I decided I still am not ready to face the world so I stayed home from church today. I am still moving slowly and taking pain meds every 8 hours or so. I have weaned from two pills every six hours to one pill every eight and hope to go completely off them by the end of this next week. The Darvocet makes me so loopy I am not sure I am remembering all the conversations I have had over the past few days.
In staying home today I watched the last of the Anne of Green Gables series - The Continuing Story. I love Anne Shirley! It was a very different film from the first two, though. Before that I had tried to lay down and snooze a bit and I woke in a coughing fit. NOT comfortable after having your midsection cut in half and then stitched back together. I scurried to get water and stop the fit but it took me a bit to recover from that. At one point I was talking out loud to God to please stop this because I might faint if it continued. That is funny now but at the time.... not so much.
My recovery is rather miraculous. I have been told I am moving around very well to have had surgery less than a week ago. All my bloodwork showed levels in nutrients and iron and such that would be good for pre-op but mine are post op. I guess all the whole grains and healthier eating has played a large role in a speedy recovery. That is cool! I ultimately know that God is the reason any of that is possible, though. He has done wonders with my little 40 year old milk carton of a body.
So, I am guessing, because of the drugs, I might show up here tomorrow and not remember that I had posted this and then I will have to reread it and think something like, "when did I write this"? LOL I need to go before I start revealing deep dark secrets to everyone.
Love to you all!!!
Oh, this is the second week of Advent tonight, too. Enjoy your family!!!
Daily Scripture Readings
Saturday December 1 - Isaiah 42:1-9 Sunday December 2 - Malachi 3:1-4
Monday December 3 - Psalm 89:1-29
Tuesday December 4 - Isaiah 55
Wednesday December 5 - Isaiah 35
Thursday December 6 - Luke 1:26-38
Friday December 7 - John 1:1-10
Saturday December 8- John 1:11-18
Sunday December 9 - Micah 5:2
Monday December 10 - Malachi 3:1-4
Tuesday December 11 - Matthew 1:18-25
Wednesday December 12 - Mark 1:1-13
Thursday December 13 - Isaiah 40:1-11
Friday December 14 - Isaiah 52:1-6
Saturday December 15 - Isaiah 9:2-7
Sunday December 16 - Luke 2:8-20
Monday December 17 - Luke 1:5-25
Tuesday December 18 - Luke 1:39-56
Wednesday December 19 - Jeremiah 33:7-16
Thursday December 20 - Luke 1:57-80
Friday December 21 - Isaiah 61
Saturday December 22 - Revelation 21:1-7
Sunday December 23 - Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-20
Monday December 24 - Matthew 2:1-12 & Revelation 1:10-18 Tuesday December 25 - Christmas Day: Read the Christmas story together from Luke 2:1-38
The Sunday scriptures are the Advent Candle reading scriptures. Here is what we do when we light our candle each week...
December 2 - Prophecy Candle
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4
Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Reading:
December 9 Bethlehem Candle
Scripture: Micah 5:2
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Reading:
December 16 Shepherd Candle
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Song: While Shepherd's Watched Their Flocks By Night
Reading:
December 23 Angel Candle
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38
Song: Angels, We Have Heard on High
Reading:
December 24 (Christmas Eve) Christ Candle
Scripture: Luke 2:1-38
Song: Silent Night & O Come All Ye Faithful
Reading:
All readings to be determined later...
For more about our Advent season you can take a look back at our years past posts on the topic.
Here are some photos of us getting ready today... (with a few leftovers from snowday...)
This is my annual post on how much of a Scrooge I am! LOL I have been downloading Holiday Grand Plan stuff this morning. Dana reminded me of this and I always start it too late and get behind. This year I am on time and hope to stay on plan. As I let it permeate my little brain this morning I feel my stress level rising. Pavlov had something with this conditioning behavior. LOL It immediately makes me wonder where we can cut corners so we can have enough money for gifts for everyone and how I can clean the house in order to be able to actually have people come in and see the place during the holidays. It also starts the dreading of holidays with people I am not really fond of (I am talking Thanksgiving and Christmas)
We do get to travel and see my family this year. It is always easier for me to be there for the most part than here. I am also a bit stressed by the fact that we have not drawn names with Dan's family yet and I have no idea who I am buying for. If we buy for Dan's parents I am always ALWAYS disappointed with their reaction to our gift. They have still not put the picture up we gave them three years ago and that indicates to me that they hated it. I tell you there is much baggage involved in this process when ungrateful people are involved. They seem to think that I am the ungrateful one but I don't mind buying gifts when they are appreciated. I just don't like giving something that is tossed aside and disregarded. I think my SIL Vera is the ONLY one who ever appreciates anything we buy for her. She is so cool like that! She is secretly my favorite on Dan's side, btw...
The money part stresses me out the most because we just don't have extra most of the time. We pay our tithe, the bills and school stuff and that is about all we have most of the time. Saving up for it is usually not very successful and limiting our own giving to our children has become a common practice in order to pay for gifts for the unappreciative bunch of people across town. My blood pressure is going up.... *deep breath - in and out* ;)
I want for this year to be different and I want to enjoy the process and the time with family. I am going to have to overlook quite a bit with some of those in-laws. One really cool thing this year is the time I will get to see my youngest brother's little girl. She is so precious!!! I cannot wait to see her and hold her little beautiful self!!!
