5 Thankful Things: December

1. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to practice my photography skills by being the photographer for Road to Bethlehem!  What fun that was, and I'm so glad at the turn out we ended up having!

2. I'm thankful for the great appointment I had in Iowa City on the 5th!  My nose is healing just like it should, albeit rather slowly.  No additional surgery needed, just time and patience!

3.  I could not be more thankful for the precious time I was able to spend with my family this month! That's one of the best parts of the holiday season- all the time with family!  I have an amazingly wonderful family, and it's been so fun to have everyone around the table for meals and activities!

4. Although I did have a minor touch of the flu, I'm SOOOO THANKFUL that I didn't get it as bad as my dad.  I did not need that on top of the sinus infection I ended up with last week.  And even though I DID get another sinus infection, I'm also thankful that it wasn't nearly as bad as what I used to get before my surgery last March!

5.  I'm thankful for the passing of 2014.  It was a particularly difficult year for me and my family, and I can't say I'm sorry to see it gone.  There were definitely some great times had this year as well, but mostly I'm thankful for a fresh new start and the promise of something great to come in 2015!

Happy Birthday, America!

I love Independence Day because I love this country in which I live.  I love that I have the freedom to live how I choose, with whom I choose, and where I choose.  I love that I have the freedom to read my Bible whenever I choose and wherever I choose.  I love that I have the freedom to make my own choice on what to believe and what "religion" to practice. I love that, in this country, I can do anything and be anything I want to be, even if I don't yet know what or whom that might be.

This year, picnics were the main attraction.  We had a picnic lunch with the family at Lacey State Park in Keosauqua, complete with swimming and hiking.  In the evening, we had a picnic at church with our church family, complete with eating, softball, and eating.  As always, the day ended with fireworks at the local cemetery (yes. cemetery. don't judge.).

Always PROUD to be an American!

Remember: A Memorial Day Poem

I wrote this poem in honor of Memorial Day two years ago.  I decided to share it once again just because.


When you wake up in the morning,
and you start your morning coffee,

Remember.

When you leave your house,
and you drive down the street,

Remember.

When you go to church on Sunday,
and you sing your songs to God,

Remember.

When colors are presented,
and you salute the flag,

Remember.

When your children go to school,
and they learn about our past,

Remember.

When your family sleeps at night
safe from terror and tragedy,

Remember.

Remember those who went
with no concern for themselves.

Remember those who fought
and volunteered to go.

Remember those who missed
their families during war.

Remember those who loved
their country more than life.

Remember those who gave
the ultimate sacrifice.


Never take your freedom for granted.  When you spend time with your family and friends celebrating memorial day,  take time to remember that while most gave some, some gave all.

Happy Memorial Day

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas!

I love Christmas music, and I tend to pull it out somewhere in early November every year.  I don't go into full-on Christmas mode until after Thanksgiving, but come December first, LOOK OUT!

I have a hugely eclectic taste when it comes to music, and Christmas tunes are no different.  Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Christmas songs... at least for this year!

1. O, Holy Night by Josh Groban 
2. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen by Celtic Thunder
3. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
4. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire by Nat King Cole
5. All I Want for Christmas is You by Michael Buble
6. Christ is Born by the Carpenters
7. One King by David Phelps
8. What Christmas Means to Me by Mandisa
9. Believe from the Polar Express soundtrack (sung by Josh Groban)
10. Christmas This Year by Toby Mac

Day 28: The Non-Traditional Thanksgiving

Every year for as long as I can remember, we've hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house (with the exception of maybe two years) ON Thanksgiving day.

This year, it just worked out that more people were available on Saturday versus Thursday, so we postponed the festivities until the weekend.  That being said, today was a very odd kind of Thanksgiving day here at the Vance house.  However, I had quite a lovely day!

For the first time in probably five or six years, we were able to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was a tradition in our household up until the digital vs analog television debacle, which rendered our retro television useless.  I managed to FINALLY find a live streaming website this year, so we enjoyed this tradition once again, much to our delight!

I'm pretty sure I also managed to drink an entire pot of Candy Cane Coffee, which if I may brag for a moment, was pretty barista-worthy with it's whipped cream and chocolate drizzle topping.  De. Licious.

Jason and the girls also spent the day with us, and we put up the Christmas tree (which is usually our Saturday tradition, but... the swap).  Alexxa had a ball helping put ornaments on the tree, and Beth did great helping me with the lights!

