Santa Lives at the North Pole

Santa lives at the North Pole...
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies...
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.
You have to wait in line to see Santa...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
JESUS knew our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says, "You'd better not pout, you'd better not cry,"...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.
Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus.
Merry CHRISTmas!

*  *  *

~ author unknown ~

I am ready!!

   I am blessed with the most amazing husband. Monday he took the kids out on an adventure to see some wild life and to get their Christmas shopping done. That left me home alone. I LOVE being home alone, (most of the time). I used my time like any mom would, I cleaned my house. You know that kind of clean that only a mom knows. I love that feeling of knowing that behind the door and under the bed there are no dust bunnies. And when my house is clean I can handle anything.!!! Can you relate? Not you men, you ladies.??
   When the house was just the way I wanted, I called Jack and the kids to be sure they were still having an adventure that would not bring them home too quickly. When Jack said it would be a while, I too scooted out and finished my shopping. I am now ready for Christmas.
    I love this season, I enjoy reading all the Christmas books, Like the Christmas Cross, or watching movies like Christmas Shoes. Hallmark Channel has got to be my favorite Channel of the season. I love the joy that is in the air here at home. Kids are excited, I am excited, and I think I can speak for Jack and say he is excited too.
   Never for a moment though do I want to forget the true meaning of Christmas, My Saviors Birthday. A child who was born on this day for me. Thank you Lord for sending  Your Son to save me from the pits of hell, and allow me the gift of Heaven.
   In the hustle and bustle of this season, Don't forget the Savior, Jesus.

              Happy Birthday Jesus!!

What a week!

   We had a great Thanksgiving day, even though it was not like any other we have had.  Joel was not able to make it home this year, so it was just Josiah, Janelle and Jacob along with Jack and I. Knowing that my family does not love meat and potatoes I was not going to spend all my time in the kitchen making a big Turkey dinner that maybe just Janelle would appreciate. So instead we did things a little differently. Turkey burgers on the grill, pasta salad and orange salad. It was a GREAT meal and we still do our normal day of watching the parade and football games.
   Thursday evening Josiah, Janelle and I bundled up and went to a mall in KC. There we sat for six hours with some great friends in the 20degree weather and received a 25.00 gift card that had to be spent by 3am. It was the experience of it all that we enjoy so much. Because why else would I want to sit in the freezing cold to just get a $25.00 gift card.
   By Friday morning I had had enough of Jacobs coughing. It was a bit over a week that he had spent more time coughing then not. (especially at night.) We had tried many different medicines, put the humidifier on in his room and did the home remedies too. Nothing seemed to be working. So off to our Walmart Clinic. (it is a great place to go!!) The Dr. there asked if he was having any difficulty breathing, he said no. So she listened and asked the same question again. Same answer. No. His only complaint was he was tired of coughing and sometimes he thought he might throw up form coughing so much. No fever. They said he was wheezing, which I thought I heard but wasn't really sure. He got a breathing treatment and when it was complete he shouted, WOW I can breathe now!! I thought you weren't having any problems? He said he noticed such a difference after the treatment that he now realized he was having difficulties. He is now sleeping with out any coughing!! YEAH!
    Saturday we celebrated 28 years of being married. We went and had lunch, and did some shopping. Shopping together for us is, I go into the stores, and he sits in the car. HAHA! He likes it that way.
   Okay, it has been a long day, so I think I will quit writing for now.

Thanksgivng Day

 Thanksgiving day will soon be here...

What do you like best about this day? What are your traditions?
      My perfect Thanksgiving day would be...having a house full of people, sitting down and enjoying a great meal with wonderful fellowship. I love hearing the words of thanks as each one shares. I love hearing the men as they watch a game of football. I enjoy getting out for a long walk after such a huge meal. I love playing games, and eating desserts. When everyone has left, I enjoy eating a turkey, mayo, stuffing, and cranberry sauce sandwich. HA! sounds silly I am sure, but that would be the "Perfect" Thanksgiving day.

