" My name is Anna. And I'm an organize-aholic."

So I like to clean. And organize. A lot. Like more than most people.  I find it relaxing. Almost therapeutic.  If you have seen Friends, I have been likened to the character Monica more times than I can count.  I am one of those people who cannot focus unless their space is neat and clean.  In fact, I just reorganized and "spring cleaned" one of the rooms that I live in.  Partly because it needed cleaning, and partly because I was just so excited for something new and organized.  I had to make myself do homework and put it off until this weekend.  That is how excited I was.

So now that you know what I freak I am .... I would just like to say that it looks really nice! And homey.

Speaking of home... I miss mine! Mostly my fabulous mother and father.  But also my dog, Riley Rose. She is about as blonde as the stereotype gets, and I love her to death.  She walks into things.  People say she got it from me.

I was looking forward to going on a cool, fun, fabulous Spring Break this year with my momma.  However, I think we will be having a cool, fun, fabulous Spring Break at home.  Which could turn out to be just what I need.  Today has been an up and down day.  And I keep thinking about things that I want to blog about.  I know you are just dying to read about my oh so exciting life.  So I will do my best to get on the ball and write about some of the things I have been thinking.

Thoughts of the day:

- I am in Old Testament Survey this semester and am discovering the Old Testament is actually really interesting!
- It's possible to love others, love yourself, love God, and be in love all at the same time.  Cool stuff, right?
- Positivity really makes a difference.  (and it can annoy people... just ask my friends)
- Our Jesus loves and personally identifies with our needs and struggles. That's amazing.
- The loving relationships we maintain with those we are closest to here on earth are just a glimpse of the amazing love relationship we are continuously working on with Christ.  The parallel is pretty cool I think.  I never thought about my relationship with God in a lovey-dovey way until I came to Greenville.  But the more I learn, the more I see how it makes sense.  When you love someone, you take the time to know them intimately.  You make time for them.  You know everything about them and you become in tune with them and how they work. You know what makes them tick.  How much more amazing, then, would our relationship with God be if we truly applied those same things?
- Love. really is all you need.

Tradition

Every Christmas I realize more and more the crazy traditions that we have continued throughout the years.  Some of them, I don't think were meant to turn into traditions.  For example, the fact that we go stocking stuffer shopping as a family, in one store, on Christmas Eve... was probably the result of a chaotic rush to get everything done when me and Kyle were kids (mom is that true?) .  And now, It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas week.  My other favorite started when Kyle and I went to KCA and were in the Christmas plays.  We would always go to Wendy's for a frosty and then drive through the pretty Christmas light display in K-town.  It was always so magical.  I don't remember a year that we haven't missed.  Tonight was gorgeous, because it is still snowing...the perfect kind of snow that makes you think you are living in a snow globe.  I was reminded of the peace of Christmas and the peace of Jesus today when Kaitlyn and I opened the door to check out the snowfall.  It was so still, and quiet and beautiful.  It was like peace was falling around us. *sigh* so perfect.
Back to traditions....we also always attend Christmas Eve service at my church.. candles, singing, and Jesus.  Can't get any better.  It's the perfect way to get into the real spirit of Christmas.  One thing my father has done since we were young (and we always thought it was super cool) was a toast with egg nog before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.  When we wake up on Christmas it's a long time to wait... Dad drags it out as much as possible.  There's the breakfast, setting the camera up (because someone somewhere just NEEDS to watch the video of our entire morning ... for the last 20 years...), the reading of the Bible story, the choosing of a "Santa" to hand out gifts, and the one by one opening....and the break halfway through.... you get the idea.
We open stockings on Christmas Night. .... so we have one last thing to enjoy and savor... it's the perfect end...
Talking about it makes me soooo excited for tomorrow!!!
But I am so glad that tonight brought me back to remembering what Christmas is really about.
Josh is always saying how much he hates what our society has turned Christmas into, and I agree.  It has become tainted.  It turned into "gimmie" rather than GIVE. Grouchy rather than joyful.
I encourage you this Christmas to think about the sacrifice Jesus made by coming into this earth as a baby so that He could die for us.  That is a powerful message.
Merry Christmas!!!!