I think I am planning soon enough that I can make a few things this year again, too. I am hoping that the Holiday Grand Plan will keep me on track more and my home and family will be in order by the time I get to December. We are also focusing more every year on Advent and that helps my perspective so much to focus on Jesus instead of all the commercial aspects of this dreaded time. I think having the television turned off will help, too. We shall see...
These are both celebrated tonight due to the way they fall on the calendar this year. Here is what we will be doing...
December 24 Wisemen &/or Angels Candle
depending on your format or book you are following Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 for the Wisemen part and
Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38 for the Angels
Song: We Three Kings
Angels, We Have Heard on High
Reading: We are reading again from the Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration
selection - The Big King and the Little Kingby R.C. Sproul
December 24 (Christmas Eve) Christ Candle
Scripture: Luke 1:68-69 & Luke 2:1-38
Song: Joy to the World
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Reading: from Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration The Bishop of Christmas by R.C. Sproul
Prayers appreciated...
Josh is very ill and we believe he has been exposed to chicken pox. Pray for our family please. Thank you!!!
December 17 Shepherd Candle
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Songs: While Shepherd's Watched Their Flocks By Night
Silent Night, Holy Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Reading: from Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration Treasuring Christmas in Our Hearts by James Montgomery Boice
Video: Donut Man's Christmas Video - The Best Present of All
Homeschoolblogger will be down most of tomorrow so this is early.
December 10 Bethlehem Candle Scripture: Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-7 Songs: O Little Town of Bethlehem O Come, O Come Emmanuel Reading: from Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration Who Cared About a Jewish Baby Born in Bethlehem by Charles R. Swindoll
A really great quote... just 'cause
The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid.
What is a Chrismon tree? It is a tree with Christian Symbols or Monograms, hence the name Chris (Christ) and Mon (Monograms). Here are a few links to help you if you are interested in doing this project. We will be doing a small one this weekend. If you have ever seen a Chrismon tree they are very beautiful and unique. Enjoy!
This is a favorite ornament idea that a friend taught me. If you love country and homemade crafts this is for you... it is a Quilted Ornament without the sewing.
Fun stuff my kids have been enjoying as a reward for finishing their work... North Pole.com & Claus.com
I love Annie and have for years!!! Here is her updated Advent Calendar page complete with a daily craft, devotional and fun activity you can do with family. Just scroll down and click on the days in the calendar for each day.
Beverly Hernandez offers a page full of links for Advent and About.com, too. She has links for recipes, games, coloring pages, crafts, e-cards, activity pages and more. Go check her out...
December 3 - Prophecy Candle Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 & Isaiah 9:2-6 Songs: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Away in a Manger Jesus Loves Me Reading: from Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration Little Ones to Him Belong by James Dobson
What else did we do today? * Attended worship together * Church dinner together today * Attended a stage production of Little Women (FIL and Uncle Buzz were in this so we got complimentary tickets) * Poured up the eggnog, cut the cake and had our Advent reading, song and prayer time * Kids to bed and watched a movie just Dan and me.
...over at Advent4Evangelicals. I had the privilege of being able to share an article there that you might be interested in reading entitled Praying Through the Advent Season. There are some great things going on over there and lots of great ideas and articles by some very lovely women. You may want to bookmark that site for the Advent season and enjoy all that is being shared. I know I am truly enjoying the many wonderful posts.
The word Advent means "the coming". It is a time of year when we look at Christ's first coming as a baby in a manger and then to anticipate His second coming that He promised before He left the earth. I invite you to join us in this time of reflection and anticipation. You can make your own traditions for your family or you can use ours as you wish. Here is our schedule of reading as a family. It starts tonight. We try to read the daily scripture passage each night with dinner and do the Sunday readings after dinner together each night.
Daily Scripture Readings Friday December 1 - Isaiah 42:1-9 Saturday December 2 - Psalm 89:1-29 Sunday December 3 - Malachi 3:1-4 Monday December 4 - Isaiah 55 Tuesday December 5 - Isaiah 35 Wednesday December 6 - Luke 1:26-38 Thursday December 7 - John 1:1-10 Friday December 8- John 1:11-18 Saturday December 9 - Malachi 3:1-4 Sunday December 10 - Micah 5:2 Monday December 11 - Matthew 1:18-25 Tuesday December 12 - Mark 1:1-13 Wednesday December 13 - Isaiah 40:1-11 Thursday December 14 - Isaiah 52:1-6 Friday December 15 - Isaiah 9:2-7 Saturday December 16 - Luke 1:5-25 Sunday December 17 - Luke 2:8-20 Monday December 18 - Luke 1:39-56 Tuesday December 19 - Jeremiah 33:7-16 Wednesday December 20 - Luke 1:57-80 Thursday December 21 - Isaiah 61 Friday December 22 - Revelation 21:1-7 Saturday December 23 - Matthew 2:1-12 & Revelation 1:10-18 Sunday December 24 - Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-20 Monday December 25 - Christmas Day: Read the Christmas story together from Luke 2:1-38
The Sunday scriptures are the Advent Candle reading scriptures. Here is what we do when we light our candle each week...
