Day 7 Boldness

It is 4pm on a grey December day and I just lit my little candle. I'm enjoying some herb tea, Michael Bublé Christmas tunes playing and getting in the Christmas mood.

Recently I found a quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that I would love to share because it bares truth. But since Goethe was a German writer I would feel utterly bad if posting the quote only in English.
So you will get the beautiful German and the English version.

"Was immer du tun kannst oder wovon du träumst - fange es an. In der Kühnheit liegt Genie, Macht und Magie."

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genuis, power and magic in it."

Isn't that just wonderful. It reminds me and confirms that we must follow our dream. I know that God gives us dreams for a reason and this year God has confirmed quite a few of them again.
Today I want to encourage you to begin, live your dreams, start them, be bold!

up Pikes Peak in 2009 - I didn't climb that mountain but have climbed quite a mountain this year. But I was bold and went on a journey and learned so much about myself.

xoxo

Ramona

Day 6 Mad World

It's the 6th of December which means it's St. Nikolaus day. When I was a kid there would always be a boot filled with candy and nuts in front of my door. Today I wondered why we are celebrating this day and researched the history of St. Nikolaus.

I guess today I just simply want to point out that we take away our focus from ourselves. Especially during the Christmas time we are so "busy" that we tend to forget that there is a lost and broken world out there. I know all the organisations want money around Christmas time, but this is really something we must think about and act on all throughout the year. Jesus said "The poor will always be with you". He also said "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (Math. 25:40).

I strongly believe that we have to reach out and be the hands and the feet of Jesus. We are the solution. We as the church are the answer to humanity in its entirety.
So I am asking you. Where are you the change? Where are you making a difference? Where do you reach out to the least of these?
There are so many ways of getting involved in your community and globally. If there is nothing in the context of your church, start something! This is our responsibility and our calling. And every little move will make a difference. Nothing is too small or too insignificant. Even if you make somebody smile. You brightened this person's day.



xoxo

Ramona

Day 5 Cielo

Hey, hope you all had a great Sunday!

There is a lot going on in my heart that I am not able to share, so I'm leaving you with a beautiful song on this 5th day of Dezember, the second advent!

xoxo

Ramona

Day 4 Change

on our Leadership retreat this year.

"Change is not a part of your life. Change is your life."

I like that idea, because we should constantly be growing and learning. That doesn't mean not getting rest, it simply means that you always have something to work out, you're always reaching out to get closer to God, to understand His word more each day.

So, are you willing to be changed? Are willing to grow even if it hurts a little?

Much love

xoxo

Ramona

Day 3 Friends

Today's post is about friends.

Every Friday morning I go to prayer at church at 6am. And I just love it because I get to have breakfast with my best friends plus we unite in prayer and make a difference. Is there anything better?

I must say that the friends I have are really something special and rare and I am more than thankful for them. I would not like to do life without them.

Melina's graduation banquet in 2007 - Best friends for life

Therefore I just want to encourage you to surround yourself with good friends, people you can trust, people you are accountable to, people who have full allowance to speak into your life.

Once you have found that. It will be like a treasure in your hand. Keep it carefully, love them, be forgiving.

Much love

xoxo

Ramona

Day 2 Christmas Presents

It is 4:17 on a beautiful Thursday afternoon and I'm ready for my second post of the Christmas Calendar. Just lit my little candle on the desk and am enjoying some coffee and chocolate. Bliss.

Today during my lunch break I went to a little shop downtown to pick up some Christmas presents and it got me thinking about the whole buying gifts, commercialization of Christmas and how people just run around to find "something".

I personally love preparing, buying and thinking of Christmas presents for my friends. I usually make a list of all the people I want to give something to and then I try to think of something special.
I believe that Christmas presents do not always have to be something bought. They just need to be something thoughtful. Yes it takes a little bit more effort, but if you want to escape all the shopping-mania, that's the way to do it.
So I guess, this post is just to encourage you and help you come up with a few ideas. So, here's a list of things you can give that are inexpensive, yet thoughtful, loving and special:

- give time. Make or if you're not crafty, buy a card and give somebody time that you are going to spend with this person. A coffee, a shopping trip, a breakfast... whatever it is you guys like
- bake something. That is something I have started 2 years ago. It takes some time to prepare, but people love it. Plus, it shows them that you took the time to create something that they are about to enjoy.
- host a dinner party. This falls into the category of giving time, yet you invite people to your home, you cook something. If you're out of time, this can be great because it can also be hosted within the following year. Just make sure you really fulfill what promised.
- make a photo collage. I've always loved receiving these presents. It's awesome because somebody reminds you of all the great memories you had together.

In my family the whole tradition of giving gifts is a feast unheard of. We gather around the tree and give presents for hours. We laugh, we joke, we're weird and whimsical. We celebrate each gift and enjoy it. I love it. It is always the highlight of the night.

Hope you're enjoying your day taking a couple minutes to ponder about Christmas.

my sister and I joking around the Christmas tree in 2008

Mucho Love

xoxo

Ramona

Day 1 Slow Down

on a walk through the snow.

Today at around 2 pm it started to snow and within minutes everything was covered in a beautiful white blanket.

On my way home from work the earth was so calm and quiet it made me think of this season. This season really should not be about business and stress, but really about remembering what it is all about. And I guess this is why I am doing this calender: To remind myself to slow down and think, slow down and remember that Christ the savior was born and everything should point towards him. Everything is beautiful in this season with snow... everything dipped in white shimmer, making everything glow. Nature praises him - we should too.

xoxo

Ramona