Ah... good Christmas weekend.

 

 I just got home from Gainesville; I’m sitting in my living room with the Christmas tree lighting up the room and I’m listening to a Third Day song. Just want to take some time to unwind from the trip and unpacking before I head to sleep. I have just one day of work this week - not bad .

 

Christmas weekend in a nutshell…

 

Thursday – After work went with Joanna to have dinner and attend Christmas “eve” service at Northland with some ladies from my home group.

 

Friday – visited Kuya, Emily and Xander in Tampa for the day. Oh... my sweet nephew!  So glad that I had some time to spend with Kuya and his family. While they wrapped Christmas presents, Xander and I played. We had lunch at Vallarta's (my favorite place to eat there) and also decorated some cookies.

New Year’s Resolution – see more of them!

Saturday – made last minute plans to have breakfast with SarahJoy. Had yummy French toast and good conversation. It was a VERY quick breakfast, but always good to spend time with SJ.  Left SJ's and drove out to Northland. I volunteered at the noon service. I never realized how challenging scanning can be. I was glad to have been able to volunteer and do something – anything - at the church. It was also good to hear parts of the worship service again!

Right after church I left for Gainesville. Got to see my newly engaged cousin, Leilani and her fiancée, Jeff. That night we all went to church at Trinity - Mama, Papa, Lani, Jeff, Ate, Kuya Dennis, Jasmine and Julie. After service we went home and had yummy ham, cheese, corn casserole, bean casserole and FRUIT salad. I know I'm forgetting more food that was there! 

 

Sunday – woke up late, lunch at the Hilton buffet, gift-opening at Mama’s and Papa’s, watched TV, watch the girls plays PS2 with their Uncle Jeff, nap

 

Monday – woke up late, went to ate’s and while there visited with Marivel, Armand and Amanda.  Mama, Ate, Lani and I left there and went to Jay's Bridal to look for Lani's wedding dress. Almost 10 years ago we shopped there for Ate's! It was a fun time. I can't believe Lani's getting married!! All the dresses really looked beautiful on her. It's going to be an "enchanted" wedding

 

I really missed my parents and Cindy this Christmas; I talked to them at least once every day this weekend, but of course I still missed them. This year we didn’t get to celebrate with the BIG family (all the aunts and cousins). Over the past few years we have been mostly all together for at least Christmas or New Year’s. This year we won’t have the chance to do that and it’s making me realize a few things:

 

1 – we’re all getting older and things are changing. It’s a sad thing sometimes because our family is growing and moving and we won’t always be able to all be together. I think it will become more challenging to see us ALL get together as years go by. We will all be getting married, having families of our own, in-laws, etc. All good, normal, fine things - BUT it will all contribute to the challenge of us all to staying connected - especially around the holidays.

2 - us "kids" are going to have to really take initiative to stay connected - with our own schedules, responsibilities, relationships, finances, etc., individually and collectively we're going to have to make the effort and commit to our family (immediate and extended) to continue close ties that our parents and Inay and Itay have started. 

3 – Wherever, whenever, whatever God calls me to in life, there will be times when I will have to be “away” and while I’m called to live a life of faith and obedience, it doesn’t mean that it will always be easy, pleasant or comfortable. There will be times when I will be downright sad, alone and missing people.  

 

I’m thankful for…

1 – my family; immediate, extended, friends…

2 – long drives to be able to listen to good music and think

3- cool weather so I can wear a jacket / sweatershirt

4 –God’s grace; humility, majesty and power embodied in the gift of Christ.

5 – time off from work starting Wednesday

6 – my cousins’ upcoming weddings; marriage

7 - kids; especially my nephew, Xander and "nieces" - Jasmine and Julie... it's fun watching them grow up and see the things they do and say. (like being impressed with themselves for walking backwards, saying "witty" things, crazy toys they play with - even freaky ones like Amazing Amanda)

8 -  cell phones...really...so many ways to stay easily connected with people these days!

9 - spinach dip - YUM!!!

10 - great song lyrics

 

Speaking of "great song lyrics" I mentioned the other day that there was an awesome song shared during Christmas Eve service at Northland. With a little searching on DogPile I finally found it.

 

"Here With Us"

by Joy Williams

featured on Come Let Us Adore Him

It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
Here with us, here with us.

It's a mystery to me
How His infant eye had seen the dawn of time
That His ears had heard an angel's symphony
Still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
Here with us, here with us.

Jesus the Christ born in Bethlehem
Baby born to save, to save the souls of men

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King
Here with us, here with us.

What a glorious mystery is the grace of God.
Lord, that I might be captivated by it this Christmas (and always).
Lord, that I might be filled with grateful awe and wonder.

I went to church tonight for the "Christmas Eve" service. (Yes, they started having Christmas Eve services tonight..the night before the night before the night before Christmas ). Anyway... during the service I realized how self-focused I have been this Christmas season. I have been looking at Christmas as if this holiday is about me and what it's going to take for me to enjoy these days and be happy over the next week. I've been looking at it more like "my Christmas."