I'm so thankful for this non-traditional Thanksgiving day!  It's not what I prefer to do every year, but it will definitely be a cherished memory!  I have so much for which to be thankful this year, and my family is definitely at the top of the list (right after the Faithfulness of God)!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day of family, friends, and thankfulness; I hope we remember to carry this attitude of gratitude with us into the coming Christmas season!

Christmas in July

Every Summer, long about mid-July, I pull out the Christmas tunes and films.  Some people understand this, but for those of you who don't, here is a list of 10 reasons why I celebrate Christmas in July:

1. It's hot outside, and Christmas makes me think of "cold outside;" mind over matter.
2. Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
3. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccinos
4. The Christmas Card (one of my favorite/cheesiest Christmas movies)
5. Jump-starting the Christmas shopping now helps lower the giant expense in December.
6. The iHeart Radio "Christmas in July" station
7. The feeling I get when I listen to Christmas music or watch Christmas movies
8. The movies are too good to see only once a year.
9. The music is too spectacular to listen to only once a year.
10. Christ's birth is always worth celebrating!

Join me, won't you?

Christmas is More

Some people say
I've got it all wrong
when I say Christmas is more
than just the birth of His Son.

It started with that,
yes, it's factual and true,
but thirty years later,
life changed for me and you.

This baby grew up
into a Man,
Who healed the blind and lame
with the touch of His hand.

He came here to seek
those that needed to be reached.
"I Am the Way,"
was the message that He preached.

But some didn't like
the way this made them feel,
so they came up with a plan
to capture, corrupt, and kill.

They put Him on trial-
"He is guilty!" was their cry.
He said, "Father, forgive them."
For His purpose was to die.

You see, this Man,
once a baby so small,
came to rescue us from sin
and be the Savior of us all!

But the story doesn't end there-
the best is yet to come!
They laid His body in a grave,
but my Savior wasn't done.

He conquered sin and death-
He rose up from the grave!
He crushed the head of Satan-
my soul and yours to save!

This story is the truth, my friend,
I pray that you believe it.
He's offered you this gift of life,
all you must do is receive it.

So as you open up your gifts
with friends and family,
I hope that you can share my joy-
He is more than just a baby!

By Lacy Vance
December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Almond-n-Cream

Well, folks (yes, April... I said FOLKS), fall has apparently arrived, and I couldn't be any more happy.  I LOVE this weather!

Anyhow, one of my favorite things about fall is the great smelling foods/drinks.  We haven't made this for years, but we used to have it quite often when we were little, so I made a batch today.  And let me tell you, it  is delicious!  We call it "Almond-n-Cream."

Almond-n-Cream (Drink Mix)

1c butter/margarine

1c sugar

1c packed brown sugar
2tsp Almond extract

2c vanilla ice cream (soft)

In a sauce pan over low heat, stir together butter and sugars until melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl; add ice cream and extract.  Beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, scraping the bowl often.

Makes 4 cups of mix

To make:  Spoon 1/4 cup of mix into a mug and fill with boiling water.  Stir well.  Top with whipped cream and nutmeg.

Enjoy!

Remember

When you wake up in the morning,
and you start your morning coffee,

Remember.

When you leave your house,
and you drive down the street,

Remember.

When you go to church on Sunday,
and you sing your songs to God,

Remember.

When colors are presented,
and you salute the flag,

Remember.

When your children go to school,
and they learn about our past,

Remember.

When your family sleeps at night
safe from terror and tragedy,

Remember.

Remember those who went
with no concern for themselves.

Remember those who fought
and volunteered to go.

Remember those who missed
their families during war.

Remember those who loved
their country more than life.

Remember those who gave
the ultimate sacrifice.


Never take your freedom for granted.  When you spend time with your family and friends celebrating memorial day,  take time to remember that while most gave some, some gave all.

Happy Memorial Day



(Yes, for those wondering, I did write this poem myself.)

A Whirlwind of Life

Welcome, friends!  This is the post where I try desperately to play catch-up on life.  So much has been going on lately, and blogging has just consistently been shoved to the back burner (cooking analogy... see what I did there, Helen?). Well... the longer I put it off, the harder it was to actually sit down and blog... because there was even that much MORE to include!  So here is my feeble attempt at getting the last two months out into cyberwebs (mostly for the sake of the family members that actually do read my blog for the sake of keeping up with the Vances), and an upbeat "Life IS Good!" post:


At the beginning of April, the family gathered for Easter.  Since it was fairly uneventful (which is surprising for a Vance holiday), there really isn't much to say about it.  We did, however, get some pretty great family pictures:

(Note for those who receive this via e-mail: if you can't see the pictures, you should probably actually head on over to my blog... which is laughswithlacy.blogspot.com.)

