Leslie Kelly

Be Still and Know that I Am. God. 

Yes, I put that period there. It is a little different, but I like it there. I know I am taking liberties here, but indulge me for a minute. 

I put it there to remind me that He Is. The one who is the Great I AM from the Old Testament is IMMANUEL- God with us, from the New. And this season, I need reminding of that. I need to remember that He Is. AND that He is With Me. 

I sometimes have a hard time trusting. Believing, even that He exists. Even after all He has done for me, and even though I know the Word of God is full of real stories that really happened to real people just like me, I still, sometimes randomly, am tempted to doubt. Sometimes I wonder if I really can trust. If I really can believe. 

It is in those moments that I have to stand on the truth that I know, and repeat Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."

So sorry I haven't gotten to post daily with our Advent(Cheer). We went to Kennedy Space Center to see the launch of Orion, then it was scrubbed, so we came home, and drove back up, and I am still sleep deprived! I feel like I might never catch up! 

For day 2, we ate at our regular Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats in Wellington. They feed us every week, so we decided to take them some goodies which included homemade fudge and cookies and hot cocoa mix) and a card thanking them for serving us. They were so grateful and I think they enjoyed it very much.

Day 3 we spent at Kennedy Space Center. Originally I had planned to just purchase someone's admission ticket, but Don had a better idea. We went to Cracker Barrel for dinner, and purchased three gift cards of $10.00 each. Then we randomly (very randomly) chose three people (two couples and a single gal) to give them to. 

The first couple were just finishing up when we approached them and told them our family had chosen them to bless. They were very gracious, and as we chatted, we found out that he works for Kennedy Space Center and had to be back to work at 1:00 AM, and we told him we would see him there! 

I know you must wonder what happened to our Advent Cheer #ouradventcheer. 

Well, we have been doing it, but I have realized that keeping up with this blog while celebrating a birthday, and doing two trips to Kennedy Space Center in as many days has set me back! So I am going to update on Monday, December 8 with all our fun. It has given us great joy to be a blessing! I think we have been blessed more than the receipents of the gifts! Duh. For it is more blessed to give than to receive. True statement.  

So, look for more tomorrow!

Whew! The first week of December just flew by! We had a whirlwind of activity. On December 3rd, we drove up to Kennedy Space Center, to view the launch of NASA's latest endevor: Orion. If you haven't heard, America has kicked it up in the space exploration department, and is testing Orion to go back to the moon, and beyond. It was so exciting- and so disappointing. The launch failed, as we sat in the bleachers waiting. And waiting. And waiting. We got to KSC at 2:45 AM. Yes, thats right. I said AM. We were on the bleachers by 3:00 AM. And the launch was scheduled for 7:05. So we sat. It was a bit windy and chilly, but all was a go. Until there was a boat in the "danger zone". So they delayed. And then the countdown began again. But then the winds were too high, from the wrong direction. And then, a valve failure. And then, the window of opportunity was gone before we knew it. So at 9:45 AM, we walked back in the Saturn 5 building (along with 16,000 other people) to await a bus to take us back to the Visitors Center and parking area. Then we drove the 3 hours back home. Only to rinse-repeat the very next morning. We got home at 4:00 PM, and got up again at 1:00 to leave to go back. To sit on the bleachers until 7:05. Then the launch actually happened without a hitch. Actually, it was a little anti-climatic. It was not as spectacular as the other launch we saw earlier this year. But it was amazing to be there for this historic day. I am so glad we went.

So, you may ask, "Why did you go?" 

Good question.

Faith celebrated her 14th birthday on Friday, December 5th. And it was the only thing she really wanted for her birthday. And you see, she wants to be an astronaut and someday go to the ISS. And Josiah wants to design and build rockets to take us there. So I have to go. I want to go. I am so blessed to be able to go.

And I lost so much of my life a few years back when the sorrow overtook me, that it is my joy to be able to go. 

I am so thrilled to introduce our First Guest Post written by my new friend, Jessica Fisher. We don't really know each other, but we have kindred hearts because we both love to do art journaling in our Bibles. I hope someday to get to know her better and share more of her writing with you. She is real, and I can so relate to this post. I too want a "Hallmark-worthy Christmas". I too want the tinsel and glitter, without the mess to accompany it. And I too see my picture perfect moments dissolving into thin air while the Christmas wishes go up in a ball of flames. (Figuratively, of course.) I know you can relate, too. 

Jessica lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her husband and her adorable tinsel-crazed toddler. As a stay-at-home mom, she finds time to write between dishes, laundry and endless rounds of Hungry, Hungry Hippos (her son‘s favorite game). You can read more from her at www.jlaurel

Merry Christmas Expectations

I get in my own way at Christmas time. I do. I have huge expectations. Perfect gifts. Martha Stewart-inspired decor. I imagine a joyous scene--a cozy family, clad in freshly pressed Christmas pajamas, patiently decorating the tree then reminiscing over steaming cups of hot cocoa. It’s one big Hallmark commercial…in my mind.