Christmas is Here

    Christmas was just a few days away and I was ready for it. Christmas music was streaming through
the speakers in my home, the tree decorated. My church would be caroling the next day. My   grandparents would be coming for Christmas day. I still hadn't gotten any shopping done. What other people in my family had bought as gifts were left unwrapped. My mom didn't have much time.

That afternoon she, my brother, and I were just sitting on the couch, talking, laughing here and there.
  Admiring our tree. Then, suddenly, my mom looked at my brother and I very seriously and said
"I just want you guys to know that I only spent about half of what I did last year."

            My heart dropped with dissappointment for a moment. Half? That's really nothing.

                                           Then I felt a nudging in my heart.

                "Wait a minute? Why I am acting like this?" I thought. "Haven't I been reminding people
to remember the real reason for the season? That Christmas is about Christ? That it's about His birth
and ultimitely, His death. His precious gift of salvation. The gifts shouldn't matter!"

Now, don't get me wrong. I love receiving gifts. I love the anticipation and excitment of ripping the paper off the item and seeing what that person bought me. And I can tend to be selfish at times.
Though, I know I need to be grateful, because there are thousands of boys and girls my age
who receive far less. Some nothing at all.  And Christ never wanted us the commercialize
the day of His birth.

                                His birth is truly the best gift anyone could receive.
                                                      I'm learning.

                  Christmas is here, my friends. Let's remember why we are celebrating.

                                                    Merry CHRISTmas!

                                         

When a Friend Comes to Visit

Last month, a very dear came to visit me for three days. You might remember me mentioning this.
Well, let me tell you, it was a very fun filled time! It's always great visiting with friends that you otherwise never get to see. My family and I picked her up on a Thursday. (let me tell you, the two and half hour ride there was unbearable). Then, not half an hour after arriving back at my house,
we took a trip to the mall. Which happens to be conveniently five minutes away. :) 

                                 So, we ended up having almost too much fun.
             We went to Claire's, Maurices, Carson's (and went up and down the elevator
            more than once) and we even had our pictures taken in a photo booth. We also
            went to the Christian bookstore. However, we weren't able to spend any money.

                                       Jessie: But I can't buy anything!

                                      Me: Do you just want to leave?

                                      Jessie: Yeah, let's go. 
 
                                     Me: Oh Jessie, look at that! Oh, it's the Hobbit!

                                     Jessie: Stop!
                
                Ok, so those may not be the exact words, but that's about how it went.
                                              And I know, I'm so nice. :)
                                           
                     Then, at Carson's, we had so fun trying some furniture and such.

Jess and I really liked this chair. Or couch thing rather.
Whatever the official name for it is.

 

                            Then, we made our way to some other parts of the store.                     
                                                

 

At Claire's. Aren't we cute?

 

The next couple of days was a blast. We shared so many laughs. We also

watched several movies. In other words, we had an Avengers marathon because I had never

seen the movies before. We also watched a really sweet movie that took place in Ireland. The two

of us talked in Irish accents off and on during the remainder of the visit. :) We listened to

some Irish music. We watched funny youtube videos. Talked. Ate junk food.

 

On Friday I had a choir performance, and sweet Jess came along. Afterwards,

my friends Katie and Tiffany came over. That was a lot of fun for both Jess and I.

 

Then, on Saturday, (the last day) we took a trip to Amish country. It was just for a short

time, but it was so nice! And once again, we probably had a little too much fun.

 

Isn't she gorgeous?!

 

 

 

                                                                 

                                                              

                                                             

                        That weekend went by much too fast. The hours and days truly slipped by.
                     But I am so thankful to God for it. And I'm thankful to God for such a friend!

                         Jessie, I can't begin to describe how much fun I had with you.
      It's crazy that we've only been friends for a couple of years, and yet we're like sisters.
    Thank-you for making me laugh, and encouraging me. Thank-you for being one amazing friend.  You're beautiful inside and out, dearie. I love you! Let's get together again sooner than later,
       ok?