MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010!

Luke 2:11

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

In just a few short days we will all celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas comes faster and faster every year it seems.

How busy these last few days have been. I’ve been getting up in the morning and making a list ( and I hate making lists, haha) so that I wouldn’t waste a single moment of time in order that I might get everything done. I know that in just a couple of short weeks, the time of each day will again stretch out in front of me and I will search for ways to fill it….but for now I have had to stick pretty close to my list. But the good news is, I think I might actually be almost ready. I still have a couple of items that are still dribbling in from my on-line shopping which will have to be wrapped of course, but other than that and just little grocery shopping I am actually ready for Christmas. I still want to do a little baking, but that is no big deal to me and if necessary can always be eliminated as there is always soo many goodies that can just be bought of course.

My hubby celebrated his 59th birthday last Friday. He has begun his “count down” year as he calls it, haha.  It is hard to believe he has reached such a milestone. He remains strong, healthy, (and as good looking as ever if I do say so myself) despite the number of years he has racked up, praise God, haha. I was thinking and praying last night before I fell asleep just how blessed I have truly been by this man. What a gift from God he has really been for me. We are approaching 36 years together and we still enjoy each other so much. He is ALWAYS there for me. There is of course no such thing as a “perfect” man, or “perfect” mate, or “perfect” father, but he has come so close to that for me over the years, that at times I have felt almost guilty over my good fortune, and I thank God for him every day, and ask that He might bless him with MANY more years here on this earth.

Yesterday I took my niece Katie, and my nephew Blake, and my granddaughter Lindsey to see the GIANT Christmas light display out by our old house in spite of the fact that we are about to float away over here in Southern California! I don’t remember the last time it has rained and rained like this. 4 straight days in a row and I am hearing we still have 3 to go…Puddles of rain and mud are everywhere and I have to say that I am getting a little tired of the gloom. But in spite of the SLOW crawling we did FINALLY get there and back.  The fact that ¾ of the houses were NOT lit up (I am still wondering if we were just too early ~ it was only around 5:30… Or maybe all the rain?) or the fact that when we stopped for dinner and hot chocolate afterwards and were told that they were OUT of hot chocolate (who runs out of hot chocolate?) didn't change the fact that we had a wonderful time. We even just started laughing when the waitress told the kids there were no cherries for their hot fudge Sunday desserts, lol. Just the kind of night it was in some ways; but how I enjoyed myself. We talked A LOT about that first Christmas when Jesus was born at dinner. The girls especially dwelt a little on what that must have really been like for Mary to ride a donkey at all, let alone ~ WHILE IN LABOR ~ and after days and days of travel as well, only to find out there was NO place for them to stay. And then to have to have her baby in a cave that was used to hold animals…without any doctors or nurses or midwives, or without even her mother. How hard it all had to have been.

Luke 2:7-8 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Blake seemed to dwell more on the shepherds in the field having REAL angels suddenly appearing and filling the sky and singing and telling them all that the Savior of the world had been born! How scary that must have been at first!

Luke 2: 8-10  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

And yet even with all the “human” drama going on, a real miracle was happening as well. Thousands of years later we are still celebrating that night, and that birth, and that life, and that Savior. He has been born that we might have life….doesn’t get much better than that.

My Melly and her hubby Mike are on their way to California even as I type this…YAY….How I am looking forward to them being able to spend Christmas with us. I have not seen that face of hers for almost 3 months now and that is a LONG time for this mama. How I have missed her. I am so glad they were able to add another day to their trip. They will spend some time with Mike’s family too of course, and some time with their friends as well, so the extra time helps a lot. I don’t share her very well I will be perfectly honest. When she comes I want her to spend ALL of her time with me. Seems perfectly reasonable don’t ya think? Haha Though truthfully it is hard. I STILL have a hard time dealing with the fact that she lives soo far away from me. But it certainly does make me appreciate the times we do all that much more. Christmas day our whole family will gather once again under our roof and it has been a while. My hubby makes a REALLY good prime rib and we ALL enjoy it soo much. My mom and step dad will join us for the day as well and that just makes everything complete. How blessed I am.

This last year was a difficult one and yet one that brought about much growth and a greater dependency on Him. I have learned so much about the “need” for trials and tribulations in our lives. Yes, I did say “need”…for the hard times. For without the hard times we don’t appreciate the good as we should and we don’t learn of the real blessing that comes from a life TOTALLY dependent on Him. I pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas with those that you love, and may we all remember those around us who are struggling and suffering through this season. May they see the light and experience the hope and peace that comes from a life that is totally sold out for Him. May we be His hands and feet this season that they might experience His love. MERRY CHRISTMAS my blogging friends. How you all bless me so!

Luke 2:13-14  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"