noticed.

ever wonder if you are noticed?

especially during a season of chaos and unwanted change, i tend to disappear a little.  not always physically, but most likely i "check out" and go through the motions.  i feel like i have worked so hard my entire life to blend in and not rock the boat.  even while desiring the quietness and peace of the wallpaper existence, i long to be seen and sought after.

simple words or a hug can mean the world to me.  i am so blessed by the people around me that notice me. you know who you are...thank you.

Christmas storybook land!

storybook land is a piece of my childhood i hope i never forget.  i found a couple pictures from back in the day...my first two visits.

walking up to the building today, the memories and smells came flooding back to me.  in between the displays and along the walkways, there are hundreds of Christmas trees and lights are strung everywhere.

these stuffed dolls and the huge teddy bear are bigger than i am and have been there for as long as i can remember...

the grinch is always so much fun.  there is an X marked on the ground that you can jump on and when you do, he jumps too.  so cool...

the kids LOVED it.  i LOVED seeing their excitement and remembering what it was like when i was younger.  

now it feels more like Christmas...

love.

i needed to hear this today. sometimes my focus is on God's never-ending power or justice (which is not bad, just a different focus).

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

i cannot walk away or outrun His love for me.

if i disappoint Him...He loves me.

if i mess up (again...and again)...He still loves me.