a quote from and unknown author "Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer."
Do you feel like you missed out on something great, that the people around you are the ones you took for granted, the ones you didn’t take the time to get to know at all? I feel that way right now about so many people. Maybe it is the thought that everyone seems to be moving on with life and I’m in a comfort zone and don’t want things to change but know that they have to. That I have to move out of this town and find new friends, a new church, new places to do fun and exciting things. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and realize that everything in my life is new and different when I like things the way they are. It is like throwing out your favorite pair of jeans the one with all the holes, that you just got comfortable, when you try on jeans at a store they don’t feel the same, it takes a lot to get them all worked in and cozy again. Questions I ask myself: What are some of the things that are important in my life and how am I utilizing my time for them…where is my focus? If I were to not have been born would that have played a role in others lives? I asked a good friend the other day…well more like told him my theory. I think we all serve a purpose in the lives of people we meet, even if it is just for a second. Our purpose may have been a “wawhoo, I know why I know you” or a done the line five years. “one time the person showed me…” I think that people walk in and out of our lives for a reason even if it is something small like a sales man telling you that pink really isn’t your color…I’m sure there is significance down the line for that…do you get what I’m saying? I think we are all important and connected in a way an to question why you are here and asking to be nonexistence changes everyone else around you and those lives that you have impacted.
Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you had never been born? Jeremiah did. (Jeremiah 20:14 talks about how Jeremiah wishes he was never born)He was set up to fail in this world…to go through life telling the people of his time about the love of God…and was persecuted for it. Who would have thought back then that we would be reading about his struggles this far into the future? His life has defiantly influenced people’s life. Can you say that about your life? Have you made a difference in someone’s life in the slightest way or better yet who has influenced your own life? Matthew10:41-42 is saying that the smallest act done out of love, God remembers. John 6 is the story of the feeding of the 5,000 men where a small boy had a small amount of food, but when it was blessed it could feed so many. It wasn’t that God couldn’t do any of this within the snap of fingers, but it is obvious to us now that he used that boy so we could see his contribution and remember it. This shows me how we can take something so small and make it grow into something spectacular because God chooses to use us to serve Him. Matthew 26:6 is a story that includes a bottle of perfume and an act of a young woman that was remembered throughout history. In the movie It’s a "Wonderful Life", George Bailey goes through a night in his life if he was not even born and only then did he see that he made a huge difference in the lives of the people around him no matter how insignificant his life truly seemed to him. Please realize that every life has a purpose everyone is important. We have a chance to have this “George Bailey experience” when we enter the kingdom of God, the Day of Judgment. Matthew: 25:31 says this is when we will see how full our cup really is and how Christ’s love leads us. Look at your life today and see what and who influences you, are you showing the love of God in even the smallest ways?
The comment that followed was a quote from and unknown author "Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer."
Do you feel like you missed out on something great, that the people around you are the ones you took for granted, the ones you didn’t take the time to get to know at all? I feel that way right now about so many people. Maybe it is the thought that everyone seems to be moving on with life and I’m in a comfort zone and don’t want things to change but know that they have to. That I have to move out of this town and find new friends, a new church, new places to do fun and exciting things. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and realize that everything in my life is new and different when I like things the way they are. It is like throwing out your favorite pair of jeans the one with all the holes, that you just got comfortable, when you try on jeans at a store they don’t feel the same, it takes a lot to get them all worked in and cozy again. Questions I ask myself: What are some of the things that are important in my life and how am I utilizing my time for them…where is my focus? If I were to not have been born would that have played a role in others lives? I asked a good friend the other day…well more like told him my theory. I think we all serve a purpose in the lives of people we meet, even if it is just for a second. Our purpose may have been a “wawhoo, I know why I know you” or a done the line five years. “one time the person showed me…” I think that people walk in and out of our lives for a reason even if it is something small like a sales man telling you that pink really isn’t your color…I’m sure there is significance down the line for that…do you get what I’m saying? I think we are all important and connected in a way an to question why you are here and asking to be nonexistence changes everyone else around you and those lives that you have impacted.
