Yes, it was my birthday this past weekend. We began the celebrations a little early as Friday was a day off from school to celebrate National Heroes' Day (or V.C. Bird Day). We went to the beach, got grocery shopping done, went out to eat with the Johnston family. My one request was to make Christmas cookies, so Saturday morning, Julie, Cindy, Aida, Sienna, and I began a baking marathon. We did 3 batches of cut-outs, 2 batches of sugar cookies, and 1 batch of gingerbread cookies. Good thing Cindy always gives away plates of cookies as gifts, because there were a ton!
This morning, we participated in a 5K fun run, sponsored by Subway. The cookie baking crew plus baby Grady walked from the Subway in town, to the Subway north of town, then back again. At the finish line, they had Gatorades, cookies, and subs awaiting all participants! Lovely. Didn't get rained on like last week, so that was nice. Only unfortunate thing was that the 9am start time didn't happen til 9:30, and walking with a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 4 month old isn't very fast. We were a little late for church, but we did hear a sermon reminding us to always be ready for Christ's second coming, because God's time isn't our time.
This week at school we have been spending 1 1/2 hours every day running through our Christmas program. It will be a long program as we have not yet added the Kings Kids (our junior choir), Kids Pan (steel pan group), Dance (children of all ages, dancing to a song by Charlotte Church), the 2 congregational hymns, or the sermonette by Pastor Johnston. The program is taking the place of the 11am service. Mom told me I should eat a really good breakfast so that I'm not wasting away with hunger by the time I get home.
One of my biggest struggles is staying content with where God has placed me. It's not that I can't find things to be joyful in, wherever I am; it's just that I tend to think, "If only I had this," or "If only things were this way," or "If only I could go here, do this, etc." I get so caught up in the things I want that I forget all the amazing blessings around me. For example, I have been eagerly awaiting the 19th, the day I fly home to visit my family for Christmas. My anticipation is not going to make the day come any faster, and, quite frankly, it clouds my enjoyment of the present. These last few weeks have been so full of wonderful experiences, opportunities to grow and learn, chances to get to know others better. I'm not sure if I have made the best of these opportunities before me with my eyes on things ahead instead of things at hand. I know the Lord will continue to bless me wherever I am, and for that, I am most humbled. I pray that God will help me overcome my discontent, for my name is written in the Book of Life; past that, all things can only add to my joy.
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