Christmas Blues

What is next? Christmas is over and it was a wonderful day spent with family. I looked forward to it for weeks. We opened presents before and it was just a day of togetherness. But now it's after Christmas and what is next. I find myself looking forward to events and when they are done can become depressed which can come out as moody, sad, angry, etc. I know that Christmas is not the end of things but... I need to pull myself out of this funk! God has a plan. It is a good plan. I need to trust and obey that plan. I need to listen to that plan. I need to focus on that rather than the past. Focus on what I have not what is past. God is good! God is wise! God know what's best for me!

Snow fun!

The kids got out of school early today for the holidays. I wanted to spend some time outside with them. I have not been a very good outside-active mother, it is so easy to let Glenn play outside and me stay in where it is warm. But I made up my mind I was going outside! So I haul out my snow pants, Glenn's gloves, and low and behold the boots that I have are too small - I have not worn them for a few years - wore Glenn's moon boots! So back to put on the moon boots I go. The first time I try to go down the hill, I almost hit a tree! Woops! Then our basset hound ran away to the neighbors yard. Cole went to get him, but he thought Cole was playing and would not come back. So I hiked a mile(or so it seemed with big moon boots on) to get the dog and start him back home. Only this is not the dog's plan and he runs the other way. I finally catch him, grab his collar and head for home - have you ever walked a "mile" in moon boots, bent over holding onto a basset hound's collar? Let me tell you this - it's not easy. I am about dying when I finally get him to the kennal. Then Cole wants me to push him down the hill. I pushed him for a few times and then we had a snowball fight! There is nothing like it - a snowball fight with your kids! I love the feeling of warmth you get when you come in from playing in the snow. I have to remember this feeling so that I can experience it more often!

Mary Christmas

How Martha Had A Mary Christmas- By Nancy McGuirk
T’was weeks before Christmas, and in Martha’s house,
Everyone was stirring. . . even the mouse
The calendar was packed with places to be
Leaving no time to visit, or decorate the tree

The children were adding ideas to their list
And Martha felt pressure to grant every wish
So off in her car she dashed to the stores
To battle the crowds and traffic galore

Buy toys and ties, get ribbons and wrappings
Hit Whole Foods for cider and all of the trappings
To this store and that store, she hit every mall
Now charge away, charge away, charge away all!

Off to the parties and programs she flew
With Christmas approaching, there’s so much to do!
With headaches and tummy aches and calories galore
Now everything’s too tight that she bought at the store

So she fell on the bed and stared at the ceiling
She realized this is not what should happen this season
Why, what about my husband, my kids, or my parents?
Have I neglected my loved ones in the midst of this panic?

Now my sister, Mary, she knows what to do,
She always said Martha, “Christmas is not about you”
Only ONE thing is needed- and not all this fuss
Just listen to Jesus, He loves you so much.

When out of my wondering mind did appear
A scripture I learned at bible study this year
“Put God’s kingdom first, that’s what you do,
And everything else will be added to you”

So I decided to change and got down on my knees
I begged God’s forgiveness, and asked how to please
“Serve others,” He said, “as if serving Me,”
“And love them, as you’re loved, unconditionally.”

So I rushed from my bed and got scriptures to share
So my family could start Christmas right this year.
And I thanked God for Jesus and my cross that He carried
And I knew Martha’s Christmas was soon to be “Mary”.

I found this this morning and wanted to share it - it's so true to be caught up in a "Martha Christmas" -I wish for all of you to have a "Mary Christmas"

Room for Jesus

I received this by email this morning and thought it was so appropriate, I wanted to share!

Room Enough for Jesus
By Micca Campbell

“and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7 (NASB)

Devotion:
One of the first words that come to mind when most think about the holiday season is “busy.” Sad, but true. We are busy decorating the house, baking goodies, shopping for presents, planning parties, attending Christmas plays, and writing out our Christmas cards. Then, just when we think we’ve got a handle on it, we receive that unexpected card in the mail or the neighbor brings us a fruit cake. What do we do? We find time to return the gesture.

In fact, we find time and make the room to do all sorts of things during the holidays. We make room for company to come. We make room in front of the picture window for the Christmas tree. We even make room in the kitchen cabinets to store the extra cooking ingredients we need to make our favorite holiday dishes. Let me ask you this…have you made room for Jesus this season?

In the familiar story of Christ’s birth, I’ve always been bothered that there was no room in the inn for Jesus. I can’t help but think, Didn’t they know who He was? What could have been so important that they couldn’t stop to make room for Jesus? My best guess is they were thinking only about themselves and their own busy agenda. In doing so, they missed Jesus.

