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Another busy Christmas?


"Just as being too busy gives you nightmares..."

Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT


Christmas Slippers

While we are called to work hard, we must make sure that our work doesn't so preoccupy us that we endanger our health, our relationships, or our time with God.1

A woman died, leaving behind her husband and one daughter. The little girl soon became the very apple of her daddy's eye. He loved to spend time with her, but because he had to work, they had only their evenings together. After dinner each night they would talk and play games; sometimes she sang for him. He treasured every moment.

One night the little girl announced, "Daddy, I need to go to my room early tonight. I have something I have to do!"

He felt very disappointed, but he let her go. She continued this pattern for a solid month. Finally, Christmas Day arrived, and early in the morning she burst in on her daddy and proudly displayed a pair of crude crocheted slippers she had made for him. It was this project that had taken her away from her father for every evening that month.

Her father thanked her warmly and gave her a big hug, but then he said, "Honey, I would rather have had you with me all those lonely evenings than to have these slippers, as beautiful and comfortable as they are."

[As in the story of Martha and Mary], God wants our presence more than our slippers. He wants our devotion more than our work. It really is a matter of balance.2
How often this Christmas have we been "too busy" to spend time with those we love? Our gift of time is most valuable!


Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House





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    Judy B.  Thanks for the devotional and that song which I do not know.  It is a beautiful story about the dedication of the little girl to finish her project for her father.  May you all have a wonderful and blessed day today.  Your bro in the Lord.   Gordon. 

To all others that happen to come onto the site today may the Lord richly bless you and keep you and give you a wonderful Christmas day.  Praise his Name and thank you all for remembering my wife and I in prayer this year.  God bless and good day.   Gordon and Noreen.

Merry Christmas to everyone.  We have a foggy day but hopefully the storm predicted for Georgia will wait until later this evening after our son and DIL get safely back to their home in South Carolina.  They just called and are off the Interstate and about 30 minutes away.  The kitchen is ready and the foods are prepared as much as can be.  We just remembered the mud pie cake that was in the freezer and don't know whether it will thaw out by lunch time or not.  No matter as there will be plenty of other goodies to eat.  The presents are around our little tree so just awaiting the arrival of our son and his wife. 

Callie, the storms across the SE, including Oklahoma sound pretty bad. Hope you can have your Christmas get together before too much snow arrives.

Jerry, the person giving you the Russell Stover candy gets the pure joy of giving and that is a nice gift.  I just opened the big bag of Russell Stove Caramel Delights my friend gave me to share with the family today. 

deAngel, I am willing to bet it won't be the food your friends will remember about today but the warmth of your friendship.

Joan, beautiful graphics and presentation of the nice things you have for us today.  Thanks.

Merry Christmas to everyone.  We have a foggy day but hopefully the storm predicted for Georgia will wait until later this evening after our son and DIL get safely back to their home in South Carolina.  They just called and are off the Interstate and about 30 minutes away.  The kitchen is ready and the foods are prepared as much as can be.  We just remembered the mud pie cake that was in the freezer and don't know whether it will thaw out by lunch time or not.  No matter as there will be plenty of other goodies to eat.  The presents are around our little tree so just awaiting the arrival of our son and his wife.

Janice, I wonder if she got a black widow spider bite.  I had a friend who was very sick with such a bite.  It does sound like Kat has had more than a plateful of problems this year. 

Remember Larry, Kitty is the one that turned down the volume on her radio in her car because she didn't know how to turn it off.  I pushed the same button she turned and it went off!  Kitty and Bob are the type of people who buy things with all the bells and whistles and never learns how to use them.  Their VCR's always flashed '12:00'.  They just purchased a Smart TV but bet they will only use the power button, the volume button and the change channel button!  She has found where to change her camera from RAW to .jpg.  Funny, these pictures I converted...about 8 in the middle of them were .jpg!!  If it can be fouled up, Kitty can do it!!  I love her to pieces though!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Ivalou, Teresa, Doug and I went to Candlelight Christmas Eve Service last evening at church.  The church was so pretty with dim lights and all the decorations and candles lit.  Pastor Steve gave us a heartfelt message. 

I am praying that everyone traveling has safe travels...whether it is miles and miles or only a few feet! 

It is very early here and I have been awake for hours.  Misty, my cat is curled up asleep beside me.  Find the iPad really helps with awake time as can play games while still in bed.  Misty is not concerned with it being Christmas Day....

My SIL'S sister two girls and grand baby are coming for dinner so that will be nice.  My SIL is ill with a lingering cold so he still feels tired and has to work a few hours in his business, so hope he will still enjoy the day.

