Relics...

I somehow never finished blogging about our trip to Europe that Jason and I took on his sabbatical... two years ago. But I was thinking today about some of the relics we saw while in Italy. Relics are, according to Webster, "an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr" and we saw ALOT of them in Rome. After seeing some of them, we just walked away and thought, really? You really think that's what that is? How do you know for sure? But if they are what they say they are, its pretty incredible. I thought this weekend was a good time to remember what I saw. Its going to lead me to research them a little bit because I have forgotten in the last two years what these pictures are of.

 

These are the chains that bound Paul in prison.

 

These are the Holy Stairs, or Scala Santa. These are supposedly the stairs from the palace of Pontius Pilate where Jesus was sentenced to death. The mother of Constantine brought these steps to Rome in 326 AD. It is said that if believers climb the stairs on their knees, they will experience part of what Christ experienced in his suffering. Jason and I arrived right after they reopened after lunch, and had to climb the stairs with all these people so it took a really long time. I can still remember that my knees were killing me, but more than that, I was hot and dizzy and claustrophobic. It did literally bring me to my knees to think about how much more Jesus suffered than that because he loved us. I did make it to the top, and felt kind of changed in some way.  We toured the chapel at the top and then came back down and found the stairs like this.

 

 

Empty. But I probably worshipped more climbing it with the loads of people then if I had sped through it by myself. The drops below are said to be drops of Jesus' blood that spilled as he was being beaten on the steps. As you climb the steps and get to one of those spots, it does take your breath away.

 

 

These are relics from the Passion of Christ. It includes the nails that nailed Jesus to the cross, two thorns from his crown of thorns, the sign that hung about his cross, and a piece of the cross. Again, these were said to be brought to Rome by St. Helen, the mother of Constantine.

 

This is a replica of the Shroud of Turin, the cloth supposedly wrapped around Jesus' body. The real thing may be shown on tv this weekend for the first time. Apparently new research has come out that it is from the time of Jesus.

 

 

These are the chains that bound Peter in prison. There are two sets of them found in two different places and supposedly when the two sections came together, they magically joined together.

 

And this holds pieces of the manger that Jesus was laid in as a baby. See the gold baby on top?

 

I think our main thought was that back when Jesus was living, no one knew who he really was. Even his disciples misunderstood who he was. So how would anyone have saved these items if they didn't know the eternal impact he would make? But they are interesting. I didn't list the churches these items are found in. If you ever travel to Rome, the main one I recommend is the stairs. That was the most meaningful to us.

 

I am so glad my Jesus is eternal and I don't have to depend on access to material items to have a relationship with him. But I am also thankful that people are still searching for ways to connect to him, even if its through material things. 

 

Roller Coaster Day

What a day! Up and down and everywhere in between. This morning was Campbell's last Easter celebration at his preschool. They do a service where the kids put flowers on a big wooden cross to show the children how beautiful the ugly cross becomes because of what Jesus did. I was too busy helping with the little kids to really take it in that it was his last, probably better that way. He did his last preschool Easter egg hunt and I took some cute pictures of him and his friends. Great morning. Bitter sweet.

Then we went to the elementary school where Cade was awarded a Character Award. Each teacher gets to choose two of her students each nine weeks to reward them for having great character. I have always been more proud of my boys when they receive this than any athletic or academic achievement. And its a surprise to the kids, so I loved the smile on his face. Such pride and joy.

But all that was gone an hour later when Cade went to his end of the year chess club party. Yes, he's in chess club and loves it. And he was expecting to receive the first place trophy for having the best match record for the year. I was expecting to see him bounding out of the front doors of the school with a big old trophy. But there he came, with a pouting face and a small participation trophy. He was devastated. He gets mad when he loses stuff because he's very competitive. But this was different. This was get in the car and let the tears loose devastation. So hard for a momma to not jump out of the car and steal the big trophy from the kid on the sidewalk. Heartbreaking.

Tonight Cooper had a baseball game and pitched for the first time in the majors. J and I could tell he was nervous and he had every right to be. He wanted to impress those older kids on his team who are checking him out, wondering how he will perform. And he performed great! Struck out 3 batters in 2 innings. Only walked 2, but 1 was on purpose to load the bases. They won 13-2 and he got the game ball! Huge smile on his face too! Pride and joy back again!

