This Christmas, I had a good time celebrating the birth of our Lord together with our family.  I enjoyed receiving many Christmas Cards and Photo Cards, and especially a tender christmas letter, from my Aunt Gloria, detailing their year of sorrow, and yet feeling hope spill over from her every word.  They were often in my quiet thoughts and prayers this weekend.  Many moments, even during the happy ones, I felt my heart stinging with the loss of my cousin Karen here on earth.  But some how miraculously the Lord helped me experience over and over, his Heavenly Peace – even during my decorating and card writing and christmas making.  Usually every year, Christmas is just an added stress or tension in my life.  But this year was different.  I truly felt Heavenly Peace throughout the entire season.

We enjoyed time with the Hudsons Friday through Sunday.  Despite everyones crazy schedules, and several very sick babies, my time @ the Hudson’s was very nice.  Keith’s Mom made her traditional “Shrimp Gumbo” that was delicious!  She also made dozens of cakes and pies and goodies, that I ate too much of!  It is always great to be able to spend time together, and we are really glad we could all be there this year for the first time in a long time. I especially enjoyed watching the kids open their presents, hearing my niece Gabby scream when she opened our present, “Paint!! I LOVE PAINT.”

Keith’s older brother David read the Christmas story, but he went back to Isaiah, and the “foretelling” of the birth, and spoke about “God’s Promises.”  What a GREAT message! I will never forget that beautiful and powerful story that he shared. He is very anointed in the word.

Another favorite moment was going to see Narnia, 3D!!  That movie was awesome!! I’m still thinking about it today.

I’m so blessed to come together as a family and celebrate Jesus.  Keith’s cousin, Eugene, is just out of prison, recently divorced, and newly saved.  His kids helped me remember this year, that not every family has the hope of salvation like we do. His 9 year old daughter Candace told me, as I was braiding her hair that she did not know the Christmas story, about Jesus.  She said, “is that when he dies on the cross?”  So I told her about the birth of Jesus, for the first time.  And she lit up and said, “Oh, so that’s what those things are in the hallway!” Talking about Gloria’s manger scene.   That really touched my heart.  So we went and looked at the manger scene, which has a button that lights up the star and narrates the story of the birth.  She said, “Look at baby Jesus.  Awe, he looks so happy.”   — Again, a moment of Heavenly Peace flooded my heart.

We came home Sunday afternoon, unpacked and took a nap and then went up to moms to begin the Christmas celebration with my family.  Mom had the Halls Decked, for sure!  It was breath taking and refreshing to walk into her beautiful home.  We had our traditional Mexican Fiesta, then read the Christmas story – where Dad passed around his iPhone for all the guys to read a part, and then we all went around the room and shared what we were thankful for.  I’m thankful for my new job that starts next Monday – with an Alabama Adoption organization! I started rambling and crying like I always do about those less fortunate, and the unsaved. {cheesy grin}  While I was sharing, my cute little three year old nephew, Andrew comes up to me and gets right in my face and whispers very slowly, “Come On!” – So I busted out laughing and quit crying.  He was telling me to “come on and come play with him.”  But it sounded like he was telling me to come on, hurry up, we need to open presents already!!  LOL.  Keith shared his short and sweet version “I’m thankful for God, Family, Country. Next.”  ~ LOL.  I love how Keith makes me laugh so much.

We prayed together, remembering  my cousins husband J and the kids and the rest of the family whose hearts are hurting.  It is still so wonderful to have a family thanksgiving time and prayer time, and gift giving time, treasuring each moment more than I ever have.

We had two other big surprises which I will announce later in the week. Stay tuned!  Mom and Dad surprised us all with a Wii for Christmas!  We had a blast with Bowling and Golf.  We spent all day Monday with them as well, and went to see a movie!  The guys went to theirs, and the girls went to the Reese Witherspoon chick flick that was filmed in D.C., while mom kept the kiddos.  Needless to say today, we are now exhausted and 5AM came early for Keith going back to work today.

This week we are taking time to close out the end of the year, and look ahead at the next. Praying, Planning and Preparing for 2011!

Please pray with us for our new business, we are calling it Mosaic Cleaning Services, “the art of precision clean.” We have a mountain of to-do’s before we launch (bank, taxes, business marketing material).  And we are seeking divine appointments for cleaning contracts to happen quickly here in east Montgomery.

