A Christmas Meme!

I'm following Robyn - what can I say?  I have time before my nap...

Here goes.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? I like both but I'll pick hot chocolate, especially when it's extra creamy and maybe some marshmallows!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I don't remember.  I think Santa might switch things up depending on the time. 

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like colored lights but white lights are much easier.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Let me answer it this way - two teenage daughters with boyfriends.  Moving on.

5. When do you put your decorations up? I used to put things up on Thanksgiving. but sometimes I don't put anything up.  But, tomorrow after church, we're decorating.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Cheese straws, sausage balls and fruitcake cookies that my grandmother makes :-).

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I always loved the magic of Christmas and waking up in the morning to Santa having arrived.  I loved the anticipation while we waited for everyone to wake up before we could even see what Santa had brought. 

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I was in 3rd grade and we were riding the bus home.  One of my brother's friends told me and I was devastated.  My brother, who wasn't usually nice to me, said that he had known for a while but he didn't want me finding out. 

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Whatever lands on the tree is how it's decorated.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Snow is much better appreciated from afar.  When we lived in Seattle, we'd go play in the snow and I found I enjoyed the hot chocolate in the warmth of the car more. 

12. Can you ice skate? NO!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My mom has always made Christmas so special.  It's hard to remember one certain Christmas and gift.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? JESUS! I want to make sure my girls are celebrating the birth of Jesus. 

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I don't have just one favorite :-).

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? The girls are older now but when they were younger, I would love to gather them up, read Twas the Night Before Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth.  After the stories, we'd let them open up one present and then get everything ready for Santa! 

17. What tops your tree? An angel.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I give much better than I receive.  But, who doesn't love receiving gifts? 

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? I'm Switzerland when it comes to candy canes. Totally neutral. (I'm keeping Robyn's answer.)

20. Favorite Christmas Show? A Christmas Story :-)

21. Saddest Christmas Song? One that goes on and on??

22. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Casting Crowns, While You Were Sleeping.

If you decide to participate, let me know and I'll pop on over (just like Robyn said she'd do!).

MERRY CHRISTMAS my dear friends.

Uh-oh Charlie Brown!

Poor Charlie Brown! He's got a sad little tree and no gifts.

Reminds me of someone else I know...ME! We have a tree with ONE ornament: Starbucks coffee cup that Kristen was given. I had two gifts from my grandmother under the tree, but there was food inside the gift (I didn't know), and my dog attacked and destroyed the bags trying to get the cookies out. We might be able to do some shopping tonight, but I gotta admit, I'm really tired!

Hey, if nothing else, there's always shopping on Christmas eve...at least I'll be off that day *sigh*. The girls are getting $$ but I still have to see what Santa will bring them for their stockings. And then I have to buy my mom's gift and get something for James. I think his nephew and brother will be at the house on Christmas, so we need something for them too! (I'm really trying to remain calm. It's only presents, for Pete's sake!) (I've never waited this late before and wouldn't have wait this late now but there were a few circumstances beyond my control - like no $$$!!!) *sigh* breathe in breathe out....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Secret Santa!

Is it food?! Is what my daughter asked! And she asked if she could open it! NOOOO!! *she's 16-she'll have plenty of presents to open*

I'm excited I have a package waiting for me when I get home. Stay tuned!

Kori undertook this Secret Santa exchange. I think she had 66 folks sign up! That's a lot of people to keep up with. Thank you, Kori, for doing this. I've done a couple of giveaways, so I understand how WOW it can be.

Okay, I'm home now! Let the opening begin!!

Wow - my Secret Santa (who isn't secret now) was so generous! Here's a picture of the wrapped contents!

I kept opening and opening wonderful gifts! Thank you Santa Tam for the jellies (native to Arizona), dipper thing for the Orange Blossom honey, the purse organizer, to-do/calendar neat folder and the beautiful ornament!

Just last night I was online looking for a calendar/organizer and here my Santa Tam has sent me one! How did she know I desperately need to get organized? Tam have you been looking in my purse??

Seriously, thank you so much for the wonderful package. I really don't have the words to adequately express my thanks.

*hugs*

I hope my recipient likes her stuff as much as I like mine!

Merry Christmas!

Wow...

I was just looking over my previous posts and except for the precious post about my new grandson (29 is really too young to be a grandmother - work with me here), I have only been a copy/paste blogger of late. Well, I did post the snazzy picture of my husband in his uniform all decked out.

I have so much going on, and yet not much going on. You know what I mean? (A lot of busyness...)

(I love the picture of Santa praying to baby Jesus. I have a beautiful figurine and ornament like this. I think I even have a bell!)

Let me just say that I have done not ONE BIT of Christmas shopping. Do you see that - NO CHRISTMAS shopping has been done at my house! You probably wonder why - well financial is one reason and my girls don't know what they want!!!!!! James said he doesn't want anything (that's what he always says) and I don't know what my mom wants. (We don't buy for extended family anymore. Both of my grandmothers are in their mid-80's and are constantly giving stuff away. Why do they want MORE stuff??) We buy for James' youngest son and his mom (the ex-wife, not James' mom - she died when he was 6). Actually we go to her house for Christmas Eve. She has a big shindig (I typed "sindig" at first - I hope that's not a sign of things to come lol.)

I didn't participate in BooMama's tour of homes because our tree isn't up! The girls were going to decorate it this year (after calling me Scrooge) and yet the half assembled tree has sat since Thanksgiving. Who are the lazy ones now??

