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

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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

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.

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!

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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

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

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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