Now 7AM so time to go and let in the neighbours cat for his breakfast.  After 7yrs he should be our cat, but they are kind of strange people....just saying!

Very Merry Christmas to all and god Bless.

Merry Christmas.  it is a pleasure to say christmas. Weare in Arizona after one of our easiest drives just ahead of snow and wind.  Semi settled but quiet without Internet phone or tv.  Reading and cooking soup and a casserole today but here we are at a Denny's for the wifi.   

We left before Christmas because all four children had travel plans some with inlaws this year.  never want this to happen again but we did havea fantastic gathering las Friday night and got ourselves up to drive at 4:30 am. 

the cultist little quail are in the yard.   Those little bobble heads are so fun to watch. 

Tomorrow we will get the church calendar and check out things. Meanwhile our home church has podcasts we can view and listen to weekly sermons. 

Take care

Hi everyone.  I will post this evening as will be busy tomorrow morning getting Stacey back to her apartment with her gifts and putting the vacuum cleaner together, which should be very easy as it is assembled in the box except for the attachments.  Then I have an appointment down the street from her apartment to have my pacemaker/defibrillator checked.  So it will be early afternoon before I can get back home.

We had a delightful time today with our family.  We had a simple but more than ample lunch and had enough food for several others.  We sent home a ham and part of all the left overs and will similarly send Stacey home tomorrow.  It seems the gifts were abundant this year.  Pat gave me a ice cream freezer that makes a quart and a half of ice cream or sorbet.  I also got a couple of nice gift cars for Apple and Amazon.  One of the gifts we gave to each of the kids was a large bag of paper products that we all use and can be costly on a small budget.   It isn't late but am tired for will soon retire for the night. 

Etta Sue, I have found that some people are a bit technically challenged.  It is always enjoyable to be able to help someone with a question or problem.  I find with my accounting background and prior work life that I I tend to think things through logically and that is very helpful in working with computers and the software that goes with them.

Carol, nice to read you had an easy trip to Arizona and beat the stormy weather.

Liz, obviously the cat likes to spend time with you and you must treat it very well.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  It is getting late, but still enough left of the day to get my wishes to you (and you will likely not see this until morning!)  Diane, Jeff, Mark and Abby just left a little bit ago.  We had such a nice day with them, and Curtis, Toni and the three little girls were here in the afternoon, too.  Beth and John were here as well, so we had a houseful today.  We had cooked all morning and had plenty of food for both dinner and supper, with lots left over, as Diane brought a lot of food, too.

We played games, visited, opened packages, ate, and some watched TV.  Now all is quiet, most of the dishes are washed and put away, the extra leaves taken out of the table again, etc.  But there is a big garbage bag of discarded wrapping to go to the trash!

And we had a white Christmas!  It had snowed some when we got up, and it snowed on and off all day, so there are several inches of the white stuff on the ground now.  Thank you Lord!

Good to read what you all did today!  And Happy Birthday, Jesus!  Thank you for coming!

Hi, friends,

I'm here for the first time in a few days. It was a lovely Christmas, and an eventful day (as far as weather goes) for a drive back to Tennessee. It's always great to be with family.

Now, time to take a couple of days to rest before picking back up with all the busy-ness of life itself.

Y'all have a wonderful rest of this day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

I was happy to be with my best friend, Nita, for a brief get-together with her family, and then to her house for a good visit.  It is so good to be with loved ones on these holidays.

I will be back to basics tomorrow, but basking in the memories of love and good cheer with good friends and happy wishes for the year to come.

Larry, the baby food cake is very moist and delicious.  One of the ingredients is pureed baby food, choice varies.  Plum or prune is good.  So is applesauce/blueberry.
It is usually baked in a bundt pan but can also be a 9x13 pan.
Just Google 'baby food cake' for recipe.

Good morning to all, this day after Christmas.  I once heard someone say "there is nothing 'more over' than Christmas".
I think I know what they mean. but I can't agree.  That is the world' s view, not our Savior' s.

Hi everyone.  It is nice to see that all had a nice Christmas time as we did.  We had some heavy rain during the night but by this morning it had ended and is turning colder.  I had a good trip to Atlanta to take Stacey home.  She asked if one of the maintence men would help us with the heavy items and he got their repair cart and he got the things out the car trunk and back seat.  He then took them up to her apartment with me and I could bring down her wheelchair.  I had to go down and move the car from in front of the building as needed to go back to her apartment and put her new vacuum together, which was easy, put some other things away for her and then I took the two empty boxes with me as I left so dispose of here next week. I was on time for my pacemaker check and all went well.  I then stopped at Walmart to pick up one thing that Pat needed and that wasn't bad either.  I am now finishing up my lunch and will take a nap or rest this afternoon.

