It was our first work day on the mountain today. We started with an early breakfast and devotions and then it was time to head out to start on the driveway. Those who are working on the road got busy placing rocks around the forms and cutting steel. Some of the others worked on various projects like installing smoke detectors in the children's houses, electrical work and repair on furniture. A few of the women and younger ones painted a wall on one of the houses. I worked in the kitchen and helped distribute the things our group collected for the home. That meant one million steps down to the houses and then two million steps back up again. When you're here if you're not walking uphill, you're walking downhill.
It was a good day and then we ate a delicious supper of rice, beans and fried snapper and salad. Afterward, we entertained one another telling funny, but true stories. We heard a few about the pastor and some about Byron. We laughed a lot. It was great fun. Afterward, Glenda, Leslie, Rhonda and I washed a mountain of dishes. It was an immense amount but we finished them all with the exception of one sticky rice pot. We'll clean that one up in the morning.
Mission trips are a lot of work. Bodies are pushed to their limit and extra efforts are made to complete the task at hand. Mission trips are also a lot of fun. There's always laughing somewhere. Relationships are made and strengthened. Spiritual walks are deepened and our hearts are opened up to people we might never have met were it not for the trip. We are encouraged to hear what the Lord is saying to us this week. We know He's always speaking, we just make an extra effort to tune our hearts to His voice during our week away from home.
It's been a different trip this time because some of our usual friends that travel with us on these trips aren't here for one reason or another. Friends, you know who you are...you are dearly missed.
The Lord is certainly good to us. I appreciate him more and more every day.
Thank you, Father. What a blessing it is to be here on the mountain serving you. I love you so much.
Suz
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
day two--Jamaica
It's been a good day at the City of Refuge. We slept well last night and then went to church with the children this morning. We had fun in singing and worship, and then Pastor Steve Puffpaff, who returned home last night from a conference in Belize, and brought us the message. It was a good service and great to see the kids again.
Everyone seems to be doing pretty well. But this morning I just couldn't seem to wake up completely. My eyes were heavy and my body was exhausted, so as soon as church was over, I headed back to our room and went to sleep--without lunch. I know, I know. Suz? No lunch? Yep. That's how tired I was. And then I slept. I'd rouse around and hear what was going on outside my window and then crash again. I slept the rest of the day, all afternoon until time for prayer service at 6 pm...then Byron woke me up. I feel much better now than I did earlier in the day. At first, I felt a little embarrassed about it but it passed.
I have found great emotional rest, and, on this one, physical rest, in our trips around the world for missions. It's a time when we can set aside our responsibilities at home for a moment. It does no good to worry about them because we are too far away to tend to them. We have to let Jesus take care of our lives back in the states--and so we do. We pray, turn them over to the Lord and rest. At least that's what I'm learning to do. It's a learning experience, along with everything else in life.
Tomorrow we start working on the driveway. Lots of work in a little time. Pray for us that the Lord will bless our efforts and give each one strength in body. We love you all and think of you often.
Father, Thank you for your ever loving care for us. We depend upon you mightily. Help us this week, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, we pray. How I love you, Lord.
Suz
Everyone seems to be doing pretty well. But this morning I just couldn't seem to wake up completely. My eyes were heavy and my body was exhausted, so as soon as church was over, I headed back to our room and went to sleep--without lunch. I know, I know. Suz? No lunch? Yep. That's how tired I was. And then I slept. I'd rouse around and hear what was going on outside my window and then crash again. I slept the rest of the day, all afternoon until time for prayer service at 6 pm...then Byron woke me up. I feel much better now than I did earlier in the day. At first, I felt a little embarrassed about it but it passed.
I have found great emotional rest, and, on this one, physical rest, in our trips around the world for missions. It's a time when we can set aside our responsibilities at home for a moment. It does no good to worry about them because we are too far away to tend to them. We have to let Jesus take care of our lives back in the states--and so we do. We pray, turn them over to the Lord and rest. At least that's what I'm learning to do. It's a learning experience, along with everything else in life.
Tomorrow we start working on the driveway. Lots of work in a little time. Pray for us that the Lord will bless our efforts and give each one strength in body. We love you all and think of you often.
Father, Thank you for your ever loving care for us. We depend upon you mightily. Help us this week, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, we pray. How I love you, Lord.