Finally got home at almost 10, and I went to get the mail. In the mail was a letter from his new middle school about band. Coop wants to play percussion like his daddy, but has never had any musical training. The letter said he would have to try out and only 8 kids will make it. And they would prefer the percussion students have piano training. So the built up stress of the day came out in tears. Sadness of not measuring up and worry.

I received a letter I wasn't expecting, didn't really want to receive and didn't need today for sure. It has brought up some stuff I haven't had to deal with in a long time, and I really don't have the emotional strength to deal with it. At least not today. Tired frustration.

So many emotions today. I am so glad that my God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that no emotion I have can faze Him. I am glad that over the years I have seen how He moves and that because of the trust I have built up in Him I don't get fazed as easily by unexpected letters, disappointments, and worry. Not to say I don't have bad days where I do get over taken by emotions. But today was not one of them. Thankful for all our experiences today.

How to Keep Christ in your Child's Easter

Last Christmas I did a series about how to keep Christ in your child's Christmas. Easter is harder. But here are some ideas that Terri Neal, our Director of Preschool Ministries, and I put together for a parent coffee we did last week. There are a few really good ideas that I'm going to do with my kids this week.

Keeping Christ in Your Child’s Easter

Things to Focus On:

Younger Preschoolers: Jesus is Alive, Jesus Loves Us
Older Preschoolers: The picture of the cross in a positive light, describe that sin is when we do something that makes God unhappy, and Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins

Activities:
Resurrection Eggs (can be bought at a Christian Bookstore)
Resurrection Rolls (http://www.dltk-kids.com/recipes/resurrection_rolls.html)
Tomb Cookie Recipe (www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/easter-tomb-cookies.html)
Stained Glass Cross (glue tissue paper, or fake flowers) Write “He is alive” or “He is risen”
Block area – build a tomb with blocks, add small stones
Place blue painters tape on paper so kids can paint or color a cross
Cut out a large heart shape, laminate it, and let kids use a dry erase black marker to color on it and wipe off, talk about wiping away sins
Put separate words of a verse, prayer or Bible thought hidden in eggs around room, put words of verse back together when you find all the eggs (Jesus is alive… God so loved the world that He gave his son…) You can do this game far beyond Easter. Or have an entire verse or prayer in each egg.
Compare objects that are alive and not alive (plants, rocks, etc. )
Make a cross kids can lace with a shoe string

Books to Read:

The Tale of Three Trees, Angela Hunt
The Easter Story, Tracy Harrast
Benjamin’s Box, Melody Carlson
The Story of Jesus, Patricia Pingry
The Story of Easter, Patricia Pingry
The Parable of the Lily, Liz Curtis Higgs
God Gave us Easter, Lisa Tawn Bergren (Brand new book!)
My Easter Basket, Mary Manz Simon (This is the book we read to the entire weekday program)

Book with Ideas:

Tina Houser’s Easter-rific! Teaching Kids… Its more than Just One Day!, Warner Press Kids, 2011 (lots of ideas for older kids, but can be modified, covers entire Holy week)
 

Websites:

http://www.christianpreschoolprintables.com/Easter.html
www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/religious.html
www.ehow.com/info_7919770_simple-crafts-easter-preschool-kids.html
www.ministry-to-children.com/childrens-easter-crafts-resource-page/
www.preschool-plan-it.com/christian-easter-activities.html
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/christianthemes/bible_themes/christian_easter.html
http://wearethatfamily.com/2012/03/ten-fun-ways-to-keep-easter-about-jesus/
(Type Easter in the search box to pull up other ideas on her blog)

Baseball

The Little League baseball season officially started yesterday with Opening Day ceremonies here, but of course, its been going on our in our home for a over a month already. And, we have three playing for the first time. Campbell should be playing tee ball, but not to the surprise of anyone, except his momma, he was drafted at 4 years old to play on a coach pitch team with 5 and 6 year olds. An overachiever already. He can hit great and throw fairly well, but can't quite catch. But most of the kids on his team can't either, so its ok. He's playing right field which is great for his short attention span. He spends most of the time out there dancing in circles. But he is having a blast. His team won their first game 18-16 thanks in part to his in the park homerun. It was a great hit out to the fence, but yes, only due to the lack of defense on the other team did he make it all the way around. But if you could have seen the look on his face, priceless! And everyone is still congratulating him on his homerun, so that's a great way to start his baseball career! Rumor has it that his coach said "So what do you think about my 4 year old now?!" Very proud momma. Even prouder daddy if you could even imagine.

