SSMT

My verse for March 1st...
How can I repay the Lord for all His acts of kindness to me? I will celebrate my deliverance, and call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:12-13 NET

This is such a blessing to me! I can't believe I'm 5 verses in and I'm sticking with it. I realize when I think about how I'm doing I need to praise God in my excitement rather than fall into the sin of pride. This is a joy and blessing to me! I'm excited about how this is growing my relationship with my Savior. I always thought I was bad at Scripture memorization. But I think I must be getting a little help. :)

How are your New Year's resolutions going? Did you make any new commitments in 2011 that you are excited about growing in? Is there something new that God has shown you already this year and you have the ability to see the lesson? I find that I usually can't see until later in the year. I get so busy and caught up. It seems like it takes the reminder of Christmas for me to bring the past year in focus.

Christmas Cards 12/15/10

 

Vintage Snowflakes Holiday

Get custom holiday cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

I got to order Christmas cards this year! I've considered it in years past but really it's not fun until there's a precious little face to share. Maybe you'll have one in your mailbox. :) But if not, we still love you. Merry Christmas! 

I look forward to getting the mail this time of year. I love looking through the pile of junk mail and seeing a hand addressed letter. I know it's something different. Something I actually want to open! I love seeing the cheerful faces of our friends smiling up at me when I open the envelope. Each year I try to think of new ways to display our cards and I keep them up as long as I can! 

I hope you have a Christmas card in your mailbox this year, whether it's from us or other friends and family. Enjoy your warm Christmas wishes this year! Remember the joy we're really celebrating this time of year...
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Trying to Christmas Shop

I've started my Christmas shopping. But as I browse through the stores, I can't help but fall in love with stuff for myself!! 

I always get in trouble at Aldo. What can be better than a store that sells purses and shoes? Nothing. Well maybe if they also gave away chocolate. So I went in looking for shoes for my hubby and totally fell in love with this purse and these adorable wedge boots...

But I held firm and stuck to the plan and my budget. But boy am I looking forward to Christmas. I know Christmas usually means new clothes for me. Each year I think I should consider being more practical with my wishlist. But that's no fun!

I Wish Wednesday

I'm still thinking about winter and Christmas! :)

I wish winter was prettier in Nebraska.
I miss the beautiful snow covering the ground. I don't like seeing the dead brown grass all the time. Clean snow is so lovely!

I wish my excitement about Christmas would burn strong throughout the year.
This is more of a goal than a wish because, like I said, I think wishing is pointless if you're not going to do anything about it. I've been wondering... At Christmas time we have Advent to help us anticipate Christ's birthday. Why don't we have something that helps us anticipate Easter? (Lent doesn't count because it brings dread not excitement.) Because what Easter celebrates is a little more important and we should be even more excited about it. I love the songs and stories that talk about the veil being torn! It's such a vivid description of what happened on a spiritual level at Christ's death. And it means so much to me personally - because God no longer resides in the temple but in the hearts of believers!

I wish flying weren't so nerve racking.
I'm flying to visit my sister at college later this month. I've never been much of a fly-er. I usually get motion sickness or just really nervous. I'm not worried about the plane crashing (well maybe a little) but rather worried about getting sick. I really hate getting sick on the plane. I'm so thankful to whoever invented Dramamine.

Winter

Winter has been a little crazy so far this year! I'm not really a fan of the simultaneous snowing and blowing. I really miss the fluffy waist deep snows of the mountains. And I miss the road crews that could manage that. Our crews can't even handle an inch.
Anyhow, check out my new winter poll! If you have an opinion not listed, please write in the comments.

I don't really want to do a long in depth post about my Christmas, so I'll just say it was better than expected. I had to work more than I would prefer but some how all the driving back and forth worked out fine and wasn't too stressful. Justin had some gift mishaps, of course. But we loved everything we got! Christmas Eve service was great! I'm sad that Christmas is gone for another year. I love singing Christmas songs and feeling the excitement everyone has. I know most of people's excitement is about gifts or travel or Santa. But in church I hope the excitement is a reflection of their anticipation for the day of Christ's birth. Christmas is always so moving for me. All the songs we sing and the practices we have to prepare for extra programs remind me of the reason for the season. Christ's birth is so exciting! It's the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. The Messiah has finally come!! And that means that Easter is coming soon! That's my favorite part of anticipating Christmas - it's also looking to the promise and gift of salvation that was given through Christ's death and resurrection that we celebrate at Easter. Something about Christmas awakens my excitement! I hope I can hold on to it through the year. That's my New Year's resolution. :) I'm not really into those.

So that's my recap of recent days. Hopefully my next post won't be so far away!

Different Christmas

Apparently the Piper family doesn't subscribe to the Santa Christmas either...



Please comment! I would love to hear what Christmas traditions your family celebrate (even if they include the red-suited man)!

I Wish Wednesday

I Wish that it snowed in Nebraska the way it snows in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It's so beautiful! We always had a few feet of snow but somehow it never affected the roads. Apparently road crews are smarter in the mountains.

I Wish there were more days in December.

I Wish I were more dedicated to remember Christ in this Advent season as I anticipate Christmas. This year our church is not doing the lighting of the Advent candles. I actually miss it. I know that the ceremony of Advent is from pagan rituals (or is that only Lent?) but I have always appreciated the goal of Advent. I need to be reminded that Christmas is to celebrate Christ's birth and not a time for presents, family and drowning in busyness!

I Wish "Merry Christmas" wasn't taboo at work. I have never worked at a place where they specifically told me that I can't say Merry Christmas to people because they might sue the company. What is the world coming to when we can't say Merry Christmas because it speaks of Christ but yet I'm being dumb if I'm not a fan of Santa Clause or Halloween!? Yes, I'll say it - I believe telling your kids Santa Clause is real is lying to them. I never believed in Santa or celebrated Halloween and I don't think I missed out. Anyhow, that's a topic for another day! :)

Addendum: To clarify, I think telling children Santa is REAL is wrong, not that Santa is evil. If he is a tradition in your family enjoy, but be truthful so we can learn how to be thankful to those who gave the gifts. If we, as Christians don't encourage our children to learn to thank people in their lives for gifts, how will they learn to thank God for His many gifts and the greatest gift that we celebrate at Christmas?