We are also starting the Dave Ramsey “Financial Peace University” course in January, with a local church in Montgomery.  So pray also that God will give us the strength and wisdom, and the needed stones that we need to conquer this debt giant once and for all.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We played a game during our Sunday School party this past weekend, called Minute to Win It, a copy cat of the NBC game show.  One particular minute-game was called Christmas Anxiety.  There were 50 multi-colored M&M’s and five color coded cups.  The participants had to place one hand behind their back, and had 60 seconds to sort and order the M&M’s into their appropriate container, only using one hand, and sorting only one candy at a time!   It was madness for sure!  And of course, the ladies won and the guys lost! HAHA!

Yesterday, I went to the Mall in Montgomery and enjoyed Christmas shopping with my grandmother.

However, The MALL + Three Days Before Christmas = real life Christmas Anxiety!

My Grandma is a wonderful deal finder, she is actually the QUEEN of deals!   And at 85 years old, she does not waste any time “lolly gagging around.”  We go in the store, she locates the deal of the century, asks four different clerks if they will be running a sale soon, and decides if we should buy now or later.  She says, “You gotta use your “kidney’s” for these sorts of things” – as she points to her brain.   Her method is completely opposite of the way I’m used to shopping.  Me, I’m the lolly-gagger, coffee sipper, window shopper, muzak listener.  But with Grandma, you must become an on the go shopping queen, hunter of deals, and an ever diligent inspector of bargains.

The M&M game is a little silly, but the intensity of that 60 second rush Sunday morning, was likened to our two hour trip to the mall, three days before Christmas.

This year I really enjoyed decorating our home and putting up a tree.  We lit a few fires, listened to Bing Crosby and drank hot chocolate from our Christmas mugs.  I’m not “Scrooge-ing” out as much as I have in the past, but my visit to the MALL this week, certainly made me see why we have silly games named, “Christmas Anxiety.”

I have been very relaxed and have really enjoyed sitting back and letting myself feel Christmas for the first time this year.  We are still a few days away from Jesus’s Special Day, and I can honestly say I am “sleeping in heavenly peace” much more than ever before.  I just decided that this year would be different.  Even though I would not allow myself to put on the Christmas spirit too quickly (like three weeks before Thanksgiving) I did begin in December thinking about how I wanted to create the atmosphere in my home around this holiday.   Clean.  Beautiful.  Enjoyment.  Celebratory. “Heavenly Peace.”

There were many worrisome faces to be found at the mall that day. Many rushing around creating a busy-mess of the season.  I overheard many long cleansing breaths, and many frustrated exhales across the isle.  Ringing cell phones, and flashing sale signs everywhere grabbing our attention.  For many this is just another difficult Christmas, with a long people pleasing to-do list.  But for me, I had to remind myself that this is no longer my Christmas burden.  Later on in the day, after the Starbucks kicked in, and the fatigue from trying to keep up with Grandma wore off (did I mention she’s a go getter?), I realized how special it was to be able to actually go Christmas Shopping with her this year.  To walk around the mall with her, even though it was crowded, and the parking insane, it was still a wonderful moment where we made a memory.

Just like Mary and Joseph rushing to Bethlehem, nine months pregnant, traveling through the cold night, riding a donkey, just trying to get home on time, I imagine Mary’s thoughts weren’t all peaceful and cozy and happy up on that bumpy donkey.  She probably did not have a whole lot of holiday cheer to pass around to any passerbys.  She probably took a few cleansing breaths her self, and let out a few frustrated exhales too.  ”Will we ever get there, so I can get off this dang donkey?”  - “Is this baby ever going to be born?”  - “He better not arrive before we can find a place to sleep!”

They were just a young little couple starting out, and I’m sure she and  Joseph had a little bit of their own Christmas Anxiety:  The money is tight, nothing seems to be going as planned, and now we have a baby on the way.

Jesus wasn’t born in the most pristine setting either.  Our Savior of the World,  the King of Kings, slept his first night in a manger, in a stable with the animals!  He didn’t seemed too worried about it though.   I mean, haven’t you seen all the sculptings and pictures of baby Jesus “wrapped in his swaddling clothes, laying in his manger?”  He looked pretty happy to be there.

I imagine the Creator of the Universe and the Maker of the Stars took time just before the season too and thought to himself, “Hmm, what do I want the atmosphere of the reason for my season to be?  I think I shall place him in a manger!  In a Stable, in Bethlehem, with two young teenagers, who are not yet married!  And His Name shall be Called Jesus.  Emmanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Prince of Peace!”

