Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~J.L.W. Brooks

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RAOK: Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels wanted and included

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Joseph's Song - How could it be
beautiful song, beautiful video
composed by Michael Card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvxo_hvlwZs&index=21&list=PL7651AA3E6A45A537

How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be?

Lord, I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?

He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be?

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?

How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be?
How could it be?

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Yesterday I was sent a link to this song.  Thank you.  On the video, this song says, “ If you’re missing someone this Christmas this song’s dedicated to you.”   It is performed by The Piano Guys and Craig Aven.  Jon Schmidt and his wife lost their daughter Annie in 2016.  She disappeared October 16, 2016.  Her body was found a month later.   She died as a result of a fall while hiking.  Her family really struggled that Christmas. This video tells a little of that struggle.  Jon Schmidt includes a prelude to the song which describes the loss they felt and the comfort this song gave them.

The Sweetest Gift.
Beautiful Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yFXfAGl17M

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Christmas Games

I love playing games. I looked on the internet to see what I could find in the line of fun games, and found a lot at the shutterfly site https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/christmas-party-games/.  I can hardly wait for next Christmas so that we can play some of these with our grandchildren, like Spoons and 20 questions.  They have a game called Stocking Guessing Game which sounds like such fun.  “First, you need a host to put random items in a stocking. Once it's stuffed, tie a ribbon or string around the top of the stocking so that no one can peek. Sit in a circle and pass it around to let everyone feel what's inside. Give them note cards so that they can write down their guesses. The person who guesses the most correct items wins.”  Check them out and ENJOY!

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I have really appreciated those of you who sent me recipes.  Thank you very much.  I was  skeptical about this one, but it’s good.  Give it a chance!
                                                                                                                       
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches from Connie

Spread dijon mustard on 4 slices bread
 top with sliced cheddar cheese, cooked bacon and sliced apples.  Butter the bread, then cook in a skillet over medium-low heat until cheese melts.

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Deuteronomy 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

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Years ago, my son Keith ran into the house screaming that Gina had fallen in the river behind our home and was all muddy.  She was trying to rescue her cat.  We had a plank which extended from the bank to a little island a few feet into the river.  The water was only ankle deep.  Gina slipped on the icy wood and went into the water.  It was a cold, winter day and by the time she got to the house, she was shaking.  I took her wet clothes off of her and got her into a warm bath.  She cried for some time.  I asked her why she was crying and she said that she was in trouble.  She’d gotten her clothes muddy and it was almost Christmas!  I told her that I thought we could fix everything.  After her bath was done, she stuck her clothes in a basin and rinsed the worst of the mud off, then carried those wet sopping clothes to the washer.  I measured the soap for her and helped her start the washer.  She carried the basin outside (spilling a LOT of it on our floor) dumped the water out, then returned and wiped out the bathtub.  I told her that we were good.  I don’t remember if it was that day or the next, but I heard Gina talking and went to the front room and found her holding the baby Jesus from our nativity set and asking him to tell Santa that she was a good girl.  She believed that the Savior would intervene on her behalf.  That was almost 30 years ago.  She loved and trusted Jesus Christ.  He is there for all of us today.  He came to earth to be the Great Mediator, to meet the demands of both justice and mercy.  1 Timothy 2:5  “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  That precious babe came to this would willing and able to redeem us. What an incredible gift!~~Marilee

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The Legend of the African Drummer Boy

As news of Christ spread through the land
and wise men came to bring,
Gold and myrrh and frankincense
to the little King,

A drummer boy who saw the gifts
not knowing what to do,
Wished for something special
he could give the infant too.

And so that night, the story goes,
the boy went to the stable,
And softly beat upon his drum
as best as he was able.

The Baby touched the drummer's hand
and smiled at him in peace,
Then snuggled in the new, fresh hay
and gently fell asleep.

And so the legend tells us
if we pause a while and pray,
Remembering it's Jesus that
we celebrate today.

When we close our eyes on Christmas night
the drummer boy will come,
To put God's children sound asleep,
with a soft rum-pa-tum-tum.