Christmas Laughter

Last week was a whirlwind, so I never found time to submit a post. I'm sure your days were busy as well. Each Christmas is a little different as you get older. The younger kids are growing up, bringing their friends and in a hurry to get to the next event and their top request for a gift is money. But I'm the one who really dislikes giving money. I want to find gifts that people might not get for themselves, but would nonetheless enjoy.

This year was easy because of our trip to Hawaii over the summer. I was able to buy Christmas gifts early and tuck them away. I found things made on the islands and hopefully things each person would enjoy. Our big family gathering was full of good food, old stories and new friendships. 

For our little family, the kids asked for more electronics. I'm pretty sure they will all have neck problems in their future based on the amount of time they are looking down at a device, but I digress. However, I wanted to find something fun and a little more interactive, so I sprung a ping pong table on the crew. There was a lot of laughter as each of us took a turn to see just how good (or bad) we were at getting that tiny ball across the table. 

And we are still trying it a little each day. It's amazing how such a little thing can get us out of the rut we create when our lives revolve around computers, phones and social media. 

Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.,,The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. 

Grateful

Over the past month, my pastor's sermons and our Bible Fellowship class have been going over what it means to be grateful. It's easy to be grateful when things are going the way you want, but a lot harder when life seems to run off the tracks. Did you know that being grateful is a choice? It's not situational, but continual. It's all about perspective.

When I returned to work after my unexpected vacation, I was told that two people on staff had turned in two-week notices. I wasn't shocked or stressed. In fact, someone even mentioned that I was very calm. I believe that the lessons learned over the past month had a direct effect on my reaction because I was looking at the good things that would happen. These two were moving on to jobs that would be of great benefit to them. (I would never want to hold someone back.) There was also the opportunity for others in the office to move to new positions and expand their knowledge. Putting the needs of others first, makes it much easier to be grateful.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Unexpected Vacation

Normally stay-cations are planned and I get a great deal of work done around the house. This past week's vacation was quickly created only the week prior and the weather didn't cooperate. What began as a warm enough week soon turned bitterly cold in just a couple of days. (Highs in the 40s are bitterly cold to me!) When I try to recall what I did this week, I wonder if I was a slug. I began cleaning out a closet in the carport, but not finishing; wrapping Christmas gifts; treating a couple of birthday people to lunch/dinner; floating in mineral salts; reading a few books; and watching about a dozen Hallmark Christmas movies.

Our plans for Christmas/birthday parties on Saturday and even attending church on Sunday were derailed by the weather. (I don't like ice and I like my one car too much to tempt it.) Fortunately our church uses Facebook Live, so I sat in my PJs watching the service, then made chocolate chip waffles. I'm cozy, warm and not out in the cold, wet weather. 

On weeks like this, I always go back to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Weeks that are not dictated by work or a schedule. It's a time to do something different, take care of business, think, make some decisions, relax, plan, hope, dream, and enjoy.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3

Weather in the South

If you don't like the weather in the South, wait a few days. Why? It will change, sometimes drastically! I would place this week firmly in that category. We began last week with slightly cooler November temperatures, which proceeded to take a dive over the first 3 days. I woke up to 27 degrees on Wednesday morning and even pulled out my big winter coat for those few days. 

As the temperatures began to climb above freezing, the rains began. It rained and rained and rained. By noon on Saturday, the yard was flooding and I was ever so happy to be inside and dry. I awoke Sunday morning to more rain and while I was at church, the clouds parted and sun began to shine. 

As I sit here writing just a few hours later, it's now 70 degrees with full sun. It's glorious! I am going to cut this short so I can go outside, something I didn't enjoying doing any other day this week. I'm so thankful I live in the South and that God made the 'greater light'. :)

Genesis 1:16a Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.