what is hope?

what is "hope"?

my friends and i would argue that it's a college. it's a couple acres of land, some cool buildings, and the recipient of thousands of my dollars. hope is the holder of many memories (whether pleasant or not) and hopefully of many more to come. it is a second home and a safe haven.

it's an uplifting sensation that gives me the motivation to move forward in life, to put one foot in front of the other, and get out of bed each morning. hope plasters a smile on my face in moments when i'd rather just cry, pull my hair out, or scream into my pillow. it is a change of behavior and a new look at life.

as sheila walsh says, "hope requires more than simply clicking red shoes or crossing our fingers. it is a sweet and magnificent benefit of walking with Christ. hope looks at all that is true about the present, lifts the circumstances of life into the tender, loving hands of God -- and exhales in trust."

it's Christmas time!

Put your problems on probation

Run your troubles off the track,

Throw your worries out the window

Get the monkeys off your back.

Silence all your inner critics

With your conscience make amends,

And allow yourself some happiness

It's Christmas time again!

Call a truce with those who bother you

Let all the fighting cease,

Give your differences a breather

And declare a time of peace,

Don't let angry feelings taint

The precious time you have to spend,

And allow yourself some happiness

It's Christmas time again!

Like some cool refreshing water

Or a gentle summer breeze,

Like a fresh bouquet of flowers

Or the smell of autumn leaves,

It's a banquet for the spirit

Filled with family, food and friends,

So allow yourself some happiness

It's Christmas time again!

--Bob Lazzar-Atwood

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)

and the countdown begins.

so uneasy. so excited. so nervous. so anxious. so upset. so happy. so crazy. so dumb. so exhausted.

...less than 24 hours. ughhhhhhhh.