Janet, glad you finally are getting some snow as long as it isn't the blizzard that some places seem to be getting.

Ruth Ann, glad you are safely back at your apartment and can rest for a couple of days.

Jane, glad you didn't spend the day alone but could share the day with Nita. 

Janice, I have never heard of the baby food cake before.  Thanks for the information.

This dancing bear is over-joyed because I have all the Christmas decorations down, thrown away and/or boxed...except the red bows on my deck!  That doesn't mean I am done.  I have red stars all over the floor from some garland so I need to sweep.  But I am taking a break!

The heat pump guy called and cancelled for today!  Indiana is getting a day after Christmas White Christmas!!  Wind is blowing, snow is coming down sideways and drifting!  Prediction of 6" to 10" but so far not that much!  It is pretty but glad I don't have to get out in it.  Most of my windows are plastered on the outside with snow/ice!  Glad this wasn't yesterday since so many of Ivalou's family lives in Ohio...about 2-2½ hours away! 

Ivalou's house was huffing and puffing with all the people.  She had a table of 14 set and three card tables of 4 chairs each!  There were a few times when everyone was talking at once and I felt like I wanted to get away.  I saw Ivalou cringe also.  Us old folks doesn't like all that noise!  When Teresa was here a few weeks ago, they went through Ivalou Christmas decorations and bagged then in Christmas bags.  Yesterday Jo took an old calendar and cut out the numbers.  Then everyone drew a number.  They got to choose a bag or steal someone elses bag.  I got tickled...one of the boy friends got a frilly, ruffle-y angel.  Before he left, he put it on top of Ivalou's Christmas tree so she still has that little angel.  It was fun seeing the reactions of everyone.  She had some nice things and some of them were 'what was someone thinking?' when they gave this to Ivalou as a gift! 

Well, better find some lunch and then tackle the sweeper!

I wrote a note to all of you from the library and it went poof so now I can actually say that internet and phone is hooked up here in Fountain Hills, Arizona.  Oldest son is driving from Fort Worth back to Denver today.  I don't know about the roads but we left just to miss several days of snow storms back home.  Just in time. 

Christmas was lonely without the children but they all managed to call on the cell phone.  Daughter & family were hiking and on the beach in Kauai, Hawaii.  An all free trip for them except the rental car and that was expensive on this Christmas week - oh, they have free breakfasts but have gone to the grocery store otherwise.  It pays to be a frequent flyer but the cost to family life is so great - I lived like that with Don's travel for years and it isn't easy.  One son is so happy with the snow, he is in the mountains and another son is hosting in-laws. 

We also missed a huge hubbub over a neighbor driving through another neighbor's garage door and hitting gas line as well - firetrucks, lots of police, the whole street was lit up.  Every time we go, something happens. 

I have already forgotten what was posted in here with so many interuptions but do send along my best thoughts and prayers for each of you. 

Etta Sue, what a great idea to dispose of no longer wanted Christmas decorations, having fun while doing it!  Glad you had a good Christmas, too.

It got a little noisy here, too, at times, but not anything that really bothered me.  I expect that when the family gets together.  Some talk very loudly, making me want to say "Could you please tone it down?" but I haven't (yet!)  The two little girls, 2 and 5 years old, were a delight to watch opening their gifts.  The baby isn't old enough to do that yet--but just wait 'till next year! 

I meant to spend the afternoon just reading--between changing laundry loads--but fell asleep, so had a good nap.  Can't hurt, right?

Larry, glad the trip to Stacey's didn't wear you out too bad, and am glad the maintenance man helped with the packages.  Glad your pacemaker check went okay, too.

Carol, you have been so blessed, as we have, to have always had your kids home for Christmas, until this year.  I'm sure it was different for you.  Hugs... I feel bad that our youngest no longer seems to even want to be home for Christmas, but it is her decision, and we have to accept it.

I was a little sad watching Beth.  She seems to be losing strength, and it is getting harder to understand her speech, too.  But John is such a wonderful help while he is here, and keeps her spirits up.  She doesn't seem "down" at all, though, and I have to wonder at her inner strength.  She wanted to hold the baby so bad, so I moved her hands, sat little Jenna on her chest and helped her hold her for a while.  The baby just looked at her with those big dark eyes, and cooed and "talked' to her.  Sure made Beth's day! 

