January, crisp January

What a beautiful January morning. Each roof sparkles in the morning sunshine with a thin crust of frost.  Steam rises from the ventilation pipes and the icy landing invites slipping and sliding.  Closing the door to the toasty home behind me and making my way down the stairs - dog in arms - my breath comes in wispy puffs, only to be swallowed up by glacial air. Gazing at the dazzling, beaded blades of grass, I marvel.  This picture is temporary and already fading as the sun reaches out with it's warm fingertips to brush away the crystalline tears left by the night. The brittle brown leaves so meticulously etched and outlined with frosty pen strokes will soon appear wet and wilted. But right now, in this quiet moment, with everything dusted in January's arctic glitter - I walk. I praise. I live in this moment God created for me to savor and I am astounded by His artistry. To make something so fleeting, so beautiful seems extravagant. But that's just how my Father is. 

Friends - Enjoy your wintery January Day wherever you are... and take a moment to think of the one who made it for you.

Fabulous Quote:

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil. - Jerry Garcia

Well, I am back at work... vacation is over.  Let us have a moment of silence (shhhhh) Thank you.  It's not that work is not good and all that, it's just that vacation is better!  I actually had a "staycation" as I didn't actually go anywhere.  (Kerman doesn't count)  I have deconstructed Christmas and it is sitting patiently in my living room waiting to be nestled away, snug in it's bins until next year.  We saw the movie "Marley and Me" and it was really good, but not quite what everyone expects. So if you have small children who want to see the "funny doggie" movie.  Think twice!  I saw tearful little ones leaving the theatre.  I was one of them.  Anyway, got to make lunches and get ready for work.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would like to wish all of our friends, family and "followers" (LOL) a bountiful and prosperous 2009.  May it be a year full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,  gentleness, meekness, faithfulness, and self control as we endeavor to allow Jesus to live big in us.  SHINE!  SHOUT! SHARE!

Our Pastor gave everyone the opportunity to create a time capsule of sorts last Sunday.  there were several questions on a sheet of paper for us to provide answers to and then seal in an envelope, which will be returned to each of us at the end of the year and we can take a look at what God has done in our lives with regard to the following:

• What things in my life do I need God's help in overcoming in 2009?
  
• What would I like to invite the Holy Spirit to help me do or do better during this next year?
  
• What will it look like for me to go to the next level in God in 2009? What will I commit to?
• Who will I share with, the things God has done in my life? (list 5)

These are not the "word-for-word' questions, but to the best of my recollection, these capture the intent of the time capsule exercise.  Answer these questions as if time, money, resources were not an issue.  

You may think... "I don't know how to have a better marriage" but God does!  You may feel like you don't have a clue what commitment you should make for the next year, but God knows what He has prepared for you to do.  

Be strong and courageous in facing 2009.  The world says, 'things are rough and they are going to get rougher, but it doesn't have to be that way for God's people!  

I would encourage everyone who reads this to create a time capsule of your own, so that as 2009 is coming to a close, you can look back at the things you petitioned God for help with and the things you made commitments to and say, "Look what the Lord has done?"  

Update - 2 Shopping Days Until Christmas!

Ok, so I have most of my shopping done.  I credit this to the invention of the gift card.  This may not come as a surprise, but I am no longer qualified to purchase clothes for my children.  This decision came naturally for me when my son had to write down the store, size, color, make and model of a pair of pants for me.  I went to Hot Topic and presented the sales clerk with the paper and advised him, "I need a pair of these, can you please find it for me?"  It was over at that moment. Gone were the days that I could walk into a store and think, 'oh, Jared would like that', and be correct.  The funny part is that I just had a student in class at work, who managed a Hot Topic.  She said parents came in droves presenting their scraps of paper and looking like they had been transported into another universe.  Nevertheless, even if I am buying more gift cards than actual presents, I still LOVE CHRISTMAS!  Rich, Jared and Lyssah and I will enjoy family communion and candle light service on Christmas Eve at Lifebridge, then on to my Dad's.  I am excited that I will have pictures to post because we will be having a huge family get together because my Grandpa Shuey is 94... so everyone is converging on Kerman, CA for a Christmas Reunion of sorts.  Anyway... I am off to enjoy my last day of work until January 5th 2009.  Then I will enter the whirlwind of pre-christmas preparations - cooking, last minute shopping, decking the halls, etc.

Merry Christmas

I have just spent longer than I care to mention trying to figure out how to upload pictures to my blog.   Oh yeah... and what's the deal with everyone else having a Christmas background... where did that come from.  I need to download "Blogging for Dummies" directly into my brain.  This is supposed to be easy and fun... are we having fun yet?  Ok, so I just figured out how to upload pictures to my blog and I am going post our Christmas Pictures.  

We went to River Park to have the pics taken. And wouldn't you know it - drizzle!  But we weathered the light rain like troopers and managed to come away with some nice pictures.

12 Shopping Days Until Christmas....

It is a sad, sad state of affairs in which I annually find myself, having bought little or nothing for Christmas Presents by this point in the month of December.  True to form, I have purchased one gift so far, and one stocking stuffer and I have no concrete plans as to when the rest is to be accomplished.  I know it will all be accomplished, but I suspect it will not be accomplished until Christmas Eve, as it was last year and numerous years before.  Each year I vow to shop early and throughout the year so that by December 1st, the deed is completed - presents wrapped - ready to be beautifully placed under the Christmas Tree.  Perhaps next year...