Drink

Happy New Year!

We have a daily calendar in the bathroom.  Yes, you read that correctly, in the bathroom.  Every member of the family visits that room so I've placed the thought-provoking calendar in there.

On the calendar this morning was a most unique challenge that has stuck with me for the hours since I've read it.  May this post stir around in you and challenge you to consider how often you drink and how much you'd like to drink of what Max Lucado writes in this piece:

"Set your minds on things above." Colossians 3:2

There was a time when [my daughters] celebrated my daily arrival. Jenna was five years old, Andrea three. Denalyn would alert them, and they would scamper to the window...Seeing me, they squealed. My, how they jumped and clapped. You'd think someone had switched their M&M's for coffee beans....As I opened the door, they tackled my knees and flooded the entryway with tsunami-size joy. Their father was home.

It's been too long since I searched for God that way...Let's do better...How about regular ladle dips into the well of God's grace?  Drink deeply, my friend.  And drink daily.

How much of God's grace do you want?  A small coffee cup amount?

Perhaps the "mug" over the cup?

I think I'm going for the pitcher...Pouring His grace down my mouth and guzzling all of God that I can get. 

You are invited to drink.  Drink in God's grace and love (and so much more).  Daily.

The drink is spending time with God.  Read His Word.  Talk to Him...out loud even.  And then listen.  He yearns to dialogue with you.  The drink is a relationship with Him that is indescribably incredible.  The drink is a completeness in knowing who you are because He will tell you of your rightful identity...and so much more.

Start drinking....Him.  You'll be So Amazed...

A Christmas Game

In our split-level house, I decorate along the stairs with a fun nativity.  Every year this set finds itself on the passageway in and out of our home.

The fun part of this is that I arrange the pieces a certain way and almost daily, the pieces get re-arranged.

The Husband and Kidlet Three both shook their head "no" when I asked them if they had moved the pieces. 

They probably thought if they confessed I would be upset with them...

It has become a game.  I re-arrange the pieces.  Someone arranges them differently.  I arrange them in yet a different way.  They are arranged different still.

Here are some snapshots of the ever-so-subtle different "poses" I've found the nativity in:

It is almost like a "where's Waldo" game.  Some of the changes made were slight and I had to pay attention.

A Christmas Game...I think Jesus would be laughing with us on this one!

Trimming the Christmas Tree

Usually I keep my Christmas tree up for at least two weeks after Christmas.

Not this year. 

There is a long story about how the Christmas tree came to our house,

but just know a love-hate relationship had developed

between me and this tree two weeks ago.

The only picture I have of this year's trimmed tree is in this photo.

Our Christmas Day evening meal with the tree in the background. 

All the while we were eating, this is what was happening under the tree...

 Pine needles.  I'd been vacuuming almost daily under the tree

This year, the day after Christmas, we decided the tree had to come down.

The Husband and My Dad threw around some ideas and finally

decided to cut the tree into pieces right in the livingroom.  Any attempts

to carry this shedding mess out of the house would make my house

look like a pine tree forest. 

 The guys went to work with their snipping tools and slowly

and literally trimmed the tree.

 Just touching a branch would cause needles to shower down.

 The sheet was doing a great job capturing most of the needles, but we

also scrapped the floor and filled an ice cream bucket.

 Here is the poor, naked tree in my livingroom.

The Husband decided the star should go back on the tree for a final photo.

 The 2010 Christmas Tree

 And a close-up of the painted trunk. 

I am convinced this was a dead tree that had been

painted to sell.

 Some final fun for our tree trimming day.

Tree trimming.

Takes on a whole new meaning now, doesn't it!

Silent Night

Merry Christmas!  For some of us, our family celebrations have taken place but I know there are many still planning get-togethers.  So Merry Christmas's can still be said!

We had the honor of having my Dad and Mom travel from the Far-North-Town to stay with us several days before Christmas.  They traveled to Our-Bigger-City to visit a medical institution.  Dad has been having back pain with leg numbness and was diagnosed with a ping-pong ball sized cyst on his spine.  No wonder he has been in pain!  Many prayer partners were called upon this past week to pray on behalf of my Dad.  Prayer along with procedures and treatments by the medical staff have brought relief to him.  Praise God! 

Christmas Eve was spent with The Husband's side of the family.  I know I said this same thing last year, but this year's Christmas was the best with Grandpa able to be with us.   My Favorite-Father-in-Law (FFIL) has had many health scares this past year and praise God, FFIL celebrated his 88th Christmas.  I adore him. 

Our evening was filled with great food, laughter and an appreciation of the fact we could gather together. 

It was LATE when we arrived home. Pulling into our driveway, we were thrilled to see that Neighbor Steve has lined our sidewalks with ice luminaries that he'd made.  Each luminary had a candle lit and burning.  It was quiet as we stood on the snowy sidewalks, gazing at the beauty these lights cast.  It was a Silent Night.

 Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace



Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Sights of Christmas III

 

Can you tell what this is made of?

Baby food jars!

The jars are glued together and then a strand of Christmas lights are stuffed in them along with garland.  A nice cardboard backing is placed over the back side with more garland glued around the outside.

My brother made this for me years ago.  It must be some super super glue because it has stayed together for over 10 years.

This Christmas tree sits on the kitchen counter year after year.  And looks beautiful day and night!

Amazing lights!

Sights of Christmas II

A mini nativity sitting on the window ledge by the kitchen sink.  I love this little set.  And with all the time spent in the kitchen these days, it is good to have the Reason for the seaon right in front of me as I wash dishes.

Sights of Christmas

Over the next few days, let me share a few sights of Christmas.  I'll start with last Saturday.  During a blizzard, Neighbor Jack came over to help me make sugar cookies.

 Baking cookies with a buddy is way more fun than baking by myself. 

Neighbor Jack is an amazing cookie decorator!  And he thinks like me.  When I asked him how many cookies we each should eat, he paused and thought for a moment and then answered:  5.

I love that Neighbor Boy!