Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks
are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten
that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and
that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate
My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival.
Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be
most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed
with children of your own.

I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate
My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the
town in which you live doesn't allow a scene de picting My
birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen
and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If
all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such
a scene on the town square because there would be many of them
all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree
a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made
all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that
one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and
what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one,
look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth
here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope
to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and
lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know
them personally. They just need to know that someone cares
about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on
the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write
and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family
this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you
again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't
afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them
the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down
here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love
them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him
or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take
their own life this season because they feel so alone and
hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving
everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town
calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.
Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't
allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you
from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday.
If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd
close and let their employees spend the day at home with their
families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary - especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole
families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas"
tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or
receive. ; If you don't know them, buy some food and a few
gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other
charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery
for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief
in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do
things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let
people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love
Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all
the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll
help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a
most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and
remember:
I LOVE YOU!
- JESUS

[author unknown]

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Why I'm in so much pain...

I've added a routine to my workout... ouch!! It's the Alphabet Workout. Try it... it works!!

Monday, December 17, 2007

It's definitely Christmas time!!

Last weekend some of the ladies in my family headed downtown Chicago to spend the weekend shopping and eating. We had a blast!! We spent all of Friday at Macy's on State Street. We visited Santa, we shopped and we ate at the Walnut Room. Then it was off to our hotel. We had an awesome view of the Hancock building and Michigan Avenue! We had a two bedroom, three bathroom suite, loved it! We spent Friday night *eating* and chatting until 2:00 a.m. [Chicago time... it was a very long day]. We woke Saturday morning and sat around drinking coffee and chatting. We got ready around noon and headed out onto Michigan avenue and spent the day shopping. Then it was back to the room to eat some more. After that we headed out to Navy Pier to ride the ferris wheel and to visit the Winter Wonderfest. It was so beautiful!! We headed back to 900 North for our dinner reservations at Tucci Benucch. After dinner we went back to our room and played Taboo... we definitely created some memories. We spent Saturday night at our hotel, woke up Sunday morning and headed home. What an amazing weekend!!
Hanging out at Macy'sHanging out in our room
The view from our hotelGetting ready to ride the ferris wheelThe wheel
Winter Wonderfest
Betsy and a Russian Santa

I was sad I missed the Food Drop at church. Tim went and had an awesome time... I will definitely make it out there next year!

After last weekend things never slowed down!! I went to my first official cooking class with my mom. It was a lot of fun and very interesting!! I'm going to go again to several of the classes in January. Wednesday night I had dinner with Lisa and Thursday night with Beth... it was great to catch up with these girls!! Friday night Dan & Erin took Tim and I out to dinner then to the Point of Grace concert which was amazing. Tim was very impressed!! If you ever have an opportunity to see them live, go!! They'll be back in our area next month. Then we headed to Baker's Square for pie... yum!!
Saturday we met with the florist and we picked out our flowers... it's really starting to feel more and more real!! I can't wait to marry Tim! Then it was off to Target... what a zoo, both the parking lot & the store. We visited with Hannah, drank coffee and shopped for our "adopted family" from the salvation army this year. Let's just say Tim and I have a lot to learn about children's toys. Then we went to church... the little ones sang, it was so cute! After church we went to Ann & Andrews for our double date plus one :) We ate at the new Texas Roadhouse [after several wrong turns in the blizzard] and we saw Fred Clause [check out Jan 9th]. It was a cute & clean Christmas movie. I love vince. Sunday morning we headed to Chicago with Mark & Lauren to celebrate her birthday and their engagement [congrats!!]. Two words: black ice. It was a scary ride for sure!! There were several semi's turned over and that had me totally freaked... which brings me to some more news... Tim passed his CDL class and he now has a Class A CDL license... yay!!! He starts with Werner January 2nd. God is good!!
Well, there you have it... a brief update of the last few weeks of my life.

LOVE
It's official...

She's off the market!! YAY!!
Congratulations Bethany!!
I love you and miss you so much!!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Six more months....
Can't wait!!!

Saturday, December 01, 2007


It's that time of year... YAY!!