Our Christmas Morning

Trey greeted everyone Christmas morning with this festive hat that declared it to be his first Christmas. He was thrilled. Can’t you tell?

 He made it through the opening of all his gifts and then fell off to sleep and napped until mid-day.

The girls commanded the morning first thing after breakfast with a little Christmas Program. Love played jingle bells on her violin and together they sang several Christmas songs. They had their Dad read a passage out of the Bible about Jesus’ birth and the program was closed with us all singing “Silent Night” in unison.

 

 

It blessed my heart that the girls delayed tearing into their presents so that through their program we could sing and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas to start off Christmas morning.

They printed off programs, made a sign, and a mini-stage to stand on. So creative!

An Amazing Love Story

We had such a wonderful, awesome, beautiful, and most blessed Christmas. While I know that my blog readers will want to see pictures of our day with the kids opening their gifts and our little man's first Christmas, I can't help but write about a love story that has been touching my heart for sometime now and stands out in my mind this Christmas.

God's greatest gift to us this Christmas and everyday is surely his Son, Jesus Christ. When you think about the story of God taking on the form of human flesh in the form of a baby, in many ways that is a paradox. He was born to the virgin Mary, in the most lowly fashion amidst animals and placed in a feeding trough. This is all opposed to common sense and yet to the believer, its true and we believe it through faith that comes from Jesus Christ.

There's another love story on my mind this Christmas, much like the one of Christ's birth, that fills my heart when I think about the love a particular man has for his dying wife. I was able to meet the husband in person, but was never fortunate enough to meet the wife but her life, their marriage, and their whole love story has imprinted my heart.  Tracey lived her life as any other would, as a painter she painted birds and other varying animals. For several years leading up to 2011, she was seeking to know how God was going to use her life more and more for His glory. Unexpectantly, on July 21, 2011, Tracey was rushed to the hospital after having a series of seizures only to learn that she had brain cancer. A picture of health she looked to be before learning this news, only to find out that she had the most aggressive and malignant of brain tumors.

To the average person, one would think that this diagnosis would be the most awful and depressing end to someone's life. But, for Tracey and her husband the story doesn't end there. The paradox in all of this is the love her husband has had for her as he chronicles their journey together and their love and reliance upon a sovereign, loving, faithful, and unchanging God. The Bible tells the Christian to rejoice in suffering. As one does this, God is glorified as the sufferer seeks Him only for healing and strength through the midst of it all.

While we opened gifts Christmas morning, Tracey was in the hospital. The day after Christmas as I struggled to put together a Barbie dream castle, Tracey was released as the doctors could do no more and her husband made preparations to begin hospice care.

God has been so merciful to me and my family this Christmas and I thank Him for this couple's walk with Christ. The way in which they have walked with God in the midst of their struggles warms my heart and reassures me that God never changes and while life is hard, and painful, and seems unbearable, His Word assures us that He will never place anything on us that we (with Him) cannot bear.

Their story is a paradox. Their adoration and praise of God in the midst of extreme sickness goes against the natural reaction to turn from a god that would allow this to happen. Their love for each other contradicts the fleshly nature that is inclined to run when suffering enters our lives. I love a good love story. Even more so than that, my heart melts to see this unique commitment between a bride and his wife.

Christ (the bridegroom), loved his bride (the Church) with this same unique kind of love so much that He came to Earth as a baby only to die for a people that did not deserve his love.

An Amazing Love.
An Amazing Love Story.

Tracey's artwork: http://www.traceyclarke.com/

Chronicle of Tracey's story: http://theheliumburden.blogspot.com/

As we Await Christmas

As we await Christmas Day, the kids have been busy being all crafty with food. They made their very own Gingerbread House and some homemade cookies.

 

 

 

 

Lea got an early Christmas present when she lost her front tooth. Its so cute how losing a front tooth instantly makes you look younger. She was a little embarrassed to smile after it came out, but after we oohed and ahhed over how adorable she looked with it missing she was all smiles.

Christmas is a time of the year when there is lots of hustle and bustle all about as everyone rushes to get everything they need before Christmas morning. I was out doing my last minute errands on Christmas Eve and even in my little old town, in the middle of the day, there were people everywhere. Makes you wonder in the midst of all the busyness as they scramble all around for what they need, is their peace in their hearts? After getting everything that they need to make their Christmas morning perfect, and they've opened the last unopened gift under the tree, will they have peace?

With time to relax and enjoy the company of my family leading up to Christmas, I've tried to relish in the peace that I have in Christ with the gift of His Son. What a priceless gift we have in Jesus Christ. While the Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, decorations, and gifts are so very nice, the gift of salvation is a one that I wouldn't exchange or re-gift for anything!

Amidst all the presents under your tree this year, may you find PEACE through Jesus Christ this Christmas within your heart.

A Twist on Baked Spaghetti

I've discovered another great resource for recipes that will join allrecipes and Paula Deen in my book of recipes. The Pioneer Woman has a great recipe that will definitely be a keeper.

This recipe isn't a typical baked spaghetti recipe with noodles, marinara sauce, and hamburger meat. This one is a creamy chicken dish with onions, green peppers, and pimentos! Its a great warm, comfort food.

Chicken Spaghetti

• 2 cups Cooked Chicken
• 3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
• 2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup
• 2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 cup Finely Diced Green Pepper
• 1/4 cup Finely Diced Onion
• 1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained
• 2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot
• 1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.
Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

 

 

 

For the full recipe with pictures visit, 

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/chicken_spaghet/

Not Done Yet

I’m so thankful that God is a forgiving, merciful, and gracious God.

As I’ve spent many years within the Church and being taught and instructed in God’s Word you would think that “I’m good” with not just my biblical learning, but also in my walk as a Christian. I should have it all together when it comes to love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I should easily turn the other cheek when I’m wronged or never doubt that God is working everything out for good. By now, I’ve “arrived” to that place of being a super Christian, right?

The opposite is true.

For every moment that I live and strive to live my life for Christ and study God’s Word, the more I see how I fall short of God’s glory. Being just a good person that does some nice things for people isn’t the standard that Christ set in His life. He was perfect. And, while I will never live up to perfection in this fleshly, sinful body, I strive to examine my heart and mind everyday. We can be pretty good at making others think that we’re wonderful Christians by our exterior actions, but it’s the heart that truly shows the measure of a person. It’s the thoughts that pass through our heads about others that we don’t say or the emotions that we harbor about others that we should examine to see if we’re honoring God or ourselves. As we study God’s Word, it will highlight the continual work that needs to occur within our hearts. I love how the Bible shows us the true measure of our heart. If you think you’re good, just read about Jesus' life.

We’re all a work in progress.

When I find myself getting down on myself about how much I don’t measure up to showing perfect love, joy, peace, etc. I look at the Cross and the man upon it. Christ died on the cross and took my sins upon Him and daily through His Holy Spirit, my prayer is to be changed. As I see my sinfulness and repent of my sins, my sinful thoughts and attitude is changed by a perfect God. It may not be an overnight change, but it’s a change that God continues to make as I look to Him.

May our eyes look to the Cross and may we be changed.

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas

~ From Our Family to Yours ~