Snowglobes and Christmas villages

Two of the things I enjoy about Christmas are Snowglobes and Christmas Villages.  There is something almost magical about the idea of life in "miniature".  I have had a Christmas Village for over 20 years.  It started out as 4 buildings as a gift from our neighbor that would fit on our piano, and now is a thriving village metropolis of about 16 dwellings with lots of people, and all the trimmings!  It takes me days to put it together, to place the people, and I really get into this life "in miniature!"  The same with snowglobes;  I would love to shake the snowglobe and end up in the middle of the snowy wonderland! Maybe I watched too many Hallmark Christmas movies.....not sure!

I have heard people say that God is standing over us watching us like miniatures in a village or a snowglobe.  I definitely don't agree with that.  I don't think He is shaking us up to see where we will land, or that he is moving us around, knocking us over,  placing us where He thinks we should go.  Although He is our creator, He is initmately involved in our lives, He is with us in the snowstorm, or in the tiny village, He is not only hovering above us, He is with us and is as close as our very breath. 

I am not preaching this, I am pondering this...I am claiming this.  His proof that He is with us in the snowstorm, or the tiny village is that He has sent his Son to us, to live life with us, to be born in a village, to grow up in a village, to be scorned by people, to suffer shaking in a violent storm and to die in a village.  I am ready to claim Emmanuel, God with us! God near us!  Come, Lord Jesus to my village, the Village of my heart! Join me in my village, walk with me through the snowglobe of my life!

Oh come oh Come Emmanuel!

                    

Thanks

Time to say "Thanks" with a heart full of gratitude first, to my Lord, and next, to my family for so much, here are just a few things, but, bear in mind, this is only scratching the surface:

How grateful I am for an awesome husband, who loves me no matter what! He is home base for me throughout all of my life.I can never imagine one day outside of your arms.  I am sooooo blessed to have the love of my life with me everyday!

How many blessings can one have in a lifetime?  For three of the most amazing children, for their unconditional love in my life. 


For their fabulous choices in mates.  How marvelously you have increased our borders!  What beautiful women you have chosen!

For a fabulous granddaughter who lights up a room and brings unspeakable joy to our lives!
For Jeffrey who is on the way, Can't wait to see you!

For the privilege of being in a life of ministry.  Where serving Christ and others is our calling.

For an amazing Davis Family..the family of my birth.  Thanks for my roots. Love you all

For our friends and families of our hearts.  The special people God binds our hearts with!

For employment.  For the chance to minister and serve earch day.  Help me always to be grateful


With Gratitude and Joy,

A grateful daughter of the King

Two ears, one mouth...

I've been thinking this week about all the wisdom I (we) that work with children impart on a daily basis! But do I ever take any of it to heart?  Hardly ever, okay?

So here are some of those jewels that have come back to haunt me, lately:

1.  "You should listen more and talk less, because God gave you two ears and one mouth!"

2. " Sit up straight"

3. " Don't be ugly to her, she didn't do anything to you, now did she?"

4.  "If it is a tattle, Don't say it!"

5.  "Smile, it is so much easier to smile than to frown!!!"

6.  "Since we are feeling grumpy today, let's just stop what we are doing and dance!"

There are also things I wish someone would say to me:

1. "You need a time out!"  I think just 10 minutes with my head down would make me feel better!

2. " It's time to lie down and take a nap, you have played really hard today!"  how nice that would be1

3.  "If you sit really quietly and follow directions, you will get a treat! "  I love treats!

4.  "You did a good job eating everything on your plate!"  Yeah, like I need to hear that one!

5.  "Do you need a potty break?"  Why yes, I do!

6. "Come here, a hug will make it all better!"  Of course it will!

7.  "Let's sing Jesus loves me, He really does, ya know???!!!"


From a little box chair, at a little computer stand in a little classroom with little children!  Have a wonderful, blessed,childlike day

Time to retreat......and paint!

