my sisters are my heroes.

tonight was yet another adventure into the city. here are some photos from the nutcracker - well, not inside during the ballet cause no photography is allowed. considering we had already gotten in trouble for eating and putting our feet on the "furniture" i didn't want to reach strike three, you're out of here.

so i have not yet purchased a really nice camera like my sisters - part of the reason why i went so long without taking any pictures. but that won't stop me from posting my own photos on my blog. i will even copy them and the way they post photos taken of their cute homes and their adorable decor.

a funny short story to share with you: these stones (i was calling them rocks, but i guess they are technically stones) in the last photo were a gift from aunt jan. she obviously knows about my love of these 3 words, of course coming from 1 corinthians 13:13. so after i opened my present, elizabeth (my 8-year-old nieces) asked me what i got. so i showed her and explained that they have my 3 favorite words on them. she continues to ask me, in her completely sweet elizabeth way, "why, they are easy to spell?"

a montage

i wasn't sure as to the spelling of that word, montage. the more

i thought about the spelling of it i began to question the use of the word for what this blog is actually going to include. so i looked it up.

MONTAGE:

1.

a. A single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or superimposing many pictures or designs.

b. The art or process of making a composition.

2.

a. A relatively rapid succession of different shots in a movie.

b. The juxtaposition of such successive shots as a cinematic technique.

i think this blog would be listed under definition 1b, just for your information.

i ventured into the city on saturday night and experienced my second viewing of the rockefeller center christmas tree. it was quite busy, to say the least, so it was difficult to capture the three of with the tree in the background - this will have to suffice.

seeing weezer at roseland ballroom was the actual reason for our night in nyc. they performed the entire pinkerton album as part of their memories tour - needless to say, it was amazing.

this past sunday was our annual linC christmas party. following the wonderful homemade dinner, before heading out to the holland home for some christmas caroling, a few of us took a rest on the floor. who needs pillows when you have stomachs?

yesterday my facebook status read as follows: "happy birthday to the most amazing woman in the world. just because she is my mother doesn't mean i am biased. i want to be like lois when i grow up." to prove the truth of the status, it had 7 "likes" and 3 comments to agree with me. i'm sure plenty of others were thinking it too.

things i am looking forward to in the next few weeks:

1. the satisfying feeling of knowing i am completely done christmas shopping

2. christmas eve restore service (not to use this as an advertisement in any way, but it will be at cedar hill crc at 5:30pm!)

3. christmas day and all of its traditional celebrations of the birth of our Savior

4. nyc ballet to see the nutcracker with all of the girls in my family

5. tentative new years getaway with the family

6. starting school on january 10th!

new years resolution, a little bit early.

it is true, i have been MIA for quite some time now. blogging is one of those things where if you get away from it for too long, it is that much harder to come back. but my sister has inspired me (well both sisters inspire me and both are excellent bloggers, but kate has dedicated a blog a day for the month of december). i thought that january 1st, i would return to the blog world. something inspired me today, however, so i am back a bit early.

i hope not to return as you remembered me, especially since quite a bit has changed since my last posting (more on that another day). hence somewhat of a new look. i am still figuring some of that out though so bare with me as it is a work in progress. aren't we all works in progress?

just one photo for your viewing pleasure - the japanese maple tree in our front yard, all lit up for christmas. knowing our family, though, these lights just might remain on well into the spring. we like to be different.

just a song for now...

"Healing Is In Your Hands"

no mountain, no valley, no gain or loss we know

could keep us from Your love

no sickness, no secret, no chain is strong enough

to keep us from Your love

to keep us from Your love

how high, how wide

no matter where i am, healing is in Your hands

how deep, how strong

and now by Your grace i stand

healing is in Your hands

our present, our future, our past is in Your hands

we're covered by your blood

we're covered by your blood

how high, how wide

no matter where i am, healing is in Your hands

how deep, how strong

and now by Your grace i stand

healing is in Your hands

happy birthday (insert name here) culp.

in honor of baby (soon to have a name) culp's birthday...

unconditional love.

during one of our nightly team meetings while in ghana we were going around sharing different things that we noticed and appreciated - high points of our days. what struck me that day, but also every day, was the unconditional love that each of our youth had for the children in ghana. without knowing anything about them, without considering the dirt and filth that some of them carried on their bodies, none of them ever hesitated to embrace them, whether it be with words or with physical touch. immediately and no matter what, they loved them...unconditionally.

this past week, upon reflecting on good friday and easter - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - i became more aware of how far i am from who God wants me to be. sure, i can do "good" things like going on a missions trip to ghana. but the hard reality is that i so often try to forget is that my heart still has evil in it, no matter how good i try to be. i am sinful by nature. because of this i am reminded of the importance of holy week but also of what my response to this sacrifice needs to be. Christ came to serve, i need to serve. today i am struck by the unconditional love that God offers us, freely. the words to a song by tenth avenue north have been playing in my head...words of promise that God would sing to us every day, no matter what.

"My love is over. It's underneath.

It's inside. It's in between.

The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.

The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '

The times you're broken.The times that you mend.

The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.

Well, My love is over, it's underneath.

It's inside, it's in between.

These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.

The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.

The times you're hurting.The times that you heal.

The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.

The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.

I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.

I'm there through your heartache.I'm there in the storm.

My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.

I don't care where you fall, where you have been.

I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.

It never ends."

(Times - Tenth Avenue North)

just like our students so embraced the hands of the children, God embraces us - unconditionally. if only we so quickly sought after Him like those children so desired just to walk and hold our hands.

more of ghana.

ghana.