Mary

I finally got the Christmas spirit when I heard the wonderful news that my good friend Mary (Greenachers) had a baby boy named Hans on Christmas Eve. I am overjoyed and got so excited that I sang Mary's song:

“ My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant...For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

She will have her very own nativity sene this year!

A very Merry Christmas to all, filled with family and fun, peace on earth, and goodwill.

Five New Additions to Family

If you are looking to own a dog write to rodneyklein@excite.com

100%

I’ve been busy helping out with the school Christmas concert on the 20th and we are making progress. The children are improving and fairly well behaved. I totally lost my cool on Friday; I guess my stress tolerance level is quite low. I don’t know how our teachers, James and Stanley can do it; I definitely appreciate them more today.

I’ve always loved drama and I enjoy lending a hand. I’ve had to learn how to make a person look old with makeup, and the experience has been great. My house has been in ‘just keep it looking nice’ mode for a week, and I know that I have to be where there is a need, use the talents that I have, and give it my all, even if the next person doesn’t.

I do wonder why I should though.

…Is it because I want to be a good example?

…want to impress a person or group of people?

…be thought well of?

…show off?

…want praise?

…want the good feeling I get from it?

…imitate someone?

...or just because I enjoy it?

...All the wrong reasons.

Ananias and Sephira gave a lot, but then tried to deceive God and the disciples into thinking it was their all. Their punishment is what I want to avoid. So why should I do good deeds? Why should I give whatever I choose to give? I did promise at my baptism to give 100%...and I must have done that out of love and gratefulness for what I have been given on the cross. Is this still my main motivation for what I do? Is it love that pushes me on to give more?

Nobody can ask for more than what I give, if I want to give 20% it will be accepted, if I want to give 50% so be it. If I want to give 150% and bleed out my last drop, that is between me and God.

Can I give more? I know that some things, like cooking, (don’t get me started on that) demand my all and it may not be my cup of tea, special gift, or something that I can accomplish. Do I still have to give my all? What if my all is just shorter than the next person’s? Can I just say that I’m doing my personal best? What is my personal best? Whatever God lies on my heart?

He is the one who made us all with our unique qualities, talents, gifts. He will know what to ask for. He did ask that we do all we do out of love, and went so far as to say that if there is no love, we shouldn't bother.

Well, no wonder my soul searching always brings me back to this one theme: Love your neighbor as yourself. If I’m going to be understanding and even a bit lenient with myself I should be cutting my brother some slack to.

In other news: I’ve almost finished my second cassette; it’s got only bible stories on it. I just didn’t get inspired to do any others. I’m planning to have it ready to be sold after Christmas.

Judas has been bringing home some words from school to learn and knows them so well that we can’t even trick him anymore. He needs to be read to 5 min. a day and that is a pleasure. He has already got one pizza ticket.

No can do!! Maybe a post can only handle one clip at a time. I'll try adding it to this one....
What is going on??? Can't do it!!!

P.S.

Hello, can anyone tell me why my pictures are being replaced with a box with a red x in it?
And you may want to have a look at my Born Again blog one more time because I finally found the clip of a worm turning into a cocoon.

Moments

This is also for my Uncle Mike who just went to be with the Lord last week. He sure was somebodies angel and I'm glad I was on earth with him, I look forwards to seeing him glorified.
In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's'; more 'I'm sorry's.' But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it.. live it and never give it back.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what, instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day .