Hustle and Bustle Overload...

Christmas is a wonderful time of year; the most joyful of all I believe with sounds of the season, checking the mail to find beautiful Christmas cards and letters from family and old friends. I love to sit and enjoy every Christmas tree I can get my eyes on, with all the lights and sparkly ornaments. I love snow globes since that's about as close as I'll ever be to seeing the stuff fall. I LOVE Christmas! However, the holiday season can quickly turn into a ball of stress with all the hustle and bustle; sadness can creep in as we remember loved ones who are no longer with us. Time seems to pass us by and we long to reach back somehow; hanging onto sweet memories of Christmases gone by. The tinsel and sparkle can dim in the busyness of last minute shopping, financial stress, travel arrangements, emotional overload, overeating, and having to be so many places at once. Not to mention the regular daily going's on like laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, taking care of little ones; plus going to work every day or hauling kids to school, church activities and extra rehearsals. Then if a kink in things happen, like sickness or surprise household repairs, family squabbles, financial devastation, etc., we can very well see our joy go out the window in a flash; leaving broken and shattered dreams behind that we haven't the strength or energy to clean up. As for me personally, I can see that last minute shopping spree approaching. The madhouse I'm about to enter out among the shops and discount stores is not a pretty sight as it edges into my mind's eye. I sit here at work knowing quite well that if I could only leave this computer and hit the streets, I could avoid all or most of the upcoming turmoil. On the positive side... most of our shopping is done and I only need to pick up a few more items; most of which I haven't the foggiest as to what to buy.... therein lies the stress. All this to say, I was reading "Fullness Online", a prophetic publication I receive daily through email on my trusty computer, and this word; straight from the Father I believe, seemed to leap off the page and into my heart. An encouragement for all of us perhaps. Sweet words from heaven.... so, Merry Christmas!

December 19, 2007 Last night late I became overwhelmed with my "to do" list and this was the list I had to do before I went to bed. I stole away from the hustle and bustle and got on my knees before the Lord. I told him, "I don't think I can do all that I have to do." I felt like quitting but got up and started on the list. The rest of the evening my work became a breeze. He says today, " Unload your mind on Me. I know how to make your time double time without the stress you have before coming to Me. You are doing well my precious one." Psalms 18:19-20 'He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness."

- Bev Robinson

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl...

How I remember that day 34 years ago! We lived in Abernathy on that very windy and cold winter's day. Our home was a 12x60 trailer parked on a vacant lot with a little wire fence and our trusty bicycles chained to the post. We had sweet and caring neighbors and grandparents close by and didn't even realize how blessed we were. I had cleaned and tidied up the best I could at 9 months pregnant... and counting. Over and over again I cleaned as each day came and went, for a couple weeks. Every day seemed like it might be the one to the point I thought maybe this was a terrible joke and I would stay pregnant forever. We had been timing contractions off and on for days and then... that special morning happened. I told your daddy what was happening so he rushed to school to make sure he had things in order for his substitute, chatted with some co-workers while I washed my hair and did my nails. I was trying my best to take care of a two-year-old Coby and make sure I had packed everything, but was having to stop every 5-7 minutes to practice the breathing techniques we had learned in our childbirth classes. We called Gma and Gdad to let them know it was D-day and I waddled to the car. We left Coby with Granny and Pap and headed to University Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. This experience went much smoother than our adventure with Coby and our desire to use Lamaze; not nearly as much persecution, and your daddy was allowed in the delivery room! Breakthrough let me tell you. The choices we made regarding our birth experience was still either frowned upon as though we had committed a criminal act, or admired greatly; depending on which nurses were on duty. Either they had turned the corner to embrace this strange new philosophy of a mother's right to decide rather than being strapped down, drugged, and a baby being ripped out of her body with no memory left of what had happened to her, and with no support of a loving family around her... or they had not. We were glad to be a part of that pioneering group of young parents in our day and I believe all you young mommies have reaped blessings and better health care for you and your babies, in part, from the courage of our generation; daring to be 'different' in the face of scoffers and the judgemental mindset of some medical staff and family members. It is 4:29 PM as I am typing this blog entry. 34 years ago, I'm sure I was employing fast-panting, keeping my eyes glued to a focal point, and your sweet daddy was rubbing my back until his hand went numb. The nurses even brought me extra pillows so I could be more comfortable; a nice change from the hefty old girl who threw an extra pillow at me when I was in labor with Coby as she sarcastically said, "Is this part of your little deal?" I remember my childbirth teacher during my pregnancy with you Amy; a young mother herself, coming in from the cold parking lot to check on us. Her hands were still cool as she took Daddy's place and rubbed my back during contractions. Her countenance was so gentle I remember, and she was a source of much needed encouragement during that hard transitional time. I'm thankful for her to this day. She told me I was doing a good job and that I could make it, just when I was beginning to wonder if I really could. Around 5:00 I was about ready to start pushing, so they moved me to the delivery room; dad got his sterile gear on as though he were a surgeon and helped me move from the gurney to the delivery table. Oh how I sometimes envy you girls getting to labor and deliver all in one room; in one bed with that relaxing atmosphere. At 5:55 on December 5, 1973 my sweet Amy girl was born. My namesake. Your sweet little round face and big wondering eyes won my heart the moment I looked into your face. Light brown hair as soft as a bunny rabbit and a rosebud of a mouth. I could hardly take it in how much I loved you; my baby girl. Amazing!! I guess the next memory I have is when Grandme, Granny's mom, came to visit. I had laid you on my bed to sleep and we were sitting in the living room visiting for a minute before I took Grandme back to see you. Suddenly we looked up to see Coby carrying you with his little arms wrapped securely around your neck as he wagged you into the room with such pride. I didn't want him to drop you, so I slowly walked toward him and softly said, "Thank you Coby for bringing your little sister to meet Grandme." With a sigh of great relief I took you from him, cradled you in my arms and handed you to your great-grandmother. Talk about sucking the air out a car! Good grief!! I think there were about 4 grown women in that room and the whole house could have been air-locked; tightly sealed with no way of breaking it. You and Cobynever knew there had been any danger at all. Oh the innocence of children! I love remembering and I am so glad babies don't stay inside their mamas any longer than nine months!!

