A "BIRTHless" Birthday"

Dear Friends and Family,

Don't you just love the Holiday's? Don't think this is depressing, I certainly don't consider it so...But my precious Dad made his Heavenly entry the day after Thanksgiving, and my Mama graduated just a few days after Christmas. How could I feel sad, when all my Mama asked for that Christmas was to "dance all over Heaven?" Heaven must be like one big long unending Christmas...............maybe "The Hallelujah Chorus," huh?

I think everyone enjoys a good birthday party, don't you? Cake, punch, goodies, balloons, decorations, gifts, laughter, fun, friends, family, and MOST important of all........the Honoree! That special someone to whom we are giving gifts of love and appreciation. The "birthday man or woman, girl or boy....." All eyes are focused upon this one. All attention is given to this one. All events surround this one.

Now I've never been to a birthday party where the "birthday person" is absent. Would seem a little strange I would think.

So..........how does one have Christmas without Christ? I find it interesting that our society is constantly attacking the Ten Commandments in the government places, prayer in our schools and elsewhere, Nativity scenes on public sites, but.......... No one has suggested that we "do away" with Christmas. That's obvious isn't it? Greed seems to be the central gear that turns our society. No merchant that stands to benefit from this season would want to dispense of it. So let's just rename it! Anything........but CHIRSTmas.

CHRISTmas would be acknowledging His very existence, and the heart of sinful man really squelches at that.(They forget every time they write the date they are say,"Hey, you guys, Christ CAME!")

So let's have a birthday party.......let's give gifts to everyone else, let's party big time. let's give all the glory to man, let the good times roll.............all without The Person, The One who came, who died, who gives life, and all good things to man.

Seriously, what will you and I do? The American Family Association put out a list of Christmas friendly stores and Christ opposed stores. This boycott is already apparently having some affect. The Gap store is presenting a "counter attack" TV commercial, a generic Christmas. Their rap reads thus:

"Two, four, six, eight, now's the time to liberate!

Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanz, Go Solstice

Go classic tree, Go plastic tree, Go plant a tree, Go add a tree!

You '86 the rules, you do what feels just right,

Happy do whatever you wanakkuh, and to all a cheery night.

Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go whatever holiday you wanakkuh!

Did you notice? Gap compares Christmas to Solstice? Solstice is celebrated by Wiccans who practice Witchcraft! Gap also encourage you to "'86" or "dismiss" traditions and "do whatever feels just right."

I'm not indicating that all families have to have a "cookie cutter" Christmas. Individual traditions are what make our families so special. Neither am I proposing that we "force" folks of other religious persuasion to celebrate Christmas against their will. But what's with this? I don't see a mass attack on other faith's core beliefs or celebrations......

Okay, so here my heart does a mighty crescendo! I know why! Because He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! Why is He so hated, so attacked? Because, just as He said, one must either bow or surrender to Him!

If one doesn't choose to bow, how about just trying to "stamp Him out?" Guess what? Society has been trying to do that for 2000 years, and Christ just "marches on!" He continues to live in POW cells, ICU wards, in homeless shelters for battered women, in the "fox holes," in the hearts of "common" folks, the rich the poor, bringing hope to the downtrodden, the widows, the fatherless, the debased, the condemned, the aged, the helpless, the hopeless..........

Christ in me, in you,.............in Christmas!

King of Kings, Lord of Lords! And He shall reign ... forever and forever!

Celebrating His Coming!

Linda

Avon's 50th Birthday Party

On Saturday, we had Avon's 50th birthday party. It wasn't an "over the hill" party, but one in which we as family and friends tried to show her how much she has blessed our lives.

(Please ignore the dates printed on these photos, the camera was set wrong.)

We used the theme of the '60's. We tried to especially include things that were part of Avon's childhood memories......

Joe did two boards of her life with photos, certificates, etc. Really beautiful. I found it interesting that Avon's 3rd grade report card mentioned even then that Sis was so sensitive to the feelings of others.

Joe gave a special reading that he wrote honoring her. We showed a dvd of her past years titled, "Thank You for Giving to the Lord."

Family and friends had sent in letters of love and appreciation which we scrapbooked for Sis.

Amy made the cake and topped it with Avon's favorite childhood candies.

Old fashioned cokes, Nehi's, cracker jacks, mallow cups, moon pies, serving bowls made from old lp records. Checkers, pick up sticks, jacks, tinker toys, and Lincoln logs.......

Avon spent hours playing with her little Pee Wee Dolls when she was little. We found this one at the Emporium.

After about 4 days of Hurricane Ida, God ordered a "party perfect" day for us. We were able to use our deck and were able to play outside games. Everyone had a ball playing "corn hole."

Avon is so loved by young and old.

Ken and Kathy came attired in '60's fashion. Ken, the Beatle, Kathy...the flower child!

It was a beautiful party. We appreciated this special occasion, honoring a most special person, our dear Avon!

Thanks to everyone who came and to everyone who had part in making it such a wonderful day!

That I Would Be Obedient!

A poem written by Melinda, my almost 11 year old grandaughter.

"That I Would Be Obedient "

Oh, Lord, that I would be obedient
Always trusting and going your way.
That I would learn to be reliant
Leaning on you from day to day.