Warmth
What is your New Year’s Eve plan? Party plans….family plans….?
I’m going to RUSH, a college retreat at Okoboji. My friends want me to stick around Ames…and my family I’m sure would love it if I came home to celebrate. Well tough luck cause I will be spending with friends and strangers talking about God’s love. I tell people that at mid-night I will be standing by a bonfire, burning up the sin box, and having Holy Communion, how could New Year’s Eve get better than that? I will admit it would be nice to go out dancing or having that New Year kiss wearing a little party hat and making lots of noise. But a bonfire is a fantastic way to spend the holiday and a way to look at the past year and reflect on our decisions. The crackling of the logs with red embers glowing, standing up close feeling the heat, wishing you had a bag of marshmallow to roast..MMmmmm.
“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John 1:9
Jesus is our spiritual bonfire. Christ gives us the light of salvation in our dark world. We feel the warmth of His love when He forgives us and keeps us close to Him. Just like a bonfire doesn’t move away from us, so Jesus never leaves us either, even though we sometimes walk away or step back from Him. When we step back or walk away from a fire that is in the deep woods or out on side a lake, you can start to see how cold and dark it can be without it. We can invite people to come close to the fire with us and feel the warmth, the love of Christ. Bonfires make me feel all cozy and warm.
Other notes on my mind… The last few nights I have been dreaming of the future…literally. Last night I dreamt of my future home…me painting walls, moving in. The night before thatI dreamt of me working at a job…some school, who knows where, but it was nice and the night before that a wedding. Why…I can’t make it go away. Is this a sign I need to figure out where my life is going…I will admit I kind of wish I knew….but it doesn’t mean that I want to dream about. I’m weird I know.
I know what I want right now it is getting there and trying to get that other person to realize I don’t want to do it alone.
Dream Sweet…
I’m going to RUSH, a college retreat at Okoboji. My friends want me to stick around Ames…and my family I’m sure would love it if I came home to celebrate. Well tough luck cause I will be spending with friends and strangers talking about God’s love. I tell people that at mid-night I will be standing by a bonfire, burning up the sin box, and having Holy Communion, how could New Year’s Eve get better than that? I will admit it would be nice to go out dancing or having that New Year kiss wearing a little party hat and making lots of noise. But a bonfire is a fantastic way to spend the holiday and a way to look at the past year and reflect on our decisions. The crackling of the logs with red embers glowing, standing up close feeling the heat, wishing you had a bag of marshmallow to roast..MMmmmm.
“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John 1:9
Jesus is our spiritual bonfire. Christ gives us the light of salvation in our dark world. We feel the warmth of His love when He forgives us and keeps us close to Him. Just like a bonfire doesn’t move away from us, so Jesus never leaves us either, even though we sometimes walk away or step back from Him. When we step back or walk away from a fire that is in the deep woods or out on side a lake, you can start to see how cold and dark it can be without it. We can invite people to come close to the fire with us and feel the warmth, the love of Christ. Bonfires make me feel all cozy and warm.
Other notes on my mind… The last few nights I have been dreaming of the future…literally. Last night I dreamt of my future home…me painting walls, moving in. The night before thatI dreamt of me working at a job…some school, who knows where, but it was nice and the night before that a wedding. Why…I can’t make it go away. Is this a sign I need to figure out where my life is going…I will admit I kind of wish I knew….but it doesn’t mean that I want to dream about. I’m weird I know.
I know what I want right now it is getting there and trying to get that other person to realize I don’t want to do it alone.
Dream Sweet…
Monday, December 26, 2005
Christmas Pictures:John's First Christmas
This is John on Christmas Eve.
Santa hat is waaaaay to big
Me -n- John
First Picture with Santa!
He doesn't even know what Christmas is...and he slept through all the unwrapping of gifts....so we couldn't even put bows on him!
