It’s a late start for me, but I’m actually finally in the full Christmas spirit! Sure, I’ve had my Christmas music going in the car for a good solid month now, but the time when things really gear up each year (like this past week) has just been amazingly busy and I have felt rushed, behind, unsettled all week. But, tonight, I got my tree decorated and my stockings hung by the fire and I’m just watching hallmark movies and having a great time!!

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to celebrate Christmas and not get sentimental regarding my grandmothers, Ruth and Pauline.  Grandma Ruth left me a wonderful gift when she passed, the handmade ceramic nativity her mother made. I love these pieces and I always set each one with care.  Granny Pauline LOVED Christmas. I actually think that’s even an understatement! It was a time to gather her family together and to just love on everyone. There is a red bell on my tree this year that made me cry when I hung it, just remembering the red bells I used to help her hang in preparation for the holidays.

I don’t know what Grandma Ruth’s favorite Christmas song was, but I think one of Granny’s favorites is “Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”….one not so many people know.  The lyrics are beautiful and the melody sticks with you. Granny, you had good tastes!  I can hear her now sitting beside me at church saying, “I wish they’d sing some Christmas songs today…. that’ll do (when we got to this one).”  And she would sing and sing and tap her foot and smile. Oh, how she loved Christmas.

Anyway, here are some lyrics for you (just one verse and one chorus) and a link for your listening pleasure.

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O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

O beautiful star the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains ’til the break of dawn
Into the land of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on

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I just realized over the weekend that I let an entire month pass without a blog… we’ve been pretty busy around here and I honestly haven’t even given it a thought. But, honestly, I also haven’t been giving daily devotional time much thought lately either.It’s almost like a trade off lately: spare time for prayer or spare time for Word. I’ve been doing a lot of praying lately.  But when I haven’t been sitting down and diving into God’s word, how can I hope for insights? Sure, God is still all around me, but I see him so much more clearly, just his hand in everything, when I’m truly in talking with him daily by reading my Bible and hearing what he has to say to me each day.

However, I did hear what my pastor had to say at church this week. His sermon was appropriately based in Thanksgiving and one of the verses he used was from 1st Corinthians 1:31 — “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”  I really like this verse b/c it reminds me that whenever I’m thinking I’m thankful this week for all I have— a husband, a daughter (a beautiful one at that), a family, a church family, a job, a career that I enjoy, a house (a mortgage), cars, etc– that I don’t think I got all of it myself. I didn’t give myself ANY of this. Short of the grace of God, I would have nothing!  Everything I have is the outcome of working out my faith/salvation/righteousness with lots of prayer, praise and thanksgiving!

Thanks be to God for the abundance of blessings we have this year. Thanks be to God for all of you who are my family, friends. Thanks be to God even for those of you reading who are strangers. Let me tell you, God loves you and wants to richly bless your life as well.  Chasing the references down in my Bible from 1Cor 1:31, I came across Psalm 34. I’m posting the whole thing for you to read. Sure, it’s lengthy, but worth it! Trust me, I haven’t said or heard many great things this week, but this is helping to remind me to be thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Psalm 34:

¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
¹² Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
¹³ keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
¹⁶ but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
²⁰ he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²² The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

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So, it’s only Challenge #2 in my attempt to complete 12 physical challenges with community awareness attached and already I am backing out. Tomorrow would have been Challenge #2 day. There are no great events that I really felt wonderful about giving to this time. I know that sounds petty, but I don’t want my energy and money to go to just anything, only a great cause.  So, in lieu of driving over an hour for a “so-so” cause this month, I am still going to complete my physical challenge by walking laps in the mall (with Emily in the stroller) while Robbie runs some errands. (And I don’t plan to spend any money, so be gone, Gymboree!)  On another note, I have been doing better in my other healthy self-challenges and hope to continue to do so.

Here’s an updated pic of ladybug though, just for kicks and giggles….

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  7mo9

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  7mo15

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