Five on Friday

It's Friday once more and I'm linking up with the ladies of A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm and many more for Five on Friday. This is just a quick (sort of) post about five things that are on my mind today.

One. Christmas Ornaments - I love absolutely everything about Christmas (except perhaps Egg Nog, Fruitcake and Holiday travel, ha-ha!) and I especially love my Christmas tree and the ornaments on my tree. I think I've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a geek but the truth is: I'm just me. Everyone has likes and my ornaments remind me of things that make me happy, moments that make me smile and bring back happy memories. And so that's why; on my Christmas tree, you will find Snoopy and Lucy hanging next to Darth Vader in an ugly Christmas sweater...Belle balancing on branches mere inches away from Iron Man and Smaug perched at the top of the tree, guarding it all.

Just a few of my many ornaments...

Two. Sheets - Yes, you read that right. Sheets. Y'all...I cannot even. Way back in August when I visited MS and stayed with my little sister, I absolutely fell in love with her sheets. I came home determined to find them but when I did, I balked at the price and figured I could do without them. However, we went back to MS last week for Thanksgiving and I just decided I NEEDED those sheets. This wasn't a want, it was a need. Armed with my Bed, Bath & Beyond 20% coupon, I went and bought those sheets on Tuesday and they have been a delight ever since. Climbing into bed is akin to being nestled in angel's wings and held for the night. I realize you can't feel them through this post - but trust me, you need some.

Pure Beech - Jersey Sheets. Go get you some like...yesterday.

Three. Christmas Sweets - oh me. This probably directly relates to number five...but they are everywhere y'all! Reese's Peanut Butter Trees are probably the best thing ever. Don't even get me started on the brownies, fudge, candy and cookies that will start rolling out over the next three weeks! Our office complex allows a church to use it's parking for their Live Nativity each year and as a thank you they bring us - cupcakes. I'm going to need strength...and maybe one more Reese's Tree...

Yes please.

Four. Waiting - I think a lot about waiting at this time of year; Christmas involves a lot of waiting. Waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas is one that springs to mind...but the other that springs to mind and is more important is the people in Biblical times who waited; they waited for a Savior and Christmas is a celebration of the fulfillment of that promise. Both of those Christmas "waits" are such joyful things but waiting isn't always joyful and the anticipation isn't always "good" anticipation.

I have been waiting...and I'm still waiting....for the man the Lord will send me to be my husband. There have been times when I pretended I could care less, times when I was wracked with sobs and even times when I was downright angry with God because I'm thirty-one, still single and not a man in sight. Side note - God knows when you're angry with Him, even if you don't say it - because He knows your heart! I stumbled upon Natalie's blog (she's got a good name, huh?) recently and she is also waiting. Today she shared a poem that so touched my heart and I couldn't not share it. Her strength of faith in waiting is such a testimony to me and I hope maybe sharing this might touch someone else.

Waiting is hard - but I wait in faith, knowing God's plan and timing for me are far better than anything I could wish or imagine for myself.

 Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; 

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. 

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . . 

And the Master so gently said, "Wait." 

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply. 

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! 

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? 

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. 

"My future and all to which I relate 

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait? 

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, 

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

 "You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, 

We need but to ask, and we shall receive. 

And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry: 

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply." 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, 

As my Master replied again, "Wait." 

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, 

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?" 

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . . 

and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. 

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. 

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. 

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. 

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. 

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint. 

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. 

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; 

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. 

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me 

When darkness and silence are all you can see. 

"You'd never experience the fullness of love 

When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. 

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, 

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. 

"The glow of my comfort late into the night, 

The faith that I give when you walk without sight. 

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask 

From an infinite God who makes what you have last. 

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, 

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. 

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, 

But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you. 

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see 

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. 

And though oft My answers seem terribly late, 

My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Five. Fitness Friday - Well, in the spirit of honesty...this week has been something of a bust and I could make excuses but I won't. I don't like using the elliptical, I don't like using the workout DVD...I like to walk and it's dark and that causes problems - but none of those things are excuses. I have big plans to use my Dad's headlamp and try walking next week with that...and I need to remind myself the reason for all this exercise: to feel better, to feel better about myself and be healthier/kinder to my body. It's the only one I've got!

Eek! *sigh*

So - there you have it. Five things on my mind on this Friday. I don't know about you, but I'm happy to see the weekend arrive! I'm sorry if this post got a little heavy, but hey - I had to share my heart. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!