Saturday, December 24, 2011

Day 24: Merry Christmas


And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel. Matthew 2:6 NLT

This is what Christmas is really about. The birth of Jesus Christ!
Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thank you for giving your life so that we can be saved and redeemed!

Merry Christmas

xoxo

Ramona

picture via

Friday, December 23, 2011

Day 23: Presents


I have to be honest with you. I do not like wrapping presents. I am also not really good at it. So the only way I enjoy it and find creativity in it is to come up with a creative masterplan each year that make my presents look special (at least for me).
Today I was contemplating the gift giving and why I try to give uncommercial. Everybody is always complaining how commercial Christmas is and how they dislike it all. But I say, change the situation! Seriously start giving things you made, things that matter, things that mean something. It shifts your way of thinking, the way people receive the presents and it is actually going against the mainstream.
I started this a few years ago and I always try to give things that are special, yes I invest money, but mostly I invest my creativity, my time and heart.
For example I give time of myself or I give other people time with each other. Or I make a CD or I bake things.
I have friends whose love language is gifts and who rejoice with materialistic presents and I fulfill their wish. Because ultimately gift giving is not about myself but about the person receiving the gift.

Anyway... just thought I'd share. Also I made my gift tags this year out of paper doilies and like every year I am baking Banana Sour Cream Bread for my friends. It has already become a tradition!



Tomorrow is the day! The day that Christ was born!

Much love.

xoxo


Ramona

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Day 22: To Gather

Yesterday we celebrated Melina's birthday and after us girls had eaten all our other friends rang the bell and showed up with an amazing chocolate cake!
This year has really marked a year of friendship. I have learned so much in the friendships I have and through my friends. Yet again I saw the importance and the essence of a good friend. And it is not about being perfect people or about spending perfect times together or even spending that much time together. It is about being there for each other, making every moment count, asking the right questions. It is about the simplicity of a hug or the soft touch of a hand. It is the words of encouragement and the words that make you become a better person. It is about growing together and growing closer to God. It is about doing this life together and helping each other climb the mountain tops in our lives.
I believe there is nothing like friends gathered around a table eating. It is simple. It is true. There is laughter and there might be tears but it's a gathering. It is being together.



Thank you friends!!!!

xoxo

Ramona

PS: I did a series on Friendship at the beginning of this year.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Day 21: Where you need to be

I was going to write about something else. Something that also is on my heart and was very important this year. But then my sweet friend Lilie posted this quote on Facebook and I just knew it was exactly what I had to say  today.

"It's amazing how you can get so far from where you’d planned, and yet find it was exactly where you needed to be." Sarah Dessen
 
xoxo

Ramona

PS: While I am writing this I am listening to Snow Patrol, eating tangerines, drinking tea and cracking peanuts on this cold and rainy winter day. Hard to believe that Christmas is this weekend!

picture via

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Day 20: Turn to Stone

Honestly, I love this season. I love it when it snows, when there are candles lit and tea cooking in the kettle. I am a hopeless romantic. Sometimes I would like to live in an old movie.

That aside. Today I yet again want to show you another beautiful dance. It inspires me and I think I only fully understood it today. It is about two seperate statues who awaken to life and want to become one statue together.


Much love.

xoxo Ramona

Monday, December 19, 2011

Day 19: Have Faith

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

When I look back at the last four weeks I could say they have been some of the craziest ever. There was so much going on. And yet I sit here with my candle and Andrew Belle singing songs and I am happy. I don't worry about a thing. I am at rest. Only by the grace of God. Only by stepping out in faith. Only by knowing that He knows my every step and cares about my heart.

My Pastor has been speaking about faith lately. Simple. Faith. The kind of faith that just let's go and trusts God. It has been so encouraging for me and I am learning so much.

We just have to hold onto God's hand and step out in faith. Just trust Him and know Him. Faith is expectant. Expectant for something we cannot see yet but know that it is a promise in our life.

What are some of the things you have to stand firm in faith for? What are the things where you just cannot make sense of them and all you have left is faith?

In all of these things. We are growing. Our faith is streched. We become stronger people.

xoxo

Ramona

PS: I added a whole Winter music plus Christmas playlist to my Current Soundtrack

picture via

Day 18: A lot like Christmas

I am really sorry that Day 18 is coming so late, but wow what a weekend it has been! We had our you(th) Christmas Party: The Christmas Factory. It was such a great night. So much fun and so relaxed and filled with awesome people!
Today we had a little friends/mentoring Christmas Party which was just plain beautiful. It is certainly one of my absolute favorite Christmas Parties each year because it gathers my very best friends around a table. We laugh, we cry, we are so close and I love every single one of them more than words could every find an expression for.




Hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend and 4th of Advent too!

xoxo

Ramona

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Day 17: The Christmas Factory


Today is the day. The day of the Christmas Factory, our you(th) Christmas Banquet. Like every year it is going to be amazing!
So looking forward to it!

xoxo

Ramona

Friday, December 16, 2011

Day 16: The Famous Last Words

It is so stormy outside and I connect with the weather. Big time!
Today all I could think of was this dance. I let it speak for itself. Watch it. Feel it. Know it.
xoxo
Ramona

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Day 15: A Leap of Faith

Like I said yesterady my life is so interesting right now and I find it quite amusing how everything seems to be happening in the last 4 weeks of this year!
What is quite interesting is the fact that I love sermons about getting out of the boat, risking things, following God's plans and I always thought I did that. And I do and I am always willing to get uncomfortable for God to shape and change me. And believe me this year has been a year of change and growth in many areas.

And yet again I am here now at the edge of decisions to make. Decisions that will change my life. And the only question that comes up in my heart is if I am willing to take the risk. Am I willing to get out of the boat. Am I ready to step into new waters of uncertainty? And another thing I ask myself is why not? What is hindering me? Why shouldn't I try out and leap?
This Sunday our Pastor so amazingly connected the Christmas Story with a message about faith. We will never have enough facts to make a choice and in the end we just have to step out in faith allowing God to bring it all together and to work on our behalf. Not hindering him by staying comfortable, but leaping. Jumping, believing and taking that risk. And who knows what kind of joys and growth and change that will involve, right?!

So these are my thoughts on this crazy weather day a week before Christmas and two weeks before this year ends. And to top it all of a song came to me again. A song I have known for a while but today the lyrics spoke to me.

Follow Your Heart by Nathan Angelo on Grooveshark


What are some choices you are making right now? Are you willing to step unto the water?

xoxo

Ramona

PS: Plus plus plus... this awesome article found me in the perfect timing!

picture unkown. If you know where it's from let me know and I'll link it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Day 14: Daring

I actually wanted to write about something big in my life and things that are on my heart but it's to big to just take a few minutes to write about it. I really want to take some serious time on that one.
Nonetheless... my life is crazy right now and it hasn't been like that in a very long time. I'm changing, trusting God more and more and learning to just believe. To dare. To believe. To leap.

Hope you're having a wonderful night...

xoxo

Ramona

picture via

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Day 13: Me

This year has been a year of becoming more me than ever. A year of opening my heart to dream. A year of allowing myself to be naive again. It has been a time of growing into what I am supposed to be and supposed to be doing. Not because other people think so but because it is what I have always felt in my heart. Many fresh steps have been made this year but it is only the beginning of a grand future which is ahead of me.

Have you become more you this year? Who are you? What is the core of your being?

xoxo

Ramona

Monday, December 12, 2011

Day 12: Winter Romance

Sometimes a picture is worth more than a thousand words. And this season and the lights and being cozy makes me all romantic. That and Michael Buble singing beautiful Christmas songs.
This is one of my favorites:

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like by Michael Bublé on Grooveshark

xoxo

Ramona

Picture via

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Day 11: An Engagement

Wow, it has been such a crazy weekend, but full of fun. There are so many things in my heart to share but I guess I reserve that for the coming week.
The news of the weekend is definitely that one of my best friends got engaged! So so happy for them!

Tonight we're having a little Advent party and open house so... hope you are celebrating the 3rd Advent. Only two more weeks until Christmas.

xoxo

Ramona


Picture of my newly engaged friend and I

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Day 10: Waiting for Me

Yesterday at you(th) we sang this new song. And singing these words to my Father in Heaven was the most awesome thing. There is nothing like His love being poured over you. Nothing like His grace to bathe in. Nothing like His righteousness to stand in.

Maybe you are like me and would like to be reminded of His love daily. You can download the above simple graphic here.

Enjoy your Saturday!!!

xoxo

Ramona

Friday, December 9, 2011

Day 9: In Memory of...

Today I want to take few minutes to remember our time in India. It was a life changing time. I learned so much as a leader and have grown in this area more than ever before. I got a glimpse of something of the future. My heart was touched in so many ways.
God has placed something in my heart.  A dream. I have to follow it. I have to take steps toward that direction. Some things I don't see yet but you have to start somewhere. Follow your heart. Yes... that's it. Follow your heart!