At the end of April, Helen was in the FBBC Spring Drama, and so the whole family came up to see that.  Somehow, I didn't end up getting any pictures at the play, but here's a picture of Alexxa eating a noodle at Olive Garden that same weekend:

The first weekend in May was graduation at Faith.  My dear friend Thomas graduated.  His birthday followed a week later, but since our lives are so crazy busy, we haven't actually celebrated together yet. Oh well... maybe when life slows down? 

Another week flew by, and last weekend we gathered the family together for another celebration.  My other best friend, who happens to also be my cousin, April (aka: Steve) graduated from Nurse Nancy school, so we gathered family and friends together for a small gathering at the park.  Again, pretty uneventful.  After that, we went to Pizza Hut and devoured ten large pizzas.  MMMMM!  

The finale to the evening was gathering at the retirement community's club house for a surprise birthday party for my dear Aunt Julie, who turned...older... on Tuesday.  Aunt Jules was quite surprised, and fun ensued.  I spent most of the evening with my cousin Daniel & his girlfriend Megan.  Family gatherings are the BEST!

We ended the weekend on Sunday with celebrating Mother's Day.  After all, I have the absolute best mother in the whole entire world, so really... I mean... EVERY day is Mother's Day at our house! Last year, I bought my non-green-thumb mother four bright red lily plants because they were less expensive than a bouquet of flowers, and theoretically... they should last longer.  And, thanks to daddy, they're still alive, AND they've multiplied! My mom decided to start a mini flower garden with her fist full of lily plants, so this year I bought twelve more lilies in bright yellow and yellow/red.  They don't look like much for now, but hopefully next summer, we'll have a nice little flower garden of lilies!

Well... that takes care of April & May... for the most part.  I'll try to do a little better at regularly updating.  Till next time... :)

The Valentine's Day Blahs

I usually love Valentine's Day.  As a hopeless romantic, I'm usually all for the hearts and flowers, chocolates and love songs, but for some reason this year, I just wasn't feelin' it.  I can't pinpoint the exact reason.  Perhaps it is that I haven't had one of my mom's strawberry jam-filled heart-shaped sugar cookies yet.  Or maybe it's that I'm 22 and still single.  Could it be the fact that I'm a helpless victim in a one-sided love affair? Or the fact that I'm the villain in another one-sided love affair?  Who knows.  It's probably a combination of all these things.

I had multiple date offers, and had accepted one.  I was to go to a movie with my fabulous friend Shelly after work. But when I woke up yesterday morning, I just wasn't feelin' it. I didn't feel the greatest, and I had a list a mile long of things I needed to get done before my parents arrive this weekend.  I had every intention of cancelling, but then I realized that if I was going to be miserable on this marvelously sappy day, the least I could do was make sure that those around me were at least having a good time!  So... I went.  And had a DANDY good time! Shelly also brought me a single rose and a box of chocolates to work earlier in the day, so that helped me get in the mood for celebration, too.

After the movie, I had one last Valentine to deliver.  I had already delivered Helen's (she got a bottle of children's grape flavored cough/cold syrup, a bag of honey flavored cough drops, and three mini sharpies) and Shelly's (a box of theater-style M&Ms).  So I stopped at Olive Garden on my way home to deliver my last Valentine to my dear friend Thomas.  A bag of dark chocolate Hershey's kisses... and a hug (the real kind).

I then came home and finished off the remains of a half gallon of Blue Bunny White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie ice cream while watching the Valentine's episode of Glee.  All in all... I guess I didn't really find a cure for the Valentine's Day Blahs, but at least I made an effort, right?

2011 in Retrospect - A Year of Change

Can I get a hearty "Amen!"?  2011 was definitely a year of change for me.  Almost to the point of whiplash at times.  Seriously.  But through the ups and downs, God in His mercy, remained faithful!

January came in with a bang.  I spent my New Year's Eve with my mamma watching movies at home while everyone else partied it up at church.  Why? Well... because I was recovering from having my insides ripped out.  So not fun.  In fact, it was so unpleasant that I've decided I will never EVER again have my gallbladder removed. :)

The first few months flew by in a blur of...well... nothingness. Not much at all happened.  Until Spring.  Then life got on the crazy train and never got off!  In April, Helen (aka- my sister/best friend Laura) was crowned Prom Queen on the same day I played the piano for my friends Jessica & Jeremiah's wedding!  A few weeks later, Helen graduated from High School.  As Valedictorian, it was her responsibility and honor to give the "speech," in which she should have talked about "...Me.  And... whirled peas."  Good stuff!

