Gifts of Love

Today we read the story, The Gift of the Magi. The story was about a husband and wife who both sold their most valuable items to get a gift for the other. Only, the wife sold her long hair to buy a band for her husband’s watch. And the husband sold his watch to buy beautiful combs, for his wife’s hair. While both funny, and a bit sad, this sweet story tells of a selfless love that seeks to bring joy to the hearts of those you love. As we enter this season of giving, I wonder how we will express and show our love to those we love. I give hugs, cards, and gifts as I celebrate Jesus’ birthday with them. I spend time talking with them and listening to their stories of what has been going on in their life and with their families. These are ways I try to show my love to them. How do you express your love?

                                           

Loves Greater Than Fears

This past weekend I went to go see the movie The Book Thief, with my mom and sister, Jenny. I laughed, I cried, I was happy, I was sad, it got me all emotional inside. One of my favorite scenes was when she took the book from the fire. She loved to read so much that she didn’t even let the fear of getting burned stop her. I wonder what I things I love more than the things I fear? What things I would risk getting burned for. I am afraid for alligators, sharks, and crocodiles, because they have so many, and such sharp teeth. But there are also many things I love. I love animals, children, babies, parents, grandparents, and helping people. I also love when I am brave, and so I wonder if my love for these things are greater than my fears. If I would take the kind of risks Liesel did for them? But hopefully I will never have to test this out, because I really don’t like crocodiles, alligators, and sharks!!

                                       

All of Me

All My Love

You made a way for me

To come to your mercy seat

Your death has opened up the door

Now that the veil has been torn

My broken life is restored

Your precious blood has washed me clean

            All my love is yours, all of my affection

            All my heart belongs to the lord most high

One thing I ask and seek

To gaze upon your beauty

To dwell in your house forever more

For my body longs for you

More than for drink or food

My soul thirsts for the living God

All of my heart and my soul

All of my strength is yours

All of my hopes and my dreams

I give to you my king

 All of my plans and my ways

I lay them down and say

All of my love is yours

Today we looked at the song All My Love which talked about giving all of my love to Him. In the first few lines it talked of how He showed us mercy and made a way for us to be made clean and restored by what He did on the cross. It talked of how because of that we want to give Him all our love. The chorus sang of this saying, “All my love is yours, all of my affection. All my heart belongs to the lord most high.” Maybe it is because these lines reminded me of two of my favorite songs, Lord I Lift Your Name on High and All in All, but it reminded me of how He is my everything, and my need to give Him my everything as I live to love and glorify Him. The closing verse talked about giving Him all of my hopes, dreams, and plans. Dreams of getting married and raising children of my own. Plans of maybe adopting children from around the world, if I couldn’t have kids of my own. And Hopes of one day being free from all my injuries, and being able to think more clearly. I have so many hopes, dreams and plans for my future, but as the song says, I need to say, “I lay them down and say, all my love is yours.” I trust that God knows who I am and what I love, and that He will meet my desires whether it is the way I hope He fulfills them, or not. This life is not about me, it’s about Him, and I want to give Him all my love.

Later we talked about the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. The boy made a huge gesture in that he gave all he could, but in regards to what was needed, it would be considered meager. And yet because he put it into God’s hands, it was used to accomplish amazing things! This gives me great hope, because I see how it can be true of my life. I have a very willing heart to give God all that I can, but often it still would be considered meager to this world. But the hope I find in this story, is that it’s not about what I can give, but what God can give, with what I have to offer. This is where my hope lies. That the amazing God I love and serve will use my life and all that I give to Him, to accomplish great things.

Becoming of Light

My Pastor has been preaching from Isaiah, and this past week he asked us to read from Isaiah 58, and so I did! Some verses that I really liked started at verse 7. They talked about us sharing our bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless into our house. It shared how by us extending kindness to others we let God shine his light through us. It used descriptions like, “then shall your light break forth like the dawn,” “then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” I like these verses because it shows how God can work into our lives and then use that to work into other’s lives.

                        

Seeing for God

Today we learned about Australia and got to see some of the beautiful nature that is there. There was warm sand, clear water, and even some beautiful waterfalls flowing off of the rocks. So much of what we saw was breathtaking. We then read a short excerpt about living with your eyes wide open.  After seeing glimpses of Australia, I can see how that would be important, physically speaking, but reading this passage also showed me its importance spiritually speaking. God wants us to see it that way. He made this earth special to everyone, and we will all see different things in it. I see the sick, homeless, and those without jobs. I see how they need help, and because I can see that, I can go help them. And maybe by seeing that, I can wonder if that’s what God is telling me to do, and I am willing to serve or support them in any way I can.

But I also see trees, and flowers; clouds and colorful leaves falling to the ground. I part of God’s masterpiece that we call nature, and it makes me very happy. Because God is giving me eyes to see, I can see pain, beauty, and also hope!

