I am sitting here in my living room, surrounded by my family, waiting to go to bed. Yes, I would like to sleep in the new year. I guess that makes me old. I use want to celebrate the new year. I wanted to be with friends, then I wanted to be with my husband. I wanted to dance the new year in, then as midnight approached exchange our hopes for the next year, and then ring in the year with a kiss. Yes I am a hopeless romantic!
I sit here tonight and I reflect back on this past year. Hindsight is always 20/20, but if you do not know where you have been how will you know where you are going? I am happy with this year, it could have been worse. I made it through the year without any serious medical issues, as did my children and husband. My extended family did not really have serious medical issues.
My job is still very productive, I am still happy working at the church. I still feel as if I am doing good work there. My kids are enjoying themselves, I feel as if things are really clicking.
I am watching commercials on TV that are going through the memorable moments of 2013. What a year we have had. I would like to thank everyone for a great year! I mean, who knew that as long as I own a computer I could get a printer that would print me food! I never knew I couldn't live without a 3d printer!
I never knew my life was incomplete until I tried a pretzel bun. Thank you fast food for letting me know I could combine my snacks with my junk meals! I also didn't realize I needed alcoholic coffee until this year. Continuing with the food theme I am so glad cronuts have made their way into my life. I now do not have to choose between croissants or doughnuts. I get to have both!
There are some fashion trends that I think can stay in 2013, as I do not wish to see them in 2014. Leather jogging pants are not flattering and really serve no purpose. Also wedged tennis shoes and overly ripped jeans.
I do not think that selfies will go away, since the word is going to be added to the dictionary. I also have no use for all the reality shows on TV now, but I am sure that Duck Dynasty or My Strange Addiction will not be going off air anytime soon.
Each year there are those what were we thinking moments and those trends that we want to continue on into the next year. I want happiness to be a trend in 2014 for everyone. I want joy. I want family time to be a trend for everyone. I know that I am wishing for a lot, those are not items that make it on a trend list. Those do not become the new innovation to make our lives better.
If people were to actually prioritize happiness, joy, and family moments they would realize that they have the power to make our lives better. If we cannot rely on our family, who can we rely on? In 2014 I hope that people can slow down.
The bible tells us that there is a time for everything and to be still. I hope that more people can do that in 2014. I have to work on it, I always feel as if I have to be on the go, but I am getting better. We always end our days with family dinners.
From my family to yours, here is wishing you joy in 2014. I also hope that you can latch on to some silly trend so that one day you can look back and wonder "What was I thinking?"
God Bless you all!
Dueces
~Jennifer
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Most wonderful time of the year....
School is out! It is Christmas break! The children and youth of Fremont are excited as the second quarter is over with, and Christmas is almost here. Some parents may be excited to have more time with their children, but other parents may be stressing about child care or Christmas.
There always seems to be talk about stress around Christmas time. Even in our prayers during youth group, the youth were praying for their parents and families to not be so stressed about the season. That says a lot when the kids are hoping the parents will calm down.
Christmas has become so commercialized. I do not think it will ever be able to go back to the way it was. I am just as guilty as the next person, striving to find the perfect gifts for my children, so that they can have a good Christmas.
What does that even mean, "a good Christmas"? As I sit here in my recliner, typing this I look at my house. I have a tree up, I have Christmas decorations up, I have presents under the tree. Are these requirements to have a good Christmas? Do children really need the best presents to enjoy the season?
I look at what I would need to have a good Christmas, and that is happiness with my family. I would love to just have a day with them, and not worry about anything. To spend the day in their company, rejoicing the gift that was given to the world thousands of years ago. It is hard for children to fully understand the gift of Jesus, as they are not far enough on their faith journeys to fully comprehend what that means. There are times when I have trouble wrapping my brain around what God gave us. The presents we give each other at the holidays are intended to remind us of the gift that God gave us. I have to ask though, did God really intend for us to spend so much money to celebrate his son's birthday?
I do not think that was ever his intention. God wants us to remember the gift he gave us, but to not corrupt it. I think as modern humans, we have to find the balance and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. With cooking, baking, parties, gifts, and family it can be hard to keep Christ in Christmas. We have to try though. There would be no Christmas if it was not for Christ. Sure businesses have helped to over commercialize this holiday, but it wouldn't be a holiday if it were not for Christ.
