MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."--Oren Arnold

So...... I figured that since I'm up BEFORE the crack of dawn like a kid on Christmas (and I barely slept after work yesterday), I needed to write a little something.

"Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age." --Carrie Latet

I was actually scheduled to work last night, but THANK GOODNESS I got put on call. I worked the night before (Christmas Eve, eve) and when I got home, I only slept about 4 hours and woke up and for the life of me, COULD NOT go back to sleep. I got up, got ready, went to the early Christmas Eve service at church and luckily they put me on call. I was able to go spend some time with Natalie's family, exchange presents with her and just chill out last night, of course watching A Christmas Story. Now, here I sit, not being able to sleep once again.

But I have another reason for this post. At first I was kind of frustrated for having to work around the holidays. This is the first year ever that I've had to work on the actual holiday (even as a nurse). I worked Thanksgiving night and the night before Christmas eve and was supposed to work Christmas Eve. I kept thinking about how I just really didn't want to work and how tired I was going to be on Christmas day trying to do that family thing and the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I got. One day my sweet friend Lee, who is a CONSTANT voice of reason for me reminded me that on the Eve of Jesus' birth, I would be helping to bring the greatest gift of all to mothers and that's the gift of life since I work in Labor & Delivery. I had never thought of it that way, and she had a good point but it still didn't settle all that well with me. I mean who wants to be at work on Christmas?? Allow me to continue...

Over the last month, I have had a patient on our high-risk OB unit who was scheduled to have her C-Section on Christmas Eve morning. She has been such a wonderful patient. She has had her 3 yr old daughter there with her almost everyday as well and she has really become like family to all of us. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and just incredibly grateful for everything. I have had many talks with her late at night and one thing she said to me that I will never forget is "you can't miss something you never had". She will admit that she has had a rough life and that's what makes her so grateful for any blessing God gives her. She often talked about how much of a blessing I, along with the other nurses were to her, but what she didn't realize was what a blessing she was to me. I am truly going to miss her. I am going to miss seeing her get excited to see me walk in her room and seeing her daughter run up to me and beg me to pick her up. Just knowing that I have a patient that is excited to see me and appreciates me that much, makes me job worth it. Every morning when I would leave, she would always ask when I would be back. I got the priveledge of being with her and running the OR room during her C-Section Christmas Eve morning and everything went great! It was so neat to be with her during the last month and then be there with her during the "finale" so to speak. To be able to be there to meet her little boy when he was born on Christmas. Life really is the greatest gift of all, and being in that operating room that morning reminded me that's what Jesus being born on Christmas is all about. He was born to ultimately die on the cross to give US LIFE. That's what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. I know am just as bad as anyone else about getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping and such, but Jesus really is the reason for the season.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." --Luke 2:10-12

Tis The Season to be MERRY!

Well...the Christmas season is in full force. Our christmas trees are decorated (almost), as Natalie put it the other day, "it looks like Christmas has thrown-up on our house" and my iPod is continuously playing the sweet tunes of Christmas. I must say...I LOVE IT!! I am always anticipating this time of year...well...year round! There is something about Christmas that is different to me. I'm sure most of you would agree with me. I'm so glad my roommate shares the same passion about the holidays as I do (thank goodness I don't live with a Scrooge!) We have our tree up (but it's not completely decorated yet-we got tired), our house is decorated and I even put a little tree up in my room! I had this little 5-6 foot tree from a couple years ago and decided that since my room was plenty big enough, I should have my own. I got some of those big bulbed/old-timey lights and used some of my "meaningful" ornaments and decorated it up. Here's the finished productNot too bad for a small tree huh? Anyways....my next favorite thing..MUSIC! Over the last couple of years I have created a pretty big Christmas music playlist on my iPod. Every season I continue to find new stuff I like that just adds to the list. I have such a wide variety I have everything from Louis Armstrong to Jack Johnson to Amy Grant to Shane & Shane to Bing Crosby to Ingrid Michaelson to Third Day to Mariah Carey to Kenny G to Trans Siberian Orchestra and more! Right now, thanks to Tyler, my favorite album that is on constant repeat is the Shane & Shane Christmas album Glory in the Highest.
I have to admit though, not only do I love the old classics, but I love finding new artists that take a new twist on the old ones. I also like new artists that have completely new songs. Don't get me wrong some of them just totally not right for Christmas music (such as Lady GaGa), but here are a few that I've come across that are some of my current faves:

1.) It Came Upon a Midnight Clear- Sixpence None the Richer

2.) The Christmas Song- Gavin Degraw

3.) Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow- Michael Buble (the whole album is good)

4.) Snowfall- Ingrid Michaelson

5.) Christmastime is Here- A Fine Frenzy

6.) Wintersong- Sara Barellis & Ingrid Michaelson

7.) Greensleeves- Vanessa Carlton

8.) Auld Lang Syne -Mairi Campbell (anyone that is a fan of SATC will know this version is from the movie)

9.) Last Christmas-GLEE cast (LOVE LOVE LOVE this show!!)

10.) Mistletoe- Colbie Caillat

11.)Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer- Jack Johnson

12.) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Tyler Hilton ( I also like Coldplay's version too)

13. ) Winter Snow -Chris Tomlin & Audrey Assad

14. ) O Come, O Come Emmanuel- Enya

15.) Silent Night- Priscilla Ahn

16. ) Eternal Gifts- Leigh Nash

That's just a few of many. Hope everyone is having a great start to the holiday season! 

God sees the big picture...

I read this and it was definitely something that I needed to hear. Just thought I would share it! 

Today, choose to keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Begin to thank Him for the opportunities that are just ahead for you. Shut the door on fear and let God lead you by His peace through the door of opportunity He has prepared for you! "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close" -Revelations 3:8

I know there are lots of times that I get scared or worried about the future or what's going on in my life. Sometimes I doubt the fact that God is working in MY favor.  The Bible tells us that God works for the good of those who love Him. A great quote that I read just the other day goes along great with this. It says:

"When God takes something from your grasp He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

I have to believe that's the truth. Even when I don't understand why things don't work out when or how I want them to. I have to know that there's a reason...GOD'S reason. He is only doing it because He loves me and can see the big picture while I only see what's going on right now. Last Sunday my pastor, Brother Steve preached a great sermon on worrying. He talked about how worrying is a sin and no sin is any worse than the other. I think about how much I worry over the smallest things sometimes and really, it's ridiculous! Truth is, if we're worrying, we aren't trusting. I have faith knowing that whatever God has planned for me (which has to be good) will happen. I love the verse in Job where it says, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." (42:2). That's so comforting to know! And I can think back to times in my life where I can clearly see that the Lord's will was done one way or another. I may have fought against Him hard, but in the end, He won and it was most definitely for the better. Of course I didn't think so at the time, but I am able to see it now....