Merry Christmas / Happy New Year

So, I’m not dead. I realize I haven’t posted in over a month, which is entirely my fault because I’ve had all of break to post again. Sorry. Like, geez, you’d think I could freaking motivate myself to use the computer for something other than the Sims 3 and Facebook. It has also come to my attention that I promised to post right after Thanksgiving about my Thanksgiving, but now I’m thinking that’s way overdue and you probably all don’t really care at this point.

Anyway.
First of all, I'd like to wish you all a Merry Late Christmas and a wonderful New Year ahead of you. I hope that all of you enjoyed your time with family and friends as you remembered the birth of the Christ and what Emmanuel promised to do for his people, and for all the world. In some ways, my holiday wish isn't late at all - we can remember the day the Savior of the world was sent any time or any hour. "Glory to God in the Highest! And on earth, peace to all men on whom His favor rests."

The highlights of the last month included snowboarding with a handful of kids from my school, seeing a Family Force 5 and Forever The Sickest Kids concert, and our drummer, Brice, ’s Christmas party at his house. (Sorry, wasn't entirely sure how to punctuate that.) Then after I got off school on December 13th, I was free to do whatever I wanted with myself for three whole weeks. The problem with that? I had no plans whatsoever for the first and last week. And, you know, that could kind of be a problem, considering I usually get pretty depressed when I’m all alone by myself. Week One sucked.

The second week of my break, my family and I had made plans to go volunteer over Christmas at InterVarsity’s Bear Trap Ranch to help serve a group of international students for the International House Party. My family got our own room to stay in, which was complete with a loft and several mattresses to sleep upon. We spent the week mainly cooking different international dishes in gigantic serving sizes, sloshing kimchi out of a big glass jar into a bowl (smelled disgusting), and quartering large sheets of sea weed. It was a lot of work, and I didn’t enjoy most of it, but I gained the satisfaction of listening in one night while the students shared what they had learned about God from the camp. Now I think I would even do it again just considering the spiritual growth that happened there. It was great to be part of something so huge!

(Enter comic relief, stage right:) Here's something funny that happened the day before we left for Bear Trap was opening presents a week early: Last year, to mask the fact I had gotten my brother a concert shirt for Christmas, I duct-taped two bricks to the inside of the box and filled it with packing peanuts, placing the shirt in the middle. This year, my brother did the exact same thing to me. He got the biggest dang box he could possibly find and put an entire cinder block inside of it. What did he get me? A capo and an ostrich Beanie Baby. For Kristen's, he placed the gift in a box, and then wrapped it up in about six other boxes, duct-tape everywhere. Glad to know he had fun doing it, right?

My sister and I decided that we would choose our own gifts for each other so that we spent about the same amount of money on one another. This year, I got her the first season of Glee, and she got me the Sims 3. And that totally rhymed. My life is such an epic.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with both of my best buds this Christmas break. The first week, Ashley spend the night while my sister was having her ugly Christmas sweater party. We played Pictionary Man with my mom and Daniel, jammed a bit with my guitar, made candy houses, and were able to catch up for the first time in what seems like months. I can't believe the last time we had a sleepover was during the summer, which says something: Ashley needs to come to my school!



The day before New Years Eve, I was also able to spend the night at Rachel’s house for the first time ever. Man, it was a blast. We even stayed up until five because we didn’t factor girl talk into our bucket list. She and I watched some Glee and a Will Ferrel movie, played some Sims 3, Facebooked, dressed up as Lady Gaga and Kesha to shoot a twenty minute video, and had a great time. Granted, it felt a little juvenile, but who cares? A kid has to be a kid every once in a while. Plus, I freaking love Rachel.

And finally, New Years Eve came. There was no hint of sadness for me in seeing 2010 leave. I’m glad it’s over. The traumas of the first eight months will never my mind, but now I can see this new year ahead of me and think of nothing but hope. I have new friends, a new school, people in my life who genuinely care about me and my well-being. I know that this year will not be perfect, but I don’t think considering my circumstances, it could be any worse than last year.
I actually just finished reading through the Bible last night. Through watching the Israelites and how God continuously punishes them for what they’ve done wrong, but accepts them right back just as they were was encouraging. Reading Jesus’ teachings gave me hope, told me I am loved, and reminded me that no matter what happens to me, God will always love me. He’s taught me that he wants me to trust him because he is the one friend who will never let me down. He’s taught me that there’s a reason for everything that happens, whether good or bad, and that none of it is by accident or chance. God holds the world in his hands, and he sees each and every one of us. He collects my tears in a bottle and walks me through all of my hardships as they come.
Honestly, if God hadn’t been right there beside me throughout 2010, I may not have lived to see a 2011. So because I cannot find the words to describe my gratitude to Him, all I can do is try and honor him with everything I have in me. Let every breath that I take praise the Lord!


Happy New Year.