Friday, December 28, 2012

Thanks for distracting me!

I hope your Christmas was as perfect as ours was. Friends, family, food, laughing, parties, tacky sweaters, gifts, movies, advent and a little bit of cold weather to top it off! I think Harpers's first Christmas was a success.
As I write, we are in the car on the way home. What would normally be a 4 hour trip has turned into a 6 hour trip, and counting. TRAFFIC. This is definitely not the most pleasant thing I've ever done. But we're all trying really hard to have good attitudes. Even Harper, who is very hungry and has a FULL diaper, is staying pretty calm. Thank you Lord.
To take my mind off of my current situation, I thought I'd make a list of things that would be worse than this.

5. Running. The biggest running goal I've ever had was a 5k. I did it. Now I'm done.

4. Cleaning up hazardous waste. I've never done it, but I'm sure it would be worse.

3. Driving the car. Standard transmission, y'all. Jake should get a massage for all the work he's doing.

2. Eating blueberries. Yuck!

1. Cheering for Alabama. Nothing worse than that! Geaux Tigers!!

Happy New Year!
Abigail

Friday, December 21, 2012

A Christmas High Five

I lovelovelovelovelove Christmas. I mean, it's absolutely my favorite holiday.  It's possible that we would get into an argument if you disagree.  I love presents, lights, snow, Jesus, traditions, music, surprises... what is there not to like?  I would like to dedicate this High Five to my favorite Christmas movies and their quotes.

5. Charlie Brown Christmas.  I think it's a given. My favorite reading of the Christmas story, by far. "And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid."

4. Home Alone.  I know some people (you know who you are...) don't appreciate the family dynamics in this movie, but I just laugh SO hard when I watch it.  Plus, I'm pretty sure I picked up the habit of talking to myself in the mirror from Kevin. "...including all my major crevices; including in between my toes and in my belly button, which I never did before but sort of enjoyed."

3. Elf. It's so outrageous that it almost feels real. "I like to whisper, too."

2. It's a Wonderful Life.  It definitely is wonderful when you're watching this movie.  Jimmy Stewart is magnificent.  The time period is perfect.  The story is moving.  "I wish I had a million dollars. Hot dog!"

1. White Christmas. I only need to say Bing Crosby, but I will say more.  I love musicals.  I love the WWII era. It's funny.  It's romantic. *Spoiler alert* There's snow. Yeah, I think I'll watch it again now.  "I looked at the this big ski lodge, and I thought, 'isn't it ideal?'"

I can't wait to introduce this little one to her first Christmas!


Do you have any movies I should add?

Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Difference in Days.

This week has been, well... I don't know the word.  Crazy, shocking, full, short.

Monday, I was worried about getting clean sheets on the guest bed.  Friday, I was holding my baby and tearfully offering prayers on behalf of the mothers and fathers who don't have that privilege anymore. My prayers have ranged from pleading for comfort to crying out for healing for our nation and repenting for closing my eyes to the wounds of the people in front of me.

I've been reminded once again that this life is short, and very far from heaven.  When something so tragic happens, it's easy for me to want to just shut down and move on from the hurt and pain. I don't want to deal with the rising feelings of past personal tragedies and hopelessness in the world. I'd rather just forget.  But I'm learning that forgetting is a short term solution.  Remembering is the real key to healing and peace. Remembering the present and intended goodness of God.  Remembering His faithfulness in the face of this senseless loss.  Remembering His promise of heaven. Remembering His nearness in the midst of miscarriage. Remembering the hope that abides in the person of Jesus. Remembering that prayer is powerful and effective.  Remembering doesn't make everything magically better, but it, sometimes slowly but surely, brings restoration.

Prayer might be the only thing we can do for the families, friends, and community of Newtown, CT and for our nation right now. So, please pray with me. Pray that God would heal their broken hearts and bind up our wounds (Psalm 147:3).  Pray that what the enemy intends for evil, God would use for good (Genesis 50:20). Pray that people would find hope in Jesus (Hebrews 6:19-20)  Just pray.        

Abigail        

Friday, December 7, 2012

Schooled.

Y'all, I was in college for 6 years.  And no, I do not have a masters degree. But I guess I really only took 5 years of classes.  It went like this: two years at Baylor (meet a hunka hunka burnin' love), do Elevate (the discipleship training school at Antioch in Waco), one year of more pre-reqs and retakes, two years of nursing school. In that time, I took a lot of finals. And I always loved finals week. I'm sure you'll understand why after this week's high five.

5. Two words: dead days. Nothing to do; nowhere to be. Classes are over, but tests haven't started. It's only a couple of days, so it's perfect because any longer would just be lazy, you know.

4. In the winter: you have to bundle up and drink tons of coffee and hot chocolate and sit around all day. And your friends do, too. You're looking forward to Christmas and family and the new year. It's magical.

3. In the summer: you get to lay out by the pool for hours on end, studying of course, or make sno-cone runs for a study break.  School's (about to be) out for summer.

2. Study parties. Pancake break.  Finals baking.  Junk food.  Coffee.  Library pranks.

1. Relief and hope. It's as if you can breath again after that last question on the last test.  The semester is over.  You can look forward to whatever is coming in the next season. You get a clean slate.  It's so wonderful.

That being said, I am so glad not to be in school right now.  Because I'm not, I'm living vicariously through the college students at church.  We've had a study party, made coffee, sat around and gone to bed late.  So. Much. Fun.  You can hate finals, but I think we should all agree that finals week is the best.