Happy Mothers Day

Mothers Day - a holiday to set aside the entire day in order to show gratitude and appreciation for those mom's who have invested in your life.

Mother's Day to me is not just my Mom. I've had a handful of woman that God put in my life right when I needed them. They will always have a special place in my heart. I know it's not Mother's Day any more, but here is my "tribute" to those mom's in my life:

Cheri - She was the first one. The first one that I let love me - the first one I loved back. When I met Cheri I had so many walls. At that age (10) I would not have known they were walls and that those walls were not good. But Cheri came into my life and just loved me with what I would call Christ's Love. You know the one I'm talking about, the one that doesn't care if you are weird or crazy or ugly or beautiful, doesn't even care what your personality is like and if it's different than your own: that love that just LOVES and everything about it shined. That was, is, Cheri.

Angie - I will never forget the Bible Studies us girls would have in Angie's apartment. Each Bible Study, day at church camp, even Sunday School, there was Angie with her encouraging words and WISDOM. Man, when I was confused about anything, she always had an answer and she always showed me where in the Bible that she got the answer. Thank you, for investing time in me, each of those "sessions" has helped formed me into who I am today and has definitely helped me persevere in my relationship with the Lord.


Cheryl - I owe my life to Cheryl. Not only because of the days and days and days that I'd stay over and they'd take care of me; but because she took care of me when I felt like I couldn't go home. She fed me and housed me. When I moved, she took care of me from a distance. I still have the stuff she sent me in boxes to fill my house up, and I don't think I can ever get rid of them! Especially my Christmas decor =D Actions speak louder than words; every action she had towards me was enveloped in love and genuine caring-ness towards me.

Miriam - My mother, my sister, my best friend, almost anything! We have a connection that I just can't explain, nor will I try to =D She knows whats wrong before even I do, which is kind of scary, but oh so comforting! She is such an amazing example to me, and reminds me of what God's word calls us to do and what to be like. I don't know what life would be without her! God put her in my life during my high school years and then brought us back together through my current days. He always knows exactly who we need and when.

Angel - My mother in law. I don't even know where to begin with Angel. Seriously. When I'm confused or questioning something, not only does she guide me through the scriptures and always points me to the Lord, but she prays for me. She cares, truly cares. If I'm having a rough time, she wont forget it and the next time we talk she'll ask me how I'm doing. What a great comfort in knowing that someone is praying for me!!

Mommy - My real Mommy (yes I still call her that so HA!!). I haven't had the closest relationship with my Mom, but what I have had I cherish deeply. There is nothing that can break the bond a Mom and Daughter have. Nothing. God has put her in my life to be my mother. I thank Him for that. Otherwise, who knows where I'd be, or even who I'd be for that matter!! My mom has got to be the strongest woman I've ever met, if not the strongest woman alive. And man her biscuits and gravy are BOMB. Seriously: one time I ate so much, I got sick. They are that good. My dream: One day to move to a super small town, open up a diner with my Mommy and serve people: not to give them food, but to have fun and enjoy it.

Looking back through the sections of my life, each one has had someone there for me. God never leaves us alone. He is always there and He provides who we need, exactly when we need. I can only hope that I can be such a woman to someone in my life. Teach them to be strong, loving, humble and always prayerful. The list goes on in qualities that these woman have and what I long to have. The great thing about my God: all I have to do is ask and He will enable me to be those traits.

So to all my Mothers and all the other Mother's: Thank you. Not just for your daily sacrifice, but for your characteristics and love.

Happy New Year!

As I typed out the title to this blog I thought "Why is a new year so exciting to us?"

It's kinda odd, don't you think? I am so time oriented! (as most humans are). I think I like the New Year because it gives me something to physically measure. Without a defined "new year" everything would be running together.

So! What I was really wanting to blog about:

What are you doing this year for New Year's?

Story Time!

I'll tell you about a family tradition from the Hadsell side. We ALWAYS did Cheese Fondu. I could never remember if we did it Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. As I look back on those times...it's Christmas Eve! Dad would make the cheese (maybe one day I'll reveal the recipe) and the rest of us would cut random foods (lil smokies, french bread, broccolli, celery). Then once the cheese was done and melty and good, we'd watch a movie (It's A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Scrooge (the original), or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Sometimes we'd watch all of them!) and eat till we would barely move. One fun rule we had: The first one to drop their food in the cheese had to do dishes! We have never honored that rule, but it's fun to give the person a hard time! (have you tried to dip a piece of bread in thick cheese with a little metal stick before?! It's not that easy to keep it on! It's an art)

Well since I've been married (a whole 1 year) I've adopted and adapted this tradition. WIth the Keenan family...they got Christmas covered. So I have changed my families Christmas Eve tradition into a New Years Eve tradition! We did it last year with Zech's mom, dad, sisters and brother. This year...everyone has plans!

I am. bummed. I really want to do this. So I have two options:

1. Be stubborn and do this by myself and drag Zech into it. Aka - Stay home New Years Eve by ourselves and be lame. (or super cool, depends on how you look at it)

1. Give in and go to one of the million events going on at the same time.

Its a very hard choice. Especially since I love being a hermit sometimes =D

For you all: Have a wonderful New Years Eve! PLEASE! Be careful and have fun!

 (I love the style of music =D)

What's that? "Radical???"

