Christmas

I have to admit that this year I had trouble getting into the spirit of Christmas. It just didnt feel like Christmas to me. I know thats weird.

I love Christmas time. I love what we are celebrating, I love the family time, I love the relaxation, I love the Christmas songs and Christmas movies. I watch Christmas movies year round. Usually every Christmas break, I get out all of my Christmas movies and watch them, numerous times. I usually finish most of my shopping by the beginning of December.
I listened to little Christmas music and didnt finish a single Christmas movie this year. I finished my Christmas shopping 3 days before Christmas. I did do a lot of relaxing and I desperately needed that.

Sad to say but I made myself focus on what Christmas was really about and then I got to thinking. An infant, something so small, so precious, so helpless, so dependent, was sent to us. He wasnt sent as a king, he wasnt sent into a family of wealth or honor, his birth was . . . simple. He was born to a woman and a man, young and unmarried. There wasn't a parade in His honor or a marching band playing to announce his arrival. Shepherds came to celebrate, shepherds . . . . nothing special about shepherds.

BUT his birth was something very special. He came for one purpose and that was to save. To save unworthy, obnoxious, rude, selfish, greedy, sinful, dishonorable people. And in the end, as BJ said in his sermon on Christmas Eve, we have to ask why? Why did God choose to have Him come in such an unworthy way? Why did God choose to send Him at all? It doesn't make sense! And the answer, though it's short and seems uncomplicated it's so beyond me, he came out of LOVE! I can't fathom or begin to understand this love. I know its there and I know that it only comes from Him but I don't understand it.

Why do we choose to celebrate His birth once a year? Something amazing happened, long time ago that changed the world and we celebrate it ONCE a year. We celebrate graduations, birthdays, other holidays, super bowl, BCS championship games, the Cowboys win (though not very often), we even celebrate the return of our favorite TV show. We celebrate a lot of things once a year or more.

My challenge to myself and to those that read this is to celebrate His birth, His life, and His resurrection every day. Remember what His birth brought to the world. SALVATION! Remember what His birth is still bringing to the world, HOPE! I was created in His image and others should see that, They should see me celebrating Him everyday!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Just Breathe!!

So lately it seems as if it has been one bad thing after another. So I am dedicating this blog to all of the positives in my life. I have learned through life that it is really easy to focus and concentrate on those negatives even when there are plenty of blessings around you. Sometimes we just need to take 5 minutes or so to remember the positives.
These aren't any order in particular just randomly.

1. My job- though my job causes me stress I absolutely love it. I love my students and how sweet they are. I have one student that every time she makes a mistake she just smiles at me and says I love you Ms. Jowell and I know you still love me. That's awesome that I can be a part of that!

2. My friends- I have some amazing friends. Though I have a handful of close ones, that is all I need. I'm not one of those people that makes a lot of deep connections but with those that I do, I cherish it.

3. My family- I have some amazing family members. A sister that brings me lunch and listens to me ramble like crazy. A brother that just makes me laugh everyday. Another sister that brings me sopapillas while I study. A handful of grandparents that care and love me. Parents that love me. Wonderful aunts and uncles and the list goes on. (sorry I couldn't mention them all)

4. Levi- I know its weird but his loving is so sweet and much needed. When I am sad or crying he always crawls in my lap and loves on me. The poor thing, when watching Extreme Home makeovers, when I bawl like a baby, he doesn't know what to do. :)

5. An education- A college degree that I earned and the diploma hanging on my wall to remind me of the accomplishments. A 4.0 in grad school! Whoop whoop!

6. An apartment- With awesome neighbors and cheap rent! ;)

7. A car that goes! Nuff said! :) Though its not a Mercedes Benz or Lamborghini, which I know I just misspelled, it does run and I am thankful for that.

8. An amazing Lord that loves me unconditionally and knows me better than anyone, including Levi. He provides for me and is faithful when I am not.

9. Decently good health- though there are some health issues its nothing serious nor fatal! LOL But it could be worse. I had a weird dream the other night that I had cancer and fishing everyday for 2 years cured it! I know weird and that was the sane part of the dream.

10.I need for nothing- I have more than what I need and I don't have to stress about meeting those needs, I know that they will be met.

For those that read this I encourage you to make a list of all of the positives in your life. I can guarantee that the good will outweigh the bad. There definitely seems to be more bad in the world than good but God is good and if He is in your life then Life is good! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Catch up time! :)

So yep its been a long time since I have posted anything on this but I find that it relaxes me and right now with finals time and end of the semester at work, I need to destress some way! So this semester sounds like a good place to start. Work has been crazy . . . I wonder sometimes how much worse this world can become. Parents no longer believe that students can make mistakes but only the teachers can. Parents no longer believe that teachers are adequate and yes adequate to teach their child. Teachers arent adequate to teach but experts to teach, in my opinion at least compared to some of the parents. Its just sad what the education system has turned into. A student stole out of my purse and Im pretty sure it wasnt the first time but this time he was caught in the act. I guess I am just one of those people that people believe they can take advantage of . . . my car got broken into less than a month after the student stole from me. Goodness! :)

School, Sam school, has been good. I really really enjoy my math class and since no one reads this I can brag and will say that I am really good at the class. I am really good at going to school. I have managed to balance work and school and will come out with A's in both grad classes. I feel blessed that God has given me the determination and will power to pursue a higher education but also the dedication to both schools to be successful at both. Dont get me wrong it is and can be very stressful especially when everything is happening at the same time, kinda like at the end of both semesters and UIL and Christmas and . . . the list goes on.

Spent this afternoon talking to a student about her beliefs and yes I know its illegal . . . oh well. She and her entire family believe in reincarnation. She believes that she will become a butterfly when she dies because she feels shes been a good person and has been "beautiful" to others like a butterfly. She believes in no higher being and no creator. She believes that humans were created when organisms . . . mutated and over time changed into what we now are. When I asked who decides what she becomes (because then that would mean there is a higher being) she said that she does. But then I asked then wouldnt everyone come back as something wonderful and she said no that when the person is deciding they have to naturally be honest about it. Yeah we are still working on that subject. I told her the story of the candy cane, Thanks Denise Franz for sharing it in 1st priority and giving out copies because I hung it on my wall and she read it. She made the comment "Holy Jesus" and I told her that I knew Jesus was holy but that I didnt realize that she now knew. She just grinned. I told her about the great ministries that are happening at my church and she asked why we do them and I told her out of love. We believe Christ wants us to serve others and show them love as he has for us. She just nodded but I could see the wheels turning. So please pray for that. I have been talking to her for now 2 years so maybe something is changing.

Wow this is long, well I guess til next time!

Remember Christ is the reason for the Christmas season! Not gifts, not santa, not even family but Christ.