About this same time, I felt the Lord directing me to go back to college.  I've tossed around the idea of being a High School English teacher for years, and it seemed that God was finally saying "Ok.  Go now and do this thing."  So... I gave my notice at the church, which was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.  I'd been accepted as a student at Iowa Wesleyan College, where I would be a full-time student (along with Laura) beginning in August.

In June, dad and I flew out to California to help my sister move home.  Except that just as we were leaving, Lindsey was admitted to the hospital to deliver baby Alexxa... three months early. Through all the drama of that situation, dad and I got some pretty awesome bonding time, and we ALL got a sweet little baby.  Thankfully she didn't arrive for another month.  Alexxa Lynn arrived on July 6, 9 weeks early, but you'd never know it to look at her now!

June and July flew by!  With Bethany living with us for the summer, Laura and I getting ready for college, and Leah busy with camps, we didn't lack for excitement whatsoever in the Vance household!  My last day at the church was July 31.  At least it ended with a pretty sweet concert by the King's Brass and a million hugs!

With August came even more change.  Upon her return from her last year at Sr. High camp at IRBC, Laura informed us that the Lord was directing her to go to Faith in the fall instead of IWC.  This was kind of EXTREMELY last minute, but we just kept trusting God to show us His plan.

We went on  vacation to Nebraska to see my mom's parents during the first full week of August as well.  Laura and I got the added blessing of spending an entire 24 hours together.  Just the two of us (for most of it) at my aunt & uncle's house in Denver.  It was fantastic!  We had such a relaxing time together, just enjoying a few moments of "ME" time.  I shopped.  She napped.  We were BOTH happy! :)

August ended with Laura moving to Ankeny and me going to IWC.  September flew by with books, and papers, and classes, and my new job at Peebles.  Lindsey & Alexxa finally arrived in early September and spend the next month living with us.  They moved into their own rental house over Halloween weekend.  God continued showing His plan for my life, and I was genuinely enjoying myself!

Until mid October.  Just before midterms.  I hit a wall.  It was almost literally overnight that I decided to drop out of school.  I'm SO SO SO glad that God knows exactly how to best communicate with each of His children!  For me, He knew the best way to tell me that teaching wasn't what He had for me was to SHOW me!  I'm so thankful for His work in the entire experience.  It was through a research paper that I had to do for class that God clearly explained to me why this wasn't what He wanted me to do with my life, and once God says "no" there's no point in prolonging the inevitable.  So, I withdrew, took my sweet refund to the bank, and asked "what now?"

God had a plan.  As always.  As soon as I walked off campus for the last time, I pulled out my phone and called up my previous employer in Ankeny.  I'd heard the company had an opening at the Jordan Creek branch for a full-time office assistant.  The short story is that I accepted the job offer in early November and began working full-time on November 21.  God provided housing, family, and everything I could possibly need, including an entirely different church family than I was planning on!

November & December have also gone by in a blur, but were some of the most amazing months of my life thus far.  No joke.  I have met so many amazing people who have changed my life in so many ways.  If I started naming names and situations, I would have an entire notebook full of entries!

As I write this post, there are 33 minutes left of this whirlwind year, and I feel a barrage of emotions.  Sadness, happiness, thankfulness, joy, anticipation.  The one thing I don't feel... not even a hint... is regret.  I have no real regrets from 2011.  Every single thing that happened in the last 365 days has helped me grow and mature into the person I am today. It hasn't all been easy, and there are definitely things that I'd have preferred to have gone differently, but I know God had/has a plan through each and every situation.

So... Welcome 2012!  Please, if at all possible, leave the "whiplash change" mechanisms in 2011.

Thanks for joining me over the last year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

So, I realized this morning as I sat down to write three more days worth of "Thankful Thoughts" that I haven't done very well at posting daily.  I've posted for every day, but not daily.  Oh well... it's the thought that counts, right? :)

Day 22

I'm sure you're all sick of hearing it, but I'm thankful for my best friend, Laura.  She may be my sister, but that's what makes our friendship so great!  Specifically, I'm thankful for the fleeting moments we're able to spend together.  I'm thankful that I can shoot her a text and set up a dinner date for minutes later.  I'm thankful that we can run to the store together.  God gave me the best little sister in the whole world, and since beginning this thankful thoughts project, I've realized just how much I take her for granted.  Well, not any more.  I love you, Helen!  (P.S.- Helen... can I get a double serving of that Paulie Allen Puffer? LOL!)