Suz
Saturday, January 24, 2009
our first day in Jamaica
It's about 7 pm in Jamaica. After our hour-long Mr Toad's Wild Ride up the mountain we couldn't wait to get out of the small bus and stretch our legs. We gathered up our belongings and were assigned our rooms where we deposited all our suitcases and met on the lanai for a quick meeting as the Jamaican sun began to set with its orange sherbet hues in cotton candy pink clouds. After our short orientation we were free to settle in and explore the immediate area and ultimately relax.
Our travel here was long but mostly uneventful with the exception of my own ticket. There was some kind of ticketing glitch in Ft Lauderdale that took a few fancy-footed phone calls back and forth with our travel agent back home to get it straightened out. When my blogging about the incident was mentioned the agents at Air Jamaica were concerned that I would write unkind things about their service. I assured the two ladies that I had no intention of saying anything but good about them. They were professional from beginning to end and diligent to help straighten out the confusion. Air Jamaica gives us good service each time we fly with them. There are no complaints here. The glitch was fixed and I flew with the others in our team as scheduled. Even the landing was one of the smoothest we have ever had. It turned out all right.
Then there was the earthquake. OK. That makes it sound really dramatic and it wasn't that way at all but I like a little excitement every now and then. It was only about 5 minutes after we arrived as we stood outside our rooms talking amongst ourselves, we heard a large bump. I thought one of the children with us had kicked a wall or hit the wall with a suitcase, etc. It was short, and sweet and noisy. Then, Kim, the missionary, immediately received a phone call telling her that we'd just had a small earthquake. It was my first ever earthquake. How exciting! At least it's exciting for this small town Southern woman.
Breakfast is at 8 am, church with the children is at 10 am, and lunch is at noon. Then we have a couple hours to relax while the children rest and at 3 pm we have free time to play with them. It's going to be a full day tomorrow. Monday the construction work begins.
It's going to be a good week here at The City of Refuge. I can feel it in my bones. Although we've only been here once before, it feels a little more homelike each time.
I will set aside time this week to meet with the three little girls Byron and I support each month; Crystal, Denise and Abigail. Photos will have to follow after I get home. I'm just not that tech savvy.
Thank you, Father, for traveling mercies for our team. It's been a good day all around. I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds here in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. I love you more and more each day.
Suz
Our travel here was long but mostly uneventful with the exception of my own ticket. There was some kind of ticketing glitch in Ft Lauderdale that took a few fancy-footed phone calls back and forth with our travel agent back home to get it straightened out. When my blogging about the incident was mentioned the agents at Air Jamaica were concerned that I would write unkind things about their service. I assured the two ladies that I had no intention of saying anything but good about them. They were professional from beginning to end and diligent to help straighten out the confusion. Air Jamaica gives us good service each time we fly with them. There are no complaints here. The glitch was fixed and I flew with the others in our team as scheduled. Even the landing was one of the smoothest we have ever had. It turned out all right.
Then there was the earthquake. OK. That makes it sound really dramatic and it wasn't that way at all but I like a little excitement every now and then. It was only about 5 minutes after we arrived as we stood outside our rooms talking amongst ourselves, we heard a large bump. I thought one of the children with us had kicked a wall or hit the wall with a suitcase, etc. It was short, and sweet and noisy. Then, Kim, the missionary, immediately received a phone call telling her that we'd just had a small earthquake. It was my first ever earthquake. How exciting! At least it's exciting for this small town Southern woman.
Breakfast is at 8 am, church with the children is at 10 am, and lunch is at noon. Then we have a couple hours to relax while the children rest and at 3 pm we have free time to play with them. It's going to be a full day tomorrow. Monday the construction work begins.
It's going to be a good week here at The City of Refuge. I can feel it in my bones. Although we've only been here once before, it feels a little more homelike each time.
I will set aside time this week to meet with the three little girls Byron and I support each month; Crystal, Denise and Abigail. Photos will have to follow after I get home. I'm just not that tech savvy.
Thank you, Father, for traveling mercies for our team. It's been a good day all around. I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds here in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. I love you more and more each day.
Suz
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Missions Sunday
Our church goes all out for our Missions Sunday services. A few months ago Pastor Gary asked me to write a 20 minute monologue and perform it for our congregation on our church's annual Mission Sunday. He had a specific picture in mind for what I would write, how I would dress, and the ultimate message of my character. I accepted his request and did my best to work within these parameters.
