This holiday season flew by for me! Before I had finished baking cinnamon rolls, it was time to pack up for our Christmas Eve Traveling Dinner. There were cookies, soda cans, cheese balls, and crackers to pack in our cooler and picnic basket to join our friends' offerings of baked ham, turkey, pita bread, fruit trays, and veggies with dip. All that yummy food combined with laughter, affection, and celebrating—what fun!.
The next thing I knew it was Christmas morning and we were trying out Katie Beth's new Belgian Waffle Maker, Jimmy was making sausages, Dara was fixing eggs, and Mike was cheerfully tasting everything. We put candles in the cinnamon rolls and sang "Happy Birthday" to our Beloved Savior! Christmas Devotions are always my favorite, especially the millions of Christmas carols. Opening presents takes our family hours as we go around and around, each person opening one at a time. Soon friends arrived to join us in a big meal around the lace covered, china laden table. New games had to be tested out, keeping us up until midnight.
Then, a wonderful surprise! Our dear friend, Steve, was called in for his new kidney! After two years of prayer and waiting while Steve endured dialysis, it was time to begin to live again. Dropping their two children off at my house for ten days, Mary hurried with her husband, Steve to the hospital to await the surgery that would prolong his life many years!
Soon it was New Year's Eve and we found ourselves at Maria and Gene's house ringing in the New Year! Laughter and silliness were interrupted by times of prayer for Steve, who was now recovering in ICU. Did I mention that there was more delicious food at the party? I ate 57 chicken wings. Did I mention that I'm still full from the holidays?
So, here I am now, a full week after all the holiday festivities have ended, wondering where the last three weeks went and why it's time for school again. Couldn't we postpone the break? Couldn't we leave the Christmas decorations up for another month?
The next thing I knew it was Christmas morning and we were trying out Katie Beth's new Belgian Waffle Maker, Jimmy was making sausages, Dara was fixing eggs, and Mike was cheerfully tasting everything. We put candles in the cinnamon rolls and sang "Happy Birthday" to our Beloved Savior! Christmas Devotions are always my favorite, especially the millions of Christmas carols. Opening presents takes our family hours as we go around and around, each person opening one at a time. Soon friends arrived to join us in a big meal around the lace covered, china laden table. New games had to be tested out, keeping us up until midnight.
Then, a wonderful surprise! Our dear friend, Steve, was called in for his new kidney! After two years of prayer and waiting while Steve endured dialysis, it was time to begin to live again. Dropping their two children off at my house for ten days, Mary hurried with her husband, Steve to the hospital to await the surgery that would prolong his life many years!
Soon it was New Year's Eve and we found ourselves at Maria and Gene's house ringing in the New Year! Laughter and silliness were interrupted by times of prayer for Steve, who was now recovering in ICU. Did I mention that there was more delicious food at the party? I ate 57 chicken wings. Did I mention that I'm still full from the holidays?
So, here I am now, a full week after all the holiday festivities have ended, wondering where the last three weeks went and why it's time for school again. Couldn't we postpone the break? Couldn't we leave the Christmas decorations up for another month?
New Years is always a time of new beginnings for me. But, this year has been different. Instead of a new beginning, I just want to curl up and sleep. Oh, and did I mention that an arctic blast has hit Florida and turning our tootsies to icicles! The other night I fell asleep wrapped in an electric blanket, with mittens, wool socks, and piles of blankets immobilizing me.
So, instead of a hard-hitting new beginning, we are being tossed head first into a brand new year, a brand new decade. After a few moments of rubbing my head (where I landed!), I am wobbling to my feet, ready to embrace what God has in store for this homeschooling family.
I definitely have to wobble to my feet because I have another high school graduation coming up, scholarship paperwork to fill out, and more college applications to mail. And in all the busyness, I want to treasure every last minute of Jenny Rose's final year of homeschooling.
How many of you readers can relate to my New Year? Is yours similar, or can you, at least, relate to my experience? It is moments like this that this truth becomes so precious.
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known," (John 1:14, 16-18 NIV).
For no matter what happens in my life, one thing never changes. Grace and truth come from my precious Jesus. He has all the answers to my many problems and dilemmas. He has grace to cover my flaws, failures, and sleepiness. And most of all, His Grace and Truth change everything! He is my all in all!
This is God's New Year! No matter how you have entered 2010, God is holding you up with His Victorious Right Hand. He will fulfill His purpose for you and your family in the coming months! Rejoice and enjoy His grace!
If you are still reeling from the holiday season or something else that you are facing in your life, then may I point you to the One who came to show us the Father, full of grace and truth? May I remind you that all we need is found in the Miracle of Christmas, Jesus! Yes, I know Christmas is over, but the miracle of a Glorious King laying aside His glory to become a helpless baby, born to die, is still worth rejoicing over! Draw close to the Baby born in Bethlehem! Enjoy His grace! Obey His Truth. He will never fail you!
Happy New Year!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
So, instead of a hard-hitting new beginning, we are being tossed head first into a brand new year, a brand new decade. After a few moments of rubbing my head (where I landed!), I am wobbling to my feet, ready to embrace what God has in store for this homeschooling family.
I definitely have to wobble to my feet because I have another high school graduation coming up, scholarship paperwork to fill out, and more college applications to mail. And in all the busyness, I want to treasure every last minute of Jenny Rose's final year of homeschooling.
How many of you readers can relate to my New Year? Is yours similar, or can you, at least, relate to my experience? It is moments like this that this truth becomes so precious.
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known," (John 1:14, 16-18 NIV).
For no matter what happens in my life, one thing never changes. Grace and truth come from my precious Jesus. He has all the answers to my many problems and dilemmas. He has grace to cover my flaws, failures, and sleepiness. And most of all, His Grace and Truth change everything! He is my all in all!
This is God's New Year! No matter how you have entered 2010, God is holding you up with His Victorious Right Hand. He will fulfill His purpose for you and your family in the coming months! Rejoice and enjoy His grace!
If you are still reeling from the holiday season or something else that you are facing in your life, then may I point you to the One who came to show us the Father, full of grace and truth? May I remind you that all we need is found in the Miracle of Christmas, Jesus! Yes, I know Christmas is over, but the miracle of a Glorious King laying aside His glory to become a helpless baby, born to die, is still worth rejoicing over! Draw close to the Baby born in Bethlehem! Enjoy His grace! Obey His Truth. He will never fail you!
Happy New Year!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
RSS Feed