Christmas

was great :) I can't believe it's over and we have another 364 days left until Christmas 2009. As relieved as I am that it's over because of the complete chaos that ensues by everyone, I'm a little sad everything will go back to normal. People will stop doing kind things for each other just because... or there will be less of it. Families will go months without seeing each other. Congregations won't see some people in church until at least Easter. Kind of depressing.

We went to the Candlelight service on Christmas Eve and it was so soothing to me. Singing 'Silent Night' with our candles lit and the rest of the church dark.. there's just something about it that gives me chills. I hope everyone there has the same feeling.

I am so very blessed.

I'll tell you what... I don't know what I've done to deserve my life but I am so grateful. I know I don't always show it or feel it. But when it comes down to it, I am extremely blessed. I have wonderful friends, a stable loving family, a job, a home, a car, a paycheck. I have love. And that in itself is more than some can unfortunately say. :-( It just amazes me more and more each day how blessed I truly am. And I don't think I thank God enough for it.

Yay for tomorrow!

I get to meet a friend I've been talking to for 3 years from Seattle! She is coming here on business for her clip business and we're meeting for bagels tomorrow morning. I am so excited! It should be a blast. Hopefully I won't get lost or offend her Jewish family.

I guess I'm not tolerable.

I do NOT understand how some people live life without believing in God. Honestly, everyone always says 'Everyone's different and if we were all the same, we'd be boring' but I think I'd like it if everyone were the same. People would be treated equally because there would be no differences. I can respect ones beliefs and I'm not going to tell them they're "going to hell" but seriously people. How one can say "I do not believe in God and my life is just grand" makes me want to cry. No, I am not one of those "in your face" Christians where I'm going to preach to you the Word of God and make sure to tell you that if you do not believe or live the way God wants you to, you're going to hell. But I am just in awe. I guess tolerable is the only thing I can be. And keep my mouth shut.

You know I also often wonder if, when someone says "I will say a prayer for you", if they actually do it. I'll admit I've forgotten sometimes but I always try to say a prayer right as someone asks for it. Because that is important to not only the person asking, but to me as well. If someone doesn't believe in God, I don't want them praying for me. I want someone to pray to the God I believe in... the ONLY God. Is "I will say a prayer for you" just something to say now? Just so people will leave you alone? Loss of words? I've become so negative lately about this world and some of the people living in it. It makes me sad. Those who don't know God or aren't sure.... what are you WAITING for?!

And when someone is typing God... it should be capitalized as a sign of respect. It is a proper name. It is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves when people type out 'god'. Ugh!

That is all.

Judgment

There are many things I need to remember. Obviously I am not perfect and I'm going to make mistakes but the more I go through things in life, the more I realize how judgmental people (myself included) truly are. Whether it's on purpose and accidental, it's becoming so prevelant and it's sad.

For example, I judge a lot when I'm at work. It's something about some people that really get me... like "My baby's diaper needs to be changed". Ummm, ok? So do it! Instead of thinking "Gee, maybe they have never changed a diaper in their life and need some help?" I read something in a newsletter at work about having empathy and patience with others that surround us. Instead of flipping someone off that cuts you off on the highway, have sympathy for them for maybe they're on their way to see a dying relative and they're afraid they may not make it in time. Or maybe they're late to work for the third time this week because their son or daughter is sick with a bad cold but he or she cannot afford to take any sick days and since it's his/her third day, being late would equal termination. And he/she simply cannot go on without that job. They have a family to feed.

Now, I realize most situations aren't like the ones above but more than likely, that person is in a hurry somewhere. And sure, that person may also just enjoy being stupid and idiotic on the road. Have pity on them as well. They'll hopefully come to their senses before it's too late.

Or you know what? Just a simple smile to someone. I try and smile to everyone I come across, mostly because it'd be weird to give them a straight face. ;-) But perhaps that smile is the only smile that person is seeing in their life. And maybe your smile may have more of an affect on them than you would ever know. So let's all try and keep our judgments to a minimum and think before we think ;-) Because you just never know. Life goes by too fast. Embrace the things you have, the people you love and the lives you share. Because you will never live today again.

Note to self:

Remember this moment when I am married.... do not ask my husband to do home improvement projects after he comes home from work and then joke about it. As if he wants to be doing it. He'd probably be cursing me out in his head (if not outloud). I do not want that. :)

The awe that is snow.

I was totally in the 'snow' mood yesterday. It was funny that our first 'real snow' (that actually stuck and qualified for the snow blower to be powered up) happened on Dec 1st. Not the official 'official' start of winter but December, to me, seems like the start of winter. Anyway, I had a shirt to return at Eddie Bauer so I had to drive past this forest preserve. I turned in, had my Christmas music on and it was just awesome. They're not 'photographer-awesome' pictures but they are pretty, nonetheless. :)