I was about to write on Facebook that I have no idea why I am so stressable today, but I actually do. Christmas gifts always, always, always stress me out. And I can't write about it on Facebook, because the reason is, I have this huge inner battle with wanting to express my deep love to my family in a concrete way without cluttering up their houses. I'm a concrete person and I like to express things in a concrete way, but my family members all have enough Stuff and don't need more. So I guess Christmastime is always the time where my materialistic, earthly-mindedness runs straight into the Cross.

So, that's enough on that point. It's an ongoing thing, this giant question of What To Get My Family For Christmas, and you can be praying about it as I wrestle with materialistic mindsets surrounding Christmas and my new nature that wants to pursue godly things (Colossians 3).

In other news, my life around me is changing again, in good ways. My mom is treating me differently. I've been noticing it for a few weeks now, but today I actually got to talk it out with Stephen and he helped me pinpoint what is going on. I think my mom has realized now (praise God!) that my marriage is a permanent thing, and so she is now adjusting her relationship with me to fit her new perception of me as a mature adult. Stephen said she's starting to see me as a peer...Which is incredibly exciting and freaky at the same time. LOL. The great news is that it means there is, according to her now (and not just me), an adult in her life with a working marriage that she can closely observe. And I'm hopinghopinghoping it will start to bring healing to her life with respect to marriage and relationships and such. That would be AWESOME. I can't even tell you how long I've been praying for that.

Anyway, I just feel like this can only mean amazing things for our relationship from here on out, and I'm just really happy about that.

Our small group that we lead is doing great. We had a great discussion last night about marriage and divorce, and I'm just over the moon, watching them start really working out their faith into their worldviews. For some of them it is very difficult, but I can just see them trusting God's Word in spite of what it means for their own hearts sometimes. Which is incredible. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Oh, and the other thing that was good about this weekend... I went to a tea place with Elizabeth's sister, Melissa, who lives in the area, and we had a good talk. Mostly she talked out some of the things she's going through right now, and I just felt like I was the right person for her to be talking to. It was really good. I mean, I mostly just listened, but I understand. I don't think I will give too many details, but it felt very right for me to be there. We're going to meet up at that cute little place next month too, Lord willing. :) I definitely think this is a short-term, low-risk ministry God's put in my life, which is neat.

This week I'll be back at Christianity Explored (we took a week off because of Halloween) and I'm so not feeling prepared! It's been a while since I've seen Cami and Mike (they were gone the previous week also); I hope things go as smoothly as they have before.

One last note: I will be SO THANKFUL when elections are over. I just want to know the fate of our country already and stop worrying about the "MIGHT bes." Ugh.

Oh, and Sam Fb chatted with me out of the blue. I love it when she does that. We didn't talk about much, but it was just good to hear from her. :)

Thank You, Lord God, for all of the good things You are placing in my life right now. Lord, You are good, You are wonderful, Your ways are a delight to me. I trust You in good times and in bad, Lord of Hosts, and I am watching to see You move in this world. Move, O Lord, move and make us look to You for our strength and salvation. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

-Stephanie

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