Remembering....

Don't you love this picture? It was taken by my friend, Cindy Tucker at a Via Crucis at Easter time. Cindy takes great pictures, I'll be posting some she took of my family this fall. Any way, if you look closely, you'll see that I use a fraction of it in my header photo.

But I like the reminder. You see, we celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus. But I like to remember WHY he came. He came to die. He came to save us from the awful things you see on the crown above. He came to save us from our sinful selves. THAT'S why we celebrate Jesus! Thank you, Father!

I pray all of you will be blessed by the King this Christmas!

This Christmas....

May you know the blessing of Christ the Savior. He came and lived and died and rose again, that you might have eternal life.

May you be surrounded by friends and family and laughter and love.


(My navitivy set was an amazing birthday present, okay, I admit it was my 40th, from my family and my husband's family. It was quite a blessing. I was saying just today that I could leave it out all year around.)

A Dickens of a Christmas

Cute title, huh? This was the title of the Christmas play that Gracie was in at school....let that sink in a bit.....my daughter is in public school! And yes, they used the word Christmas!!

It was a cute little play based on, I know you are shocked, Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Grace played the part of Scrooge's nephew's wife. I was so proud of her! She did a great job and has a beautiful singing voice.

Merry Christmas, to one and all!!

Ramblings....

It would be easy to be depressed today. It is cloudy, again. My house is a mess, still. I'm still tired from Sunday night. Josiah was up sick until after 2:00. I am not losing weight. ARGH! I have a ton of laundry to do. Elliana is screaming at me that she "still hungry!" I won't bore you with how much she has eaten today. We found out that our dear friend's visa is not going to come through in time for him to be here for Christmas. Another close friend of mine has been sick for weeks and the doctors can't seem to figure out the problem.

A lot of little things and a few big things. The perfect recipe for me to have a really difficult day.

And yet, I'm okay.

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”- Luke 1:46-47,49

Scholars believe Mary was very young, a girl in her early teens. She knew the stigma in her society that came with being an unwed mother. She hadn't talked to Joseph yet. She didn't know if he would still marry her or not. In fact "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." Matthew 2:10

And yet, Mary praised the Lord.

Wow. I sure don't do that like I should. When it gets tough...praise? That's hard to do when I am whining! Paul tells us 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. " 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18. That's another tough one.

But being full of joy doesn't mean being happy and smiley all of the time. It means knowing the joy that can only come from God. The joy of knowing you are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, for me, that is a very quiet kind of joy, and I have to work really hard to find it. Pray in the good times and the bad. ALL THE TIME!! CONTINUALLY!!! And give thanks, IN all circumstances. I am so glad that doesn't say FOR all circumstances. No matter what is going on, I know that God is still God. He is still in control and he will do what ever is best for me to serve him, to glorify him!

Mary's Song

46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful

55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."

Luke 1:46-55

Pics of the process...

The Raising of the Tree

Where it will stand

Makes Charlie Brown's tree look pretty good, don't you think?

Ready for ornaments.

The finished product.

Confession....

I haven't put up the first Christmas decoration!

Because of God's Great Love

For those of you who have asked or wondered, the Jobe crew is healthy. Thank you for your prayers!

May the peace of Christ by yours this Christmas....




Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.