What one thing are you here for?

So, today in the worship service the pastor was telling a story how yesterday he went to the grocery store to get some floss. As he was walking through, he saw lots of people he knew and was talking to them. Finally he got away and was heading to get what he needed when he saw chocolate covered donuts (his favorite) - so he grabbed some. Then he saw hot-wing flavored pringles and had to get some of those. He stopped the stocker boy and said that those pringles were delicious and the stocker said, "well, here, if you love those, you'll definitely like these" and handed him hot-wing flavored pretzels. Well, the pastor was so excited he left and went home. Last night, he was eating his donuts and pringles and pretzels and then went to reach for his floss and realized that he forgot to buy it! 

That's how it is sometimes for us on Sunday's - we go to church - ready to praise Jesus and between the door and the worship - we see someone we need to talk to; we check our preschool duty schedule; we make sure the kids are where they are supposed to be; we remember to pick up this or that; we check to be sure our supplies are ready to teach in Bible Study and when we get into worship - we have so much on our minds now, that we are forgetting what it is all about - worshipping Jesus. 

I realized that some Sunday mornings I get so wrapped up in what has to be done once there or even later in the day, that I am forgetting the main reason to be at church is to worship my Jesus. I look around to see who is there or who isn't and really - that doesn't matter. God knows who is going to be there and why they aren't - my job is to worship Him. That is my goal this month - to remember the reason for being there and keeping that my main objective. He'll take care of the rest - I just have to keep remembering that. 

What is it about, really?

I was visiting with some teacher friends the other day that I had not seen in several years and we were talking about the upcoming Christmas season and how busy December is. I was floored when one of them said that they were not doing a Christmas program at school (private, Christian) because "Well, there are only so many ways to present baby Jesus being born and we've done them all. Everyone knows anyway." I was completely in shock! Baby Jesus being born - THAT is the entire reason for this season. THAT is exactly why we get so busy with our families - doing different activities. THAT is exactly why I look forward to seeing Children's plays of how Baby Jesus came to be.
It may not be something that "everyone" knows. What about the grandma, uncle, aunt, cousin, friend, etc. that might come because they know someone in the play and hear the story for the first time? This teacher has decided that telling the christmas story is not special enough to do it every year - reaching different people, the same people, those who have heard it or those who have not. I have heard the story so many times over the years - I can tell you what happens next BUT I never get tired of hearing it. I know how the story ends in the manger and the visitors that come and I still cry over it. It touches me in a place that I don't ever want to forget. No matter how busy I get, no matter what I have scheduled on my calendar - may I always take the time to remember the real reason for the season - JESUS CHRIST and His birth!

Being Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for on this day - -
First, I am thankful that God brought my husband to me. You know, when everything seems to be going wrong and it doesn't look like anything is going to go right - God appears and at that time - he brought me Dave, who loves me without question and takes care of me and just holds me when I want to cry. I love you honey.

Secondly, I am thankful for my children - I have 5 wonderful biological children - Melodi, Shayne, Matthew, Scott and Cati. They are all loving, hilarious, goofy kids that I cannot imagine not having in my life. Melodi - you have grown into such a beautiful woman, great wife, fantastic mother and awesome friend. Shayne - you are a handsome young man studying hard in college and working so that you can enjoy the things of life that you should be able to enjoy while you are young. Matthew - I am so proud of you. You made the sacrifice to give up life "free" so that we might be able to keep our freedom. I am so proud of who you are in the Army and how you are growing daily. I cannot wait until you get out of Iraq and get home next month! Stay safe baby bear. Scott - you are graduating this year. I cannot believe it. I can remember so clearly the day you were born - 18 years ago. You are growing into such a fine young man - definitely knowing what you want and what you believe in! Keep being who you are! and Cati - you too are growing into a beautiful young woman. I cannot believe that in a few short weeks, you will turn 17. My baby is growing up and while I would love to keep you home with me forever, I know I have to let you go. Thank you for being who you are!
I am also thankful for my step-children Mary, Julie and Kyle who are all growing into their own people and doing so fantastic in what they are doing. I am proud of Kyle for keeping on keeping on - even when he might want to give up and for Mary who has just been promoted at work and has such a sweet heart. Julie - you are going through some tough times and I know it is tough, but I am proud of you for who you are. You too are keeping on keeping on.

I am thankful for a wonderful Christian family - mom, brother, sister and all the extended parts that go along with that. I know that when I need them, they are there and even though distance is between some of us - I love you all and miss you.

Finally, I am thankful for an AWESOME God who loved me so much that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son - Jesus Christ - for me and my sins; for making it possible for me to have that love, security, and eternal life that is talked about. I am thankful that I was raised in a christian family so that I had the opportunity to make this decision for myself at a young age and live my life under God's umbrella instead of out in the world where different paths and roads could have taken me. I am thankful that I took the road that I did and while I have hit my share of potholes and detours - I am thankful that my Savior, Jesus, carried me through those detours instead of leaving me to find my own way home.

What are you thankful for?

Just Rambling. . .

So, I thought I would create a blog to write about what my many children are up to and to be able to have a place for family and friends to check in for stories and pictures. But while creating it, I still want to remind myself and all those that pass that I am just out to follow the Son and do what HE would want me to do. So - - - here goes. . .

We are off school this week so we are enjoying teasing Dave that he still has to work (hard.. lol) and we get to sleep in. Of course, there seems to be something wrong with my sleeping in button - - i've been awake by 7 every morning so far and I'd like to just sleep in a while one morning. Of course, tomorrow will be the morning that my body decides we'll sleep in.. since I have to get up to start the turkey. We are having our traditional food.. turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce and this year I made frozen fruit salad (thanks Aunt MC) instead of just the normal fruit salad. We will be down in numbers since D (brother) and his family moved to Colorado in July. We will definitely miss having the little ones running around. But Nanc will be here with her girls so we'll have about 8 for dinner I believe. Games abound after dinner.. woohoo!

We hope that your Thanksgiving is a great one and that you have a wonderful time remembering all that God has provided for you this year. I found this quote from Abraham Lincoln that I'll close this with...

""The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God..."
Abraham Lincoln in his Declaration of Thanksgiving Day, 10/03/1883

To think about . . .

This was sent to me today by a friend who saw it on a blog....and I thought it was something I should pass along. . .
________________________________________

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one-year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together."
So the Doctor said: "Ok, and what do you want me to do?"
She said: "I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this."
The doctor thought for a little while, and after some silence he said to the lady: "I think I have a better solution for you rproblem. It's less dangerous for you too."
She smiled, thinking that the Doctor was going to accept her request.
Then he continued: "You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. That way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms."
The lady was horrified and said: 'No Doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!"
"I agree", the Doctor replied. "But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution."
The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.
He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16 (KJV)