Till He Come

Lately my days are filled with just getting done what HAS to be done.

Inspiration and Creativity have departed for warmer climes.

I so wish I could have gone with them.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 19 about a man giving talents to his servants and telling them to 'occupy till I come'.  Occupy did not mean to sit back idly as the one servant did.  It meant to work, stay busy, do the ordinary life things, make increase, etc.  Just till he came back.

He didn't tell them how long he would be gone.  Neither did Jesus tell us how long till He returns.

But the parable applies.  Occupy 'Till He Come'.  Go about daily life.  Even if it means just getting done the things that are absolutely necessary and nothing extra.  Brighter days will come.

We heard a quote recently at church: 'If all you do in this life is praise God then you have done what you were intended to do'.  So if I can just praise God even in the midst of winter I am doing all that is required.  (along with cooking, laundry, school... just keep praising Him along with all the things that are needful)

Till He Come.  This too shall pass!  He is coming again and heaven will be our reality! That is reason enough to praise Him!

Christmas Pageant

My girls and my niece and nephew performed a Christmas Pageant for us.  It was quite cute and quite amusing.  Doncha just love where the quilt landed??!!

There were plenty of giggles:)

They really did a great job and it was delightful to watch.  They even have a curtain made out of a rope and shower curtains that they talked their Grandpa into putting up for them last year when they did this.  Amazing what Grandparents will do:)  So thankful their Grandparents are so involved in their lives and enjoy spending time with them.

I'd share more pics here but as you can probably tell my camera is not getting any better.  And santa didn't drop a new one off here.  If I can get any more of my photos edited to the point they are viewable I will try to post more.  But now I'm off to spend time with my Sister while I can!

My Brother left today:(  Sniff Sniff.  I miss him already.

"Away in a Manger no crib for a bed.  The Little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head!"

~He's Everything to Me~

In the stars His handiwork I see, On the wind He speaks with majesty. 

Tho' He ruleth over land and sea, What is that to me?

What is that to me?

'Til by faith I met Him face to face,

And I felt the wonder of His grace,

Then I knew that He was more than just a God who didn't care

That lived away up there and now He walks beside me day by day,

Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,

Helping me to find the narrow way,

He's everything to me.

He's everything to me.

I will celebrate Nativity, For it has a place in history,

Sure, He came to set His people free, What is that to me?

What is that to me?

'Til by faith I met Him face to face,

And I felt the wonder of His grace,

Then I knew that He was more than just a God who didn't care

That lived away up there and now He walks beside me day by day,

Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,

Helping me to find the narrow way,

He's everything to me.

He's everything to me.

                                       ~Ralph Carmichael

Legend of the Poinsettia

'The Legend of the Poinsettia'

Maria and Pablo lived in a tiny village in Mexico. Because Christmastime at their house did not include many gifts, Maria and Pablo looked forward to the Christmas festivities at the village church with great joy and anticipation.
To honor the birth of Christ, the church displayed a beautiful manger that drew crowds of admirers. Villagers walked miles to admire the manger, bringing lovely, expensive gifts for the Baby Jesus. As Maria and Pablo watched the villagers place their gifts in the soft hay around the manger, they felt sad. They had no money to buy gifts for their family and no money to buy a gift for the Baby Jesus.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo walked to the church for that evening's services, wishing desperately that they had a gift to bring. Just then, a soft glowing light shone through the darkness, and the shadowy outline of an angel appeared above them.
Maria and Pablo were afraid, but the angel comforted them, instructing them to pick some of the short green weeds that were growing by the road. They should bring the plants to the church, the angel explained, and place them near the manger as their gift to the Baby Jesus. Then just as quickly as she had appeared, the angel was gone, leaving Maria and Pablo on the road looking up into the dark sky. Confused but excited, the children filled their arms with large bunches of the green weeds and hurried to the church.
When the children entered the church, many of the villagers turned to stare. As Maria and Pablo began placing the weeds around the manger, some of the villagers laughed at them. "Why are those children putting weeds by the manger?" they asked each other. Maria and Pablo began to feel embarrassed and ashamed of their gift to the Baby Jesus, but they stood bravely near the manger, placing the plants on the soft hay, as the angel had instructed.
Suddenly, the dull green leaves on the tops of the plants began to turn a beautiful shade of red, surrounding the Baby with beautiful blooms. The laughing villagers became silent as they watched the green plants transform into the lovely star-shaped crimson flowers we call poinsettias. As they watched the weeds bloom before their eyes, Maria and Pablo knew they had no reason to be ashamed anymore. They had given the Baby Jesus the only gift they could--and it was the most beautiful gift of all.
Today, poinsettias are a traditional symbol of Christmas, thanks to young Maria and Pablo and their special gifts to the Baby Jesus. -- By Stephanie Herbek

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A Delightful Glow

Click the link above.  You will be glad you did.
Merry Christmas.