How about you.?

What would your "perfect" Thanksgiving day look like?

A new day

      I woke with a migraine and thought...it's gonna be a bad day.
 Then I said to Jacob as I was waking him. "Good Morning Jacob, It's a new day with no mistakes in it."
(Where did that come from? Must be from the Lord). A reminder to me that it is His day, and there is never a mistake in it.!! My headache is still with me, but it is not a mistake. I can still choose to make this a good day!
    I have had this passion to grow deeper with Jesus. But how does one do it? You may advise me to get into God's word more. That is true, But how else does one grow deeper? Church? Fellowship? Teaching? Reading? Praying?
   How do I encourage others to have this same passion? Can I even do that? Does a soul need their own desire to grow? Can it be encouraged or shared?
 What are your thoughts?

It's about time

      It has been almost a month since I have been able to get on to this site. Our computer has been broken and our lives have been busy!!
     With a trip to NY to help dear friends who had their 4th child under the age of 4 (who wouldn't want help!?) Along with:
      Janelle having her sweet 16 birthday.
      I was able to organize a weekend away with Women of Faith.
      I also had the opportunity to gather our staff together for our annual Harvest Party, which was a huge success with lots of  fun, food and laughter.
      And of course the laundry, cooking, school, housework, taxi driver, cub scouts, Sunday School class, and on and on the list will go, it has been tough to stop and write.
      I have had so much on my mind, so much that I want to share. God has been so good and faithful. Life can get hectic!! When it does I have to remind myself to turn to Jesus, to rely on Him for strength. I can easily get selfish during these busy times. I feel I am so busy doing that I am not getting my own needs met.
      I just received a phone call while writing this... and on the other line this friend of mine was asking about my weekend... asking what is new.... Did Janelle have a good time at her party, etc. My selfish heart wanted to tell all... let me talk...but she didn't call to listen.. I think she called to talk...maybe feeling the same way I was feeling, she too is a mom a wife and has a busy life. She is a servant to many, and quite often we can get so busy serving that our simple needs get pushed aside. It is good to listen...it is also good to share, to talk.
     Yesterday in church we had a special group of men from another local church share about mens groups, and the importance of them. They said that they don't desire to know how each other is "feeling", they don't need to just use up words, they just need to be surrounded by other men, play a rough game of dodge ball or punch each other in the arm for fun. God sure did not create us women like that. We women get together and we NEED to use up our words, we don't need to hit each other or play a rough game, we need that hug, that loving touch, we need to be heard.
   So it is selfish to feel the need to be heard? I do not think so. But I will say it is selfish to only be heard and to not listen.






   

Computer has been down

        Our computer has been down, so I have not had an opportunity to blog. 
   This last week I was feeling a bit selfish. I was wanting things, like.... a date with my husband, a family outing, a clean house...but I did not want to be the one to plan these things. I was just hoping they would happen. Happen without me even asking. But life is not like that is it? I had expectations that did not get fulfilled because I was not willing to use my God given voice and ask. Instead I got frustrated, called a family meeting. used my outside voice inside and said that "since I was not the only one messing up the house I was not going to clean it alone". I got their attention  quickly and EVERYONE pitched in to get the house cleaned. 
    Once the house was in order Janelle grabbed her camera and off for a Saturday drive we went. Weston is a quaint little town near by that I thought would be fun for us all. We stopped at a cemetery, where Janelle got some good pictures, Jack enjoyed reading the stones. Jacob and I enjoyed just walking around the cemetery. Everyone was happy.
    Off to Weston for lunch, did a little window shopping and shopped by for some penny candy and fudge. On our way home we did try to go apple picking but we were not able to find a place. All in all a very good day.
     Someday, I will get a date with my husband and a family outing without being the one who planned it, but for now I will savor the good day we had on Saturday.

It's Monday!!!