So maybe our beloved Spirit of Rush during Christmas is truly a reflection of Christ and his birth, at it’s best!   So that when all is finally calm and our families are gathered in this Christmas, we see the star hanging on a tree, we bring our gifts before the Lord and share them with our loved ones, we can remember everything led up to THIS very moment.  Every mishap, every anxiety, every fear, every worry, every question, every financial strain, is our life reflecting its own personal story of the greatest story every told!

Merry Christmas!

A JennBlog Book Review:

I lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God

by Charles Stanley

Thomas Nelson Publisher

The subtitle:  ”Devotions to Start Your Day with God,” sums it up precisely.  There are 365, one-page, daily devotionals, which are referenced from Pastor Charles F. Stanley’s previously published works (Into His Presence, On Holy Ground, Seeking His Face, and others.)  Each day is equipped with a Scripture Reading Guide, a Key Verse (which is printed for you on the page,) the devotional, and a closing prayer.   It truly is a “devotion to start your day with God.”

When I first opened the box containing this book, the beautiful cover, immediately welcomed me in to it’s theme, “Lifting up my soul.”  It is very serene. My initial intentions were to fly through a few pages, and submit my review by week end.  It’s been more than a month in my hands and now a staple on our coffee table.  The serenity has kept my husband and I both lingering in our daily “soul lifting.”

The book begins with January 1st, and follows with a poignant devotional message for each day of the year.  I’m not much for following the rules, so I often play book, or bible-roulette, picking and choosing which day of the year I will read.  This book has been a power house word for me even with my random method of reading.  I find it speaking the words of the Lord to me, much the same way as when I read my bible.  The titles alone have seemed to jump off the page and the messages have been timely for my day. Even on days when I would need “another” word, it was always there – confirming and affirming my soul.

“I Lift Up My Soul” - has done for me just what Stanley aspired for it to do in the life of its reader!  After loosing my beautiful 34 year old cousin this past summer in a climbing accident, I have found a timely lifting and healing of my soul from adding this devotional to my daily life.   My soul has been enriched, and my day now starts with God.

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Disclosure: BookSneeze provided me with a complementary copy of this book, in return for my review.  The opinion expressed here is entirely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Our cat, Millie, enjoys perching herself up on the fence and looking over. She has jumped over before, but Keith caught her immediately. She just loves it outside, and begs – with loud meowing and crying – during every minute of the waking day to go out. One afternoon recently I opened the back door and let her go out into our fenced in patio yard.  Every 15 minutes or so I would peek out to check on her, still sitting there perched in the breeze watching the leaves.

As I’m inside working around the house, I hear this giant gust of wind outside blowing the leaves all around the yard.  There was something in the rustling wind that caught my attention and beckoned me to go check on Millie.  This time, instead of spotting her bathing in the sun, she was no where to be found.  I looked all around our tiny concrete patio and in every corner, but she was gone.

She ran away!

I opened the gate, and walked around back to see if I could spot where she might have darted, hoping to find her just on the other side of the fence, cowered down waiting on me to rescue her.  She wasn’t there.

Then, the terrifying feeling rose up in me like a flame. All the negative thoughts began befriending me into their circle of doom:

“Oh no, is this the beginning of the story of our loosing her?  What will I tell Keith, my mom, all my friends who know how much we love having her in our life?  Oh. This is going to make me so sad.  Will this be one more thing to make me depressed ?”

As I walked around the block, calling her name, rattling her favorite toy {the one with the frayed feathers and a little jingle bell} – I made a decision. And I answered back to my new found ‘too cool for school’ friends:

“Hey. My answer is NO!

You heard me, No!  My answer is NO.

No, I will not worry about our Millie.

And No, she will not be gone. But listen if she is, NO, it will not make me depressed or grievous.”

{waiving my girlfriend finger snap}

Hey, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, right?

My heart glimpsed a picture of her being gone for a few days, out there in the woods…or even a few weeks…or maybe even forever.  Then I prayed,

“Okay, You know what God? Guess what? I’m going to trust my kitten to your care today. No matter what.”

Immediately as sure as I felt the wind upon my face, a calm went through my entire being.   No fear.  No worries.  Simply an attitude of – “Oh well.  I’m Ok. She’s OK.  Its gonna be OK. God is BIG.  Big enough to know right where she is and big enough to take care of our little 6 month old kitten, Millie baby.”

I texted Keith.  Still.  No worries. Even if he is upset with me.  {shrug} Oh well.

He texted me back, with a God-like calm:  “She’ll be back.”

