Precious Moments

Even though I've never been one to attach to stuff or a collector of knick knack-y things, I've loved my friend's Precious Moments nativity set since we first met in 1985. During the years Pat & Earl spent Christmas in Florida with us, she would pack it up and bring it along when they traveled. Not sure exactly what captivates me about it - it's just cute - precious - as the name appropriately states. It also reminds me of her and the countless 'precious moments' we've had together through the years.

After thirty Christmases with her precious nativity, my awesome friend decided to mail it to me this year. I was so surprised when I opened that box! When I called to thank her and ask why she gave it up, she told me that she has enjoyed it for many years and it would bring her more joy to know that I will now. That's a great friend! Hope you have a few like that!

As I decorated our tree, I was inspired then, to put aside David's favorite ornaments and give them to him and Clara; the Nutcracker soldier he loved as a boy, my Grandmother's antique glass bell, Noel, a red bulb with a happy face, I painted for him when he was little to go with a story book by the same name that we read every Christmas, and several others. Time to pass on the memories to another generation. Someday David will tell the stories of those ornaments to their children as they decorate the tree.

It's not about the stuff, it's about the people - the people in your life who enrich it, add to it, bless it and make it worth putting up with the hard parts. I'm so grateful this holiday season for all the wonderful people God has sent my way and given me the privilege to love. Most of you know who you are :). 

As we start another year, I just want to express thanks to all of you for blessing my journey through the years. Looking forward to making many more precious moments with you in the days ahead.

God's abundant joy and blessings be yours and Happy New Year!!

Thinking of You

Today I am thankful that the election madness is FINALLY over. Whether you are disappointed with the outcome or not, here's some good news--God is thinking about you and me today. Can you believe that? The Creator and King of the Universe thinks about you -- constantly!

The president of my country doesn't even know my name and once I have cast my vote, I am just a ballot in a sea of humanity. But God knows my name and every little detail about me. He even knows how many hairs I swept from my bathroom floor this morning and cares to calculate what is left on my head (Matthew 10:30).

 Psalm 139:17-18. “How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand"

 Isaiah 49:14 “But (replace your name here) Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.’  Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls (your dwelling, your life) are continually before Me.”

It is not possible for God to forget about you. The nail scars in Jesus’ hands are the permanent inscription of your name in His heart and mind. He can no more stop thinking about you than I can stop thinking about my son Jonathan, who needs me so much (even when he thinks he doesn't :).

It would be good then for us to spend some time today thinking about Our Lord and Savior too. It could bring the peace of mind we so desperately need because "You [God] will keep him [me] in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You" Isaiah 26:3

Be Thankful

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:8,15,21. Did you know this exact same verse appears three times in the same chapter? I think someone is trying to tell us something.

We are full swing into November, the month we focus on thankfulness, so I am making an attempt to voice something I am thankful for everyday until Thanksgiving Day (on my Facebook status). Care to join me? Most of us have more to be thankful for than not.


Today I am thankful for hot, running water. As I think of our struggling neighbors in the northeast, I remember Florida's hurricane summer of 2004 and being without power for two weeks in the middle of August. We had a well, so no electricity meant no power to the pump which resulted in no water to our house. It was 96 degrees every day with matching humidity and we were disgustingly hot and sweaty with no way to shower or bathe. I told my hubby, I can forgo many things but I never want to be without running water again.

Thank you Lord that I can turn on a faucet in my home and water flows, hot or cold, my choice. Such a blessing that I never want to take for granted!