Holy Bible: New Testament: The King James Version by Anonymous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve read the New Testament a few times, and felt a few months ago, that I wanted to read it again. Always good to do. I love how each time that I read through the scriptures I find new gems, have questions answered, and find new ones. I’m grateful for a guide in my life to help me become a better person.
I love Christmas! I love the season, the smells, the feel of everything, the taste in the air and the energy all around! For years I have dreamed of having that perfect storybook Christmas, my family never had that. Oh we had our own type of Christmas Magic, but never what I knew was waiting out there…. somewhere.
I grew up all over the US, my dad works for the Federal Government in the Bureau of Land Management. Therefore, we lived in every small podunk town known to mankind. Ok, not really, but it sure felt like it! I ended up going to 11 different schools by the time that I graduated from high school, so I’ve been around. We never lived close to our extended family and we always just celebrated our quiet little immediate family holidays by ourselves. Which I ultimately grew to appreciate VERY much! After college, I ended up moving back East, New York City, Vermont & then was in the Philadelphia suburbs for nearly a decade. (While on that subject I think the state of Pennsylvania simply has something incredibly magic about it – but especially during Thanksgiving to Christmas to the New Year!) Which again put me far away from extended and immediate family. As I’d always done, I adopted new family(ies). This also comes with invitations to spend holidays with other families and get a glimpse into other people’s worlds and traditions. From this I have gleamed some of the best ‘magic’ I have witnessed, and implementing their traditions and magic into my own traditions – and hoping that someday when I have a family of my own I’ll be able to continue to add to that great Christmas Magic!
However, here I find myself close to family once again and some holidays are celebrated, while most are not. If they are celebrated it’s generally because I’m hosting the whole shebang. Most the time though, I find myself ignoring the things about the holiday’s that I love so very much – in order not to be once again heart-broken. I stopped putting up decorations, I don’t want to cook my big fabulous meals, and I look forward to the quiet day off with no one bugging me, no phone calls or texts beyond Happy whatever holiday! It breaks my heart knowing this. I even do it for my own birthday anymore (I’m a Christmas week baby) no one cares, no one will come and if they do, they do stupid stuff that makes me wish I never attempted to throw myself a party in the first place. 😦 This I know all stems from the years of heartache and let downs of having hopes so high that just maybe this year might be a fraction better. In addition in all likeliness its that awful voice of my ex-husband telling me everything was horrible because of me, and my wanting each moment to be great – even if it’s horrible – I continue to believe that there can be goodness found in all things even if it’s just a micro or nano thing… Of course I find myself just wanting to take myself on some fabulous vacation that I can’t afford; far away from everyone and everything…. and it’s warm of course!
Despite my jaded view on this subject, there are a few things that bring me such great joy!
I have been an Auction Host at the Festival of Trees now for 3 years! It’s hard to believe I’ve even been around here that long! I was first introduced to the Festival of Trees from my girlfriend, Andrea. (Andrea’s Main Blog & Andrea’s Second Blog – Things you will not believe!! Regarding the Health of her Children) These are amazing stories that you need to read!) The Festival of Trees is a fabulous non-profit organization that donates 100% of their proceeds back to the children at Primary Children’s Hospital. Each year the first week after Thanksgiving they hold a gigantic auction at the South Towne Expo Center. People and organizations donate their time, talent and resources to providing a fabulous environment and things to auction. You can find Large Trees, Medium Trees, Small Trees, Centerpieces, General Decorations, Wreaths, Quilts, Statues/Sculptures, Paintings,
Photography, not to mention all the baked goods and other gifts that you can purchase there and MUCH more! It’s quiet the experience Auction night is always quite elite and has a formal attire dress code. Andrea & I are Auction Hosts for whatever section we might be assigned to each year answering questions and facilitating the silent auctions in our area. What fun this is! Not only do we get to dress up in our beautiful formals, but we also get to make new friends, meet interesting people and serve! What energy fills the air here! In this one place my Christmas Magic has returned and ignited such a fire of hope and joy all around! I’m so grateful that Andrea invited me three years ago! This
is truly one of my most favorite events of the year! I’m so glad that my little effort actually makes a difference in someones life! It’s amazing to see what some of these items go for – and it’s all really for the children!
So whatever it might be that you love about the Christmas Season… I hope you find it this year. I hope you grab onto it and hold it tight. Find people around you in every capacity that you can serve in either the littlest of ways – most people are so in need of a genuine smile and a hello, or in big ways – but do it just because.
May you be blessed with the Love of our Lord and remember exactly WHY we have Christmas after all… because someone gave us the greatest of all gifts!
