Mary's Faith

So, I'm back from Springfield! Well, I've been back since Sunday afternoon, but I'm just now getting to write. It was INCREDIBLE. I got to see my cousin and his wife, their baby girl, and my aunt, Addi's grandma! I got to hold Addi for the first time and boy, was it spectacular! I've never been that close with a birth before. It's always been a friend giving birth. It's never been a family member that I've been this close with before. Jarrod and Caira are like a brother and sister-in-law to me. So, in turn I feel like an aunt. Self-declared, of course.

On another note...

The last few Christmases have been really different for me. Obviously because of my dad's passing, but it seems more than that. I'm more thankful or less shallow than before. It's been strange to see the transformation of the holidays in my eyes. But, in a way, I'm glad for it. I'm glad the presents really don't matter anymore. It's about spending time with the ones you love, family and friends. And most importantly, it's about the birth of the One who came to save the world. 

This time of year, I love reading Luke 1:26-38, the "Birth of Jesus foretold". It tells of the angel visiting Mary and prophesying the fact that she was going to have a son despite her having never been with a man. It's such an incredible account of what happened back then. And what shocks me the most isn't the immaculate conception, but Mary's willingness. She doesn't even argue with the angel or call him crazy or laugh like Sarah did when the angels told her and Abraham they would have a baby boy by that same time next year. She just says,

"I am the Lord's servant.

May everything you have said 

about me come true."

-Luke 1:38

She accepts what the angel told her. Without question. That is just mind-blowing to me. I can't say that I would have that same faith without any type of questions, details, or anything of that nature. Can you? I try not to measure the faith of myself and those around me, but I feel like Mary, even at her very young age, had more faith than I can even imagine. Bible experts and historians put Mary at about 13 or 14 at this point, making Joseph around 23 or so. It's just indescribable, this story of the miracle birth. Maybe this will be the Christmas that changes everything. 

I hope you all have wonderful holidays. Merry Christmas to you all! and Happy New Year if I don't write again before then. 

-katie

Semi-Update

I've had this week off because the parents of the family I work for are in Florida on vacation and Pierce is with his grandparents. It's been so nice to wake up whenever I want (more like can), take a nap whenever I want, go out and do whatever I want when I want. It's just been incredibly relaxing.

Tomorrow, I will head north to Springfield, MO to see my cousin, his wife, and their new baby, Addi! I cannot wait to meet this little girl! She is so loved already--more like spoiled already! My aunt will be there too and I'm excited to see her since I haven't seen her since a week or so before Addi was born. Can't wait!

Tonight, I got to see my baby Kate. And needless to say, I was excited to see her and her parents. I haven't seen them in two weeks.

There will be a post coming next week from my baby weekend! Looking forward to it!

-katie