Stop what you are doing

and immediately go to iTunes to download the Holiday Sampler album . It's free, contains about 15 holiday songs by great artists, and I've been listening to it all day. You'll love it!

The best of my weekend

Talking theology with old friends at a birthday party (ever heard of progressive sanctification?)
Baking cookies with Ginny all afternoon
Knitting in the recliner, with Ginger snoring beside me and the rain coming down outside
Christmas caroling for Ms. Maggie
Singing my favorite worship song while Will rocked out on the drums
Listening to God speak to me while Andy preached on "Maybe"
Thinking about what God "May Be" able to do with me....anything! (I needed to know that!)
Lunch with my favorite girls
Sunday afternoon nap with Wayne and Ginger
Chips and salsa with Worth and Shantal
Listening to Leslie burp and laugh as she walks in the door tonight.
My cup is full and overflowing!

Tonight......

........I'm sad for people I love who felt deep loss today.
........I'm thankful that God is in my future and already sees what will be.
........I'm ready to spread my wings and fly again. Feels like I've been running instead of flying.
........I'm taking tomorrow to be still and soak the season in.
........I'm tired of trying to manipulate and figure out the next step.
........I'm not wonder woman, just an average woman who is loved in an immeasurable way.

My tree....from Leslie's viewpoint......

Once upon a Christmas......

There was a woman who had two little girls.  They loved Christmas.  They ask for Santa for things like new baby dolls, kitchen play sets and tricycles.  They woke up very early on Christmas morning and jumped up and down in their rooms until their mom and dad said they could come out.

Those two little girls grew up and Christmas is different but still fun.  They ask for big girl things like scarves and boots and ipods.  They still shake their presents and help their mom bake cookies. Best of all....they still believe in Santa.

I guess you're never really ready

A really good friend of mine had a really bad day. Her elderly father had a stroke.  He's nearly 90.  He has done every single thing he's wanted to do in life. He loves God, his family and has been blessed indeed.  As I stood in the hall of the ER with her, her eyes filled up with tears and splashed down her cheeks.  Through quivering lips she said, "He's ready, I guess I'm not."
Strange, a sixty year old woman should be ready to let go of her dad. She's taken care of him on a daily basis for the last decade.  She knows he has no regrets, and neither does she.
Strange, even in the best of circumstances, I guess you're never really ready to let go. 

24 more days.......