Thanksgiving thoughts

First off, I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! I know I did. It was sort of a low key day with my sisters coming home, and some friends over. We truly ate too much food, but it was all just so delicious! We drank apple cider, played cards, chatted a ton, and just caught up on each other's lives. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful sisters. Sadly though, one of my sisters couldn't make it up this year, and it left a bit of a hole in my heart because out of all my sisters, her and I were always the closest. She was most definitely with me in spirit though, and I hope to see her again soon! I braved Black Friday with my mom and my sisters, and we even grabbed breakfast at Panera, which was super tasty! Love that place. Turns out we weren't the only ones with that bright idea, so it was a little busy in there, but I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of people talking and laughing. 

We didn't go out super early on Friday, but I'm thinking next year I might have to just go at midnight, shop till whenever, and then go home and sleeeeeep. But I enjoy getting up early to go shopping, and, well, to also get breakfast. I guess I shall have to wait and see. Now Christmastime is upon us, and suddenly I realize how much Christmas shopping I still need to do. I do enjoy all this craziness though. I just don't know where this year went, though! Only 3 weeks left in this semester and then I'm free. For a couple more weeks anyways, and I'm actually pretty psyched about next semesters classes because they have more to do with my major. Which is always a plus. 

It's funny. I started to write this post because of the band Sigur Ros, but I suddenly realized that with all the baking and family coming and going, I hadn't written about Thanksgiving yet! I hope everyone truly had a great day this Thanksgiving. I have been so, so blessed! I'm truly thankful for all that the Lord has provided me, and I know that whether He gives or takes away, blessed be His name. Even amid my family, friends, house, food, warmth, fresh water, transportation, education, my greatest blessing is being a child of the King.  I live because He died for me, and knowing Jesus Christ, the Son of God is truly the greatest blessing in my life! I'm not who I used to be, and it's all because of Him. 

I can't help but think of the song in White Christmas, "I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings." May you count your blessings tonight, and may I do the same! 

A Climber's Goal

The thing about climbing is that it involves a lot of upward battles, not looking down, stumbling from time to time, sometimes even falling, but you keep going anyway, knowing that the top isn't much farther away. There's struggle and perseverance; anguish and hope. One thing the climber has to remember is to always keep his eyes on the finish. I love to go rock climbing, but when I first started out, I remember how terrified I was. The first time I climbed, we were on a family vacation and I had been so psyched to rock climb because I knew I loved climbing trees, so how hard could it be, right? Truth is, I got about halfway up, looked down, and froze up. I was so scared I couldn't even move. I clung to the wall and shut my eyes tight. 

The instructor on top of the wall tried to encourage me to keep going. "You're almost there." He told me. But it didn't do me any good. It wasn't until I heard my dad's voice that I finally opened my eyes. "It's going to be okay." He said. "I know you can do this. Just keep going." At his reassurance, I took a deep breath and looked upward again. "Lean out from the wall." He instructed. Slowly, I leaned out and realized that I could move more easily like that. I reached up to grab a hold of the next rock, and the next, and the next, until finally I reached the top. I had done it. Not to mention, I've continued to rock climb, and enjoy it, ever since.

That's what being a Christian is like.  The upward battles are fighting against my old nature, and seeking to do God's will instead of my own. The not looking down, would be not living in the past and not looking back at the mistakes I've made, my shortcomings, and my faults. I stumble, trying to do the right thing, but not always succeeding. And falling would be me falling away from the Lord, for not putting my trust in Him, and trying to do things in my own strength. I can't help but think of the line from one of Tenth Avenue North's new songs. It goes, "Hallelujah, we are free to struggle. We're not struggling to be free." It's through my struggles and my trials, that I learn to be more like Jesus. 

It's in the hard times that I go through, that I am able to shine brightest for my Savior. People are watching. They want to see how I react to certain situations and how I handle certain things. I know I'm far from perfect and sometimes I feel like giving up. It's times like these that I freeze up and "cling to the wall." And it is my Heavenly Father's voice that encourages me, and enables me to keep climbing. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I want others to see Christ in my life. I want them to know how much He means to me, and all that He has done for me. I would be lost without Him. Therefore I press on, to fight the good fight! "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2) Just like the top of the mountain is a climber's goal, so is Jesus Christ my goal. To see Him in Heaven one day, and to hear Him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." That means more to me than anything. I just hope I can be the light and the witness He knows I can be. 

Little Things

Now this, is a good one.




P.S. The lyrics say it all.

The Girl

Borrowed from a friend(:

"I'm the girl who will persist in her path,
I'm the girl who will make you laugh.
I'm the girl who strives to be open,
I'm the girl who's been heartbroken.

I'm the girl who's been on her own
And I'm the girl who's felt all alone.
I'm the girl who holds your hand,
And I'm the girl who wants you to stand up and be a man.

I'm the girl who tries to make things better.
I'm the girl who's the dorkiest person ever.
I'm the girl who's lost more than she's won,
I'm the girl who's turned but never spun.

I'm the girl you couldn't see.
I'm that girl.
And that girl is me."

     I couldn't help but smile as I read this poem, for every line rang true for myself. I'm sure we could each add a line of our own as the poem could go on and on. Yet in spite of hurt and loneliness, I am never truly alone because I have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. What an incredible thing it is to know that the God of the universe sees me even when I feel invisible. Nothing I do escapes His notice, and He cares for me. Even when it hurts, even when it's hard, I know I can run to Him because He is the Lover of my soul, and the Healer of my scars. 

Good student

Is it okay to not be perfect? I realize that no one is perfect, and yet the world still demands perfection from us. Even the most perfect person on the outside could be falling apart on the inside. Its a tough role to play, and a heavy burden to bear. For me, I want to have perfect grades. No one in my family has told me I need to be a straight A student, and yet I find myself constantly striving for those A's. Honestly, I stress over my grades more than my family or friends. I see having good grades part of being a good witness for my Savior. That's true, but when I blow it out of proportion like that it doesn't do me any good. The Lord knows we won't all get A's and He won't hold it against us. It is important to be a good student, but you can be a good student without having all A's. It's okay! A perfect person would be so boring anyways ;)