O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Every year we always get a real tree for our christmas tree...we spend a nite going and picking out that perfect tree and bringing it home and then decorating it as a family over the next few days. Well this year we didn't decorate it as a family...my mom put on the lights and I put on the ornaments. It was kinda boring, and different. but while i was unpacking the numerous boxes upon boxes of ornaments--homemade, glass, balls, intricate designed, etc.--the Lord spoke to me.
Last wednesday night at youth, P. Jesse spoke on Vision and the steps it takes to get there and get closer to Jesus. He used a ladder to represent the different steps. The first step was Desire. Then, Deciding. Then Seeing. Then Believing. Then Obedience. and the closer you get to the top, the less freedom you have, the closer you are to Jesus, and the more you can see. We are all on different levels of this...some are stuck on desire, some on each one, and the revolutionaries who see the vision, GOD's vision, are closest to Jesus--on the obedience level--where I am striving to be.
So, how does this pertain to christmas trees? Well, just looking at the trees, there are more branches down lower on the tree and less and less as you climb up it. and the branches closest to the top are stronger and more firm. When hanging ornaments on your tree, you don't put the most special ornaments on the bottom branches do you? you don't want a little brother, sister, niece, nephew, cousin, etc. to bump into the tree and make your precious ornaments fall and shatter. I put the prettiest ornaments and the ones that are my favorite on the upper half for everyone to see and those are the ones that wont get knocked down.
Well, Jesus is like the angel or star on top of the tree. We are the branches. And each branch is at its own level, just like with the ladder. Those on the bottom portion are not as strong and can fall off easier than the strong ones on the top. And God won't give those "bottom branches" the heaviest "ornaments" or visions, mentorees, etc. because He knows they cannot handle them...they will break and fall of the trunk (the Vine). He gives the bigger, heavier burdens or visions to those branches who are closer to the top, to the Bright and Morning Star.
As the branches get higher, they get pruned or shaped. You have things torn from you that you think you may need, but they are really just holding you down.

But, unlike my Christmas tree, once you latch onto God and grow with the tree, it is so deeply rooted- so steady- that it will never fall. Funny story, a few days after I had finished the ornaments, our christmas tree toppled over! not fun, but thankfully most of the ornaments were salvaged. ;)
--BUT THE LORD STANDS FIRM FOREVER--
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

~It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~

So i couldnt think of a good title for this post, but oh well. Im bored at school supposed to be studying for finals but whatevs. lol.

This weekend went by in a hurry, but was probably one of the best ones i've had in a looong time!!!

Friday nite was family nite! We delivered a basket to the people whose yard I had my car crash in, delivered our "Christmas Jar" (that's a whole other post that I dont wanna go into right now), picked out our Christmas tree, and went to dinner @ Famous Daves. very very fun ;)

Saturday I had a ton of errands to run in the AM plus I got my hair done!! woo woot! it's dark brown with shorter bangs and shaggy layers (LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!) and I got it for free because I won this $500 gift certificate for T'eez hair salon. I'll post pics soon (once I get my digi camera fixed :/) Saturday evening I went to a Christmas party which was fun hangin out with other leaders at youth group.

Sunday I went to church for 1st service. My brother, Peter, sang one song in it cuz it was our Christmas musical. OH MY GOSH he did an amazing job (and everyone else thought so too!) he sang go tell it on the mountain and totally belted it out dude. it was awesome {I was a very proud sister ;)} then I worked in the nursery with the itty-bitty babies 2nd service. I love that! Then my brother turned 16 today so we went out for brunch yesterday to celebrate. I came home and rushed around the house prepping for another christmas party cuz it was @ my house last nite! It was my cell group and our brother cell group (cuz mine's all girls). It was pretty much amazing! lol. but very fun. Then I had to clean up and fell into bed.

Today I'm exhausted. Right in time for finals week! yay! (NOT) but I know that the Lord will be my strength!

One more addition to this post. I was listening to my iTunes on my computer and downloaded this song by Addison Road called What Do I Know of Holy.


I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life it's name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving was very fun this year, because we had it at our house! There were 20 extra people who joined us, including my mom's sister Mary and her husband and 4 kids, my mom's brother Luke and his wife, my mom's aunts- Maija and Ilga and Ilga's husband and two of her three kids-, both sets of grandparents, my great grandmother (Mamu), and our new friends, Chad and "Rosie" (I will come back to that story later).



So we had a lot of people at our house, and my mom, as always, decorated so beautifully! I love the color palette and it was so much fun having almost everyone around the same table!

Because we were having so many people, my mom and dad made two turkeys: my mom roasted one in the oven and my dad grilled one. The grill one was delicious! He soaked it in this brine overnight and then cooked it on the grill.

The table settings were so creative. My mom is amazing!

Sophie was EXTREMELY fluffy that day and needed to be trimmed, but she had a lot of fun playing with Mary's kids!

So, we had two nonfamily members at our house this Thanksgiving... Chad and Elizabeth. Here's the story: My mom was at Sam's Club getting a diet coke from the fountain drink machine up front. It wasn't working, and a man tells the employee manning the stand. It is fixed and the man let my mom get her drink first. They start talking, and he tells her his name is Chad and he and his girlfriend are in Omaha because he was in construction and was sent here for a project. When they got here, though, they went to the office and there was a sign on the door saying it had been cancelled. So they are trying to find a way to get back home (Seattle area). Right now they are camping out in a tent behind Wal-mart with their supposedly stolen stove from Sams (my mom saw him unwrapping it and putting it into his backpack), in the cold. So they exchanged good-byes and my mom's heart went out for Chad and his girlfriend. So she called my dad and asked him if she could invite them to Thanksgiving. He said yes, so she gave Chad my dad's # and that was that.

We never got the name of Chad's girlfriend before Thanksgiving, so my dad gave her the nickname "Rosie". Unfortunately, her name wasn't Rosie...err, it wasn't unfortunately, but that would've been halarious if it was! (It was Elizabeth).

I thought this was a cool view. The black "frame" in the foreground is two slats on one of the chairs at the table. It kind of looks like a child's view.

This was one of my favorite Thanksgivings. I loved it because of what I have said above and because I was able to be in the kitchen a lot more. In previous years, with family gatherings at our house, I would usually make some cookies and help mom with the little household chores that needed to get done. This year, on the other hand, I cooked a lot! I did the mashed potatoes, cut up the sweet potatoes, made the cardamom carrots, made a blueberry pie, cut the bread, and more. I had so much fun doing that because I love to cook!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, and full of friends, family, and food!

I also loved taking pictures of the decor this year, though I don't have many people in them! hopefully I'll get more of those in here later.

Autumnness

I must apologize for not getting these up here sooner, but life has been busy! and though winter has well approached Omaha, I love autumn, and so here are a few photos I've taken this fall.

Yes, I know I am standing in front of one of the buildings at UNO, but I really enjoyed the glimpse of God's beauty while walking to class one morning.

Immediately when I saw a rose in the rain, The Sound of Music came to mind... "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." hahaha

I love my Sophie!! I thought this was a cool profile shot ;). She was a little hesitant to go out in the rain. hmm, kind of like us...we are hesitant to enter into our problems...but when we do, God shows us the beauty, the "silver lining". Cuz "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's learning how to dance in the rain!"

"We are a city, shining on the hill. We are a light in the darkness of this world. We are a city, shining on the hill, and we will not be moved, not be moved."

(Thanksgiving pics to come)