An Old-Fashioned & Classic Girl

As much as any other person in my generation, I'm appreciative and used to the convenience in our society. I quickly Google a product I'm looking to buy and with a few clicks of the mouse, it will be shipped to my house in days. After a long day I may not feel up to cooking so I pop a Lean Cuisine in the microwave instead as a satisfactory substitute. However, I do have an appreciation for a slower and more old-fashioned way of life. As one of the women in a Bible study at church confirmed one evening when discussing the average age of the participants, I fit in well because I am an old soul at heart. (I'll take that as a compliment.)

I find this quality of myself to show through in my shopping habits as well. When looking for clothes, I am more likely to lean more toward classic as opposed to cutting edge and trendy. I jokingly tell my mom that her style is more hip than mine. I was also shopping online for a tea kettle as a Christmas gift from my dad to me just the other day. For starters I realize that perhaps a tea kettle is a strange item for a girl in her 20's to even be shopping for; however, shopping for it I was. As I browsed through websites and pictures, I found myself drawn to more classic models as opposed to the sleeker and more modern versions. As of yet I'm still on the search for the tea kettle I have pictured in my mind that is coupled with a good set of reviews for durability by other purchasers. Suggestions are welcome from fellow tea lovers.

A few models that have sparked my interest (the jury is still out for me as to whether they will be of the best quality):

*(Le Creuset Whistling Teakettle)
*(Copco Cambridge Tea Kettle)

In addition to going the old-fashioned route when it comes to drinking tea, I also had a couple of discussions with both my brother and my boyfriend concerning the gifting popularity this year of electronic reading devices such as the Nook and the Kindle. I am very intrigued by these gadgets, yet as an avid reader I feel that I would almost be cheating on my love of books by joining the ranks and adding it to my wish list. Call me crazy, but there is just something about physically curling up with a blanket and an actual book that evokes relaxation and peacefulness in my life. Perhaps if I were a frequent traveler or businesswoman I might find multiple uses for it in my daily life. No, the teacher in me and traditional nature of myself draw me right to the bookshelves of the library or my favorite bookstore, Barnes and Noble. Maybe down the road I will be convinced that one of these would be useful in my life, but for now I am going to stick with my usual, the preferences of an old-fashioned and classic girl.

The inner battle of a reader: traditional or technological?

*(One of my favorite classics, Pride and Prejudice.)
*(Although quite impressive, I'm not yet ready to convert to the Kindle.)

That One Sweet Silent Night

And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:8-12

The Christmas season is definitely in full swing with only about a week and a half until the 25th arrives. The last days of school leading up to break have been keeping me busy and Christmas shopping has been happening slowly but surely. It has been a wonderful holiday season full of festive activities. Amidst it all, I refuse to be caught in a whirlwind of simply secular celebration. The message at church this past Sunday brought me back to a passage I have read and learned about since I was a small child, that of the shepherds who received news of the first and most precious Christmas gift. It's easy for me to breeze through such a familiar story, but I think this would be foolish. Instead, I want to share why I believe this is such an unusually beautiful piece of the Christmas story.

It was a routine, regular night for these shepherd men. I imagine that they were fairly simple men, perhaps quiet as they laid beneath a blanket of starry sky. What a sweet, silent night. All of a sudden, God sent an angel to appear to them with a jubilant message. This in itself astounds me. If I were one of the shepherds, this alone would have been the experience of a lifetime. God had sent an angel to speak a special message to me. Wow, an evening to remember and tell about for generations. God was only getting started. This angel preceded to share with the men news that would change the course of history. God had come to Earth. He had sent His Son, Jesus, to live and walk among His people, to love us, to teach us, to heal us, and to save us. Emmanuel, God with us. The shepherds quickly left to find this precious baby, their Savior. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have the opportunity these men were given, to gaze into the face of a beautiful baby knowing that He was my Lord. Thinking about it in these terms, it's no wonder that so many Christmas songs have been written, each attempting to capture the beauty and holiness of this wondrous night, the first noel.

This holiday season, take a moment to appreciate the depth and meaning of that very first Christmas when God sent us a gift like no other, a baby to save the world.