Walk In His Way

 

Christmas is a time when we find our way back home, whether in person or in our hearts. It's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, relive childhood memories, continue cherished traditions, and share hospitality and good will with others. I am grateful to share with each of you my love of, and faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. The past year was challenging, and I’m grateful to be here to share this Christmas with you. On Dec. 26^th, I was injured in an automobile accident. After being extracted from my car, I was life-flighted to a medical center about 100 miles away. I had 6 fractured vertebrae, a broken humerus, a brain bleed and severe concussion. Sound a little scary? It was, but I have been blessed beyond measure. Physical therapy, speech therapy, vision therapy and cognitive therapy, as well as counseling for PTSD, have restored much of my functioning. I’m not the same person, but I’m here and I’m happy. After all, who cares if I can’t factor polynomial expressions for fun or recite the periodical table any more? Not me – (ok, that’s a lie, but not as big a lie as it USED to be! I’m adjusting) Life is incredible! This year, we will celebrate with stories, poems, recipes (candy or sweet treats), decorating tips and music. Join me and see the color, taste the flavors, feel the warmth and texture of the season and delight in the ability that you possess to make it memorable. Make every moment, every thought, every action into a celebration of Christ’s life and love. ~~ Marilee

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"Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world." -C.S. Lewis

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Each Tuesday this year, we will have decorating tips

Decorating Tip #1

Attach your LED lights on the inside of your windows. They’re so bright that people will see them on the outside without any problem, and you won’t have to go out in the snow to put them up or take them down.

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As always, there will be music. Some of the YouTube links are  songs only, some include lyrics and others have videos as well.  Unfortunately I have no control over the advertisements which YouTube inserts and I apologize for them.

The Star Still Shines

Performed by David Osmond
written by Shawna Edwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7f6-wdfatk
music only

In a place where midnight skies were clear so long ago, so far,
The little towns would lay so still beneath the silent stars
A world so different from our own where the Son of God was born
The light and life of every soul where ever we are.

If we seek the light when peace is hard to find
He’ll send a silent night and touch our ears
So we can hear an angel voice
And in the darkest times,
He will lift our eyes to see the star still shines

Now the lights we hang obscure the sky, the clamor steals the song
We miss the calm and quiet nights filled with wondering awe
And all the while the risen Lord freely gives us so much more
The peace on earth we’re looking for has been here all along.

If we seek the light when peace is hard to find
He’ll send a silent night and touch our ears so we can hear an angel voice
And in the darkest times he will lift our eyes to see the star still shines
He will lift our eyes to see the star still shines

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Following my accident, I spent weeks in the hospital and in rehab. During that time, I was seldom by myself. At first, my husband and daughters were with me, but even when they left my room, I felt a presence there. I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t afraid. My Savior’s love surrounded and comforted me. He sustained me this entire year. He gave me strength when I felt I couldn’t go on. He stiffened my resolve that I would see clearly, walk without stumbling and that the mental fog which engulfed me would thin and disappear. He gave me strength, and courage.  It didn't happen all at once.  I’m still moving onward.  I'll keep moving onward, following in His footsteps.  I'll post an update every day, and let you share my journey.  I hope you will join me and walk in His way.  Each morning, my walk will start with a prayer of thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2   Continue in prayer and walk the same with thanksgiving

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All of the recipes this year will be for sweet treats.

Chocolate Krispy Drops

1 lb. White almond bark

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 c. rice krispies

4 c. dry roasted peanuts

Melt the bark and the chocolate chips in a 200 degree oven in a 13 x 9 pan. Stir together until well blended. Mix in the rest of the ingredients, thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls on Saran Wrap. Store in candy tins. May add up to 1 c. additional peanuts.

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That First Christmas Day

Connie Hinnen Cook 1946- 2007

Extracted from http://www.skywriting.net/ConnieCook.html

There were no Christmas stockings hung
on that first Christmas day,
Just a lonely manger
and a lowly bed of hay.

There was no jovial Santa Claus
with toys and gifts galore,
But shepherds came from out of fields
to worship and adore.

There was no Christmas tree that day
bedecked with tinsel bright,
But in the East there was a star
that dazzled with its light.

There were no Christmas carolers
to serenade with song,
But hosts of angels gathered 'round
to watch the whole night long.

No fast last-minute shopping
and no Christmas cards to send,
But hope was born in one small Child
for new life without end!

KEEPING BABY WARM
~ by Lynda H. Laughlin

It was an inexpensive dime-store Nativity set, and he was only three years old. His back was toward me, but I could see that his chubby little hands were busily working on something at the old table.

"What are you doing?" I asked him impatiently annoyed at him for touching the decorations after he had been told not to.

As I started toward the scene of his latest mischief, he turned toward me with wide blue eyes filling and a single tear starting down his cherubic cheek. Then I saw it. A carefully folded tissue had been tenderly placed over the small ceramic infant.

"Baby Jesus was cold, Mommy," he whispered.

Ten years have passed, and the tiny Nativity has been replaced by a much larger one. But this year, as every year, I found a carefully folded tissue covering the Baby Jesus. I think I know who did it, and I hope he never stops.

This story is found on multiple sites.  

https://www.facebook.com/myfavoritechristmasstories

https://johansonfamilychristmas.wordpress.com/

http://theengraving.blogspot.com/