What an awesome weekend, we had!  Lots of things I needed to do, lots of things I should have done, but instead, I painted furniture.  Outside furniture, inside furniture, stripping, painting, sanding!  It was so therapeutic!  I even painted our name on the mailbox! Kinda scared me that I had this much of an energy burst.

The best part of it all has been working on a project with my hubby.  There are always things we have to do, or need to do, but this was just a project that was fun...No stress, just the joy of being together.  We are refinishing my parents dining room table. My parents got that table when I was five. It survived my childhood, hosted family meals with their children and grandchildren, meals with my children and grandchild and is still as strong as ever.  It has survived countless moves, a flood and is still strong and sturdy.  It is special to me.  For 45 years that table has been a part of my life.

SO......................... 

The ironing will get done tomorrow, the floor will get mopped Tuesday, but by the end of the week, we will have a lovely reminder of family, those present, those not, those in heaven and those around the table...With a Thankful heart, I will smile.

Tis the season to slow down and give Thanks, it took a silly table to get me to do it!

Lemons, lemons, Lemonade!

We have three Lemon trees in our backyard that are just full of lemons! How cool is that? I have never been too successful at growing anything, and here we are growing lemons!  We have lemons on the counter, in the refrigerator, made bunches of lemonade, I have given them away, and there are still more on the trees!

It makes me think...this beautiful yellow fruit is in crazy abundance, but only for a season.  Am I bearing fruit in my life, but only for a season?

 Trying to pick them is deadly!  I never knew that Lemon trees had one inch thorns all around the fruit.  I guess it is God's way of protecting them until they are ready to pick. Does He protect us in our less than useful days from harm and ruin, until we are ready to be useful for Him?

 By themselves they are really hard to eat, but when placed with other ingredients, they are wonderful!  I could drink sweet tea with lemon all day long!  Are we meant to add flavor and color and enhance the lives of others?  Are we meant to be a garnish.... Not the main ingredient? It gives me something to think about, maybe some of us are simply meant to make others shine, and that is okay!

As I said, they are not very tasty by themselves.  They need a little sugar, or sweetener to be absolutely tasty! I know that by myself, I am anything but sweet! I need the love of Christ, and the support of Godly people in my life to make me useful to him, otherwise, I just leave a sour taste for those in my presence!

Thank you Lord for the abundant reminder of your presence in my life to day!

So, pucker up and live abundantly today, I will!  

Richard

Happy Birthday (a little belated) to the eldest of my 4 nephews. I can hardly believe you are 44.  How did that happen?

I remember your life in flashes:

You were born and I was an aunt at 6.  I thought you were my baby when you would come and visit!
I chased you around until I passed out, Mama said!

I remember the smile daddy had when you came back from fishing with him! And you had a pretty big one too!

You are a really good big brother, You and Jon were the best of brothers, even between scuffles and brotherly fusses!

I remember taking you to the movie, just to hang out.  It seems like just yesterday, but then I saw TRON had it's 30th anniversary remake!

I remember you moving away and was so sad, but happy for you at the same time.

The rest are glimpses, visits, seeing you as an adult, seeing you as a dad, seeing you as an older nephew to my boys, and always seeing your humor and insight into our family and my life...I treasure your friendship and love

And just like your Mama, you are not defined by your age.....

You may act all crusty on the outside, but you can't fool me! ya big softie!  I love you, Rich!

Love,

Aunt Heather

calling the absent-minded!

Okay, so yesterday started out like any early morning...got up, got ready, got in the car, I was half-way to work, reached in my purse for my cell phone and I pull out the remote to our TV! How did I do that? The remote is at least 6 inches longer, and looks nothing like my phone!

I have the remote with no TV, and my phone is at home and can't change the channels..ugh!

That did not bode well for the rest of the day!  I was just half a step behind  all day after that.

How does a person do that?  Next time I feed the dog, I'd better check her bowl.. I might feed her the cat!

Next time I put on my shoes, I'd better make sure I don't have on the boxes!

The list of possibilities is endless!

So far, this morning all is well. My phone is in my pocket and the remote is on the couch!

Lets hope I don't drive the lawn mower to work!

Have a great day everyone!