Christmas & Birthday Recap

So I am now officially 26 years old! Eeek! That number puts on the pressure. My mom says it is because it is one year closer to 30. I think she is right. I feel the pressure to START my life....does that make sense? I am 26 with a marriage in a rebuilding stage, no house, no children, a new career, little savings, and a car that was a gift. I feel extremely blessed to be this age and have no debt but in that same sense I feel like I cheated the system. Don't most people my age have school debt or car debt or house debt? My friends and acquaitances are starting families and I am just trying my best to rebuild mine. At times I feel slighted because this place is NOT where I thought I would be. However THIS place is the best place I have been in so far. My life is focused on God and on being the best example of Christ that I can be. Of course I want the house and the children and the 'dream' but in real life those things don't come without strings or sacrifices so if I have to spend a year or so refocusing my life on what is important then I can wait. Our God is so amazing and it baffles me to know that on the day that I said 'I do', my God knew the struggles I was going to face and the challenges and the broken heart that was headed my way. Thankfully God doesn't reveal things before their time because I don't know if I would have stood up in front of that church at 22 years old and said forever to the last 3 and half years that have just passed. God is good and although these times have been tough and some days I wasn't able to even fake a smile, He has brought me through it. I heard a pastor say once that when God allows a turbulent time in one of His children's lives that He can choose one of two paths for you. The first is to deliver you from that trouble and to use that time to bring Him glory through your healing. The second is that God may not bring healing to that time but He may use your suffering to bring glory to Him in a way that doesn' seem possible. This option makes me think of Kay Yow. She suffered for almost 2 decades with breast cancer and although in the end, God did not choose to heal her, He used that situation and that trouble to touch so many lives through that woman. It's amazing when you think about it.

Okay, I think I got off track. This was supposed to be about my birthday and Christmas. My birthday was great. Josh took me to PF Changs for dinner. It was yummy and we had a good time. The next night my Bible Fellowship class (all ladies) went back to PF Changs to celebrate my birthday and another lady's birthday. We had a blast. My family also came up on saturday to spend the day with me. It was good to not have to drive to see them and for them to come see me. All in all, a great birthday!

Christmas was great too. It was different year being in mom and dad's new house and just being by myself. Thankfully I didn't have much time alone to sit and dwell on being alone on Christmas. I felt loved and I got lots of great stuff. Here are some pictures:

Both grandfathers and piles of presents

Cute Jenna!

New Coat and scarf!

Best cutting board ever

Christmas morning- No jokes about the robe. It's comfy and I love it.

Pops

Looking in the stockings

Zoe playing with her new toy.

Old fashioned shoe box gift

Jenna with Sasha on Christmas Day

I don't have pictures from my birthday or I would post them. I am praying for good things this year and so far so good. Zoe is bored by me being at the computer for so long so I am signing off. Good night!

I'll leave you with another one of favorite songs currently. It is from Hillsong Church and someone made a video for it on youtube. Here is the link. Turn up the volume, get on your knees and WORSHIP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdq9Q8wJdjc

Love them like Jesus

So I obviously have not blogged in quite some time but I have often thought of blogging. Many times I will sit down at my desk to do my billing or check email and within minutes Zoe is at my feet whining. The dog hates it when I am at the desk. I guess because my back is to her or I am not paying attention to her. Anyway, it makes answering emails, doing billing, and obviously BLOGGING a challenge. For now she is curled on the love seat behind me content to watch me type. We'll see how long that lasts. For some weeks I have been thinking about how much I have been through the last few months of my life and how WONDERFUL my parents have been through the whole thing. Financially, Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually....just every way they have supported me without question and been there for whatever I needed. So in their honor this blog is a public thank you for being wonderful parents. So many kids I see today don't have a support system like I do and I fear for their futures. I am so blessed to have been born into the family that I was and to have parents that care about my well being, especially when times are tough.

Mom & Dad- I am forever indebted to you for all of the tears that were cried, bills that were paid, prayers that were offered, furniture that was moved, and hugs that were shared. I wouldn't be the woman I am today and have the faith and trust in my Heavenly Father if it weren't for the strong and gentle guidance of you both. Thank you for everything.

Every time I hear this song on the radio it makes me think of how my parents "loved me like Jesus" during the most difficult time in my life thus far.

Casting Crowns sings this song "Love them like Jesus" and although not all of the song applies to me, it reminds me of how giving and loving my parents were. Here are the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3UI--v_xY

Love Them Like Jesus

Written by Mark Hall / Music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

This song is a sequel - an answer to the questions posed in "Here I Go Again". When I fear what to say, I've taken my eyes off Jesus. He will restore. He will rebuild. He will answer the questions. My place is just being there, loving them, and pointing them to the Father.
Matthew 11:28-29 / I Corinthians 3:7
Isaiah 55:10-11 / 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
2 Corinthians 12:9 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18
Hebrews 4:14-16 / Matthew 11:28

Lyrics
The love of her life is drifting away
They're losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart (I change this verse to 'a husbandless home, a wife's broken heart)

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray
As the little one slips away

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You're trying to make sense of it all
They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They're looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus

So Mom, I am sure you are balling by now but this is a thank you that was long overdue. I love you both so much!
I would remiss if I didn't also thank my grandparents. They are immeasurably wonderful people and were also understanding and faithful during this time. I love you too!

So enough mushy stuff for now. Hope this finds you all well!