Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas To All....

It is hard to believe that Christmas is only three days away!  Every year is the same for me.  One or two days before Christmas I am running around the city like a mad man trying to get those last minute gifts bought.  I always say I will do better next year, but I never do.  I think I actually like the craziness of it and having to fight with all the other last minute shoppers to find that perfect gift!  Tis the season!

I wanted to take a minute and just say "thank-you" to everyone who has read my blog over the past year.  Whether is was only once or if you have kept up with me throughout the year, I really appreciate it!  I love doing this and am already working on ways to improve it for next year.  In January, the blog will have a new look and I also promise to have a new picture of myself as well - I am SO tired of seeing the one now (sepia is so last year) and I am sure you are too.  My intention for the blog is to simply encourage you in your journey as I share what is going on in mine.  My plan next week is to take some time off from writing and work on revamping it so that it has a fresh, new look for the new year!  I am extremely grateful for all who read it and give such encouragement to me - and even those who give "constructive criticism" as well. 

I wanted to end this post with a couple of things.  One is the Christmas Story.  No, not the movie about the Red Rider BB Gun - although that movie is a classic.  The original Christmas story that reminds us all of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  Afterwards, I included a video from YouTube that you may have seen before.  It shows the Christmas story if it happened in today's culture with our connection with social media.  I found it very creative and wanted to share it with you as well. 

The Christmas Story -

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancĂ©e, who was now obviously pregnant.
 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

A Social Network Christmas -




I hope that all of you have a very Merry Christmas and that the New Year brings joy, hope, and a fresh start to a deeper, more fulfilled life!  See you in January!!


Today, I am grateful for:  1.  Christmas - the chance to be with family and friends  2.  The gift of God's Son to give us hope  3.  All of life's lessons over the past year  4.  Excitement of a new year and a fresh start  5.  Everyone who has read this blog over the past year

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Remembering a Miracle....

Have you ever witnessed something so amazing that it was simply hard to explain?  Have you ever been a part of a situation that at the time seemed almost hopeless and then the answer you hoped for happens and the only way it can be explained is divine intervention? This happened twenty years ago in our family and it continues to be something we celebrate and are extremely grateful for each and every year. 

It was 1991 and my sisters and I were sitting at the table with Mom about to eat dinner.  I am sure that we were all talking about our day but when Dad came and sat down we knew something was wrong.  He had been on the phone and had just found out that our cousin, Amanda, had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  At the time, she was only seven years old and we all just sat there in shock and disbelief that this could be happening to such a little girl.  As Dad prayed, I can remember us crying and wondering what the future would hold.  When these situations happen, they are always horrible, but it seems even more unfair when they happen to a child. 

The tumor did affect Amanda with some physical limitations and the doctors decided that surgery would be the best option to see if it could be removed.  The surgery was planned and we all began to earnestly pray for a miracle.  I remember that as the news spread, we realized that people all over the country were praying for this little girl.  If prayers were visible, I am confident that on December 19, 1991 - the day of Amanda's surgery - it would have been a beautiful sight to see so many voices united and being lifted up to God on Amanda's behalf. 

On the day of the surgery, the doctors told Amanda's parents that they would call the waiting room when the surgery was complete.  There was the chance that when the doctors went into Amanda's brain, that they would not be able to remove the tumor and other options would have to be explored.  After a certain amount of time passed, the phone rang and Amanda's mom answered the phone and the doctors said the surgery was complete.  It had not been long enough and everyone in the waiting room feared the worst.  However, the surgery was a success and the tumor that had been robbing the life of a seven year old was now gone!  We later learned that the doctors were amazed at how easily the tumor was removed.  It was definitely a miracle and we all knew that a divine power was also at work in that operating room that day!

