A New Direction

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I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas Season! My hubs and I had a bit of an unusual one because both of us are working in retail and it's the busiest time of the year.  So we were able to spend sometime with family on Christmas Day but it was way to short and it was back to work the next day.

So I've been thinking about this for a long time and I have decided that I'm going to take a little break from blogging.  I love blogging and reading what's going on in everyone's lives (which I will continue to do) but I definitely feel like I am in a very different place now than I was when I first started blogging.  I don't have the energy to keep up with it in a way that truly reflects my life and when I feel inspired to write it's often not a "happy post" and it's not my desire to blog for the sake of venting.  To put it simply our life is very challenging right now and I feel like God is growing my faith through it however I don't believe I can share what's been going on in a good way until it's behind me and I have perspective on it.

So here's the deal I just want to take a little break and come back when I feel like I can represent myself and my life in a way that truly reflects me.  But you'll be hearing from me because I so enjoy reading your blogs and hearing how God is shaping you!!  Have a Happy New Year! I hope that God will bless you in 2011 :)

Love~

Treading

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Earlier in the week my husband and I were looking for something to watch together.  In general that means watching something on the Discovery Channel.  We happened upon an old episode of "Deadliest  Catch." The one where Capt. Jack trades his own son to another boat because he knew that it was best for him to go on another boat to change his perspective a little bit.  His son went willingly trusting that his dad knew best.  During his son's time away Capt. Jack reflected on how much he missed being with him and how excited he was to have him back on the boat in a day or two.

A couple of nights ago I was sharing with my husband how distant I feel from God and how long I have been experiencing the feeling of nothingness.  You see things haven't been easy for us this past year and we are still struggling under the leftover bills from unplanned and unexpected medical mishaps.  It feels like we're treading water...and my emotional and mental response is to put my head down and work as hard as I can.  I don't complain I don't question, I shut off and do what I have to do.

Before I was married I feel like I had a pretty good relationship with God and I felt loved and secure.  However, looking back it was super easy to feel like God liked me when I didn't have any big challenges or struggles.  I lived happily with my parents and though I worked to put myself through school and to purchase whatever I needed I didn't have many concerns.

I can see down the line when hopefully I am no longer treading water...when God decided the timing is right how I will then own a more mature faith.  My faith back then was very immature.  Although I worry on a hourly basis about all kinds of things and my God feels so far away I am certain that God knew I needed this experience. My husband made the connection between what we were talking about and Capt. Jack and his son.  Capt. Jack didn't like sending his son away and he missed him being near but he knew the experience would change his son in a good way.  I can see how these experiences have changed me in a good way too.

We're having a...

Christmas Traditions: Day 2, Music

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I really love Christmas music.  Growing up in my home Church, music was a big part of the Christmas season.  It seems like my family and I have been preforming in one way or another at Christmas time until I was out of High School.  As a Church we preformed The Messiah every other year and then on the opposite years we'd put of a show at our church where we'd sing and the church would turn into a winter wonderland!  I have very fond memories of singing for people at Christmas time.  And I'm proud that that tradition continues at my home Church now.  I hope that you guys find some sort of church show to go and see!

Other than that there are a few singer that I love to listen to around the Christmas season.  Some of my favorites are Big Crosby, Andy Williams, Mannheim Steamroller,  and George Winston.  But mostly I just love the old Christmas Hymns and love sing those songs with believers where ever I am!   

Christmas Tradtions: Day 1, Movies

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Every family has Christmas traditions.  This week I want to feature some of mine from growing up.  We all know that I love old movies and that love didn't pop up from nowhere, my parents love old movies too!  We grew up watching Black and White and Technicolor, musicals and slap-stick.  One of our favorite family traditions is watching our Christmas movies together.  We have probably see White Christmas a million time...we know every word, which is kind of the fun of it. My mom and I like to watch Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a bowl of peppermint ice cream. Stephanie, Ben and I like to watch the Holiday Inn. I like to watch the Bells of St. Mary's because of the super cute 1st grade nativity play that is so precious and funny! My sister Amber, my mom and I like to watch Little Women. My dad like to watch The Three Godfather's with John Wayne, of course, it's a typical western (meaning someone you like dies) but it's a good one for Christmas!  And of course there's The Christmas Story, The Family Stone, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone.   But the best tradition of all is watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve.  We've been watching it since I can remember on that night and we all cry at the end every year.  We live simple lives but it always reminds us what a difference we can make and how we can touch others lives.  The one movies or story I really do not like at all is A Christmas Carol.  It scared me as a little girl and I still don't like it now...but the muppet one is the most enjoyable to watch if I had too, the new Disney one is horrible! Super Scary!

I hope that I have mentioned some titles that you've never heard of or want to give a try! Please do!