Cade is playing kid pitch this year and was starting pitcher for his first game. I am really missing machine pitch (a lot faster) but its great to watch these boys grow up and start to play "real" baseball. Jason is coaching Cade's team, so he is whipping them into shape. It should be a great season.

And Cooper, again to remind me how old I am getting, is now in the majors division, the oldest one. Next year will be his last in Little League. Ug, knife to the heart. For years I have seen the oldest kids on the big field and thought how huge they were and how I couldn't imagine my kids ever being that big, and here we are. He has been playing catcher and short stop. He seems to like his team mates, and although they have lost their first two games, I have faith they will have a great season too. He had to buy a new bat because his old one is almost "dead". J and Coop have tried to explain to me numerous times how an inanimate object can die, but I don't get it.

So yes, to answer the question I am sure you are asking, our schedule is crazy! Baseball every night of some kind. I have the colored coded system in full swing. At the top of my wipe board is the practice schedule originally set when the season started. But at the bottom of the board is the reality for the week. So far baseball isn't the issue. It's if we have anything else added to the schedule that it gets crazy. We had one night where all 5 of us had different places to be at the same time. We are very thankful that we have parents on each team that are willing to help us out. It takes a village to raise a baseball player! Its crazy, but we are loving it and are very proud of our boys!

Updated look?

Its been a LONG time since I updated the way the blog looks. I'll try this for awhile. What do you think? Is it hard to read?

Cruise Part 3

So yeah, more pictures tomorrow turned into a week later. I was at my mom's who lost internet connections and then when we got home, life got crazy and I didn't get a chance to finish my three part cruise posts. So here is the last part of cruise pictures and I can't finish without mentioning the best part of the cruise for me. The service! Disney Cruise line spoils a parent like no other! The kids go to the kids clubs during the day whenever they want from 9 am to midnight. They will even feed them if you want. We did pick up our kids for meals, but most meals were filled with hearing my kids beg to go back to kids club ASAP. Even my little one. He didn't want to miss anything. And speaking of meals, amazing! The food was great, but even better was the service. We had the same two servers for the cruise, Marcus and Putra. We changed restaurants each night but they came with us. So they know what we like and didn't like. They cut up my kids food for me! They made ketchup blobs in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They were amazing! Our first meal home was sandwiches, made by me, with no ketchup blobs, no service. We all just sat at the table almost in tears. I so hope we get to take another cruise someday. I cannot say enough how great it was and totally worth every penny. Of course, I didn't pay, so it was totally worth every penny my parents paid for it!

Make a digital scrapbooking design

Cruise Part 2

Part 2 is our excursions. We made two stops, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We had to ride in a smaller boat over to Grand Cayman because they don't have docks. Then we rode on a bus out to a sea turtle reserve. We got to see turtles of all ages, from only months old to over 50 years old. Then we got to swim in a really awesome pool with a slide, and Jason and Cooper went into another area to snorkel. We had a great lunch with authentic Caribbean food and just relaxed and then rode the bus and then the boat back to our ship. Fun, relaxing day. The next day we walked right off the ship and then took a taxi to an amazing place called Chankanaab. There Jason, Stephen and Cooper swam with the dolphins, a once in a lifetime experience. Then we had lunch and swam in another great pool. Jason and I walked on a beach and then we headed back. It was really hot that day and we all got sun burned but it was so much fun. Check out our days off the ship. One more post tomorrow. I think.

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Cruise Part 1, Bon Voyage!

My parents gave our family a Disney cruise for the most wonderful Christmas present ever and we all went together the last week of February. The five of us, my step-brother's family, my brother and my parents went on a six day cruise to paradise. I have been so busy since we got home that I've just now had a chance to sit down and talk about it. I also think I was so depressed when we got back that I didn't want to think about it. I'm always a little depressed when I get home from vacations, but coming home from probably a once in a lifetime amazing event is really depressing. But I think I can talk about it now with joy and not just sadness that I'm not there!

I was a little nervous about sea sickness and feeling trapped on the boat. I had patches and pills at the ready, but I used the patch for two days and that was it. I never felt sick and never felt claustrophobic. I am afraid of heights and water so I did avoid looking over the edge of the decks and didn't go on our balcony in our room. Just looking out over the ocean that went as far as you could see 360 degrees and we were the only thing on the water was a little freaky and scary and unbelievable. Reminded me how big our Creator is!

Here are some pictures that tell the story best.