December 3 - Prophecy Candle Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Reading:
December 10 Bethlehem Candle Scripture: Micah 5:2 Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem Reading:
December 17 Shepherd Candle Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Song: While Shepherd's Watched Their Flocks By Night Reading:
December 24 Angel Candle Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38 Song: Angels, We Have Heard on High Reading:
December 24 (Christmas Eve) Christ Candle Scripture: Luke 2:1-38 Song: Silent Night & O Come All Ye Faithful Reading:
Since Day four and Christmas Eve fall on the same day this year we just do both candles one at a time and read the passages with each candle.
I am feeling a bit better today. I am still coughing, though. I had my practicals last night at school. That means we had to demonstrate a variety of cuts and do it within one hour. I was the only one who finished in the time given. Chef said NO ONE would finish in time so, if you know me, that was a challenge and I made it. My cuts were not perfect because I was so nervous but they get better every time I do them. We will have to do that practical at the end of every semester and we should be getting better each time we take the test. Now that I know I can do it in the time given I need to polish the cuts and such. The other test was to prepare a dinner with the ingredients provided. This is done at the end of each class, too. My first time out I did not do so hot. Oh, the dinner was finished and plated but I was so rushed I made mistakes. Neither one of these tests effects the final grade for the class but it demonstrates what we have learned over the semester. I did a sauted chicken breast, risotto, zucchini and carrots. Chef told us we needed a crisp too late for anyone to get that in. He is a bit unorganized sometimes but I learned a great deal from him.
I also have a presentation tonight and I am ready for that. I will have one more final on Wednesday and then I am done. Chef moved the final up to Wednesday instead of next week. I am grateful that I will be done a week earlier than we thought. Because...
ADVENT STARTS ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!! I will be putting some things together for our family and will share much of it here for you. Here is some reading I have been doing in all my spare time. LOL
This is not the typical thing I blog about here. I try to steer clear of politics and church battles but this one has my brain thinking about a few things. For what it is worth here are my thoughts on the matter...
As I read and listened to the news that churches around the country were closing their doors my heart sunk. There was announcement that they wanted to allow families to be together or that they were encouraging their congregants to serve in the community during that time. I guess that is fine but my first thought was,
"Why do you celebrate Christmas?"
"Is it for the presents, Santa and family time?"
"Is it for the opportunity to serve others?" (this is a noble endeavor but God also calls us to keep the Sabbath holy and take time to worship Him)
"Is it a time to gather with the larger family of Christ to worship the King?"
"What about a watch service to look forward to the time of Christ's second coming?"
As we celebrate Advent in our home and in our church we have made the decision to open our doors. We believe that we come together to worship the King. We come together as the family of God to fellowship over breakfast and then worship together. We believe that the doors to our building should be open. There should be a place in our community for those who want to be in a service on Christmas Day. We should lift up the name of Jesus in our community in this act of service. Do our pastor's mind? Heavens NO!!! This is what God has called them to, among other things. They will be bringing the message of the baby coming as the Savior of the world. They will be bringing the message that the Messiah will return. They will be sharing salvation with those who walk in those doors. They will be leading us in song and prayer and thanksgiving.
Our past experience is that we often have people come that do not normally go to church. They may come for the music - many of our congregants just enjoy singing the carols and hymns. Some may come to find a place that is not lonely. Some may step foot into the back to pray quietly. Still others may just want a warm place to come in out of the cold. They may come for an unknown reason to them. The Holy Spirit may bring them to hear just what God has prepared in the mind and heart of our pastor that day.
Can the presents wait? Well, they have waited all month what is a few more hours? Can the football game wait? What about that dinner that MUST be prepared and served perfectly? What about the pastor and his family? Don't they need a day off? I can assure you that my pastor will have the week off between Christmas and New Year's, which is standard in MOST churches in America, and he is TOTALLY fine with being in church on Sunday and preaching and "working" on Christmas. This is ministry...
As a Christian what is more important? Non-Christians do not even need to ask these questions - we should not even expect them to think about these things but for us it is a choice. It all hinges on WHY we celebrate. If you celebrate Santa and presents only then, by all means, stay home. If you celebrate Advent my guess is you are already planning to be in church. I am not trying to guilt anyone into going to church. I am only weighing in on this very sticky issue this year. I know many of our congregation are traveling and will not be in our midst Sunday. I also know they will be in church with their families where they will be.
As a ministry family we feel compelled to open our doors to those who wish to be there. From a pastor's family's perspective there was no question in our mind that our doors would be open. There was nothing to "consider". We are Christians, Daddy is a pastor and we go to church - that is what we do. There is no legalism in that statement, merely that the choice was made when we married that this would be what we do (we would never forsake the assembling of the body together) and there is no reason to change it for Christmas.