     "It's a Monday!"  I can look at today with the mind set of : the cup is half full or the cup is half empty,  partly cloudy or partly sunny? Which will  you choose?
    Today I will choose to have my cup half full and my day to be partly sunny!! Our perspective is what determines our mood, our choices, and our attitude in everything we do.
    Janelle is under the weather with a head cold. Jacob had another bad dream last night, thus he's still asleep on our bedroom floor. Josiah came home to get some much needed rest after a crazy, yet wonderful week at God's Mountain. Jack's allergies seem to slowly be diminishing and off to work he has gone, and I am the only one home who is awake at 8:35am. It must be a miracle in the happening!!
     Well, I better get off the computer and use my quiet time wisely.

God Bless



  

He Knows?!

    I have read Psalms 139 many times before. But for some reason when I read it this week I read something different. We all "know" that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but do you truly "believe" that?
    vs 1) Lord, You have "searched" me and you "know" me. How amazing is that!? He has searched for ME, and He knows ME! How dare I have a low self-esteem, when the God of the universe has searched for ME and knows ME! I must be an amazing person, as YOU are, for God to search for us and know us.! That is Love.
   vs 2) You know when I sit and when I rise: you perceive my thoughts from afar. Once again if God knows when I sit and when I rise, and  He know my thoughts, He must care for ME.
    How often are we, (am I ) fearful of burdening God with my "little" requests, I may think He doesn't really want to know about the small things that go on within my heart. The "big" issues, like someone needing a physical healing or someone needing spiritual healing, we don't struggle telling God about those things. But when it comes to: Lord, I am feeling lonely, sad, frustrated, or Lord, I am having a real good day, I sure do love my kids,...We seem to hold back our requests or our praises.
   If He know when I sit and when I rise, He already knows EVERYTHING!! So why not share your thoughts with Him. He already knows  :)
   I am loved.

A new day.

     A new day with no mistakes in it.
     I love that. Before having my feet touch the floor I pray that the Lord would guide my tongue ( I didn't do so well yesterday) guide my feet, and give me the grace to walk faithfully before Him.
     Okay Lord lets..........Go!!!   Lead the way............I am following.................

UGH!!!

     Today was one of those Mondays that I had a million things on my to do list. You know what I mean. The weekend is over, the house is a disaster, home school needs to be done, the bills are due, and Jack decides to take a much needed day off.
     I do not have a problem with him taking a day off, but why today???? When I have a long "to do"  list for myself, I don't want any interruptions. I want to go at my pace (which is fast) and no one better get in my way.
    So my day started out good, School was moving along smoothly, Jack went and finished mowing the lawn, took the dog for a walk and took some mini (much deserved) breaks while enjoying a beautiful day.
     Once school was done, I was ready to roll...
     The dishwasher needed to be emptied, and refilled, lunch needed to be made and served, when Jack comes in and says are there any cold apples.. Mind you, the sink is full of apples. (The kids and I went and picked some yesterday), but I had yet to find time to put them in the fridge. My thinking is have you looked in the fridge? Did you see any? NO.??? Oh do you think you could help me by putting them in the fridge? And how does he respond? Just like any man, but you didn't ask me to put them in the fridge.
     So I quickly start putting them in the fridge, I continue to empty the dishwasher, and proceed to making lunch. Jack just stands there in "MY" kitchen, watching me..and asks if there is anything wrong.? How am I to respond to that.??. I reply with.. "I am fine, but it is a major pet peeve of mine that if I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off and someone in my family has the time to watch me, YES I will be irritated!! So since you can't be of help by watching me could you please leave MY kitchen and find someplace else to stand and do nothing!!"
    But it does not stop there. Now I am a bit frustrated, one because I was not very kind to him,  two, could he not see that he could have been a help "somewhere?", and since i am already frustrated, EVERYTHING else will bother me too (for the moment anyway). So I see the Library books still sitting by the front door, waiting to be taken to the Library (another one of those things that I can only do?) The Netflix movies need to be taken to the mail box. (no one knows where that is?) So I grab the movies, drop them off in the mail, I get the books, put them in my car and look high and low for my flip flops. (so I can drive to the Library) Where in the world are they????? I finally give up and ask Jack if he has seen my flip flops...His response? "oh are these yours?" they are on HIS feet. Why would he wear my shoes when his are 3 sizes bigger than mine!!! Does he not know that he will stretch them out? I guess not.
    I went to town, did my errands, came back, gave him a hug and an apology and continued with the rest of my day.
   He has accepted my apology, and has now gone off for the evening to preach at a local church.
   I love him dearly, it's his actions that drive me crazy "sometimes....
I am sure I am not the only one that has ever felt like this! 