Last Sunday, January 18th, was the day. In the midst of a fully decorated church campus, complete with thatched roofed stands serving Caribbean foods like jerk chicken, coconut pudding and fried plantains in the foyer, flags of a multitude of countries hanging from the ceiling in the sanctuary, and giant posters of photos of our own people from our church's past mission trips, I fulfilled my part...and it was grand. It was a tremendous day. What a rush!
As for my part, it was work, but it was joyful work. I researched what Pastor Gary wanted. I read Acts and Phillipians thoroughly and often. I familiarized myself with Paul's conversion and his subsequent mission to the Jews and Gentiles. I thought about how the day might have begun for the others with Lydia and I considered how it might have felt to be with her when the Apostle Paul met them at the riverbank on Sabbath morning. I imagined myself as a new believer in Jesus after hearing Brother Paul share his own testimony and the events that followed in the town of Phillipi. I thought about my character a lot and how she fit into the scheme of things as a new believer in Christ. Even so, before, after and during all that work, I prayed. The Lord answered and I wrote down what He gave me--my character's monologue in a simple, easy to follow story.
Once I got the story down, that part was complete and it was time to memorize--9 pages--but I didn't want to merely quote memorized words, I wanted to tell Myra's story. That's her name. Myra. Although I was the one who named my character, I know there have been many, many Myras and even Marks in the church's history. Those unnamed brothers and sisters of ours in the Lord who have, over time, served Him faithfully. They have worked and done their part and more to tell others about Jesus and the changes He makes in the lives of His children.
So, I began reading and practicing to get the words into this old brain of mine. It wasn't an easy task, but it wasn't impossible either. I practiced and prayed. I prayed and practiced. And at some point, it stuck. It worked. I could tell the story all the way through without skipping sections. As much as I practiced, it was prayer that cinched it. The Lord truly came through for me in this project. Without His help and blessing I would have been a stumbling, bumbling woman in costume trying to tell a story to our congregation last week.
I appreciate the compliments for the part I played in our special day at church. We all like to hear, "Well done," but I'm not writing this entry today for praise for myself for this project. Heaven's no! I couldn't have had less to do with its success than if I'd not done a thing.
I write this morning to share with you the faithfulness of God. There is no one more faithful than He. I believe He gave me the job to do and what He calls us to do, He will equip us for. So, it was the Lord who gave me the monologue and I can easily say, it was good. The Lord does good things. I take no credit for it. It was the Lord who helped me remember Myra's story, not my own doing. Of this, I have no doubt. Someone asked me if I was nervous on stage. Truth be told, no. I had no reason to be afraid of what would happen. The Lord carried me all the way from beginning to end.
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace...21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What a great God we serve! He bent to help me when I called on Him and He will do much more if we only ask. Jesus always proves to be faithful to us. The Lord was certainly a very present help to me in time of need for this project. He shores up my trust in Him over and over again.
Thank you, dear Father. All honor, all praise, all accolades are completely yours. You did good. I love you so very much.
Suz
Last Sunday, January 18th, was the day. In the midst of a fully decorated church campus, complete with thatched roofed stands serving Caribbean foods like jerk chicken, coconut pudding and fried plantains in the foyer, flags of a multitude of countries hanging from the ceiling in the sanctuary, and giant posters of photos of our own people from our church's past mission trips, I fulfilled my part...and it was grand. It was a tremendous day. What a rush!
As for my part, it was work, but it was joyful work. I researched what Pastor Gary wanted. I read Acts and Phillipians thoroughly and often. I familiarized myself with Paul's conversion and his subsequent mission to the Jews and Gentiles. I thought about how the day might have begun for the others with Lydia and I considered how it might have felt to be with her when the Apostle Paul met them at the riverbank on Sabbath morning. I imagined myself as a new believer in Jesus after hearing Brother Paul share his own testimony and the events that followed in the town of Phillipi. I thought about my character a lot and how she fit into the scheme of things as a new believer in Christ. Even so, before, after and during all that work, I prayed. The Lord answered and I wrote down what He gave me--my character's monologue in a simple, easy to follow story.
Once I got the story down, that part was complete and it was time to memorize--9 pages--but I didn't want to merely quote memorized words, I wanted to tell Myra's story. That's her name. Myra. Although I was the one who named my character, I know there have been many, many Myras and even Marks in the church's history. Those unnamed brothers and sisters of ours in the Lord who have, over time, served Him faithfully. They have worked and done their part and more to tell others about Jesus and the changes He makes in the lives of His children.