Happy Friday friends!!

xoxo

Ramona

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Day 8: The Ups and Downs

Every relationship, every friendship, every marriage has its ups and its downs. It's those times where you grow, where you sharpen each other and become a better person.
I really don't want to say too much more about the video I am about to post because I believe it speaks for itself. Enjoy it.



xoxo
Ramona

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Day 7: Pause and Rest

It is a quiet afternoon. The wind is blowing hard outside. My little candle is burning and Michael Buble is singing Christmas songs for me.
I am thinking a lot about my friends. I am thinking a lot about choices I have to make. I am thinking about all the things that have happened this year and am forming dreams for the New Year.
I love this season of the year because you remember what it is all about you remember all the things that have passed this year and you see the place God has brought you to at the end of another year.
I find it very sad up to the point of wanting to cry sad how it seems that in this season so many people are stressed out and unfriendly when this should be the season of rejoicing and being thankful and taking extra time to relax.
For me this is actually always the season when I am planning the most parties and to top it all of I always find time to do an extra party, an extra little bit here and there. But I delight in it. It soothes me and I love giving of my time and talent to spend it with amazing people.

I guess I just want to encourage you to take a moment and breathe. Relax and allow yourself to come to rest.

xoxo

Ramona

PS: I had planned on posting a dance... oh well... I guess I'll save that for tomorrow
PSS: the picture is my best friend Melina and I with our Christmas tree this year. We have our own little tradition!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Day 6: Visions

Allow yourself to dream. Allow yourself to envision things. Take some time today and sit down and look ahead from you. What do you see? What do you want to see? What kind of dreams has God put on your heart?
Write them down. Walk each day with the Lord. Follow His guidance and He will lead you even further than your dreams and visions will have taken you!

Happy St. Nikolaus Day!

xoxo

Ramona


picture via

Monday, December 5, 2011

Day 5: Winter Song

It is a new week and I am so thankful that God's mercies are new everyday. Everday I can wake up to a blank page. A page that I write history on. A page that tells the story of my life and walk with God. The adventures I have with him in this life.
I feel His love upon me and His grace around me. I am thankful for all He has done and all I want is to follow Him, please Him and rest in Him. Ah... this gets me really excited! His love. His grace. His righteousness.

Anyways but what I wanted to share with you is this beautiful Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. I think I have to buy me that CD (The Hotel Café presents Winter Songs) finally :-)

Winter Song w/ Ingrid Michaelson by Sara Bareilles on Grooveshark

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful day.

xoxo

Ramona

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Day 4: Falling off the Trapeze

So, Melina and I just set up our Christmas tree and are celebrating a little Advent time, listening to Christmas music. It is about time we get in the mood :-).
Anyways today at church the guest speaker spoke about Falling. What astounded me was that circus people who swing from the trapeze first have to learn how to fall. They have to learn how to fall to lose the fear of falling because they know that there is a net which will catch them.

So. If you have ever fallen (and we all have!) or you feel like you are falling or failing in your relationship with Christ or as a person you can always remember than no matter how much we seem to be falling we can always know that we will only fall in the arms of the grace of God!

Happy 2nd of Advent!

xoxo

Ramona

picture via

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Day 3: Tango

My friends and I have recently talked about Tango and I must say I definitely want to learn it. The Argentine Tango that is. There is something about it.
Well, when I learn it I definitely want it to look like this. This piece is perfect for me in every way:
 

xoxo Ramona

Friday, December 2, 2011

Day 2: Laughter

Have you already laughed today? I surely have and I can tell you there is no better medicine than a good laugh with a great friend!
So... if you're feeling a little low today. Laugh, start smiling and spend time with friends who make you laugh. Friends who bring out the best in you!

xoxo

Ramona

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Day 1: The Center of it all

I almost cannot believe that it is already December. Seriously? Wow.
Well, to start this year's Calendar off I have something really simple and still it is the most important thing there could be.
Yesterday we had our monthly praise and worship night at church and while I was worshipping from the depth of my heart I thought. That's it. No matter how things go, not matter how busy this season might be. No matter the situation you are in right now. There will always remain one thing: There is Jesus and there is me. And that is all I need. So no matter what. I will lift my eyes to the one who saved me. Jesus.

xoxo

Ramona


**picture from a recent drive up into the Black Forest. Rising above the clouds

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