wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger

merry Christmas :)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

-- Luke 2:8-14

devo from a friend

"When unexpected things happen — trials, difficulty or tragedy — the enemy sends a whirlwind of fear to try to shake our faith and steal our focus. His goal is to take our eyes off of God and cause us to feel overwhelmed by circumstances. But if we will choose to stay focused on the love of God, if we choose to meditate on His goodness, the truth will set us free from fear and ground our hearts in confidence."

this devo could not have come at a better time.
stay focused on God, selena.

whoosh

it's already mid-december and so much has happened.

i finally joined the world of smartphones, and wow. i love it. currently, i'm addicted to instagram and the game, scramble with friends. but what i absolutely love about my new phone is the maps feature. omgosh, i feel like i can go anywhere!!!!

and that is exactly what i did.  i flew to north carolina last weekend and my trusty iphone led me safely to my destinations. phew.

december is jam-packed with many jolly gatherings, endless responsibilities, and a few nerve-wrecking situations. but with them all, i am sooo blessed by His love and His grace. i can't thank Him enough for all the opportunities He has provided, no matter the outcome.

anyways. for the very few times it has rained during the winter in sd, it is actually pouring today. i'm going to enjoy it by staying inside, sipping hot cocoa, and writing christmas cards while "friends" is playing in the background. heh :)