Christmas ramblings
I've been in North Carolina since Dec. 22. and we'll be staying until Jan. 1. We always hope to get some snow, but this year we will go home without seeing a flake. Chritmas Eve and Christmas were very nice as usual. This is the second year that I have spent my entire Christmas holiday in NC. It has become tradition to attend a Moravian Christmas Eve Service. The Moravians, as a denomination, seem to have beliefs that are very similar to the baptists but with more emphasis on tradition and heritage. After that, we head to my wife's step-dad's sister's house for dinner and gifts. We get home (the In-Law's) real late then in the morning we open gifts with family. We then head over to my wife's sister's house, which is about an hour away. We have a late lunch and then opened gifts. Kimm's Bio-Dad is there and loves Ryan like crazy. After that we head back to Oxford to my wife's step-dad's parent's house. This is another hour drive and by this time we are pooped. We have another large meal and open a few gifts. Whew! Drive back to the house and crash. The next day we went out and checked out the after Christmas sales, and since then, have been basically just chilling out.
I realized something about myself that I discovered while looking at my own actions recently. I usually consider myself fairly patient and not easily stressed out. At least, I always thought that I was able to manage any stress that came up. Well, It was pointed out to me that I was being unusually critical about things. Everything! I didn't even realize I was doing it. What was happening, I believe, is that the stress that I thought I had "managed", was finding a way to vent itself. My point. Listen to what those around you are telling you. You may be doing things you don't want to do, and not even realize it. I don't want to be critical! That's how I used to be before I accepted Christ. These things also usually indicate when I've been away from God's word and not walking in the Spirit.
Kinda looking forward to getting back to work. Which happens to be doing the things I love to do.