Just know that our doors will be open and our church kitchen and fellowship hall will be full of warmth and the smells of coffee and breakfast together with our "family" on Christmas morning. Our sanctuary will be filled with the praises of His people. Does that make us better than those who are not going to be in a church on Sunday? No, it merely means that there is a place for anyone to go that wants to go. It only means there is an open door where the Good News will be preached and a place where an opportunity for worship is available with fellow believers. It means there is not a missed opportunity to reach out to hurting people that seek a refuge on this Christmas Day in the form of a church service or to those who do not know where else to go to be close to God. (there are many people that feel the need to pray in church or go to a church to be close to God - I know that personal relationship brings you in the presence of God no matter where you are but some do not get that, yet - our doors are open for them)
We pray you will have a very Merry Christmas and that the close of your Advent season is filled with worship and thanksgiving and the excitement of the Second Coming of Christ. If you show up on our church steps on Sunday we will have a cup of coffee for you, a hearty welcome, an open hand, a hug and a warm seat for you to enjoy the music, worship your Father and hear the word of God.
I have been working on a few projects in the sewing room this year. They are not hard or really very time consuming but fun. Here are our stockings that I have sewn over the past few years. The Batman and the baby's stockings were finished up this morning.
This was one full day of house cleaning, baking and entertaining family. We made a plan for Christmas brunch at church and then for Christmas dinner with family. Everyone has their assignment.
Emmy and I spent the afternoon baking some cookies from the ENORMOUS batch of dough we made. We still have more and the kids are going to make GINORMOUS teddy bear cookies tomorrow and decorate them themselves.
If you want to see what we did today you can check out our Flickr link - BAKING COOKIES. Enjoy!!!
Now, for those interested in knowing what we did on the stained glass cookies - you can use a basic sugar cookie recipe of your choice. Then all you do is cut shapes and then make a hole in the center in whatever fashion you like. Get a bag of assorted colors of hard candy and break it up in a ziplock bag with a rubber mallet or the flat side of a meat tenderizer. Then you just sprinkle the variety of colored candy bits into the hole in the cookie on the cookie sheet and bake as the recipe calls for. Let them cool on the tray - I would recommend that you use parchment paper or a Silpat on the cookie sheet to keep from sticking. They turn out beautifully as you will see at the link above - I showed one with light coming through - MAGNIFICENT!!!
These two ornaments go together. The first one was made for Dan and me as a first Christmas married ornament. The second one was made for JoNathan's first Christmas (he was 2 months old). The ornaments were made by a woman named Nita Gleaton. She had been the organist at the church I grew up in in Kilgore, Texas. She has since passed away and did not live to make any more for our other children. Her husband still lives there and has remarried. We often get to see him when we go see my parents.
Ornament #2
This ornament is one of five that we were given back in 1999 by my MIL. She is a professional calligrapher and wrote our names on each ball and gifted us with these treasures. The are MAGNIFICENT!!!
Ornament #3
These two ornaments represent all the ornaments on the tree that the children have made over the years. We make a new ornament every year together.
Ornament #4
This ornament represents all the ornaments on the tree made by my Meemaw. She crocheted little ornaments all the time and when she passed away my Mother divided them up between all three of us (my brothers and me). They are true treasures!
Ornament #5
This ornament is one that my Mother made when I was a wee little lassy. She painted a whole set of Nativity ornaments and some stained glass ornaments. They are always a Christmas tree staple in our home!
Our tree is not perfect with it's messy decorating and no ornaments on the bottom 1/4 of the tree because of Josh and the cat but it is our's and we LOVE IT!!!!!
Blessings and stay tuned for more COOKIE MADNESS...
I did not get everything done today. I wound up having to get two loaves of bread started and then everyone was starving for Quesadillas for lunch so I spent the morning time working on that.
I finally got started with Emmy on the candy around 1:30pm today. Here is what we did...
This is white almond bark melted over a double boiler then spread thin and we added broken up pieces of chocolate mint candy canes. We cooled it in the freezer until hard and then broke it into pieces for storage.
This one is the same process except we used chocolate almond bark and Andes Mint Chips.
This last one is a swirl of both white and chocolate almond bark topped with white, chocolate and butterscotch chips. If you wanted you could add nuts, too but my kids and the families we are sharing with have nut allergies so we left them off just in case.
After we finished this is what we ended up with - a lovely tin full of candy for consumption and sharing with friends and family. Please ignore all the flour and leftover chocolate stuck to the counter - it got cleaned shortly after this picture. LOL
We also made a GINORMOUS batch of sugar cookie dough for making stained glass cookies tomorrow and then I made dinner. I am exhausted and going for my flannels very soon.
The ornament blog will have to wait until tomorrow but all the pictures are uploaded to the computer so I should be able to get that up quickly.
It is 9:17am and I am still in my pajamas - the purple flannel faves!!! I am heading for a shower and then it is a full day of baking bread, cookies and candy with the kids. If I survive the event I will post lots of pics and recipes for anyone interested. :)
The Sisters-in-law and I are planning Christmas Day lunch, too, so we are having dinner here tomorrow night to get that done so everyone knows what they are making. I am also in charge of the Christmas Morning Brunch at church Sunday morning. I am the kitchen ministry team leader - big title, lots of work... OOOOOOO... aren't I special??? LOL No, really, I love working in the kitchen because it puts me behind the scenes and I do not have to be out making merry and being in the spotlight. I never really liked the spotlight - WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE! I have often thought that I would love to work behind the set of Rachael Ray or Paula Dean. Those guys would be so cool to be mentored by in the kitchen. Anyway...