This free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

More tomorrow!

 

Book Review of "Every Perfect Gift"

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love is set in the early settled America, when towns are growing by leaps and bounds. Sophie moves back to Hickory Ridge, TN and sets up a newspaper, hoping to make a name for herself after having left town as a child on bad terms. But its a struggle when the man who owns most of the town is threatened by her success and her goal of finding a story for the paper about his newest endeavor, a resort in the mountains. While fighting to find her way, she falls in love with the architect of the resort and has to deal with her past before she can find peace with her new place in life.

I did enjoy this story line, and characters, but I could tell this was one later in a series, and wished I could have read the other books first. I felt like I was catching up, trying to figure out who all the characters were. The story had a great balance between a love story and a story of determination and courage in the midst of struggles. I loved the main character of Sophie and would like to read the earlier books in the series to hear about her beginnings in the town and her childhood.

 I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Perspective, 2

We had a sweet friend suddenly pass away this morning. She was the grandmother of a player on one of my son's select baseball teams, and she never missed a game. She had such energy and enthusiasm. We will miss her terribly. She loved Campbell, always teasing him and giving him snacks and treats. It was so sudden, very shocking and sad. Again, just makes my perspective shift. All my stresses and struggles are really minor. I can count my blessings. I have my family, my health, my home. And everything can change with a phone call. I need to remain thankful and take each day as a gift. The Lord has blessed me and my family with so much. And the struggles are there to help us to grow and mature and lean on Him. God is good.

Perspective

I've been watching the news coverage of the Carnival cruise ship that was stranded for 5 days. I guess because it was out of Galveston, our local news coverage was a lot besides the national news coverage. I was amused at the headlines, "Cruise from Hell", and words like "squalor", "petri dish", etc. But what I thought was really interesting was the interviews from passengers. I heard a man yesterday who said it really hasn't been that bad. They've always had food, the crew members were going above and beyond to help the passengers, they were making lots of friends, and he would for sure go on a cruise again, even on Carnival. Other people were saying it was horrible, the worst experience of their life, they would never set foot on a boat again, they were cold and starving. It just made me think of how your perspective on something can totally change your attitude about it. Or maybe its the other way around. Your attitude can change your perspective. Either way, I would hope if it happened to me that I would have the right perspective on the situation. I am not physically hurting, it was an uncontrollable event, the people are doing the best they can in a bad situation and I would hope to make the best of it. I will be on a cruise in 7 days, so hopefully I don't have to find out! But it carries over to daily things. What is my attitude in uncontrollable situations?

Jesus Calling

I mentioned months ago that I had gotten mad at God about something and so my quiet times with Him were suffering, entirely my fault. And once you get out of the habit, its really hard to get back in. I struggled all fall with getting in a routine and finding something that I really wanted to get into. At Christmas, my sweet friend Terri gave me a copy of Jesus Calling, a small devotional book that I had seen a few times over the past year. My step dad has been reading it for the last year. And one time at my grandfathers nursing home, I saw it sitting in a sitting area and read the opening and liked what I read. So I was excited to get one. I started reading it at Christmas and almost haven't missed a day since.

If you aren't familiar with the book, its a daily devotional written by Sarah Young. She began to really listen for God's voice instead of only reading or praying. She wrote down what God said to her and it became this book. Its words of encouragement from Jesus to us.

I haven't used a devotional book in many years, usually because they are somewhat simple. And I get nervous reading things that are quotes from Jesus when its not the Bible because I don't want to get confused about what is really the Bible and not. But I have fallen in love with this book. The words are so uplifting, and Biblical and inspiring. There are scriptures listed underneath and I look those up to really get in into the Bible, but the devotional is sometimes those scriptures written out. I've been struggling recently with some junk, but I look so forward each day to reading what Jesus wants to tell me. Many of the recent ones have been about peace, and I have so needed that!

I highly recommend this book as something quick to read each day, yet something that is deep and meaningful and full of God's word. "When everything is going your way, you have the peace of this world, and it is easy to forget about Me. But that kind of peace does not last. It cannot handle problems. It can't heal broken hearts, lost friendships, or big disappointments. But My Peace can. It can even find a way to turn troubles into blessings, making you stronger in your faith."

Happy Birthday to ME!

Thank you USA network for an NCIS marathon today! Loving that! I know you did that especially for my birthday. Yes, I am 38 today. The number doesn't make me old, its the fact that I have a son going to middle school in the fall. I'm not old enough to have a middle-schooler. And my hubby will be 40 in April. At least he'll always be older than me!

