December 31-Happy Almost New Year! I am eagerly expecting a New Year! 2007 was tough on our family in many ways, and I am praying the New year will bring new opportunties, understandings, and breakthroughs in our life. That being said, Mark and I settled in to watch the "Jesus Camp" documentary last night on A & E. I had been hesitant to watch this documentary in the past, but decided I wanted to know how my faith was being portrayed in mainstream media. "Jesus Camp" was certainly educational although not truly fair and balanced in many ways. Mark and I are Pentecostals and "Evangelicals". We believe Jesus Christ is the only true way to heaven, and we believe strongly in teaching our children the truth. Our children attend christian schools, and we thank God daily that we live in a country that gives us this option. My complaints with "Jesus Camp" is they chose to show one group of Pentecostals and one group of people that perhaps are not entirely reflective of Pentecostals as a whole. For example, my children do not wear their hair in a mullets, Mark and I have regular jobs (I teach in the public school system), and we live very normal lives. We have taught our children that the best way to lead others to Christ is through their examples of love and joy in their lives. We even understand our children will one day most likely question what we have taught them, and we feel our job is to equip our children with the knowledge of the Bible that will always, eventually lead them back to the truth. Free will is the mainstay of our faith. Belief in Christ is a decision our children will all have to individually make one day. Many of the families in "Jesus Camp" seemed to have shut themselves off from the world, and my assertion is that if you only associate with Christians, and you seem so judgemental to everyone else, how will you ever win the lost? In my opinion, we have turned ourselves into fishers of men in a bathtub, rather than in the sea of the world. I have non-believing friends. They talk to me about why they don't believe in God, and I tell them why I do. Then, we eat lunch together as friends. I pray for them, and when the opportunities to share my faith arise, I do in a loving and sincere way. If I went to lunch everyday armed to evangelize to them, I would soon have no one to eat lunch with, and would have lost all opportunity to share my faith with them at a future time. The Holy Spirit is a gentlemen. He only comes when someone is ready and willing. We as Christians should be the same. As far as our place in government, the Bible tells us to hold no allegiance to Caesar. But, yes we live in the world, and we have to right in a democracy to elect leaders who reflect what we hold as good and right. Abortion is the dirty secret of our nation, and as Christians who respect ALL LIFE, we must fight to end this barbaic practice. People will fight for the rights of weasels, dogs, cats, ferrets, but seem complacent about the unborn who are killed on a daily basis. When a nation loses respect for the weakest among us, all life begins to be disregarded.
December 30, 2007-Ninteno Wii Crazy at my house! For Christmas, my parents gifted my children with a Nintendo Wii. There was a crazy search to find the elusive Nintendo Wii, and we were finally able to procure one from Amazon.com. I just finished boxing with my son and husband, and I have to tell you, it is a workout. I was teasing my husband because he was breathing heavily after a round of boxing, so he dared me to try it. I had to eat my words! I have been to aerobic classes less tiring. So, now I am hooked on the Wii. Now, to buy additional nunchucks and remotes so we can all play together. The Nintendo Wii will be my new workout regimen! LOL I wonder if I can take it off my medical flex spending as a weight loss product!
December 28,2007- I was speaking with my best friend last night about the power of intention. I have committed myself to being more aware of people's intentions in the New Year. In the past, when well meaning, loving people in my life offerred advice that did not line up with my current agenda, I would get very angry and take the attitude that it was my life, and how dare they "judge me" or tell me how to live my life. As I age (sometimes not very gracefully), I am beginning to see the immaturity of that attitude. This year, I will commit to resolve when a relative or close friend, someone I know loves me and only wants the best for me, gives me advice or caution, I will take the time to listen to their words, and really reflect on them. Even if I choose not to take the advice, I will do my best to remember the spirit the advice was given in, one of love and concern. The Bible tells us there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Even God told us we need to be willing to listen to others and learn from other's hard earned experience.
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December 26, 2007-Christmas 2007 is a wrap! I am looking forward to the New Year and all of the newness and fresh opportunities of a New Year! Any blended family knows holidays are particularly difficult. Children are shuffled from home to home, bio-parents are left with feelings of emptiness when their bio kids go to have Christmas with the other parent, step-parents are left to comfort their spouses while fighting the feeling of being a second class citizen because you feel you aren't enough for your spouse, and children born from the bio parent and step parents are left to miss their half siblings. In the midst of all of these feelings, children of divorce are made aware once again that their parents are no longer together and for many children it brings back the feelings of loss and rejection all over again. This year was our year for my step-daughters to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning in our home. Although we love having them on Christmas morning, it is heartbreaking when they have to leave by noon on Christmas day. Our younger children who live full time in our home (seven year old boy and almost 2 year old daughter) miss them so much. The house is achingly quiet and you are desperate for the noise of all of the children again. It is particularly bittersweet this year as my oldest step-daughter is a senior in high school and is becoming more and more independent. Next year, a court ruling won't decide where she spends Christmas, she will. Was this our last Christmas as a complete family? It is hard to tell. I am working hard at remembering the reason for the season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The one who came to bring us peace and assurance. This is a peace and rest we all need desperately while attempting to navigate painful feelings and re-constructing our pictures of what our family is and will be. I hope you enjoy some pictures of our family celebrating Christmas 2007!
