Sunday, December 7, 2008
What Kind of Gift Are Your Words?
This evening I spent some time preparing a talk that I will give to a crowd of 70+ women next Monday night at our church's Christmas Tea. I had a lot of fun preparing it. I love it when God totally lays His word and His spirit in your lap! The talk is on Ephesians 4:29 and the power of our tongue. I was thinking of how powerful the thought really was and how it is such an important focus during Christmas season and ALWAYS. So...I've decided to share...
- Ever spend a lot of time wrapping your presents just right? (Truth be told, I'm a little OCD about this. I match my paper and only use two kinds...one for my family's side presents and one for Justin's family's side) Jack and Sophie each get a specific print of paper and I go to great lengths to match the ribbons and bows on top. I should take a picture sometime of the tree with all the presents so neatly matched underneath. It's actually a little embarassing to admit just how much time I put into the whole wrapping thing. I mean really, it's just going to be TORN off!
Anyway, I recently read a book that got me to thinking...I spend all this time making sure my packages are beautiful before I give them away but what kind of present are my words?
Ugh! In the hustle and bustle of the season and the schedule of school, church, and outings, I have been known to spit out my fair share of ugliness. Oh- I'm not a cursing gal and I don't talk vulgar but my tone alone speaks volumes somedays. I also find myself in the midst of conversations that are less than wholesome or uplifting and yet, do I remove myself or speak up on behalf of the one being spoken of? Not always.
Ephesians 4:29 is a good reminder to us all. I would write it out here. But instead, I encourage you to get out your bible, read it aloud to yourself and say a little prayer that this season your words would be as beautiful as the packages you put under your tree!
- Ever spend a lot of time wrapping your presents just right? (Truth be told, I'm a little OCD about this. I match my paper and only use two kinds...one for my family's side presents and one for Justin's family's side) Jack and Sophie each get a specific print of paper and I go to great lengths to match the ribbons and bows on top. I should take a picture sometime of the tree with all the presents so neatly matched underneath. It's actually a little embarassing to admit just how much time I put into the whole wrapping thing. I mean really, it's just going to be TORN off!
Anyway, I recently read a book that got me to thinking...I spend all this time making sure my packages are beautiful before I give them away but what kind of present are my words?
Ugh! In the hustle and bustle of the season and the schedule of school, church, and outings, I have been known to spit out my fair share of ugliness. Oh- I'm not a cursing gal and I don't talk vulgar but my tone alone speaks volumes somedays. I also find myself in the midst of conversations that are less than wholesome or uplifting and yet, do I remove myself or speak up on behalf of the one being spoken of? Not always.
Ephesians 4:29 is a good reminder to us all. I would write it out here. But instead, I encourage you to get out your bible, read it aloud to yourself and say a little prayer that this season your words would be as beautiful as the packages you put under your tree!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
I'm Dreaming of a PINK Christmas
We have four Christmas trees at our house. One upstairs, one downstairs and one in each of the kid's bedrooms. Recently when I went shopping with some girlfriends, I found a PINK tree for Sophie's room. I wish you could have seen her face when we put it up. She loves it!!
The Polar Express
We set off this morning with our good friends the McCarters to enjoy a family day at the Indiana Transportation Museum taking the kids on a Polar Express Train ride. We were to arrive at 1:30 pm and have a read aloud of the famous book, The Polar Express. The kids received a bell souvenir and we were to load the train for cookies, juice and a train ride with Santa, Mrs. Claus and some cute little elves. Well...........mix that plan with crazy holiday traffic and some not so great weather and you've got one not-so-fun day. We arrived late and the kids missed the story. They did get their bells and we did load the train but it was one hectic event trying to get there. Who knew that a little coating of snow would make our trek such an ordeal. Despite the kink in our plans, we had a good time with our neighbors and buddies the McCarter family and the kids did enjoy a quick train ride. (Although I don't think we'll make the trip to do this ride again next year!) Here are some pictures from our eventful day.
(Pictures Below: Jack and Grant showing their tickets, Sophie and Ella enjoying the ride, Santa poses for a picture, The Polar Express is waiting for us to load)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Holiday Traditions
Holiday Traditions I love...
1. Sharing around the table at Thanksgiving a blessing from the year.
2. Breaking the wishbone from the turkey.
3. My annual shopping trip to Chicago with my mom and friends.
4. Trimming the Tree.
5. Sleeping in the light of the tree.
6. Sending and receiving Christmas Cards.
It's that time of year when we start drawing names for Christmas, start planning the menus for our family get-togethers and discussing just what we're going to do to celebrate our gratitude during this Thanksgiving season and how we'll bring joy to others at Christmas. It seems that since we've been married the only real tradition is that each year the tradition changes. But, such is life...the real blessing is that we have family to celebrate with regardless of the changing traditions. Recently, due to the economy and the fact that we are Americans and live in a land of "have it all," we decided to ponder some alternatives to our family Christmas exchange. Here were the ideas we tossed around.