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas....now to head back to work huh, no more 4 day weekend!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Twas the morning of Christmas
when all throw the house...every one was stirring except for the mouse. All the stocking were hung from the staircase so fine while my little nephew sleeps with no sugar plums on his mind.
Merry Christmas….
I’m up and at them at 8am you think that there were little kids in the house awaiting Santa. Nope just my nefew who is snoring on his parents bed…and my sister’s in-laws telling old stories with no entertainment value. My parents are on their way up and gifts are sitting underneath the tree still trimmed in all their paper and bows.
This mornings movie pick is Gladiator….I’m not a big fan of “It’s a Wonderful Life”
I watched some show about toys when I was growing up. Legos, Lincoln Logs, Barbies, GIJoes the works…the original Life game, and Monopoly, even Ninja Turtles. Memories of childhood…oh the days.
Have a Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas….
I’m up and at them at 8am you think that there were little kids in the house awaiting Santa. Nope just my nefew who is snoring on his parents bed…and my sister’s in-laws telling old stories with no entertainment value. My parents are on their way up and gifts are sitting underneath the tree still trimmed in all their paper and bows.
This mornings movie pick is Gladiator….I’m not a big fan of “It’s a Wonderful Life”
I watched some show about toys when I was growing up. Legos, Lincoln Logs, Barbies, GIJoes the works…the original Life game, and Monopoly, even Ninja Turtles. Memories of childhood…oh the days.
Have a Merry Christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas.....Light of the World.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas with lots of safe travel. Besides drinking egg nog, unwrapping one gift (tradition), going to a candle lit service, playing games, and getting to visit santa...i will admit I'm kind of bored. The weather isn't so sunny but that is ok.
At church tonight the pastor talked about the light of the world...Jesus can't be a flash light, he can't be a lava lamp, not even a spot light....because they aren't bright enough, they don't reach out to everyone who needs it. We have the light of Jesus in our hearts...and that light we can shine throughout the world.
Remember the reason for the Season....is Christ our Lord
Merry CHRISTmas to all and to all a good night.
Ps. i have pictures....but if they didn't load....I'm sorry i'll post them when i get home...cause they are super cute
At church tonight the pastor talked about the light of the world...Jesus can't be a flash light, he can't be a lava lamp, not even a spot light....because they aren't bright enough, they don't reach out to everyone who needs it. We have the light of Jesus in our hearts...and that light we can shine throughout the world.
Remember the reason for the Season....is Christ our Lord
Merry CHRISTmas to all and to all a good night.
Ps. i have pictures....but if they didn't load....I'm sorry i'll post them when i get home...cause they are super cute
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Gift Wrapped
This month was my grandfather’s birthday; I drove by the cemetery where he is buried when I was home this weekend. For the first year after his death I gave excuse after excuse not to go out there to his gravestone. I couldn’t bring myself to go because of fear of letting go. My grandpa and I were so close. His house was my second home in high school, cause I never had time to drive home. The problem with that is that I needed a bottle of Fribreez stuck in my car so I wouldn’t smell like smoke when heading to activities. (smoking…number one reason I hate it is because as a child I breathed in a lot of second hand smoke….he started when he was a young boy a box came along with their pay in the Army….my grandpa lost a lung when I was early on in grade school…that didn’t really teach him did it, he tried lots of times to quit) My grandpa and I loved to watch CMT, when I was going throw my country music stage (you know you had one too), we use to do craft items like jewelry or buttons. He use to sit in the living room with me with legos covering the floor and would build with me until it was his nap time. Monday I had bacon for lunch…we had the same taste in foods of all kinds, bacon was one of our favorites….he knew how to cook it just the way I liked it. I remember one time at Thanksgiving dinner I asked for seconds on mashed potatoes and he literally fell off his chair (for a long time I hated potatoes) Even our dessert tastes were the same…apple pie only he didn’t like cinnamon as much as me. 4 years in a row I crashed on his couch after prom so I could get up and walk a block to church. My grandpa never really went to church, but we talked about it some times. He was baptized as an adult and sometimes would go when the boys were young. I miss him greatly….I bet you are wondering why I’m writing this well I was wrapping up my dad’s gift tonight and it brings up memories for me…every Christmas we use to go get a Budweiser stein (special edition that comes out at Christmas) My grandfather use to be a big Budweiser junkie…lots of paraphernalia. My dad now owns the collection even though he doesn’t really drink. When we built the addition to our house we built a shelf for just the purpose of displaying these steins…the go all the way across. I guess I buy the stein for my dad because in a way it is bringing my grandpa to our Christmas celebration. This is my tradition.