I had decided days ago that to celebrate my birthday I wasn't going to do any chores around the house. But I realized today that its easier said than done. I did go back to bed after the boys left for school and enjoyed my GMA and coffee. But then I got up and was faced with the reality that if I didn't do the chores, they weren't going to get done. I am a routine person and Monday's routine is to clean the house for the week, and we have a crazy week this week (what's new) and if it didn't get done today, it wasn't going to get done which would stress me out. So change of plans, what chores do I like doing or at least make me feel good after they are done? So I made my bed because that makes me smile. I am washing the boys clothes, because I don't mind that part. Now, I won't fold them today. I don't mind a pile of clean clothes on the couch, for probably up to a week. I swept the floors because they were grossing me out. I cleaned off the kitchen table and counters because they were grossing me out. And I vacuumed, because if you read my blog, I have an addiction to my vacuum cleaner. But I'm not cleaning the bathroom sinks, because I don't like that job and I have two boys who surely will want to give their momma a birthday gift today of cleaning the sinks. And the sink full of dirty dishes isn't bothering me either. I would have to empty the dishwasher first and I don't like that job, and I have three boys who can do that job when they get home. So, I think I'm done for the day.

Now what? I could get ready for our garage sale this weekend, or go for a walk, or work on preschool, Trades of Hope or VBS... or go to Target and spend my gift card. To Target I will go!

Names

The other day I was texting with someone and they texted back "Thank you Christy" and just seeing my name in print for some reason put a smile on my face. Just the thought that the person took the 5 extra seconds to type out my name meant something. I've noticed recently that in novels and on television shows, writers use characters names more often then people do in real life, sometimes almost too much. "Yes, Mr. Gibbs, I did see that... Special Agent Gibbs, I am sorry." (Yes, NCIS is my favorite show). And in novels I guess they need to use names more often so you don't lose track of who is talking since you can't see the person.

One of my major faults is that I am horrible at remembering people's names. Its really bad when you are married to a pastor who is great at remembering people's names. People at church know me, know my name or at least that I am Jason's wife, and I know I should know their name, but it is long gone in my brain. I have to make a face at Jason or whisper behind a person's back to ask him what their name is. I hate it. Its a gift that he has. I think he's used to helping me now, but I know it irritates him sometimes. Especially when I ask him the same person's name over and over.

When I was a little girl, the pastor at my grandparents church always amazed me by remembering my name, even when I didn't see him for years. He knew my name, and would ask about my parents and grandparents. I saw him when I was in college when I was a summer missionary in another state where he had moved, and just to have someone remember my name when I was in a strange place with people I didn't know, was so comforting. He probably would remember my name if I saw him today.

The one place that I somehow am decent at remembering names is in the preschool area of my church. I can remember those first names of those sweet faces pretty quickly and was trained many times to get down on their level and use their name to make them feel safe, secure and loved. Names are important.

Nothing makes me smile more then when my hubby uses my name. He rarely does, so to hear the man I love say my name, just gives me a flutter like it did when we were dating. It makes me feel special and cared for and loved.

I encourage you this week to use people's names more often. Try it. Just the other day while talking on the phone with my bank, I asked the lady at the end of the call what her name was and I said "Thank you Flora for helping me". I still remember her name days later, so maybe that is the trick, to say their name more often. Its important for me to try to get better at it so I can do something to make other people feel special too.

My babies are growing up...

Cooper went on a field trip today to visit the middle school he will attend next year. Ouch! He was telling us about seeing the band, athletics, cheerleaders, etc. Campbell said, "Did you see the clowns?" It cracked me up. I'm not sure what he thought we were talking about or why he thought there were clowns there. (Now that I think about it, we've never taken them to the circus, so I guess he wouldn't know where you see clowns.) Anyway, I've had a rough day today thinking about him moving on. Campbell is finishing his last semester in preschool, but that isn't hitting me as hard as thinking about my first born heading to middle school. I'm so excited for him and so scared for him at the same time. He just turned 11! My time with him is already half over. And it has flown by.

