Thessaloniki.

1 Thessalonians 5
says;

16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

rejoice, pray, give thanks;
always, without ceasing, in everything.
for This is the will of God.

Amen.

Bark not,

at your master

I will always remember that one afternoon, when i (sort of) crept up behind Russell. Not intentionally of course, she didn't hear me coming. They always did have brilliant hearing and a great sense of my approaching. Not that day though, Russell was sleeping and didn't hear me nearing.

Then, i was too close for comfort to a drowsy Russell and thus causing a reflex of consecutive barks.

Russell barked at me for the first time, ever ever.

Needless to say, i was heartbroken :( It is I, why did she bark? I asked myself for the first 15 minutes, after.

Dad said i caught her off guard! So, will an on guard bark hurt less? I doubt it.

This (the barking and stuff) may seem of little relevance in life, but it works in our earthly journey as well;
Ergo Bark not, at your Master for it'll hurt Him.. much.


***
To Mom, my most loyal blog reader :)
You're the best mom in my whole wide world! and there aren't enough words to succinctly describe how wonderfully amazing you have been. So i'll just say this, thank you mom and i love you, much! ♥
Blessed Birthday, mom! (hugs) :)

Absence.

Dear sibling,
I may not have known you personally;
but i felt your absence when you left with Him.
Surely you have made an impact amongst the people around you;
for i felt the void lingering when they grieved at your departure.
I am proud of who you became;
you have triggered a carry over effect that has and is about to impact plenty!
Thank you, for who you are.
See you on the other side, dear sibling.

♥
the heart aches, so much.

Smile, you are so pretty.

It has definitely been a hectic start of the year for me! With January almost up, i still feel as if i should begin working up my Christmas spirit. How far behind am i keeping myself at? :(
And being anxious isn't helping, at all. I have accepted the fact, i now need self-convincing to wake up and face a new day (almost every single day).
Last year's today wasn't a very pleasant one, i still recall vividly :( I wouldn't want that unpleasantness to revisit me, yet i can't help but wonder if it will only come by later :(

When the spirits are down, expect to receive a lift me up from the Father :) He does that. He is really awesome with little surprises =))
(when you're so busy wallowing, who would be on the look out for those lift me up, hey? :p Hence, making the surprise even better :D)

Smiles are contagious, always. Laughter brightens the spirit. Which is why, i adore having shiny smiley happy little beings around me :) They have the most heartwarming smile to offer, and the most sincere laughter to boot =)

LJH, lights up my day :) I thank God for giving him that amazing smile, that infectious laughter, and a willingness to share it.

Thought i should share his smile :) Spread the joy around.
he actually reminds me of Calvin (of the Calvin & Hobbes fame :p)
especially when he combs his hair after his bath! =)
i adore him, much <3

..i think i need more of this, and not what you are willing to give.

Preparation.

first entry for the year; and i wanted it to be something well worth mentioning! This is why i was holding out on this, i wanted it to be significant. Before this year arrived, i couldn't say i was anticipating it with much excitement, neither can i right now. Being all set for His way does not equate actually being excited for it, does it? Or should it? Theoretically, maybe. Well, now that is the fuzzy part isn't it? (at least for me)

A girl can attempt to be ready for her uncertainty in life; yet she does not have to be excited about it! A girl can prepare herself for anything; yet it shocks the life out of her when it really comes to pass. Who actually does it correctly when preparing for the arrival of the emotion, the reaction, the actual event? It almost always turn out totally different. No matter how much time and effort you invested to train that mind to react.

Who prepares for a death? Even if they knew well ahead when was the ETA on going home. Who gets ready for the breakup when you're holding on tightly to all those excessive chemical release, being in love and all.

Oh dear, morbid thoughts. My supposed well worth mentioning thoughts. I guess, this year brought back memories of last year! And have you ever realized how tough it is to forget something you don't really want to remember? It always seem like, the harder you tried to erase it, the stronger it sticks onto you!

So there, my thoughts for the new year. My conclusion for now; one cannot truly be ready ready for something that isn't here yet. Hypothetical isn't real. It is not supposed to be, real. Perhaps, when it is here already, you can then decide to be ready for it. But before it happens, stay put.

(note: thoughts may appear to be a little confusing because maybe it is a little messed up)

On an unrelated note. For the new year, i cut my hair (real short) and found myself a new American series to be addicted to, the series called Life. I love it. He reminds me of someone i know very well. I like his sense of logic and rationale. Charming.

Shall return soon.

I'm almost there.

I have a secret :) Well, i don't think this qualifies as a secretsecret per se.
I adore Disney, i grew up with Disney movies (and only Disney characters!), my wardrobe consists of mostly Disney. While growing up, it was practically all things Disney! I love Tigger (of the fame of the pooh named Winnie) I even collect Tigger in all sizes, :) Along with my sisters, we were affectionately known as the Disney kakis.
there, the secret is out! as if it was worth any penny, this secret of mine *grin*

Oh wait, that wasn't the secret. This is;
I would make it a point to learn the words of at least one song from each Disney movie. I still can sing them for you, if you absolutely make me, haha :p

As it is the coming of a new year; along with the recent Disney song which caught my penchant Almost There (from The Princess and the frog) they both fit perfectly :) This could be my new theme song, like seriously.

(parts of the lyrics of Almost There)
But i know exactly where I'm going (maybe not quite, but it'll be good if i did)
And getting closer, closer, every day (i know i am, irregardless of whether i want it or not)

And I'm almost there, I'm almost there
People down here think I'm crazy, but I don't care (suck it, people :D)
Trials and tribulations have had my share
There ain't nothing gonna stop me now cause I'm almost there.

and with all that You're bringing me through, i know that this new year is going to bring me closer to where i need be! Thank You, for not giving up on me just yet =)

A Blessed New Year, with a refreshed mind :) I'm all set, Father. Have it Your way.

..have it your way.

Twenty five's the magic number.

I am truly and exceedingly anxious nervous about tomorrow! Seriously, i would like very much to start the new year with a little more certainty. It is going to be my 25th year in life, and 25 years is a long time (at least in my world of perception, it is). One can achieve great things by 25, one can do manymany things in 25 years! Turning twenty five, hey? *it is going to be magical* ..really?

I look back and ponder; wondering how this year went by just like that. As much as i love making lists, i am not in the habit of churning out new year's resolutions, what is the point of having one if i don't even come close to crossing them off by the end of each year? People tend to get excited about the whole new year; new resolutions dramadrama! Its all very pretty to begin the new year with a big bang, along with all these amazing ideas and must dos without taking realism into point here.
(i certainly do not want to sound like a cynical misanthrope, oppsie :p Just a point to note; i do not oppose of having new resolutions in general, just for myself i do =))

"What are your plans for next year?" I get that, alot.
I tell myself; its okay, they're just concerned for you.
but i'm sorry, i can't say and i can't tell you just yet; i whisper to myself
because this life; it's not mine to plan. never was, never will be.
I've learned it the hard way, and am not going to fall back into the old style me.
Its not that i do not have a direction in life, i do (sort of). Just that, i no longer have anything carved on stone. In fact, i no longer do any carving.
..Dreams, i have plenty. Plans, i have virtually none.

This may probably not be the healthiest way of living, but i think its best now for me to take a step at a time. See how things turn out and march along. With baby steps, falling won't be that painful would it?

It is terrifying to not know; but i am comforted to know that He is watching over me, every single step of the way :)

So hit me with the new year resolutions, this is what you most probably will get :)
"Start a Jane Austen book club; learn to make good wine; and maybe start a poker night with the boys (or girls)? Care to join me?"

Have a pleasant new year, world :)

have a great life, you :)