So, I began reading and practicing to get the words into this old brain of mine. It wasn't an easy task, but it wasn't impossible either. I practiced and prayed. I prayed and practiced. And at some point, it stuck. It worked. I could tell the story all the way through without skipping sections. As much as I practiced, it was prayer that cinched it. The Lord truly came through for me in this project. Without His help and blessing I would have been a stumbling, bumbling woman in costume trying to tell a story to our congregation last week.
I appreciate the compliments for the part I played in our special day at church. We all like to hear, "Well done," but I'm not writing this entry today for praise for myself for this project. Heaven's no! I couldn't have had less to do with its success than if I'd not done a thing.
I write this morning to share with you the faithfulness of God. There is no one more faithful than He. I believe He gave me the job to do and what He calls us to do, He will equip us for. So, it was the Lord who gave me the monologue and I can easily say, it was good. The Lord does good things. I take no credit for it. It was the Lord who helped me remember Myra's story, not my own doing. Of this, I have no doubt. Someone asked me if I was nervous on stage. Truth be told, no. I had no reason to be afraid of what would happen. The Lord carried me all the way from beginning to end.
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace...21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What a great God we serve! He bent to help me when I called on Him and He will do much more if we only ask. Jesus always proves to be faithful to us. The Lord was certainly a very present help to me in time of need for this project. He shores up my trust in Him over and over again.
Thank you, dear Father. All honor, all praise, all accolades are completely yours. You did good. I love you so very much.
Suz
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
strong, calm sanity and a quiet life
I don't like drama. You know, the kind of upheaval that happens when one person tries to force her opinion or her will on others. Or when every problem or glitch in personal plans is considered disaster, and every slight a catastrophe. There are enough genuine heartbreaks and troubles in life to deal with without overreacting to the small stuff. Many times these anticipated crises can be averted or won't even materialize with a little time and a little patience and it makes the wildly erratic reaction completely unnecessary and foolish.
OK, now that I've said that, the trouble is, when there's a glitch I've been known to overreact and panic with the best of the panickers. I am not proud of this but it is the truth.
My heart was pricked when I read Oswald Chambers' devotion about being intimate with Jesus.
Chambers writes, "When once we get intimate with Jesus, we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having His unhindered way...The only impression left by such a life is that of strong, calm sanity that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him."
Even the Apostle Paul writes about this drama-less way of life for God's children.
I Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed before. 12. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not have to depend on others.
We are inundated with messages to make this life as exciting as possible. Remember the old beer commercial, "You only go around once in life so grab all the gusto you can." (How in the world did I remember that?) I don't think this is an inherently bad idea because there is nothing wrong with experiencing many new and unique adventures, and serving the Lord is adventure in itself. After all, He is the Creator. New and exciting describes so much of life serving Him, but I also think this search for "the next exciting thing' outside of Christ spills over into other areas and creates drama where it wouldn't normally show up.
The worldly equation seems to be: Drama = exciting = living life to the fullest.
Go ahead. Watch an episode of Jerry Springer. I dare you.
I long to live a quiet life. Daily drama is a real threat to strong, calm sanity and ultimately to peace of mind and heart. It is not my friend.
Father, You give us stability when we'd be all over the place with our emotions and our feelings. With you we find a sure place to rest and to reside when life is in turmoil all around us. Help me find adventure in serving You and let me enter into the intimacy with You that gives me what I so desperately need. You are our hiding place, our rock, our strong shelter. I love you so very much.
Suz
OK, now that I've said that, the trouble is, when there's a glitch I've been known to overreact and panic with the best of the panickers. I am not proud of this but it is the truth.
My heart was pricked when I read Oswald Chambers' devotion about being intimate with Jesus.
Chambers writes, "When once we get intimate with Jesus, we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having His unhindered way...The only impression left by such a life is that of strong, calm sanity that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him."
Even the Apostle Paul writes about this drama-less way of life for God's children.
I Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed before. 12. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not have to depend on others.
We are inundated with messages to make this life as exciting as possible. Remember the old beer commercial, "You only go around once in life so grab all the gusto you can." (How in the world did I remember that?) I don't think this is an inherently bad idea because there is nothing wrong with experiencing many new and unique adventures, and serving the Lord is adventure in itself. After all, He is the Creator. New and exciting describes so much of life serving Him, but I also think this search for "the next exciting thing' outside of Christ spills over into other areas and creates drama where it wouldn't normally show up.