My Role Model

      Today as we looked at countries and pictures, India in particular, we came across this photo. As we talked of what kind of model she wanted to be, I thought back on my own role models. One of whom is my aunt Robin. She is a missionary in the Ivory Coast of Africa and there are many times when I wish to be like her. I want to help people. I want to give them what they need, help out in their homes, and help them find jobs. I want to care for others. 

      Like her, I want to live a life that inspires. But even while I would love to travel, and meet the needs of others around the world, I think I can still help others right here where I already am. I can make arts and crafts for others. I can put my hats, scarves, bracelets, key chains, and so much more in boxes, and send them to their homes. I can make baby blankets for new born babies. And read bible stories to others, as well as teach little kids to read. I can do all of this and so much more. I can do a lot. I can inspire others by who I am, and who God is making me to be. I can shine for Him. I can smile, and say kind words. I can be welcoming, and there for others. I can be a light in this world. I shine for Jesus every time I make people happy.

Birthday Dreams

Tomorrow, it my birthday and I am extremely excited for it! Tonight I get to celebrated with my friends and housemates from my group home. They are making me my birthday dinner, and I know it is going to be a really fun time! Then this weekend I am going on a scavenger hunt with most of them too! I know that will be a really fun time as well! And then finally, on Monday, I am going out to Red Robin with my family!

I love birthdays because they are a special time once a year, when I get to just celebrate with my friends and family for no other reason but that they want to acknowledge how happy they are that I was born on this day. They want to do something to make me feel extra special and happy, and since I love them, just spending time with them makes me more than happy!

Birthdays are also a great time for me to look back at my life so far, and all the things that have brought me happiness. I am happy that God has blessed me to be so good at so many things. I am good at and enjoy, crafts, reading, puzzles, sewing, and working with kids. I have really enjoyed working with kids in the little lambs class. I love being able to teach them about Jesus, do arts and crafts with them, play with them, and so much more. Birthdays are also a wishful time for me, where I look to the future and dream about some of the things I think would bring me even more happiness. I would love to someday be a mother myself. I would love to raise a nice family of my own, make sure they get a good education, and pass on a generation.

These are some of the blessings and dreams that I often think about around birthdays. But I trust that God has a beautiful plan for me, since I have been able to look back and see so much beauty in my life so far. I don’t know what the future holds, but I sure do have some pretty nice hopes for what it might!

A Happy Memory of My Childhood

When I was seven my family and I traveled to Cambridge, England so I could have a big surgery. It was a very extensive surgery, with many prayers headed my way from friends and family back home. The surgery was right before Christmas, and so that year’s Christmas had its share of amazing things. Not only did I survive, but I also got to meet Father Christmas. Buzby was there too! They put a crown on my head, making me feel like a princess! It made me feel better too!! There were also so many presents! A doll, candy, coloring books, crayons, clothes and a crossword book too. I felt very loved! And I began healing quickly too.

As I look back it brings tears of joy to me and my family. There was so much evident love during this time, and my gratitude to so many was overwhelming!! I couldn’t say enough thank yous. It’s times like these when I see God’s goodness and provision in my life. He’s not just there with me, He’s placing people in my life to also comfort me and bring me joy. So much joy!

This is something that hasn’t changed. I continue to find both comfort and hope in Him. Brighter than an angel, He is to me, letting me know that I will be okay, and telling me He will always be with me. It’s because of Him, that I can find hope when I am sad. It is because of Him, that I know I will see my grandparents again. It is because of Him that I know I one day won’t be limited by the effects of my seizures. It is because of Him, that I am able to love and live joyfully the way I do.

This world has a lot of pain; my life has shown me that. But is has also shown me that there is a lot of joy. And I am continually grateful to God, for the joy He daily brings me. 

An Intro to My Story

Barbara (Setergrin) and Charles Hampton

They first met in college. Barbara was already engaged and almost went through with it, but thankfully gave the ring back and Charles came into the picture. They dated for a bit until Charles finally asked the big question and asked Barbara to marry him. She said yes, and my siblings and I soon followed.

Jenny was born in 1972, but by the time she went to nursery school at age 3, Ellen was born, in 1975. Within the year, the family moved to Africa, where I was born in 1977. A few months later we moved back to Ohio. We lived in the small town of Wooster, just south of Cleveland, where my parents worked at the college, Wooster College.  It was there that I got my first seizure; I was only 11 months old. This was a scary time to reflect on since I don’t remember what happened. Other seizures followed, and it was because of these childhood seizures that I got permanent brain damage; damage that still brings sadness to me when I think about it. But there are times I am happy. Times filled with the memories of my loving grandparents and all the joy they gave me. Stories and pictures of them that help me continue to learn about them, as I wait till the day when I will see them again. Reading my bible also reminds me of the hope I have in one day seeing them again. But there are also days when I get confused. I feel unable to concentrate or focus on things. My memory sometimes fails me as I try to recall things and it frustrates and confuses me.

But overall I find joy and happiness. I love coming to Calvin College. I love spending time with my parents. I love doing crafts at my group home making key chains, doing cross-stitch, knitting, making hats, jewelry, and latch hook rugs. I love making all of these things!