Haste, haste, to bring Him Praise!

Haste - Webster's defines as a rapidity of motion, or swiftness...

This time of year is traditionally coupled with hustling and bustling... in fact I don't think I have ever bustled anywhere in July. However, amid all of the rushing are we forgetting the true reason for the season?

I will be the first to tell you that events and parties with friends and family will be a highlight of my holiday season. That the giving and receiving of gifts is literally making me giddy at the thought, and that the time off from work is looking glorious! 

Amid all of these blessings, I feel the need to remind myself of the greatest blessing of all! Through grace and mercy, God sent his most precious, holy son to Earth. Not just to complete the Nativity set, or to become another holiday story, but to redeem us through His sacrifice!  The love that God exhibited for us in this act is astounding and worthy of our praise!  

Imagine all of the expectation that is placed on an ordinary baby. That they will grow up, become successful, maybe start a career, or a family. Now, imagine the thoughts that Mary had looking into the eyes of not only her son, but her Savior, knowing that God's love for us would have to trump her love for Jesus.

 

How amazing is the Nativity story?! Full of improbabilities and impossibilities, God finds ways to orchestrate the exact right thing at the exact right time.  So this Christmas season, I hope you find the exact right time to be grateful, inspired, and humbled by this incredible blessing. 

♥ Happy December and a most blessed Advent Season! ~CamiFaith 

Finding a reason for clouds...

Every cloud has a silver lining. Well as soon as you learn to mine a cloud, teach me! 


Today has been a particularly gloomy day, you go outside and it looks like rain is promising, but it has never appeared. 
Finding a reason for clouds... Sure they serve several purposes, providing rain, shade, a fun past-time of convincing anyone that you are sure that one is a bunny. But they serve another purpose for me altogether. They show me how much I fail to appreciate on a daily basis. 


How awesome is it that the sun rises every morning and sets every evening , passing time, and marking the beginning and close of a new day. 
So what happens when you don't see the sun? It has still risen, God still blesses us with it everyday. He just made us work harder to see it and acknowledge its presence. 




Just as we must try harder to see the sun, when something clouds our view of the innumerable blessings that we have received, whether it be stress, anger, grief, or just life in general, we must remember that even though they might be unseen in the moment, that they do still exist.

There are days when Team Jacob doesn't seem so bad......

Alright, here goes, the inaugural Twilight post! 


I am, have been, and forever will be TEAM EDWARD! Whew, that being said, I completely sympathize with Jacob. Part of the reason why we are so in love with the Saga is because we can find something to identify with.


I have been thinking lately about how life will be after the Saga ends. Will I feel like that part of my life is over, will I physically miss the anticipation and hype of yet another movie?? 


I fell in love first and foremost with the story. The characters and the world so vividly depicted by the wonderful Mrs. Meyer. The addition in my world of endearing Taylor Lautner, more good speaking KStew, and the ridiculously attractive Robert Pattinson, was just BONUS!!!







But I started thinking that I need to give Jacob's character a chance. He displays an incredible amount of loyalty and maturity in Breaking Dawn and makes sacrifices that seem almost unnatural. 

Stephenie redeems his sacrifice by adding in Renesmee, a consolation prize of sorts. But in the end Jacob doesn't feel robbed, like he came in second to anyone. He is perfectly content with his destiny with her. 


Will I ever be happy that the Twilight experience over, PROBABLY NOT! But I can be content with my destiny.....


I feel like Twilight is my Bella, something that I got to experience for a little while, that will always be a part of my life. But as it reaches the end, I feel more closely drawn to holding on to whatever I can.... 


But in this analogy there has to be a Renesmee, something that is better for me in the long run. I think that my friends and the opportunities that I have been afforded because of Twilight, are my Renesmee! Something that I can feel tied to, that is connected to Twilight, but is separate and different in its own way.  

This post is dedicated to the wonderful and amazing ladies that I have met and have yet to meet.... Many of you play such an important part in my life. You honestly have become my support system, you encourage me, inspire me, make me happy, make me proud, make me laugh, make me cry (the good kind!) This is my way of saying, "Thank you for EVERYTHING!"

You make me proud, everyday.

What an awesome sentiment to share with someone. In a world where many do not take the time to acknowledge what people mean to them, let alone say it out loud, this sign stopped me in my tracks.

This perspective comes from a grown-up kid of parents that knew that, "You disappointed me," and "Trust is something earned, not freely given," hurt worse than any anger could have. As I have grown and have gotten to develop my relationships with people, I have found the inherent truths to both of these.
You make me proud, that in and of itself is amazing. To have someone in your life that you can invest some of yourself in, that it genuinely makes you feel joy at their success. When the everyday part is added it can be life changing. Now, I am sincerely not advocating living for others... but I am suggesting that you live in such a way that the people that have a vested interest in your life experience joy with you when you succeed.

Looking back on the twenty-five years that I have had, I can think of several instances that were unarguably disappointing. But at the end of the day I hope to have more that can make someone proud.

You make me proud, everyday. That statement speaks volumes of who said it, and who it was said to. Pride in oneself can become such a hindrance, but pride in others is an altruistic reflection of love and respect you have for someone.

Have you made someone proud today?