One of our most favorite (newer) Christmas songs

Take a few minutes and listen...I mean REALLY listen to the words of this song...if this doesn't make you think and focus on what is really important, I am not sure what will...

"While You Were Sleeping"

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you're lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His throne

And is sleeping in a manger tonight

******

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

******

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

******

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

******

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we're sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

******

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

******

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

We have a LOT to be greatful for.....

31. For the chance to go to the awesome Ewomens conference. Did I mention that it was really good?

32. Cooler weather! It's finally starting to cool down here and it has been easier to go for bike rides and walks.

33. Answered prayers!!!

34. Great friends that answer all of my crazy questions.

35. A great church that notices when I am not there! (Not that I am fishing for the attention but it's nice that people care enough to ask my husband where I am when I am not there -not often, but I wasn't feeling well last night).

36. A chance to teach Jr. Church for these past 3 weeks. It has been a lot of fun.

37. That my mom is a Christian. I pray her relationship with Jesus will comfort her as she begins this journey with (potential) cancer.

38. Having a great interview today. No matter what happens it was a good experience.

39. Red Box movies! They are cheap and a fun and easier way to get a movie rather than fighting your way thru Blockbuster! It has made movie nights more fun believe it or not!

40. Being in God's will and His grace!! I learned a lot at the conference that I need to put into action!

It's hard to believe that it is Monday again already!

21. MY HUSBAND GOT THE JOB!!! We were candidating at a church here in Washington and yesterday the church voted to hire him on as the associate pastor to youth and young families.

22. For this awesome church referred to above. They have been more loving, supportive and welcoming in the past three months than we have seen in years.

23. For my awesome husband who will just sit in his truck parked at Wal-Mart to talk about life and the ups and downs of recent times. I am so blessed to have a husband who WANTS to talk and WANTS to work at our relationship to make it the best it can be.

24. Bella- our dog. I am pretty sure that I have mentioned her before and even if I did I am mentioning her again (is that cheating even if I am grateful still? LOL). She is just plain funny. She does goofy, crazy things with the best timing to make us laugh.

25. Even as much as it hurts I am grateful for rejection because it means that God has something even better. And since I thought that job opportunity was the best one then I can't even imagine what He has in store!

26. Godly women who blog. There are many of you out there. I especially appreciate the ones that are raw and honest and make me feel as though they are in the trenches right along with me.

27. My friend Aimee. We met on a Pastor's wives forum over a year ago now and she has been more to me and for me than I could ever express! It is amazing how God handpicks people and drops them into our lives at the perfect time and she is one such perfectly timed friend.

28. Our first ladies Bible study of the season. It went great and only 2 people were not able to be there due to vacations! I was very encouraged and so grateful that they decided to take a chance on someone new and come.

29. My former boss who was then and is now more like a big brother or favorite uncle. I care for this man as though he were truly family. He's just a great guy. He's always been super encouraging, a wonderful mentor and just all around great. And to think back to how rough our beginnings were and how I almost didn't take the job...partly because he scared me to death. And in the end it was by far one of the greatest experiences ever. It was by far the best job that I can remember having and a lot of that is because of him. Thank you WESLEY! (Yes, I sure did use your first name! FIRE ME LOL)

30. For being wired by my experiences and by God's grand design to value people more than projects. Sure it hurts sometimes and sure it even causes me to shed tears but to know people on a deeper level than "Hi," is so worth it in the end. It is asking "How are you," and sticking around for the answer.

Even though it is JUST after midnight here...it is still before in Alaska & Hawaii ...OK fine so we don't live in Alaska anymore and I am not in Hawaii... either way here is my Gratitude List for this week.

I am grateful for....

11. two sets of dirty clothes, dishes, etc because that means that I no longer live by myself (and haven't since May 6, 2006).

12. for God working out the little details of life like the perfect used washing machine at just the right time for us to pick up to replace the broken down one where we are staying.

13. the willingness of my husband's Grandfather to descend upon him and move in.

14. having a new church family that has truly taken us in and cares about us.

15. books like The Shack that revolutionize and challenge my thinking.

16. the mind and abilities to be able to read, listen and think about books like The Shack.

17. the sensitivity for others that has come in part from my own hard times, hard knocks and hard lessons.

18. that even though to me something is a hard time, really, in the grand scheme of things and compared to many, they aren't THAT hard.

19. for living in a place that has 4 seasons! I LOVE Fall!!

20. that God knows what He is doing and doesn't punish me for asking if He is sure that He knows how to do His job.