Pictures capture memories and moments throughout the year that we otherwise might forget. Below is a recap of our wild and crazy (and fun!) year, as seen through pictures.
Waiting for the Light
One of the hardest elements of this past year has been the lingering feelings of darkness and sadness. It is in these moments that it seems that I'm unable to feel anything at all. I know I should be feeling joy in the Lord. I know my only hope is to treasure Christ and cling to him alone. I know I should be talking to myself instead of listening to myself. I know a lot of things in those moments, but the kicker is that I don't feel a lot of things.
Silent Christmas: A Poem
No infant cries to call our own
No tiny presents that fill our home
Just a deafening silence that tells a story
Of what was, is not, and now will not be
We sing the songs that tell of good cheer
And all the while wish you were here
Your mommy and daddy, we miss you so
Yet in our sadness we hope and know
That your Christmas celebration is much greater than this
More joy, more laughter, and endless bliss
For in our Savior's presence you forever will stand
And one day we will meet you in Emmanuel's land
No tiny presents that fill our home
Just a deafening silence that tells a story
Of what was, is not, and now will not be
We sing the songs that tell of good cheer
And all the while wish you were here
Your mommy and daddy, we miss you so
Yet in our sadness we hope and know
That your Christmas celebration is much greater than this
More joy, more laughter, and endless bliss
For in our Savior's presence you forever will stand
And one day we will meet you in Emmanuel's land
Friday is for Fotos: Christmas with Family
Hope for the Holidays: You Are Not Forgotten
For many people the Christmas season is a joyous time filled with family gatherings, way too much (good) food, and an abundance of gifts. But for some, it’s far from the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is only a reminder of what is missing, or broken, or not right. Christmas only highlights the fact that they feel completely forgotten by God.
Rest is Not My Savior
The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be an extremely busy time for most people. Between the rush to buy the perfect gifts for family and friends and the seemingly endless parties and family gatherings, we can easily burnout before mid-December. As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to realize that the holiday season just seems to get busier and busier. And sometimes I just don’t like all of the busyness.
Friday is for Fotos: Oklahoma City
A couple of weeks ago Daniel and I went to Oklahoma City for his job, and while we were there we visited the memorial site where the Oklahoma City bombing happened. It was a very well done memorial, but it was sobering to walk through the place where 168 Americans were tragically killed. I remember exactly what I was doing when the news broke that the bombing had taken place. I was home sick from school that day, and I remember watching the coverage with my mom and being scared and overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. As a 12 year old it was really frightening, especially knowing that 19 children were killed as well.
The chairs were the most moving part to us. Each chair represents a person who was killed, with the smaller ones representing the children killed. Below are some of the pictures that we took from our visit.
He Made Himself Nothing
"The Holy Spirit wants us to understand where Christ came from. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5-7, 'Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.'
The Fullness of God
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”—Colossians 1:15-20