Sorry if my posts have gotten a little long…just thinking of all the memories that come with the season!
Merry CHRISTmas
Sorry if my posts have gotten a little long…just thinking of all the memories that come with the season!
Merry CHRISTmas
Monday, December 19, 2005
Memories
Can you only imagine….
Being a young woman, visited by a heavenly figure, with news that you are with a child. If it were me I would be in shock….dumb founded….at the thinking stage of why, what, when, how, denial…denial would be a feeling I think that would have over come me. A mother with child without sex, conception without sperm from a man….hmmm With all the science they have today nothing would shock me, but this Christmas carol isn’t based on the here and now.
And what about a man, who in fear took his wife pregnant with a child he knows isn’t his. Wouldn’t there be a lot of doubt, lack of trust….?
God does such wonderful things.
There are many stories that people know that go along with Christmas tradition.
“You’ll shoot your eye out,” “my teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings,” or “Ba-hum, bug”
My favorite Christmas story comes from the Good Book, you can’t really beat the true reason we celebrate Christmas. I know that this isn’t really the day we celebrate Christ’s Birthday, but it is a day like other holidays that we use it to represent something so that we take the time to recognize it. I’m busy just like other people, heck I haven’t even really done the whole Christmas shopping (and I don’t plan on it) we pass over things if not reminded. I almost even forgot my grandmother’s own birthday today because I have been focused on everything else and there wasn’t something to remind me, normally she is around so I remember that it is coming because we plan special dinners or what not. The last couple of years it has just been slipping tho, cause I never see her. Kendra (my cousin) and I were talking (via email) about how the holidays aren’t really the same because none of us really get together for the holidays like we use to when we were kids, cause grandma’s moved on and moved away.
I remember one Christmas my uncle brought home a girl. I was in kindergarten and I was use to Russ bringing home lots of girlfriends to meet the parents. He was a young man and an undergrad student at ISU so there were lots to choose from. There was one girl we liked who could holla hoop for like an hour and would sit and make bracelets with us girls all afternoon…you know we all liked her…I look back and wonder why tho. (so not right for him) This one Christmas I remember everyone was home my cousin, sister, and I were in the bedroom…we literally peered our heads over stacked one over the other…(what a sight) Russ had just walked in the house with a blond lady…we all turned around and giggled to ourselves…she’s a witch. Really she wasn’t but we were playing fairies early and it kind of fit the theme…however, I think we believed it for a really long time….come to find out days later she is a teacher. First impressions some times are horrifying for children…but that is how I remember most of the people in my life. Hee hee. I guess the point is that Christmas always hold so many family memories for me….every year was different and exciting. Now I don’t even know what my plans are…heck I might even spend Christmas Eve by myself.
Being a young woman, visited by a heavenly figure, with news that you are with a child. If it were me I would be in shock….dumb founded….at the thinking stage of why, what, when, how, denial…denial would be a feeling I think that would have over come me. A mother with child without sex, conception without sperm from a man….hmmm With all the science they have today nothing would shock me, but this Christmas carol isn’t based on the here and now.
And what about a man, who in fear took his wife pregnant with a child he knows isn’t his. Wouldn’t there be a lot of doubt, lack of trust….?
God does such wonderful things.
There are many stories that people know that go along with Christmas tradition.
