God's Gift

Christ-mas Blessings to you,

The "W" in Christmas

This is still one of my favorite Christ-mas stories!!!!

Hope you enjoy!

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's Winter Pageant.

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his Teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row - center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, as she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And, I believe, He still is.

Amazed in His presence....humbled by His love.

Merry Christ-mas,

My Dearest Readers and Followers!!!

Places to go....

.....people to see!!!

For the next few days...like most of the rest of y'all....we have lots of things we've gotta do....just like my title says....places to go and people to see!!! 

I'll be cooking and we'll be eating 2 big meals in one day on Christ-mas  Eve!!!
(no wonder people.....I.....gain weight during the holidays). 
Then....we'll be having our Christ-mas celebration with our kids and grandsons on Christ-mas Day. 

So....I said all of that to say this....I'll be back next Monday.  I'm gonna take a bit of a break to enjoy Christ-mas with our families.

I'll leave you with what I read on a church sign earlier this week:

Jesus is the Reason for the season.

So...don't "X" Him out of Christ-mas!!!

Christ-mas Blessings to each of you,

Up on the housetop.....

Up on the housetop workers climbed

To install a new roof by Christ-mas time

Off with the old and on with the new

The color's growin' on me....how 'bout you?

If you follow my other blog....Jeremiah 29:11....you know that we had to get a new roof. 

Well....as in most things....God had a plan!! 

We wound up going with a metal roof....because it has a 40 year warranty and I'll be 95 by then....and because that's what Pappy has always wanted....and....Pappy also chose the color!!!

Wanna guess what the color is?

What's one of my favorite birds?

Oh, besides owls, of course!!

Yep...our new roof....is....

CARDINAL RED!

(the actual color on the chart is "rustic"....
how fitting, right....since I love all things rusty!!!)

Any-who....here's a glimpse of our Christmas present....to each other!!! 
And, I just realized....that with a CARDINAL RED roof....you really don't need to do much more Christ-mas decorating!!!

Merry Christ-mas!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

Vintage Christmas Monday

This is the last Vintage Christmas Monday that's being sponsored by

Joan at Anything Goes Here!!!

I'm not sure how old something has to be before it's considered "vintage"....but....today I want to share these snowflake ornaments that were given to me by a lady I used to work with.  She never decorated at Christ-mas time, so she asked me if I wanted these ornaments.  I've never actually hung them on my tree because they are so small...and I truly didn't want to loose them.  I knew they are Hallmark,  because they are still in the original box, but I didn't know what year.  Upon a bit of research....they were made by Hallmark in 1977 (same year Pappy and I got married....which I thought was neat, too!!!)

Anyway....out of curiosity I checked on e-bay to see if I could locate them....and guess what?  I found 2 sets....both were "buy it now"....and one was NINETY DOLLARS!  Now folks...that's a lot of $$$ to this old lady!!!

Okay...enough chatting...here are the precious little snowflakes!!

 

Christ-mas Blessings to each of you,

Happy Birthday, Little Bit!!

Today is our baby grandson's second birthday!!! 

He is such a sweetheart....sometimes, out of the clear blue, he'll just say "love you". 

He loves to "pay"....if you ask him what he's doing....he's always "payin" (playing). 

He's adorable...cuddly....loveable....soooo handsome....and he's so very precious to his Pappy and Nannie!!!

(he has chocolate on his little mouth....takes after his Nannie with his love of chocolate!!!)

Christmas Blessings to you,

I love commercials!!

Have I ever told you how much I love television commercials?  I probably enjoy them more than most of the actual shows!!! 

Anyway....this is my favorite this Christ-mas time....because....this little girl reminds me of myself....so full of guilt....over every little thing!!!

ha! ha!

Christmas Blessings to you, 

Healthy Holiday Tips

It might be a bit late for some of us to ward off those extra holiday pounds that seem to creep up on us every year between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day!!!

But...if you'd like some "Healthy Holiday Tips"....check out the blog of my newest blogging friend, Rebecca. 

She has several blogs about topics that are near and dear to my heart.  She's been featuring

"Healthy Holiday Tips"

on her blog "Power, Love and Self-Control".....so.....if you get a  chance...check out her ideas!!!

Christmas Blessings to you,