Wishing Away...

Okay, so last night I found myself wishing away the week. In fact, I most likely have been wishing away the last couple of weeks. You see, I leave for Argentina on Friday and am completely excited. I am excited for this wonderful opportunity to travel with a great friend, meet new friends, and just explore the amazing world God created. But in all my excitement, I lost sight of the amazing opportunities that await me everyday! So I sit back and think about what I would have missed out on last week if it were truly wished away.

Monday: I would have missed the wonderful snowmobiling trip taken with some great friends.

Tuesday: I would have missed the opportunity to catch up with some friends I see only once a month.

Wednesday: I would have missed the pleasure of meeting some amazing youth in our community in the process of competing for a Lilly Scholarship.

Thursday: I would have missed out on the wonderful time I spent with Jess, Amos, and Grace...time that I truly enjoy!

Friday: I would have missed out on the time I worked on organizing my photos.

Saturday: I would have missed the time I spent with many friends playing in a poker tournament and just enjoying each other's company.

Sunday: I would have missed out on the time I spent with my roommate... though she was sick :(... and the great worship and praise service I attended.

And there is just so much more....

So I try to not wish my days away, but to appreciate each and every day. For each day, whether we are at work, at home, or just out and about, brings many opportunties and blessings.

You are not alone

Why do we try to act strong all the time? Why are we afraid sometimes to show our true emotions, our fears? Someone I know, and love very much, is facing something that is scarey to her and to the rest of us. Yet, she puts on the brave face as to not worry those around her, but in reality, closes off a part of her. When she lets that guard down, then is when we get a true glimpse of what she is feeling, what she is going through. She cried, and we wrapped our arms around her. We are not alone. God is with us and wants to take those fears and worries. He wants to hold us and comfort us. Just as I wrapped my arms around her, God wraps His arms around her. So I offer this prayer to her. I pray that she continue to lean on God. That He continue to hold her up and help her through this time of uncertainty. I pray that she find the strength in Him and let Him carry her worries and fears. And I pray that she know how much she is loved and that she can turn to us, her family and friends, for love, support, and prayers. I send her my snow angel as a reminder of God's love.


You are not alone!

It's a Snow Day!

Well, we got the snow that was predicted, which actually enabled me to stay at home the past two days. And what an amazing two days it has been.

Snow, snow, and more snow. I spent yesterday relaxing at home, curled up on the couch under a warm blanket, drinking a delicious cup of coffee, listening to music, and looking at pictures with my roomie, Dina. What a great opportunity to just learn a little bit more about this wonderful friend. We pretty much went through all of her pictures, which took about 4 hours. And as she gave the background behind the pictures taken with her youth group, with her bible study girls, with her friends from Goshen, and with her family, I just learned more about her and how many people are special to her. I not only thank God for this friend, but for all those people in her life who make her laugh, who have supported her, and who she can call friends and family. Though relationships change, some grow closer and others grow distant, they all contribute to the person she is. God has blessed her with just some amazing people in her life and has blessed us by placing her in our lives as well.
Today, is Valentine's Day. And as I was wishing some people a happy Valentine's Day, I hear something outside. I look out my window, and there is my amazingly wonderful brother-in-law, Amos clearing my driveway with a snowblower. I run outside to thank him and to talk to Jess and Grace who were waiting in the car as he did this for me. Such a wonderful blessing to have family who cares and loves me so much...to think of me and help me out. They are just a special and beautiful family.

Dina and I then spent some time just playing in the snow. I attempted to snowboard down my lawn, which wasn't too successful since I kept sinking into the 8 inches of snow we had :). But, Dina lifted me and my snowboard out and carried me to the top of the driveway, where I was able to do a little snowboarding "slowly" down to the road.
We made snow angels
and I tried to knock her down in the snow, but she just pushed me down and that was that :). What can I say..."I am fragile" :).

We went for a walk and just took in the sunny day and the bright snow that covered everything. It was extremely beautiful. It was just a great reminder of how beautiful God's creation is. Dina expresses it beautifully in her blog, link to the right. But I just couldn't help but share how much these past two days meant to me, and just how wonderful God is.

Thank you God for the blessings that surround us, for being in every moment, and for showing us how Great you are.

Bring on the Snow!

Good Monday morning everyone! I would just like to say, "Bring on the Snow!". Why? Because if snow leads to the fun times I had this weekend, than I can only be excited for it.

I spent a wonderful friday night with my beautiful sis and my adorable niece. We enjoyed a great dinner at Hacienda, followed by a relaxing night at their house talking and making warm chocolate chip cookies and eating them with a side of ice cream. It really doesn't get any better than that.

I spent the night and then woke up early saturday so we could get some things done. I booked my flight to Argentina in March...yea!!! and am excited about this upcoming experience and being able to share it with my beautiful friend Sarah. I took pictures of some sports items that could possibly be used as part of the decoration for my nephew's nursery. I made, what I think is the best cake ever, angel food cake, for the evening's event. It was just another amazing day with Jess and Grace as we got so much done and just spent time with each other listening to music and playing with Grace, whose laugh by the way can just warm your heart!!!

Saturday night, was amazing as it was a ladies' movie night. Alicia, Jess, Melanie, Jamie, and I gathered at Alicia's house to watch a few movies. We warmed up by curling up on the new couch, eating fondue and some delicious cooks pizza..but we didn't eat all that on the couch of course. Thanks Alicia for hosting. We all had a great time, especially when Jamie and I beat Alicia and Jess in a little game of bid euchre. Okay, I just had to throw that in :).

Then Sunday, after a good church service, Brian took me on my very first snowmobile ride. I can pretty much say I am addicted now :). I loved the trails and the way the snow looked as it covered everything.

They say that we are to get a lot more snow this week, which is exciting. Why? Because, no matter what the temperature or the weather is or whatever else we face, God provides those wonderful opportunities to spend time with great friends! And that is exciting!

Seasons

I stand in the middle of it all, feeling as if my life were in slow motion and all that is around me is in fast forward. The blurry images of life pass by as I stand there waiting for what may come next. This is the season of life I am in right now, trying to wait patiently for God to lead me to that next step, that next movement. As the excitement builds and as the anxiety of the unknown weighs on me, I find the comfort knowing that I am not in control. I find the peace that I am exactly where God wants me. So I accept the changes that surround me and stand in the stillness of my life, quieting my own desires, so that I may hear His...and thankful for each moment. For it is all created by God.

Genesis 1:31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.