“You’ll shoot your eye out,” “my teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings,” or “Ba-hum, bug”
My favorite Christmas story comes from the Good Book, you can’t really beat the true reason we celebrate Christmas. I know that this isn’t really the day we celebrate Christ’s Birthday, but it is a day like other holidays that we use it to represent something so that we take the time to recognize it. I’m busy just like other people, heck I haven’t even really done the whole Christmas shopping (and I don’t plan on it) we pass over things if not reminded. I almost even forgot my grandmother’s own birthday today because I have been focused on everything else and there wasn’t something to remind me, normally she is around so I remember that it is coming because we plan special dinners or what not. The last couple of years it has just been slipping tho, cause I never see her. Kendra (my cousin) and I were talking (via email) about how the holidays aren’t really the same because none of us really get together for the holidays like we use to when we were kids, cause grandma’s moved on and moved away.
I remember one Christmas my uncle brought home a girl. I was in kindergarten and I was use to Russ bringing home lots of girlfriends to meet the parents. He was a young man and an undergrad student at ISU so there were lots to choose from. There was one girl we liked who could holla hoop for like an hour and would sit and make bracelets with us girls all afternoon…you know we all liked her…I look back and wonder why tho. (so not right for him) This one Christmas I remember everyone was home my cousin, sister, and I were in the bedroom…we literally peered our heads over stacked one over the other…(what a sight) Russ had just walked in the house with a blond lady…we all turned around and giggled to ourselves…she’s a witch. Really she wasn’t but we were playing fairies early and it kind of fit the theme…however, I think we believed it for a really long time….come to find out days later she is a teacher. First impressions some times are horrifying for children…but that is how I remember most of the people in my life. Hee hee. I guess the point is that Christmas always hold so many family memories for me….every year was different and exciting. Now I don’t even know what my plans are…heck I might even spend Christmas Eve by myself.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Sleepy Sleepy
So it is 1:30 in the afternoon, I haven't slept this long in a long time....it felt good and the sad thing is I could really go back to bed cause I don't really feel very good. So much for Christmas Caroling today. I hope everybody had a great week of finals...and a great graduation!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Bath Time
Where is my Bud Light...Heee Hee
Just for the record...that is my head...and a picture from clip art file....I was wanting to be creative....
Just for the record...that is my head...and a picture from clip art file....I was wanting to be creative....
Triple B
Bath, Bubbles, and Bud Light
Oh am I relaxed.
Today I took the time to appricaite the little snow flakes that feel in the early morning, they hit my mitten and you could see the perfect formations they created one flake at a time....it was so perfect.
Later in the afternoon i got supper wet in the snow and made a snowman...which block some of the shots during the snowball fight.
umm that is my day...
dream sweet.
Oh am I relaxed.
Today I took the time to appricaite the little snow flakes that feel in the early morning, they hit my mitten and you could see the perfect formations they created one flake at a time....it was so perfect.
Later in the afternoon i got supper wet in the snow and made a snowman...which block some of the shots during the snowball fight.
umm that is my day...
dream sweet.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
SpEders Say Good Night
Well, finals are dun dun done....! I'm going to miss all the wonderful speders....it was a good few semesters all together.
pictures will be posted later....of steven dancing...and umm the whole gang.
pictures will be posted later....of steven dancing...and umm the whole gang.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Bath Time
I wish finals were all done! I'm looking forward to a nice Wednesday night of doing nothing after church...nothing to study for and a long hot bath. Much like little John. But I like bubbles and a candle lighted room. hummm how great does that sound?
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Is Christmas Overrated?
Is Christmas overrated?
