Words for the New Year

At the end of every year I ask God what He is asking of me for the upcoming new year. And every year I ask, I get at least 1 word.

The word for 2007 was Sacrifice. He taught me so much about that with little things like giving up social time with friends to work or do fundraisers, to big things like losing friends when they were killed for doing what God called them to do.

The word for 2008 didn't come to me until 3 months into the year and it was Serve. A word I thought would be easy but was everything but easy. However, I did notice my character slowly growing with this action word.

And now as I've asked God to reveal to me something for the year 2009, He's given me Love and Patience. I absolutely love to love, but I have a feeling that the word love is going to have a whole different meaning to me as I patiently press on through this New Year.

I've decided to do something a little different and a little more personal this time. So please watch my 1st video blog to hear a little more about what I am passionate about and also what God's been doing in my life.

Love,
Rebecca Lynne

Christmas 2008 - A Cherished Memory

Playing Apples to Apples at the Rossman Family Christmas

This Christmas is a cherished memory, because the past 2 years I have been away doing missionary training schools with YWAM and also it's is the 1st Christmas I've been content with being single (ever)!

My nieces shouting "PRESENTS!" right before we begin to hand them out.

I cherished the little things and especially the big things. However, I didn't like the frequent weather changes and terrible road conditions that led up to Christmas day.

After the Ice Storm 1 week before Christmas

This Christmas I got everything and more that I was hoping for and the best thing about it was that I was financially able to get everyone in my immediate family the gifts they wanted.

The ornament I got for my dad (not the only gift)

I tried my hardest to cherish every single memory this holiday season because I have no idea where or what I will be doing for the following years to come.

I love sitting by the fire in the fireplace around the Holidays!

I Will Never Forget...

Joseph replied, "Don't be afraid. Do I act for God? Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I'll take care of you and your children." He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.
- Genesis 50:19-21 (The Message)

Today is the anniversary of a memory that I will never forget, however it is an anniversary that sometimes I wish I could forget... the anniversary of what I call "The Shooting" (see link for more information).

Last week I had experienced most if not all of the emotions I had experienced the night of the shooting, and all of the memories came rushing back to me uncontrollably. It seemed like everywhere I looked something was triggering the memories, which caused me to feel like I was reliving the trauma.

So I humbled myself and I went to a counselor yesterday, for the first time in my life, to see if she could help me deal with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and help me with the symptoms that I have been having for a year now.

She said that it sounds like I am almost over the peek of it and that I need to do more grieving. Which I believe is true. Since the moment it happened it felt surreal, and I just wanted to wake up from this bad dream but I never woke up. Then I just wanted to get over it and forget it ever happened. So I'm sure there is more grieving that I need to do. Also she mentioned the difference in cultures of Illinois and Colorado and how I could be also grieving the culture change. She hit the nail on the head with the whole grief thing. Colorado is my home away from home, and when I am there I feel like my heart is full. :-)

She mentioned some different types of therapy/tests that I could do along with the counseling and she said that I'd probably only need a few more sessions. Yea!

But no matter how much I may want to forget what happened, I will never forget ...

Articles to read for more information:
Rocky Mountain News article published December 6, 2008
YWAM Article # 1
YWAM Article # 2

Emphasis on Giving

Thanksgiving is NEXT week and Christmas will be fast approaching and then another New Year!

Ahhhh!!!!

My youth pastor gave a message a couple days ago on Thanksgiving, and I was expecting the traditional "be thankful for what you have" type of speech. But as he was speaking God spoke to me something else: what's the last part of the word "Thanksgiving"? ... GIVING! My youth pastor even touched on it.

This year I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my life and being thankful for many things, so this Thanksgiving I am going to do something else ... exercise giving. Sometimes I feel like I give enough physically or emotionally, but who am I to judge how much is enough or how much is too little. With help from the BIG G I can give so much more.

Photo taken from Flickr.com

Yarning

"Yarning" is the word I've made up when I want to talk about crocheting and knitting. For the last month I've been trying to teach myself how to crochet, with the help of my grandma. It's been a lot of fun! Next, I'm going to try and learn how to knit. Maybe even as soon as next month (1 day away).

I've felt like God stirred up a rebellion inside of me that I will not let fear of failure control what I do or don't do. So all of the things I've wanted to learn how to do, or even things that I want to do just once - I WILL DO or try to do! I will face fear because fear does not control me, love surrounds, I will be everything God wants me to be! (Maybe I'll use that in a song sometime!)

So anyways, I've kind of always wanted to learn how to crochet, knit, sew, paint, cook, and many more things; but I would push it aside and tell myself that I couldn't do it or I would try it and get frustrated by my failure. But now with this new "rebellion" the disappointment or frustration only pushes me forward to succeed.
I was reading Proverbs in The Message version one day and I realized that God is shaping me into this type of woman:

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

(just a few sections of Prov. 31)

It's so cool how God speaks to us, we just need to make sure we are listening.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I've done this month.

These are hats and scarves I made for my nieces birthdays.
They are 2 years and 2 days apart: Nov. 3, 2004 and Nov. 5, 2006

This is a soft and fuzzy scarf I made my mom.
It's a "just because" scarf because she thought it was really cool what I was doing.