Christian Photographers Community

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Well Kassie fractured her ankle today.  A silly accident, nevertheless she is in a boot till further notice.

John is home.  We had a late supper, and now are heading to bed.  We are both tired.

Hi everyone.  It is a cold, rainy 37 degree morning.  I heard sleet hitting the window during the early morning but it has turned to rain.  I just returned from McDonald's and it was nice and warm in there for a change.  Apparently they had been having problems with their heating system as last week it was cold in there every morning.  I plan to get out one more time this morning and then stay in the rest of the day.  I see there are a number of football bowl games on TV.  That will be my exciting day.

Judy, so sorry to read that Kassie had fractured her ankle.  Hope it is not paining her too much.

Ruth, you confused me on your Christmas mice.  Is this a cookie or something that you had taken a picture of for your computer? 

Carol, years ago when we lived in Vienna, Virginia, our next door neighbors in the townhouse we lived in owned a cheese shop in Tyson Corner's Shopping Center, which is a big shopping cneter outside of Washington, DC.  They had all kinds of cheeses.  I know there are a whole lot of cheese types that I have never tried.  Hope the fog clears today and that you had a good night's sleep last night.  I know that the bread machine is easy to use.  You can even get the ingredients pre-packaged and if I remember correctly I have made bread on occasion.  I can still remember my grandmother, on my mother's side of the family, making homemade bread when I was small and what a wonderful smell.  If bread gets much more expensive we may have to start making our own bread.  We were at Panera Bread Company a couple of weeks ago and I saw they had some bread that they were asking over $7 a loaf for.  I did buy a loaf that was over $3 and it was good.  Their bread has no preservatives in it.

Janet, glad you are not contagious.  Hope today finds you beginning to feel better as this is a tough time of the year to be ailing.

Guess that is it for today. 

I just received this from a good friend and thought it was something I wanted to share with you all: 

One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share.

Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door.  We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside.  We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning!  We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realize that the lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive.  Each was exquisitely beautiful.  The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manger and began to focus on Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place--all but the Baby Jesus.  My 12-year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them.  He ate dinner in our minivan, watching and waiting, but no one came.  Finally, we called him in to go through our family's Christmas Eve traditions.  But before the kids went to bed, we checked the front step - - no Baby Jesus!  We began to worry that my son had scared them off.  My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn't be anything coming.

Somehow, something was missing that Christmas Eve. There was a feeling that things weren't complete.  The kids went to bed and before I went to bed, I again checked to see if the Jesus had come - - no, the doorstep was empty.


In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up.  So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them.  Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come.

Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect.  At least it changed my focus.  I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited
to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child.  We had opened just about all of the presents
when one of the children found one more gift for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree.


He handed me a small package from my former teaching companion. I had been her Sunday school teacher for a couple of years and then, when she was asked to be a teacher herself, she requested to work with me.  I had learned over time that she and her family didn't have much for Christmas.  Of necessity she and her husband focused on their children.  It sounded like she didn't get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package -- new dish towels, the next teacher's manual -- not much, but something for her to open.

I was touched when at church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation.  As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this giving me a gift.  But as the paper fell away, I began to cry.  There in the small brown box was the Baby Jesus!  He had come!

I realized on that Christmas Day, that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect.  The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another.  We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door and scurrying of feet" but He came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, gratitude and love.

This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior.  But we will most likely find Him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other.



This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home.  I want to focus on loving and serving.  More than that, I want to open my heart to Him all year.


May the spirit of Christ be with you and yours
this Christmas and always. . .

I was moved while reading The Upper Room devotional this morning.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if you had the 'smell of Jesus' for others?  What a way for others to describe you! 

Janet ~ I am praying that your meds will conquer your yuck so that you will enjoy Christmas.  The weather changes can really do a number on us!  That's what I blame it on!

JudyB ~ How is your cross-stitch coming along?  I know it will be beautiful and much appreciated for the recipient.  And it wouldn't do for me to bake breads and yeast rolls.  I wouldn't fit in my kitchen!!  Sorry about Kassie's ankle.  She will get attention now for Christmas!

Carol ~ I love fruit cake but like it moist...not dry like cake.  While at the beauty shop yesterday a lady was talking about a fruit cake that she bought at WalMart.  I got two of them there and it is perfect for me!  Small pre-sliced moist fruit cake.  Yumm!

Ruth ~ Kitty makes Christmas Mice with cherries with stems, Hershey kisses, melted chocolate, slivered almonds and red gel in a tube.  She puts them in cupcake papers.  I have helped her make them a couple of times.  So cute and the kids loved them!

Larry ~ Thank you for the '12 Days of Christmas' story.  Very touching.  When I read something like that, I think...'Now why didn't I think of that?'  Thanks!

Well, I got my hair cut yesterday.  We left at 11:40 and didn't get home until 5pm.  And all we did was get our hair cut, eat at a Chinese buffet and WalMart!  Ivalou is so slow when she shops but I sit up front when I am done and play on the Droid.  No problem!! 

And today is a nothing day.  Yay!!  Well, I am doing some laundry but that's it!!

Etta Sue, enjoy your "nothing" day.  I have all sorts of little chores to do.  Nothing major or difficult, just things that need to get done.  You know...  the kind that it's so easy to put off.  Until it gets to the point where there are so many of them I need to dedicate a day to just that.  Now, isn't that exiting?   

Jeanne Lee ~ Exciting or not, I like my leisure days.  I only have a tiny tree and bows on my deck for Christmas decoration.  I figure the less I decorate the less I have to take down and put away and that leaves me more time to reflect on the reason for the season.  The firemen the other days has been the only people in my house in December.  Do you think they noticed I didn't have a big tree up and decorations everywhere?

