Tuesday, December 20, 2005
3 Short Work Weeks
The next three weeks at work are 4 day weeks. That is so exciting to me. And this week is half over already. Only 2 more work days. My parents will be here and I don't have to work. I always hate it when we have company and I have to work the whole time they are in town.
This past weekend was very productive and fun. Friday night we had dinner with some friends and played cards. Saturday morning we were able to participate in creating food baskets with our church and distributing them. It was a great reminder of what we are about. At several of the houses I just wished I could sit down and let those people tell me their stories of their lives. The last house was pretty frightening. The man at the house asked us for a ride somewhere through his daughter and when Mike went to talk to him he was smoking pot. My imagination started going crazy and I could just see us ending up in the worst of situations. We weren't able to take him, but it was difficult to make that decision. The middle part of the day was spent cleaning and organizing the house. We even fixed the smelly, broken vacuum ourselves! I did a little bit of shopping for myself and found a few new pairs of jeans. While I was in line to check out at Kohl's I watched a lady get angry because she was being asked to stand in the universal line that fed to the next available cashier. She did not understand why she couldn't just walk up to the one line that didn't have many people in it. When she was asked to get in line she threw her clothes in the ladies face and walked out. We were all shocked.
Saturday night we had my office Christmas party and then we went to this pottery place and painted. I can't wait to pick it up. Sunday morning we discussed our turning points on our spiritual journey in class. Sunday afternoon was spent painting nightstands, cleaning the garage, giving Topaz a bath, and cooking for the Christmas party at church. Sunday night we had the Christmas program which was great and yummy food afterwards.
Needless to say, I was tired yesterday!
This past weekend was very productive and fun. Friday night we had dinner with some friends and played cards. Saturday morning we were able to participate in creating food baskets with our church and distributing them. It was a great reminder of what we are about. At several of the houses I just wished I could sit down and let those people tell me their stories of their lives. The last house was pretty frightening. The man at the house asked us for a ride somewhere through his daughter and when Mike went to talk to him he was smoking pot. My imagination started going crazy and I could just see us ending up in the worst of situations. We weren't able to take him, but it was difficult to make that decision. The middle part of the day was spent cleaning and organizing the house. We even fixed the smelly, broken vacuum ourselves! I did a little bit of shopping for myself and found a few new pairs of jeans. While I was in line to check out at Kohl's I watched a lady get angry because she was being asked to stand in the universal line that fed to the next available cashier. She did not understand why she couldn't just walk up to the one line that didn't have many people in it. When she was asked to get in line she threw her clothes in the ladies face and walked out. We were all shocked.
Saturday night we had my office Christmas party and then we went to this pottery place and painted. I can't wait to pick it up. Sunday morning we discussed our turning points on our spiritual journey in class. Sunday afternoon was spent painting nightstands, cleaning the garage, giving Topaz a bath, and cooking for the Christmas party at church. Sunday night we had the Christmas program which was great and yummy food afterwards.
Needless to say, I was tired yesterday!
Friday, December 16, 2005
Changes
I think all of the changes in my life over the recent months are beginning to catch up with me. I find myself feeling very tired these days and trying to make it to bedtime each night. So many things have been going on, mostly good things, but I still feel worn out. Right now I long for a day off work that doesn't involve a holiday, a day in which I could just lay around and rest. Christmas is quickly approaching. I am always surprised at how quickly it sneaks up on me. I still have a few gifts to buy and need to wrap everything! My parents will be in town next weekend and I am really looking forward to having them here. The next three weeks are four day weeks so hopefully that will give me some rest. I look forward to making new memories in our home.
Other than exhaustion, it doesn't seem as though there is much going on. I have been baking for different holiday gatherings and we have the last of our Christmas parties this weekend. It will definitely be a full weekend and will probably be ready for Monday just to not go, go, go. Hope you all can enjoy life right now without feeling stressed and worn out.
Blessings.