I once saw on a blog someone who was struggling with what to write. She battled between what she thought people wanted to read and what was really going through her mind. So she wrote both. I am going to adopt that idea. The text in red is stuff that I typed out....thought about deleting...and then decided: No. This blog is for them to know what I'm really thinking. I'm not going to sugar coat it. So if you don't want to know what's really going on inside....avoid the red at all costs =D

So us "Christians" have heard this term before: Radical. Being Radical, Radical Christians.

I think we (as "Christians") are scared of the word radical. I would even go as far as saying we are scared of radical Christians. Why? I'm not talking about those crazy ones who do illegal stuff to make a point. I'm talking about those who actually live like Christ through their daily lives.

This post is not ... formulated. I'm just rambling about whats on my mind currently. This has been on my mind for quite awhile now.

It all started with a radio show.

It was one of those "1 minute with So and So" types.

The guy started talking about Christmas and what we have turned it into.

The part that got my attention was his comment about gifts.

Why do we give gifts?

Our answer is: "To Bless others around us" or something along those lines.

If we are wanting to Bless someone...why would we only do it on a "national" holiday when everyone else is giving and getting gifts on the very same day? If you see someone in need...would you not bless them immediately? or if you are walking through a store and see something and it makes you say "Oh! So-and-so would LOVE that!" Why not get it for them then?

But really....Christmas is about one thing: The Birth of Christ.

Look what we've turned it into! A month of spending more money than you have, crazy traffic, gifts for people, getting gifts, getting days off work, a slow stop to all businesses (mail takes longer to get places, banks shut down for a couple days, etc). Luckily we have also turned it into: A joyful month, being able to see someones face when they open a gift they love, spending time with family, growing closer to those in your church, refocusing on Jesus and why He did come down to earth for us!

So...to tie in my Radical point here: Think to the holiday, Halloween. Most Christians AVOID it. I know I do! No parties, no dressing up, no excessive candy (I already try to maintain a balanced candy diet :) ). You all know what I'm talking about. We avoid it because its "evil" or because it's not "religious".

Now think about Christmas. Think about the random things we do. the tree, the lights, the gifts, etc. Why do we do that? Where is that in the Bible? What part about that screams "I'm celebrating the Birth of Christ today!"

If we were to really live out a life of Jesus....What would we see in our lives, that is not Christ like and would need to take out of our life?

That's a hard question! Back to the gifts at Christmas. If we were to take out gifts and not do them any more. Wow. That would be "Radical" and wrong. Right? Isn't that what "society" tells us? Isn't that what churches tells us?!

Those are just some of my thoughts. You know how you think about stuff, have to think about it for a long time, then you come to a conclusion. I'm still on the "think about it for a long time" step. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Maybe I'm way off! I do that sometimes when I have no one to bounce my thoughts and questions off of =D.

To be honest...I get scared. I am afraid of revealing what society, culture, and the world has ... impressed on me? Not the right phrase...Let me try this one: Have you ever thought about something you read in the Bible, have you ever thought that the way we "interpret" the passage might be incorrect, because of the way the world portrays things to be?

For example (now this is coming from the top of my head, so it's not going to be very developed). "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world." It says plainly there "Do not love the things of the world". I love....jackets! Jackets are my ticket in. If I see an amazing jacket, man, it's hard for me not to buy it! And if I have to clean out my closet and get rid of some...its hard. Does this verse mean that loving jackets is wrong and that I do not have the Father in me?! (scary). Our answer is "As long as your love of the jacket is not above your love for the Lord and it is not getting in the way of your relationship with the Lord". Well it most certainly is not! I love the Lord more than anything in this world, including my husband and even my life! So I'm good, right? Hmm. The verse doesn't say "Do not love the world or the things of this world more than your Father." See what I mean? Think about it. That is what I'm afraid of!

I'm sure these thoughts and questions are another step in my walk with the Lord to grow me and teach me things as I "grow up". I could be way off right now, but one thing I know for sure: God will reveal the truth to me as I dive into His words.

Merry Christmas!

A Merry Christmas to you all! A couple days late....sorry....

I hope this Christmas you really got to enjoy the time with family and friends. (and days off work if you were blessed in that way =D)


This year is my third year spending Christmas away from my family. Luckily...I wasn't NEARLY as sad about it as I was on Thanksgiving. But man do I miss them!

I did get to see them though!!! My dad has some new toys and after a lot of persuasion he finally started to play around with his webcam on his laptop. So thanks to Google Hangouts via Google+, I got to see him and my sister along with my nephew, mom, aunt and uncle! (FYI....that many people is a little too much to understand whats going on via webcam!!!) It was a lot of fun being able to see them and not just imagine their voices through typed words or imagine their facial expressions through a phone line voice.

For Zech's family we had their annual Christmas Eve party (though...it didn't happen last year, so this was my first experience at it =D). I just want you all to know...it's so much fun spoiling people and watching other people be spoiled by family that loves them! (and being spoiled of course, but that's not what Christmas is about......) We all had so much fun hanging out together. It truly is a blessing to have such a big family that loves everyone so much!

Of course I was having way too much fun hanging out with Mirm and then rushing around getting ready for the party to remember to even think about NOT forgetting my camera. (Aka...I forgot my camera and have no pics to show of our fun).