Day 16: Favorite Christmas Song

I have been super excited about today's photo. My most favorite things about the Christmas season, aside from the awesomeness of remembering Christ's birth and hope for the whole world, is Christmas songs. I love how the songs are able to explain the hope Christ brings by coming into the world with us, for all of us. It brings my soul much joy and peace listening to the songs. I am posting the picture for today's challenge but I am also including a link to listen to my favorite Christmas song. Without further ado my favorite Christmas song, for your viewing and listening pleasure, Peace Has Come by Hillsong.
                        Peace Has Come

Days 8-14

I must apologize once more for being late on my posts. I have been taking the photos daily for my updates, but haven't been uploading them on time. I'm sure most of you have learned to expect this from me by now, so hopefully you won't be too upset!

Day 8: Wrapping Paper

Like all of the other Twenty Somethings, I like to find deals wherever possible. This photo is of all the wrapping paper that I have leftover from last year. I always go shopping after Christmas and stock up on wrapping paper to use the following year. It saves me quite a bit of money that way...plus, it makes gift wrapping much easier to already have the supplies you need on hand.

Day 9: Peace

This photo was taken at our fourth-annual Christmas Party. The cute mug belongs to Martha S. (who kindly brewed me some coffee to go in it).

Day 10: Christmas List 

It has been a long time since I wrote down a list of what I wanted for Christmas. I remember writing letters to Santa when I was younger. I would go through the Toys "R" Us catalogs and circle everything that I wanted. Each year, I would wish for a dog...specifically a Dalmatian (I was obsessed with 101 Dalmatians & spotted animals ie. ladybugs). Of course, I never got everything on the list (unfortunately, no puppy), but a girl can dream, right?!

Now that I am older, my mom still asks for suggestions of what to get me for Christmas. Whenever I see something I feel like I can't live without, I send her a photo/link so that she can see it.  This book, How To Catch A Frog, is an example of the types of items that I wish for.

Day 11: Green

I recently decorated the bulletin board in my office. It was filled with thumb-tack holes and wasn't very pretty to look at, so I bought this cute polka-dot fabric from Walmart and stapled it on. It was a very hastily made project, so it's not one of my best...but at least it serves its purpose of adding a little splash of color to my work space.

Day 12: Joy is...

Joy is going home to this little cutie every night. Although he is technically my sister's dog, I have become very attached to him in the short amount of time we have spent together. After a hard day at work, he is there to greet me at the door and smother me in kisses. He brings a lot of happiness into my life, and I dread the day that I will no longer be living with him.

Day 13: Presents!
These are all of the gifts that we opened at Martha S.'s house last night. I would have included a photo of the gifts under my tree, but unfortunately there are no longer any gifts left under it, since I took most of them to the party, and haven't wrapped any of my other gifts yet.

Day 14: Hot Drink 
This is my cheap dollar store reusable coffee cup that I take to work with me in the mornings. This morning, I had hazelnut coffee and added some Italian sweet cream. It was delicious!

That's all for now, folks! Hopefully, it won't be another week before you hear from me again. 

-Miss Ellanous

Day 12: Joy is ... a Choice

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

About 30 minutes ago I was reminded of a bit of scripture that I really started to understand. (50 points to whoever can guess where the scripture came from before the end of this post.) I was first introduced to this particular group of scripture a few months ago in the women's Bible study I attend with Granny Eyre once a week. Today it really hit home for me. Life is full of choices and I fully believe life is what you make it. And no one said it better than Miley Cyrus herself. So for you listening pleasure I am including a link to hear her tell you about it. Here You Go. Okay now to chase this rabbit back. If life is full of choices that means I am allowed to choose, right? So I can choose joy. This is new to me though. Since I was a child I've always felt like I don't get to choose anything. Choosing is for people who deserve it but not for me, no way no how could I ever deserve the freedom to choose, especially something like joy. Joy, I thought was for people who did no wrong, people who were worth something, people who had their lives together and not broken. But I was wrong. To finally tie this back to my original quote, which in case you are still wondering comes from Philippians 4:11-13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This means I can choose and that includes joy. I am also to be content in all life's situations that I go through. In each situation because of Christ I can choose between joy and sadness (I am not saying that sadness isn't sometimes a good choice but this post is about joy.) Joy is for everyone no matter what, but it also a choice. So if you are feeling down and out choose joy because life is what you make it so let's make it right. I do realize though that is easier said than done. Joy is a choice and you and I are able to make that choice.

Today's picture comes from my journal, the first page with my notes that brought on the inspiration for this post.

Fun tidbit, this post took my a whole hour to write therefore it is now a new day day 13 to be exact. I will be making another post later on for that picture though.  I just hope this post makes some sort of sense and helps you see joy from my perspective. Goodnight. Captain Something Fun signing off.

Day 12: Joy is..

Joy is...the wonderful church family I have. Okay that's just one thing that brings me joy. The list includes God, tea, family, friends, cute tea mugs, and good books, in train of thought order. Today though my happy moment was singing with the church choir at Wal-Mart. We made people smile and it was fun.

And then later we went out to eat in Irvine.