Christmas is coming!

Christmas is less than two weeks away. Thirteen daysss, people!

But this month has a couple of other exciting things happening too...

1.) Caleb is coming hommmme! We found out last week that Caleb gets to have leave from December 23 until December 27. Only 96 hours but I am already so thankful for those hours since he wasn't allowed to take leave at Thanksgiving. Yeaaahhhh! Can't wait to see him!

2.) Baby Tanner #2 is scheduled to arrive soon! Jessie is due on December 27th but I honestly think (and hope!) it will be before then. I am so excited to meet this little one... hip, hip, hooray!

3.) I am in the midst of preparing for my trip to Haiti. While my trip isn't in December, it is not far behind and definitely on my mind alot right now. There are many things going on in Haiti right now and I'm praying that the Lord's will be done in all. I'm so thankful I have the privilege to serve the sweet children of this country!

So that is what's going on in my world... what about you?

sing over me

I heard this song at church Sunday morning and have found so much peace and encouragement through its words. May we all find peace and rest in Him!

I live in the wonder of Your love
You rise like the sun in my heart
Even when the night draws near to me
There You are

I will wade in the water of mercy
I will walk in the light of Your will
Whatever should come against me
Teach me to be still
As you

Sing over me
Draw me close to rest in Your peace
Sing over me
Oh, sing

Sing of Your unending faithfulness
That knows no doubt or fear
In the face of all that I don't know yet
Remind me of who You are

You are mighty
You will save
Rejoice over me with singing
You will quiet
By Your love
Glory over me with singing

I like pictures. Give me a book and chances are I'm going to flip to the middle to see if it has photos from a persons life. Well on Sunday night as I was leaving Bible study (which happens to be in the same room as my Dad's church library), a picture of an old woman caught my eye .

While it wasn't this is exact picture, the face was the same and I wondered who this woman was. I decided to borrow the book. (By the way, Dad, if you are reading this, I borrowed your book=) As I turned over to the front cover, I recognized the name Corrie Ten Boom but honestly, had never taken the time to find out who this woman was or what she was known for. Tonight as I began reading the book, I cannot tell how many times I had to stop and really digest the depth of the words she wrote. I can tell it's going to challenge me and help me to remember to rest solely in Him.

So glad this woman's picture caught my eye and I picked this one up off the shelf...

truly thankful

As we were singing songs of thanksgiving and praise today at church, I thought to myself, I really do have so much to be thankful for. I have an incredible family, I have a job that I love, I have friends that make me laugh and encourage me, and really, everything that has happened to me in life has been for good.

And as I stood there thinking about this, I felt like I was missing the point. While I certainly think it is good to be thankful and praise God for what He provided, I was missing the whole point of the thankfulness we were singing about. Yes, Jesus has blessed me. But, what about people whose lives have not gone according to plan? What about people that have lost and gone through difficult times? Are they not supposed to be thankful?

And then I realized, regardless of what I have, it is only in addition to what God did for me 2,000 years ago and that was sending His Son to be a sacrifice for me. A sacrifice that would make a way to my Heavenly Father. My thankfulness cannot and should not be based on the overflow of his generosity. He is enough.

"Jesus is all satisfying. God is enough. He is Good. He will take care of us. He will satisfy us. He will get us through this. He is our treasure. Whom have I in heaven, but you and on earth there is nothing that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail, but you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. God is most glorfied in you, when we are most satisfied in Him." -John Piper

Enough... that is all I need.

the wonder of the weekend

there are very few weeks that I beg for the weekend. usually, Friday sneaks its way into my schedule before I even have time to think about complaining about how the weekend can't get here soon enough.

that was until this week... a very productive week – but also a loooong week.

so here's to the weekend and me JUMPING for joy at the thought of a lazy Saturday! hoooray!

cheers!

too good to be true

I am a very picky about shoes. VERY. Especially boots.

And not only am I very picky, but I also hate spending lots of money on things.

Well after google-ing all the keywords for what I wanted in a boot, I finally found a pair of boots that I L-O-V-E.

Love, love, love.

And wouldn't you know. They are $348.

Blast.

time keeps on slipping, into the future...

How does a month go by so fast?

I've experienced alot of life these past 30 days. And through life, like always, God has been faithful. So, so faithful.

He has been teaching and stretching me in so many different areas and not just through His word, but through experiences, other people, tests and life. Hopefully, I will come through it all stronger, wiser and more able to serve Him.