I am all ready for church.  I am going in early today and next Sunday since I am running the projector system.  Another beautiful morning with hoar frost everywhere!  Looks like a white out out there.  Cold...16°.  Hopefully the new year will bring warmer weather to this area. 

Hi everyone.  We have a cloudy but not rainy morning.  I see it is down to 30 degrees but the house seems warm.  We had some extra warmth in the house yesterday evening as Pat decided she couldn't put off cleaning her oven any longer.  It is self-cleaning and really gets hot but this time of year that is no problem.  She was admiring how clean it was this morning.  Guess it doesn't take a lot to make her happy.

We will be going to church this morning.  I need to be in the choir room ready to sing at 10:45 since we missed choir practice.  I have yet to see this group all be that prompt but one can hope.  We have been practicing the piece we will do for several weeks but the director likes to put on finishing touches at the last rehearsal.  We have been doing some special musical accompaniment to the lighting of the Advent candles this year at the beginning of the service.  It is very nice as has the choir sing a sort piece, the speaking and praying part and lighting of the candles and finally the congregation join the choir in a finishing part of the piece.

I had a nice and quiet day yesterday.  I did attend a meeting yesterday morning and the furnace was broken.  I came home chilled to the bone but finally was able to warm up under my electric blanket with a nice nap.  After church today plan another quiet day.  I will watch some football and read and rest.  Oh yes, I sure I will find something to eat as well.

Posting for Marilyn:

Hello to all my CP friends. I still don't know why I can't access the site, I even  went to a cached  copy and logged in there
but it took me back to the same page that www.christianphotograpers.com could not be found. This is really disappointing
because I miss you all so much. Is it possible that I have been accidentally blocked from the site? Would someone
who has access to that area please check on that for me?

We are all ready for Christmas, Keith will be going to California with me this year, right now he is in Portland visiting his sons.
My hand is all healed up and I am working on exercising  the thumb so that  soon I might be able to touch all my fingers with
the thumb like I can with my right hand. Right now I have some kind of a rash on that hand that I am treating with Tea Tree Oil.

I hope you are all well and ready for the coming celebration of our Lord's birthday. I got an email from Sarah's  mother that said
they don't celebrate His birthday only His death,  that Christmas is only a time for family, food, and fun. I was so shocked to hear
that from her. As most of your know Sarah's father  was a pastor for the Church of Christ. I know that  the Church of Christ
members do not believe the same as she does; It was just so strange to read her words.

We have been having some crazy weather here, yesterday we had lightening, thunder, sleet and rain, off and on all day long
with periods of sun and sleet at the same time.   Today the sun is out for now, I just hope we will be able to drive to California
next weekend with all the crazy weather that California is getting. How is is  in McKinleyville Al? What is expected there.

I hope to hear from  all y-all soon. I would be so nice have some email from my friends.

It is nice to read all of your notes. 

JudyB:  Sorry about Kassie's ankle being broken and pray it heals completely. 

Larry:  Nice story and so meaningful.  We need to hear more news like that message.

Well, I didn't sleep very much last night.  Yesterday morning, our middle son was snowmobiling with his older brother and he hit something and flew over the handle bars.  Severe puncture in the knee cap and it was smashed to the bone.  Miles out,in the wilderness, he was able to handle the snowmobile back to the house, then sat in the back seat of a truck for a trip to the clinic which is about twenty minutes at least.  Snowing heavily.  They put him in an ambulance that took over three hours to get to ER downtown.  Don and I met him along with a sister in law and one grandson. 

Hours of waiting for surgery because a climber fell off a cliff and had to use all the pain meds.  Surgery ended about 1 AM.  Things are better this afternoon and he is not so nauseous so he will be coming to our house at least tonight as we don't have stairs.  Don and I will sleep in the walkout basement bedroom.   

If you haven't been to an ER in inner city in a while, you are blessed.  Policemen all over, some patients in handcuffs, not much English being spoken, but the medical people are really kind and experts.  Heavy, heavy checking you in by armed guards.  We are so thankful for no head injury. 

It has been a long couple of days and I am feeling tired, it will be early to bed I am sure.

Larry:  Etta Sue did a good job describing the Christmas Mice.    I had made 28  I took about 14 of them when we went out on Saturday, it was something different for them and was well enjoyed, then this afternoon we had visitors and again it was something different for them and they even wanted to take a couple home to show friends, now my mouse family is almost gone.   

Mel received delivery of his P&G Christmas box, all present and retired employee's get these we sure enjoyed looking to see what was sent and again out guests really enjoyed checking it out as well.    For those that do not know P&G is the short term for Procter & Gamble.   

I try not to do laundry on Sunday but with the new hydro billing - prime and off time hours and being busy I did do a couple of loads and now the dryer is letting me know it is done.

Janet:   Have you tried the ginger?

Have a great evening and I will check in again tomorrow.

I don't post here much, but I wanted to say thanks to Larry for posting that story. Isn't it like God to take an event from our lives and totally change the focus!

Carol, what a day for your family!  I'm praying for quick healing for your son and peace and strength for all of you.

What an ordeal you had Carol.

Ruth I would love the recipe for those mice!

I wonder where Etta Sue is today?

Thanks all for your prayers and concerns. 

#2 son is dozing on the couch.  He finally admitted that his injury is a lot more than he thought - well, it is a smashed patella (kneecap) a big hole in his knee.  He slept well last night & so did we - he did need pain pills every 4 hours.  today, we will go to his house and pick up the dog who has been so lost without our son.  I need a haircut so badly and some groceries.  Everyone has been so helpful and neighbors want to help too - such a blessing to see the family take over all concerns. 

Looking at all that snow on the west coast. 

Where in the world is Etta Sue? 

Just had a call from Etta Sue saying her Internet was down and requested that I open the weekly topic for her.  That has been done and here is the link:  http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=11235.0