I’ll post a few photos from our night. 🙂 Later when I am working on a better computer… 😉
Glenn Beck at the Time 100 Gala, May 3, 2010. Photo by David Shankbone. This photos is licensed under the Attribution 3.0 license, which means it can be used and modified for any purpose only if the author is properly credited where it is used. Category:Pictures of Glenn Beck Category:Time 100 Gala (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Honestly, I loved it! I know some have complained about the lack of elegance of Glenn Beck’s writing. Seriously, who cares!? It’s consistent, the story flows, and it teaches you something as it penetrates your heart. So what that he embellished his real story. We are to write about what we know. In addition he lets on to no pretense that it’s 100% real from the beginning.
Really, I loved the book. It was a quick and very easy read. I found my self engaged and wanting more. He kept you wrapped in his story, waiting on edge to see what it was that turned around his attitude. Yet, being so surprised at times you go from laughing to crying in a mere instant! I loved it. It’s a short sweet read, the style reminds me of Richard Paul Evans.
Some experts from the book that touched my heart…
“The real question is, Who Are you? Somehow I understood. Without the storm I would never know myself. Does everyone have go through the storm? Yeah, sooner or later. But no one has never been lost to the storm, just lost in the storm. What most people don’t realize is they don’t have to fight the storm, you just need to stop feeding it, stop giving it power over you.”
“Will there be other storms?
What if I’m afraid?
I’ll be with you. Remember no one has ever regretted the journey. No one has ever stood here and wished they could go back to the other side. Do you know who you are now?”
“Trust that we are worthy to make it through our storms.”
“Maybe we are supposed to only see a hint of the answer and figure the rest out on our own using faith. It is the understanding that you can be forgiven & start over that you can face your greatest fear & regret, the sky will open up and you will find happiness and love. It is the key to breaking the chain of regret & misery. The greatest gift was given all of us by a loving Father in heaven.”
“My mom gave me my sweater. But, the greatest gift was given all of us by a heavenly father it is the only true gift ever given to all but never opened or only appreciated by few. It is the gift of redemption the gift of atonement and it sits on the top shelf of the closets of our souls. Christmas is about what that infant boy did at the end of his mortality. Without his death, his birth is meaningless.”
“The greatest gift is any gift that was given with love. I remember realizing all she had done for that gift.
I refuse to stand at his feet and see Him with the same look in His eyes as he asks “Son, is that the gift that I gave you?” Pick up your gift of redemption and allow it to transform your lives.”
Wow! Again what a fabulous book! Ultimately teaching you such a valuable and surprising lesson about the atonement and redemption. How do you suppose our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ feel when we leave their un-opened gifts crumpled up in the corner untouched, unused, unappreciated?
What a beautiful morning here today! We have been in the middle of a blizzard for two days now. My favorite part of winter is the overwhelming desire to cuddle up in your favorite blanket, a movie, a book out best of all a loved one.
Yesterday, I was blessed with a paid day off work because of the blizzard. It was much needed. I was able to do some chores and just do some of the things on my need to do list. Nonetheless, there is still much to do. This morning I am so grateful for the time to my self to just attempt to relax and watch a movie. This has always been difficult for me. I can’t just sit. But I tried hard this morning! My computer is still not working (remember the honey infested keys), and I couldn’t figure out a project I could work on in the living room. No wonder I listen to books while doing chores & projects! Lol
Also yesterday, when I turned on the radio for some music I was surprised that they were playing straight Christmas Music! However, it really is starting to look a lot like Christmas! Here are a few pictures of my area. It certainly isn’t as beautiful as my old home in Pennsylvania (200 year old farm home on 3 1/2 acres, in the middle if the forrest on a lake), yet out is still beautiful! In these pictures you can’t see the mountains due to the storm still hovering. I’ll post a picture of the snow capped mountains later. So far we have received 16″ in my township, but only 6″ or so at my home.
I’ve never been a fan of pine trees, long explanation, and after the windstorm from last year that made national news that took down nearly every pine tree in the south end if the county, (I’ll give you the story and pictures later) I like then even less. Yet, as I saw these two, I had to stop and admire God’s eye and talent for creating this beauty, of the snow.covered pine trees. 🙂
Please excuse any typos. This was typed on my phone. I will make corrections when I again obtain computer access.
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exploring the world, one bottle at a time
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Family of five in Europe for a year.
it is our choice what kind of world we live in. we can suffer in the darkness or play in the light. we can be angry, frightened and enslaved, or loving, joyous and free.
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." - Amelia Earhart
Our life on the road
A blog about our adventures of life in an RV and on the road.
pipeline follower • photographer • family + farm lover
Full Time Living in an RV
Reading my way through Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Novels since 1923 (plus Ulysses)
Finding my way back out of motherhood -- while mothering
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Living simply. In an RV. With a family of 4. Collecting coffeehouse insights.
All Who Wander Are Not Lost. J.R.R. Tolkein
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