December Fun

Yes folks, that's right, Snow in TEXAS! For two minutes last wednesday night, it snowed. It is evidenced on my car.
You, can't really see the snow on the roof of my car, but it's there.

And so to prove that it's there I made a hand print.

The Christmas season has arrived! And all the holiday lights are on display. In fact, tonight our church is taking a tour of the Longview Lights display...and I must say from the the displays I've seen already, Longview goes all out! But I've always loved the Christmas lights. When I was a little girl, my sisters and I would run to our car when we were getting ready to head to church and wrestle over who got to sit on which side of the car...all because we knew who get the better view of all the Christmas lights on the way to church...and we'd make a competition out of it too...who ever counted the most lights on their side would win! Now, of course we never actually won anything, but bragging rights, and as the youngest of three girls, I needed all the bragging rights I could get. :)
So, in some ways seeing all these lights just brings up really fun memories for me as a little girl.
This past saturday I went to Jefferson, the historical town filled with antique shops (Dad, you'd be in heaven) with some friends from the church and we did some Christmas shopping. A very festive and fun occasion to get me in the Christmas mood. Here are just a few pictures from that night.

Alicia, making a new friend.

Of course we found the cowboy hats. Yee HAw!

Here are the animals that were part of the strange manger scene made out of metal. We werent' exactly sure what the small middle animal was supposed to be, we actually thought it was a giant fly, but I don't recall a giant fly being a part of the manger scene.



There are some crazy things found in the Jefferson General Store...We found the crazy sunglasses section. Here, Alicia Nevius is sporting her "winged pig" sunglasses.


Hey, what's life without a little fun, eh?

Tidal Wave of Grief Meets Strong Tower of Love

Many of you might have already read this note that I've written on facebook, but I also wanted to include this on my blog so that those who are not facebook users could also be included in this. Please be praying for Jennifer. I've really felt compelled lately to make sure that as the one month mark approaches, and the two month mark, and so on since Scott's death that I need to be praying all the more. It's easy to remember to pray when the news hits you, but harder as the time moves on. So, those prayer warriors out there who read this, I beseech you, PRAY for Jennifer and those you know who have lost loved ones. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Where O Death is your victory?
Where O Death is your sting?
These verses bring hope for the child of God who has walked through death's doorway, and entered into the eternal presence of his creator, into the presence of his Savior because death is not the end, it is the beginning. It's the triumphal entrance into the heavenly throne room where the almighty God sits enthroned with JEsus Christ as His right hand...what an amazing realization that Scott has entered into this reality...he is abiding with his God.
It does take away the sting...somewhat. But I can't help but experience a little bit of a sting as I process this death and how it affects the friend I love so dearly. It does seem there is a bit of a sting for those who are left behind. Wife, children, parents, friends.
Many of you who read this might wonder what I'm talking about and many of you are experiencing it with me. 10 days ago my dear friend from Toccoa, Jennifer Robertson Mason, lost her husband in a tragic accident. The news has left many of us shocked, and at a loss of how to bring true comfort to Jennifer and the rest of the family during this time. It also has left many of us to reflect on how quickly life can change and that we are not promised tomorrow. But it also makes me marvel at how intense grief can be.
Let me reflect a bit.
Over the past several months in many ways I have felt some incredible feelings of grief as my dad's best friend, a man very dear to my heart, died in a tragic motorcycle accident. I saw how death affected my dad, my mom, and this man's wife, and how it affected me.It's horribly painful, and something we cannot control.
Other feelings of grief of having to start my life over in an unfamiliar place...losing a life that I loved and gaining a life I do not know and does not yet seem like mine.
Grief...it comes upon you like a tidal wave, with intense emotions that the human body can't control, and often times can't stand up against. it causes an ache that is haunting and often debilitating...but yet it is a stage in the healing process. and it is a place where God's compassion flows with strength and his comfort warms. His presence during those times is like nothing else...it nourishes, it cleanses, and it heals and it protects.
You see, God knows what it is to mourn. Jesus, away when he hears word of Lazarus' death, was full of grief. God the father, as He watched from above as His son was crucified, had to turn His face away, and allow it so that mankind would recieve redemption and reconciliation. He knows what i means to grieve, and i believe and have been praying for Jennifer in such a way that God would reach deep into the depths of her being and whisper words of love to her, and would satisfy her soul in the times of weariness ahead. The tidal wave of grief meets the strong tower of God's love. For nothing can separate us from the love of God. Death is, for those who belong to God through Jesus, the entrance into complete knowledge and experience of His love. Now Scott sees with unveiled sight, for he is in the presence of God, where He was always meant to be. Jennifer will see him again and the reunion will be beautiful.
Where O death is your victory?
Where O death is your sting?