This was Pastor O’s sermon today. I have often times found myself asking the same question. So is it? I believe so. I think as much as we want to take a spin of Christianity to cover up Saturnalia (winter solstice) a pagan festival, we still our commercializing the meaning of it. In my Sunday school class we have been looking at the OT and since Christmas was coming up I posed the question about “What is an important day that we celebrate?” We talked about how Christmas is cool and everything, but the best holiday in our religion is Easter. The main reason Jesus was born is that he could suffer, die, and rise again. Pastor mentioned that Christmas (birth of Christ) isn’t mentioned very much in the Bible, but his death and resurrection is all over from front to back in the Good Book. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of traditions with gifts, trees, and all that jazz, but I see it as a day of remembrance, a day of thanksgiving for Jesus. I will admit Christmas wouldn’t be the same without eggnog, stockings, gifts, holiday food, or Christmas carols.
Remember the reason of the season.
John 1:1-3, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word as God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God Bless,
This was Pastor O’s sermon today. I have often times found myself asking the same question. So is it? I believe so. I think as much as we want to take a spin of Christianity to cover up Saturnalia (winter solstice) a pagan festival, we still our commercializing the meaning of it. In my Sunday school class we have been looking at the OT and since Christmas was coming up I posed the question about “What is an important day that we celebrate?” We talked about how Christmas is cool and everything, but the best holiday in our religion is Easter. The main reason Jesus was born is that he could suffer, die, and rise again. Pastor mentioned that Christmas (birth of Christ) isn’t mentioned very much in the Bible, but his death and resurrection is all over from front to back in the Good Book. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of traditions with gifts, trees, and all that jazz, but I see it as a day of remembrance, a day of thanksgiving for Jesus. I will admit Christmas wouldn’t be the same without eggnog, stockings, gifts, holiday food, or Christmas carols.
Remember the reason of the season.
John 1:1-3, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word as God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God Bless,
Vent
^me and John.....yummy yummy says John :-)
Oh what a week it has been or if you just count Friday as part of the weekend then I’ll just go with a bad weekend. Friday not only did I have to change poopy pants, puke on my classroom carpet, and a boy who stuck his tongue to a sign outside in the cold…but I put that on a 10 hour shift at work and a car that wouldn’t start, babysitting, and being not up to par health wise, started the weekend off a little shaky. Saturday was all day practice for the church Christmas pageant. One of my first graders while singing puked all over the boys in front of her, a girl had a hurt mouth (teeth coming in) and rowdy kids that were asked to sit in pews for three hours. I drove to my sisters, shopped for a bit (way to busy for me) and decorated her mother-in-laws house for Christmas. (makes a great Christmas gift!) I got to hang out with John Allen whom now can smile and almost sleep through the night. I also found out that if anything were to happen to my sister and John that I would have sole custody of John Allen (so says the will) I drove up to Ames today then had Sunday school, church, peer ministry lunch at pastors (Mmmmmm), Christmas pageant, student supper, study group at the Library (first time in since Library 160) :-> not counting picture taking for multicultural class. Now I’m home doing my devo, and going to attempt to study more and go to bed by 10pm so I can be prepared for my final tomorrow. My last final is Tuesday night and in that time I have reflection paper to write and an annotated bibliography with 5 journal articles on race and ethnicity in the special education programs. After that celebrating with a little Nip/Tuck and a bottle of wine! I’m looking forward to going sledding, snowballs (cause the snow is wet and the temp is not below zero!) Caroling on Saturday…got to get in the Christmas spirit! The end of my Vent! Good Luck
on Finals!This is the bloody mess...!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
FYI
Well the week is almost to an end. Friday is almost upon us. 3 more inches of snow are suppose to be falling down today. One thing I don't like about Ames is they send out the city trucks with blades on them….but they don't always put them down on the roads. At this rate it will take 2 days before the roads get cleared and 3times the cities money to do it in. My kids all wanted a late start this morning….in the fear that the bus would crash on all that snow or just get stuck. If cy-ride runs so do the schools. To BAD.