I am not fooling myself into thinking that I will be just fine when my baby does leave preschool in May. I may seem fine during the "Farewell to Fours" program, but as soon as that video montage plays with the sappy music behind it I will be a mess I'm sure. And hopefully I will hold it together the first day of school when I drop a 6th grader, 4th grader and kindergartener off, at least until I drive away. Deep breaths! Enjoy each moment I have left with them. As I type this, they are in other room, wrestling, pretending to be some kind of growling monster. The growling, screaming and yelling is intertwined with a crying 4 year old who can't keep up, but keeps it together and goes back in for another round. They are supposed to be doing chores, but the fact that they are all three playing together makes me want to give them a few minutes together. Last night they were supposed to be taking showers, but they asked me to watch a show with them, and I thought that was more important (only because they hadn't played any sports that day, so they weren't stinky). I am really trying to stay with my new years goals of taking each moment on its own and not planning so far ahead. I really want them to have memories of a fun home, not one where their momma was chasing them around the house with a list of chores. I'll give them five more minutes to play. It will fly by.

Happy New Year!

I'm writing this while listening to worship from Passion 2013 in Atlanta, wishing I was there, but alas, I am far from being in my 20s. http://live.268generation.com/ You can check it out here, watch it live or past sessions.

Jason's family left today after 9 days here. We did leave for a few days to caravan to Louisiana to visit his grandmother, aunt, uncle and cousins, but 9 days is a long time with the same people. And having three boys who can't get outside because its wet and cold, well, I need a vacation from my vacation. On top of that, a few of the crew ended up with the flu, or something that resembled it. The pediatrician we took my niece to was nice enough to write prescriptions for my kids for Tamiflu. And my pharmacist was nice enough to call five pharmacies and then the doctor back to get some for them. So far only Campbell got it, just a fever though. So now that they have left, I am washing everything and sanitizing everything because my momma is coming in a few days and I don't want her to get sick.

Jason preached on Sunday about having a vision for the new year. You can download it here http://www.ubc.org/sermons/. It was really good if I do say so myself. Am I willing to let God enter my vision for my life this year instead of planning it myself? Ouch. I am not one to make resolutions because I don't keep them and then I've started my year out as a failure. But I do like to reevaluate my life and see if there is something I need to change. I'm thinking I need to change something, but I haven't nailed down yet what it is. I do think I will take one day a week to fast from Facebook, and I know I need to cut back on sugar and coffee and up the water intake. I know I need to change the way I'm spending time with the Lord because I just haven't been. And I know I need to learn how to take each day one day at a time, and one moment at a time because I'm missing out on opportunities to serve and love my family and other people because I'm so focused on how full the calendar is. All the things on the calendar are good and necessary and there is really nothing I can take off right now but I've got to learn how to just take it all one thing at a time instead of worrying about the schedule as a whole. I have plenty of time to do it all, its just a matter of priorities.

There will be lots of changes this year. Cooper will be leaving elementary and starting middle school and Campbell will be leaving preschool and starting kindergarten. And I will be an emotional wreck I suspect. I am still excited about my new business with Trades of Hope. I have so much to learn and so many ways to grow through that. And we always pray that Jason's job will bring glory and honor to God as he leads his team to lead people to Christ. I would love it if there are no major home repairs this year because I feel like we had enough in 2012 to last for a few years. But you never know. God has provided for us to take care of it all so I have to trust that will continue.

I am so thankful that my kids are healthy, smart and athletic and most importantly happy. And I am so thankful for all that God has brought us through this year. And I'm excited and hopeful for all that will be coming in 2013!

^"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20, 21

Harried Christmas

For some reason, this has been the most hurried and harried Christmas I have experienced. I have been so overwhelmed and stressed about so many little things, mostly things that are out of my control. I have been depending on my own strength and energy, which doesn't go too far, instead of on God's. I have been worried and anxious about the unimportant things instead of sitting at Jesus' feet. I am not enjoying being a "Martha". Its tiring. I have missed so many opportunities to share Christ and his birth with my kids. I have looked at Christmas the way the world does instead of the way I should be as a believer, as a time of worshipping my Savior. And I have known all that in my head for a while, but have not done anything to fix it.

Today I read a quote from Chris Tomlin on Facebook. "The first Christmas gift ever given was worship. Still think it's the best gift we can give." In all its simplicity, it has made a huge change in me today. I have been trying to worship as I go through this busy day of volunteering, making Christmas gifts for my husbands staff, cleaning house for my son's birthday party tonight and a doctor's appointment thrown in. When I've caught myself having a panic moment, I have just said "I worship you Lord. For who you are, not what you have done for me, but who you are." And then I think of some things He is, faithful, patient, glorious, comforting, holy, etc. It has really helped to calm me down. And I have forced myself to sing Christmas carols with the radio. Somehow singing about Jesus has also brought me back to reality. All of the minor details that are stressing me out have no eternal significance. But how I turn my stress back to my Father and lay it at his throne might.

