"You are my refuge, you are my strength

As I pour out my heart, these things I remember

You are faithful God, forever."

the 26th

dancing with Alicia 

looking at cabins with Caleb 

playing games with family and friends 

*photos courtesy of Mimi and her new camera :) 

jac jac had a nice Christmas too

So many times in the past few months my thoughts have been reduced to the word "why".

Christmas morning the Lord very powerfully answered my question with simply

 "so that you could be amazed by ME". 

Thank you church family for your unbelievable love and care this year. I spent Christmas morning crying and laughing with my family all morning long. 

interesting links (except that the first one is a bit far from interesting)

this is why I can't agree with the large portion of my friends who have come to love country music

this is adorable

this is a wonderful sermon full of beautiful thoughts

and this is a wonderful post full of more beautiful thoughts

"And how many gods poured out their hearts to romance a world that's torn all apart?" ~Downhere, "How Many Kings"

"It’s a strange but powerful paradox that upends everything: 

Listening is what changes words."

"At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend." ~ John Stott 

my "baby" sister is growing up far too quickly

These pictures are a bit grainy, but here are a few pictures from Midget's Christmas concert :) 

"He has read our yellowed penciled pages, as well as our minds and hearts. He reads our written prayers on the backs of envelopes, on the margins of our Bibles, on the backs of weekly memo calendars or the unwritten whispers in the middle of the night." 

~Edith Schaeffer, The Tapestry

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." ~John 1:1-3, 14, 16

"He makes me smile."

This is one of the things most necessary for a guy to be good boyfriend according to almost every survey I've read and almost every personal story I've heard. What makes you smile though is directly dependent upon what you value.

Does he make you smile by joking about other people?

Does he make you smile by talking about nonsensical things that let you forget about the stresses of life?

Does he make you smile by constantly and patiently directing your heart and thoughts to the perfect truth of the gospel?

The first example allows you to indulge in negative thoughts about other people.
The second example provides a temporary escape only to leave you with the same negative thoughts when you return to "harsh reality".

 Is either one really worth smiling about?

The third example though points you to the essence of your life and leads you into a deeper communion with your Savior.

You should ask yourself -- does this guy amuse you (and therefore appease shallow desires) or does he remind you of the joy that gives you life and meaning?

Let's be less concerned with smiling and more concerned with deeply understanding and relentlessly pursuing the truth of the gospel. Smiling will invariably follow.

Christmas in Erie

Yesterday, my roommates and I celebrated Christmas in our apartment :) Snow was falling and Christmas music was playing and we bought donuts from Tim Hortons :) It was quite lovely and a much needed break in the middle of a week full of studying for finals :)

Earlier in the week we spent an evening making paper snowflakes :)

The presents and "tree" had been sitting in the window for several days. It looked quite festive from outside :)

Now just one more final tomorrow morning and then I will be on my way home . . .

a letter without postmark

Dear Erie, 

why???

sincerely, 

a cold (and tired) college student who is ready to go home. 

note on life

You know your locker has been emptied when the floor by you desk looks like this:

interesting links

advent (thank you Katie)

introverts

being "Christian" (I don't know that I agree or disagree, just things to ponder)

Carol of the Drum

note on life

When Kathryn and Rachel become overwhelmed with life, they play Set and sing the Wonder Pets theme song. That is all.

another beautiful ballerina

source: http://soliroma.tumblr.com/post/61990063775