Archives for 2010

Laverne and Shirley — Barker Style!

December 27, 2010 by 6 Comments

Just had to include this shot in this year’s Holiday Photo Fun. Kristin and Kelli have a tradition of entering the living room Laverne and Shirley style when it’s time to open Christmas presents. Crazy but true :) I can’t remember how it got started, but it has stuck.

I love that my girls love to have fun. I love that my girls still cling to their traditions. In fact, I just plain love my girls :)

“Then young women will dance and be glad…I will give them comfort and joy…” Jeremiah 31:13

Filed Under: family, holidays, photo fun

Merry Christmas to All!

December 23, 2010 by 5 Comments

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you! And in the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone!”

“‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.'” Matthew 1:23

Filed Under: family, holidays, photo fun

Blast from Christmas Past

December 19, 2010 by 5 Comments

Thought I’d kick off some Holiday Photo Fun for the next couple of weeks with a blast from my Christmas past. The photo quality isn’t great but still worth sharing. Here I am with my older sister Debbie and younger sister Janice decorating our tree, probably in 1960 or 61 (my baby sister Carolyn didn’t come along until 69). In this shot, somebody caught us before we had time to plaster smiles on our faces. How do you like those fancy hairdos? :)

Pop in from time to time over the holidays for more Holiday Photo Fun, but for now, go out and capture some surprise shots of your own! Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” 1 Peter 1:8

Filed Under: family, holidays, memories, photo fun

The Christmas Star Still Shines

December 15, 2010 by 8 Comments

Christmas 2001. Just a few short months after the 9/11 attacks. The peace and security of our nation had been shaken. Many were grieving, including friends we knew here in the Midwest suffering from their own losses, though unrelated to the terror attacks. Folks were hurting and unsure of the future that Christmas.

As I prepared to write my annual Christmas poem, I wanted to minister to those whose worlds had been shaken. As a result, God blessed with the words to “The Christmas Star Still Shines”. This week that poem has gone out again, but this time to the prisoner parents of our church’s Angel Tree kids. We also gave it to the children and their caregivers when they attended the Open House this past Sunday. How I pray that it ministers to these folks in some very special ways.

I thought you might be blessed by reading it as well so I’m including it below. Since the poem I wrote this year is more appropriate for the beginning of the season, I’ll save it until next year and share it then.

Starting Sunday, I’ll kick off some Holiday Photo Fun and share photos every now and then throughout the holidays and then resume regular posting in January when we all get back to our normal routines. For now, here’s my Christmas 2001 poem. Hope it blesses you today!

The Christmas Star Still Shines

Every Christmas should be celebrated
With carefree abandon and glee,
Every home should shine with joy
As bright as the best Christmas tree.

But maybe this year is different—
Maybe your world’s been shaken somehow,
Maybe your joy’s not shining as brightly,
Maybe the sun is behind a cloud.

If that’s the case in your life today
Why not bow your head in prayer,
Thank God for the things that are constant—
His love, His Word, His care.

He’ll brighten the night around you,
Your way will no longer be dim,
For the Christmas star still shines
In the hearts of those who love Him.

“and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2:9b-10 KJV

*Flickr photo by emrank, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: comfort, holidays, poem

Christmas Fun with Julie Gillies (Plus our Giveaway Winner!)

December 12, 2010 by 6 Comments

Today’s post is all about fun — and Christmas fun at that! When I read fellow blogger Julie Gillies’ Dec. 5th post, I thought, “I like the way this gal thinks!” I asked her if I could share her benefits of dashing to and fro here on my blog, and she graciously consented. I’m sure you’ll be very glad she did :)

But first, a little Stocking Stuffer Giveaway fun — we have a winner! Congrats and merry sipping to Kirsten at Comfortably Domestic! I’ll get your Starbucks gift card to you as soon as you contact me with your mailing address. I pray the rest of you will have some fun surprises in store this month, too.

In fact, here’s one from Julie now. Enjoy!

The Benefits of Dashing To and Fro

I can zip my pants. This may not sound like earth-shattering news. But given the number of Christmas goodies I’ve already consumed this season, I assure you it’s no small feat.

In fact, this may even qualify as a Christmas miracle, since all my spare time has been sucked into the Holiday Vortex, along with my usual daily two-mile walks. I lamented my lack of exercise until it dawned on me: Wait one cotton-pickin’ minute! I am busy! And busy burns calories!

So, in the spirit of holiday giving, I joyfully offer my contribution to society at large: The Holiday Equivalents Chart. By my calculations, and according to this Official Chart, I can enjoy the many flavors of Christmas without loosening my belt even a tiny bit. And so, my friends, can you.

The Official Holiday Calorie Equivalents Chart

*Lugging holiday boxes from basement/attic/garage = 3 Powdered Pecan Balls

*Screaming from creepy crawlies in box = 2 Frosted Sugar Cookies

*Beating creepy crawlies w/ broom & cleaning up the mess = 1 Peppermint Brownie

*Driving to 3 Christmas tree lots in search of perfect tree = 1 Mug of Hot Cocoa

*Untangling aggravating Christmas lights = Cheeseball and ¼ box of Triscuits

*Tossing tangled Christmas lights and driving to store for new lights = 1 Candy Cane

*Taking out a 2nd mortgage to pay for Christmas tree =3 Pieces of Fudge

*Keeping up with the laundry in the midst of it all = Chips & Dip on a festive tray

*Toting child(ren) hither and yon to choir practice and holiday parties = 4 Mini pigs-in-a-blanket

*Constructing and decorating Gingerbread house = 25 Red & Green Peanut M&M’s

*Chasing wayward cat away from partially eaten Gingerbread house = 2 Homemade Chocolate-Almond Biscotti

*Attending 142 (or 9) Christmas play rehearsals = 9 Peanut Butter Kisses

*Brainstorming stocking stuffers for entire family = 3 Gingersnaps

*Composing witty yet meaningful Christmas letter = 2 Rum Balls

*Posing for annual holiday picture without blood or tears = 3 Christmas Oreos

*Shopping, shopping, shopping = 1 ½ cups Home made Chex Mix

*Waiting in line without Losing It = Handful of Spiced Pecans

*Baking umpteen thousand Christmas cookies = 4 Snickerdoodles

*Ranting at teen son (and friends) for snarfing most of cookies = 1 Piece Pumpkin Pie

*Wrapping Christmas presents until back spasms =1 Dinner Out OR ELSE

This concludes the annual milking of the system. With cookies, of course.

Thanks for the smiles, Julie!!

“…God…richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17b

Filed Under: fun, giveaway, guest blogger
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