Other than exhaustion, it doesn't seem as though there is much going on. I have been baking for different holiday gatherings and we have the last of our Christmas parties this weekend. It will definitely be a full weekend and will probably be ready for Monday just to not go, go, go. Hope you all can enjoy life right now without feeling stressed and worn out.
Blessings.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Holidays...Joy and Suffering
Christmas is supposed to be such a happy and jolly time of the year. But every year, I can't help but feel immense sadness for families who don't have the money to celebrate in the same way as other people. Everytime I walk through the mall and see that angels on the angel tree or hear about a family who has recently lost everything my heart aches for the parents and the kids.
A few Sunday's ago we had the opportunity to adopt some children to buy gifts for through our church. Every year they put together food baskets and coordinate efforts with a local agency to provide presents to children whose families can't do these things for them. One of the things we have tried to be intentional about when picking these children out is that we choose a type of child that would not be typically chosen. Usually that means the older adolescents to teenagers. This is important to me because I feel strongly that it will effect a 17 much more if they don't get a gift then it will a 2 year old. The older kids are embarrassed when they go to school and know what they are missing out on. As we picked them out, the lady coordinating it told me that if they had left over names they would be going shopping for them. I quickly let her know that I would love to help if they needed it.
Mike and I agreed that we would forego gifts for each other and put our money towards these kids. We set a budget and have found them quite a few things. The lady in charge invited me to help finish the shopping for the kids that were leftover. When I met them Monday night I found out that we are only able to spend $20-$25 on each kid. This broke my heart. Most of these kids were older and their clothes naturally cost more than a 5 year old. So they will get very few items. I could hardly stand it. The other downside to this is many of their siblings have been "adopted" by someone in the church and will get a sackful of presents and they will only have one or two. It is times like this that my heart sinks. I just hate that kids have to experience pain during what is supposed to be a joyful holiday. I try to take joy in knowing that at least many of these kids will receive something and they might understand that their are people that truly care about them.
I love opportunities like this because it forces me to recognize how blessed I am. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. May he be present in the lives of those who are broken hearted this holiday season.
A few Sunday's ago we had the opportunity to adopt some children to buy gifts for through our church. Every year they put together food baskets and coordinate efforts with a local agency to provide presents to children whose families can't do these things for them. One of the things we have tried to be intentional about when picking these children out is that we choose a type of child that would not be typically chosen. Usually that means the older adolescents to teenagers. This is important to me because I feel strongly that it will effect a 17 much more if they don't get a gift then it will a 2 year old. The older kids are embarrassed when they go to school and know what they are missing out on. As we picked them out, the lady coordinating it told me that if they had left over names they would be going shopping for them. I quickly let her know that I would love to help if they needed it.
Mike and I agreed that we would forego gifts for each other and put our money towards these kids. We set a budget and have found them quite a few things. The lady in charge invited me to help finish the shopping for the kids that were leftover. When I met them Monday night I found out that we are only able to spend $20-$25 on each kid. This broke my heart. Most of these kids were older and their clothes naturally cost more than a 5 year old. So they will get very few items. I could hardly stand it. The other downside to this is many of their siblings have been "adopted" by someone in the church and will get a sackful of presents and they will only have one or two. It is times like this that my heart sinks. I just hate that kids have to experience pain during what is supposed to be a joyful holiday. I try to take joy in knowing that at least many of these kids will receive something and they might understand that their are people that truly care about them.
I love opportunities like this because it forces me to recognize how blessed I am. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. May he be present in the lives of those who are broken hearted this holiday season.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Commenting Complex
For some odd reason, I don't like to comment on blogs. I love reading them (I read alot) and many times I have comments that I want to make but yet I don't. Certain bloggers have asked why I never comment. Last night I had to admit that I am a blog lurker to a friend at church :). I can't answer this question completely, except to say that I freeze when I think about leaving a comment. I think part of it is not wanting to sound stupid and another part, well who knows. In the last few weeks it is getting a little better....so I will keep working on it. I think I have the same complex at times with posting. Silly, I know. Just so my few readers know, I am working on it.
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