As most of you know... I did make it home safely after spending a longer stay in Denver with my good friend SweetLeesh and her family. That experience was such a blessing, and their family is amazing! I haven't updated my blog since arriving home for the simple reason that I've been spending pretty much all my time with my family, church friends and job hunting.
This holiday season has been extra special, because unlike last year, my family is all together this year. My sailor brother is home on leave, and we get him for two whole weeks! It has been a true blessing to spend this time with my family and not having to worry too much about going anywhere.
I want to share an excerpt from my personal journal about this Christmas with you:
"The last few days have been so enjoyable. The focus has been almost completely on family and just having fun together. That is the true meaning or purpose of Christmas, in my mind. Nowadays people get so caught up in the religious arguments about Christmas. Why do you waste time arguing? Just spend the time with family and friends. During that time just spend it loving them and then Christ is automatically infused into the holiday. There is no need to use words in arguments, just act your belief out!
I think this Christmas has been the best of my memories. Maybe part of it is that I appreciate it so much more from having been gone, that I don't sweat the small stuff. "
My hope is that you all are pulling your family close around you as much as you can, during this time and also throughout the next year. God, Family and Friends are the most important things in life... I don't care what anyone else says! Love them to the point that they cannot question it! In conclusion here are some thoughts from Donald Miller's book 'Through Painted Deserts' that I'm currently reading...
"I figure you might forget what kind of person you were back when you were on this trip. I want you to know you weren't a bad guy. But you fell into thinking a lot of money and a lot of stuff and a lot of social collateral would get you somewhere. And I don't know who you are now, and what you've done with your life, but try to remember, God doesn't expect you to accumulate a lot of stuff. You were really happy here in the canyon, you know, I promise it's true. I guess I just want you to remember there was a time when you did a pretty difficult hike, and you decided that you didn't need to carry a bunch of stuff on your back because the climb was hard. And I don't know who is around you, whether you met a woman or have some kids, but I really hope you have shown them this stuff, that life is going to be okay, that you just have to enjoy it. If you can't buy a nice car for your family or anything, don't worry about it. Just go into your kids' room and kiss them on the forehead, okay, 'cause there is all kinds of beauty and it doesn't have anything to do with having some stuff. Also, don't kick yourself around. If you can't climb up out of a canyon real quick, just do it slow."
I am really enjoying this book so far, and plan to post a full review soon! It has some parts that I've really identified with.