The worldly equation seems to be: Drama = exciting = living life to the fullest.
Go ahead. Watch an episode of Jerry Springer. I dare you.
I long to live a quiet life. Daily drama is a real threat to strong, calm sanity and ultimately to peace of mind and heart. It is not my friend.
Father, You give us stability when we'd be all over the place with our emotions and our feelings. With you we find a sure place to rest and to reside when life is in turmoil all around us. Help me find adventure in serving You and let me enter into the intimacy with You that gives me what I so desperately need. You are our hiding place, our rock, our strong shelter. I love you so very much.
Suz
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
a resolution of rest
I have laid aside my usual resolutions this year. You know, losing weight, getting fit, eating healthier foods, etc. etc., but I am already struggling with the one determination I have made--getting more sleep. Yep, I need to go to bed earlier and I just can't seem to make it before 12:30 a.m.
I don't know what there is about staying up late for me. I set my sights on 10 pm for a target time. You'd think that'd be late enough for anyone, but it isn't for me. I outlast Byron. He's conked out by 9:00 or at the latest 9:30 pm. Kayla stays up till 11pm. Then there's that last hour and a half when any sane person would crawl beneath the covers to wait for the dream fairy to tap her on the forehead and send her off to la-la land. It just doesn't happen that way for me.
If I make myself go to bed before I'm so sleepy I can't hold my eyes open, I lie there contemplating everything. Family, the pups, the next day, the next week, well, you get the idea. Many times I pray, taking advantage of the dark and quiet, but as often as not, my mind wanders and I get antsy. That's when I start to turn and twist like a chicken on a BBQ spit. Over and over I go. Shoving Treasure out of the way, getting all tangled up in the covers, wondering what in the world am I doing in bed so early! The urge to bolt from my bed is so strong, I can hardly contain myself, but I know what I'll do when I get up. I'll go sit on the couch, turn on the tv and veg out for a little while and maybe have a snack. I DON'T NEED A SNACK!
Then I get sleepy and head off to bed again. Sheesh. It's so aggravating. It seems as though this wouldn't be a problem if I could sleep in the next morning, and I do get to sleep a little later than usual because of the swap between middle school and high school starting times. I don't have to get up until about 7:30-7:45 a.m.
Trouble is, most mornings, Treasure has to get up to go out at about 6 a.m. and she's not about to hold it and let me sleep. She jumps at me, and pokes me with her nose telling me it's time to start our day. So, why take out one dog when 3 will eventually have to go potty. That's when the parade starts. First, I take Treasure off the bed, then I let Blue and Chico out of their crates to take the walk down the hall and through the kitchen to the garage where the pups head out into the dark yard to check their pee-mail.
After a few moments in the brisk morning air, we go back inside where all three dogs now snuggle down into their pillows and blankets in the family room and promptly go back to sleep for another hour. As for me, a few moments up and outside wakes me up...sorta...anyway, it's enough that I couldn't go back to sleep right then, but give me a couple of hours and I'm ready for a nap. If I can't take one, then I am drowsy and tired all day. It's a vicious cycle, I tell you, a vicious cycle!
So, I have one, solitary resolution because I'm just tired of being tired. When my body struggles to simply put one foot in front of the other, then I know my mind surely isn't working at full capacity either. Life has to be lived. There are decisions to be made, relationships to nurture, a household to maintain and projects that need to be completed well. If we have no rest, we don't function as well as we might. I am not yet succeeding completely with my goal but neither am I giving up. It's only one thing I'm trying to change. It can't be that hard. Can it? But, it is hard for me. I can't do it on my own and I don't want to drowse my way through this year.
Father, thank you for caring about every detail of our lives, even our rest. I need help to sleep and to awaken refreshed and renewed. I need your help, Lord. I love you. You are good.
Suz
I don't know what there is about staying up late for me. I set my sights on 10 pm for a target time. You'd think that'd be late enough for anyone, but it isn't for me. I outlast Byron. He's conked out by 9:00 or at the latest 9:30 pm. Kayla stays up till 11pm. Then there's that last hour and a half when any sane person would crawl beneath the covers to wait for the dream fairy to tap her on the forehead and send her off to la-la land. It just doesn't happen that way for me.
