For Unto Us Is Born This Day.....

Good Glorious Morning Blog World!!!!!!

Merry Christmas to you and your's....

I was tempted to wallow in self pity this glorious morning because of the fact that I awoke to another christmas alone...but alas, God woke me early to spend some special time with Him as the sun rose. We walked a road this morning that is sometimes hard to walk...coming face to face with the truth's about my life. For one, I am alone. While I am thankful for the fact that He NEVER leaves me or forsakes me and that He DELIGHTS in me, it can be hard to be alone at such a time as this! But today I choose to rest in the knowledge that though I may be a bit lonely this Christmas, I am NOT ALONE! Praise God!

So, how did I spend my morning???

Well.....

I had chai with soy milk (my favorite warm drink) in this cute little Christmas pot....



Then I delighted my viewing senses with this favorite Christmas movie.....



I've also been working on making something special out of this.....


although my little project is with black yarn with a touch of grey for added dimension!

Later I might go by my aunts house for dinner.

It is a blessed day... I am grateful for God's most amazing, loving, unimaginable gift.....

JESUS!

Praying that you have a wonderfully blessed day celebrating with your loved ones!

From my house to yours....

Merry Christmas!!!!

Reflections of the Season

I hope that you are having a fabulous December! I have discovered that this month is passing me by even as I frantically try to reign it in....I fear that I've somehow gotten caught up in the busyness of the season. Also, this has been a very busy season at work so my focus has really been directed there.

Part of me gets dissapointed that I've not been better at guiding my thoughts and heart toward the reason for this season; Jesus, but it is not over yet, so I can reclaim it. Hallelujah for that! My Lord has been teaching me so much over the past few months....it's all about freedom and taking courage. There are so many areas in my life that I am held captive by fear and I desire deeply to be freed of it.

This is my desire and as I find myself thinking ahead to the new year...my goal.

So, what have I been doing for the last few weeks?...Well, let me just share with you!

I was so blessed to attend Women of Faith at the Arco Arena in Sacramento last weekend. It was the second time that I've been able to go this year (which I know is a blessing indeed!). Both times were very special. Definately stones of rememberance in my walk with the Lord.

Here are some pictures of WOF last weekend. It was so so great :)

Julie, Melissa, and I during the pre-conference.

Marilyn Meberg...this gal is truly a gem! We all wanted her to be our personal therapist!

Incredibly gifted and talented WOF worship team..

It's a GRAND NEW DAY!

Patsy Clairmont...bless her heart, I did not think that she'd be at WOF due to her son's recent illness.

Beautiful reminder of the sacrifice of my Lord and the beauty of what it means for me.

I've also been a bit crafty!

I decided that I'd like to learn to knit and my sweet friend Robin taught me back in the spring. I took 6 months to complete this skinny scarf!

I guess I needed a lot of practice and really it was not my highest priority. Also, it was summer soon enough and I just could not think of wearing a scarf.

But.......

Now it is surely cold enough to wear one, so I've been a knitting nut! I made this scarf with the intention of gifting it to my sister in law, but loved it so much that i kept it for myself....selfish, I don't know....but I just decided that it was the first one that I made all by myself that I really liked! The skinny one was not my favorite :)

So, now I am working on a new one and have every intention to give it as a Christmas gift.

This is not the only craft that I've ventured into....I was browsing blogs one day and came across a post by Kelly at Kelly's Korner and loved, loved, loved the cute little ornaments that she made so I decided to make my own.....

My cute little creations....


So, what have you been doing this holiday season? Are you able to keep your focus? What special things are you doing to ensure that you keep your heart and mind on track?

I pray that the Lord bless you and keep you....I pray that he makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you...and give you His peace!

Have a wonderfully blessed time as you anticipate the remembrance of the birth of our Savior!

Friend Making Monday: Thanksgiving

Just thought I'd participate in this...

1. Turkey or Ham? Turkey...yummy! My mom and dad always make it and it is best smothered in gravy with cranberry sauce.
2. Favorite side dish. My Tia Yaya's potato salad. Also love Kendra's asparagus wrapped in bacon.
3. Favorite dessert. My mini cheesecakes of course!!!!
4. Black Friday: Are you going or not? Yep...want to check out the deals with all the crazies out there!
5. If so, what's on the top of your list? Have not seen the ads yet but know that Kendra is going for the computer that is 298 at Walmart. I'd really like to try and find a deal on an SLR camera :)
6. Going out of town or staying close to home? Out of town...up to Cathey's Valley and Bear Valley to be exact.
7. Hosting or helping? Helping...no desire to ever host it.
8. Name one family tradition at Thanksgiving. My own little tradition is to have the Macy's Day Parade on the TV while I fix some awesome desserts! I run back and forth between the TV and the oven!
9. What do you do after dinner? We go for a walk behind my parents property. Usually have to walk with the cows, kids, and dogs. And dodge cousins who are more interested in being pranksters (cow pie throwing..yep)
10. What are you most thankful for this year? Most importantly, that I have a relationship with my Lord and Savior. Also my health, my family, friends, church, and job!