During the service the red-head, awesome-voiced woman on the worship team, Michelle, sang a song that totally just ... well, it put me in my place. I've been on google trying to find the song lyrics because I want to get it just right. You'll just have to wait until I find it to read them. The words of that song was just what I needed tonight - the night that really for me is the eve of all the Christmas gatherings.

I've been somewhat irritated with "Christmas" songs this season. Why are all the songs about "snow" and "sleigh bells" or even "going home?" Not that those are bad things, but I'm just not getting where they've come from. Why do we sing songs about giving people partridges in pear trees and other gifts that are just as ridiculous? Now, I'm not boo-hooing on Christmas-ey music. I do enjoy it! But, I think I'm just needing to try harder this year to re-focus on the TRUE meaning of Christmas... and not all the songs really help to do that.

During the church service we also sang "Wonderful King." Now, this is a CHRISTMAS song. There is something about singing the words to this song that always just lures me to Him. AND what perfect lyrics describing our Emmanuel!

BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR. WONDERFUL KING. 
OH, BEAUTIFUL SOUND THE JOY OF HEAVEN HERE.

Oh, I remember now. One thing that I think God wants me to learn is GRATITUDE. I've been reading much and hearing much from all different sources about being thankful and having a grateful heart. So...I told myself yesterday after I did my very first post that I'd try to post every so often, things for which I am thankful.

1. Joanna picking me up way early in the morning so I could get my car taken care of today. AND for getting me hash browns at the BK.

2. Ruth being super VP and taking HP and I out to lunch. YUMMY Buca!

3. Surprisingly productive day today!! I think I got more done today than I have all week long - oh yeah... I was out sick two days this week! HA!

4. Being able to praise the Lord - even when my heart, mind and body is weary.

5. A NEW BOOK TO READ! and the thoughtful, generous, kind gift it was to me!

6. That I'm not sick and that I get to see my brother and his family tomorrow.

7. That I can call and talk to my parents and sister pretty much anytime I want to.

8. The sun being out today - it was such a pretty day out today!!!

9. Watermark - "The Purest Place" - tracks 3, 4, 12 make me feel happy, worshipful and a deep, deep longing (in that order).

10. my Christmas tree - even with its metal pole down the center and plugs that you can see so plainly between the "layers" of "branches" it makes me happy as I sit here.

Currently Reading
Pursuit of God
By Aiden W. Tozer

Doing some reading before going to bed. Yes... going to bed - it's already late. Thought these words were fitting for these days ---

"In one of his (Frederick Faber) sermons he says,
'Wherever we turn in the church of God, there is Jesus. He is the beginning, middle and end of everything to us...
There is nothing good, nothing holy, nothing beautiful, nothing joyous which He is not to His servants. No one need to be poor, because, if he chooses, he can have Jesus for his own property and possession. No one need be downcast, for Jesus is the joy of heaven, and it is His joy to enter into sorrowful hearts.
We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us. All our lives long we might talk of Jesus, and yet we should never come to an end of the sweet things that might be said of Him. Eternity will not be long enough to learn all He is, or praise Him for all He has done, but then, what matters not; for we shall be always with Him, and we desire nothing more.'"

...SIGH...
Lord, for my heart to desire nothing more.

May you experience...
be reminded of...
and be a bearer of... 
the "compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us.."
Merry Christmas!

 

hmmm...never knew "A" in A.W. Tozer was for "Aiden"

Currently Listening

The Lime CD

By David Crowder Band

"You Alone"

Well... it's been 182 days since I've created a Xanga account and here it is ... what you ALL (ok...Cindy, since you're the only one who knows I have this...) have been waiting for - my very first entry!

Woo-hoo! I know you all are on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what words of wisdom I have to share. Really, I've nothing to share other than -- WOW! there are a whole lot of you who are faithful at working on updating your Xanga and whoa...it's taken me A LOT more time to get this set up that I thought!

I came home "early" today (7:30 pm) and was looking forward to a night of rest and reading. But here I am working on this Xanga. Why? Not really sure. I read my sister's and her friends' almost everyday - just interested to see what's going on in her life and what things she has to share ... maybe it's that... just feeling like someone out there by chance might be interested in what I'm doing day to day or what thoughts I have.

Or, maybe it's just that the wireless network is working, I'm sitting in front of the tv, Christmas shopping is done and I just thought this might be something mindless yet productive to do.

Or, maybe it was the talk we had at work today about "Orbiting the Giant Hairball" and me feeling like I need to create for myself an outlet for creativity that I feel is risk-free?

Well, whatever the reason...I guess we'll see what it turns out being together. Whoever may join me on this road of randomness.
Welcome!

(wwwhhheeewwww.... how I LOVE CTRL-C... I almost lost my very first entry!)
Thanks, Cindy for helping me figure this out! You didn't realize your Ate was so Xanga-challenged, huh? heheheheheh