Wow! What a Year

{A glimpse at 2013}

Played in Volleyball Tournaments 

 

 

Took  5 trips to NC

Played many violin offertories

Had a Surprise Birthday Party 

Got my permit

 

Went on the Senior Trip

Made lots of memories with family and friends 

Went to Camp 

Went to lots of parties 

Taught at VBS  

Served in various ministries at church

Took a Missions Trip to Mexico

Went to the Steam-O-Rama

 

Recorded "Our Portrait of Praise" with my family

Got a job at Chick-Fil-A

 

Olivia and Trevor got Married

Went to the Loving and Leading Conference 

Sang many specials at church

These are just some of the things I got to do in 2013. The Lord really blessed the year and allowed me to be a part of so many wonderful things!! 

 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness

Psalm 65:11a

"Personal revival is when one repairs their spirit with God."

O Holy Night

1.O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
it is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'till He appeared and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Chorus
Fall on your knees,
oh hear the angel voices,
oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born.
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born.

2.Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
in all our trials born to be our friend.

3.Truly He taught us to love one another,
his law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful

On a day when the weather feels like it could be Easter Sunday,we anticipate the coming of Christmas. Only 4 days until Christmas and the weather is in the 60's and sunny. I was outside enjoying the weather earlier today and got to thinking about the weather and how it felt like Easter weather...how fitting to be thinking about Easter at this time of the year. We celebrate the birth of our Saviour because He came to die for our sins. 

Jesus knew when He came

He would suffer in shame;

He could feel every pain and sorrow.

But He left Paradise,

With His blood He paid the price-

My redemption to Jesus I owe.

Born to die upon Calvary,

Jesus suffered my sins to forgive;

Born to die upon Calvary,

He was wounded that I might live.

*Ron Hamilton

Let's not forget the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of a King!! 

Where Has the Time Gone??

I guess I better catch up.

Time has just sorta,well...

flown by.

I have been just a little busy...

 With Christmas right around the corner I have been busy shopping and getting ready for Christmas...and with all the shopping I have done so far I still have to go out tomorrow and go shopping. Dad,Josiah,and I went out shopping tonight. It is like a tradition in our family that dad takes us kids shopping right before Christmas to get stuff for mom. The group of "us kids" is slowly dwindling down...we are down to two of us. 

This whole Christmas season has been a little different. It is the first Christmas that Anna and Olivia haven't either been at home or nearby. I do miss them greatly...

I have been working about 30 hours a week,so that consumes a lot of time. I have been shift manager for a couple of weeks now and it has been going well for the most part...but there are some bad days.

School has been going well. I just got done telling a friend that I don't really mind school...which is rather shocking to hear myself say. I didn't say I enjoy it,I just said I don't mind it!! Christmas vacation is coming up in about 4 days and I am pretty excited about that!! 

I have been pretty busy with church stuff as well. I am teaching the 4-5 year old Junior Church this Sunday,playing offertories and specials,helping in nursery,and so on. We went caroling two Wednesdays ago and this past Wednesday was our youth group Christmas party.

 

 It still hasn't really dawned on me that Christmas is in less then a week...I am not really sure why.

Well I think this is a good enough update for now. I have a long list of things to do tonight and I am hoping to get most of them done!! I will TRY,I am not promising anything,but I will try to be a little more faithful in posting.

Hope you are all enjoying the holidays and remembering the real reason for the season!

True joy is not found in presents,but in His Presence.