So there is a purpose to all this holiday madness. There is a reason that kids get out of school for two weeks. People just need to remember the reason, remember to keep Christ around. I can not give you the formula for that on a silver platter, as each family is different, I can only give you suggestions.
You may read The Night Before Christmas, well I encourage you to also read the Christmas story from the bible. If you have no problem talking about Santa with your children, there should be no problem talking about Christ. I would recommend Luke 2:1-20 as it a great story about the birth of Christ. You can also find numerous picture books to share with your children as you tell this story.
I would also encourage you to attend a Christmas service at a church. There are numerous churches that have contemporary or traditional services along with candlelight or praise services. I do not know your personal tastes, so I cannot tell you which one to attend. I am personally attending an 11:30 pm praise service on Christmas Eve with my family. There will be no sermon, just songs rejoicing the time of year. I prefer to worship in song, that is how get spiritually fulfilled. It is a personal choice.
A church service is a wonderful way to teach your children about the reason for the season. This is one of the most wonderful times of the year, we rejoice in the gift given to us so many years ago; and then we get to start a new year full of new promises. It is a time to be with family and loved ones. It is a time to slow down. If you think that you cannot slow down, I hope you take a look at what you have made Christmas in your house, and find a way to change it so that you can enjoy it. Your children will remember moments not gifts when they are older. They want memories and traditions that they can pass on to their own children. Gifts break or are worn out, memories last a lifetime.
I wish that each of you have a Christmas full of memories for the right reasons. I wish that each of you have a good Christmas, whatever that definition may be for you. I also wish that each of you remember the reason for this precious season and make that reason a part of your holiday. God bless each of you!
Dueces!
~Jennifer
There always seems to be talk about stress around Christmas time. Even in our prayers during youth group, the youth were praying for their parents and families to not be so stressed about the season. That says a lot when the kids are hoping the parents will calm down.
Christmas has become so commercialized. I do not think it will ever be able to go back to the way it was. I am just as guilty as the next person, striving to find the perfect gifts for my children, so that they can have a good Christmas.
What does that even mean, "a good Christmas"? As I sit here in my recliner, typing this I look at my house. I have a tree up, I have Christmas decorations up, I have presents under the tree. Are these requirements to have a good Christmas? Do children really need the best presents to enjoy the season?
I look at what I would need to have a good Christmas, and that is happiness with my family. I would love to just have a day with them, and not worry about anything. To spend the day in their company, rejoicing the gift that was given to the world thousands of years ago. It is hard for children to fully understand the gift of Jesus, as they are not far enough on their faith journeys to fully comprehend what that means. There are times when I have trouble wrapping my brain around what God gave us. The presents we give each other at the holidays are intended to remind us of the gift that God gave us. I have to ask though, did God really intend for us to spend so much money to celebrate his son's birthday?
I do not think that was ever his intention. God wants us to remember the gift he gave us, but to not corrupt it. I think as modern humans, we have to find the balance and remember to keep Christ in Christmas. With cooking, baking, parties, gifts, and family it can be hard to keep Christ in Christmas. We have to try though. There would be no Christmas if it was not for Christ. Sure businesses have helped to over commercialize this holiday, but it wouldn't be a holiday if it were not for Christ.
So there is a purpose to all this holiday madness. There is a reason that kids get out of school for two weeks. People just need to remember the reason, remember to keep Christ around. I can not give you the formula for that on a silver platter, as each family is different, I can only give you suggestions.
You may read The Night Before Christmas, well I encourage you to also read the Christmas story from the bible. If you have no problem talking about Santa with your children, there should be no problem talking about Christ. I would recommend Luke 2:1-20 as it a great story about the birth of Christ. You can also find numerous picture books to share with your children as you tell this story.
I would also encourage you to attend a Christmas service at a church. There are numerous churches that have contemporary or traditional services along with candlelight or praise services. I do not know your personal tastes, so I cannot tell you which one to attend. I am personally attending an 11:30 pm praise service on Christmas Eve with my family. There will be no sermon, just songs rejoicing the time of year. I prefer to worship in song, that is how get spiritually fulfilled. It is a personal choice.