If I make myself go to bed before I'm so sleepy I can't hold my eyes open, I lie there contemplating everything. Family, the pups, the next day, the next week, well, you get the idea. Many times I pray, taking advantage of the dark and quiet, but as often as not, my mind wanders and I get antsy. That's when I start to turn and twist like a chicken on a BBQ spit. Over and over I go. Shoving Treasure out of the way, getting all tangled up in the covers, wondering what in the world am I doing in bed so early! The urge to bolt from my bed is so strong, I can hardly contain myself, but I know what I'll do when I get up. I'll go sit on the couch, turn on the tv and veg out for a little while and maybe have a snack. I DON'T NEED A SNACK!
Then I get sleepy and head off to bed again. Sheesh. It's so aggravating. It seems as though this wouldn't be a problem if I could sleep in the next morning, and I do get to sleep a little later than usual because of the swap between middle school and high school starting times. I don't have to get up until about 7:30-7:45 a.m.
Trouble is, most mornings, Treasure has to get up to go out at about 6 a.m. and she's not about to hold it and let me sleep. She jumps at me, and pokes me with her nose telling me it's time to start our day. So, why take out one dog when 3 will eventually have to go potty. That's when the parade starts. First, I take Treasure off the bed, then I let Blue and Chico out of their crates to take the walk down the hall and through the kitchen to the garage where the pups head out into the dark yard to check their pee-mail.
After a few moments in the brisk morning air, we go back inside where all three dogs now snuggle down into their pillows and blankets in the family room and promptly go back to sleep for another hour. As for me, a few moments up and outside wakes me up...sorta...anyway, it's enough that I couldn't go back to sleep right then, but give me a couple of hours and I'm ready for a nap. If I can't take one, then I am drowsy and tired all day. It's a vicious cycle, I tell you, a vicious cycle!
So, I have one, solitary resolution because I'm just tired of being tired. When my body struggles to simply put one foot in front of the other, then I know my mind surely isn't working at full capacity either. Life has to be lived. There are decisions to be made, relationships to nurture, a household to maintain and projects that need to be completed well. If we have no rest, we don't function as well as we might. I am not yet succeeding completely with my goal but neither am I giving up. It's only one thing I'm trying to change. It can't be that hard. Can it? But, it is hard for me. I can't do it on my own and I don't want to drowse my way through this year.
Father, thank you for caring about every detail of our lives, even our rest. I need help to sleep and to awaken refreshed and renewed. I need your help, Lord. I love you. You are good.
Suz
Thursday, December 25, 2008
this Christmas
We had a fun time last night on Christmas Eve despite my fretful, freaking out kind of nature. The only glitch wasn't too big, but it did get to me. My nephew and his family came to our house and in my efforts to see that everyone had everything they needed or wanted, I forgot to give the baby his present before they went home, so at 11:30 pm last night, after everyone had gone home, I was stressing over it. I called him this morning and apologized for my error and of course my nephew was understanding about the mix up. We couldn't meet up today but I will see to it that little Kieran gets his gift tomorrow. That's the plan.
The meal turned out well and I knew I'd fix way too much food. The ones with prior commitments ate their fill and left early to meet their other obligations. The kids played outside running around all willy nilly in the dark as kids do when allowed an extra measure of freedom because of a special event. They ran amuck and had a blast doing so. There were a few little girl shrieks and lots of laughing. Meanwhile, there was an enthusiastic Euchre match between Amy and Lane and Holly and Tony in the living room, hunting talk in the family room and girl talk at the dining room table.
When the evening drew to a close, we cleaned up the mess, put away the food and said our good nights. We lingered in the kitchen and told just one more story, said one more goodbye. Our farewells carried out to the driveway where we hugged once more, trying to stall the end of a really nice gathering. Then the cars backed out of the yard and onto the street for parts home.
I know that not everyone has smooth, drama-less, holiday parties. Emotions are often on the surface at Christmas and sometimes hearts are bruised by careless words and actions but without sounding saccharine, that didn't happen at our home last night. Family and friends came together, had fun together in ways that our unique to our circle, and went home happy. It was an uncomplicated and fun night. How I love the simplicity of it all.
Christmas day was beautiful with just our immediate family together to celebrate Christ's birthday. We have a late, big breakfast of bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, grits, eggs and orange sweet rolls. After we eat, and without cleaning up anything, we all go to the family room and my husband leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for all His gifts to us. It is my most favorite few moments of the entire holiday season. There is no commotion and frantic opening of gifts until we first thank Jesus for his blessings to us. This has been our Christmas morning tradition since our daughters were just little things. After we thank the Lord, then all gift-giving chaos breaks loose. I love that part, too.
