Thankfulness

Every other year my parents come to visit me for Thanksgiving. The other years I normally just stay home. Alone. Watch the parade… make a smaller version of a Thanksgiving meal for myself. Maybe go to a movie with friends… or by myself. This year I got myself invited to GA to have a Thanksgiving meal with family & I'm so glad I did! I wish I had done this years ago, but with my old work schedule it just never seemed to work out. I'm determined to go down again sometime in the spring & go fishing (I haven't fished since at least high school!)

Over the past couple of years several of my cousins and I have commented on how awesome it is that we're not just cousin's anymore, but truly friends. I really love catching up with them and  hearing about life. I'm in awe of the perfect for them spouses (really I could just say husbands since I have almost all female cousins and the 1 guy isn't married yet!) that God has provided... and I love that closeness that makes us make sure others will be there when there is any kind of family function; just so we can hug and see each other face to face.

In light of all this, here's a short-ish list of things I am thankful for this year...

1. Luke 2:7 - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,
2. My Mom & Pops
3. My Brothers & SIL's
4. My Niece & Nephews
5. My Aunts and Uncles (all of them!)
6. My Cousins (& Cousin-in-law's)
7. My friends near and far who are really extensions of my family.
8. My Church Family (from churches past & present)
9. My Coworkers (aka My Work Family)

I'm so thankful for the family I've been given whether I was born with them in my life or not. I am so very blessed.

What Do You Mean I Haven't Been Blogging?

There has been a lot of turmoil and emotion... and emotionless... I don't know if I want to talk about it...I've been playing photographer again, however, and I just really love this image. Congratulations Graduates, I hope you get some rest this summer...

Diagnosis: Rosacea

I don’t know what to say. I’ve been processing this for the last month since I was officially diagnosed, but really for a few months before that. A few months spent (correctly) self diagnosing my Rosacea.

The processing involved disbelief and anger and a lot (A LOT) of tears. I finally pulled myself together (let’s be honest… I’m still pulling myself together) and finally made a doctor’s appointment to get diagnosed.

Basically Rosacea is a skin rash. Red and flushing… sometimes bumps that unfortunately look like pimples… I started questioning my own vanity… That was hard for me. I’m that girl that will go to a grocery store right after a hard workout or still wearing pj’s on a Saturday. I almost never wear make-up… I’m really comfortable with that. But here I am with a diagnosis of a skin issue that will cause me to look red, flushed… all of the sudden I became an emotional wreck. I started thinking about getting back into the swing of everyday makeup and overcompensating for the red.

I cried and I cried… Then I started talking to my mom more and asking for more advice (and got some amazingly encouraging emails). I started researching and learning. The person in me who prefers organic foods and homemade cleaning supplies got excited at the thought that it can be at least mostly controlled by avoiding food and environmental triggers… I really don’t like taking pills… the Chicagoan in me started mourning pizza.

So today is day one; my first day of starting an elimination diet. Trying to determine my food triggers and get rid of them, hoping that I won’t have to take medication on a regular basis, knowing that it won’t be easy.

Time to learn what real discipline is…..

Better Every Time

Tonight I went to see the movie of Les Miserables a second time. I saw it with my parents on Christmas Day and tonight with friends. All of us had seen it prior to tonight... all of us knew what we were "getting in to".

I thought since I had seen it that it wouldn't really effect me the same way. The first time I saw it, I cried. Starting with Anne Hathaway's singing of I Dreamed a Dream and continuing throughout the movie. Same with tonight. I just find the whole movie to be such a beautiful story of grace and redemption...

Seeing the conflicting Valjean and Javert stories... Grace vs. Law...

We're reading through the Bible as a church over the next two years and right now we're in Genesis (and Psalms) but I know we're not far away from the laws of the Hebrews... the rules and specifications, the do's and don'ts... the ways you had to live.

I'm so grateful for Grace. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for the grace I am shown daily. It's hard sometimes... a lot of times... to show grace to others, I struggle with it often. But I have been so convicted daily to show the grace to others that I receive.

I fail, but grace is there... I don't ever fear of it being taken away from me. I hope you share that peace.

2013 Me Time

My life gets hectic... I let it happen... So much so that I tend to put "Have a Me Day" for once a month on any kind of a New Years Resolution.

Not that I make New Years Resolutions.

This year I'm claiming more time. I'm still going to spend time with friends, but God is doing a lot in my life and I need to focus more on my time with Him (which really is my time for me, too). I'm going to be putting God first...

man... how many times have I said that.....

Sorry, friends, if I'm not completely accessible... I feel like that's already starting... but I'm claiming week nights in the name of gym time and reading time (I'm really looking forward to some challenging books; including the Bible!).

I love you all, I just love God more =o) which is how it should be... and like I prayed on Sunday in our prayer service at church, I really pray that this is the year I stop running from the fear of all I know God is calling me to; and I instead turn and run into His arms with hope for my future.

Praying for you, too, friends as this New Year has started....