Here is what we are starting with:
We will see what happens...
I will be back with our Ornament Meme from Blestwithsons later, too...
For now we have Diana Krall in the Cd player and we watched White Christmas last night. We are also tuning into a local station that has only Christmas music playing until December 26th. (Blest it is 99.9FM if you are interested)
Is there any question in your mind that I would choose CHOCOLATE??? LOL
2. Turkey or Ham? Definitely a turkey lovin' gal
3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
I have always longed for a real tree but, alas, I am highly allergic and now Emmy is too. It will never happen. We settle for a fake.
4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
Depends on our mood that year. This year we have put nothing up but that does not mean hubby won't decide to last minute - and leave them up until January 6th (Epiphany)
5. Snowball fights or sleddin'? SLEDDIN' - hate snow down my clothing and in my face.
7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
Not for all the money on the planet!!!
8. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night performed in sign language
10. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
I am picky but the ones I watch I absolutely adore...
11. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
In our home we have a rule that we do not start Christmas music until the first weekend of Advent. That is just our rule, though...
12. Stockings before or after presents?
Stockings are big in our family! We open stockings while waiting for the present stuff to begin.
13. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?
ALWAYS!!! I am usually in the group singing, though.
14. Go to someone else's house or they come to you? We always make a trip either to Dan's family (across town) or to my family (across Texas) every year. We always do Santa at home before we go across town, though.
15. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when? ALWAYS - Christmas Eve or morning depending on where we are.
16. What do you do after presents and dinner? If we are with Dan's family we always play games - Balderdash or Cranium but in recent years we have added some movie trivia games - they LOVE games. At my folks we read, visit or take a trip to the park with kids while my Dad and brothers watch football all afternoon.
17. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Cinnamon and pumpkin
18. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
We do not do either. I am not sure I would be able to ice skate because we do not have that opportunity where we live and I HATE the mall.
19. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?
Always one present and they are always pajamas for the kids to sleep in.
20. Favorite Christmas memory?
Gonna write about my most memorable Christmas and I will post that later...
21. Favorite Part about winter? Snuggling with a blanket, a cup of tea and a good book or playing games with the kids inside on a cold day.
22. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?
More times than I can remember - always Dan
23. Tagging...
This close to Christmas - anybody that wants to do this and then let me know so I can read would be AWESOME!!!
Oh, there is so much to share! We spent the evening with Blest and her wonderful family last night. We dragged in full and happy around 1:00am this morning, pleased with the evening that was behind and made better for having new friends. We must do that again very soon!!!
We woke this morning to enjoy one of my new birthday presents that the kids gave me early - a Belgian Waffle Maker. After breakfast we rushed to get ready and head out the door. We went to a local art gallery. The children were performing with the choir at this gallery. While we were there we found - finally - the present we are now giving to Dan's folks. It is PERFECT!!! Tell you later...
After the concert we made a trip to McDonald's for lunch and Narnia toys. JoNathan spent the afternoon in another rehearsal for tomorrow's winter concert. While he was there we made a trip to a local used bookstore for a little more Christmas shopping - found some delightful treasures. I will share more on that later, too...
Finally, after all the day's escapades we made it to the theatre to see NARNIA!!!!! I will be doing a review of it all - probably on Monday. I will only say for now a quote that was overhead through tears as we started the car to leave the parking lot...
"Son, you have been waiting for two months to see this movie, I have waited for 30 years and oh, it was worth every moment of waiting."
Love to you all and have a lovely Advent Sunday with your families! I will leave the Advent assignment a bit early.
Week 4 of Advent 2005
December 18 Angel Candle Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38 Song: Angels, We Have Heard on High
I have mentioned how much I have to fight off the urge to become the Grinch this time of year. I am a person of quiet needs. I do my best thinking when there is no sound in the house and the children are all occupied with tasks that engross them thoroughly or if they are in bed sleeping peacefully. I love a quiet home. This is possibly why I only have four children and not 8 or 9 or more. The busyness of my little family is quite sufficient for me.
Most people thrive off of others. They need interaction and social lives. The need noise and music and radio and television if only for background noise. Many people recharge when they are with others. I am not that way. I recharge when I am able to get away from everything and just be still. Maybe that is why this Christmas Hymn is so very special to me. It is quiet and peaceful. It is something that I could become totally accustomed to. God can bring that kind of peace in the midst of this Advent season. I am praying this Advent for a time of Silent Night to be still and know HE is GOD...
My favorite rendition of this has to be the Manheim Steamroller arrangement. I could get lost in that sound...
Here are some links of interest and a devotional from my e-mail on December 9, 2005. Enjoy!
I would link you to this instead of putting it here for copyright purposes but I am unable to do that so here it is with full credit to the author and publisher.
The Story of Silent Night By Christopher and Melodie Lane
Though the town of Bethlehem may have been relatively quiet when Jesus was born, it was probably not silent. Crowds of weary travelers were constantly arriving to be counted in the census. They walked the streets searching for places to stay, grumbling as they were turned away from the inn. Tired children whined, women with aching feet complained. And even in the stable where Mary and Joseph took refuge, the donkeys and cows would have continued to produce a variety of grunts and snorts.
Mohrs song speaks not of a natural silence. It captures a moment of peace, a holy hush that surely settled over Bethlehem as all of heaven viewed with wonder the birth of the God/Man. The Potter had entered into the clay that he himself had made, and he now rested in the arms of his own creation.
Because the Christmas season is so hectic and rushed, we often find it difficult to identify with the holy hush of that night. But Scripture implores us to make a practice of pausing from our daily routinesin all seasonsto wait upon God and to listen for his still small voice. As Frederick William Faber once explained, Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear the whisperings of God.
Scripture
Go out and stand before me on the mountain, the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. --1 Kings 19:11-12, NLT
The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. --Lamentations 3:25-26, NLT
Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. --Psalm 46:10, NLT
Prayer
Lord, I invite your Spirit to come upon me and calm my busy mind. Quiet my heart as I wait before you. In the silence let me hear you. In the stillness let me know you. Open my eyes that I may see your glory and receive the grace you have extended to me today. In Jesus name, Amen.
This classic and timeless Christmas devotional brings together stories, devotional readings, scripture passages and prayers in a delightfully illustrated format that is perfect for family time together during the holiday season. Families will love the unique features of this special Advent book. Each day includes scripture readings, sidebar stories, prayers, quotes, and unique facts about Christmas, making this perfect for all parents and kids of all ages. Contributors include Billy Graham, Frederick Buechner, Max Lucado, Madeleine L'Engle, Eugene Peterson, Walter Wangerin, and many others. Start a Christmas tradition with your family this year as you rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.
Used with the kind permission of our friends at Tyndale House Publishers.
You can still subscribe to the www.christianbooks.com Advent devotionals. Just go to their site and follow the links to the subscribe page. Blessings!!!
posted December 17, 2004 - too good not to share again...
I have been really thinking a great deal about Dan's sermon on Sunday. He preached from the traditional Christmas passages in each gospel and drew out something I had not thought about before. He talked about who God chose to reveal Jesus birth to. It was so awesome and full. These are the people God chose to tell first...
He told Mary and then she went to spend time with Elizabeth. When Mary walked into the home of Elizabeth the baby within Elizabeth lept for joy. That baby would become John the Baptist - a prophet and revealer of Jesus as the Messiah.
He also had an angel reveal the coming of his son John and made Zachariah silent for the duration of the pregnancy and he believed. He was apriest.
He also chose to reveal Jesus to the Wisemen (which could have been in number from two to possibly up to twelve in the caravan) or kings as they were known.
The angels were also given the privilege of revealing Jesus to the shepherds on the hillside.
Jesus was revealed to those who represented who He would be. He would be a Prophet, a Priest, a King (the King) and a Shepherd (the Good Shepherd). I just loved that God was so specific in this matter.
December 11 Shepherd Candle Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Song: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
What is in the CD player? The Chronicles of Narnia BBC Dramatization of The LWW
What is in the DVD player? The BBC LWW
This has been a Narnia weekend. We finished the book last week and plan on seeing the movie soon. Joshua and I have been sick all weekend so we postponed our outing. Just a headcold but enough to really zap our strength. I am spending today resting up and reading...
Got a plan this morning in church for a reading assignment and study assignment for the coming year. I will share more later...
Advent, Advent and More Advent (or Making Your Holiday a Spiritual One)
I must admit I totally hate the commercialism of Christmas. I really do not even like the whole one day frenzy free for all that most families have. I like to take my time and savor what my Savior has done for me in a more spiritual manner. I am trying to teach my children that same thing as they come into this "season".
I grew up Southern Baptist and will continue to be so. Dan is a SBC pastor. That does not mean, however, that there is not a great deal to be learned from other denominations and the way they celebrate. Advent is not typically a Baptist celebration but it brings scripture and a spiritual focus to the season in a very meaningful way for me. We choose to focus on Christ and not Santa Claus. It is odd, however, that my younger children are quite fascinated with him which requires that we talk about his origin and the traditions thereof. We still allow for one really nice surprise gift on Christmas morning in honor of the tradition and because grandparents think we are Scrooge if we spoil it all for them. I have been torn over this for years and have wrestled in prayer about what to do and have come to the conclusion that to honor my parents in this matter is important so we do so. It all comes with a great deal of conversation along the way of God's plan and Jesus' second coming being our focus in all things. If you are interested in more explanation I would be delighted to share that with you. For the preservation of space and time I will leave it for now.
Some Advent Books From Our Shelf * Bartholomew's Passage - Arnold Ytreeide * Christ In Christmas - Compilation format for Advent * Jotham's Journey - Arnold Ytreeide * Tabitha's Travels - Arnold Ytreeide * Advent Begins At Home: Family Prayers and Activities - compiled by David Polek & Rita Anderhub * The Christ of Christmas - Calvin Miller * Reflections on the Christmas Story - Janette Oke
Ytreeide's books are family read alouds for the season to be read over 24 days and finished up on Christmas Eve. Very engaging stories!
