Laughing at myself is what I am doing right now. Just laughing. Here I am, just three days away from the end of break, and I feel more exhausted than I've felt in a long time. I haven't had an uber busy semester or anything, it's just that there's a huge difference between having a full or semi-full schedule and having absolutely nil to do except talk to friends about nothing. If you are or ever have been a teenager, then you should understand what I'm talking about. The thing is, this break I've only slept in once (I've been making money and doing other fun stuff, so don't you think I'm complaining, Blog World) and haven't had any nothing-time here at home. This is because whenever I sit down or plan on laying in bed for a while, a stupidly wonderful artsy fartastic idea pops into my head and I have to get up and do something about it. Like, seriously, every time I sit down it's like....inspiration! EVERY TIME. I love it, really. love love love. My life laughs in my face though, of that I am sure. After two weeks of this mad writing/scribbling, and painting/collage-ing (?) I am pooped. Here's the funny part of today...I just started another painting. Laugh away. I sure am.

On a different note, I am trying to convince myself that New Year's Eve is tomorrow, and 2011 is the day after tomorrow. It hasn't fully dawned on me yet........



Lydia

A lady who I met at my church passed away last night (or this morning, I'm not sure), and I just feel led to write something about her. Not because I want her to be remembered-people like her are not quickly forgotten-but because I like the idea of her looking down from Heaven (as if!) and knowing that I enjoyed our conversations, few as they were.
Her name was Betty, and there is no other word I can think of with which to describe her than spunky. She was uber spunky, and a fighter-I could tell. She came to church every (I do mean every) Sunday, but always left early because she had to be home to take care of her husband. She told me once that she had been in the Navy. I think she was a nurse. She tried to convince me that Navy is better than Army. Particularly the food. She also told me that she and her husband used to raise horses at a farm that I pass on my way home nearly every day. How cool is that? I love that place! There's like five PERFECT fields. sigh. Perfect, I say: grassy, and beautiful.
There you are. That's about all I know about her, but I'm glad I talked to her, and I'm happy that she's with Christ now, as sad as it is to feel her death.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Lydia

Merry Christmas!

My prayers go up for the broken-hearted, the weary, the destitute. For those who suffer, may they be comforted even more so on this day. May these, God's children, be shown the enduring love and favor of our Lord.

Thank you Lord, for sending Your son to this our home. Our Savior is Born.

Brianna

Here's just a few of my awesometastic Christmas gifts! I'd have to say that the honorable mention is A BRETT DENNEN CD!! but I got that before Christmas.


God be with the children who don't get gifts for Christmas. May He give them (as He has given me) food, clothing, and eternal life. Hallelujah!


Lydia

One of the joys of Christmas, for me, is making pierogi. This year we made our normal two batches. One is cheese, and one is a saurerkraut mushroom mixture. The only difference among this year and all the previous years, is that this year one batch was made by my mother and me. The second batch was made tonight (first difference), and it was my dad and me who made this batch.

I am so thankful for our Christmas Eve tradition of eating a Polish dinner. It's a celebration of my father's heritage...a tradition that I very much enjoy. It is most definately Christmas time.

Brianna

Even in the midst of unwrapping, wrapping presents, and thinking about how blessed we are, there is pain. There is fear, poking it's head around the door to our insecurity. As we eat-feast, really-if we look, if we feel, we can sense the anguish in the hearts of those around us, and maybe even within ourselves. Anguish that is there, and future anguish that is inevitable. Every little joy has a little pain. Every present is tied with a ribbon of sacrifice. All the gifts are wrapped up in disappointment. And all of this is just one more real illustration of how

We are

many little droplets of liquid in a river of hurt that will keep on flowing until eternity comes.

...and so the annual Christmas road trip begins :)