A church service is a wonderful way to teach your children about the reason for the season. This is one of the most wonderful times of the year, we rejoice in the gift given to us so many years ago; and then we get to start a new year full of new promises. It is a time to be with family and loved ones. It is a time to slow down. If you think that you cannot slow down, I hope you take a look at what you have made Christmas in your house, and find a way to change it so that you can enjoy it. Your children will remember moments not gifts when they are older. They want memories and traditions that they can pass on to their own children. Gifts break or are worn out, memories last a lifetime.
I wish that each of you have a Christmas full of memories for the right reasons. I wish that each of you have a good Christmas, whatever that definition may be for you. I also wish that each of you remember the reason for this precious season and make that reason a part of your holiday. God bless each of you!
Dueces!
~Jennifer
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
So Much Noise!
I must admit that I am terrible at remembering to blog on a regular basis. Life gets in the way, it really does. I have children, a husband, work, and friends. It makes it hard for me sometimes to remember to slow down and blog. This time of year there is so much to talk about. There are so many activities, parties, and emotions. There is just so much noise!
I understand that Christmas has been commercialized. I take part in buying my children gifts during the Christmas season. I help to make retail stores push even more merchandise towards consumers. I am part of the whole mess. I also stop though and take time to remind my children the reason for the season, but that is not the reason for blogging today. See all the shopping, parties, activities, and emotions are just NOISE.
Noise gets in the way of everything we do. We want to buy a car, everyone has some sort of noise to get us to not trust ourselves in our decisions. As students we want to focus on homework, but there are after school activities, friends, and social media all distracting us! That is all noise.
Noise is the stuff that gets in our way when we want to focus on something else. I have had so much noise, I have found it difficult to make time to have a clear head and blog. I have noise get in my way when I need to do some projects, so much in fact that I end up rushing to finish. I am just as guilty.
Noise also gets in our way when we try to trust God. Our brains will keep questioning why something happened. Then as our brains question, we get a range of emotions from sadness to anger to guilt. That type of noise, keeps us further from trusting God. It is a hard cycle to break, but we need to break the noise cycle.
The bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." The trick to that scripture is to be still. To be still means we have clear all the noise out of our heads and hearts. We have to stop the worrying, stop any anger, stop any sadness, stop the distractions; and we have to trust in God.
I make a point every day to clear the noise out of my head, even if it is just for a moment. After that moment, it is easier to reset my priorities and focus on any task at hand (obviously except for blogging!).
I urge you to push away the noise, find a moment and just breathe. It will help you to determine what you need to be spending your energies on and assist you in giving some things over to God!
Just be still!
Dueces!
~Jennifer
I understand that Christmas has been commercialized. I take part in buying my children gifts during the Christmas season. I help to make retail stores push even more merchandise towards consumers. I am part of the whole mess. I also stop though and take time to remind my children the reason for the season, but that is not the reason for blogging today. See all the shopping, parties, activities, and emotions are just NOISE.
Noise gets in the way of everything we do. We want to buy a car, everyone has some sort of noise to get us to not trust ourselves in our decisions. As students we want to focus on homework, but there are after school activities, friends, and social media all distracting us! That is all noise.
Noise is the stuff that gets in our way when we want to focus on something else. I have had so much noise, I have found it difficult to make time to have a clear head and blog. I have noise get in my way when I need to do some projects, so much in fact that I end up rushing to finish. I am just as guilty.
Noise also gets in our way when we try to trust God. Our brains will keep questioning why something happened. Then as our brains question, we get a range of emotions from sadness to anger to guilt. That type of noise, keeps us further from trusting God. It is a hard cycle to break, but we need to break the noise cycle.
The bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." The trick to that scripture is to be still. To be still means we have clear all the noise out of our heads and hearts. We have to stop the worrying, stop any anger, stop any sadness, stop the distractions; and we have to trust in God.
I make a point every day to clear the noise out of my head, even if it is just for a moment. After that moment, it is easier to reset my priorities and focus on any task at hand (obviously except for blogging!).
I urge you to push away the noise, find a moment and just breathe. It will help you to determine what you need to be spending your energies on and assist you in giving some things over to God!
Just be still!
Dueces!
~Jennifer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)