Baking, Cooking, Making...

Well, it is the season for it ~ all the baking and cooking and making!

I have resisted the sugar plum making and cookie baking and the storm cooking.

I think that now it is time. It has taken all I can do to hold back. A few posts ago I talked about not being in the Christmas Spirit. I think that part of the reason is that I've not been in the kitchen with flour and sugar all over me and the floor. This is what makes me happy and brings so much satisfaction and pleasure.

I LOVE to bake! I love to make fudge and peanut butter balls (Buckeyes) and all sorts of fun things like haystacks and White Trash and Chex Mix and cookies and pies and breads and and and and ... well - just things in the kitchen.

So, now I need to get busy. I have resisted because I don't want to eat it. I just want to make it. BUT, I know that if I make it, I have to eat it and test and taste to make sure it is good. One bite leads to another. After all, will the next pan of cookies be done or burned? What if the candy cooked too long or didn't get mixed well and one piece is not as good as the next. Or maybe the first was bad and so I need to see if it gets any better.

The pressure is on. You see, our neighbor is leaving on Saturday to be gone for 2 weeks and we want to make sure we get our gift to them before they leave. Plus, it is the third Friday and Sunday. That means that we have a covered dish dinner Friday and Saturday and also a gift exchange.

The double/triple meaning here is that we are leaving Friday to go to Oz and will be gone for the weekend (staying for a parade late Sunday afternoon). This makes for a VERY long weekend. It also makes for a stressful day in preparation for all the clothes, food and gift needs.

I have gifts ready for all the members of the church - adults and children. That was a fun activity and I am excited about them. They have special meaning to me and I pray that they will for them. It is something that I made - but not food. (I'll share later what it is just in case someone reads it and it spoils the surprise.)

I'm sure that Jesus did not come from Heaven to earth for all this frantic busyness. He did come to set the example of love and giving until it hurts. I think that we put the pressure on us in the wrong ways to "give until it hurts"... financially, physically, and emotionally.

I want to remind MYSELF again... it is most important that at this time of the year and life, to keep Jesus right in the middle of my mind and focus and activities. If I don't, I'm not happy and you know the saying... if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. With a name like "Merrie", I should be the chief of "happy"!

So, in the midst of the hustle and bustle and hurry and scurry... stop, take a minute and look around you. Count your blessings. Be thankful. Say a prayer. Check your attitude and make sure it is one of gratitude!

Blessings on you~ May this be the Merriest Christmas yet for you and your family!

Progress!

I'm so excited! Today, I stepped out and broke the ice (yes, it was that cold out there), and went shopping!

My first stop was at ToysRus. I almost didn't make it after that fiasco. Yeah, it was like a zoo. There was no one who knew where anything was and everything was overpriced. I left quickly. You might say that I escaped. I RAN away from that store vowing never to return! I remembered why the last time I went to one (over 10 years ago) I said I'd never go again. I repented of my lack of judgment!

Next, I went to Sam's ... had a great time there and then met the girls for lunch. Ran into Mardell's for a quick purchase and came out loaded about 2 hours later! LOVE that store! I could have spent days and millions in there!

I got home and unloaded and then headed to Walmart... spent another 2 hours...

Meanwhile... when I returned home, Hugsum was there and very busy. We were blessed. We received something that I have always wanted, but never had access to receiving. Some wonderful people gave us half a cow. Yeah... really... a cow! He normally feeds them for 90 days, but the butcher couldn't take care of him so our cow was blessed to be well fed for 120 days! I've never had "home grown" beef before. I'm excited to have my own.

Fortunately we have a big freezer in our laundry room. I now know that it will hold over 350 pounds of meat! Yep... that's what a half a cow weighs when it is butchered. I don't know what it weighed before.

What a blessing! I feel so blessed by my day today. I got lots done.

My goal today was to "joyfully accomplish". That is my new mindset. It fits the Christmas season, don't you think?