Live and Learn

Where does the time go? Seriously??
I am sitting here, having just finished my 5th semester of college. there's only 3 left. And I'm technically a Senior now.  A Senior. woah. When did that happen? Am I really old enough for all this responsibility? Apparently I'm supposed to be all grown up soon? Yikes. It's a good thing I want to teach little kids for the rest of forever. Otherwise. I think I would be depressed.  I just know I wasn't cut out for a normal job... all that pressure and responsibility.  I would much rather do hand painting murals and read kid books! For serious.
Anyways... I know that the past few years have really taught me some valuable lessons about life, love, God, and myself.  Not necessarily in that order.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  And the people I've met along the way. Now THOSE are priceless.

Live. Love. Forgive.

Count your Blessings

I have had the hymn stuck in my head all day thanks to my mother. We've hummed it, chanted it, sang it... You get the idea.
But really, this Thanksgiving, I have a lot to be thankful for.  More than the normal, cliché (but true and wonderful) "I'm thankful for my house, my family, my friends."  Though I am thankful for those things, I really started thinking about what I was MOST thankful for when Dad asked (tradition at our table is to go around and talk about what you are most thankful for).  I think that I am most thankful this semester for my community.  For the first time, I really feel like I fit in and have a safe place.  I finally have friends that really care about me and what I think.  I have learned enough about myself to love and be comfortable with who I am.  And trust me, I thought that day would never come. I am just so very thankful that I can go "home" to my house in Greenville.

Count Your Blessings this Thanksgiving... God is always at work.  And He loves us.  There is always something to thank Him for!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

I {almost} Hear Those Sleigh Bells Ringin'

I just love the holidays!  Even a couple weeks before Thanksgiving, it's like things start to change.  Call me a hopeless romantic, but I feel like the atmosphere just slowly becomes different.  As people start to put out their Christmas lights and churches decorate for the season, it makes my heart happy!!
The old ladies get out their Christmas sweaters.
My best friend and roomie gets out her Christmas earrings (I swear she has a pair for every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Stores start playing Christmas tunes.
People seem to get more generous with their time and gifts.

If only the love and peace that seems to go hand in hand with the holidays lasted throughout the year.  And if only every man, woman, and child could know the LOVE and JOY that Jesus brings.  If only we could be as generous and kind year round.

For me, it's not the season.  It's the emotion and the principal behind it.  It's the romantic glow of the lights and the sound of small children singing Silent Night.  If only we could box THAT up to remind ourselves all throughout the year...

You Are More

{{You are more than the choices that you've made, 
   you are more than the sum of your past mistakes. 
   You are more than the problems you create, 
   you've been remade! 
   Cause this is not about what you've done, 
   but what's been done for you. 
   This is not about where you've been, 
   but where your brokenness brings you to. 

   This is not about what you feel, 

   but what He felt to forgive you 

   and what He felt to make you loved!}}

I know that I try really hard to "get over" what I have done in the past, but if I am honest with myself I know that is not really possible. Or necessary. I think that God uses each and every little tiny decision. Each mistake. Each thought. I think He is in everything that we do. If we think of life that way, then we really get a different picture. In a sense, it doesn't matter what's in our past. All that matters is that we are looking to him. And even when our present isn't all we thought it would be, we have to believe that we have a future that is better than we can imagine. In Ephesians it says that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine. I was reading that earlier this week, and was like woah. He has the power. He has the plan. Why do we try so hard to make things the way we want them? If we were able to 100% surrender to His will, I think this world would be a totally different place!
Just remember... All things work together for the good of those that love God.
He loves you and wants what is best for you. And all the crap in the world can't change that. We can't see the big picture... but we have a God who can and will act on our behalf! :)

Sweetly Broken (by Jeremy Riddle)

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of it's suffering I do drink
Of it's work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

Chorus:

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness






I love, love, love this song.  (story to follow) 


:)