I have always enjoyed this little devotion by Max Lucado from his study "Learning to have a Heart like His". As the new year approaches, it is great advice for 2011

Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence.

Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence.

Give God your whispering thoughts….Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God.

Give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Santa and I going over my list. Could the bangs be any shorter?

Christmas was wonderful time yesterday with my family. Food, laughter, good memories of Mom, stories, and games of Dominos. Last night I looked through pictures of Christmas' past and smiled as I remembered.

 Here I am the second one on the floor with my cousins. Do you remember Shirley Temple's movie "The Little Princess" with the little rich girl crying saying "I don't want a doll, I want a machine gun..."? Well that was me. My boy cousin next to me was my best playmate and we played guns. I still have that baby doll and it looks like new. The gun was worn out.

This was our first year of marriage and our first Christmas tree in our apartment. No one told me you had to water live trees. We had avocado green shag carpet. As you would sit there you could hear tingling sounds from needles falling in the carpet. They don't vacuum out. The rest of time we lived there you could hear us say "ouch" when we walked.

I love this one. Mom wanted leather boots for Christmas from Dad. She did everything she could to make sure we understand exactly which boots she wanted. The little A on them, brown, size and where they were and how much. I think close to $100. 

Dad said he raised girls to shop so he would never have to go in a mall in his life. So being the good daughter that I was, I went out and found a pair of white plastic "go go" boots, wrong size and wrapped them up. I don't know which face was more shocked--Mom trying to look pleased or Dad sick that he payed that much for those. She finally got the right boots.

This picture shows a family tradition that goes back as far as I can remember. The men eat too much, then sit down and undo their top button on their pants and go to dream world. The snores would run everyone out of the room.

I love looking back.

Traces of Ourselves

People are much like freshly fallen snow. As we interact with each other we leave impressions in each other’s souls. As we walk together we leave footprints in each other’s paths. As family and friends we leave traces of ourselves in each others minds and hearts. (Alice Britt Chole--Pure Joy)

“As Water reflects a face, so a man ‘s heart reflects the man.” Prov. 27:19

As the day approaches  that we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I thank God for His gift of His Son, and the gift of loving family and friends.

Mom's Advice for Me

We always long and miss our loved ones who have gone to their Heavenly home. But the Christmas season seems to make us think of them more. 

How much they enjoyed the season...how excited they were to see the gifts opened...that special food item that they loved the most...the love they shared every day.

I miss my Mom who has been gone almost 2 years now. I often wonder what her advice would be or how she would handle a certain situation. As I look through one of her many Bibles I find my answers through the pages she wrote on. 

 "Listen to His Spirit. We should take time to listen to what God may be saying to us! Prayer time is more important than talking!"
"God sometimes speaks to us in the quiet time of our soul."

 "The more we grow in grace, the more we will think of others." "Our character is measured by what we do when no one is looking." "Father, help me to use each day that you give me in a fruitful way that benefits others and myself."

"Praise God for: 
all your trials
all your victories
all your tears
all your times of laughter."
"For every moment you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness."

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell great and unsearchable things you do not know" Jer. 33:3 

Thank you Lord for a Mom and Dad who knew You, talked of You, and showed us the Way. Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me these truths.

The Peabody

We went to downtown Memphis yesterday and I was able to take some fun pictures. Cold, especially on the river (about 22 degrees). 

I always enjoy walking through the Peabody and was in the lobby when I noticed that the duck man (for lack of better description) was going to the rooftop to bring down the famous Peabody ducks; so like a good duck I followed. 

When he let them out of their cage and they rounded the corner, they were "strutting their stuff". (I didn't think it would be polite to remind them I have some on the pond that look just like them.)

It was cold and I was glad to see the elevator was waiting for me... 

Would you believe the little snobs wouldn't let me on? I had to run get my own. But I made it in time to wait with the others with cameras ready...

For the drum roll and the mighty ducks to come out...

Here is the funny part. I thought there was enough light that I didn't need my flash (I don't like the harsh light it puts out.) I wanted a mood setting. 

I didn't count on the little buggers going so fast...

 See them..See that little brown shadow..you can almost make out a foot.. I asked for "do over" but they paid me no mind....Who knew they were NASCAR Ducks.

I started to tell them I had a recipe for duck soup.

We have been given much

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48

We have been given so much in America, more is asked of us.

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night 

(from Casting Crowns, "While we were sleeping)
See more blogs at Spiritual Sundays

Ice Skating at the Zoo

The ice skating rink at the zoo. It was hard to take good pictures with the low lighting but great silhouettes.  
For more black and whites go to Black and White Weekend

Santa Paws and Woo-dolf the Weimdeer

 "Help Me!"

 "Do you have any idea how goofy you look?"

 "Why doesn't she make you wear one?"

"Ho, Ho, Ho, because I am older and wiser."

"He, he, he, older and wiser huh? I see where that got you."

 "Oh Lord, please help me! I have been a good dog, I have never even bit her. Amen"
"I think I am going to need therapy"

A Swing, A Tree, and 2 Kids

 EQUALS FUN

A Beautiful Sunrise This Week

 

 

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2

 For more Black and White photos see Black and White Weekend

Oh, That Child

The first time... maybe the sun was in her eyes. You can catch a person off guard.Yeah that is what it is.

This is the second...now this is looking real good through the viewfinder....One more shot just in case someone blinked..

I am starting to think maybe this wasn't just the sun...

What do you think?