It's that time of year where things are so rushed, but we all, well at least I feel the need to slow down, sit down and reflect on life and pray in thanksgiving. The time of year where we are eager to show are love to others, to serve others, to please others and hopefully not dwell on ourselves and what me may or may not reciprocate. We are more likely to take the time to think of our friends and family, especially those not near to us. Whether you are a believer or not, there is a feeling in the air. The Spirit of Love, Charity that is Christmas.
To many of us believers there is a common scripture that we all know from 2 Corinthians about Love. One thing that may not be known to many is the original context of those scriptures where the common phrase of "Love" was/is actually "Charity". In the King James Version of the Bible vs the NKJ version. In our faith we use the original King James Version. And to me, having the word Love replaced with Charity gives greater depth of meaning, especially this time of year. Because Charity is Love, but Love doesn't always mean Charity. (This is of my own personal opinion) It should but... Charity is the pure love of Christ.
Read this and tell me you take a greater deeper meaning from this:
(esp verses 4-8 & 13)
Chapter 13
Paul discusses the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whetherthere be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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As you can now see what I mean. I try to remember these things myself and teach them to my children. And that's what I want to share with you in the Spirit of the Season.
A quick little update on our family:
Jeff, busier than ever, growing J & B with the hopes of opening more yards in 2015. We got a new desert toy so that helps give him some reprieve to go out and play with the kids whenever possible. He was Assistant Coach for Alyssa's soccer team this year and they made it to the Tournament of Champions and they still have a game or two. He is having the hardest time watching his baby girl grow up into a young woman.
Me, obviously busier than ever if Jeff is and the business is growing=more employees. I've been able grow in my own department with putting a lot of focus on our Safety/Training, website updates, social media and just initiated a big change in our email service. I'm still nuts about my fitness and helping others with motivation and support whenever I can. Obviously this blog is my fitness blog ;-)
Alyssa is going to be turning 12 next month and going into the Young Women's program. She has changed so much in the last year she's almost a whole different person. From the colors she likes, food she eats, activities she does. Dance was her whole life and passion. She danced for 7 years and as of this summer is no longer dancing. She wanted to do soccer and she even did Cross Country this season(mama very happy). She is now a middle schooler and she is loving it! She is like me that way, friends are EVERYTHING right now. She is always got a friend with her or going to a friends party. She even had a few trips with friends who came a long with us this summer. She had her first taste of independence going with one of her best friends to Disney Land where they were able to be on their own (within the park). She is just over an inch from being as tall as I am and the sharing has begun between us. She LOVES to read and has read over 70 books this year I believe. Oh and she took surf lessons this summer too! And when I need help moving furniture and flipping mattresses, it is sooo much easier to have someone help me... ha ha.
Ryan has as also done a lot of changing this year, not as significant but growing and maturing to some degree lol. Thank heavens he is still a mama's boy. He's getting so tall, it wont be long until he passes me up too. He is now in 3rd grade and is attending a new school, but has many friends he already knows and best of all he's in his cousin's class. They are very close. He reached to the testing of the 5th belt= blue belt in Karate, but we have just changed from Traditional American Karate to Chinese Kung Fu called Choy Li Fut. We are excited see how he improves with this new instructors and classes. I'm already impressed in just a couple weeks of it. He is still a video game nut. He excels with math. He can do so much in his head so he doesn't like having to do it on paper especially the new ways they want kids to do it. He actually played soccer this year. I was assistant coach for his team. He goes back and forth on whether he likes it, but made some good friends who are really a great group of boys. We got lucky this year!
We have fun playing in the desert, river, beach, snow. Our big family trip this year was going to Mount Rushmore and then driving through Wyoming and Montana to Idaho. It was wonderful!
That's our little update for 2014!
Much love to you and yours this season and in the new year!
Merry Christmas!
Love, The Young Family
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