Likewise, we can become so busy with our Christmas agenda that we can miss Jesus, too. Instead, we should approach the season with expectancy. If we make the time and room for Jesus, I know He will show up! My nephew taught me that.

One of my mother’s Christmas traditions is to withhold baby Jesus from her nativity set until Christmas morning. One year, when her firstborn grandson was about three years old, he asked her, “Grandmamma, where is baby Jesus?”

“He’s not been born yet,” she explained to Patrick. “Jesus comes on Christmas Day. Then, you’ll find Him lying right here,” she added while pointing to the manger.

Like years past, Christmas came. Mom’s and Dad’s house was full of excitement as each family member arrived with their arms full of presents. We expected to exchange gifts and enjoy a time for food, fun, and celebration. Patrick expected something different. He came running into the house shouting, “Is He here, yet? Is He here? Has Jesus come?”

Mother took Patrick over to the nativity and there, cradled in the manger, was baby Jesus. He had come just like He had promised.

Over 2,000 years ago, God promised us a Savior. In a little town called Bethlehem, God kept His promise and Christ our Lord was born. While most missed what was happening that holy night, Christ’s birth didn’t escape the attention of heaven, a few shepherds, three Wise men, and some cattle. They pushed aside their duties and agendas to make room for Jesus. In fact, like Patrick, some of them anticipated His arrival. In doing so, their lives were forever changed.

Every year Jesus still searches for hearts to fill. The trouble is He can only fill the space you and I allow for Him. Will you make room in your heart for Jesus this season?

Christ’s presence may go unnoticed by the world, but you and I, along with heaven, a few shepherds, three wise men, and others who have made room in their hearts, can experience all the glorious wonder that He brings.

I invite you to throw away your busy agenda this year. Instead, make room for Christ to come. Anticipate His arrival and experience Christmas like never before!

Christmas Baking

We had our annual baking day today! It was a little late from other years but it just did not work out before today. The tradition started when I was in the hospital with Cole, and my friends baked and brought us a plate of goodies. Six years later we have eight pair of hands, (and several little hands) and we are off. We made 3 humongous batches of peanut clusters, 2 batches of peanut butter balls, 2 bags of pretzels with Rollo's, almond bark pretzels, 4 batches of melting moments, peanut brittle, 4 boxes of Ritz crackers with peanut butter covered in almond bark, 5 batches of peppermint meringue cookies, pepper nuts, spritz cookies. A few started on Saturday with some of the things and we finished up today. Thank goodness we don't keep everything, we give it away to Sunday School teachers and anyone else we can think of. We even had aprons made last year - Friends don't let Friends Bake Alone! There are a few things that I'd like to try on my own - like biscotti. These pictures are from past years but this is what it looks like! It is so much fun getting together to bake and laugh and just have fellowship, I hope this tradition stays for years to come!

I was thinking....

I was just thinking about Mary. I wondered if I was Mary's friend would I have stuck by her when she got pregnant? Would I have tried to talk Joseph into not to go through the marriage? Would I have supported her or treated her like she should be shamed? Would I have hidden that I was still her friend or let everyone know? Would I have stuck up for her by relaying her story of an angel visit and that God told her she was going to be the mother of His own son? Would I have listened with awe about what an angel looked like? Would I have been jealous? Would I believed her that shepherds came, or wise men? Would I have been excited that this was happening? Would I have helped her out when she came back from Bethlehem? I was just thinking about Mary..... What kind of friend would I be and what kind of friend am I now? I was just thinking....

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Cole! You are six years old! Hard to believe my baby is six! I wish you many more happy birthdays and all of God's richest blessings for you!

Learning

I am finished helping in the preschool room! The regular teacher is back and boy does my house look like I haven't been at it the last couple weeks! I don't know where to start - but start somewhere I should! (I think that's my husband talking) I am not used to being out of the house that much and it has thrown my routine into a tizzy. I like to plan ahead but it's not possible to have a plan and be gone so much or I am finding that I can not do it very well -I think the later is more true than the first! But I am glad to be home and working in it! I better stop typing and get to it! I mean it! Ok, here I go!

Snow

It's SNOWING! I love snow, I love snow, I LOVE SNOW! I don't get a chance to say that to loud or to too many people! Everyone just complains about it and how much work it is. But it is so beautiful and powerful! You know the verse, "your sins are like scarlet but they will be white as snow"? I am reminded of that every time it snows. God blankets the earth with the white, powdery mix, just like he blankets us and our sins! But do you also notice that after awhile the snow gets dirty and grungy looking? Even after we ask for forgiveness, we still sin and need to ask for forgiveness and then God makes us clean again! I love snow, but I love my Lord and Savior more! Thanks for the visual picture, God.