I remember that following Sunday, my dad standing before our church and thanking them for the prayers that were lifted for Amanda.  As quickly as news had spread in the prior months to pray for Amanda, it was now spreading like wildfire that a true miracle had happened!  That was twenty years ago and Amanda is now married and a mom to the most beautiful little one year old, Ella James.  You would never know that she suffered such a traumatic event so early in her journey but her love for life now is evident that she is truly living and not taking any day for granted.  Her mom said it so well on facebook yesterday -

Today is our Miracle Day! On Dec 19, 1991, God spared the life of a little 7 year old girl with a brain tumor. We will never forget to give praise and honor to Him on this day. 20 years have gone by and that little girl that fought for her life, is a wife and Mom with a joy for life that is seen by all those around her. I thank God for allowing us to keep her and for how He continues to bless her. I love you Amanda Stallings Warrington. You are a miracle!

I hope that Amanda's story will inspire and encourage you to make the most of your own life and to continually be grateful for each day - because it is truly a gift! 


Today I am grateful for:  1.  A wonderful weekend with family  2.  My nephew Wylie turning one year old!  3.  Seeing good things happen to other people  4.  Motivations in life  5.  My cousin Amanda and getting to see a miracle happen in her life!



Wednesday, December 14, 2011

What's Your Favorite Christmas Memory?

I have said before that Thanksgiving is quickly becoming my favorite holiday, but the past couple of weeks have reminded me of why Christmas will always be my favorite time of the year!  Yes, it gets hectic.  Yes, it can be stressful.  Yes, it somehow brings out the best and worst in people.  However, Christmas is that time of year when so many memories are made and we relive those each year thereafter.  Whether it is a gift you received, an event that happened, a tradition that was carried on, or just something that helps make Christmas merrier - we all have memories that add to the fullness and depth of this time of year. 

I have lots of Christmas memories that are brought to my mind's surface every year.  As a kid, I remember the year I got an Atari - remember those?  The first gaming system pre-Nintendo days.  Back in the day, we thought it was very high-tech to play games like Pong, Pac-Man, and Pitfall.  I also remember the year I got a lot of He-Man toys.  He-Man, Skeletor, the castles - it was all great until I turned and saw that my younger sister, who was such a tom-boy, also received a He-Man toy from Santa Claus!  How could Santa do such a thing?  I remember the year I woke up to my first keyboard and the year our family got its first computer - very big and bulky but I was so excited! 

More than the gifts, Christmas carries a lot of traditions growing up.  Christmas Eve always included our family gathered around the piano singing Christmas carols.  We all had to perform a solo or duet - which meant Mom and Dad sang O Holy Night together, Cara sang her choice of song - loud and proud, I would wow the audience (my family) by tickling those ivories, and Christy would... well, whatever song she chose to sing was so quiet that we could barely make it out.  We would usually finish the night with a Christmas movie, some snacks and then the big finale.  As my sisters and I were nestled and all snug in our beds, Dad would walk the hall reading Twas the Night Before Christmas.  After we fell asleep, Mom and Dad would open their gifts to each other and the next morning we would wake up early - eager to see what had been marked off of our lists.  The other tradition carried on every Christmas morning was Mom's once-a-year big breakfast cooking! 

As years go by, certain Christmas seasons stand out from the others.  I remember the Christmas programs that we used to put on at my grandparents' house.  There are a lot of grandkids so we each had a part.  I usually held the prestigious role of the narrator and one year I can remember one of my sisters playing the role of the donkey.  I am sure there is a good joke there, but I will just let it go this time.  Since we do not always get snow in Tennessee, most white Christmases stand out as well.  I remember the last Christmas with my dad before he passed away.  Although it was a very hard time, I believe that the truths of Christmas shone even brighter that year because it was not about the gifts, but about being together as family - which are priceless moments that no material possession could ever compare.  Now that there are little ones running around in our family again, Christmas has brought back some of its excitement and magic.  I love watching Martha Ann open her gifts and seeing the excitement on her face.  (Or as in the case last year when she opened my gift of a baby doll that I was told she really wanted - and very quickly made a frowny face and threw it across the room!)  As Wylie gets older, I know that he will be just as excited to rip open the paper and see what Santa brought! 

