The 25 Days of Christmas

I take my job as "Family Photographer" very seriously, especially in the holiday season.

So today, on this very Merry Christmas, I present to all who read my blog:
The 25 days of Christmas in the Life of a Friesen!


Day 1 - Lights














Day 2 - Decorations












Day 3 - Gifts

Day 4 - Tradition

Day 5 - Santa














 Day 6 - Stockings

Day 7 - Snow















Day 8 - Tree

Day 9 - Treats

Day 10 - Joy

Day 11- Carols














Day 12 - Vintage

Day 13 - Festive












 

Day 14 - Glitter

Day 15 - Warmth

 Day 16 - Ornaments

Day 17 - Wreath














Day 18 - Giving

Day 19 - Reindeer














Day 20 - Memories











 Day 21 - Bells











Day 22 - Cookies

Day 23 - Sparkle














Day 24 - Christmas Eve














Day 25 - Unwrapped

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

Home for the Holidays

There are very few better feelings then knowing that you have survived finals week, most likely haven't failed a class, and are able to head home for Christmas break with nothing to do except spend time with family and friends, eat lots of food, and sleep in as long as you want.

The one feeling that is better, though, is the feeling that you are incredibly loved.

I drive into my back driveway behind my house and almost instantly, my dad is there to open the door for me and my brother and him graciously help carry my immense amount of containers into the house.  My mother made sure that my siblings didn't eat all the pizza so I was able to eat right away.  I was overloaded with information on all of the high school happenings - the school work, the classmates, and of course, basketball.  The TV was on and the channels were obviously being flipped back and forth between the NCAA Volleyball tournament and the Duke basketball game.  Sarcasm was dripping from the ceilings in my house and laughter couldn't be contained.  The Sour Patch Watermelons were eaten in seconds.

This morning, my family was kind enough not to disturb me as people left for work and for school.  When I did wake up, I went to my dad's office to hang out for awhile, coffee cup in hand because my mom promptly left a brewed pot for me, along with buying a new container of my favorite creamer.  I got a text from my sisters saying they wanted to go to lunch with me today.  I came back home, played basketball and went on a run and later this evening, I'll be heading to all three of my siblings basketball games.  There is already so much happening and I haven't even been home for 24 hours yet!!!

Yet, there is no better feeling than being home and knowing that you are so incredibly loved.

I do understand if there are many of you who read these last two paragraphs and already feel overwhelmed by my family.  I totally get that not everyone lives in a house with six extreme extroverts, including themselves, but there is still something that overwhelms my heart with joy as I am officially home for the holidays.

To the college students who are now done with finals - enjoy your break!

To all the moms and dads who are preparing for their kids to come home - thank you for all that you do; it means the world to us!

To the high school students who don't truly understand finals yet - bless your hearts!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

It's here.

It's here.

Finals Week.  May the odds be ever in your favor.

There are some extreme things that do happen during finals week and I would love to say that it has only happened once or maybe even that it has only happened to me, however I know that's not the case.  Wouldn't you know, three years into college and some things just don't change.  High school students - take some notes.

1.  Everyone calculates their grades in each of their classes multiple times.  They have put in about every variable including if they fail the test, because, well it's finals week and you never know what could actually happen at this time of year.

2.  People will look at a study guide for the first time for a class and actually begin to wonder if their professor gave the wrong study guide to the class.  People will have literally been in class the whole time and not recognize a single term on the paper.

3.  It is inevitable that people will begin to get sick.  Lack of sleep, eating weird foods, and it's winter are not good combinations for 18 to 22 year old people right now.

4.  It is acceptable for people to wear mismatching socks and green sweatpants - during finals week, no one questions what other people wear.


5.  The frying of one's brain after staring too long at notes and books causes one to buy unnecessary items at Target, drink way to much coffee, and watch too many episodes of Castle.

6. Highlighting is key.  Unless people have to highlight their whole dang book!!!

7.  The Internet will distract you - let it.

8.  There are many students that haven't figured this out yet, but everyone should use their sense of humor during the semester so that come test time, they can draw pictures, use puns, and write jokes to try and get humor points in place of their lack of knowledge.

9.  Girls especially begin to contemplate their major, but then they just remind themselves - an each other - just marry rich! Marry for money, love will come! 

10.  Then, once all finals have been completed, a mass celebration begins nation wide ... Until everyone looks at their classes for next semester only to see that finals in the spring will be at the very least, 100 times worse!!!!

HAPPY FINALS WEEK!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

... and yet GOD is still constant.

Every morning up to this point, I have had the privilege to wake up.  I wouldn't consider myself a morning person, but I think I could become one.

God is still constant.

Some mornings I drink out of my "Grumpy Cat" mug.  Other mornings, I am in such a rush because I woke up late that I don't drink a single drop of coffee.

God is still constant.

There are days when I eat yogurt for breakfast.  Sometimes I'll eat a bagel, and if I'm really feeling good I'll eat a full breakfast with an omelet, toast, and fruit.  I try to read my bible or do a devotion or at the very least say a quick prayer in the mornings or during breakfast, but often times I fail.

God is still constant.

I can have a really bad attitude about going to class some days.  I don't really want to learn about drones or the way the law affects what I could print in newspapers and magazines some day.  I don't really want to take notes about the environment or listen to lectures about people like E.P. Sanders (I still am not quite sure who he is).  Some days I am a lot happier though, and I like to have discussions on how technology affects our society or the letters Paul wrote in the bible.

God is still constant.

I turn on the news and I watch protests and hear about how the world is hurting.  I get frustrated for my hurting friends and the ones I love and even people I don't know. I want to hug them and protect their hearts.  I fear for future generations and the world they will be living in; I fear because someday I could be a parent to some of those children and I will be responsible in making sure they know the truth.

God is still constant.

Family friends recently brought home their new daughter from Africa.  The joy on their faces to know that she will be in their arms for the rest of their lives makes me overwhelmed and reminds me that joy will prevail and that love always wins.  My family supports me and cares for me; my roommates give me lots of hugs; my grandparents send me funny cards in the mail. 

God is still constant.

There will always be ups and downs, whether it is regarding simple things like breakfast foods or major life decisions like choosing which job to take.  I will never be in control of the world or my circumstances, only my attitude and even then I won't be constant the way that GOD is constant.  I am not invincible and I am learning to be okay with that.


Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
he makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his names sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi