Loving the Season

Loving the Season...
It's late, almost midnight and I really would like to get to bed. But I've been meaning to make a post to this blog for days now, just haven't gotten around to it! Go figure! I just wanted to say that I am absolutely loving the Christmas Season this year! Last year, it was quite stressful for both Colin & I, and while it had its own precious memories and moments, it just wasn't one of my best holidays. This year, though, is already shaping up to be entirely different! For starters, for the first time in three years--I get to go home for the holidays! I am SO EXCITED! Our plans are to drive to Reno and sit in my grandparents' house for two days and do nothing but visit, it'll be great! And also, no gifts this year, let me tell you, it takes so much stress away! Without presents, it's given me the ability to focus on the true reason for the season--Jesus & the True Presence of God! I must say, it's rather libearting to not be giving gifts this year--no gifts, at all, for anyone! It's incredible! It takes away half of the stress of Christmas! I'm left with the Christmas tree, lights, decorations and tratditions, and of course, the best Christmas gift of all, family & friends and that peaceful "anything is possible," feeling that can only come with Christmas! Not to mention, my birthday is in about a week and a half and I'm so excited to turn 25! 24, and 2008, has been a difficult year for me. It's been great, fun, memorable and wonderful on so many levels, but it's also been one of the most challenging years of my life and quite frankly, I'm so ready to move on!!! :) I've learned this year to truly take life one day a time and to do my best not to judge! I think I'm doing good with both of those so far, at least lately! I've also learned, or rather, re-learned how incredibly strong I am! And this year, it wasn't because I was the sick girl who's survived so much, it's because those around me were falling apart and at times, my struggle with depression caused me to feel as though I was falling apart myself. But I made it! I'm here! And I'm so proud of myself and my friends and my family, and I'm especially proud of my Colin, for sticking it out with me, working through it, working on it and standing by me through it all! I am a truly blessed woman, not just at Christmastime, but all year long! Growing up, I hated my birthday being near Christmas, I used to ask my mom why she had me at this time of year....but now I absolutely love it! It's such a spiritual, magical, wonderful time of the year! Sure, it's stressful and crazy and hectic and without the right people to celebrate it with, it can be rather depressing, I understand that. Add in the sheer pressure we put upon ourselves to outdo everything we've ever done before and shop/go/find/make/bake/take/be/do and on and on and on.....it can get out of hand. But for some reason, this season, I'm just not feeling any of that! I'm feeling a tremendous amount of love and hope and peace! Is my life perfect? Absolutely not! But am I blessed beyond measure ? Yes! You bet I am! And so now, I love my birthday being at this time of year because it's just so special and neat I'm glad 'to be turning 25 and happy to be rining in 2009!!! I'm happy that I'm able to celebrate Christmas in my home, with my Colin and my mom! That we're all here, together, healthy, happy and working to better ourselvses and our lives, each and every day, well, there's not much more I could really ask for, now could I? I don't think there is! If you're looking for a reason to celebrate the season, look around.....focus on the little things; the rising full moon in the night sky, the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee, hot cocoa or cinnamon or ine candle, the beauty of poinsetteas, a Christmas tree, a candle's glow....the little miracles are so easy to spot if you slow down, take a deep breath and focus on what is right with the world! There is so much wrong with this world, I agree, so much absolute craziness and messiness and reasons to be depressed. Fight it! Focus on the reason for the season--God, He wants us to enjoy the birth of His Son, He wants us to enjoy this season and be merry and happy and full! This season is supposed to be filled with loved ones, peace and hope! Please find a way to celebrate all of these, and find it in your heart to feel something beyond chaos this season! This season will pass and there will be plenty of time to focus on the negative (although I don't reccomend that at any time of year, but I digress), but for now, take a moment, breathe, and feel the love, joy and peace that only this time of year can bring! I sincerely wish each and every one of you the peace and love and joy I've felt lately! However arrive at it, enjoy the journey! And have a very, very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!



In Light N' Love,

-Sarah Liz :)

P.S. If you're a Christian, I highly reccomend the book "The Purpose of Christmas," by Rick Warren! He wrote "The Purpose Driven Life," and I must say, his latest book about Christmas put a peace in my heart that I've not felt in a while. I won't sit here and preach about how you need to accept Jesus to feel peace, because to be honest, perhaps you (personally) don't? Perhaps you arrive at peace and feel the Presence of God a different way? Perhaps yo're not so sure about Jesus, and that's okay. You'll come to Him if/when you're ready, and no one can force you and as Christians, we shouldn't try to force our beliefs on anyone, only share them--and the peace and love they bring us! But there's room for everything and everyone. I don't think spirituality/religion is the same for all, and perhaps it shouldn't be. That might be boring. But, I do believe that faith of some kind is absolutely beneficial to a person's well-being and sanity, at least it is for mine! And what better time of year to tap into that and celebrate than Christmas? I mean, pretty much all religions are celebrating something around this time of year; Hannukah, Kwanza, Ramadan, etc, etc, etc, even Budhists that I know count this as a spiritually enlightening time of year! And I will say this; knowing that there is a God out there, a supreme, all-knowing, all-loving being who although you may not always understand, sincerely wants you to be happy, joyful and can/will/does take care of everything (even if in a round about way) is truly a remarkable feeling! I can feel God's Presence in my life, I can feel the reason fo the season, I can feel God's grace, love, mercy & forgiveness, and I can feel Him working in my life! I hope you can too and whatever way you go about celebrating Christmas or thinking about God, once again, I hope this season fills you with love and hope and peace!

God (Does Indeed) Bless Us Everyone,

-Sarah Liz :)