Even when the damaging whispers tried to question me with their second wave of sharp guilt-arrows, “Someday when you have children, will you be this irresponsible?” – I waived those thoughts off as well just as quickly as the wind, and waived them my second girlfriend finger snap.

“Its going to be OK.” I felt the Lord assuring my soul, as we walked around the block together, God and I.

Back in my front yard, I paused to waive at my neighbor walking her dog.  Standing there, shaking that little jingle bell toy, I spot a little white face peering out at me through the bushes, running to attack her favorite toy!

It felt like a miracle finding her!

~~~Today, the Lord led me though the WIND.  I believe He also led my cat over our fence chasing a falling leaf maybe to teach me just How much he can lead me, if I will only listen to His gentle guidance.

Thank you Jesus, that you care for me.  And that you even care for my little cat Mille. Thank you that I can cast all my cares upon you and that you care for them and TAKE care of them even better than I would.  I love you so much for that!

Saturday evening, we had just rolled ourselves back into town from a FULL filled weekend with Keith’s family enjoying the Turkey, Dressing and a few rounds of “Not yo’ mama’s Banana Pudding” – which I made for the family, special thanks to Paula Dean’s kitchen. We quickly found ourselves relaxing in our cozy stretchy-pants and unwinding with a little late night TV.  Keith was zoning on more Football and I was in our cozy king bed, catching up with Millie (our cat) and listening to the adorable Taylor Swift present her “Speak Now” album on an NBC concert special.

Stretchy-pants + Taylor Swift = my favorite unwind kind of night~

I just love Taylor’s passion and her beautiful, free spirit! Still haven’t bought the album just yet. I’m not much of an “album” purchaser, but I might have to get this one!  I usually buy music like I buy TCBY.  ”A little bit of each please” I like to go to iTunes and purchase 2 or 3 songs from here and there….but rarely an entire collection.

It sounds like Taylor has packaged this one up very well. It feels like a real collection. Which is where most artist have failed me in the past. They might have a great sound but they throw 10 or 12 songs on a record that don’t really flow, or go together. I used to rush out to purchase my favorite artists albums, only to come home highly disappointed because I only like one or two of the songs. “And I paid $15 for this?”

Listening to her unique sound, I realize I can’t really tell what this “genre” is. I do love her sound – but what is it? Is it country or is it pop or is it country/pop/alternative?

That seems to be the same with most music today.  I love  Adele, along with Coldplay, and Sugarland – all, musically unique in their own way.  Even Christian music is brushed with such a broad stroke it’s very difficult to tell what style or type of music it is. So many blended, unique, and beautiful new fusion styles.

Recently, Keith met a friend at a coffee shop, and was introduced to guy who used to be a Christian, but now considers himself “spiritual” and not religious.  And he has opened his thinking to multiple religions and uses the scriptures with a unique “twist” to justify his “new” enlightenment. His philosophy is sort of a blurry blend of this and that.

Last month, we ventured around the block to cast our vote.  “Straight right, straight left, or a little in between?” We are a country who now has to define our party vote based on our personally unique convictions.  It seems there are no more “straight” reps or dems. We are all a unique blend of our own views.

A friend recently asked if we could tell him where the line was for a particular sin that would keep him out of heaven. I really had to ponder that one for a moment. I mean, where IS the line that says “this side heaven,” or “this side hell?” I might like to that one know myself! About an hour later, over a good cup of white chocolate mocha I finally resolved this question in my heart and told our friend that I honestly did not know how to tell where the big “backsliders line” was located.

This is what I do know:  The ONLY line that I can truly draw in the sand, and can truly even attempt to uphold on my own is the one that pulls me deeper into a relationship with Christ. I really can’t concern myself with any other line than that.  What is right, what is wrong, what is sin, what is not?

There are 10 clear cut lines mentioned in the Old Testament, and the top two are clearly spelled out in the New Testament.  Love God.  Love People. If I am constantly looking to get as close to the line of sin as possible “without tripping,” I will surely stumble, and cross over. In fact, I dare say that if I am even looking for the line, I have already stumbled in my heart.  ”Run the race.”  Run to Jesus.

Much like our music genre’s and our new political party lines that have been evaporated, we are globally loosing our foundational sense of purity in areas that used to be so diverse.  In some ways, the change is welcomed and beautiful but in others the change is frightening!

I just think we should guard our hearts that we are not swayed in this change movement.  How beautiful it is on this side, in the garden of firm foundations and age old standards. Love God.  Love People.