Taking back Christmas

Nothing quite gets me in the Christmas spirit like my first red cup from Starbucks.

As I was sipping on my Grande Skinny Peppermint Mocha in the parking lot of Costco this morning my mind thought back to last year’s controversy related to said non festive red cup of Christmas cheer.

The holidays can bring out the worst in people. Getting revved up about a flippin’ coffee cup, causing unnecessary drama on Facebook, bad attitudes at the mall/airport/grocery store, family squabbles, the list goes on.

Not this year friends.

I’m taking back my Christmas and I invite you to say no with me to Christmas craziness.

Here’s how I’m doing it.

1. Spread kindness and grace like glitter.

Think about all of the things and baggage going on in your life that no one knows about.

Those people who drive you crazy? They have stuff going on in their life too that you have no idea about.

Give grace and be kind because you haven’t walked in their shoes. Worried it won’t be reciprocated?

As Mother Teresa said, “It was never between you and them, it’s between you and God.”

2. Do at least one act of service every day.  

It doesn’t have to be anything big.

• Let someone go in front of you at the checkout line.
• Give your parking spot to someone who hasn’t been waiting as long.
• Pay for the car behind you in the drive thru line.

Doing something for someone else expecting nothing in return is the greatest way to lift your spirits.

3. Expect something (or someone) to be crazy (and it might be you at times)

Take a deep breath, pull out your essential oils, immediately name three things you’re thankful for, go to the bathroom to play some candy crush. Get some fresh air outside.

We all get overwhelmed at times and taking a short calculated break from the madness can make all the difference.

4. Practice gratitude

Your Christmas plans might look different than you wanted. Your house isn’t as full, people are missing from your dinner table, or maybe your life isn't where you expected it would be.

It’s easy to get caught up in the “remember when” syndrome but living in the past is a sure fire way to miss this year’s blessings.

5. Smiling's my favorite. (~Buddy the Elf)

Isaac Newton once said, “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.”

For anyone who travels to their hometown during the holidays this means someone (usually many) will ask you the very personal questions you wish they wouldn’t:

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Are you still living with your parents?”

“Has he proposed yet?”

“Are you pregnant?”

“When are you having kids?”

and the even more awkward  follow up, “Well why not?”

These questions will always come up and for most part people don’t mean any harm by asking them.  Just nod and smile back. We can’t control what other people do we can only control our reaction.

6. Remember what the Christmas season is about….Christ

A few weeks ago I was listening to my *NSYNC Christmas album and their a capella version of “O Holy Night” came on. It’s beautiful guys...you should definitely add it to your collection if you haven’t already.

“A thrill of hope,

the weary soul rejoices,

for yonder breaks,

a new and glorious morn.”

My hometown pastor Dr. Cameron challenged his congregation to come up with a word for 2017. The word I chose is “Hope.”

I don’t know about you but 2016 has left me feeling weary.  There has been so much going on in our world;  health issues, fractured relationships, the passing of loved ones, layoffs, wildfires, a divisive election...I could go on and on.

That song reminded me that the Christmas season and the birth of Christ brings the hope for:

• healing to our sickness
• reconciliation to our broken relationships
• the promise of heaven to reunite with our loved ones
• security in our identity through Him amidst the uncertainty of job loss
• rain to put out the fires
• the belief greater days are still in front of us no matter who occupies our highest political office.

May your Christmas season and 2017 be filled with the THRILL OF HOPE no matter what your circumstances are.

I had this sign made from OurHobbyToYourHome (they also did one for my wedding). 
Now every morning when I get coffee, I'm reminded of my word for next year. 

Merry Christmas ya’ll!

Lessons from LeBron

I used to not know anything about basketball. There's a lot I admit I still don't.

This isn’t a blog post about improving your basketball game, but rather several life lessons I learned by watching LeBron play over the past six seasons and what he said in post game conferences. 

(Six seasons; you may be wondering, "isn't that how long you've been with your husband?" Yes it is and believe me there's a connection.)

There are some people who will never get past the "Take my talents to South Beach" press conference or that LeBron doesn't measure up as a "role model" in their eyes. 

He was a kid born to a single mother in Ohio, overcoming poverty, homelessness, and statistics, and giving back to the kids in his community who find themselves in the same boat he was. (Including paying for college for over 1,000 students.)  

There's much LeBron hasn't gotten credit for and there's much we can take away from his success. 

Lesson #1: "We don’t pay attention to extra curriculars"

Before Draymond Green got himself suspended in game five of the 2016 Finals, there was another distraction in the playoffs two years ago.

Remember Lance Stephenson? The Pacers' player with interesting antics including blowing in LeBron's ear to try and get in his head.

We all have Lance Stephenson’s in our lives. Some may call them ‘thorns in the flesh.’ Wherever you go, they are there.

I believe that these people are in our lives to teach us patience. To teach us strength. And some of them are to simply teach us to laugh at the ridiculous.

Lesson #2: “These are things we can’t control…”

LeBron said those words after a defeat in game four to the Pacers in 2014. The Heat played at a high level, but their opponents played better during that game.

I don’t know about you, but I like control. I like making lists and crossing them off. I like on-time departures, people calling when they say they are, etc. etc.

We cannot control the actions of other people. I repeat because I need this reminder. We cannot control the actions of other people.

Worry about yourself and everything else?  Let it go. Let it all go. 

Lesson #3: "That's none of my business!"

People talk crap about LeBron all the time and yet he doesn't let the noise get in. As a girl growing up in the south I'm well aware of gossiping under the guise of "prayer requests." I've done it and I'm sure others have to.

Gossip or "bless their hearts...." isn't going anywhere. We can't change what people say about us so we must change ourselves to not let other people's opinions of us change who we are.

After all, their opinions? Are none of our business.

Lesson #4: "I don't know why the man above gives me the hardest road, but the man above don't put you in situations that you can't handle. I just kept that positive attitude. Instead of saying why me?, I said this is what He wants me to do." 

In the midst of challenging circumstances it's easy to lose sight of the end goal. It's easy to become bitter and negative. 

I'm sure Cleveland fans wanted a championship the first year LeBron came back but that wasn't the plan and that isn't what happened. 

But the waiting? It certainly made the championship won on Sunday night that much sweeter. 

Good things come to those who wait. 

Praising Him Through the Storms

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who's been praying for me.

In November I found a lump in neck and an ultrasound confirmed it to be a 2cm mass on the left lobe of my thyroid.

I'll be seeing a specialist and having a biopsy in February to determine whether the mass is cancerous or not followed by surgery, etc.

If there's anything I've learned going through health challenges it's that my faith can only grow in the valleys. In the trenches. In the places where I just have to say, "God this is Your fight because I'm not strong enough to do this on my own."

The great news is that my thyroid issue is treatable and the prognosis is very good.  I'm so thankful for the people God has placed in my life who have been through the same thing and have told me what to expect.

I'm anxious about the upcoming procedures but I am also ready for all of it to be over with.

Your prayers and texts of encouragement mean more to my family and I than we could ever express.

Please keep those prayers coming!

Because He Lives I can face tomorrow

Because He Lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Praising Him Through This Storm,

Missy