Christmas brings up many emotions and memories for everyone.  I love reliving the old memories and making new ones.  I hope and pray that the good memories far outweigh any bad and that the best ones are still to come!




Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Random Thoughts....

You know you are getting old when certain words will just not come to mind.  I knew that today's blog would consist of a lot of unrelated thoughts that had been going on in my head - but I could not think of the word to describe that!  Rambling kept coming to my mind.  I knew it started with an R but for two days I could not think of it.  It was only after reading someone else's blog that that I saw random in their post and I finally breathed that sigh of relief that this most important word found its way back into my vocabulary.  So here are some random thoughts about the last few days....

1.  I had a really good weekend enjoying some "me" time.  It has been awhile since I have had the house to myself and Saturday night I decided to make the most of it.  Here are some components that make up a really good Kevin night:  I spent the first part sitting on the couch with just the lights of the Christmas tree on (mesmerizing - to use my word from a previous post), drinking hot chocolate and watching Oprah's lifeclass.  I was one happy guy as I sat hypnotized by the lights, warm from holding my oversized mug of hot cocoa, and inspired by the stories from my girl, Oprah!  Can't you just picture it? 

Afterwards, I decided that I needed my fix of Blue Coast Burrito (a neighborhood favorite) so I walked to the restaurant  - correction, it was 25 degrees outside that night so I RAN to the restaurant to get my favorite chicken burrito filled with all the best ingredients - cheese, pico, lettuce, hot salsa, onions, cilantro, chives, and cucumbers.  I filled my bag with chips and various containers from the salsa bar (pineapple, tomatillo, hot, and mild) and to complete the perfect meal, a Dr. Pepper.  I ran back home which was a sight I'm sure as I held on tight to my bag of goodies, and enjoyed one of my favorite meals - I am sure it would be in the top 5 if I had to choose a last meal.  It was a much needed night of good food, good shows, and good relaxation. 

2.  Sunday was one of the most productive days I have had in a long time!  I did not make it to church (I know - gasp!) but I woke up in one of those - high energy, need to be productive moods.  I decided to start with cleaning and gave my house a "Kevin cleaning" which means EVERYTHING gets cleaned, some things get thrown away, and the result is a very visible difference!  I have also done these types of cleanings at my sisters' houses which they love - but I do tend to throw out stuff that they later ask me where it is.  I put some high energy music on and got to work!  I was dancing and singing and cleaning which is the only way to do it.  I have a lot of fun and I am sure if anyone were to peek in my windows they would have had a good laugh!  After cleaning I got all of the laundry done, all of the dishes washed, and even gave Axel (the dog) a much needed bath.  By the end of the day I about fell out, but the finished product was well worth it!  One of my favorite things to do is sit down and know that my house is completely clean and all chores have been done. 

3.  Lastly, I need to mention that I went back to the gym for the first time in about a month yesterday.  The gym I go to is at my work and recently some of the nice gym workers had been asking where I had been.  I noticed that I had started running the other way when I saw them coming - which gave me a small workout so that was good, right?  I decided to finally go back and my body was definitely telling me that I had not been in awhile.  I found myself looking for the kiddie weights and wondering why I had worked up a sweat so early in the routine!  I know the results I want for my body and in order to get there I have to stay consistent with working out.  I cannot just go once a month and expect a killer body to just appear.  (Let's be honest, I have never had a killer body, but it was at least getting pretty decent before).  I could make this a metaphor for life and I am sure a great blog is in here somewhere but let's just be practical - I am getting older and working out is becoming more of a necessity than just a desire.   

After reading back through this I noticed that maybe there is a reason why the word rambling kept coming to my mind.  This is definitely just me talking, talking, talking - but it is what has been going on in my life and I needed to get it out there.  I hope everyone has a great day and is making the most of the holiday season!