I was so happy I got my Secret Santa and my Siesta Fiesta stuff out yesterday. I know I'm late, but I always am...Sorry ladies! Mary, I mailed you a book too! I opted not to send Christmas cards this year. If you're on my facebook friends' list, then I sent you some holiday flair!!

Well, I guess that's all I have for now. I hope all is well with you. Thank you for stopping by!

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Come to the Quiet

Soon after my life was turned upside down by God's unfailing love and mercy, I found a book that really helped keep me "calm" about this little thing called "relationship with Christ" when it came to talking to my husband who "didn't share these thoughts" with me. (There have been many times since then when he's wondered, "Where did I leave my wife and who is this woman???") Bless his heart, he just doesn't know what I know!!! (I try not to be a HUGE Jesus freak but it's so hard!!) Oh, anyway, before I get off on that subject, let me try to keep with the reason I am sharing what I'm going to share! Author Nancy Kennedy wrote a book entitled, "When He Doesn't Believe" that I read and thoroughly enjoyed. I gave my copy away and have yet to replace it (anyone notice a theme with my giving books away???). I enjoyed her writing so much that I have followed her blog and other books since then.

I am currently toting around "Lipstick Grace: Glimpses of Life, Love, and the Quest for the Perfect Lip Gloss" by Nancy Kennedy. Not only does Ms. Nancy write books, but she also write a weekly column for her local newspaper and she's a speaker! Lipstick Grace is a collection of various columns she's written through the years. It's quite enjoyable (if you like to laugh and you enjoy finding out that others aren't perfect either and you love Jesus!).

This one article really spoke to me, especially since it's about Christmas and it's Christmas here. I emailed Ms. Nancy to ask if she had this article somewhere in electronic format or would it be okay if I retyped it and sent it to friends and/or posted it on my blog. She emailed me back immediately and said to feel free to post or send or whatever!

So, without further ado, here it is. I hope you enjoy the article like I have. Thank you Nancy Kennedy for allowing me to share!

Come to the Quiet

Shared with permission by author Nancy Kennedy from Lipstick Grace, Multnomah Publishers

Shhhh. Hush.
Stop all the fighting and sniping. Cease the quibbling and the squabbling over whether “Merry Christmas” is politically correct or not.
Shhhh. Quiet. It’s okay.
Put away your credit cards. Your kids don’t need another computer-digital-anything. You and I don’t need any more debt. Our debt is crushing us as it is.
We need a debt canceler.
Be still, if only for a moment. It’s Christmas-our Debt Canceler has come.
Off in the distance dawns the light for the nations. The darkness is pierced, and the light will never, can never, be extinguished.
Stop your striving. Take a breath. Breathe deeply the life you’ve only dared to dream of. The life where you lie down and sleep in peace and awake with joy.
Put down the bottle. Put away your grudge.
Lower your fist. Kiss your kid. Forgive your dad. Love your wife.
The One who has borne our sin is born.
Our King forever, our Prince of peace, our Mighty God, has come to us, to live with us, identify with us, bear our sorrows, give us rest.
So rest. Stop.
Hush.
At my church on Christmas Eve it’s our tradition to sing of peace and silence. “Pease, peace, peace on earth and goodwill to all.” “Silent night, holy night.” “Now let us all sing together of peace.”
Shhhh. All is calm. Christ has come.
He hasn’t come to wage war on retailers. He hasn’t come to battle Santa Claus or debate whether or not the fir tree is a pagan symbol. He hasn’t come to argue with local governments over crèches and menorahs in the public square.
The government, after all, is on His shoulders. He is Ruler. He is Lord, and He has come to set His people free. To rescue and redeem. To find the lost, bind the wounds of the broken, heal the hearts of the sad and grieving, the lonely and afraid.
He has come to give rest to the weary, direction to the wandering, purpose to those who think life has no meaning. He has come to still the restless hearts of men and women, to give hope to those who cannot even fathom hope, sight to the spiritually blind.
His law is love and His gospel is peace. His yoke easy, His burden light.
He is salve for tired eyes, a hand for the lonely to hold, a lap for the child at any age to climb upon, a shoulder broad and strong on which to lean and to cry.
So rest. Take your shoes off. Turn down the noise. Switch off the TV.
Pray.
Even if you’ve never prayed before, it’s ok.
Do you hear that? Can you feel it? That soft smile? That’s your God, the One who came as a baby, a lamb, a lion, a Messiah.
He smiles!
Shhhh. Enjoy the silence. Cry if you need to. Laugh if you want to. Stretch out your hands. Touch the splintered cross He was nailed to. Accept the gift.
Embrace the salvation offered by the world’s only Savior.
Forget about the sweater that doesn’t fit, the broken gadget that needs to be returned. Exchange your broken life for one that’s new, your sin for Christ’s sinlessness, your peace for His peace, your sorrow and pain for His joy.
All your disappointments, all your unfulfilled dreams, all your confusion and brain noise and heart achings, set them down.
Be still now. So very, very still.
“The effect of the righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever,” wrote the prophet Isaiah. “My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (32:17-18 ESV).
It’s Christmas and Chris has come to bring us into His quiet, to hush our fury, to still our rage and fear.
Christ is our gift. Jesus is our peace.
So, shhhh. It’s Christmas.

(Any typos or grammatical errors are all Cathy's.)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11