Ahhh...Christmas in the Snow

I'm so grateful not to be sick anymore that I'm going to be adventurous and head out and take a bus to do a little staple shopping and some Christmas shopping. It's a week before Christmas, and while it will be the first Christmas without my father, I'm really grateful that I have a close-knit family that has gotten one another through the sadness. And my dad was so full of life, he wouldn't want us to be anything but joyful. He was really wonderful, and he didn't even really care about receiving presents for himself. I can remember Christmases as a child where he got so much joy from seeing us all unwrap out presents, he would take so many photos that you would think he was a professional photographer. And he usually was the last to open his gifts. I really miss him, and I can't stress enough how one should cherish every moment they have with loved ones. Especially around this time of year.

So I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday, and encourage everyone to think about starting a new tradition with your family this year. My mother is taking my niece to The Nutcracker because she is a budding dancer and singer, and I'm sure it will turn into an annual event. I myself am going to a Christmas Eve by candlelight service at the church I've been attending, Groveton Baptist on Rt. 1. I attended their Christmas Eve service about four years ago and it was the most beautiful service of any kind that I've ever been too.

Sometimes we get so caught up in all the shopping madness, we forget that this holiday is about celebrating Christ's birth, and giving HIM the glory. It's also about being with family. I myself plan to make Christmas Eve service a tradition for myself, and hopefully some of my family. I would love to see some of my friends there too.

Groveton Baptist is a very diverse church that welcomes all. Their mission is "to love people into the Kingdom of God" and that's exactly what they do. I hadn't planned to make this post an endorsement of the church, only an endorsement of celebrating Christmas for it's true origin, but this church truly celebrates Christmas the way it should be celebrated, that I believe it's worthy of the endorsement. If you want to really see what the true spirit of Christmas is, this service is not to be missed. It will be held at 7pm, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th at 6511 Richmond Hwy/Route 1. The church is on Facebook and its website is http://www.grovetonbaptistchurch.org/

So again, I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and encourage everyone to focus on not what difficulties are going on in your life, but on the blessings. Because when I sit down and really think about all I have to be thankful for, I realize I'm truly blessed. Here of some of the things I can think of off the top of my head:

1. A roof over my head and food to eat. Take a walk down to Foggy Bottom or Old Town even. You'll see plenty of homeless people that show you how blessed you are.
2. With the exception of my father, all of my immediate family are living and breathing and healthy. That's 3 sisters, 1 brother, and more than 18 nieces and grand nieces and nephews who bring me tons of joy.
3. I'm in great health (despite my uterine fibroid the size of a grapefruit).
4. I have amazing friends who have helped me through death, breakups, unemployment and more. I'd be in the crazy house without them and my family.
5. Freelance clients that pay my bills when I'm not working a professional contract. These have been like manna from Heaven on months when no temp work is available.

These are only a few things, but they are the things that get me up in the morning. Make your own list and tape it to your fridge. Then when you are having a crappy day, read it and remember things arn't so bad after all. And if it's an extra crappy day and the list doesn't help, meditate on Philippians 4:13 which says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It has always helped me get through the tough times.

Peace and Blessings,

April Crews

Sick but Still Breathin'

After a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday last week, I woke up Monday morning with my throat feeling like it's on fire, a hellish sinus headache, and now I've lost my voice and sound like Kermit the Frog. So I thought, since I can't do anything else, I'll blog.

If you haven't been following my blog, it's been a tough year. My father passed in March, and in June, to pour salt in the wound I got let go of a very promising temp assignment that I thought would become a permanent. It wasn't until the end of August that I got another gig through my staffing agency, and that gig ends December 31st.

But here's the cherry on top people. A few weeks ago I discovered I have a uterine fibroid the size of a grapefruit which has brought serious discomfort and extreme tiredness, among other things. So, along with all this, I wake up from a great week to be sick as a dog. This would be ok if I had sick leave. But I don't, and so I will be losing a substantial amount of money this week from not working. But what can I do? Nothing short of lobbying to change the name of the "common cold" to "common hell." Because that's what I've been in for 4 days. Hell.

But I've decided this: Yeah, I may be unemployed soon, and I may feel (and look) like hell. But what can I do but wait it out? Wait it out and be glad it's not something worse - like strep throat which is what I originally thought I had. So I'm gonna take the advice I once gave to an ex-boyfriend who really had nothing to complain about. "'Be happy you're alive. Some people didn't wake up today."

Since my father's death I really understand the significance of that statement. So even though I'm feeling sick as a dog, can't leave the house, can't do nothing, and have watched too many cable Christmas movies - I'm gonna eat my chicken soup and deal with it. Cause at least I got up this morning. And even though he's not here with me, I know my father would want me to be thankful for that.