Do you need a smile?

If you have 3 minutes, please watch this adorable video. This is a sweet little friend of mine in our PDO that I lead music for. When I'm doing music with her class, she always watches intently, but never sings. But her momma put this on Facebook and it literally made me cry. I am so thankful for this reminder of why I do what I do. Meet Nora.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/kR5ajXVLudc

In case you couldn't understand, "What did the cow in the manger say to Baby Jesus in the Hay? Moo, moo, moo, moo, Baby Jesus we love you." Then the sheep and donkey.
(Her momma did give me permission to share.)

Keeping Christ in Your Child's Christmas

Here is a combination of the best ideas from last year's 3 part posts of ideas for keeping Christ in your Child's Christmas.

• Use an advent calendar to count off the days. There are ones with Bible verses for each day, or symbols for each day of the Christmas story, a paper chain where a chain is taken off each day.
• http://www.tipjunkie.com/holiday-crafts/christmas/christmas-advent-calendar/
• http://www.allcrafts.net/xmas/advent-calendars.htm
• http://budgetwisehome.com/tag/advent-calendar-ideas/       
• Go with your extended family to a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. UBC has a family friendly service at 4:30 with live animals!
• Make a birthday cake for baby Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him. 
• Wait to put baby Jesus in the nativity scenes until Christmas Eve. You can have the baby Jesus wrapped up in a gift box, and let that be the first gift that they open on Christmas Eve night or Christmas morning. Or take Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus out of your manger scene, take Mary and Joseph as far away from the manger as you can, and each day of December move them closer and closer until Christmas Eve they arrive at the manger! And then baby Jesus joins them Christmas morning!
• Buy or kids can make something as a birthday/Christmas gift for Jesus. Wrap it and put it under the tree for Jesus. Unwrap it on Christmas morning, and then over the years you can look at His gifts and talk about them together.
• Invite Jesus to Christmas celebrations by setting out an extra place setting for Him. It would be cute to have a dress up gold crown and set it on His plate!!
• Read the Christmas story from Luke 2 before you open presents.
• Allow your children to choose from the World Vision catalog a special extra gift to buy and pray a blessing over. You can get things like mosquito netting or goats.
• Keep a basket of Christmas books about Jesus around for children to have access to.
• Have a child friendly nativity set that children can play with. Buy one for new babies as a sweet first Christmas gift.
• Do something good for others: sing at a nursing home, buy gifts for a family in need, make cookies for a neighbor or do something personal for a family member. Talk to your kids about how helping others is pleasing in God’s sight.
• Have your children reenact the Christmas story, dressing up like shepherds, Mary and Joseph, or the angels.
• At dinner, read Christmas cards that are received each day. Pray for those who sent the card.
• Write a Christmas letter to a missionary. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so it can be a very lonely time for them. 
• Hang a Christmas stocking for Christ. You could hang up a white stocking for Christ, and on Christmas Eve every member of the family could insert a piece of paper listing their gift to Christ this year. Examples: being nicer to others, praying more often, etc. 
• Other websites with ideas:
• http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2000/12/The-Jesse-Tree.aspx#ixzz1erlEaIcI
• http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2004/11/How-To-Make-A-Chrismon-Tree.aspx#ixzz1erlaVhZ1
• http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Christmas/21-Ways-to-Keep-Christ-in-Christmas.aspx
• http://christianity.about.com/od/holidaytips/p/keepchristmas.htm

Disney Pics

We had a great time at Disney World last week. Not too many people and the Christmas decorations were already up, added bonus. Seeing Campbell's face when he saw some of his favorite characters was the best. We learned he is not afraid of giant characters (as I was as a child) nor heights or fast things, but he is afraid of loud noises and the dark. So he loved some of the smaller roller coasters he could ride but did not like the small kiddy rides that were in the dark, like Peter Pan. The three days after we got home were rough as he detoxed, very whiney and tired. And my mom caught something while she was there and ended up in the hospital for 6 days when she got back, but I think she would do it again? We had the professional photographers take lots of pictures for us, but when I got back and saw how expensive they were, we will just have to get by with the ones I took. Enjoy!

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