A CHISTMAS EVE STATUS REPORT

Lisa uses this status report format on her blog and I really like it. It works well for those extreme days when you either have nothing to say or so much that you can't write just one post. Today is a perfect Status Report Day. I plan to update throughout the day and document every possible moment of the "build up" to the much anticipated - Christmas Day!

Sitting... here laughing my head off at C who sat straight up in bed this morning and instead of his usual, groggy "Good morning, mommy" He yelled out, "Well, Mommy, I guess Santa muss be getting dress!" It's going to be a fun day!

Making... a list, checking it twice. This refers to my final final meal list to be sure I have all the ingredients to prepare dinner tonight and tomorrow. Oh yeah, and making breakfast. That is, if you call cereal bars, bagels, strawberries and orange, apple or grape juice making something.

Calling... L with an EMERGENCY. He had to run an errand this morning, but before leaving got B out of bed and brought him into our room with his paci. Now the poor kid is paci-less and melting down! I abruptly ended a phone call with my mother, because B is screaming louder than I can talk. Whoo!

Bending... the rules to let B have candy with breakfast. I have to keep him happy while I find that paci.

Surviving... Barely. The rapid fire of questions C is already asking me this morning. Like..."When is Santa coming?" and "Is it almost dark yet?" and "Is it dark in China, right now?" and "Does that mean they are already having Christmas Eve night in China?" Can reindeer sit down? and last but not least this: "Uh, Mommy, do you remember that list I gave you to give Santa? Did you get it back? I need to look at it." I can only hope he doesn't need to add something. Maybe he just wants to hold Santa accountable tomorrow morning. We'll see. Hilarious.

Drinking... Freshly brewed Folgers Decaf coffee. Medium Roast.

Reading... My Jesus is Everything, by Anne Graham Lotz. She writes:

"He discharges the debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. He beautifies the meek. He is the key to knowledge. He is the wellspring of wisdom. He is the foundation of faith. He is the doorway of deliverance. He is the pathway to peace. He is the roadway of righteousness. He is the gateway to glory. He is the highway to happiness. My Jesus is...Everything!"

Praying... for those who don't know HIM. That by God's almighty power they will be led into the way everlasting.

Tracking... Santa's every move! like JMOM & Co. over at Lots of Scotts

THROUGH THE STORM

Old news, maybe? You may have seen this already but before yesterday, I had not. I'd only heard about it. If you aren't familiar with the photo, it is the last house standing after Hurricane Ike flattened Gilchrist Island in September. The debris you see around the house was previously a neighborhood! As I read through my morning Psalms, I was moved to print this and place it in my Bible - right there at Psalms 91.

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near you in your tent, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 'Because he loves me' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." (Psalms 91:7-14, NIV)

Please don't interpret this as my saying the folks who lost their homes on this devastated island were wicked. I am simply saying "See what God can do!"

THANKFULLY FREEZING COLD

Yesterday was the official first day of winter. This morning's temperature was a freezing 18 degrees. You wouldn't know it by today, but the place we call home is sometimes called HOT-Lanta, so we Georgia Peaches are well, um, adjusting.

Even my little B had a hard time thawing out this morning. He must have sensed it was a cold day, because he just wanted to cuddle with his favorite pillow, in his favorite chair and spend the day doing this:




However, we ended up doing something more along the lines of this:



Bundled to the max, on this chilly second day of winter my heart is flooded with thanksgiving. I thank God for the warm house that he woke us up in this morning, because truthfully, before we saw the news we had NO idea it was THAT cold outside. Afterall, it was a toasty 74 degrees inside.

I thank God for our warm home, I thank HIM that we have a home. I thank HIM that once we received the news of the low temperature, we were able to proceed to our closets and pick from a variety of long sleeved shirts and coats to keep warm. After preparing the boys breakfast (I thank HIM that our pantry is full), Dad went outside to warm the vehicles and we headed off to our schools and jobs.

I do not take for granted ALL that God has given us - a warm place to sleep, food to eat, clothes to wear, family to love, vehicles to drive, caretakers who eagerly and lovingly receive our children each morning and jobs to work. He is truly my Jehovah Raah - Lord The Provider. I give HIM all the praise and glory for his gracious provisions (spiritual and material) in our lives. Thank You Lord!

A PRAISE PARTY

Oh, how I wish I had pictures of the fun we had tonight.

