Still Christmas Breaking in Colorado

I had a lovely few days out in the mountains. Some highlights:


~Getting to know my sister's in-laws and eating good meals, playing shanghi and cranium and watching Madagascar or featured shows on the discovery channel :) Oh! And playing with Rocky and Willow, their dogs. (Morocco scored, too, with plenty of attention)

~Skiing! I only got three big bruises ;) It was fun, and gorgeous. It was so very different than my brief experiences of Michigan skiing. My favorite was our second day, when it was absolutely clear and sunny and you could see all the peaks of the surrounding mountain ranges.

~Singing hymns like "How Great Thou Art" (partly to keep warm!) on the ski lift when no one was around. Just me, the evergreens and mountains covered in snow, and Jesus :)

~Discovering that I really like eating cheddar cheese while drinking hot chocolate. Don't know why.

~Zooming down Wheeler/Coppertone while taking in the view all by myself and loving the feeling of it.


Pictures are on facebook. Sigh. Only Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Linde's house! Sunday afternoon I go to my aunt & uncle's to meet back up with my grandma, and then early Monday morning I fly back to Michigan...

And then on the 1st I'm headed back to GRR to do some moving/packing/shopping with Debbi!

Betsy

Pictures!

So basically, I get to hang out with the boxers all day: Fallon and Rowan. They love me, and I love them. Here ^^ I'm curled up with Rowan/"Rosie" as my pillow... :)

On Sunday, Joe and Linde and I went to fetch ourselves a Christmas tree. Unfortunately it took us many stops, until we got a great deal on this one at a nearby Nursery.

^ Joe fixing the base


^ Morocco, the african grey parrot, looks on in approval.


^Linde puts the Angel on top

Happy Holidays!

Colorado!

Yes. As the title implies, I am in Colorado at my sister's house. And-- I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Their dogs, Rowen and Fallon, have been great company this morning, as well as Morocco, their African Gray Parrot. Right now the doggies are curled up by the fire, and I've just made some mac 'n cheese. Yummers. :)

Had a good flight/trip out here, too. Delayed in GR, but the whole direct flight into Denver is shnazzy! I got almost my whole paper done on the plane (yeah, which I need to email to my prof, soon...) which was a good use of my time.

Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire... or at least Fyodor Dosteovesky and I will be. I'm reading The Idiot which Zach gave me for Christmas and so far I'm enjoying it! D has great rhetoric--duh. But really. He does.

I'll take pictures of my trip and post them later!
Bets

betsy full-of-joy.

I still remember when I was working at Pfaltzgraff in high school, and one day my dad stopped in and my manager stopped to chat. She said that I was a "joy" to work with, and my dad replied "that's her middle name"... and a deep association was made.

Ever since I learned the depth and meaning of 'joy,' (especially when my dad passed and I found what real joy was--"sorrow and love mingled down" creates it) I've wanted to continue living up to it. My parents couldn't have known what a blessing this name would be nearly 20.5 years ago, but every time I hear someone describe me by the word "joy," it's like God's gift to me. He's saying over and over again,

Yes, Betsy. You are my Joy. And you are doing a good job of it--other people see it, too.

Lots has changed. Another season of my life has ended with the semester. In some ways (namely, academically) this semester was an easy one. In other ways, it couldn't have been more difficult. But Grace has been present throughout, and God has remained faithful to me. So I'll be faithful to Him. It's the least I can do as I rest in His goodness. If this is the road I'm walking, I'll skip down it. I can still celebrate, and there is still joy.

Betsy Joy

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

anxious heart.

Oh Heavenly Father, (Abba!)
I hurt. My heart hurts. I'm anxious to know what the future holds, and it hurts. I pray boldly, nonetheless, because that You alone hold my life in Your hands. You are the one who loves me, who carries me, who lifts me up with hope. You fill me with Living Water--and I am satisfied. I rejoice in the power of Your freedom and goodness, and You, God, are the one I petition. Hear my cry. Do not leave me now. I trust in You.

Amen.

Advent Songs...

