Reflections of Christmas

It's 5:00 am on December 26th, 2009. I do not know why I am still awake. I would love to be asleep, but I am not...maybe I'm just crazy. ;) I peeked out the window 10 minutes ago and was very suprised by the sight I was greeted with. It's STILL snowing and blowing out there! It's absolutely gorgeous!! I don't know how this Christmas could've been more perfect for my family. On Christmas Eve we got together with my mom's side of the family. SUCH a good time! Opening presents, laughing, "the chicken eye", the chocolate fountain (Yum!), and of course being chased around by my sister and her new video camera. :) Spending time with them is such a blessing. Christmas was AMAZING. It wasn't anything special, nothing big and fancy, just one guest who showed up 3 hours late for the meal. lol But it was awesome. Just mom and dad and my sister and grandma and me. :) We had our huge meal downstairs in gma's livingroom so she wouldn't have to come upstairs to our part of the house. It was nice, small, fun, quality time I will cherish and remember forever...just not in the form of pictures since my gma hates cameras, but I don't think I'll need pictures to remember this day. And of course, I had to continue my tradition of watching my new seasons of the Gilmore Girls that I get every year for Christmas. Around 6 pm...(every year) I head up to my bedroom, put in the show, and find some project to work on in my room. I become a recluse for two days...just being in my room, watching my favorite show, texting my favorite people. :) I love it. This year my projects have included: organizing my cd's, stenciling and painting some things on my walls, and then lastly....freehanding the chorus to "Let the Waters Rise" on my wall. Phew. It has proven to be quite the job, but I think it will be well worth it. :) And with the snow, and the painting and the everythingness of tonight, I can't help but thank God for how much He's blessed me. The snow and painting reminds me of my best friend..who I didn't know a year ago. It's crazy how God does things and works things out. I couldn't help but think today that three years ago...we didn't think we were going to have any more Christmases with my father...and he's still here. :) I love God. He is awesome. :) And now I'm rambling and becoming sleepy..so I think I will end here...:)

My Grandma's Hands

I, of course, waited until the last minute to make my sister's gifts. Two pillows. One made from the shirt my aunt bought for her in Italy and the other, my dad's little league shirt from wayyyyy back in the day. So, I went downstairs to use my grandmother's sewing machine to get them finished...and get them finished fast since it was already 11 pm. The sewing machine lasted all of 5 minutes. I hate bobbins. I hate them with a passion. So, Grandma said "Let's just sew them by hand. It seems simple enough" And that's exactly what we did. My grandma turned 71 yesterday. She amazes me. I had to thread the needle for her because of her arthritic fingers, but each stitch she made was perfect and beautiful in my eyes. There was love in every one of them. There was something very bittersweet in her voice as she sewed her son's little league shirt. She was telling stories about how great of a ball player he was. How cute all of his team was, staring off into the sky watching the birds fly around, my dad being the only focused one. :) I couldn't help but smile because I knew that as she was telling me those things that the mental pictures were running through her head of my dad as a small child. It was so special to me to spend this little bit of time with my grandma, watching her 71 year old, arthritic fingers sew each stitch. Her body, running down as time goes by, but she's so full of life. Of spunk and wit and humor. I love her to pieces, I don't know what I'd do without her.

Thoughts for the Day

I've had a very enventful last couple of days. They've been filled with fun times spent with my amazing friends. Last night I got to spend 4 hours caroling and having a Christmas party with my youth group friends....who just happen to be my BEST friends EVER. I've only known this group of people for a year, some even less than that, but I KNOW that I know that I know that I know that God has placed each of them in my life for a specific reason. Some to test me(lol), some to be my closest friends, some who I can share anything with...who are ALWAYS there for me. Today, as I relived the many fun moments from last night, like sliding down a steep, snowy hill in a 15 passenger van, watching Charlie the Unicorn, or the time when Colton and Ryan flew off their seats when we went around a curve or the time spent with MaryBeth talking...I tried to imagine life without these people. I did not like what I imagined. AT ALL. God has used these people to influence me and encourage me...I don't know where I'd be without them..My life could be going in a totally different direction without them. I LOVE each of them so very, very much. Thank You, Jesus for my friends. :)

The Joy of Christmas

Tonight I have been writing out my Christmas notes to my co-workers, my friends, my family. It's really put me in a mood and time of reflection. So many people get caught up in the materialistic part of the Christmas holiday. So many people lose sight of what this season is really about. This season is about Jesus, the Savior of the world. It's not about the gifts, the food, the presents. Those things are good, I'm not saying they're wrong, they just shouldn't be our main focus. Jesus came into this world just to die, just to save us, to pay a price that we could never pay. He should be our focus at this time of year. We should remember the reason He came. We should be like the angel who spoke to the shepards "Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy..." We need to spread the gospel this season; to show the light that lives in us to the world. I don't think many people realize that this time of the year has the HIGHEST suicide rate. So many people are lost and we need to show them the hope that is inside of us. So, this Christmas season, (and it shouldn't only be at this time, but all year) as you spend time gathered with your loved ones, as you do some last minute shopping, share the good news! Be a light! Let others know that there is hope! Be kind and compassionate. And BE thankful that God has blessed you with a family to spend these moments with. Cherish them. Love them. Remember them.

Let the Waters Rise

So, obviously I'm new to this whole blogging thing. I just wanted a place to write my thoughts, to share my testimony, and to be a light for my Jesus. So for my first post I would like to post the lyrics to my favorite song, the song that inspired the title of this blog. :)

Let the Waters Rise
by Mikeschair

Don't know where to begin
Its like my world's caving in
And I try but I can't control my fear
Where do I go from here?
Sometimes its so hard to pray
When You feel so far away
But I am willing to go
Where you want me to
God, I trust You

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

I will swim in the deep
'Cuz You'll be next to me
You're in the eye of the storm
And the calm of the sea
You'll never out of reach
God, You know where I've been
You were there with me then
You were faithful before
You'll be faithful again
I'm holding Your hand

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

God Your love is enough
You will pull me through
I'm holding onto You
God Your love is enough
I will follow You
I will follow You
Ohhh

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You
Ohhh