Day 23

I'm thankful for a fantastic new assistant manager.  The assistant manager at Greenberg's Jordan Creek, Chris, is awesome.  Mostly, I'm bragging on him today because once he found out how far I was driving to get home, he let me cut out 1/2 an hour early.  He would have let me go even earlier, but it didn't come up till half an hour before my shift was up.  Thanks for being awesome, Chris!

Day 24- Thanksgiving

I'm thankful that there is a day set aside entirely for giving thanks to our Creator for the many blessings he has given throughout the year.  The Vance family certainly has quite a lot to be thankful for this year, just as we did last year and the year before that and so on.  This afternoon, the family will come together for a mid-day meal.  Around the table will be many people that weren't here last year, or could have easily not been here this year.  Lindsey and her kids will be here for the first time since she moved to California six years ago.  My mom's parents are here for the first time in probably about the same amount of years.  My dad's dad will be here this year; last year he was in a nursing home recovering from his near death experience. My dad's brother's family will all be here.  All of them.  We could have lost half of them in a massive car accident last Easter. But we didn't.  Because God chose to bless us in that way.  There is rumor that my dad's sister and all of her kids (including an amazing daughter-in-law and adorable grandson) will be with us this year.  She hasn't been to a family Thanksgiving or any family event for that matter in probably five to seven years.  Yes, the Vance family certainly has an abundance for which to be thankful.

But, even if none of these people were seated around our table this year, we would still have plenty to be thankful for because no matter what happens here on this earth, Christ still took the punishment for my sins at Calvary.  And He is still the conquering and reigning King.

So in the midst of enjoying family, eating more food than you ought, and watching football or "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving," take a moment to be thankful for the ONE thing that truly matters most.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Thankful Thoughts

Thanks to my friend Jess over at An Aroma of My Savior, I've decided to {try} to post every day of November about something for which I am thankful.  So, in order to catch up, here are days 1, 2, &3!  PS- Thanks for the inspiration, Jess!

Day 1: Family

I have the most amazing family!  This past weekend, we had a small get together at my aunt and uncle's house to celebrate another aunt's birthday.  Most of the cousins and family were there, and I was just reminded of how blessed I am to have such an amazing family!  Also, in the chaos that is my life, I'm thankful specifically for my parents.  They are the anchor that keeps me from drifting into dangerous and treacherous waters.

Day 2: Church

People who aren't part of a church family have no idea what a blessing they're missing!  I'm so thankful for my church family!  They support me, pray for me, and love me no matter what.  I'm thankful for their presence in my life and for their genuine concern.  Missing church makes me sad because it means I won't get to see my honorary aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, and nieces/nephews for at least another few days!  I couldn't ask for a more amazing church family than the one I have at First Baptist Church in Farmington!

Day 3: Cold, Rainy Days

This won't make sense to most people, but I'm honestly thankful for rainy, cold days like we had today!  I love how these kind of days in November make me want to cuddle up with a fluffy blanket and a good movie/tv show/ book.  Coffee somehow tastes even better on cold, windy days too!  There's just something about days like today that make the holidays seem that much closer!

Stay tuned for the rest of my Thankful Thoughts, and feel free to try it yourself!

Up, Up, & Away!

What has Lacy been up to over the last month? In light of my lack of blogging, you may be asking this question (or at least my 4 faithful followers probably are). The truth is I've been crazy busy!  Here's the condensed version of my life in the last three weeks:

- My older sister, Lindsey, made the decision to move back to Iowa.  She has a 6-year-old and a baby on the way.  The plan was for them to move into our house, thus moving me out of my room and into Laura's.  We had just one week to get everything situated before Dad and I flew out to California to help Lindsey pack up the truck and drive back to Iowa.

-Laura and I made the executive decision to paint "our" room.  We moved everything out and painted three walls white and one wall sunflower yellow in two days.  It looks fabulous!

-Dad and I few out of Des Moines on Friday, June 24 at 8pm.  We arrived in San Diego at 11pm (that's 1am Iowa time).  Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE flying!  Great trip!

-Oh ya, Friday morning before we left, Lindsey called to let us know she was in the hospital waiting to have her baby.  Long story, but just FYI- she'll probably be having her baby TODAY. That means she's been in the hospital over a week... almost two.

-Saturday & Sunday, Dad and I cleaned house, boxed up all the stuff, and packed the truck (which happened to be the LAST Budget truck in the COUNTY available until after July 4).  