I pray that you are blessed today as well... and that you are able to "joyfully accomplish" what you need to get done.

Blessings~

Christmas Spirit

I seem to be struggling to muster up some Christmas Spirit this year. Normally, I'm ready for Christmas (mentally) in the summer! I LOVE the Christmas season. I love getting my decorations out and have so much fun decorating the ENTIRE house. I love to put wreaths on every door and window and a Nativity Scene in every room (at least ONE and usually many!) I would put a tree up in every room if I could. The colors of Christmas bring excitement and joy to me. The smells of cookies baking and the visions of sugarplums dancing in my hand (yes, hand) on the way to my mouth... ahhhhh... what fun and anticipation!

Normally....

This year is different. I am missing the excitement and planning and anticipation. I know I have talked about it being the "in-law" Christmas this year. That could explain my lack of enthusiasm. But, I think it goes deeper than that.

I am finding that I'm stifled in my giving this year. It isn't that I don't WANT to give. I just am more limited this year than ever before. I want to give BIG things. I want to give LOTS of things. I want to bless exceedingly abundantly.

Different times and situations and circumstances are prohibiting my normal behavior.

BUT... it does not have to dampen my spirits. I can stop the depression and gloom and doom. I can remove the barriers emotionally.

I can make a choice. I can make a decision. I can look at things in a new way.

HOW????

This day, I choose to be thankful! I choose to be grateful! I choose to remove all expectations. I choose to enjoy what I have. I choose to see the wonder and excitement in the season. I choose to appreciate the simple things. I choose to look at what I HAVE and bask in the love that is showered on me daily by precious grandchildren.

The main thing I plan to do is to make sure that I keep Christ in Christmas this year. I will look at HIM and all that He has done for me. I will maintain an attitude of gratitude... The things of this world will grow strangely dim. They will rust and rot and ruin... but the things of eternal value will make it through the fire. They will be treasures not found in earthly vessels. I want to store up riches in heaven. That does not mean that I don't enjoy riches and treasures on earth and I am not crazy enough not to want them, too. But, it means that I place a higher value on eternal things.

As we all look at a different time in our lives and we resist the CHANGE that is being forced upon us through outside circumstances... may we embrace the One who never changes. May we realize that what we have is far more valuable than anything this ole earth can provide.

Blessings~

Love is ....

First Corinthians 13, The Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shining balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crystal snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Note: My friend Beverly at Dancing With Daffodils posted this yesterday and I got permission to repost it here because it is so good.

My Note: This is so true and such a blessing to learn and live. Thank you, Beverly, for sharing this inspiration.
My prayer is that we keep Jesus in the middle of our Christmas celebrations and preparations. Otherwise, we miss the point and the blessing and the joy!

Merry Christmas! May this be the merriest and brightest and best!
Blessings~

Blessings

Last month on Facebook there was a challenge to post everyday something for which I was thankful. Since it was November and Thanksgiving, it was easy to be very thankful. Then this month it just seemed important to count my blessings. I started thinking about posting a blessing every day.

You know, when you start thinking about blessings - you automatically are THANKFUL! It is amazing! It is impossible to "count your blessings and name them one by one" without being EXTREMELY thankful!

You know, when you give that you are blessed? I mean, Jesus told us that "it is more blessed to give than to receive". That does not make sense to the natural mind. I mean, what could possibly be better than receiving?????

That is simple... GIVING!
That is the answer to everything... giving.
Give and it will be given to you, so that you can turn around and give more.

I love that I can give. I love that God so loved that He gave. Because He gave, we can give.

Sometimes, we get stuck in the "holding" pattern. We think we don't have enough so we become Scrooge and hold on to what we have because we are afraid we won't get any more. (That is the world's way of thinking, by the way!)

We stop the flow when we do that. We prevent blessings from coming to us and finding us and overtaking us. It is our selfishness that causes lack... not our generosity.

