Reading

We started reading in the evening after dinner (but before going to bed). Loy reads one of the biographies we have while I work on some sewing project or other hand work that I have. It's very enjoyable. Right now we are reading about Robert Murray McCheyne. He was a man who desired holiness. He said, "Lord make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made." As the unholiness of his pleasures became more apparent to him, he wrote an entry in his journal, "I hope never to play cards again."

As much as I desire to be holy (set apart from the world for God), I realized that it is nothing compared to the desire this man had who wanted to redeem every moment unto God and to spend his life serving people and preaching the gospel. After spending an evening "too lightly" he writes, "My heart must break off from all these things. What right have I to steal and abuse my Master's time? 'Redeem it,' He is crying to me." And on another occasion he writes, "If nothing else will do to sever me from my sins, Lord send me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers. It must always be best to be alive to thee, whatever be the quickening instrument. I tremble as I write, for oh! on every hand do I see to likely occasions for sore afflictions." Do I desire to be THAT holy and dedicated to God and His kingdom?

Convicting...

Friendship tree

I made a friendship tree!

I went through all my ornaments and separated all the ornaments that friends and family have given me and I had the idea to find a little tree (at the thrift store of course) and make a friendship tree. I looked at several thrift stores (over 3 or 4 days) for a smaller tree and they were all way too expensive. They wanted 30 dollars for them! Also, they were too big. I found a nice white one with pastel colored lights at Salvation Army for 15 dollars which was more than I wanted to pay. I was looking to get one at about 10 dollars at the most. Upon inspection of the tree at Salvation Army I found that it was broken and wouldn't work so the next day I tried a thrift store I rarely go to and found this cute little white tree for only $4.95!!! I was so happy! I finally got around to decorating it today and I also fixed my favorite earrings which were broken.

The tree we got on the 5th is downstairs with water in it but it's not decorated yet. We will (hopefully) decorate it this weekend. I have a lot of cleaning to do and we have several activities coming up. Julie and Adam FINALLY got the keys to their first house and will be moving in this weekend so the cookie making extravaganza will be postponed. We also have two birthdays and a TKD Christmas party and a baby shower for Laura coming up. Lots and lots to do the next couple of weeks! Here are some pictures of my friendship tree, my earrings, and other decorations around the house. Can you see the ornaments you have given me???

I hung some old fashioned ornaments on my chandelier

My earring

These are my new favorite decorations the velvet ornaments with beads and stuff on them

Miscellaneous decorations

The friendship tree

I can't believe it!!

I have all my Christmas stuff down AND we got a tree on Saturday the 5th!!! Now THAT is some sort of a Christmas miracle for me! I am looking forward to my sisters coming over on Friday and Saturday to make cookies. The cookie making is usually done at my Moms but she is away this year so it's up to us to accomplish this huge undertaking. I'm not sure that even 4 sisters can accomplish what one amazing Mom can do. Let's see if I can even remember all the cookies she makes...

peanut butter balls

russian tea cakes

cream cheese cut out sugar cookies

little crescent things with a nut in the middle with powdered sugar all over it (can't even remember the name of this one!

peanut brittle

peppermint bark

ginger bread cookies (mostly for Daniel I think)

That will be another Christmas miracle if I can ever do it all like she does!

My sister Julia does a really good job I think she can make just about everything my Mom makes so she will be our COOKIE MASTER on Friday and Saturday. Annika, Valarie, and Laura may come too. I can't wait!

Saying Goodbye to Santa

When our kids were young, we pretended that Santa brought some presents. He even put his own signature on the gifts he gave. We didn't want to lie to the kids and make them think Santa was real. We knew that if we did that, the day would arrive when they would realize there is no Santa. They might then wonder what else they had been taught that was also a lie. So we told them there was no Santa - but we all pretended there was (strange logic, I know). I still have Santa ornaments and figures. My very most favorite is a Mr. and Mrs. Santa kissing couple. It is the cutest thing ever! But, this year we are saying goodbye to Santa for good. I know I could someday teach Grace about good ol' St. Nick and his love and generosity. But I feel I have no time for this as I now know first-hand how fast children grow into adults. We have so little time to teach them precious truth. Christmas is about the birth of the Savior. It's about the redemption of God's people. It's about the arrival of the King and His kingdom. It's about God's love and His generosity (His grace). When I watch Grace grow up, I want to see the sparkle in her eyes when she comes to understand God's redemptive plan and the huge sacrifice He made in giving His only Son. I don't want her to be self-absorbed with thoughts of, "What will Santa bring ME tonight?" How to do this, I'm not sure, yet. But, I know it begins with saying goodbye to Santa - even the cutest ever kissing Mr. and Mrs. Santa! It continues with putting actions with my faith and going out of my comfort zone with people.

I know it has a lot to do with these verses in Philippians -

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:3-8

Grace won't have the warm memories of the secular Christmas music I grew up with nor the "fun" of anticipating Santa, so she won't miss our old traditions (we'll just create new ones for her!)... It's me who has to let go of these things! I don't know yet what other warm memories and traditions we will develop in place of Santa. I have some ideas, but it will be an adventure to see where the Lord leads us. For now we will keep the tree and stockings, but Mr. and Mrs. Santa will go. Stockings are kind of related to Santa aren't they? Hmmmm.... That may be the next thing to go, but not this year. Joey and David are 14 and 15 (although they look like 17 and 18 year olds) but they love stockings like 6 and 7 year olds! I would still want to do candy and fun presents but put them in something other than a stocking maybe? How about a manger? Would that be weird? I don't know, we'll see...

I'm excited to discover the new traditions that I know the Lord will teach me by His spirit. It's hard to say goodbye to comfortable things which have warm memories. But, as Paul says in Philippians, "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13a-14).

Grace

I had an appt. today. Everything looks normal and good. My fibroid didn't grow much at all so that's good. I have felt weak and tired all day. I took a long nap and forgot to bring David to piano. I have to leave to bring Joey to TKD now. I'm feeling Grace move allot more now. I gained 8 lbs the last 4 weeks too, Yikes!

I need to live to be 200 to catch up.

You won't believe what I did tonight....I worked on cutting out more applique pieces for Benjamin's quilt......He's 3 now.

I also worked on a couple lavender strawberries of Julie's that I am giving her for her birthday....her birthday was in April.

Baby Grace is on her way!

I had an ultrasound at 19 weeks. There is really a baby in there! And... She's a girl!

Grace: an unmerited and undeserved gift or favor bestowed by God