it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

y'all, it is snowing at this very moment, right outside my window! :) that is the coolest thing ever. i just love snow! that means hot cocoa, and a fire at the fireplace, Christmas music, Christmas movies, and of course decorating the tree! it reminds me of the family time that i have, and the friends that i get to see during breaks. but really it is a reminder of the whole reason for Christmas - Jesus is born!

Christmas should be a holiday that means a whole lot, to Christians especially, because without the birth of Jesus we have to Christianity. therefore we go to hell. read that again. WE GO TO HELL. for eternity. does that not scare you? because it scares me, but I know that The Creator - of this whole universe - cares about me...a weak human, a sinner, just like you, and everyone else out there. we should fear God, more than we fear hell, simply because of God's wrath. ouch.

most of the time we get so wrapped up in decorating, or shopping, or even giving gifts, that we lose focus of what CHRISTmas is really about. like i said before about Thanksgiving, try to really remember why we celebrate this holiday. really think about it.

most of us have heard the "Christmas" story again and again, but really think about it. born of a virgin. came to live a perfect life, and DID. for 33 years. died on a cross, for OUR sins. that is what we deserve. but because of the grace of God, we have the opportunity to accept a free gift of salvation for what Christ did, but still choose to deny it.

why? because we dont want to give up our worldly things? because we are too selfish and prideful? because we think there is a catch...because there always is with free gifts? because "my family would disown me?"

i will admit that the Christian life is not an easy life, but i guarantee you that it is so worth it. what Christ did for us, and what God is still doing for us is all out of His unconditional love for us, even when we turn the cheek.

tomorrow is not guaranteed. for that matter, you and me even getting through this post is not guaranteed. we take a lot of things for granted, and get so caught up in our "busy" lives not to make time for God, and to forget about Him, because "oh, he'll always be there, right?" what if God forgot about us? what if He just got sick and tired of our sin and chose to turn His cheek on us? what now?

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

bittersweet.

so this past weekend one of my best friends, caitlin graduated. it is kinda weird knowing she is not gonna be back next semester when i just wanna pop in to see her or just hang out. someone i would see everyday, whenever i wanted to, is gonna be gone. and in the real world. i have only known her for a year and half, but i just love the friendship God has blessed us with!

caitlin is one of those friends you always love to be around. i thoroughly enjoy spending time with her, whether it is "dancing", doing her feet, or just talking. you dont come across those friends that you click with almost instantly, very often. like every friendship there are up's and down's, but i can honestly say it has been a whole lot of fun getting to know her better.

this past week has been kind of a roller coaster of emotions.

break has started. school is finished. all my friends are gone, and home. caitlin graduated. she also turned another year younger. ill be heading back to my own stomping grounds in the next few days. i dont really know what all to feel. excited; sad; nervous; happy; glad. i say it is all bittersweet.

you dont really realize what all you have until its gone. not necessarily dead, but just not with you physically. like when i am at school, my friends are there, and soccer is there...but i am also missing home, and my family. but when i am at home my family is with me, and old friends are there, but i am missing my friends from union, soccer, and just even being at school. it is like i can never find a happy medium.

that sounds awful. i am blessed in more ways than i even know, and wherever i am is where i am called to glorify the Lord. He is teaching me to be content with wherever i am, at whatever stage in life i am at - so that His kingdom can be furthered.

alls i know is that i am thankful for things like skype, phones, and facebook. i dont know if i could survive off of hand written letters.

within the past few hours God has shown me the amazing people He has placed in my life, but also the amount of friends that i dont tell enough how thankful i am for them. i encourage you to do exactly that...thank the people in your life that you love.

"dont cry because it is over; smile because it happened." - dr. seuss

thanksgiving.

Just stop and think here for a minute.

Think about your life - What it used to be; What it is now; and what it could be.

Think about the family and friends that surround you.

Think about the beautiful world we live in - The sunsets. The thunder. The lightening. The trees. The earth.

Think about the opportunities we get every day.

Just think about our bodies - how they work.

Do these things not amaze you? Gosh, God is so, so good.

This thanksgiving I had the opportunity to spend thanksgiving with one of my best friends, Roxanna, and her amazing family. It was not until this Thanksgiving did I realize truly how blessed I am, and how thankful I should be. God has blessed me in so, so many ways. It amazes me. I have clothes on my back and shoes on my feet. I have the opportunity to play a sport I love. I am getting a college education. I have a family - and one that loves me. I am healthy. This list could go on, and on, and on. We are all doing better than we deserve. Be thankful for the life you have been blessed with. Praise the Lord – that He loves you so much, He would send His son for the ultimate sacrifice, and he desires a relationship with us - wretches. sinners. nobodies.

God began to open my eyes this summer when I went to Kenya. It is really such an experience to live in another country way out of your comfort zone. Here is a little of what I experienced there...

I experienced the poverty. I was loved on, by Kenyan’s of all ages, and was treated with such hospitality by the host families. I lived in a mud hut, and shared a 2-inch, foam, twin mattress with another teammate. My host family slept on the floor with the chickens. I experienced no plumbing, or running water. I experienced going to the bathroom in a hole, hoping I had good aim. I flew on 15 flights in 13 days – three of which I was alone. We drove on dirt roads for hours in a bumping van, listening to Kenyan music while getting carsick. We played soccer in Chaco’s and a skirt. We were provided with more than enough food to nourish our bodies.

I also experienced true joy and thankfulness in the people’s hearts there. They rejoiced in everything. They praised God in the good and hard times. They are thankful for everything they have. We got to know the loving people there. They smiled at the smallest things – that is one image I will never forget. When we were blessed with food, the children would not eat lunch that day. I experienced the absolute beauty of this country, and the people there.

I am not trying to say that the people in Kenya are perfect in any way, but they are so thankful for what they DO have, and do not focus on what they do not have. Before I went to Kenya I thought that in my time there I would be giving more to the people there, rather than receiving more from them. I was terribly wrong. I gained more from this trip than I ever could have given to the wonderful people there.

I am blessed.

This year has been a roller coaster. The Lord is teaching me so much, and sometimes it can be hard to go through, and overwhelming, but it is all, so worth it. I have a fun, loving family that I have grown so much more appreciation for being away from home. At the same point I am blessed with amazing friends that help me to grow and keep me accountable. It is so much fun getting to know your old friends better, and establishing friendships with new ones.

I challenge you to take a step back and think about the blessed life that you have. Be convicted, but praise God for what you do have. Try not to make “Thanksgiving,” a once-a-year holiday, but an everyday thing. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in family, food, and football that we can forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving.