The side of our glider has an armrest,

Hanging from the armrest is a pocket,

Sam thinks this is a great place to play,

And so do I.

Wow! It's hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close. It seems like it was only yesterday I was posting on how quickly 2008 went by.

This is the time of the year where I reflect on events that impacted my life or the life of others. I think about whether or not the goals I had for this year were accomplished or not. Some were met and others were not. My family stayed healthy with no real major illnesses. My poor father in law was hospitized twice though due to kidney stones. February 10th marked the one year anniversary of my dear mother's passing. That is still very hard for me.

We have a new pastor at our church who will start in January. We had been without one for a year. Praise God for His blessings and His faithfulness to answer our prayers. Our youth pastor and his family have started a new season in their lives by moving to Colorado. I believe that the Lord will bless us with a new youth pastor soon.

The nation saw some major losses most notable was Michael Jackson. I was very saddened by Jon and Kate Gosselin's divorce. I'm praying that the Lord will restore their marriage and put to shame the media evil tongue wagging gossip.

I need to pray about what the Lord will want me to accomplish next year. I will post them when I know what they are.

Merry Christmas!  I hope you're all having a wonderful day with friends and family!

Last night, we attended our church's Christmas Eve service.  It was very nice.  I brought all of the cookie trays that didn't get delivered this week, and was able to hand them out.  It was a lot of fun.  Then our friends, John & Kim and their girls, came over for pizza & cookies.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship.  John is in the Navy, and they'll be moving in 9 weeks.  We're so sad to see them leave, but so blessed to have had this time with them.

This morning, the kids let us sleep until 7:15.  We read the Christmas story and prayed together, then it was on to the presents.  It's 9:15 now, and Steve and the kids are trying to get the Wii set up. :)  Rolls are rising, and the turkey will go into the oven soon.  Steve is on call from 8am-12pm--we're hoping that he gets a job early enough that he isn't out late.  My parents are coming over around 3pm to eat with us.

Have a blessed & peaceful Christmas!

In this years "Christmas Wars"  (the annual bitter infighting between Christians about whether or not we should celebrate Christmas), one of the objections I've seen to celebrating Christmas is this: "It's not Jesus' birth that saved us, we should not focus on his birth, but on his sacrifice and resurrection".  I actually have no problem with that statement, I just don't think it's any reason not to celebrate the incarnation of God with us: Immanuel...Jesus.

If the angels celebrated Jesus' birth with "Gloria!!", then so shall I!  Without that birth, there would be no Resurrection.

Although many of the familiar Christmas carols seem to focus on the birth of a baby and ignore the purpose of Jesus' birth, that might be because we usually just hear a verse or two.  And many of the very old hymns are full of references to salvation, the Resurrection, and other important points of Christian doctrine.

For intance, A Child is Born in Bethlehem.  Note that the entire second half of the song is devoted to the purpose of the incarnation.  No helpless baby here, no Hallmark card imagery, but God in the flesh.

1. A Child is born in Bethlehem;
Exult for joy, Jerusalem! Alleluia.

2. Lo, He who reigns above the skies
There, in a manger lowly, lies. Alleluia.

3. The ox and ass in neighbouring stall
See in that Child the Lord of all. Alleluia.

4. And kingly pilgrims, long foretold,
From East bring incense, myrrh, and gold, Alleluia.

5. And enter with their offerings,
To hail the new-born King of Kings. Alleluia.

6. He comes, a maiden mother's Son,
Yet earthly father hath He none; Alleluia.

7. And, from the serpent's poison free,
He owned our blood and pedigree. Alleluia.

8. Our feeble flesh and His the same,
Our sinless kinsman He became, Alleluia.

9. That we, from deadly thrall set free,
Like Him, and so like God, should be. Alleluia.

10. Come then, and on this natal day,
Rejoice before the Lord and pray. Alleluia.

11. And to the Holy One in Three
Give praise and thanks eternally. Alleluia.

For other translations, see Puer natus in Bethlehem

You know the first verse of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  Check out the 4 verses after that:
2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting lord
Late in time behold Him come,
Off-spring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate deity
Pleased as Man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
    Hark! the herald angels sing,
    "Glory to the New-born king!"

3. Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His Wings.
Now He lays His Glory by,
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
    Hark! the herald angels sing,
    "Glory to the New-born king!"

4. Come, Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
    Hark! the herald angels sing,
    "Glory to the New-born king!"

5. Adam's likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
    Hark! the herald angels sing,
    "Glory to the New-born king!"

You can find many more beautiful songs (and some frivolous ones, pick and choose what suits you) at Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

I doubt anybody is looking for something to do this evening!  However, maybe in the week following Christmas, some will find this a great activity.

Lulu.com has a free Nativity Lapbook (Angela Frampton) available for download.  Asrat and I have been working on ours and it's very nice.  Very simple, plenty of opportunities to use as a devotional, and you can use it in whatever way works for you.  Several pages refer to the Nativity movie, so if you've seen that, all the better.

We were so looking forward to seeing my sister and her family over the holidays.  Unfortunately, they're experiencing some car trouble, and won't be able to make the drive to RI.

These are my 4 nephews: Isaac, Jack, Luke & Judah

My sister & her husband, Dave

Trying to get a Christmas picture--no easy feat with 4 little ones!

(Dave has kind of crazy eyes in that one--LOL)

Hopefully we'll see them in the spring!