-Monday: 19 hours, 5 states (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, & Colorado), and 2/3 of a murder mystery novel before arriving in Denver for our overnighter at Dave & Lisa's.

-Tuesday: 15 hours, 3 states (Colorado, Nebraska, & Iowa), and the rest of the murder mystery novel before arriving back home.

-Dad and I returned the truck on Thursday.  I did some shopping & got lots of bargains!

-Friday: Potluck & Fireworks with the Farmington church family to celebrate the 4th of July... SO FUN!  Also, my "brother" and his lovely wife joined us all the way from Huxley, Iowa!  I haven't seen them in months... so good to finally spend a little time with them again!

-Saturday: Assist with wedding "mini" reception before attending main reception.  Again... SO FUN!

-Sunday: Dinner with the extended family for Grandpa's 86th birthday followed by April, Amber, & Alisa spending the night for some quality chick-flick time.

-Monday: lazy day at home.  FINALLY!

Now I'm back to work.  That's my life over the last three weeks in a nutshell.  Things are still up in the air with Lindsey.  She won't be able to come to Iowa until at least a few weeks after the baby is born.  However, we do have Bethany (the 6-year-old cutie) staying with us.  She's been super fun to have around.  We've read a million books, watched dozens of movies, and played outside.  Bethy has got to be the sweetest kid ever!  

Thanks for stopping by! 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Most of us (or maybe it’s just me) think of Cinco de Mayo as the Americanized Mexican holiday celebrating Mexican heritage providing an excuse to drink margaritas and other Mexican alcoholic beverages excessively.  I’ve always wanted to celebrate this fun-sounding holiday, but never really have because I don’t drink (which I always thought was the actual point of Cinco de Mayo).

So out of curiosity, I did a little research.  No, I don’t plan to include a bibliography at the end of this mini report, but I do intend to tell you that I definitely used multiple sources, and only glanced briefly at Wikipedia. That being said, here is your history lesson for the day.

Let’s begin with Mexico’s Independence Day, which Cinco de Mayo is NOT.  Independence Day for Mexico is actually celebrated on September 16 in commemoration of the achievement of independence from Spain in 1821.  Cinco de Mayo refers to an event that took place on May 5, 1862. For those of you who are good at math, you will notice that 1862 is a good 40 years after 1821, clearly indicating that Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo are two very distinctly different holidays.  For those of you who are not good at math, just take my word for it.

Anyone who sat through history class (yes, even those of you who sat through history at Harmony High School) knows that the U.S. Civil War was going on during this time in history (and if you don’t, then blame it on yourself, not on your teacher!).  What I didn’t know is that while we were busy fighting each other, Mexico was busy fighting France (and anyone else who tried to take away their independence) as a result of Mexico’s suspended payment of debts due to financial unrest.  The short version goes something like this: Mexico wasn’t ready to give up their independence, so they sent a little podunky troop comprised of locals, not soldiers, to fight the powerful French army (under the leadership of Napoleon III) near Puebla, Mexico, on May 5, 1862; Mexico won, causing the French to retreat (for the time being. Eventually, France DID overtake Mexico).  Also, did I mention that this little podunky Mexican troop was out numbered by at least a couple thousand (some estimate that the French army was almost twice the size of the Mexican troop!) of the most powerful soldiers (army) in the world at that time?  Pretty sweet, huh?

So what does this have to do with the U.S.?  Well, keep reading… I promise it will connect!  Napoleon III, Emperor of France, was a big fan of the American Confederacy.  Some suspect that Napoleon was even prepared to aid (and perhaps WAS aiding) the Confederacy financially.  If not for the defeat of the French army on Cinco de Mayo, Napoleon may have even gone so far as to send troops to aid the Confederate army!  If he had done so, the Confederacy may have just gotten the extra push they needed to win the Civil War, changing the face of the United States as we know it. Because it didn’t end this way, no one can say for certain what would have happened had the French joined forces with the Confederacy, and I’m not saying that we owe the survival of our country to a podunky, yet brave troop of Mexicans (because that would definitely be an exaggeration), but imagine how different the story might have ended if the Mexicans hadn’t defeated the French at Puebla! 

I hope you enjoyed this brief history lesson as much as I enjoyed writing it!  I happen to love history and find this bit if information very intriguing!

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! 

Falling in Love (or at least TRYING to!)

