2010 Greetings!

Since my last blog post, I have ...
... grieved with my Chris over the news of the death of his father, Troy Talton Elledge
... waved goodbye to my Chris, on Christmas Eve, for a plane bound for the U.S.
... wondered about my Chris as he was stranded in the Memphis, TN airport due to a blizzard in his final destination of Oklahoma City, OK
... rejoiced at the news that my Chris was rescued from the OKC airport by my Dad and JoAnn and then later got to spend Christmas night with his three sisters (Belinda, Lori and Kim) in Altus in the cozy home of their mother, Shirley
... spent Christmas Eve and Day with new friends
... celbrated my 18th wedding anniversary apart from my husband
... bid farewell to Addison for a retreat in Germany and welcomed my dearest kindred friend, Marti, to my home in Vienna for the first time - all in the same day
... rang in the New Year watching fireworks exploding around my home, all the while thinking it sounded like a war zone
... went to Hungary for a new "do" and experienced an hour of silence from Marti (she couldn't speak to the Hungarian pedicurist in German. You might have felt the earth shake as a result!)
... applied at a government office for a government paper that is deeply needed ... PR#Y
... and now, with school starting, am looking forward to what 2010 has in store for the Family Elledge.

So, what did you do over the holidays? This, of course, is a rhetorical question. If you reply out loud, perhaps you may want to borrow a Prozac as this could be evidence that your holidays were way too stressful!

I have many stories about God's resources during Chris' unexpected trip home, the tales my friend Marti and I had during the course of her visit, or reactions the girls had to various gifts given by friends and family. All that will have to wait for another blog. All I have to share today is this ...
"You will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and reguations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart! The Lord your God is with you. Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul." I Chronicles 22:13,18,19

I had a rare experience this morning. I wish I could tell you I fit into the size 10 jeans I keep hidden under my mattress in hopes that one day they fit. No, no, it wasn't this miracle of miracles ... it was better. I had the morning all to myself. The girls had sleepovers at friends' homes and Chris had errands to do with a friend, leaving me all alone in the house. I made a pot of coffee and spent some time with my Father. It was nothing short of wonderful. In fact, the above quote comes straight from my Father's mouth.

I affectionately tell Chris, after having had a date with him, that I feel younger, prettier and thinner. Well, it was doubly true of my date with my Father this morning. I feel younger in my faith, knowing that to be pleasing to Him I must exhibit the faith of a small child. I feel prettier in my thoughts ... knowing that I am ugly and capable of nothing but "yuck" in my own thoughts without inviting my Father to occupy and clean my mind. I feel thiner in my burdens ... knowing that I cannot add one single day to my life with worry - laying down all my concerns before my Father who cares deeply and has the power to carry them for me.

This is what I take into the New Year. This is what I desire most ...

I look forward to what lies ahead ... and forward to sharing them with you!

Younger, prettier and thinner,
Christina