Thought of the day? Don't really have any. Yesterday's conversation in class seems to be a good starter. One of my classmates says that her mom keeps telling her to find a nice guy while she is in school. She says in response to that is that they are all jerks in this area, married, or all ready taken. The only places to go are class, which leaves Steven (the married) and Kevin…(who is Kevin, don't need to say any more than that) The other social place for most is the bar. You can't really pick guys up at bars, heck now of days as a girl you might not even get a drink paid for. (unless it is your birthday!) We started in on our bar experiences with boys. I told her I have picked up some at the bars…I'm now good friends with those boys. I have had the random guy cry because I wouldn't dance with them….a line that are the rejected ones who attempt any ways, those guys who don't like to be pushed off, and the one guy who likes to ask if he can lick the side of my face. All in all just at ISU I have had a broad selection of men from the bar that are even worth talking to.
So check of no guys from class, check off no guys from bars….that leaves me with church, the gym, work, or the side walk. The church thing as good as idea at that is…has yet to work out very well….the gym is the place where I like to focus on me, at work there is one married guy and a guy who use to have a crush on me (so he says) that is dating someone now, and the side walk, maybe I should just fall down and make an ass of myself and see if some guy walks by to help me up. Heee Hee that will be my next plan, j/k My classmates and I descided to just give up looking and maybe one with literally just fall in our laps or that we will stop messing up the ones that a potentially already good for us that we are blind to at our young age.
I'm off to class…..last multicultural one EVER, and I have one more Merkly and counting!
DAYDream Sweet!
Thought of the day? Don't really have any. Yesterday's conversation in class seems to be a good starter. One of my classmates says that her mom keeps telling her to find a nice guy while she is in school. She says in response to that is that they are all jerks in this area, married, or all ready taken. The only places to go are class, which leaves Steven (the married) and Kevin…(who is Kevin, don't need to say any more than that) The other social place for most is the bar. You can't really pick guys up at bars, heck now of days as a girl you might not even get a drink paid for. (unless it is your birthday!) We started in on our bar experiences with boys. I told her I have picked up some at the bars…I'm now good friends with those boys. I have had the random guy cry because I wouldn't dance with them….a line that are the rejected ones who attempt any ways, those guys who don't like to be pushed off, and the one guy who likes to ask if he can lick the side of my face. All in all just at ISU I have had a broad selection of men from the bar that are even worth talking to.
So check of no guys from class, check off no guys from bars….that leaves me with church, the gym, work, or the side walk. The church thing as good as idea at that is…has yet to work out very well….the gym is the place where I like to focus on me, at work there is one married guy and a guy who use to have a crush on me (so he says) that is dating someone now, and the side walk, maybe I should just fall down and make an ass of myself and see if some guy walks by to help me up. Heee Hee that will be my next plan, j/k My classmates and I descided to just give up looking and maybe one with literally just fall in our laps or that we will stop messing up the ones that a potentially already good for us that we are blind to at our young age.
I'm off to class…..last multicultural one EVER, and I have one more Merkly and counting!
DAYDream Sweet!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Just another day.....
I was talking to one of my kids this morning. He said I should just stay at work and not go teach anywhere ….that I should stay in college forever or at least until he was out of school. I told him that wasn’t possible. I told him that there were kids I babysat that have graduated from high school and our now in college, in colleges I once had attended. “He said that would be weird, what if you had a class with them.” I admit I have been in school way too long….the 5 year plan, super senior, thriving five…whatever you wanna call it. I turned in my graduate application today. (procrastination I know!) It is weird thinking I’m almost done with school, once I start student teaching I hit the real world, or at least I hit another part of the real world called the professional life. I have this fear of moving on, fear of growing up, fear of lots of things. Is anyone else in the same boat? I am 2 finals down 2 to go and only one paper to write. Last year at this time in the semester I think I was up to 14 papers that had to be written….wow. This semester has really seemed to breeze by I can’t believe Advent is almost over.
It is snowing out...and has made it up to a temp. higher than zero.
Dream Sweet
~Kris
"i don't wanna grow up I'm a toys R russ kid."
forgive my typos...i'm sleepy.
It is snowing out...and has made it up to a temp. higher than zero.