Knowing your goodness,
Choosing my path,
Choosing the right way,
Not just to escape your wrath.

If I should do wrong,
Show my wrath.
Jesus help me,
Guide me on my path.

Knowing you love me,
Knowing you care,
Knowing you hear me,
Knowing you're there.

If I should fall
For a thorn in my thigh,
I know you'd be there,
Right by my side.

I am content...
That if I die,
In your bosom...
I shall lie.

Jesus I love you!
I know you are near...
You sent your son for me
And that's why I'm here."

Just A Few Catch Up Photos

Okay, I know this looks as though we're rushing the holidays, but..........

Jon does so love Christmas! It's always so much fun just watching him. His Christmas village takes so long to put up, that he likes to put it up early enough to make it worthwhile. The grandchildren also really enjoy it.

This week it took him several hours to bring it all in and unpack it. After the kids got out of school, Amy's family all came over and helped put it up. Papa separated the many small figurines into groups to go with the various displays. After Amy and Jon got the groups in their proper places, the grandkids were allowed to place the figurines around them. He placed the candy store and toy store on the bottom shelf for little JB. Erica enjoyed doing the farm and stable. Little Buddy another shelf. They had so much fun.

This picture just can't do it justice. It is so beautiful, and we've already enjoyed it so much! We're just kids, aren't we?

Saturday on our way into town, Amy, the kids, and I stopped at a couple of yardsales. I found this nice snowman collection for just pennies!

One day last week Amy rearranged my spare bedroom and cleaned it thoroughly. I was so happy, I decided to dress my Lee Middleton doll up for Chistmas and put in on the bed.

And now on a different note, today Hurricane Ida decided to bring high winds and heavy rains to NC. The 35mph winds tore our tarp roof off our deck and shredded it all over the yard.

Jon and I had to wind up going out and fighting the wind to get the rest of it down. It got really challenging. Whew!

This has really been a hodge podge of news, but such is life. Maybe the next will be better.

For Future Generations!

Traditions........ this is the time of year that we probably think the most of them, isn't it? Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I'm not able to do with the younger grandkids so many of the things I did with the older ones. But a few days ago, I remembered one of my favorite childhood memories........ ironing leaves with my grandmother, my mom, and my children. I decided I could do this with the grandkids.

I don't normally like to post pictures of myself. But I wanted these pictures taken for each of the grandkids, for their memory books. We had so much fun!

There are lots of our family traditions that I hope our grandkids will continue to pass on. They sort of give us "family identity," don't they?

Most of all, my prayer for my family is that they will forever find that "Our God is an awesome God!"

"Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord!" Psalm 102:18

Our Just "Deserts?"

God does not treat us as our sins deserve(Praise His Name!), or repay us according to our iniquities.......

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him:

As far as the east is from the west,..... so far has He removed our sins from us! (Whew.....how far is that? I sat by the window this morning and watched the sun come up over the Eastern sky...... I looked into eternity......That far? Okay, okay, so some of you remember my past, so do I. I wish I could forget it too. But, guess what? God doesn't remember it! PTL!)

God has compassion on His children(that's me). Now, this part is surely just for me......

God knows how we are formed , He remembers that we are dust. How keenly I feel this!

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children (Oh, God this is my prayer!),
with those who keep His covenant (our part) and remember to obey His laws.

Praise the Lord, all my soul, and all that is within me, Praise His holy name! Psalm 102

Wow! What a way to start a day! Hope yours is great as well.

God is Always on Time!

Is this a miracle? You decide, I know what I think!

Yesterday, I stopped at a yard sale with Avon and Joe, trying to finish up my Christmas list. I did get two incredible gifts for two of the grandchildren, for only $2 each. It was a lovely home and the lady had a Gateway computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse for sale. It was a 2000 Windows xp. She had used it up until two weeks ago, when she had updated to Windows 7 on a new computer.

The grandchildren had been using a "dinasaur" and many of the educational programs I found for them were just not compatible. I was interested and when she told me $25.00 I got excited. I called Jon and he said to get it.

Of course, it has the big bulky monitor, but for $25........ who cares. Jon Abram set it up, cleaned it up, and got it going for me. It doesn't have a wireless, but we turned the living room rug and ran an internet cord under it. Worked great! The monitor is bright and clear. The kids old one was soooooo grainy.
Joanne flew to Indiana this past week to see our sister, Pam. I loaned her my camera and begged her to take lots of pictures for me. I felt I was missing a third arm this week without my camera(now you know why no blogging.). Sis came in last night and I was so excited to download the pictures of her trip.

Guess what? My laptop crashed. Big time. We couldn't even bring it up with the recovery discs. Thank God, I still have 11 months left on my extended warranty! But the last time they serviced it, it was gone for 6 weeks........

So.........the day I get my $25 computer, my laptop goes zonk! So right now, I'm fumbling around on the larger keyboard and mouse, trying to get used to it! But hey, folks, I'm still here!

I was able to download my photos, web album them and email them. I was able to watch the Hobe Sound service via Internet on my large clear monitor.........

Okay, You decide.................as for me? Thank you, God!