"Christmas is love tugging man back to God with the powerful clasp of a tiny hand reaching out from a bed of straw."


This quote is from a Christmas card my parents received years ago.  I remember my Dad using this in his preaching when I was just a wee lass.

Story of the Birth of Jesus

An angel told Mary that she was going to have a special son from God. Then the angel went and told Joseph. Then Joseph got upset because- well I'm not  sure why- and then they got married.

Then Caesar Augustus charged taxes and everybody had to go where they were born. So Joseph and Mary got all their stuff packed and went to Bethlehem for the taxes. And they needed a place to stay. So they searched, like, all Bethlehem. But then they found a man that said there was a stable. So there in a manger, er, a feeding trough, I guess, baby Jesus was born.

 And on the hill there were shepherds tending their flocks by night and behold an angel came to them and told them do not be afraid for baby Jesus was born and this will be a  clue to you-he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then a multitude of angels began to sing glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill. And so they went and seen baby Jesus and then they went and traveled everywhere telling about the good news, right?

And in the east three wise men were following a star to see God's king, er, to see baby Jesus. And when he was about two or three years old they got there and presented their gifts to him. But then they went away really fast because Herod was wanting to kill baby Jesus. Fortunately he did not kill baby Jesus for a long time.

This was an English assignment done by my nephew.

you can find his mom's post here.

The Reason for the Season

Decked with Christmas Cheer

Cupboard in the dining room.  So fun to add Christmasy stuff to what was already there.

This year my cloche got stuffed full of vintage ornaments.  I wanted to go all silver but that cloche is BIG!  And I didn't have enough silver!

Tiny reindeer - thanks to good ole w@almart!!

I have a funny little 'thing' about old science lab stuff!

Old perfume bottle.  This was mine when I was but a wee lass!

And the reason for the season!  JESUS is why we celebrate!

To HIM who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.

                                                       Jude 24&25

Jude was my Bible reading this morning.  The last 2 verses just sang to me!  How could I not fall on my face before Him and praise Him!  He who made the earth, the planets, the sun, the stars, the whole universe and everything in it - then He made us. Knowing we would sin.  He knew before hand!  And He created us anyway.  AND He masterminded the plan of salvation, sending His SON to die for us.  All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and follow Him.

And He will present us WITHOUT FAULT to God the Father, our creator.

Truly, how can I not praise Him?

Picture painted by Akiane Kramarik when she was 8 years old.

I first saw it in the book 'Heaven is for Real'.  I beg you to buy and read this book.  It is truly amazing.

Food Praise

I am part of a food exchange that started a couple of months ago. This is the chicken pot pie we got. Isn't this a neat way to put vents in the crust? We all thought it was great, and it tasted great too!

The Reason for the Season.

I bought my Fontanini starter set about 7 years ago and I've never regretted the almost $200 price tag. The detail on these 7 1/2 inch figures is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. The wise men, drummer boy, donkey, and 2 shepherdesses were gifts over the years from my Mother. I still have several pieces I'd like to add someday, but there is always next year. (and if there isn't next year it won't matter anyway!)

One reason I picked this size was because the baby Jesus actually had clothes on instead of just a strip of cloth across him. Also I really like the way the baby comes out of the manger. The stuff the figures are made of isn't breakable so my children can handle it without Mom saying "don't break it!" When we first set it up it is hard to keep it all on the cupboard, someone is always playing with it.

The Shepherdess with the goose, 'Deborah' is a favorite. She has actually been in some display in my house since I got her for my birthday last may. Isn't she beautiful? I doubt she will get stored away in tissue when the others do, I just have to keep her where I can see her. That is 'Miriam' behind her with a sheep in her basket.

Three wise men and the drummer boy. I've loved the 'Little Drummer Boy' song ever since the high school students sang it at our school Christmas program when I was just a little girl.