Exciting Times

My big brother is home for the week. He brought his fiancee, Sarah, and her sister, Hannah, with him.

I have to say, they're pretty amazing people. I'm so thrilled to have a new sister, (almost) and an extended family.

Sarah is gorgeously pretty, but I don't have a picture here, because my computer won't let me put one up. She is from Mississippi. They met three years ago when my brother was doing job training there.

Hannah is funny. She and Dad especially have hit it off. (Secretly, I'm very jealous of her wit.)

I can totally see that the two families are going to fit in amazingly.

In other news, I'm getting a new computer. It should be arriving this week. It is a much needed upgrade from my ten-plus-year-old Dell with graphics, memory and a million other problems. (Including not letting me post pictures of the amazing Sarah. I think I mentioned that already.)

My mother has wonderful taste. I just thought I'd mention that.

For Christmas, I received, among other things, a very blown-up, full-size canvas of my favorite picture of myself. It's very cool. I also got a cameo. I've never had a cameo. It's really pretty.

New Year's is just around the corner. There are so many exciting plans already for the 2012. I'm going to a wedding in Mississippi (Not sure who's...just kidding) I also get to nanny for a little bit in Feb. for some amazing friends, and I'm crossing my fingers in the hopes of returning to the speech and debate arena temporarily; only this time, as a judge, instead of a competitor.

Just as a warning however, if you too have many plans for the new year, be sure to get them done before next Dec. because the scientists say the world will end. :D

The Reason Why

I don't like the term: "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."

It's not that it's not true. It's rather that it doesn't say enough; it seems flippant; and, it's too limited.

Yes, Jesus is the reason. But why?
Because He was born? Yes, that's what we celebrate at this time of year, but, it doesn't go far enough.

Why was He Born? That's the real question.

He was born to die, to rise again, to save us.

Save us from what?

From our sin. That is why we celebrate His birth.  It's the beginning of the story. It's the beginning of our own second birth. And it ought not to be a season. We should celebrate and rejoice all the time in the knowledge of His wonderful salvation.

Nothing in Particular

I'm excited.

I read Isaiah 55 today. It's one of my favorite chapters.

I'm going to see Handel's Messiah this week.

I'm also getting ready for my amazing brother's visit next week!

I'm sitting here writing this when I could be cleaning the laundry room.

There are banging noises upstairs. Yes, we're getting our counter top fixed.

I love all my cool friends.

I watched an amazingly funny and sad video clip just now. It was funny. And Sad. But it had a happy ending.

I decided that extremes in real life aren't very fun, but extremes in books are hilarious. Yeah. Go read the Arabian Nights. It has lots of extremes.

I like reading fairy tales. They're full of fluffy, nonsensical, amusement.

I'm excited about Christmas.

Our dog ate some of the garlands we had up. He looked so guilty.

I'm tired of the holes and otherwise marred-looking wall that I am sitting in front of.

I'm considering getting a much-needed laptop at the end of the month. Of course, that will set my car fund a little behind. Can't have it all I guess.

My day tomorrow is ultra busy.

Cookies are amazing.

I remembered to put the spices in the gingerbread this year. It really does taste much better.

I feel like experimenting with something. But, it's too much work. I'm lazy.

I lost the package of hamburger we bought. At least, it didn't make it home somehow. It was going to feed 9 people for three meals different meals. *pause in a moment of shame*

I want to go to the library.

My cool and amazingly talented friend made me a mouse-y doll.

If you don't know who the Spinoza's are, I will be mortified.

I named my mouse doll, after Mrs. Spinoza. Mrs. Rosa Spinoza.

I should be quiet now.

Goodbye.

An Analogy

I sorting through some strings of lights this week. I plugged one string in to see if it would work. One light was flickering, as if it wasn't screwed in all the way. I wiggled it a little, and as old lights are apt to do, there was a pop and the light went out. I removed it, only to discover that the socket was smoking. Furthermore, the whole string of lights had also gone out.

James 2:10 says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

We might be a perfectly good string of lights, but if we blow up in just one little area, our whole capability for giving light will also go out.

"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." ~Matthew 5:15

Choose Wisely

One of my few attempts at poetry. But, it didn't sound right in prose.

You can't un-ring a bell, that's already been rung
You can't un-clap your hands
You can't un-cut the string
You can't catch back a word that's been let loose

You can say it once
You can make amends twice
But always they will wonder if
You really meant what came out first

And in some sense
They'll be right to wonder
For does not the mouth speak
What the heart believes? (Luke 6:45)

So choose wisely
It's the only chance you'll have.
Isn't it better not to have to
Clear the air between you?

A string that's been cut
Will never be whole and strong
A friend that's been hurt
Has lost a little trust forever

Choose wisely
It's the only chance you'll have.