Family Time Challenge Update

As I promised here is the update on how my challenge to spend more time family went.


So I tried each day to take some time even if it was just a few moments and spend quality time family. Here’s some of what I got to do.

1. I got to play some new games with them.

2. I got to catch up with how everyone was doing.

3. I got to dance with my sister.

4. We sat around the Christmas tree one evening, sipped hot chocolate, and talked.

5. We went Christmas light searching and sang Christmas carols.

6. We had a very restful Christmas day.

So it was a nice Christmas break. I enjoyed it. I hope that yours was a restful and blessed Christmas as well.

Merry Christmas

May God bless you with joy and peace now and throughout the New Year.

I hope that you are all enjoying time with family today.
Have a very merry Christmas!

Song

Thankful by Josh Groban

Somedays we forget

To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.


Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more


There's so much to be thankful for

The Little Drummer Boy

Come, they told me, pa rum pa pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pa pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pa pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pa pum pum,
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
So to honor Him, pa rum pa pum pum

When we come
Little baby, pa rum pa pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum
That's fit to give our King, pa rum pa pum pum,
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Shall I play for You, pa rum pa pum pum
Mary nodded, pa rum pa pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pum pum,
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum
Me and my drum




   Sometimes like this little drummer boy, we feel we have nothing to give God. We come to Him with hands that seem to be empty. But then God prompts, "Look again."
   When we look we see things we forgot we had. A hand with a gentle touch, a voice that can bless, a heart full of tenderness for others, or a forgiving heart.
   Gently He reminds us, "Go and give what you have."
 

Christmas Surprises

Want to give small inexpensive Christmas surprises to friends? Here are a few ideas.


1. Make some bookmarks or small cards with verses on them.

2. Make them a small bag or purse to carry change in.

3. Make them a cross stitched card.

4. Make a small scrapbook of your friendship.

5. Make some homemade cookies.

6. Make a hat or a scarf

Time, Christmas, and Family.

     If you’re like me I spend a lot of time giving to others. I make blankets for charity. I make cards, write them, and give them away. I volunteer, I teach, and I help out.

   And I bet you do too. All year you give to others. You work, craft, and give.
   Sometimes we get so focused on giving to others that we forget to give to family.
   I know that this year has brought many changes to my life. God has allowed me to do things like this blog. Teach co-op. Write a play. Help a friend with her wedding. In many ways I’m doing the things I have always wanted to do.
   Yet all this has taken time away from family. Now everyone is getting ready for the holidays. Co-op is taking a Christmas break. My friend is happily married now. My writing right now consists of blog posts. Things have quieted down.
   In some ways it’s hard to get back to being focused on home life having spent the last four months running around. But God is good and He has been helping me.
   It has been good to have a break. To be able to rest and put my feet up without getting behind. It has been nice to be able to spend more time with family.
   And that it what I am looking forward to the most this Christmas. I look forward to spending some time with my family talking around a brightly lit Christmas tree.
   Let’s make a goal now through Christmas to spend a little time with family each day. Even if it’s just a kind word or sitting listening while someone else talks. Let’s take some time every day to take some family time.
   I’ll let you know how it goes at the end of the month.

Christmas Is Coming

        All the cards are made. The gifts (for the most part) are bought and under tree. There are still some cookies to make. But I can’t make those until later.
        Now is the time to sit back and enjoy the season. Now is the time to enjoy family and friends.
        This Christmas, let’s take some time to enjoy the season. Do as much as you can ahead of time. Then enjoy the time with family.
       The best gifts we can give, is time. Let your family know how special they are make sure to take some time with them.
       Then lets make some special things for our families. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but make some little things to let them know they’re loved.
       Have a very merry Christmas.