I think my last load of laundry is dry now,so will go fold it and maybe try reading again for a while.

WE made it home through all the hard rain that hit us after we crossed over into Oregon. Some of it was so think it was difficult to see through the windshield.  The critter are all back home (dogs) and were all very happy to see us. We have a wonderful visit with Gilbert and the family on Christmas eve and then over to Ann's for Christmas day. We had a wonderful visit with just Ann before the kids got there. Tomorrow it will be back to every day life I am going to go over the the BLM office and get my Golden-Age pass though,  then I have to work both weekend days. 

Welcome home, Marilyn!

Hi, friends, it's always great to be able to come here once again.

Today, my two oldest sons and I had lunch together. How WONDERFULLY MARVELOUS is our Lord, who touched both of them today.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is now 34 degrees and we had a strong wind all night but no more rain.  Only to get into the high 40s today.  Guess it must be wintertime in Georgia.  In a little bit Pat and I are going out to breakfast at Steak and Shake, where we haven't gone for several weeks.  I will also return one of the quilting rulers I gave her for Christmas as she doesn't feel she will use it as it makes scalloped edges to the quilt.  If she decides later to try such an edge she will repurchase the ruler.  I also need to take the new necklace into the jewelry store  to get a magnetic clasp put on it as the fastener is so tiny she can't really handle it.  Finally a trip to the bank should complete my out of the house choirs.  I have several things to do at my desk and that will likely be my day. 

Etta Sue, sounds like winter has arrived up your way.  Glad you can stay in and have another source of heat.  Your gift exchange with Ivalou's family sounds like fun but sometimes it is hard to keep something you really like.  We have usually limited the exchange feature to three times.

Carol, was you neighbor ill or intoxicated or something to do such a thing?  That sounds like the kind of excitement to miss.  Sure glad it wasn't your house with you being away.  It sounds like your family is having a lot of except perhaps you son who had to drive from Fort Worth. 

Janet, we have gotten a number of pictures of our great grandchldren opening their gifts and one of the cutest was a youngest one who was sitting astride of his package as if it were a riding toy, which it wasn't.  It is the little ones that make Christmas so much fun around the tree. Glad you were able to get a nap.  Wondereful that you found a way for Beth to hold the baby and I bet it made Beth very happy. 

Marilyn, glad to see you are safely home and had such a good time on your trip with family and friends.  I have a Golden Age pass but have no idea what I have done with it.  I think I got it at Estes Park with my handicapped placard and at no cost.

Ruth Ann, sure having lunch with your two sons was extra special.  Hope you are getting rested up from your trip.

Hello everyone!  Was a quiet Christmas here as usual. We don't have kids and the inlaws children are grown and busy with their own families. My sister and both my brothers called. It as nice to hear from them. My sister and her husband are heading to Florida near the end of January for a stay of 3 months. Nice for them to be able to escape this cold and snow.  One of my brothers has a daughter living in NC so they will be going down to see her and her family the end of February. My other brother is a long haul trucker so he has seen most of Canada and a lot of the U.S. He told me he has no desire to go south in the winter so he might as well keep "trucking" for as long as he is able.
Well today and into tomorrow night we are getting the storm that swept the mid eastern states and the weather man says we are to get the same storm that is coming down from Ontario. Nice!  No, not really as we are expecting winds up to 90. That will cause some nice high drifts. They were forcasting freezing rain and hail but I think now that is heading off to Grand Manan.
Enough of the maritime weather woes.
Tree is still up. I was going to take it down today but will wait now until after the storm. I portioned off the turkey and gravy this morning and that is all in the freezer. Nice quick meals for later. No baking today. I took out a white cake from the freezer and will put brown sugar fudge frosting on that later today. DH like that type of frosting and it is easy to make.
Well, enough ramblings from me.
Have a great day and may you find joy, peace and direction as you walk with Christ.
Christina

I got the house all swept and the furniture in the living room repositioned.  My couch is the farthest away from the TV than it has ever been before.  I had to turn up the volume on the TV last night! 

I was crocheting and I heard a motor noise.  I investigated and saw someone plowing out Ivalou's drive.  I thought it was nephew, Nick.  Then he came to my drive.  Not nephew Nick!  I couldn't tell who it was.  I called Ivalou and she said it was one of the church members that lives a couple of miles away.  I called Adam to the door for him to come in and warm up but he said that would be worse than staying out in the cold.  I offered him money but he refused that, too!  So I told him I would put it in the offering Sunday.  He gave me a hug for that!  So the offering will be richer this Sunday!

And now that we can get out, I plan to leave at 2pm and go to the pool.  Then to Dollar General and to the bank...maybe a cappuccino and home.  Then at 5pm, Ivalou and I are going to Noblesville to a visitation at the funeral home for Jan's...a Euchre player...mother.  She passed away in Florida the day we played Euchre, Dec 18th.  The visitation is tonight followed by a Memorial Service and burial will tomorrow morning.  Never heard of a body being held this long before.  Wonder if the casket will be open? 

That's it for now.  Weather in Indiana?  Cool.  29°.  No wind and sunny!  The snow/ice is melting on the pavements but not in the grass.  I can see grass in the front yard but also can see a drift of about 3 feet! 

Guess what!  It's winter!     So far we have 8 inches of snow and there's more to come.  A neighbor has been out with the snow blower and did my driveway, but with that 8 inches on top of the car I sure won't be going anywhere for a while.  It's accumulating on the porches to the point that in order to be sure I'll be able to open the doors in case of emergency I have to keep pushing them out to clear some away.   

On the 24th in the morning we picked up Heather and her family took them to Duchaney Falls for family pictures.  I decided to share them here so you all can see them..


There happened to be a professional photographer there as well taking pictures of the local TV He walked further up the falls and took a video of the water running over the ice.

WE had a wonderful time in the cold, there was lots of laughter and teasing from everyone. (I wore a red hat so my hair wouldn't blend in with the snowy background.) 


Later in the day we went to a friend's home for a afternoon of crafts and a gift exchange.  The 3 children made wreaths to hang on their bedroom doors.  This was time I cherished with these young'uns!

On Christmas Day Heather and the gang came over with their (not officially) adopted son.  Again there was lots of laughter and appreciation for the gifts given and received.  I must say this was one of the best Christmas's in recent history.

Judy, it sounds as though your Christmas was really blessed.   

Judy what a nice way to send Christmas.

Marilyn:  Glad that your trip home was safe.  It isn't easy to drive in heavy rain.   

Janet:  How sweet a picture you painted of Beth holding the new baby.  A big hug for you. 

JudyB:  The pictures are great.  Very nice family pictures to keep.  Love your red sweater and hat. 

Larry:  It sounds like your Christmas was very nice as well.  I understand about Pat wanting to return that special ruler - kudos to her for making any scalloped edge on a quilt. 

We are still setting things up here and I spent a couple of hours oiling and coaxing my old Singer Featherweight machine to run smoothly once again.  Shame on me for ignoring that 1940 something machine.  Hearing from the cousins in Washington and Minnesota and several are leaving this weekend, pending snow in the mountains or snow in the midwest. 

Hi, Friends,

I'm thankful for a peaceful day - with the afternoon being spent with my oldest son.

Now, it's early to bed so that I can take a lady to the doctor early tomorrow morning.

Y'all have a good rest of the day with our Lord.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is still dark here in the Atlanta area and pretty chilly outside.  My plans for what I wanted to accomplish yesterday got pushed back a bit as friends called around noon and invited us over for coffee and Christmas dessert.  There was another couple from our church their who we know from our Bible study group and they also go to lunch with us on Sunday on occasion. We had a very enjoyable couple of hours of conversation and having some cookies and nuts.  Today is the day I have been waiting for as I am eligible for a new phone and plan on getting a new iPhone.  The android phone I have had for the last 18 months has become unreliable in the last few months and seems to fail whenever I really need it to work.  Other than to go to coffee this morning that will be the big activity of the day.

Chrisie, that 90 MPH wind sounds a bit scary.  Hope you aren't covered up with snow from the storm.  One of the things I love about living in Georgia is that we seldom have any problems with snow or ice and if we do can stay in until the roads and walks are clear.  Did you ever make a hot milk cake?  That was my grandfather's favorite cake with a caramel icing that grandma made for it. 

Etta Sue, so nice of your neighbor to plow your drive. 

Jeanne, I remember you having to keep the snow away from your door before so that you could get out if necessary. 

An explanation on the hymn "Once in Royal David's City" not having any music accompanying it.  I have the music ready but haven't been able to upload it to the CP server.  Pat is working on the problem for me.  Something has been changed that she nor I know of so are seeing further help.  So just hum along in your mind as you read the words as expect the tune is familiar to most of us.

Judy, sounds like you had a great family outing but also that it was pretty cold and also a great Christmas Day with some of your family.

Carol, we did return the scalloped edge ruler to Joanne's yesterday so don't expect to be seeing any quilts with such edges.  She just bought some new fabric rolls so when she gets to feeling better she will be able to start on another quilt.