A Little House Christmas

When our sons were young, I loved to read stories to them. At Christmas I had special stories I would read to them each year. One of them was a chapter from Little House On The Prairie - Santa Comes To Little House.

Laura Ingalls and her sister, Mary, were worried because the creek was swollen and they were afraid Santa Claus wouldn't be able to get to their house and bring them presents.

But to their surprise, there was a knock at the door and there stood Mr. Edwards, frozen from crossing the creek to get to their house. He told the girls he had met Santa Claus in town and Santa was too old and fat to cross the creek, so he asked Mr. Edwards if he knew the Ingalls and if he would mind delivering their presents to them.

And what humble gifts they received. In their stockings was a shiny new tin cup for each of them, a candy cane, a little cake with real sugar on top of it that Ma had made, and at the bottom of their stockings a shiny new penny.

And yet they were so thankful and happy about these few little gifts that they had received.

 

My sons were always worried that one day I would lose my mind and we would have a Little House Christmas and that is all they would receive for Christmas. It was always funny listening to them.

 

Usually at our church, our church families bring in gifts for the children in our church and we have a big Christmas party for the kids and they get to open the presents and they are really nice presents.

 

This year, our church decided to do something different. In Durham, NC is the Durham Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter. It's a wonderful ministry that tries to reach people with the gospel, to give them hope and change their lives.

Our church asked the kids in our church to buy a present for a boy or girl in the Durham Rescue Mission who probably wouldn't even be having a Christmas. You should see our Christmas trees at our church. Piled up underneath are toys and sacks of non perishable items for the Rescue Mission. It is amazing.

 

Most of us couldn't imagine not receiving a Christmas present. We are so blessed.

I think about how sometimes we can be disappointed because we don't receive that present that we thought sure we deserved and had to have. I know I'm the same. I couldn't imagine not having Christmas.

 

This Christmas remember whose Birthday we are celebrating and by giving the gift of love to someone else, we are giving a gift to Jesus.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS"

 

I Want To Be A Steel Magnolia

A steel magnolia is a woman who is strong and independent, yet very feminine and gentle.

 

I never wanted to be one of those helpless women who can't handle situations that come my way.

Today when I went to get in my car at Walmart, my tire was flat. Inside I kept telling myself, this happens all the time to people, I can handle it. So what do I do - I called Neal, trying my best not to start crying.

And of course, I wasn't thinking. Neal said, "Mom, you are at Walmart, they can probably fix it for you." Why hadn't I thought of that on my own. On the inside I wanted to start crying and let someone else worry with it. I didn't want to be responsible for getting a tire fixed.

So I drove around to the service center at Walmart and I needed a new tire. It had a nail in it, plus the tread on one side had wore down and thread was showing. The man showed me how bad it was. I don't know about tires. I know you have to put air in them sometimes and sometimes you have to buy new ones.

And then you always worry about being took advantage of because you are feminine and gentle.

But it all worked out and I have a brand new tire.

 

God was watching over me. That was the amazing thing today.  I will be traveling soon to see family and friends in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. I'm so thankful, that my flat tire happened while I was here in town and at a place where I was able to have it tooken care of. God had kept me safe. What a wonderful God we serve.

Psalm 121

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,

and even for evermore.

 

 

God's promise of His love and care over us.

Christmas Tradition

I always get excited about the first Christmas card I receive for the year. It is like looking forward to something special in the mail and finally it arrives. It says to me, "Christmas is here."

As you know, I am too nostalgic. I still have Christmas cards from family and special friends that I have saved throughout the years. One of my most special Christmas cards is  from my Grandma, "Mammy."  It was mine and Jerry's first Christmas and she had written a three page letter and included it in with the Christmas card that she sent us.  I still have it.

And when I was a little girl, I can still remember Bing Crosby singing, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas with every Christmas card I write."

As I sit here making out Christmas cards, I hope the tradition of sending Christmas cards never fades away.

I love you and hope everyone is enjoying all the many traditions of the Christmas season.

 

And please don't forget the most important part of Christmas - the birth of the Baby Jesus. His birth has changed hearts for over 2000 years with the love and the hope He brought.

