Visitors

Ahh..  This past weekend was Christmas.  I absolutely love this holiday, although some years I love it more and some less.  This year I loved it more.  I was way behind schedule on all of the things that I think should be done, but really it doesn't matter if I don't get everything done. 

One of the things I usually try to do is bake a lot of cookies and candies.  I remember watching my Aunts WeeWoe and Alma bake cookies.  I remember the year my aunt Alma died and going to visit Wee Woe who lived with Alma.  It was a Sunday morning, and I went to her house between services while waiting for Katie and Julie to finish Sunday school.  She always had church music playing on her radio and this day was no different.  The only thing missing was Alma.  I remember watching Wee Woe rolling out dough for cut out cookies, but the sadness in her eyes was heartbreaking.  There were lots of tears in those cookies that year.  Even though she was mourning, Christmas was still coming and she was going to be ready.  I really believe that Christmas was sad for her a lot of her life.  Her grandmother was buried on a Christmas Eve in 1930.  I can't imagine what that must have been like. 

Which brings me to thinking about visitors.  It seems that Christmas has a lot of visitors, the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary and Joseph, Mary visiting Elizabeth, angels announcing the good news of Jesus birth to the shepherds, the visit of the Magi.

I think back to this weekend and all the visitors I had at my house.  I loved having every one of them, and wish they could have stayed longer.  But I also wonder what it must have been like for Mary.

Imagine being a young girl around Erin's age and having an angel tell you you're going to have the Savior of the world.  I asked Erin what she would have said if that was her and she said something to the effect... "I don't think so"...  but I guess that is why she nor really none of us were chosen.  Anyway, Mary had great faith and was truly honored to be chosen.  I really think God has a sense of humor though.  Imagine being in a very crowded and noisy city finding no accommodations for the night, being so close to having a baby and having to ride out to the countryside to await your baby's birth.  And then being visited by, of all people,  SHEPHERDS!!! Really!!! But God is so good.  Shepherds are just ordinary people like we are, and Jesus came to save ordinary people. I imagine Mary was pleased to have some visitors.  She probably wanted to share her Son with everyone, and these men came to her to meet her child...and then again two years later being visited by the Magi.

What a wonderful gift we have been given in our Savior Jesus Christ!!!!

Merry Christmas to all of you ... thanks for visiting me.

Thankfulness

THANK YOU!!! 

Words I never use enough.  Most things I take for granted and truly don't thank people the way I should.  So on this day of thanks, I would like to thank everyone in my life who has made it so special:

My husband Brad -- Thank you for 33 years.  For being here when we all needed you. 

Katie, Julie, and Erin -- what can I say?  You girls mean more to me than life itself.  My heart literally bursts with love for you girls.

Joe -- for making me laugh and making Julie happy.

Shadow, Sam and Yadi -- my three favorite dogs who bring so much joy to me.

My parents -- even though my dad is with Jesus, my parents made me who I am today.  Thank you for teaching me the importance of faith so I have someone to walk with me in my daily life.

My sisters -- even though we have different ways of dealing with life, I remember the laughter and memories we had as children.  I love you both with all my heart.

Nieces and nephews.  It was so fun to see my sisters in you.  I love all of you and now we add your sweet children to the mix. 

My sweet aunts Alma and Wee Woe.  I miss them so much. Their gentle ways of handling all that life gave to them made an impression in my life.  I miss their cooking and remember the times I spent at their house overnight.  Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to bring a lot of their memories into my traditions.  The cookies, pies, and love that they put in each celebration shaped me more than they will ever know. 

and mostly,

Thank you Jesus for loving me and saving me.  You are the One that gave me everything!!

Table centerpiece

Erin and her beautiful pie crust

Katie and Sam

Very pretty

Julie and Shadow

My beautiful daughters

My silly daughters

EASTER!!!!

Alleluia!!! He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!!!!.

Happy Easter.  This is by far my favorite holiday.  All fear, and hopelessness is gone.  We are forgiven, and saved and have the free gift of eternal life.  I love Easter.

We went to church and then ate lunch and then spent the day just hanging around.  We drove by the storm damage and I am truly thankful for being spared.  Prayers need to go out for those that weren't.

Anyway, next week is a big weekend for us.

The story continues

Easter Eve.

Today the mood is definitely lighter.  Yes last night was a horrible night, but it is amazing how many folks are reaching out to others to help with storm cleanup.  What a great city I live in.  Now today is different from other years.  Usually I am scurring around to make food and get ready for Easter, but since Erin is getting confirmed next week, I don't have much to do today.  I am having a meal, but it will just be me, Brad, Erin and Joe.  Julie has to work and Katie will be coming next week.

I also am going to church again tonight, but this service is really neat.  We go outside and light candles and then process into church.  The church is so beautiful.  Where last night was dark, cold, evil and stormy, tonight was better.  The cross was adorned with a gold and a Crown.  The Crown that no one can take from me.  I got to sing in the choir tonight and even saw Julie, as she was on call and didn't have to go to work.

I love this service.  Tonight Hope... stay tuned

Wow.  I know it has been awhile since I have written anything, but the past few weeks have been super busy.

So lets get started.

Good Friday. -- What a day this is.  Jesus' death.  This day really makes me cry, especially since I had a lot to do with him dying FOR ME!!!.  What a Savior we have that he would totally do this for all of us.

The day started out like any other, but as the day went on, I could tell it was going to end badly.  The weather was extremely hot and humid for April.  The air was so oppressive you could feel the moisture.  We went to church that night, but as we left for church, the tornado sirens were going off.  I find it extremely unnerving to be in a car when that happens.  It just plain scares me because if a tornado swoops down, you have absolutely no where to go.

So we get to church, and the service is one of my favorites.  The alter is striped so no adornments are in church.  Just a cross with a black drape and a crown of thorns, THE crown I helped put there and seven burning candles -- one for each "word" of Christ. Our service usually has a lot of solemn hymns and slowly the candles get extinguished and the room gets darker.  Only this night it was eearie.  The sky outside was pitch black, and you could feel the evil lurking around and the lights were flickering.  It was just an evil night.  In the middle of the service I heard the sirens go off for a third time, and realized this was definitely not good.

One of the ushers stopped the service and we were told to evacuate to the basement for safety.  We finished the service, but by then everyone's nerves were shattered, and the moment of darkness was lost.  I was just glad to come home and find that 1.  I had electric; 2, my father-in-law, who was recovering from surgery and staying with us was safe, and 3. our neighborhood was spared the tornado. 

Other member of our church were not so fortunate, but the amazing thing was that not one person died or was seriously injured.  I truly believe that God was watching over our city and spared everyone.  Houses and cars can be replaced.  So on that Good Friday, Jesus died...but read on.