I was tagged by Heidi. I'm on it-- no reluctance there... (only 5 songs?!)


1. First, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums. Any of them. It was listening to Mannheim steamroller as a child while putting up the Christmas tree that made it feel like Christmas, and it always inspired in me a deep understanding of the rich excitement and gloriousness of this season. Musically, there are just so many layers, and it added so much depth. Just thinking about Mannheim Steamroller gets me anticipating the Christmas season!

2. "Do you hear what I hear?" is a longtime favorite. I remember singing it with the Holland Youth Chorale when I was probably in 5th grade. It encapuslates the progression-- from the birth of Christ, to the lowly shepherds, to the city and king, and finally, to "people everywhere!"

3. The Newsboys' version of "Where You Belong/Turn your eyes upon Jesus" --It's totally appropriate for the Christmas season in so many ways, as we turn our eyes towards Him. (see?)
When you're dull from all that glitters,
when you're thoughts have a hollow ring,
when you can't escape from the feeling
you're getting it wrong...
All your foolproof plans seem foolish,
all your status is status quo,
all your really need to know
is where you belong.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim in the light
of his glory and grace.
I was used to the cold for so long
that I couldn't feel anything.
And I shivered and stared like a beggar
who won't lift his hands.
I was numb until he touched me.
I was deaf until he heard.
I was senseless 'til I met the one
who understands.

4. I'm copying Heidi-- O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Just because it's assumed. And gorgeous.

5. Handel's Messiah. I remember a couple of the Christmases we went to go hear my sister sing in the Messiah. It is quite an experience, even as a kid. It is part of what ushers me into the season, waiting for the moment and anticipating the ways that God's Salvation works itself out through the world, from beginning to end.


Blessings,
Betsy

Full of Light :)

There are hardly words to describe this past week. Maybe you can imagine what it was like by envisioning the face of my friend, Mary, as I told my story and the events unfolded one after another, interconnected. Her eyes were shining, but also on the verge of tears. She couldn't keep from smiling, and joy was definitely present (and contagious!) in this place.

God has been doing a good work in me. He transformed me deeply in the span of four days (and a fifth to process) and I am still shocked that all of this happened so quickly! But because of the support, resources and circumstances-- it was time to be free from my burden once and for all.

There were so many factors. There were three especially intuitive individuals who, without their prompting and encouragement, I may have never faced this at all. Other people played a significant role, too, with words and songs and Scriptures provided to me through them as comfort.

And now? There is a real freedom. I won't deny that. But I also savor the sensation of it while I can, because I know that part of the journey is going to be defending the Truth I've found-- fighting the temptations of the devil (as I'm sure he's panicked at least a few times this week!) and putting on the armor of God in order to resist his new schemes. I'm not afraid, though. I've experienced the Grace of God to an extent that deeply washes away shame and fear. After all, we're told not to be afraid of men, because they can only kill you-- but be afraid of the One who can destroy your soul. Puts things in perspective.

And I was right (or rather, God was right) because my taking this step to lay all of my sin on the altar has already provided opportunities to minister to others, to share my joy with them, and to challenge them (authentically, not because it's the "right thing to say") to be real with others about struggles.

God is good. As Mary pointed out last night, isn't it just absolutely incredible that the glory of God would be for our benefit? Normally when someone is glorified, it makes everyone else look small and insignificant-- but not so with God. When God is in full glory, He glorifies us with Him-- and we're allowed to be transformed and exalted before him because of it. Praise God. Praise Him.

I think I mentioned this before, but it's also amazing how --- well, I once was blind but now I see. There are so many points of theology and of scripture that I knew but never understood. That total depravity idea makes a whole lot more sense, now. Sin is more real in my life than I have ever understood, and how it is far more than an action, but much more a state of life we live in knowingly or unknowingly. Grace and God's love is also very real.

I look forward to this new season of growth. I look forward to the opportunities that God had already put into place that I didn't get excited about before. My joy has reached a new height.

In the precious name of Jesus, the author of Salvation--

BetsyJoy