Today I am grateful for:  1.  A really great, productive weekend  2.  Christmas cards I get in the mail - they always make me smile  3.  Lots of laughter today at work  4.  A very encouraging text message from a friend this morning  5.  Finishing a great book today - Extremely Lodd & Incredibly Close

Thursday, December 8, 2011

What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?

http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=4695

The above is a link to an article that I encourage all of you to read.  It describes a creative way that one person used to help others visualize their goals and to see what really matters to them.  It just takes a couple of minutes to read so go ahead and read it now..... seriously, click on the link!

I believe that we all have things that we want to do before we die.  I know I do.  Some of mine are crazy - like sky diving, have one million dollars in the bank, or run through a nude beach (not stay there, just run through it!).  Some are very goal oriented - like having a published book, tracing my family history, or reading the Bible in a year.  Then there are those that hold a lot of meaning to me - like starting Pay It Forward events in Nashville, volunteering with local organizations, or being a dad.  Whatever your list would be - there is a reason for each one and I love it whenever I can mark something off the list!  I believe that these "life lists" help us to get the most out of life and to keep reaching for more. 

Although I do not watch a lot of MTV these days, there was a show that came on called The Buried Life.  It was based on this question of what do you want to do before you die.  Four college guys traveled around the country marking things off of their own lists.  The great thing about this show was that every time they marked something off of their list, they helped someone else mark something off of theirs.  There were great things like reuniting family members, helping others overcome fears, and giving opportunities to others for their dream jobs.  It was fun to see these guys accomplish their own goals but the idea of giving back to others and being used to help others reach their goals makes it even more encouraging.  As a certain someone that I love says many times - it is nice to see good things happen in your own life, but it is even better when you can share it with others!

I hope that we all have the intention of living our lives in a way that it gives hope and light to others.  We must exist in such a way that after we die, that goodness still goes out into the world and continues on after we are gone.  I saw an example of this yesterday that brightened my whole day.  My father passed away seven years ago.  My mom sent me a text yesterday saying that she had met a couple of guys that work for the same company that he did.  When Mom told them about dad, they said that although they never met him they knew exactly who he was and heard about all of the good things that he did while working for that company.  I was so encouraged by this - not surprised because my dad was one of the greatest examples to me of living life with purpose and impacting others - but encouraged to hear how his legacy continues on.  Although some of the things on my list are just "stupid stuff" I do hope that my life is lived in such a way that continues to make a difference long after I am gone. 

Although December causes us to first think of Christmas, it also means that another year is coming to a close and a new beginning is just around the corner.  I already have ideas and goals for 2012 which I will talk about later, but I want to challenge everyone to come up with your list of things that you want to do before you die.  Of course - I am a fan of writing it down because it is a great visual, but even if you do not, it is great to have these goals and work on crossing them off the list.  Come up with some fun things, meaningful things, and those events that would take some hard work to accomplish.  One thing I do know is that as you cross something off your list, it will motivate you to reach for something bigger!  What do you want to do before you die?


Today I am grateful for:  1.  A day off from work  2.  Getting a lot of things done  3.  Some time to relax and watch my shows  4.  Hearing great Christmas music on the radio  5.  Continuing to hear how dad's life makes a difference

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Even The New York Times Agrees With Me....

I found an article from the New York Times that was published for Thanksgiving, but I wanted to share it with everyone today.  It deals with gratitude and how it is a proven fact that it has an effect on us in so many ways.  I hope you enjoy it!

