fröhlich geburtstag jesus oh-gott!

Usually every year we have our big fancy dinner, and open all of our gifts on Christmas Eve (German tradition). This year we spiced it up a bit and played Minute to Win It mini-games. We had about five different ones set up, and I happened to win 2 of the 5 and won 20 dollars! My family is a tad bit on the competitive side, so this was quite exciting for me.

 

One of the games we played was called "Face the Gingerbread Man" where basically you just try and get the cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands. Let's just say this wasn't my strongest area of competition..

 Another game we played was called "Johnny Applestack". Pretty self explanatory-- we just had to stack five apples on top of each other in under a minute. It seems a lot easier than it actually is... My immediate family struggled a bit with this one, but I ended up winning anyways so it's all good ;)

 Toooo typical.

So yes, indeed, it was a good Christmas. Praise the Lord :)

Bright smiles on a cloudy day

Christmas pixxxx.

you're welcome relatives.

 Fil made me.

let's just say my mother is clueless..

       

cool Asians.

Teenie Weenie Gets Tipsy

       Today my dearest sister, Justine, turned 21. She wasn't actually tipsy, but happened to make the greatest entrance to her birthday dinner tonight at Shalhoob's Steakhouse. My family and some other friends were awaiting her appearance at approximately 7pm. She had gone to "Happy Hour" with some friends at 5, and finally around 7:10pm decided to show up. The first thing she does is wave and then completely just slips and falls on the floor. (I was unaware that she had slipped on water; I just thought she was tipsy from Happy Hour, haha.) I pretty much couldn't ask for a greater sister. I love her to death and for all of eternity (Praise God). 

 Birthday Boi.

 Birthday Guurl.

 A toy car with a key...hmm?

.

 The excitement builds..

 Justine's new ride.

The Christmas Joy Found in Colorado

          So I was just looking at some of the pictures on my sister's computer and happen to come across some of our Christmas photos from last year in Parker, Colorado. It made me smile about how much joy I find within my family even though sometimes I absolutely cannot stand them. Here's a little peaky peak:

 We'd like to say he's normal...

 Cousins :)

 Mitchell tries on Daddy's boots.

 Blissful brother.

 Our little bartender.

 Santa Claus decides to stop by.

Wormy McWorm says hello.

Beauti.

You could say I love my family.

Father Turns 52 & Our Annual Small Group Xmas Party Lives On

 Old Geezer.

Luff.

Standard.

This Whole Idea of Joy

          The third Sunday of Advent a couple days ago was Joy. I've never really been struck by the big picture of the joy that God brings to me because I just think of joy as substantial happiness or satisfaction, and quite frankly I never feel complete satisfaction within myself.        
          On Sunday, I started off the day by going to Reality (in Carpinteria) at 7:45am for my first time. I was unsure of what to expect, but all I had heard were positive things about it. By the end, I was covered in tears and complete and utter conviction. I had never experienced any church body like this before--almost every single person in that room was either bowing down, raising their hands, or lost fully within the goodness of the Holy Spirit. Let's just say God felt very present, and I had never experienced such contentment before. Even though I was crying and repenting because of the weight of sin that I was feeling upon me, I felt pretty flippin' good. I felt forgiven and completely fulfilled with the Advent of Joy that was in me. After this, I attended Community Covenant Church and this quote stuck with me: "Christ is risen. He is truly risen...May that message find an echo in your heart and mine as well because the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the source, the reason, the basis for the inarticulate joy of our Christian lives."-Brennan Manning. After I heard this, I was completely grievous but at the same time full of clarity. "For God so loved the world that He gave up His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Wow. God gave up His only Son for me? The question is: "Why?!" Well, simply so that we could experience this inarticulate joy that He brings to us each and every single day. Doesn't it just blow you away that we can find this everlasting joy in living as God's children? We may not realize it at first, but God brings joy to us throughout everything--our brokenness, our hopelessness, our restlessness; you name it. We need to be fully aware of joy and wake up to it more often and know & trust God with whatever we think may be blocking that substancial happiness. "There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning." When we suffer, we experience more of Jesus; the more pain you have, the more joy you will recieve. So I'm going to stop babbling now and leave it at that. Hope you're all having blessed weeks! Break is almost here, praise God!!

Some Delight for the Christmas Season

             Well as we all know it is Advent season, also known as Christmas season. Lately I've just been going back in forth between Sufjan Steven's old Christmas volumes (Songs For Christmas) and some of Relient K's Let It Snow album. I know--quite the mix, huh? Well as much as I love Relient K, Sufjan just straight up blows all else out of line. He is the perfect mix between pop and indie, yet somehow incorporates his Christmas albums into these categories perfectly. I don't know about you, but I really do not like all of the poppy Christmas music that is played on the radio throughout Advent season. This is why I enjoy Sufjan, and for that matter the Christmas season. Almost all of his tracks are from a Biblical view, and this is why I appreciate him greatly. He can play great music and integrate God in his lyrics; I mean what more could I ask for...? Here's what I've been listening to: 

1. All The King's Horns- Sufjan Stevens

2. I Celebrate The Day- Relient K

3. Sleigh Ride- Relient K

4. Boxing Day- Relient K

5. Come On! Let's Boogey To The Elf Dance!- Sufjan Stevens

6. The Friendly Beasts- Sufjan Stevens

7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Relient K

8. O Come O Come Emmanuel- Sufjan Stevens

9. That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!- Sufjan Stevens

10. What Child is this Anyway?-Sufjan Stevens

What are you listening to?