I love Valentine's Day!  I don't know any other family that celebrates the way we do.  Every year we put up lots of festive decorations in early February, and we bake special sugar cookies and have heart shaped cake (or some other yummy dessert).  One thing I really enjoy is watching a plethora of chick flicks, which I can assure you, I definitely have a good head start on that activity!

God's timing is never coincidence.  This week's chapter in GGW is about who directs the love story of the Wise Girl and the Wild Girl.  The Wild Girl writes her own story; the Wise Girl surrenders to God's pen!

When I was in High School, I tended toward the Wild girl's approach.  I always had my eye on a guy, and I had pretty much perfected the art of the accidental "Hey! Fancy running in to you here!" meetings. I am so SO very thankful that God protected my heart despite my constant attempts to give it away!  The good news is that most of my failed attempts at getting these guys attention ended in great friendships, some of which I am still thankful for and enjoying today.

I can tell you exactly when I surrendered to God's pen.  Sadly, the reason I can tell you is that it wasn't very long ago: November 2010.  When I found out last April that God was moving me back home, I immediately began praying more earnestly about a specific relationship I knew would be a possible reality in the months ahead; however, it wasn't until November (seven months later) that I finally quit trying to make the relationship happen.  I quit. I gave it all to God and asked Him to just "do His thing."  And let me tell you, it has been one exciting adventure! I have always loved Isaiah 55:8-9, and I think it's because the truth found there is so relevant: God's ways/thoughts are so much higher than ours! In the short time since I surrendered to God's plan, I have seen him orchestrate things in a way that I could never have even imagined.  Things are still processing, and I'm far from being in love, but I'm really excited to see where God leads!  For now, please join me in praying for patience!

What about you?  Are you still trying to orchestrate just the right circumstances to create a relationship?  Do you try to manipulate that guy (or if your a guy who's reading this that girl) to do what you want?  Or, are you sitting back letting God "do His thing?"  If you fall in to the first category, please take the time to read the story of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16(ish).  Even though the story ends with Delilah appearing to have gotten exactly what she wanted, I submit that the story really ends with Samson dead, and Delilah standing single, wounded of heart, and alone. When you orchestrate your own love story, it doesn't end well for anybody. When you let God orchestrate your love story, the results can last for generations (see the story of Isaac & Rebekah in Genesis 24- Rebekah let God write her love story, and she was given the privilege of being part of the line of Christ!)! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas doesn't always come in a multitude of tangible gifts; sometimes, there are few packages, but many memories!  This year, a large part of our family Christmas was a trip to Des Moines to see Mary Poppins at the Civic Center. We had a marvelous time! The choreography and singing were amazing; the set, incredible!  What wonderful memories we all have!  There were still a few gifts to open this morning, which, for the first time ever, we opened before we "got ready to face the day."  We opened gifts in the comfort of our pajamas!  i'm so thankful for my family and the blessing they are in my life- not just at Christmas when they give me presents, but all year long! 

Christmas

 Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

                And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

                And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

What more is there to say?  The Creator of the universe coming to earth to die for my sins.  I am so undeserving, so unworthy.  But, thankfully, my relationship with God is not based on my worthiness or how much I "deserve" it; rather, it is based on His incredible love for me.  This Christmas, even with all the other things that come and go with the season,  I am so thankful for the real Reason behind CHRISTmas!

Happy Holidays

We’re fast approaching the time of year when people all over the United States begin the heated seasonal debate concerning the proper “politically correct” greeting.  Being a born-again, regenerate Christ-follower myself, I tend to side with those individuals who prefer to say “Merry Christmas!” instead of the recently favored “Happy Holidays!”  After all, what’s CHRISTmas without Christ? 

As I was contemplating these holiday catch phrases this morning, I realized something.  These two phrases are BOTH applicable to the God-lover.  “Merry Christmas!” wishes an individual a joyful celebration of the birth of our Lord, observed on His birthday, December 25.  “Happy Holidays!” is a little broader than that.  The second word of this phrase, “holidays,” is plural, meaning more than one holiday.  Now before you stop reading this blog, thinking to yourself How dare she suggest I begin using “Happy Holidays!” instead of the God-honoring, Christ-centered “Merry Christmas!,”  I’d like to be very clear that I plan to continue using the phrase “Merry Christmas!” and I expect the same from you.  Now that we have that established, let’s move on.

“Happy Holidays,” as I mentioned before, implies to me a celebration of multiple holidays.  I love this time of year, the months of November and December.  There is so much joy and merriment, laughter and love; the spirit of giving and celebration.  As God-lovers and Christ-followers, our “holidays” begin in November with the anticipation of Thanksgiving. 