Busy, Busy

     Busy times. So much to do and little time to do it?....Seems that lately we have been busier than we have been in a long time. But it has been good.
     Today was spent going to a parade, Jacob had the privilege of riding God's Mountain Camp bus. Janelle passed out fliers for next weeks Fall festival at the Mountain.
     Then off to a wedding reception for the kids and I, as Jack drove out to do a Rally in a town a few hours west of here.
     Like I said busy, but good.
    I did come home after the reception, allowed the kids to watch a movie and I took a much need rest with a good book. Yeah!!

Good Morning

      It's a new day with no mistakes in it, yet. If I could just keep it that way. It's one of those days that I would love to go back to bed with a book. Rainy and dreary.
     Jacob just came in and read my title, "It's not about me", then he added unless it's your birthday. Ummm, can it be about me on my birthday? I am not sure about that one.
     I am studying a book called "Calm My Anxious Heart."  by Linda Dillow. It is about learning contentment. Chapter two talks about being content with our circumstances. Do I look at my circumstances, my life, in the negative or in the positive? Am I like Paul was when he was in prison, and wrote... Phip. 4:11-13?  Have I learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want?  No. I have failed in this area many times. I am trying to see the good in everything no matter how small or how big the issue at hand is. Why? because it is not about me, but it is about the One who created me.
   I encourage you to memorize Phip. 4:11-13. And hold on to the truth in verse 13, I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. ALL things is All things. Thanks Lord.

Why it it I can't say "NO!"

So I took Jacob, my Bible and some school work (just in case I had plenty of time to kill) to Jacobs first Scout meeting. The Bible never go opened, forget the school work, instead, I volunteered to be a den leader. What was I thinking? I guess I thought if I didn't do it, who would?  Do you ever feel that way? Tell me how  you say "NO!" Don't get me wrong. I will enjoy being a leader. I will put my best foot forward, (some say I am an over achiever) and it will be a good year. But I was looking forward to dropping Jacob off, going back into the car and spending time with my Lord. I guess we will spend time together in the morning, before the kids wake up. Shhhhh....Don't tell them of my plans. Or they will wonder if they are missing out and wake up early with me. :)

Welcome

         Today I have begun to blog. I do not plan on advertising this fact that I am blogging just in case I fail to keep up.
         It has been one of those days where I have spent much of my day running. Janelle had volleyball practice, Jacob has cub scouts, and  we made a quick trip to the newest park in town. Along with every weekday, home school first thing this morning.
         Jack and son Josiah went to the Chiefs home game this evening and son Joel left this morning to head back  to Wisc..
         Your life may be just as busy as mine, a different kind of busy if you have real young ones at home. Or maybe you have an empty nest, yet life still seems busy. Where does the time go. When do I get to sit and ponder on the things of Jesus? Jesus was proud that Mary chose to sit at his feet and listen. Martha, like myself, was too busy getting things done.   
         The laundry, the dishes, the making of beds, picking up around the house, and meals all still need to be done in between the taxing. I am tired, I am ready for bed, and it is only 6:20 pm, I can't go to bed yet. And I still want my time with Jesus.
       So I will take my Bible with me, and as Jacob goes to Scouts I will sit in the car with Jesus, and ponder.