Reconciliation. Christmas.

This Christmas, may we see the Creator and Sustainer of Everything in the baby in the manger. Let us look upon His face and see the miracles He will perform to free captives, the compassion with which He will embrace the transgressors. As we peer into the wooden trough, may we see the wooden cross on which He came to redeem and reconcile us to Himself.

As we eat and drink, exchange gifts, give money and time to the underpriveleged, and attend church services, let us not forget Christmas is the day we celebrate the God who humbled Himself for us. Let us spend Christmas on our faces, lifting up the very spirits inside us that He came to save.

“He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:7-11)

Christmas Concert

This year the children participated in their first-ever Christmas concert. The boys played recorder

and played handbells, Brooke sang with the choir and also played handbells.

They all performed the PattyCake Polka, sweet things!

Their music teacher was wonderful! We all are excited for next semester.

Brea loved being in the audience, especially since she got to sit with her beloved Grammy,

and even got her photo taken with her favorite “star.”

Ye Annual Gingerbread House

Every year we buy a gingerbread house kit from Costco. They’re awesome!

This year’s kit came with two buildings. So we have a Girls’ house and a Boys’ house.

Dare I say whose house I liked most? TeeHee.

Regardless, we all had a fantastic time licking our fingers

I Took the Plunge

If you know me in real life, you know my favorite color is aqua. I’ve always wanted to have an aqua-colored Christmas, but it just seemed too tacky. Not to mention all my Christmas decorations are red and green.

I’ve been freed!

This year all the magazines and design blogs are showing aqua and white Christmas decor. So I took the plunge. I got some gorgeous Martha Stewart aqua-colored glitter, and some styrofoam ball and trees, and I went plum crazy. It’s stinking cute, I must say. Here’s a little preview:

I have to admit I’m a little nervous about having some folks over this season. Will they think I’ve lost my marbles? Or that I’m just terribly tacky? Oh well, sometimes you just gotta let your heart sing the song it was made to sing–off key or not.

A Homespun Thanksgiving

We were blessed to host my family for Thanksgiving this year. The kids were so excited to decorate.

Somehow safety goggles made their way into preparations.

They decorated the dinner table with handprint turkeys

and wrote special questions under each person’s plate.

They made a huge banner for the Welcoming Wall.

Of course we had to add in some fresh flowers. It’s not a dinner without fresh flowers.

My children poured their hearts and souls into creating a warm home for family and friends. I am thankful for their huge hearts.

Traditional Meal, Traditional Post

As cliche as it is to post my Thanksgiving Day menu and top ten things I’m grateful for, I’m going to do it. There’s a reason things become commonplace–sometimes it’s because they’re simply universally warm and fuzzy.

Our Menu:

• Turkey (my mama’s picking up our freshly killed Tom tomorrow)
• Gravy
• Stuffing (recipe also posted earlier)
• Sweet Potato Casserole (my grandmother’s recipe)
• Succotash (that’s lima beans and corn mixed together)
• Green Bean Casserole (my sis loves this!)
• Mashed Potatoes
• Cranberry Sauce (the canned jelly stuff and a crockpot recipe for fresh)
• Sauerkraut and sausage (the only time of the year I get it)
• Salad (my mama loves a good salad)
• Rolls (maybe I’ll make some honey butter for them)
• Pumpkin pie (mmm…mmm…mmm)

It’s been a pretty hard year emotionally, and I’ve done quite a bit of whining, grumbling, moaning, and complaining. But I’m seriously thankful for so much. Here are the top ten, not listed in any particular order.

1. My beautiful family who thank me every single night for dinner.
2. My just-the-right-size home filled with love and laughter.
3. My husband’s new job, which has great medical and dental benefits.
4. My friends who love me despite the aforementioned bad attitude.
5. My extended family who have always been and always will be, through the many seasons of life.
6. My home school network, which provides encouragement and exhortation day in and day out.
7. My old friends I found on facebook who have become new friends again.
8. My prayer partner, who makes me bust a gut every Monday morning.
9. My (pretty) sound mind and healthy body.
10. My God, who sustains me every moment.

I pray you all find His presence in your day of gratitude, however He makes Himself known to you. I pray your spiritual eyes are opened and you allow yourself to be enfolded in His arms. He loves you more than you can ever k now.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas…

my true love gave to me–

Five loads of pukey laundry

Four children sleeping on the kitchen floor near the throw-up bowl

Three hours of sleep

Two cranky parents

And one husky who was mad he missed his walk and pooped on all the Christmas toys.

Good thing Jesus is our reason for celebration–and He’s eternally good!

In Response to Christ…

Elizabeth, under the power of the Holy Spirit, says:

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Mary responds:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 

 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name. 

And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 

He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly. 

He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty. 

 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

Lord, let my response to Your truth always exalt You and You alone. Like Mary, let me be humble in heart, saying, “May it be done to me as You have said.” No matter how I feel about Your plans, in spite of how life looks, let me submit my person to You. You alone are worthy to be praised. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His mercy has given us great life!

Merry CHRISTmas!