 

 

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

December

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." - James Matthew Barrie   December, the last month of the year and most celebrated month of the year. You can see and feel the excitement of the children. I still remember my first Christmas after I was saved and understood why we celebrated Christmas. I'm so thankful for Jesus and His love to me. I know it's a busy month, sometimes stressful. It can be a lonely month full of memories from the past. I always pray that I'll always remember the reason for the celebration. Because of that little baby born on Christmas day, I know I have a hope that only comes from Jesus and the miracle of that first Christmas.   December   December slips in all covered in snow, And enjoys her stay while the cold winds blow. December is a month that we hold dear. And as she departs, we begin a new year.   We cherish each memory that she leaves behind Memories that are part of our hearts and mind. December gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow And erases hurts and banishes sorrow.   And all the joy and comfort she brings As we echo the words to the songs that we sing. For December is the month of a great celebration. For it's the birthday of a baby who would give us salvation.   - Patricia Rice

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The other day I felt like I needed just to get out a little bit. I drove over to Kohl's looking for clearance and sales. Instead of finding any good clearance, I had walked into a Christmas Wonderland.

I thought maybe this Christmas wouldn't be as hard on my emotions. But it seemed like every Christmas ornament and decoration caused so many memories and nostalgia to enter my heart and mind. And to add to all of that Christmas music was playing - Bing Crosby singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." That's all it took. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I went home without buying anything.

Kohl's wins the award for knowing how to pull on your Christmas heart strings.

 

I do love Christmas. I love every Christmas song that's played, every Christmas movie, the lights, the Christmas trees, ornaments, the food of Christmas, family getting together, celebrating Jesus' Birthday, and the spirit of Christmas.

 

The best part of the holidays are the children. I see their faces and hear their laughter and watch their excitement and wonder what is going through those little minds.

 

When my youngest son was around 3 years old, one Christmas he put a bow on top of his head and climbed under our tree and said  he was our present. I still remember thinking that if I never received another gift in my whole life, him and his 3 brothers were the best gifts I could have ever been blessed with.

 

And during this month of Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for all the many blessings that God has given me, especially my salvation.

 

 

Psalm 86:12

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart:

and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

 

When I Get To Heaven...

One of my favorite things is helping every Sunday in Children's Church. I love singing the songs, listening to the preaching, and being with the boys and girls.

One of the songs we sing is -

 

When I get to Heaven, gonna walk with Jesus.

When I get to Heaven, gonna see His face.

When I get to Heaven, gonna talk with Jesus.

Saved by His wonderful grace.

Because I'm saved, saved, wonderfully saved.

Washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Saved, saved, wonderfully saved.

And I'M SO GLAD I AM.

HALLELUJAH!

Every time we sing this song, I think of a Bearing Precious Seed missionary by the name of Carlos Demarest who is now in Heaven. On our first missionary trip to Mexico, we went down into Mexico on a bus with over 20 other missionaries, preachers, Bible students, etc. Carlos Demarest was in charge of the trip.

It was amazing watching him and his love for the souls of lost people. I'm sure there our  countless people in Heaven, because of Bro. Demarest's testimony, witnessing, passing out tracts and Bibles, and preaching.

 

The reason this song always brings back memories is when we were on the trip and stopped to eat somewhere, we would sing this song in the restaurant before we prayed and ordered our food.

 

Also, one of Bro. Demarest's favorite sayings was "Praise God! and shame on the devil!" He was a great influence in my husband becoming a Bearing Precious Seed missionary. I'm sure Bro. Demarest and my husband had a great reunion in Heaven.

El Paso, Texas 1986
Getting ready to go into Mexico on our first mission trip. Jerry and I are the
"young" looking couple on the front row on the left.
Behind us is the old bus we traveled on down into Mexico. We would stay
down in the country for about 3 nights and 4 days. The women would
sleep on the bus and the men would have to sleep anywhere they could find.
Also we had one toilet on the bus and we were in a country
where you couldn't use the water or eat the food.  Carlos Demarest's wife, Martha, would cook our meals on the bus.

But what a blessing!!
We would go into the little villages where maybe one building would have electricity. We would run an extension and show "The Burning Hell" in Spanish.
So many people would come forward at the end and give their hearts to Jesus.
Great Memories.
 

Moving Day

After a lot of prayers, I decided I needed to move to a new home.

I knew that financially it would be a good decision, but I also  felt I needed new surroundings.

Moving is always hard. Especially the older I get. My body isn't as strong as it use to be. In my mind I can do anything, but physically, I didn't know my body could hurt so many ways.

 

As with each home we lived in, there were so many memories. As I said good-bye to the old house, I thought of the last couple of years. I always try to think of the good times. I remember laughter from grandchildren, Sunday night parties, having friends and relatives visit. I remember the special time that Jerry and I shared together before his home going.

 

I am so thankful for all of God's wonderful blessings and for all the people who helped me move.

 

This was the 19th time to move in my lifetime. That's a lot of moves.

 

One day I'm going to move and I'm not going to have to pack or worry about getting rid of anything.

I'm going to leave that job for my family, because I'm going to be moving on up.

 

My forwarding address will be Hallelujah Square. What a great moving day that will be.