Following present-time, the little ones and the dads play with their gifts and the girls and I clean up from breakfast. Amy pitches in to help the kids enjoy their presents while Holly and I put together our traditional Christmas day lasagna for later on in the afternoon. This year we tried out a new pan made just for lasagna. It's quite large and while Holly put together all the delicious parts of the dish, I directed from right beside her. She said I was a 'back seat cooker.' We fussed about the details and had loads of fun doing so. While it's baking, we all pile into our cars to visit Byron's mom for a little bit. We head home, eat our early dinner, which turned out delicious, and then part company for the rest of the day. After a full couple of days, I crash, satisfied.
Our ways of celebrating Christmas may be lots different, or not so different, from yours, and that's OK. What we do, our traditions, work for us, as yours do for you. Sometimes they stay the same for a long time, sometimes parts of our routine ebb and flow in change, but the truth remains that they are unique to our family.
I cherish our Christmas traditions and eccentricities. It's what makes the Adams' family, the Adams' family. These are the routines that my grandchildren will remember, and, should the Lord tarry, will pass along or at least tell their children about. Family stories. Family ways. Precious memories. I thank the Lord for them.
Father, Thank you for my dear friends and family. Thank you for time to spend with them all. Thank you for a peaceful heart. Thank you for an absolutely beautiful Christmas.
I love you, Lord.
Suz
The meal turned out well and I knew I'd fix way too much food. The ones with prior commitments ate their fill and left early to meet their other obligations. The kids played outside running around all willy nilly in the dark as kids do when allowed an extra measure of freedom because of a special event. They ran amuck and had a blast doing so. There were a few little girl shrieks and lots of laughing. Meanwhile, there was an enthusiastic Euchre match between Amy and Lane and Holly and Tony in the living room, hunting talk in the family room and girl talk at the dining room table.
When the evening drew to a close, we cleaned up the mess, put away the food and said our good nights. We lingered in the kitchen and told just one more story, said one more goodbye. Our farewells carried out to the driveway where we hugged once more, trying to stall the end of a really nice gathering. Then the cars backed out of the yard and onto the street for parts home.
I know that not everyone has smooth, drama-less, holiday parties. Emotions are often on the surface at Christmas and sometimes hearts are bruised by careless words and actions but without sounding saccharine, that didn't happen at our home last night. Family and friends came together, had fun together in ways that our unique to our circle, and went home happy. It was an uncomplicated and fun night. How I love the simplicity of it all.
Christmas day was beautiful with just our immediate family together to celebrate Christ's birthday. We have a late, big breakfast of bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, grits, eggs and orange sweet rolls. After we eat, and without cleaning up anything, we all go to the family room and my husband leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for all His gifts to us. It is my most favorite few moments of the entire holiday season. There is no commotion and frantic opening of gifts until we first thank Jesus for his blessings to us. This has been our Christmas morning tradition since our daughters were just little things. After we thank the Lord, then all gift-giving chaos breaks loose. I love that part, too.
Following present-time, the little ones and the dads play with their gifts and the girls and I clean up from breakfast. Amy pitches in to help the kids enjoy their presents while Holly and I put together our traditional Christmas day lasagna for later on in the afternoon. This year we tried out a new pan made just for lasagna. It's quite large and while Holly put together all the delicious parts of the dish, I directed from right beside her. She said I was a 'back seat cooker.' We fussed about the details and had loads of fun doing so. While it's baking, we all pile into our cars to visit Byron's mom for a little bit. We head home, eat our early dinner, which turned out delicious, and then part company for the rest of the day. After a full couple of days, I crash, satisfied.
Our ways of celebrating Christmas may be lots different, or not so different, from yours, and that's OK. What we do, our traditions, work for us, as yours do for you. Sometimes they stay the same for a long time, sometimes parts of our routine ebb and flow in change, but the truth remains that they are unique to our family.
I cherish our Christmas traditions and eccentricities. It's what makes the Adams' family, the Adams' family. These are the routines that my grandchildren will remember, and, should the Lord tarry, will pass along or at least tell their children about. Family stories. Family ways. Precious memories. I thank the Lord for them.
Father, Thank you for my dear friends and family. Thank you for time to spend with them all. Thank you for a peaceful heart. Thank you for an absolutely beautiful Christmas.
I love you, Lord.
Suz
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