There are so many things I love about Thanksgiving Day, all of which make it my absolute most favorite day of the entire year - the one I look forward to during the other 364 days.  Traditionally, the Vance family Thanksgiving dinner has been held at my parent’s house (our house!).  I can only think of two or three years in the past 15 or so that were held elsewhere.  Each year on Thanksgiving, the family gathers for a mid-day feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie (which in my opinion is the most important part of the entire feast).  For most of these years, Aunt Linda would come from Indiana on Thanksgiving Eve to spend the weekend with us.  The smells, the tastes, the family (esp. looking through the black Friday ads with them), and of course the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are just a few of my favorite things, but the best thing about Thanksgiving is that its an entire day of THANKFULNESS!  Amazing!  In today’s culture, we usually hear about how bad everything is and how life is rotten and nothing good ever happens.  But on Thanksgiving,  people all over the country pause to reflect on just how much they really do have for which to be thankful!  Thanksgiving is a nationally observed holiday (for which I am very thankful J), but it is only regenerate, born-again believers who can truly celebrate Thanksgiving to it’s fullest potential because only regenerate, born-again believers have the ultimate reason to give thanks:  the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ offering us the free gift of salvation! 

Less than 24 hours later, we move on to Christmas and all its wonderful traditions, beginning with black Friday.  Now, I love that early morning, crazy, out-of-your-mind shopping experience just as much as the next person, but to be honest, I find it a little ironic that we spend an entire day being thankful followed by an entire day being self-centered, greedy, and all-about-me (I suppose the spirit of thankfulness may continue at 5:03 am when you get the very last trashcan-converted-to-shopping-cart-because-it’s-chaos-in-here at Mendards?) Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday, but Christmas is a very close second.  As previously stated, I LOVE this time of year!  I often say that I don’t have a favorite holiday, I have a favorite time of year (which isn’t exactly true, Thanksgiving is definitely my favorite holiday!): November 1 through January 2.  I thoroughly enjoy “decking the halls!”: the twinkling lights, the ornaments full of memories, the garland, and the tree.  The searching for and buying of that special gift for a loved one.  The cinnamon sticks, candy canes, and (my personal favorite) the peppermint mocha coffee creamer (coffee-mate does it best, just so you know).  The flickering flame of a cinnamon candle.  The frosted window panes.  The sound of cheery Christmas music filling the house.  The scent of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven.  Spending time together watching It’s a Wonderful Life (which btw: it IS a wonderful life!) and The Polar Express.  The manger scenes reminding us of the only reason we truly have to celebrate.  I love Christmas and I’m not afraid to express it- “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!”  Without Christmas, we have no reason to celebrate Thanksgiving or Easter.  Christmas is all about the birth of a tiny baby, born of a virgin, who left His throne in heaven to feel the splinters of a manger so that he could feel the splinters of a cross.

The final celebration of this wintery holiday season is New Year’s Eve & Day.  As I was thinking about this particular holiday, I initially thought well there’s not much God-centered about that… drinking excessively, kissing people at midnight, and doing all kinds of other things you shouldn’t be doing, but then I realized I don’t do any of those things.  I usually spend the evening/day with family or friends playing games or watching movies and staying up till midnight (the midnight thing hasn’t happened in a few years though… I’m getting old before my time I suppose J).  One of the things I try to do every year is reflect on the previous year and contemplate the new one.  Being the secretarial nerd that I am, I like lists, so at some point, I like to make a list of where I am right now (relationships, goals, spiritual life, etc.) and a list of where I want to be by this time next year.  I like to pull out last year’s list (if I can find it) and compare- see areas where I need to make a more concentrated effort and areas where I’ve successfully met my goals.  By doing this, I can use this holiday to focus on God as well.  After all, it is God who gives us each and every breath we take- each day to live, each year.  Without fail, this thought (or some variation of it) crosses my mind every New Year’s:  Lord, whether You give me one hour, one week, or 365 days of this year, I hope to use it for You.  This new year is like being given a clean slate, a second chance.  Help me make this year count for eternity.   Yes, I like New Year’s and the hope and uncertainty that comes with it!

So during this holiday season, instead of cringing (or thinking to myself It’s MERRY CHRISTMAS you moron!  J) when I hear people use the phrase “Happy Holidays!,”  I plan to say “Merry Christmas! & Happy Holidays! to you too!” and remember that each one of these holidays comes with its own reasons to be hope-filled, Christ-centered, and (of course) Happy!

PS- I'd like to remind you that you are in no way obligated to agree with me. J