A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day
Thanksgiving may be the holiday from hell for nutritionists, and it produces plenty of war stories for psychiatrists dealing with drunken family meltdowns. But it has recently become the favorite feast of psychologists studying the consequences of giving thanks. Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior toward others, including romantic partners. A new study shows that feeling grateful makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked, which helps explain why so many brothers-in-law survive Thanksgiving without serious injury.
But what if you’re not the grateful sort? I sought guidance from the psychologists who have made gratitude a hot research topic. Here’s their advice for getting into the holiday spirit — or at least getting through dinner Thursday:
Start with “gratitude lite.” That’s the term used by Robert A. Emmons, of the University of California, Davis, for the technique used in his pioneering experiments he conducted along with Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami. They instructed people to keep a journal listing five things for which they felt grateful, like a friend’s generosity, something they’d learned, a sunset they’d enjoyed.
The gratitude journal was brief — just one sentence for each of the five things — and done only once a week, but after two months there were significant effects. Compared with a control group, the people keeping the gratitude journal were more optimistic and felt happier. They reported fewer physical problems and spent more time working out.
Further benefits were observed in a study of polio survivors and other people with neuromuscular problems. The ones who kept a gratitude journal reported feeling happier and more optimistic than those in a control group, and these reports were corroborated by observations from their spouses. These grateful people also fell asleep more quickly at night, slept longer and woke up feeling more refreshed.
“If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, not sheep,” Dr. Emmons advises in “Thanks!” his book on gratitude research.
Don’t confuse gratitude with indebtedness. Sure, you may feel obliged to return a favor, but that’s not gratitude, at least not the way psychologists define it. Indebtedness is more of a negative feeling and doesn’t yield the same benefits as gratitude, which inclines you to be nice to anyone, not just a benefactor.
In an experiment at Northeastern University, Monica Bartlett and David DeSteno sabotaged each participant’s computer and arranged for another student to fix it. Afterward, the students who had been helped were likelier to volunteer to help someone else — a complete stranger — with an unrelated task. Gratitude promoted good karma. And if it works with strangers ....
Try it on your family. No matter how dysfunctional your family, gratitude can still work, says Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside.
“Do one small and unobtrusive thoughtful or generous thing for each member of your family on Thanksgiving,” she advises. “Say thank you for every thoughtful or kind gesture. Express your admiration for someone’s skills or talents — wielding that kitchen knife so masterfully, for example. And truly listen, even when your grandfather is boring you again with the same World War II story.”
Don’t counterattack. If you’re bracing for insults on Thursday, consider a recent experiment at the University of Kentucky. After turning in a piece of writing, some students received praise for it while others got a scathing evaluation: “This is one of the worst essays I’ve ever read!”
Then each student played a computer game against the person who’d done the evaluation. The winner of the game could administer a blast of white noise to the loser. Not surprisingly, the insulted essayists retaliated against their critics by subjecting them to especially loud blasts — much louder than the noise administered by the students who’d gotten positive evaluations.
But there was an exception to this trend among a subgroup of the students: the ones who had been instructed to write essays about things for which they were grateful. After that exercise in counting their blessings, they weren’t bothered by the nasty criticism — or at least they didn’t feel compelled to amp up the noise against their critics.
“Gratitude is more than just feeling good,” says Nathan DeWall, who led the study at Kentucky. “It helps people become less aggressive by enhancing their empathy. “It’s an equal-opportunity emotion. Anyone can experience it and benefit from it, even the most crotchety uncle at the Thanksgiving dinner table.”
Share the feeling. Why does gratitude do so much good? “More than other emotion, gratitude is the emotion of friendship,” Dr. McCullough says. “It is part of a psychological system that causes people to raise their estimates of how much value they hold in the eyes of another person. Gratitude is what happens when someone does something that causes you to realize that you matter more to that person than you thought you did.”
Try a gratitude visit. This exercise, recommended by Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, begins with writing a 300-word letter to someone who changed your life for the better. Be specific about what the person did and how it affected you. Deliver it in person, preferably without telling the person in advance what the visit is about. When you get there, read the whole thing slowly to your benefactor. “You will be happier and less depressed one month from now,” Dr. Seligman guarantees in his book “Flourish.”
Contemplate a higher power. Religious individuals don’t necessarily act with more gratitude in a specific situation, but thinking about religion can cause people to feel and act more gratefully, as demonstrated in experiments by Jo-Ann Tsang and colleagues at Baylor University. Other research shows that praying can increase gratitude.
Go for deep gratitude. Once you’ve learned to count your blessings, Dr. Emmons says, you can think bigger.
“As a culture, we have lost a deep sense of gratefulness about the freedoms we enjoy, a lack of gratitude toward those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, a lack of gratitude for all the material advantages we have,” he says. “The focus of Thanksgiving should be a reflection of how our lives have been made so much more comfortable by the sacrifices of those who have come before us.”
And if that seems too daunting, you can least tell yourself —
Hey, it could always be worse. When your relatives force you to look at photos on their phones, be thankful they no longer have access to a slide projector. When your aunt expounds on politics, rejoice inwardly that she does not hold elected office. Instead of focusing on the dry, tasteless turkey on your plate, be grateful the six-hour roasting process killed any toxic bacteria.
Is that too much of a stretch? When all else fails, remember the Monty Python mantra of the Black Plague victim: “I’m not dead.” It’s all a matter of perspective.