Dream Sweet
~Kris
"i don't wanna grow up I'm a toys R russ kid."
forgive my typos...i'm sleepy.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Neverland
So here is the deal, I’m getting ready to student teach. Which means no job for me except me paying to student teach. (doesn’t make a lot of sense, I know) “ISU Hitler” as described by Dr. M in reading today. Any who. I have been informing the children in my room at least once a week, sending notes home, and all that good stuff so the transition won’t come as a shock to them. Today one of the boys asked me if I had to go. I told him I had to. He asked why….I replied back “because I have to grow up too”. Matt turned to me slowly and looked me in the eyes and said “I wish there was a Neverland.” That is the quote has stuck with me all afternoon. I have written out a personal letter to each one of my children, finished the last one last night. It was so hard to sit there and not cry. I get to take with me so many memories, stories, and adventures from each one. I know the experience will make me a better teacher and parent in the future. I have been with most of these children for 3 years. I watch a lot of them outside of the center in my spare time. I go to their baseball games even school plays. Some of them I even move in with for a week at a time, what I like to call a fill in mommy. I’m so attached to them, my last day is the 4th of January and I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day. I know that this is what I need to do, I need to continue to grow in my life and my career. I too wish there were a Neverland.
Monday, December 05, 2005
5 Senses of an ISU Winter
You all remember the 5 senses right...?
1. Sight: Don't get blinded by the whiteness of snow on your walk across campus.
2. Touch: The numbness of my fingers, tip of my nose, and my ears tells me they are close to falling off. The hat and new mittens are not enough to keep up with the brisk air.
3. Smell: You would think that the air would be crisp and clean, think again. This is the time of the crows. You can step outside and smell….yuck, something kind of like worms after a good rain. Warning watch out at night don't make any sudden movements under the trees. If you do you better having running shoes on.
4. Taste: I have told my kids time and time again don't eat the snow….it isn't very clean and you don't know what has been walking on it. Oh and it is that time of year when the ladies at church make lots of goodies while we study for finals in the student center.
5. Hearing: What is this I hear, police cars outside the window…..someone wasn't going slow enough and bumped into a stop sign…oops. Something you don't hear because everyone is hiding the music in their ears with the little i-pods is Christmas music….hum hum hum
The last sense I'm just going to add in. COMMON SENSE, riding on the bus I saw a guy out shoveling his sidewalk in his boxers and sandals…..It is below zero out with a good few inches of snow. Put some clothes on.
1. Sight: Don't get blinded by the whiteness of snow on your walk across campus.
2. Touch: The numbness of my fingers, tip of my nose, and my ears tells me they are close to falling off. The hat and new mittens are not enough to keep up with the brisk air.
3. Smell: You would think that the air would be crisp and clean, think again. This is the time of the crows. You can step outside and smell….yuck, something kind of like worms after a good rain. Warning watch out at night don't make any sudden movements under the trees. If you do you better having running shoes on.
4. Taste: I have told my kids time and time again don't eat the snow….it isn't very clean and you don't know what has been walking on it. Oh and it is that time of year when the ladies at church make lots of goodies while we study for finals in the student center.
5. Hearing: What is this I hear, police cars outside the window…..someone wasn't going slow enough and bumped into a stop sign…oops. Something you don't hear because everyone is hiding the music in their ears with the little i-pods is Christmas music….hum hum hum
The last sense I'm just going to add in. COMMON SENSE, riding on the bus I saw a guy out shoveling his sidewalk in his boxers and sandals…..It is below zero out with a good few inches of snow. Put some clothes on.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Weight Lifted/VCR?
Found out student teaching placements....oh the relief! Now I can sleep easy well easier.... I was getting really nervous cause I didn't really know where I was going in my life...it was on pause, now i'm kind of back in play mode, but still need a little bit of tracking to fix my life so it isn't so fuzzy.
dream sweet
good luck education majors!
dream sweet
good luck education majors!
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