Before I post a thousand pictures, I wanted to jot down a couple quick thoughts. One: I'm thankful that I'm setting better internal boundaries and not letting everyone else's stuff get to me as much as I once did. "Not my circus; not my monkeys." lol There was a cheesy FB meme with the caption "It's not the waves all around the ship that could sink it, but the water that gets inside the ship." It's true, and it was oddly helpful for me. I've thought about it several times when I'm starting to get flustered over whatever is happening around me. The Holy Spirit, the love of God, and the fruit of the Spirit are alive inside me, and I really don't have to let all the tension or drama or whatever is happening around me cause my soul to sink into despair or sadness. It's a lovely realization and a great thing to practice in daily life!
Second... I love feeling connected, but I'm doing my level best to never force anything again. To be myself without apology and give others the same freedom! That "Let it go; just let it be... Why don't you be you, and I'll be me?" song is running through my head so often these days. You be you; I'll be me... yes, please!!
Which leads me to my last point: God has reminded me lately (through John Eldredge - who's even surprised?) that my war is not with flesh and blood but with dark principalities and powers. I still have days where I think about a certain ex-bestie and wish there was some way for us to be "even" in terms of relational suffering. (Each time this thought hits me, I push through to the obvious conclusion that we're very different people who value very different things and handle our emotions in different ways, so there's no such thing as being even, ever, with anyone, on anything, but God is good and just and He knows what He is doing in each person's life, and I trust Him.) On a day when all this was clouding my head, I heard a podcast where John and Craig discussed that verse and how important it is to remember that our battle is not with people, but with the forces of darkness. And it was so clear to me in that moment that it is Satan who works so hard to make every betrayal feel unforgivable, every abandonment unrecoverable, etc. He is the enemy behind-the-scenes for every actual or imagined human enemy we ever face, so I'm putting my energy into fighting him and fighting for more light and truth!!
Yay, God! And yay for new breakthroughs and needed reminders!
Okay, now for the pictures:
Here are a few from Thanksgiving morning that I forgot I had taken with my good camera... a precious candid of J&K flipping through a book together.
All the kids on the coffee table watching Mickey and Megamort! lol
(*M is the only consonant K-Faith really pronounces in this word, so when she says Megamort, it sounds like she's saying Mamaw. "May-uh-mo! May-uh-mo!! Come!" lol That's how she excitedly alerted me that Megamort was headed toward Mickey and his friends! I'm starting to get her lingo down. lol)
(*M is the only consonant K-Faith really pronounces in this word, so when she says Megamort, it sounds like she's saying Mamaw. "May-uh-mo! May-uh-mo!! Come!" lol That's how she excitedly alerted me that Megamort was headed toward Mickey and his friends! I'm starting to get her lingo down. lol)
So proud of their colorful "crowns!" =o)
(I was quickly corrected when I called it a fun hat. lol)
(I was quickly corrected when I called it a fun hat. lol)
Ohmygosh, I just adore her!!
Jaceman and Bampa!
The wishing well at the Rhema lights!
A wintery cuteness pic of Sarah and I!
Group shot! :) It wasn't actually very cold out, but I wore a coat, scarf, and hat anyway because it felt like the right thing to do when seeing Christmas lights and taking wintery pics! lol
Here's a Christmas memory to brighten up your day. lol
*(Side story: This was at the end of no-shave November 2009, and Evan pulled a similar move last year. lol So creepy. Chettles framed this pic as a gag gift for our LG Dirty Santa party, and the girl who got it - one of two kind of awkward sisters who always kept LG interesting - didn't get the joke and thought it was a nice gift! lol Still makes me laugh.)
*(Side story: This was at the end of no-shave November 2009, and Evan pulled a similar move last year. lol So creepy. Chettles framed this pic as a gag gift for our LG Dirty Santa party, and the girl who got it - one of two kind of awkward sisters who always kept LG interesting - didn't get the joke and thought it was a nice gift! lol Still makes me laugh.)
I had the day off today (yay!) so I took a nice walk/jog around Crescent Park! Always refreshing. :)
And tonight, I had a fun Christmas dinner at P.F. Chang's with Lindsay's group... Chicken Lo Mein = yummers!
I just love Utica Square at Christmas time!
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