Christmas Time is Here!

It's mid-December, and it's cold outside. Hot Cocoa is a must when you're sitting by the tree, watching a movie with a warm, cozy blanket, next to your little brothers and sisters. I find myself singing Christmas songs often, and when I think about Christmas and the certain feeling this time of year brings to me, I am filled with happiness. It truly is the "most wonderful time of the year". Even with the stress of buying presents for everyone, attending all the Christmas parties preparing the big Christmas dinner, everyone still finds time to relax and enjoy the holiday season. I am so thankful for that!

Sadly, even though many take time to rest and spend time with their family, they aren't celebrating what Christmas is really about. We've talked about that every year, but this year I got a different take on it. I thought about it in a new way, and it impacted me a lot. Instead of just knowing that a lot of people in this world, and even people that I know, love, and are maybe even celebrating Christmas with, don't understand or appreciate what the holiday really signifies, and just accepting it, I should TELL THEM WHAT THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON! I should tell them what they don't understand, and how the world has twisted Christmas to be something different than what it should be. Not just knowing that they don't get it, and know that I do, so I'm all right. I should be telling them that they're missing out on the joy of celebrating and truly understanding what Jesus' birth means! I've been thinking about that a lot this holiday season, and I want to do something about it! As I try to not just know that I am one of the few that understands the true meaning of Christmas, I encourage you to think about this as you celebrate Christmas this year as well.

Another reason I love Christmas time is spending time with the people I love and care about most. Talking to my little brother Christian about the Christmas story, and seeing that he understands what the story means. The joy and excitement he gets when he learns something new about the story that he didn't know before, is so cool. Hearing him tell the story is adorable, too.

It has been so fun to get together with friends and spend time with each other, too. The youth group had a big Game night, where we all got together and played board games, ate cookies, and watched the Survivor finale. It was so much fun!

Four of my closest girl friends and I also got together and exchanged Christmas gifts. The five of us hadn't been able to all hang out toegether in a long time, so that was really great.

We get to do so many fun things at Christmas time.... exchange gifts, decorate the christmas tree, listen to fun music, make yummy Christmas cookies, spend time with family....but most importantly, reflect on the incredible, life changing story found in Luke chapter 2.

Merry Christmas!

Weekend at the Cabin with Friends

Last weekend six of my close friends, my brother, my mom and I, along with all of our duffle bags, loaded in our Suburban and headed up to my grandparents Cabin in the mountains. (see previous post)

We spent an incredibly fun weekend together up in the snow, riding snowmobiles, sledding and snowboarding, playing games, and watching movies in the warm cozy cabin. It was a great relaxing time for all of us to get away from the stresses of school and our busy lives, to enjoy a calm, peaceful weekend together. During the day it was only about 15 degrees...let's just say that we had several layers, and I mean several, before we stepped outside. Except for one time about one in the morning when I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt... I decided to step outside to watch the snow falling on the deck for a minute...Jarren thought it would be funny to lock me outside. That was fun.

I want to thank my Grandparents for letting eight crazy teenagers stay at their cabin for four days. I LOVE YOU! And Thank you Mom and Grandma for making us all of that delicious food. You guys are the best!

To all my friends that went up there with me, Jarren, Justin, Jack, Brent, Hannah, CoCo, and Melody. I love you guys more than you could ever imagine! Spending time with you guys is always fun. We have created memories that I will cherish forever.