In Between Poses

So life has calmed down a little, and I've actually had a chance to think about deeper things...I know brace yourself... :)

I went to this concert a couple weeks ago (Eddie's Attic, Atlanta's premier songwriters, opened by my friend Garrett - it was awesome), and one of the artists had a song about the moments in between life, where your guard is let down, and you truly see the real side of a person. She had been at a photo shoot, and the best ones were the ones when she didn't think about the camera, when she was just having fun.

The phrase that she used was "in between poses." Who are you really in between the facade that you put on for the world? What is it about those moments that define us? It made me really stop and think, what am I trying to hide? Where is my identity vs. who I really am?

A friend the other day offered this advice to me about a situation, "It's our memories that make us who we are." Sometimes its the painful memories that define us the most, the ones that make us run to our Heavenly Father for comfort and a chance to understand why. It's our fun, happy memories that continue the joy that Christ's followers are given for eternity, and the painful ones that give us joy in between poses.

What is the Christmas Spirit?

So I was challenged tonight at my church's Christmas "show" (it was more of a creative worship service :) ) to think about what the Christmas spirit is all about...

I mean let's be honest; we've all grown up with that idea. After Thanksgiving, everyone is supposed to be in the Christmas spirit. I think I've always believed that meant I had to be a. in a giving sort of mood b. happy all the time c. excited all the time (yes lots of sugar is always involved) d. helpful around the house (my mother's version) e. more forgiving....you get the picture.

The more I think about it though, we should have the Christmas spirit all year-round. Not that we need to be hyped up on sugar or all happy...not my 8 year old version, but rather the true Christmas Spirit.

Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus' birth, and celebrate it we shall. However, we need to be celebrating him all year. Is it possible to have such admiration for someone all year, 365 days, 52 weeks.....?

I will admit that I struggle there...do I praise my Savior every day non-stop? No, I don't - there are days that I don't understand what He is doing, or why He is doing it. There is always going to be days like that with anyone that you love, and His love never changes. So in my new version of the Christmas spirit, I see....loving all those around you, forgiving quickly and forgetting easily, looking at the bright side rather than the worse case scenario, and just being thankful everyday for something that you have been blessed to receive....

So my new Christmas spirit is a little different, but if you are like the little girl tonight on stage, you will sing your heart out, swing your skirt, and you may even hit yourself in the face, but you won't care. You will just keep on going because your heart is praising Him. :)

Procrastination? Yes I think so...

Finals time is upon us...well some of us...so of course my mind is not focused on school; rather on ANYTHING else I can find to postulate.

I thought I would do a quick review of the highlights of my semester:

First, there's the obvious break-in incident at my apartment. Somewhat an answer to prayer...ask me more later, but truly I believe God works in mysterious ways.

Next, would have to be Perimeter's 30th Anniversary celebration. After working and planning for a year, to see it all come together and see my Perimeter family all in one place, worshiping our Lord under the stars and the hot sun...wow...who cares if we ran out of food!!

A close third is Compassion in Action Weekend. I got to spend some time with my discipleship girls serving families in Norcross, and I learned how to do balloon animals!

Following that: my favorite thing to do - pranking my friends on their birthdays. I'm almost always nice, but this year I was outdone by my friend. I've been fortunate enough to have his roommates help me every year, and this year, he went looking for evidence of this. The key was hidden in another spot with a clue, so my plan was foiled. However, he forgot the biggest part - locking his car...hehe

I guess following that would have to be my friend's surprise birthday party - seriously the first time I was ever able to surprise him (it's only taken half a decade) thanks to the help of his awesome girlfriend and his roommate.


Of course, the next obvious is Georgia Football weekends - Sugar Bowl anyone? :)

I know my sister's play this weekend will be a highlight - Nuncrackers - Dec. 6-9 come see it!

School you ask? - probably learning more about post-colonial countries and how now I have a travel bug more than ever, especially to South America - Brazil anyone?

ok that's all I got...lots of fun times: weddings, plays, concerts, awesome d-group nights...but I am so grateful that Christmas break is almost here! No deep thoughts tonight - I need to save it all for some Emily Dickinson... back to work!