By John Tierney, The New York Times, Published: November 21, 2011. 
 
 
Today I am grateful for:  1.  A productive day at work  2.  The first snowfall today  3.  Receiving a text today sharing how my dad's life still makes a difference 7 years after he passed away  4.  Phone call from my sisters and knowing they are having a fun day  5.  This article as a reminder to be grateful!

Monday, December 5, 2011

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

Yes, it is here!  My absolute favorite time of the year!  The hustle and bustle, the music (bring out Mariah Carey's Christmas CD!), the parties, the lights, the shopping, the church services, and the magic of Christmas Eve.  It is also the time for traffic, pushing and shoving in the stores, stressing over what to buy, maxing out credit cards, and yes - Justin Bieber's overly played Christmas C.D.  (Speaking of the Biebs - did anyone see Justin and Mariah Carey's new Christmas video - awkward!)  There is definitely something about December where everything seems to come alive, the goodness of humanity shines through, and a simple Merry Christmas from a stranger makes your day better. 

I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of Christmas are the lights.  I can turn all the lights off in my living room, lay on the couch, and stare at my Christmas tree for hours.  I have been that way since I was younger.  There is something about it that is just mesmerizing to me.  I love driving around looking at Christmas lights and my neighborhood is a great place to see some festive displays!  Sure some people could use some help, but I try not to judge - I'm excited that they tried!  I remember growing up that Dad always wanted to try and mimic the Griswold house from Christmas Vacation!  We never blew out any fuse boxes, but we did try and add more each year - fun and funny memories. 

It is very easy to get caught up in the craziness of the holidays and let it pass by without making it truly meaningful.  I always love going to church services and really taking the time to reflect and to be in awe of why we celebrate this day in the first place - the fact that the God of the universe chose to take on human form and to experience life as we do so that our lives could truly be made worth living.  Although there is the saying that some people only go to church on Christmas Day and Easter, I am grateful for anyone that takes a moment to acknowledge this truth and to grasp the wonder of what actually happened.  I also love the fact that people are just more giving during this time of year.  There are countless ways to help others at Christmas time and there is no excuse for any of us not to.  From angel trees and bell ringers at the mall, to children and families in our own neighborhoods that could use a little help - it is so important that we GIVE and not just receive.  I have always said that the giving is far better than receiving and I challenge all of us to do whatever we can to help brighten someone else's holiday this year!

I am sure that I will have more posts about Christmas throughout the month but I encourage everyone to make a conscious effort to truly make the most of the holiday.  Go to the parties, decorate your house, play the music, spend time with family and friends.  Find ways to help others and remember what it is all about.  I am going to focus on enjoying every aspect of this Christmas season - and maybe I won't change the station the next time I hear Justin Bieber singing a carol.


Today I am grateful for:  1.  A fun weekend with friends  2.  Exciting church service on Sunday  3.  Finishing up the Christmas decorating at my house  4.  Both of my sisters making me laugh today when I was a little stressed  5.  All the Christmas lights in my neighborhood