What is a Crismon Tree? Crismon stands for Christ and Monograms or symbols of Christianity. This is an interesting link from the Methodist church website (Wesleyan Site)
Books on Prophecy Fulfillment & Apologetics: * Evidence That Demands a Verdict - Josh McDowell (awesome) * Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis (actually any of Lewis non-fiction is great for apologetic studies) * The Case for... series by Lee Strobel is magnificent!
Other Books We Love: * 101 Ideas for the Best-Ever Christmas - Krueger * A Treasury of Christmas Classics - Shaw * The Polar Express - Chris Van Alsburg * A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens * The Christmas Box - Richard Paul Evans * The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Robison * The House Without a Christmas Tree - Gail Rock (remember the Addie Mills series of stories they made TV movies out of? Some of my favorites they no longer play but you can still read the stories.) * Esther's Gift - Jan Karon * Mitford Snowmen - Jan Karon * Shepherds Abiding - Jan Karon * Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
Picture Books of Note: * Who is Coming to Our House - Joseph Slate * This is the Star - Joyce Dunbar * Mary's Baby - Jane Chapman * Santa's Favorite Story - Hisako Aoki * The First Night - B. G. Hennessy * The First Christmas Tree: A Legend from Long Ago - Helen Haidle * B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet - Isabel Wilner * The Pine Tree Parable - Liz Curtis Higgs * The Legend of the Candy Cane: The Inspirational Story of Our Favorite Christmas Candy - Lori Walburg * The Christmas Story: Stories from the Read With Me Bible * Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia - Peggy Parrish (just fun)
warning: they are not necessarily Advent in nature but are fun and very family friendly. They spark great conversation, too, in our home. May sound contradictory unless you see how we talk about things in our home - especially spiritual things. ;-)
This was copied from my old blog so if something does not work just let me know and I will trace it down and fix it for you. Thanks and enjoy!!!
Today we light two purple candles. This week's candle represents Bethlehem.
Here ya go...
December 4 Bethlehem Candle Scripture: Micah 5:2 Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Dan's sermon today lined out a whole range of prophecy scriptures starting back in Genesis 3 - such a great sermon full of scripture and promise. I will share more with you later. We have a game night with the family while SIL and hubby are still here - they leave on Wednesday.
Pray for my FIL who goes back to the doctor tomorrow - this might end in him being hospitalized for surgery TOMORROW. We are waiting to see what the doctor has to say and what the urgency level is. Pray for all involved...
I must admit that I fight the urge to be a Grinch this time of year.So much just takes the fun out of the season for me.The unending greed and selfishness just gets my goat.I do like getting things gifts are fun but they cease to be fun when there is no thought put into what people get each other.It ceases to be fun when it is expected that you will buy things for people you really are not close to.It ceases to be fun when the budget does not allow for all that people expect from you.It ceases to be fun when a family member walks up to you with a catalogue in hand and points to what they want you to buy them (I am not talking kids here this is from the grownups!).It ceases to be fun when you have to buy for someone who already has all they need or want but they still WANT something from you.You get the picture
I also hate the crowded stores and the busy streets.I do not want to even set foot out of my home.I have started getting whatever I can online but with our budget and paying off credit cards we are not doing that this year.So, I have to make that trek to the store and hope someone does not knock the stuffing out of me as I move through the store.I have to find a place to leave the kids because that is just the most difficult taking four kids to the store.If I must go I prefer to make one trip with a list I have thought through and get everything in one trip. I never want to make a bazillion trips out during this time of year.Grocery shopping is bad enough the rest of the year but now it is unbearable.I am not a shopper by nature.Ok, so I am a whiner *sigh*
See what I mean?I am trying so hard not to be a Grinch.I am trying to take time each day to remember the real reason we are celebrating in our home.I am trying to take time to read to the children and cuddle in our pajamas a little longer in the mornings while we wait for the house to warm up.I am trying to take time to bake and share with the kids all the fun things that do not include getting, getting, getting way too many things they do not need.I am trying to approach shopping with each individual and their interests in mind instead of just buying any old thing to wrap and put under the tree.I am reading scripture and pondering all that the Messiah and His coming meant and means to us.I am trying to take time to pray and write and remember the good things about Christmas in my life over the past 39 years.As I write this I am reminded that God is the one who works all of this in me.It is not in my own strength but in HIS that I can fight this Grinch.
If the grumpiness shows up (and it has) I am taking time to sit and be thankful for all God has done for us this year and all that I have in my family and friends.I am fighting that old Grinch with a whole arsenal of weapons.He will not steal my joy!
See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always! 17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess 5:15-18 (HCSB)
Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
Eph 5:19-21 (HCSB)
But this passage that the Lord took me to today makes my heart grow three sizes each time I read it!!!
My Song for this Season
Psalm 111
Praise for the Lords Works
1Hallelujah! I will praise the Lord with all my heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The Lords works are great, studied by all who delight in them. 3 All that He does is splendid and majestic; His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused His wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 5 He has provided food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. 6 He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His instructions are trustworthy. 8 They are established forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people. He has ordained His covenant forever. His name is holy and awe-inspiring. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.