While Dad worked to finish some projects on his '08 "honey do" list, the boys and I retreated to their rooms for some good old fashioned fun. After a few games of football (seven touchdowns) and Bob the Builder, C decided we should sing. He selected two songs and with that, "sing time" turned into an all out praise party! The two "favorite" songs he selected were, #1: "Get Up" (Mary Mary) and #2: "I Know Who I Am" (Israel Houghton). He can really belt out this part of "Get Up":

"What are you afraid of? Don't you know what you're made of? One of God's greatest creations!"

Both songs are a part of our Praise and Worship at Children's Church on Wednesday nights, so he is very familiar with them even though he is sometimes too shy to fully participate in the group excercise. However, I saw tonight that even though he is somewhat reserved at church, he KNOWS the words, GETS the concepts and LOVES the Lord!

I pray constantly that the Lord manifest himself through our family and through our children and I am seeing that prayer answered everyday. Tonight was yet another chance for me to witness God moving and it warmed my heart. Just watching C jump around praising the Lord while belting out the words with everything he had was a blessing. I must say, it even gave me a few songs to sing and one in particular came to mind:

"There may be things I do not know. There may be places I cannot go. But if there is one thing I know. Yes God is real. For I can feel. HIM in my soul!"

Praise God! G'night

A MARY CHRISTMAS

The story of two sisters who welcomed Jesus as he passed through their town, can teach us a lot about cherishing HIS presence. It is particularly appropriate as we move towards the last days of holiday shopping and preparations; It becomes so easy to turn our focus towards minor details and miss the opportunity to concentrate on the real cause for celebration - Jesus Christ.

As translated in The Message, the scriptures detailing Jesus’ visit with Mary and Martha read as follows:

"As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. 'Master don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.' The Master said, 'Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it - it's the main course, and won't be taken from her.'" Luke 10:38-42 (The Message)

Wow! Poor Martha scurried with every ounce of her being to make sure she was the "hostess with the most-ess," for Jesus. However, she missed the opportunity to sit before HIM. Could this be you this week or next week as Christmas Day draws near? I have been there for sure. However, with only seven days left in the Advent season, this passage is a timely reminder for us to stop and enjoy the presence of Christ in our lives. There is so much to thank him for. Resist the temptation to get drawn into the usual last minute frenzies that include things like running back to the mall to balance out the number of gifts you got Person A and Person B, or worse yet, because you realized you spent $100 dollars more on Child or Cousin A than Child or Cousin B. Maybe your frenzy includes stress over the number of green vegetables relative to the number of starches on the menu, or cakes versus pies or China versus paper plates. Whatever's driving your anxiety, take a minute to release it and choose NOT to sit at the head of the table or the base of the Christmas tree next Thursday(exhausted of course!), without having sat in the presence of our Lord and Savior this holiday season. Like Mary, sit at HIS feet, hang on to/meditate on HIS Word and HIS promises and well before the presents are unwrapped or the turkey is carved, receive your "main course," and the gifts that cannot be taken away.

Thank God for the gifts he gives all year long. Thank him for his only Begotten Son, thank him for the gift of eternal life, the gift of abundant life and the gift of salvation. It is easy slip into the preoccupations of Martha, but I hope you’ll join me in these last days leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in being more like Martha’s sister and resolve to have A Mary Christmas, because guess what? Jesus is visiting your home too!

God Bless.

READING THE SIGNS

I was reading my round of blogs last night and ran across a posting on "most memorable church signs." I've seen some really thought provoking ones over the years, but committed little to none of them to memory. But here are some from people who did:

"No God. No Peace. Know God. Know Peace."

"Sign broken. Come Inside for Message."

"Pray Until Something Happens."

"Don’t Make Me Come Down There – God."

"Need a lifeguard? Ours walks on water."

"Stop, drop and roll won’t work in hell."

"If you don’t believe in God you better KNOW hell doesn’t exist."

"Soul Food served here."

"Staying in bed shouting, “Oh God!” does NOT constitute going to church.”

"God answers knee-mail"

"Got faith?"

"Praying. It does a body good."

...and one I managed to recall:

"God invested in you. Have you shown him any interest?"


Okay just a few more (source)


"Does life stink? We have a pew for you!"

"What kind of person does God use? Details Sunday at 11:00 AM"

"Many who seek God at the eleventh hour die at 10:30."

"Prayer. The Best Wireless Connection."

"Cars are not the only thing being recalled by their maker."

"Swallowing pride will never give you indigestion."

"How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-Smoking?"

"Come in and let us prepare you for Finals."