Merry Christmas God...

Dear God,
I want to tell You that I love You today. You have loved me with an everlasting love and I am so grateful that I am learning to love You back in that way as well. I know I don’t always do what You have for me to do. I fail so many times; yet here You are; loving and caring for me in extravagant and perfect ways. That’s just how You are, isn’t it? Your love covers a multitude of sin and causes fear to flee. Thank You for that Lord. Thank You so much that I have nothing to fear when I am walking with You; running with You wherever it is that You are going. Thank You for leading me, for making a way for me when things seem… even impossible. I am continually in awe of You. How a Holy God can take care of the whole universe; keeping the stars, sun, moon, and the earth in place and moving is beyond my thinking, but even more, I am amazed at how you can be so big and yet see the details of each person You’ve ever created, take time to count the hairs on our heads, and put up with all our childish and foolish ways. Thank You for Your mercy; for loving me in spite of myself; for growing me up by your Spirit and teaching me Your ways and purposes through Your precious Word. Thank you for loving me so much that You would come to earth as a tiny newborn baby, grow up with the same temptations that are common to man and yet not sin. Thank You for taking my sin upon your perfect and blameless self; for suffering and dying for me so that I could be forgiven and forever live with You. If you had stopped right there it would have been enough, yet You lavish Your blessings on Your people in so many ways. Thank You for this Christmas season when sharing Your love with a hurting world is made a bit easier because it’s all about You anyway. Thank You for teaching us to give, expecting nothing in return. Thank You for Your provision, Your peace, hope for the future, and the excitement and expectancy of knowing we can be a part of whatever You might do next. I love this adventure with You Jesus. You are my friend that sticks closer than a brother and I am safe with You. I love You.

Merry Christmas
Love, Jeannie

What I Love About Christmas...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both, but wrapping paper is more fun to unwrap
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, but I love the smell of a real tree and hope to have one out on our porch.
3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? I try to have it down by the first week of January
5. Do you like eggnog? No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A baby doll with a face that looked real; a surprise swing set. Was amazed that Santa knew how to put that thing up in the middle of the night.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? I have one but can't find it. Weird I know. I'll get another one this year for sure.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Pretty much all the men in my family.
9. Easiest person to buy for? The babies.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?One year Santa got mixed up and gave my sister a pretty baby doll and I got something like a Barbie. I was so disappointed I hid and cried.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail. It just seems more personal.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love the old "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I always say I'll be finished by the second week of December, but inevitably we'll be shopping on Christmas Eve for those last minute treasures.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so, but not sure.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint stick off the Christmas tree
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Mary Did You Know?"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I always liked being home on Christmas morning and Darrell and I still like the idea of it; it is a bit lonely though with all our kids not being there like the old days. We love going to their homes though to see what's underneath their trees and to have meals and good visits together; it's different than before, but still good.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Nope
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star... the same little piece of cardboard covered in aluminum foil that the kids and I made years ago when they were little. We had no money to buy decorations and that little star is such a treasure as it reminds me of how much love we have for each other regardless of our circumstances.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We've always opened gifts first thing Christmas morning. However, I too love the PJ tradition on Christmas Eve; maybe Poppie and Gibbie will start a new tradition in this second half of life.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? This is not annoying, but I think it's sad that there are so many folks who are sad and depressed during this time of year because of memories of personal loss through death or divorce; not having a job or the finances to buy presents for their children; and that they see this happen year after year with no hope in sight. So very sad.
23. What I love most about Christmas? I love the sparkle of Christmas lights and decorations. I love that the weather finally resembles winter with cooler temps and leaves of gold and bronze and red. I love fires in the fireplace, Christmas music as I sit quietly with a cup of hot chocolate looking at all the dazzling memories of past Christmases hanging on our tree. I love our cozy Christmas house, the hustle and bustle of shoppers even though I'm not a great shopper. I love driving around with the radio on a station that plays continual Christmas music while looking at the Christmas lights in pretty neighborhoods. I love the smell of Barnes and Noble; browsing through all the Christmas books they have displayed in the center of the aisles and the smell of coffee. I love going to a Christmas Eve service with family; celebrating our King and Lord together with other believers. I love being with my children and their children and my mom and dad; my sisters and their families. As Emily said... "There is so much to love" about Christmas.