When we give, it will be given to us.... good measure, pressed down and running over will be given to us.

Then, we have the opportunity and pleasure of turning around and giving to others.
That truly is a blessed life!

So, may your Christmas be Merrie and your blessings be BIG!

Random Dozen

Today I'm doing the Random Dozen with Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.
I appreciate Linda coming up with all these questions. It gives me something to think about and talk about (do you think that's the idea?) Sometimes, I don't want to answer what she asks... I get rebellious. Then, I go ahead and answer anyway.





1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about?

Am I limited to only ONE? My nose ... I have the "Freeman nose"... meaning big and a hook nose. I used to think that if I could ever afford it, I would have it fixed... like Marlo Thomas did with her "Thomas nose" many years ago before she became "That Girl". ( I think it was in the 60's for those who are too young to remember.)

Another thing I have learned to live with is my belly. For as long as I can remember, I've had a belly. It has been much larger and much smaller, but it has always been there. Even when a size 3 was a little on the large side and I weighed about 110 lbs at 5'7" - I had a belly! That is another thing that I have thought about having "fixed"... like with liposuction or a tummy tuck. Now, I figure that it is just part of who I am, along with my hook nose. I've just learned to live with it and think there is no reason to bother with it now - not at this age.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom?

This was NEWS to me! I have really got to get a life and watch the news sometime! She was always one of my favorite people on tv! I think that June Cleaver was a good mom... hard to say who was the BEST. My memory of good ones is limited.

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn?

Where we live now, they sometimes think that I'm speaking the foreign language of "Southern English". When I use certain phrases they look at me like I've gone crazy! I think that I'd like to learn Hebrew and Greek... just so I could read and understand the Bible a little better.

4. Who is your personal hero?

Right now, I have two.
My daddy. He was in the ministry for over 50 years before he retired at age 70. (He had to because that was the required age at the time.) He overcame many obstacles to get an education and to become a leader in the Methodist Church. He was on the staff at Emory University Candler School of Theology for 15 years, editor of the Methodist Newspaper, and on and on and on were his list of accomplishments and accolades. He touched lives all over the world and made a difference. He was known,loved and sought after as a speaker, preacher, teacher, mentor, author, and friend. Then he started a foundation to support and encourage Pastors.
When mama got so bad, he began to stay at home more and more to take care of her. He eventually gave up everything he was doing to take care of her full time. He stopped speaking and traveling. He stopped writing. He became her 24/7 strength and security.
Today, they are living in a personal care home. He moved into the memory care unit with her. He won't leave her side. He still is giving up his life to serve her. He is my hero. Greater love has no man....

My other hero is my hugsum. He overcame impossible odds just to grow up. He had a horrible, extremely dysfunctional childhood. He could have very easily become one of the bad statistics. But, God intervened. God had His hand on him and called him. Even though he never had an example of what a good husband and daddy should be - he became a wonderful husband and daddy! He is not perfect, but he is selfless and generous (to a fault at times). He is forgiving and loving. He has excelled in his education. He is thorough and exact. He can quote the Bible like no one else I know. He is a passionate preacher and loving pastor. He puts family and church members above himself. He has overcome all odds - with the help of Jesus.

These 2 men have influenced my life and loved me and blessed me. If it had not been for God on their side (and mine) there is no telling where I would be!

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?

Christmas cookies and candy.

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value.

On the top of my tree is a little angel ornament. It is really broken, but I hang it up every year anyway. It was on the tree when I was growing up. I remember being thrilled when I was old enough to hang it myself. By this time, it is not very pretty to anyone but me. It is at least 50 years old and may be older than that.

7. How do you feel about snow?

I feel about snow like I do watermelon. I enjoy some watermelon about one time a year. A nice pretty snow once a year will do me. I get thrilled watching it fall and seeing it cover everything. Then, I'm done. I'm ready for it to be gone and the sun to shine and warm up the earth and let me go swimming!