My New Coat

Here is my new coat! It is very cute and I am so excited to have it :)

It was a steal of a deal...let me just tell you. The coat was 60% off the original price and then I was able to use a coupon for a 2 day sale and got an extra 15.00 off. So...this 200.00 coat cost me only 65.00!!

Can I just say now that I think 200.00 for a coat is WAY TOO MUCH!!!! I would never, never, never pay that much for a coat. It's note even 100% wool so I don't think that it is worth that much!

But 65.00?!....I'd say, "yes..thank you, I'll take it" :)



All righty...have a great day people...me and my coat are going to go and hope for cold weather soon so that I can wear it!

*What's the big deal with all this warm weather lately??? I don't think that I ever recall a end of November being warm enough to be out in short sleeves!

34 Things That I Am Thankful For....

Today is my 34th birthday!

I can't believe that I am near my mid 30's. Where has the time gone?
I feel like it was just yesterday that I was celebrating the accomplishment of getting my license. Then it was the excitement of graduating high school and the start of college life.
College graduation came much later than I had planned for my life, but was in perfect time with God's blueprint. The start of my career came shortly after, followed by the addition of new family and nephews and a niece..and that is where I've been ever since.

There are some things that I thought I'd have as a part of my life by this birthday like a husband and children but that is not to be. I don't know why God's plan for my life has not included a husband and a child but I've come to understand that His plans are not my plans and His will is not always what my heart desires.

But no matter what, He is ALWAYS faithful and just. And He desires good for me.

This is a hard, hard, lesson.

I don't get it....I want to accept it, but that is a work in progress.

So today, on my 34th birthday, I choose to celebrate the wonderful things and ways that God has blessed my life and focus on His amazing work in me and through me.

To Him be all glory!!!!!

What I am thankful for in 34 little ways:

1. My blessed life in Christ
2. My family
3. Cole, Evan, Isaac, and Kensley
4. My incredible friends
5. My awesome church (Big Valley Grace in Modesto :))
6. My car that weekly gets me to my amazing church
7. My health (especially in light of expose to H1N1 recently)
8. My career
9. My co-workers who've become friends
10. My curly hair
11. Products that actually work in my curly hair!
12. My cats
13. My home
14. My love for all things sweet tasting :)
15. My freedom
16. My fuzzy robe
17. My turbie twist
18. My monkey slippers
19. Netflix!
20. My dentist (seriously...he is a blessing to me because I've been in need of so much work)
21. My students
22. My love of books and the resources to attain them....
23. My comfy bed and down blanket
24. My travel coffee mug...little things warm the heart in the coldness of winter.
25. Chai tea latte at Starbucks
26. Starbucks itself!
27. God's protection over me
28. My new budget (working on the thankful aspect here!...it will come in full soon!)
29. True unconditional love
30. Music that blesses my soul
31. Words from the mouth of a child who was never expected to speak
32. Resources enough to keep me fed, clothed, and sheltered each and every day
33. The difficult things that enter the landscape of my life...because they lead me to the arms of my Savior.
34. ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE...MAY I LIVE IT ABUNDANTLY!

The Parade of Coats....

Yeah! I am so glad that it is now October!

The fall weather is about to begin I just know....bye bye to the warmth of summer and hello to the coolness and crispness of fall.

I just love this season, first probably because it is the season of my birth (November) and secondly, because my favorite clothing is long pants/jeans, sweaters, scarves, and jackets....oh the jackets.

I must say that I have one too many jackets! Like some women have shoes...I have jackets!!!

My current selection of jackets:

My black leather jacket is similar to this one but a little shorter. I am not totally fond of it as the leather is not the really soft kind so it does not get a lot of use. I do like to use it for more formal dressing or if I have important events at school.

Sorry for the poor quality picture...it is all that I could find on the internet (should have just taken my own photo)...this is a tan rain coat that I bought years ago at Ross or TJ Maxx (can't remember which one!)....I love this coat! It is comfy and cute. Mine is a little darker in color...more brown than khaki.



My beloved Pea Coat!!!!! Mine is actually a charcoal color rather than solid black. I actually want a black one this season. What I especially love about this coat is that it is hooded. So in the coldest part of the winter as well as the windy days of spring I use the hood quite a bit. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!
*Sad fact: my beloved pea coat has a little hole in the back of the jacket...just there from excessive use...I need a new one this year but how will I find the perfect one???!!!!


This jacket is very similar to my green one. The only difference is that instead of having the hooks across the jacket they are around the waist to the back. The jacket has 5 buttons down the front. Almost exactly like this one though! I like this jacket for casual dress days...like jeans and sweater days....

Gotta get ready for church now so I'll show you my Jacket Wish List in the next post.

Happy Sunday Bloggies!!!!

More Beautiful You....

Love this song...just had to share!

PS. Thank you ladies for the encouragement on my last post...you are such dears!

MORE BEAUTIFUL YOU
JOHNNY DIAZ

Little girl fourteen
flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl