Traditions: Make New Friends but Keep the Old



I have attempted 400 times  okay maybe actually only 5 times to write a birthday/ thanksgiving post.
Some of you may be thinking, "hello! Its Christmas, thanksgiving was so three weeks ago."
While that statement is true, I am still living in the beauty of my birthday week. It was a fabulous couple of days that were enjoyed to the fullest & while I won't bore you with every single detail, I will share some of the precious moments I had.

Thanksgiving was spent at the beach with the waves crashing in the background as we enjoyed a true thanksgiving feast on a picnic bench with the ocean for our backdrop. It was heavenly. Friday was my 26th birthday and we decided that we would drive up the California coast and enjoy the amazing scenery for my birthday. It was truly breathtaking. Jonny allowed me to stop at all the little shops that I wanted too, I also ate whatever I wanted all day (let's be real) all weekend.

We were super blessed to be able to stay at a friends house in Cambria, one street away from the ocean. You guys, it was so fabulous. Saturday morning we woke up and drove up through Big Sur, and Carmel. Jonny took me through 17 mile drive, which is absolutely incredible, and we drove into Monterey, grabbed a coffee and headed back to Cambria for the evening. We had so much fun talking, laughing and dreaming together about our future. We also decided that maybe Cambria will be a new tradition for the weekend after thanksgiving, it just seems fitting since I love the ocean so much and my birthday always lands the week of thanksgiving. I am already looking forward to next year.


News Flash~ its Christmas time!  All around are trees, wreaths, lights, Christmas music and the joy of the season. I love Christmas and I had our house decorated before we left for our trip so that we could enjoy it the whole month. Jonny assembled our tree since we can't have a real one due to living on a college campus.  I already have a record with the Riverside Fire Department due to some unforgettable events in college that may have involved me leaving my stove on, and having to evacuate 150 people from a building. Whoops, you live and you learn right?

 So the tree is up and the lights are up all around the house, and I have been doing my best to prepare my heart for all this season holds. I decided this year to participate in Dressember which is an organization that raises awareness for human trafficking. Girls all over the world commit to wearing a dress every day in December to raise money to give to non-profit organizations like IJM &  A21 who are on the front lines of raising awareness, as well as rescuing human trafficking victims. Over the years I have heard about Human Trafficking, never truly understanding all of it. I've tried to do my best to research information on how to help, how to raise awareness. It absolutely breaks my heart.
From the a21 website:
 There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.

YOU GUYS! THIS SHOULD BREAK YOUR HEART TOO.

 As a young girl who was protected from most of the cruelty of the world, and saving myself for marriage, my heart shatters at the thought of men and women being SOLD FOR SEX.
When will we wake up? When will we understand the hurt and the desperation and need for Jesus?
I often become overwhelmed when I think about how small I am in comparison to the millions that are being sold.
However, I know that I can pray. I know that I have a God who hears me, and His heart breaks for it even more. I also know that I can give financially to support men, women & children who are being rescued out of slavery. I can also wear a dress, every day of December so that when someone asks me why I am wearing a dress (in one of California's colder months) I can explain that I want to be a voice for the voiceless. I want people to know that they can help and raise awareness too! 

 So I am working on traditions, Cambria & Dressember are for sure to be on the list for the future years. I am working on including traditions from when I was a little girl, as well as letting go of the ones that are not so necessary.

Underwear exchange with my sisters = necessary
Going to the mission inn with 9 million people= necessary
shopping on black friday= unnecessary
buying christmas socks for every human in America= unnecessary

I am still learning what I want to be included at the holidays and what things to let go of, but as I work through it, Im gonna go grab my snowman fuzzy socks!
Enjoy the season everyone, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 
 

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