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything.

I try to get at least 7 hours of sleep. I'd like to get 8, but that is rare. If I get less than 7 I can be grumpy, irritable and hard to deal with. Also, I tend to fluff up (as in gain weight) if I don't get much sleep. I might can handle less one night, but then I have to catch up the next night.

9. Tell me about your first crush.

He was an "older man" by all of 2 months. We were in the 2nd grade. We were in the same class. He came to my house one day - walked all the way. It was maybe a mile. He gave me my dog, Freckles. (As a side note, Freckles saved my life that summer while I was swimming in the creek behind my house. Freckles swam between me and a water moccasin. He got the bite and I didn't. Freckles was never the same after that - me either.) Anyway I still have a picture of my first crush. He was hit by a car the next year and killed. But, Freckles lived on and so did David - in my memory.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw?

I would probably write absolutely NOTHING! I might think of things to write, but I hate to write with anything. I hate my handwriting and so avoid writing as much as possible. Now, if there were a typewriter or computer, I'd blog. But, write , especially on a chalk board - NEVER!

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast?

I am guilty of checking the forecast daily before I dress. I hate being cold, so I want to make sure I have enough clothes on.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is?

I love the Hallmark movies where the couple are able to meet and fall in love in a period of a week. They make life changing decisions and completely alter their future and marry someone they just met. I know, they are corny and not very true to life. But, they are feel good movies. I like some of the old Christmas movies like "White Christmas"... but don't really care for Miracle on 34th St or It's A Wonderful Life. I know, I'm strange.

This year, I'm enjoying the animated movies with the grandkids... Have you gotten the impression that I can't narrow it down? Yeah, you are right - got me pegged!


Now, go over to Linda's and read everyone else's answers. You might even want to answer these yourself and link up!

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree....

I love my tree. Every year it seems to take longer and longer to put my tree up. I'm not sure if I'm getting older and slower or have accumulated more and more ornaments, or I am just reminiscing too much as I decorate. (Okay, so all that is true!)

I have some very nice, expensive ornaments. I have some not so nice ones. I have OLD ones and new ones. I have some that go on the tree each year and some that never make it to the tree. Each one has a special place in my heart whether it is on the tree or left in the bin. I still take it out and think about when I got it.... who gave it to me, where we lived, what we were doing. The memories flood my mind. At times, I giggle and smile. Other times, I am filled with love and gratitude. Some bring a sadness because the person who gave it to me is gone.

Here are a very few of my special memories...

This is a wooden moon with a little angel. It was given to me almost 40 years ago and goes on my tree every year.

This one of Baby Jesus is also a hand painted wooden ornament given to me the same time as the moon. It also goes up every year. A very special person gave them to me. She is a pastor's wife and was a friend of my mama.

These are a few of my special ones.... an olive wood Jerusalem Cross I got in Bethlehem and some an old green ornament from mama's tree and some Shiny Brites... a few "newer" ones that reflect different places we have lived.

One of my favorite ones of Baby Jesus...

Some other favorites (which really is ALL the ornaments on the tree). On the left is my newest one. It is a Santa snowball that I got just this morning from my gkids. The snowman was a gift from Hugsum a few years ago. The red bell was one of mama's.

This is a favorite of our grandson. It's a fish we got in Destin one year. I also have some shells.

I have several of these handmade ornaments. This one was made by a friend. It is like we put on the Chrismon tree because it is a Christian symbol and is gold and white.

A sock monkey, a quilted block made for me after our 4th child was born and a star. It was very inexpensive, but is one of my favorite things.

A tatted snowflake given to us the first year we were in the ministry when our oldest son was not quite a year old.

This is a paper star. (I'd love to know how to make them.) It was on my mama's tree, too. It has lots of special memories.

Our tree....

Lots more stories and special ornaments and stories - maybe to be shared at another time.
Blessings on your Christmas celebration. May it bring joy and peace and happiness!