he knew i needed the snow

It's the first day of December...a perfect day for a snow day, don't you think?

This morning, I woke up to a phone call that said I could stay home from work.  I, of course, went straight back to bed for a few more precious snoozes before exposing my very warm self to the cold of non-covers air. (my electric blanket and I are very attatched.)

I finally pulled myself out of bed and pushed back my curtains to look at the white wonderland my neighborhood had turned into.  Snow was blowing horizontally off of my neighbor's roof and the snowflakes in front of my window were falling all crisscross and happy.  Brother was playing jars of clay's christmas album while he bundled up for school and as I stood staring into God's beautiful artwork, He and I had a magical little moment.

See, last night I went to bed terribly frustrated.  Some of the things on my mind that should have been happy thoughts were just turning into a source of discontent and I could feel myself pulling away from God's loving direction because all of it was just too complicated for me.  I had become so focused on everything I wanted in my future that I was becoming almost bitter that I couldn't have it now.  I was trying to figure out a path to walk down, wondering if this was right or that was wrong...and I was just a mess.  I knew that it would all get better if I could just surrender completely to His will instead of my own, but that might mean saying no when I so much wanted to say yes.

But in those few precious moments with Him at that cold, frosty window, everything changed.  Suddenly my plans seemed so dim and fruitless compared to His path.  I knew that if He said no now, then He'll say yes later and it will take me by sweet surprise.  It will be perfect.  It will be the right time.

And I was content.  More than content.

"Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.... Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Philippians 4:6-7, 13 MSG

silver bells is my favorite christmas song

• Currently listening to Michael Buble (Holiday) station on Pandora. (That's obviously the only option.)
• Loving that it's the most wonderful time of the year.
• Craving a peppermint mocha from starbucks.
• Let's be honest for a moment: I have done about -34% of my christmas shopping for the year.  Is a negative percentage possible?
• On the up side, that means I have done some shopping...just not the important shopping.  You know, for the BIG gifts everyone looks forward to.  Just because not everyone is going to appreciate a stick of lip balm wrapped in shiny green paper.
• Maybe you have thus far gathered that I chose to skip out on the black friday and cyber monday fun. I value my sleep and sanity.
• Is it getting desperate to ask a coworker "if you were my mom, what would you want for christmas"?
• Speaking of work, I get to go to my first work christmas party next week.  Ex.cite.ment.
• And speaking of christmas parties, I'll be hosting my second annual caroling party this year.  If you've never been caroling before, let me sum it up for you: it's about the most fun and christmas cheer you can pack into a few dozen cups of hot chocolate and rosy noses. (???...)
• And speaking of rosy noses, why does this time of year seem to bring snifflies and husky voices?  I sound like I've been smoking since 1977.

On that note, I leave you.  Maybe in the morning I'll sound like Lucille Ball.  Win.

Thanksgiving manners.

If you haven't already done so...you need to watch this.

Albania-Part 1

Aren't they beautiful?  These were people from the first village we visited.  There's a church in this village and  we were handing out food bags and candy to anyone who came.  Everyone was so hungry for love and it was so special to be able to give the love of Jesus to them.

Everyone, especially the children, were simply infatuated with our cameras.  If you pulled out your camera, you were an instant celebrity.  And speaking of celebrities...

...they all thought Abishai was one.  The boys followed him around everywhere.

The view from our hotel.

Real cobblestones!  A real market!

We visited the Kruja Castle...gorgeous.

While we were there, we witnessed a beautiful sunset.

So there are the first few pictures!  More to come.

Jet-laggin'

I just got back from Europe on Saturday.

Wow.

A team of 27 of us were gone for a week to the lovely country of Albania.  We also stopped in Munich on our way back.

May I just say that I'll never be the same.

I'll post pictures and stories soon.

But until then, suffice it to say that jet lag is real folks.  It's real.

A picture paints a thousand words.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4


I didn't know what else to say so I thought I'd show you how I feel with these lovely pictures.

Guys...I watched Never Say Never.

I wouldn't say I'm a Belieber (I tend to avoid the trends that are popularized by several million people...I like standing out. not that I'm super special by choosing to NOT follow JB on Twitter.  but I like to think I'm special in a passive aggressive sort of way) nor do I lay in bed at night thinking about his hair (which he chopped off. boo.) but I do want to be him now.  Kind of.

Think about it.  This kid has well over 13 million people following his every move on Twitter alone.  And that doesn't mean that everybody who has a Twitter and has heard of him, follows him.  (Jesseca = case and point.)  But besides social networking, just think about all the people who have seen his picture, heard his name, or hummed along to his songs.

Justin Bieber, you have touched the lives of pretty much the whole world.

The whole world.

That's a pretty juicy boatload of people.

What I want to know is...when he touches all these lives (which he does rather habitually. like everyday), what is he touching them with?

Of course, his musicality is brilliant.  His lyrics and melodies are so expressive that sometimes you just kinda stand there wondering why the radio is singing your thoughts.  And even though all those lyrics usually induce are a bunch of heartthrobs and squeals from admiring tweeny boppers, music is still the universal language.  And he speaks it well.

Yet as I listen to Aftermath by Hillsong United, I am suddenly transported into the very presence of God.  Hillsong's musical brilliance is comparable to the gift JB has...but it's in a different train car, running on a different track.  In  the world of One Less Lonely Girl and Baby, all I'm left with is a wistful ache of admiration and longing for something as great as he's singing about.  But in the music of worshipers, I find the Word of God coming to life within my heart, before my eyes.  And it's not because I'm special; the love in such music is available for anybody who wants it.

I mean, in the end, JB can only have one girl at a time (and how would you like to be #45498?).  And for his male fans...well, sorry guys.  Some got it, some don't.  And how superficial does all of that sound in the long run anyways?

But the love of God?  That's for everybody.  I don't care what you look like, where you live, how you like your burgers cooked, when you take your showers or why you use Crest over Colgate.

Music that's truly inspired by God carries His love in every strain.  And somehow, that love reaches across the earth, through the music, out of the speakers and into your heart.  It's a love that isn't hollow; it's so fulfilling.  It's a love that isn't temporary; He'll still love you no matter how bad you mess up.

Okay.  Back to the drawing board.

Justin Bieber, you're bomb.  And I want to be like you because you have potential to reach the world like pretty much none other human on earth.  But since I'm not you, I hope that someday you get a hold of how much God is in love with you so you can in turn start leading all those millions of people straight to His heart.