For the month of December we are doing a special study and reading lots of books. We are continuing in our Language Arts andMath studies but veering off into a unit study about Lottie Moon. If you did not grow up Southern Baptist you may not know who she is so I will share a bit here. Our denomination takes an annual offering to support foreign missions (if memory serves me right the offering provides about 50% of the annual income for foreign missions) in her name each year. We are using a YWAM book and unit study for our study this year. There is a curriculum guide with each book in this series and they are awesome! You can find the whole set of Christian Heroes biographies at www.christianbooks.com and some at www.amazon.com .
How many there are who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God. Lottie Moon Tungchow, ChinaSept. 15, 1887
Birth Born Charlotte Diggs Moon Dec. 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Va.
Salvation Lottie rebelled against Christianity until she was in college. In December 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, Va.
Education Lottie attended Albemarle Female Institute, female counterpart to the University of Virginia. In 1861, she was one of the first women in the South to receive a masters degree.
Pre-missionary life Lottie stayed close to home during the Civil War but eventually taught school in Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia.
Missionary appointment Edmonia Moon, Lotties sister, was appointed to Tengchow, China, in 1872. The following year, Lottie was appointed and joined her sister there.
Missionary work Lottie served 39 years as a missionary, mostly in Chinas Shantung province. She taught in a girls school and often made trips into Chinas interior to share the good news with women and girls.
Letters home Lottie frequently wrote letters to the United States, detailing Chinese culture, missionary life and the great physical and spiritual needs of the Chinese people. Additionally, she challenged Southern Baptists to go to China or give so that others could go. By 1888, Southern Baptist women had organized and helped collect $3,315 to send workers needed in China.
Lotties death Lottie died aboard a ship in the Japanese harbor of K๖be on Dec. 24, 1912. She was 72 years old.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offeringฎ In 1918, Womans Missionary Union named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it.
Lottie Moons plain tea cake recipe
From the Web site for Womans Missionary Union (http://www.wmu.com/): As a way to earn the trust of the people and show her goodwill, Lottie Moon made tea cakes for the children in her village in China. Once the children ate the cookies, they would take Lottie to their homes where she would share the gospel with their mothers. The children began calling Lottie the cookie lady instead of foreign devil.
Plain Tea Cake (As made by Lottie Moon)
Three teacups of sugar One teacup of butter One teacup of sour milk Four pints flour Three eggs, well beaten Half a teaspoon of soda Flavor to taste, roll thin, bake in a quick oven.
Adapted recipe: 2 cups flour ฝ cup butter 1 heaping cup of sugar 1 well-beaten egg 1 tablespoon cream
Cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and mix well. Add the flour and cream. Dust a board with flour. Roll the dough very thin. Cut cookies with a round cookie cutter. Place on a buttered or nonstick cookie sheet. Bake at 475 degrees for about 5 minutes.
The New Lottie Moon Story - Catherine B. Allen (the definitive volume on Lottie Moon)
At the end of our study JoNathan and Emily are presenting a booth on foreign missions and specifically Lottie Moon and China in our foyer at our church. I will take plenty of pictures!
This is a list of scripture readings we are doing this year (and every year mostly)
Daily Scripture Readings
November 27 Malachi 3:1-4 November 28 - Isaiah 42:1-9 November 29 - Psalm 89:1-29 November 30 - Isaiah 55 December 1 - Isaiah 35 December 2 - John 1:1-10 December 3 - John 1:11-18 December 4- Micah 5:2 December 5 - Malachi 3:1-4 December 6 - Matthew 1:18-25 December 7 - Mark 1:1-13 December 8 - Isaiah 40:1-11 December 9 - Isaiah 52:1-6 December 10 Isaiah 9:2-7 December 11 - Luke 2:8-20 December 12 - Luke 1:5-25 December 13 - Luke 1:39-56 December 14 - Jeremiah 33:7-16 December 15 - Luke 1:57-80 December 16 - Isaiah 61 December 17 - Matthew 2:1-12 December 18 Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38 December 19 - Revelation 1:10-18 December 20 Luke 2:21-38 December 21 Colossians 1:15-23 December 22 Revelation 5:1-14 December 23 Revelation 21:1-7 December 24 - Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-20
The Sunday scriptures are the Advent Candle reading scriptures. Here is what we do when we light our candle each week...
November 27 Prophecy Candle Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Reading:
December 4 Bethlehem Candle Scripture: Micah 5:2 Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem Reading:
December 11 Shepherd Candle Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Song: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night Reading:
December 18 Angel Candle Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38 Song: Angels, We Have Heard on High Reading:
December 24 (Christmas Eve) Christ Candle Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 Song: Silent Night & O Come All Ye Faithful Reading:
All of our readings this year will come from a book called Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration - Navpress collection
We have also used the Ytreeide series and this year we are reading Bartholomew's Passage each night with our scripture time.
There are also several great Advent devotionals on the market at www.christianbooks.com. One of our favorites is by Calvin Miller that came out a few years ago.
You can sign up for a daily Advent devotional in your e-mail at www.christianbooks.com, too.
Welcome to my home on the web! I am a 40 year old SAHM (14 years), homeschooling mom (8 years) and pastor's wife (18 years) who is embarking on becoming a chef/pastry chef, and starting a small business while my husband is teaching school, pastoring and working on his doctorate in ministry. We are busy, busy, busy... but I still make time to share all of that and more here. Thanks for stopping by and please come again... :)
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