HEART TO HEART

We all respond to the beautiful lights, candles, decorations, Christmas plants and trees.  It is a beautiful time of year and I hope everyone has at least one of the above.  Thank you Leah and Craig for my beautiful flower.

It also can be a time when I feel stressed and becoming more forgetful adds to that stress.  I am so thankful we collected things for the food bank instead of buying presents.  We drove all around the parking lot in New Westminster and could not find a place to park.  We went just to pick up some gluten-free bread. 

Today we are off to Chilliwack to see Morgan sing in her Christmas concert.  It will not be a big production but it will really make her happy for us to be there.  We will also be spending Christmas Eve there and Christmas morning will be very exciting.!  I will be quite happy to drive home and let them carry on over to Mikie's parents home.  Chuck and [my mind has gone blank] are very caring people and are wonderful hostesses.  Chuck and Robbie I just remembered.

We have a dinner at Ron and Judy's to-night but I have informed them that I will probably be too tired to go; but we will see.  I know it is good to make an effort sometimes.  So I tell others.

Some of us enjoy just being quiet and also need to be alone at times.

I know I enjoy just gazing at the beauty around me and wait quietly to listen to the inner voice that renews my strength and touches my heart and soul with peace.  I feel for the moment that I am  sheltered in great soft wings and I feel loved! 

STORY TIME

What a precious time reading the Christmas story to Ben and Morgan.

As I have been writing my thoughts on the story of Mary and Joseph I have seen it as a beautiful love story.

1. Joseph, who had first worshiped and adored Mary, was shocked to hear that she was pregnant.  He rejected her which would put her very life in danger as a pregnant unmarried girl.  His heart softens and he takes her as his wife and accepts Jesus as his son.

It is good to look at our own lives and to see the love story that we are in.  I appreciate so many things about Larry.  Certainly his sense of humor and his wonderful story telling.  He does so many things to help other people like taking our friend to the hospital, or delivering food hampers, or making tea for me yesterday when a friend dropped in unexpectedly.

He does like to argue and considers it great fun and there are certain subjects we just have different ideas about.  But all this is done in love, even when it annoys me.  He is very good at fixing things and did a wonderful job with our shade deck and also the pond in the front yard, which all the children love to come and see.  If I do not feel like making supper he is quick to say "O let's just eat out".  He is very thoughtful and loves buying me little things and never complains when I buy another book, or two!

He cleans up the kitchen which I can make very messy.  We both love our family very much and we are very thankful for each and every one.  So we have our differences but that makes life interesting!

During a little debate we were having the other morning one of our children said to the other something like : "How long will we have to put up with this jokingly" but it did make me stop and think.

Keeping a sense of humor is the most important think especially when I get stressed and worried!

We are very happy and blessed to have each other.

TOO TIRED

Happy but too tired.

It was a great party actually the party of the year!  !  All the celebs were there.  Dad is doing hampers this morning   I may just stay in my pj's all day.  Glad Sandra took her excellent cookies home I would be tempted.

I would like to have a bath but since is leaking again I may not be able to.

You are all awesome angels.

I am going to look up the difference between ghosts and angels just for fun.

THE ARRIVAL

Where is God when life disappoints and leaves one feeling sad and empty.

I am thrilled to have the family come over, although I am totally unprepared.

I feel so very sad missing those who cannot be here.

My prayers go out to them..

HOME

I am reminded very forcefully at this time of year how very fortunate we are to have a home, comfortable chairs and plenty to eat.  Circumstances can force people to be homeless when everything goes wrong.  Circumstances drove Mary and Joseph away from home and family to a strange place to have their baby.  Note I say their baby because because by this time Joseph excepted this child as his!

  Dad and I in our travels have twice been in a place where it was late and there was no room available.  Once driving back from Calgary, where we had been visiting mom and dad, the road ahead of us was closed at Golden because of a slide.  Consequently all the travellers were searching for places to stay that night.  To my utter dismay Dad found a room above a very noisy smoky bar where the man next door continued to serenade us long after the music down stair; music? well it was boom boom boom for the strip er to dance to, finally stopped about 2.  I as over tired and fell coming out of the bathroom, which had a raised step, and ended up with a swollen lip.

The next time we were in the States in a town where there was a huge convention and all the rooms where taken.  Larry had a brilliant idea to go up to the control tower to see if they had any ideas.  One fellow kindly let us use his bed while he worked all night as long as we were out by 7 and changed the sheets.

We have had a little experience at being exhausted and being told no there is no room.

The story within the Christmas story is what is important.  There is every human emotion.  Mary faced death by stoning for being pregnant without a husband.  Joseph was full of doubt and unbelief.  The journey to Bethlehem was long and hard.  A king born in a stable is a joke for they uptight and self-righteous.

The baby is a miracle! ! !  Love brings new life and blooms in the most unexpected places

What better place than in a stable with fresh clean hay which Joseph provided, and with gentle animals like the cow and the shaggy dog and the faithful donkey.

LIKE

I like my family! ! !  All of them!  As the good book says "My cup runeth over.

I like writing in my blog because I write and then forget about it.  I do not read it over or have second thoughts.  Not like my devotional thoughts for the U.C.W. which I am rewriting and rewriting and now reprinting.  I need an editor but I know I would still rewrite it.

Spilled a whole bottle of mouthwash on the bed so had to wash all the blankets sheets etc.  Felt very sad visiting Jim yesterday and wish I could do more to help him.  I could take his sheets home and wash them as he says they have not been washed in weeks.  He has to line up to put his bread in the toaster and with his walker it is just to hard.  More and more Koreans are moving in.  Yes, we are all God's children but talk a different language and eat different food and it has become for me a strange place and I am just visiting.
Agnes was asleep and Shirley was out with her daughter so it was home tp put sheets etc. into the drier.

I will have to warn Rick about his clest as  openning the door with immediately bring the world os junk down up on the unsuspecting person.  Yes, I will get things organized after the 12.  Right now it is in the closet or under the bed!

This morning it is coffee with Jane, make a jelly salad and go to the pot-luch to-night at the church.  I like our new minister and I like our community of friends.

THE PAST

Dad travelled into Ladner to go to the old Ladies store where he used to by me things many, many years ago.  He was disappointed it was not there.  I had been to the church doing hampers and then going out for lunch.  Today I will bake a few cookies to take to the Nursing Home and try to clean up a little.  Right now that means hiding things in closest and under the bed and doing a little dusting!

I was remembering Christmas when I was young; with all the excitment.  Dad decorated the tree and I wonder where those old oraments went to. Of course mom did lots of baking and I helped especially cutting up the fruit for the fruit cake.  Shortbread and mincemeat tarts were very important; and gingerbread cookies.  I love the smell of baking at Christmas even the little I do. 

Then there was helping dad wrap the parcels for England with brown paper.  I had to put my finger on the knot so that it got tied good and tight.  For Christmas from my Grandpa and Aunts and Uncles we usually got candy and books which I loved.

Christmas dinner was either at our house or next door at Jennie and Stan's.  We took turns.  They were an older couple who where like grand parents.  I would go to her house after school for cookies and to play cards.  She made me my favorite rag doll.

Walking to the church in the snow and in the dark Christmas Eve was magical.