Wishing you a..

Merry Christmas..

What happens..

..when you don't come wipe a 4 year old fast enough?

He takes matters into his own hands, of course..

 

Just in case you were wondering.. :)

Thirsty..

is what I desperately am.. 

Not for Water.. Not for Wine..

But for a deeper relationship with Christ. 

 Ever since returning from our LONG and unexpected trip to California/Arizona I have had quite a few moments in my days/weeks in being home and re-settled- where I have felt so very spiritually dehydrated. Warn Down. Hopeless. So easily tempted and consumed by Satan's lies...  I am utterly amazed how quickly I can allow Satan to take up residence in my mind- reeking havoc on my thoughts, my actions and my outlook on life.

A dear friend recommended a book to me a couple weeks ago called Thirsty. I ordered it from Amazon and have been reading in it the past couple nights.  The author (Amy Nappa) takes "The Woman at the well"- a story I have read over and over again and she turns it into something so much deeper than an outcast, sinful samaritan woman needing living water.  In reading this book I am realizing (again)that-

I have been longing to meet Jesus more deeply..

that God waits for me in the most unexpected places of my life..

God knows me better than I know myself..

God goes out of his way to wait for me to meet him and to enjoy him.. 

God cherished me, the one for whom he waits. 

and that I have the choice to meet him- 

no matter where I am in "my" personal agenda- He waits..

With that I will leave you with this-

John 4:1-42

Family Traditions..

Looking at that old classic picture I drifted back to when things seemed simpler and slower. When Family Traditions where acted out each and every year and not just talked about.. When the joy that filled the air was based more on what people felt for each other instead of the- getting or receiving of things!  

....... Moments instead of the Things .......

For the last couple years now Dale and I have been trying very hard to take the mindset of Santa, Santa, Santa and re-focus the boys on the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

 The pressure to buy, buy, buy is insane. 

And in all the rushing and wrapping I admit there has been a time or two where I have lost sight of why we even have such a holiday to celebrate in the first place. My hope is that one day Dale and I can take the boys on a Mission trip for Christmas and show them how we can be blessed by serving others without getting material things in return. 

Until then we will have a little fun, get into the holiday spirit a bit.. 

And build some of our own very special Family Traditions.