Snowflakes

Photo by Caitlyn Hofmaster :)

The other day I was in Galina, Illinois with my family and Caitlyn to celebrate my birthday. We spent the afternoon walking along the quaint little streets of the adorable town, stopping to look in the windows of shops and admiring the splendor of the bright displays and Christmas decorations. As we walked along it started snowing. It was perfect, like something from a movie. The amazing thing was that as the snowflakes were falling, instead of clumping together, they were landing on the ground in perfect shapes. We noticed some that had landed on a black trash can lid making them easy to see and admire. Amazed by the intricate design and uniqueness of each one, we spent at least 10 minutes looking at them. At one point a man asked us why, of all the hundreds of stores, we were staring at the trash can. Yet, to look and see these amazing little formations of frozen water that had fallen from the sky above fascinated us. It made me so aware that God pays attention to details. The same God who created each snowflake to look exactly like it did knows my heart as well. He knows every corner of my thoughts, every hope and dream, every hurt and every disappointment. He sees the path he's laid before me, and just like the details in the snowflakes, He's crafting each and every moment of the journey.

Oh, No...

Tonight was a disaster. Tomorrow I plan to use my brain :)

1. Get stuck waiting for a train.
2. Realize I don't have a key to get into work.. Drive across town to get it.
3. The roads glare at me, icy cold.
4. My windshield wipers wont work and I can't see where I'm going.
5. That road is closed. Last minute turn in the middle of the intersection.
6. "Don't roll that window down!!! It gets....stuck." It's 30 degrees outside.
7. I'm driving up a one way street. Going the WRONG way!!! ... Laughter.
8. Wrong exit, wrong turn, wrong lane... Someone get me out from behind the wheel!
9. Confuse the lady at the Sonic drive through... It's called "Route 44", not "R.T.44".. haha ;)
10. I successfully make it home to search my bedroom, purse and pockets for that darn key...
11. Dad- "Ally, did you realize that you hit the garage door while backing out last night?"
12. Me- "Are you serious?"... "Yes, I can tell that you are..." Not funny.

I realize how helpless I am at times. My need for grace astounds me. There's a new start with the sunrise and I'm thankful for that.

Caitlyn, You're probably the only one who will be able to fully appreciate this. Lol

...Silly song, silly song

I need to go to bed

I'll listen just one more time...

To remember again

The Drive Through...

The holidays are different for me this year. After this summer, I can't get out of my head how much we as American have compared to so many others around the world. I saw Thanksgiving in a whole new light this year as I thought about what some of my Mozambican friends would have given to feed their families that meal. Then there was Black Friday... I don't know if I could use the word 'angery' to describe how I felt, but thinking of the mobs of people who would stand in line or camp in tents in a freezing cold parking lot just to buy a new TV seemed ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I see nothing shameful in a finding a good deal or spending money.. but hearing the stories of angry shoppers driven by selfish materialism, stampeding and killing people just so they can get an ipod or whatever else it is they think will satisfy them, makes me sick. Anyway, with that being said, I was just feeling a little disgusted over how delusional and selfish all of it seemed.

Then I heard a story that made me smile. My Aunt, with her daughters and sisters, likes going shopping on Black Friday each year. They have a tradition of going to Burger King that morning, and for some reason they always wear those BK crowns you can get while they eat....lol. This year they were sitting by a window and amusing themselves by waving at the people going through the drive through (if you knew my relatives and how hilarious they are, you would understand).. They weren't getting much of a response from people so the decided that the next person to go through and acknowledge them by waving back, they were going to pay for their food. So, a couple pulls up and sees them, smiles, and waves, so my aunt runs to the counter and tells the employee that they wanted to cover the cost of the couple's food that had just pulled up! From their table they could see the confused yet delighted expressions on the faces of the people in the car. Tickled by the fact that they had just covered the whole $3 meal and most likely made someones day, they decided to do it again. This time it was a van that pulled up, and little did they know that it was FULL of people. when my aunt ran up to pay for them it was $16 dollars! So they pooled their pocket change together and gave it anyway. It made my day to hear this! On a day when so many people were out to "get" they chose to give.

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ -Acts 20:35