Christmas Time

Well
it has arrived, almost...Christmas is almost here. 4 more days. Nate has been getting more and more excited each day. Nate and I will be spending Christmas eve at my dads house so my dad and step mom can watch him open his presents. I cannot wait to see his face.

I have also been so reflective lately tho. I keep thinking about the families of the friends of mine who have died. This will be their first Christmas w/out they're child, because they buried them. I cannot imagine the pain these families will be facing as most of us are excited and happy to be receiving presents, these families will be grieving and maybe not evening celebrating Christmas at all. I cannot imagine having to bury your child, then turn around a week or a few days later and celebrate anything. As a pastor in training I'm not even sure what to say to these families. Every holiday will be different, nothing will be the same. Grief during the Holiday season. Is there a class in seminary for that????????

I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me this holiday season. Allowing me to give Nate a really nice Christmas!! I praise God for this. and I yearn to God and call out to God to help the hurt of those that are deeply hurt this season.

when it is all said and done with December 25th will come and go it is just another ordinary day of the year. I hope that we all can take some time, and think about those who are not so joyous this time of year due to recent death and say a prayer or offer a hug or whatever, to ease the pain.

and remember... Emmanuel: God IS With Us

I'll be posting pics of Nate's Christmas soon.

Lindz

Today December 11th I went to a funeral of a dear friend. I lived with her in college. The funeral was beautiful! She was 25 and lost her 2nd battle with brain cancer. You can read her story here: Lindsey

I cried a lot today. I've cried a lot since I learned that she died. During the service the microphone was open to the audience for us to share memories of Lindsey. I was too weepy to get up and say anything and also felt that maybe the people that knew her longer or better should have their time. However I cannot stop thinking about what Lindsey means to me, so I'm posting this story to help with my grieving and to share my story about Lindsey with others.

I lived with Lindsey Summer 2005-December 2005 a very short time, but a very wonderful time. We lived together with others, at the Wesley House the United Methodist Campus Ministry at University of Central Missouri (you can find them on facebook here) I was a Senior, Lindsey was in her first maybe 2nd year at UCM she was just a baby! We did a lot of small events together for the Wesley house. Lindsey was SO strong in her faith that it was inspiring to ALL of us there. I was dating a guy at the time I was living there, and knew I was going to marry him. Lindsey shared with me the joys of boys and the sorrows they can bring too... One evening I had just gotten off the phone with my boyfriend and he told me that he had cheated on me, I was devastated, crying, and just heart broken. I remember Lindsey came to me, wiped the hair out of my face, wiped my tears and said "uh shoot man,Bec, im sorry, but come on, you are beautiful, you do not deserve him, you deserve so much better" then she hugged me, and said "I will beat him up if you want me to", we giggled.
I graduated that December, moved to TX, and married that man. That man, did it again, he cheated on me and broke my heart again. I left him and moved back to the Kansas City area. shortly after I moved back was when I learned Lindsey was re-diagnosed with brain cancer. This past year or so of going through the divorce process and child support process, I was motivated by Lindsey's love, and faith, and I keep remembering what she said "you are beautiful, you deserve better" Lindsey's words have been one of the many motivating and inspiring forces behind the healing from my divorce. I am SO grateful!!
It hurts that she is gone. and Yes Lindsey please when you meet my ex husband feel free to beat him up! lol! I know that Lindsey is in a better place and that I am so incredibly blessed to of had her in my life. I love ya Lindz!!