I planned on writing last night, but I got caught up with solving my rubik's cube and then found myself extremely tired. If anyone is wondering, I have indeed solved the rubik's cube a few times now and I'm working on seeing how fast I can get it done. I know it doesn't sound like fun, but it really is.
I almost just grabbed it now, but restrained myself and brought my hands back to the keyboard.
So this Christmas went pretty well, very strange though. On the 23rd, we went to my grandma's to celebrate with my dad's side of my family. I always love spending time with them. My cousins and I always have fun and I enjoy talking with my aunts and uncles and my grandparents. Everyone brought some gifts to send to my dad, so we ended up sending him a 20 pound box of stuff and another 18 pound box. I think he'll be happy to get those things.
On Christmas Eve, my uncle and aunt came over with their two sons. They're the only ones on my mom's side of the family that haven't moved away. It was a pretty informal thing, we got some pizza and opened gifts.
Christmas morning went as it normally did, but instead of my dad being behind the camera, we had it on a tripod. My brother ended up waking my sister and I at 8 and we stumbled downstairs to the tree. Most of my gift was money to help pay for my new phone, which I appreciated greatly. My mom had spread the money among my other gifts. Some of the money was in the pocket of a shirt she had gotten me, stuff like that. It was funny. After opening gifts, my mom made a Christmas dinner with ham and turkey because ham reminds me of human flesh and I have a hard time bringing it to my lips. We got a chance to talk to my dad. He had just been flown into his final location. I thought it was kind of crappy of them to do it on Christmas, but he said when they got there, they had a nice Christmas dinner with lobster and everything.
The Christmas service I went to was amazing. The pastor talked about how amazing it is that someone who never wrote a book, never moved further than 200 miles from his home, and never held any type of official leadership position could leave the biggest impact of anyone else in the world. Christmas always reminds me that Jesus was born to pay for the things I've done. And I am also reminded that I don't deserve it at all. I still wish I could understand grace fully, because I certainly do not. Even though Christ has said that belief in Him will cover me, as a human, I find it hard to accept that I don't owe something more in return. In the middle of the service, I found my eyes becoming heavy and small tears falling to my cheeks. The reminder of His love is my favorite part about Christmas.
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So another new year is here. 2007 was a year of growth and learning for me. I'm sure a lot of people say that after every year, but it truly was for me. My faith has taken shape, I've expanded my horizons. I've learned that you should love people for who they are, not for who you want them to be. I've learned that the republican party doesn't have all the answers. And I've realized that Christ doesn't take sides in politics.
I've realized that I'm not perfect, but more importantly, I've realized that that's alright.
I've also learned that you can't get too comfortable with your situation, because you never know when it's going to change. I've lived in the United States my whole life and hardly can understand that at all. I've realized that everyone needs love, no matter who they are or what they've done. And I'm working on being able to express that through my actions.
2007 was a tough year, but one that I definitely don't regret. I'm praying that 2008 will bring me even more change and that I'll break from what makes me comfortable. And I pray that I'll continue to grow and work towards becoming the person I am meant to be.
I almost just grabbed it now, but restrained myself and brought my hands back to the keyboard.
So this Christmas went pretty well, very strange though. On the 23rd, we went to my grandma's to celebrate with my dad's side of my family. I always love spending time with them. My cousins and I always have fun and I enjoy talking with my aunts and uncles and my grandparents. Everyone brought some gifts to send to my dad, so we ended up sending him a 20 pound box of stuff and another 18 pound box. I think he'll be happy to get those things.
On Christmas Eve, my uncle and aunt came over with their two sons. They're the only ones on my mom's side of the family that haven't moved away. It was a pretty informal thing, we got some pizza and opened gifts.
Christmas morning went as it normally did, but instead of my dad being behind the camera, we had it on a tripod. My brother ended up waking my sister and I at 8 and we stumbled downstairs to the tree. Most of my gift was money to help pay for my new phone, which I appreciated greatly. My mom had spread the money among my other gifts. Some of the money was in the pocket of a shirt she had gotten me, stuff like that. It was funny. After opening gifts, my mom made a Christmas dinner with ham and turkey because ham reminds me of human flesh and I have a hard time bringing it to my lips. We got a chance to talk to my dad. He had just been flown into his final location. I thought it was kind of crappy of them to do it on Christmas, but he said when they got there, they had a nice Christmas dinner with lobster and everything.
The Christmas service I went to was amazing. The pastor talked about how amazing it is that someone who never wrote a book, never moved further than 200 miles from his home, and never held any type of official leadership position could leave the biggest impact of anyone else in the world. Christmas always reminds me that Jesus was born to pay for the things I've done. And I am also reminded that I don't deserve it at all. I still wish I could understand grace fully, because I certainly do not. Even though Christ has said that belief in Him will cover me, as a human, I find it hard to accept that I don't owe something more in return. In the middle of the service, I found my eyes becoming heavy and small tears falling to my cheeks. The reminder of His love is my favorite part about Christmas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So another new year is here. 2007 was a year of growth and learning for me. I'm sure a lot of people say that after every year, but it truly was for me. My faith has taken shape, I've expanded my horizons. I've learned that you should love people for who they are, not for who you want them to be. I've learned that the republican party doesn't have all the answers. And I've realized that Christ doesn't take sides in politics.
I've realized that I'm not perfect, but more importantly, I've realized that that's alright.
I've also learned that you can't get too comfortable with your situation, because you never know when it's going to change. I've lived in the United States my whole life and hardly can understand that at all. I've realized that everyone needs love, no matter who they are or what they've done. And I'm working on being able to express that through my actions.
2007 was a tough year, but one that I definitely don't regret. I'm praying that 2008 will bring me even more change and that I'll break from what makes me comfortable. And I pray that I'll continue to grow and work towards becoming the person I am meant to be.