1. Trade names by family and create a basket gift for the family you draw.
2. Trade individual names and lower the price limit using a theme. (ex; movie theme where everyone buys their person a movie, book theme, food theme...)
3. Purchase tickets to It's a Wonderful Life at the round barn theater along with dinner at their restaurant and that would BE our Christmas. We'd attend with one another and enjoy the evening.
4. Get the name of a needy family and have our regular family dinner and then end the night shopping for the needy family and wrapping their gifts up to deliver together.
We all voted on our favorite. The needy family ...Choice #4 was the winner. So...the money we would use to buy gifts for one another we will put towards a family that would otherwise have no Christmas. We'll still get together for our big family dinner but instead of sitting in the living room opening our own gifts afterwards, we will hit the town shopping for a less fortunate family. We'll take the presents home, wrap them up as a family and then take them to their destination in time to bless a family on Christmas Day. I'm so excited! I'm not only excited about the opportunity to do something for someone else but I'm also excited for the lesson that this will be for my kids. Oh, I suppose Sophie is too young to understand it but Jack will and I can't wait for the conversation that will surround his shopping and the blessing that this "tradition" will be for him. I'm wondering...any fun holiday traditions that you care to pass along? Leave me a comment and share! Happy Holidays to all my blogging buddies...the season is upon us!
1. Sharing around the table at Thanksgiving a blessing from the year.
2. Breaking the wishbone from the turkey.
3. My annual shopping trip to Chicago with my mom and friends.
4. Trimming the Tree.
5. Sleeping in the light of the tree.
6. Sending and receiving Christmas Cards.
It's that time of year when we start drawing names for Christmas, start planning the menus for our family get-togethers and discussing just what we're going to do to celebrate our gratitude during this Thanksgiving season and how we'll bring joy to others at Christmas. It seems that since we've been married the only real tradition is that each year the tradition changes. But, such is life...the real blessing is that we have family to celebrate with regardless of the changing traditions. Recently, due to the economy and the fact that we are Americans and live in a land of "have it all," we decided to ponder some alternatives to our family Christmas exchange. Here were the ideas we tossed around.
1. Trade names by family and create a basket gift for the family you draw.
2. Trade individual names and lower the price limit using a theme. (ex; movie theme where everyone buys their person a movie, book theme, food theme...)
3. Purchase tickets to It's a Wonderful Life at the round barn theater along with dinner at their restaurant and that would BE our Christmas. We'd attend with one another and enjoy the evening.
4. Get the name of a needy family and have our regular family dinner and then end the night shopping for the needy family and wrapping their gifts up to deliver together.
We all voted on our favorite. The needy family ...Choice #4 was the winner. So...the money we would use to buy gifts for one another we will put towards a family that would otherwise have no Christmas. We'll still get together for our big family dinner but instead of sitting in the living room opening our own gifts afterwards, we will hit the town shopping for a less fortunate family. We'll take the presents home, wrap them up as a family and then take them to their destination in time to bless a family on Christmas Day. I'm so excited! I'm not only excited about the opportunity to do something for someone else but I'm also excited for the lesson that this will be for my kids. Oh, I suppose Sophie is too young to understand it but Jack will and I can't wait for the conversation that will surround his shopping and the blessing that this "tradition" will be for him. I'm wondering...any fun holiday traditions that you care to pass along? Leave me a comment and share! Happy Holidays to all my blogging buddies...the season is upon us!
Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet
We had a fun time trick-or-treating this week. Our town holds a Boo-Fest each year where kids can trick-or-treat downtown at the area merchants. That is a tradition for us and then we always have some friends over for dinner following the festivities. Friday night we went trick-or-treating as a family. Yes...we actually got Justin to dress up as a pirate so we could go as a pirate family. We had so much fun. Sophie wasn't thrilled with Boo-Fest but by Friday night she was all about being a pirate. We don't go too many places. A few friends in town and to family. Every year we seem to have the discussion as to whether trick-or-treating can possibly glorify God. I grew up with it being such a fun family memory. My hope is that our kids will remember it with the same fondness and be firm in their understanding that we are a light in the midst of darkness. Here are a few shots of my 'D-ARRR-LING" pirates! 
Pictures Above: Our own Jack Sparrow, Mommy and her little pirates, Daddy escorting his matey's trick-or-treating with our friend Lynn, One tuckered out Captain Jack
Pictures Above: Our own Jack Sparrow, Mommy and her little pirates, Daddy escorting his matey's trick-or-treating with our friend Lynn, One tuckered out Captain JackAhhh...I Found It!
Finally, with the help of my bloggy friend Jami, I have found my new look! Now that I actually like looking at my blog again, I'll be posting what I've been up to for the last week and a half. So...pay no attention the fact that there will be several postings on the same day. I do have a life, I just have a lot of blogging "catch up" to do! :)
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