Advent . . . it comes from the Latin. It means "coming."

Advent . . . to me, it means waiting . . .

So much of my life has been a time of waiting.

As silly as it sounds, I waited and waited for my body to develop like other girls in my class, praise God it did.
I waited and wanted my period to start, praise God, it too happened.
I waited for the guy I wanted to date since 5th grade (he finally asked my out our Senior year) and, praise God! we are still together.
I waited until out of college & had a first job for Ryan to ask me to marry him - praise God, he did on a carriage ride with a bowed knee!
I waited to experience intimacy for the one God had for me; praise God, He sent him.
I waited for 5 years for babies to come . . . now, praise God! I have 3 wonderful babies growing up (ages 12, 10, 9 in 2 days).
I waited for God to give me a true, sincere friendship . . . a kindred spirit . . . He has, praise God.
I have waited and wanted for big things in my life . . . how we praise You, LORD, that we never have to wait for You.

You are always near; always present; always by my side. Thank You for your patience and Your waiting on me!

In my quiet time this morning, I was so encouraged by the devotional (Ann Voskamp). She writes the following:

"There's a storming mess this side of heaven...
What was intended to tear you apart, God intends it to set you apart.

You can stand around a Christmas tree with a family tree like Joseph's, with cheaters and beaters and deceivers, with a family tree like Jacob's, who ran away and ran around and ran folks down. But out of a family line that looks like a mess, God brings the Messiah. What was intended to harm, God intended all of it for good, and no matter what intends to harm you, God's arms have you. You can never be undone.
No matter what intends to harm you . . .
God is never absent,
never impotent,
never distant.
You can never be undone.
In the middle of all our collective mess stands the most monstrous evil...The cries of the innocent Babe under the stars of Bethelhem twist into the agonized cries of the innocent Victim atop the injustice of Calvary. The holy dark over the manger gives way to the heinous dark of over the Messiah and the slamming hammer and the tearing vein and the piercing thorn--the created murdering the Creator.
The Cross stands as the epitome of evil.
And God takes the greatest evil ever known to humanity and turns it into the greatest Gift you have ever known..."

Praise You Jesus!!! Praise You!

Advent . . . You coming, You came, You coming again. We cannot wait!!!

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

I could listen to this song by Citizen Way every hour, on the hour. Oh, so beautiful are the words and I am reminded of Zephaniah 3:17 -

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
and rejoice over you with singing."

Let not this day go by without my remembrance and thankfulness for the gift of Jesus and the joy of Him singing over me. As I was not blessed with (or because of my own abuse of it) a singing voice per se' - I look forward to the day where my pitch will be perfect and my song angelic. Thank You LORD for a time of Thanksgiving; for time with family and friends; for time of reflection and gratefulness. Thank You for my girls and their daddy. Thank You for your amazing faithfulness to us.


We had Emily's girlie birthday party Friday night - swimming at AmericInn, Chicken Alfredo from Pizza Hut, High School Musical Movie Marathon and then play until they crashed! My goodness, I cannot believe she is almost 9 years old - the 1st of December! I think of that book (which I seriously did not like the illustrations - kind of scared me) where it says (like a chorus line almost) "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be". Dear Em's - as long as I am living, my baby you'll be--no apologies, that's just the way God designed it. As I dropped you off at piano lessons with Miss Carol today I just marveled at this precious little girl I am lucky enough to call my daughter! You are so special to us and we love you sooo much! I can't wait to be with you all day on your birthday; i love you little one, little 9 year old . . . okay, not so little, let's just pretend for awhile!

Here are the song lyrics; my Grandma Kaufman helped me to memorize Psalm 23 when i was just a little girl . . . Yea, though I walk . . .


Yea though I walk through the valley
I know that You are always right beside me
And I will fear no evil
You're my rock
And my strength
You comfort me

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
I hear You singing over me
I once was lost but now I'm found
And it's beautiful
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
It covers every part of me
My soul is silent
I am found
And it's a beautiful sound

You carry me through the waters
Where Your peace clears away all my sorrow
And nothing can separate us from Your love
Oh, Your love it will always be

You were healing in the pain
You were shelter in the storm
Hallelujah You restore my soul

Miss Lily

This is a quick epitaph for a sweet cat.

Miss Lily,
We are sorry you are gone.
You liked to be rubbed, under the chin, on top of the head and mostly on your belly (by me).
You were so pretty and fat and I really did enjoy you.
You did shed plenty.
You seemed to like the litter box more than the sand/dirt out back.
You adjusted to Max while you had too.
You freaked us all out at times when you thought you were a mountain lion on the prowl.
You found pleasure in dancing leaves and chirping crickets.
You did not like to be sprayed by water.
You understood Ryan and moved when he came into your presence.
I know you were a smart cat, because when I wanted to close the garage door you very conveniently moved in front of the sensor until you had your food.
You caught & killed some good animals for us - mice and a rat.
So, I really don't understand what you were thinking when you ran in front of my rear tire that Tuesday morning.
It was ugly and gross and I am so sorry, sweet Lily.

You were a good cat. We will not easily, if ever, replace you.
May you rest in peace.

Meow.

Pure Poetry . . . Miss Ann

Holy joy lies in the habit of murmuring thanks to God for the smallest of graces.

Sure, I mess it up and gripe a thousand times, but just like you keep doing the laundry, you just keep beginning fresh again — The habit of Thanksgiving is the one habit to wear for a lifetime. ~ Ann Voskamp

Oh my! Really, seems to be all I can say is, Oh My!



I recently found this author/blogger and Jesus Lover! So thankful for the ability to read her writings and let those words sink deep into my thoughts and reflect . . . and grow . . . and change . . . because of Jesus.

Her latest book is called "The Greatest Gift" (Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas). Okay - so I am a SUCKER for Love Stories. Like some of my favorite are:

Pride & Prejudice
the Phantom of the Opera
the Princess Bride
Legends of the Fall
Gone with the Wind
the Thorn Birds (yes, I really do)
the Twilight Series (crazy, was enamored with book 1)

and, my all time favorite,

Jesus Loves Me!

I am only beginning to realize how it is really all about Him, about the Christ, about Jesus Messiah.

Here is what I am talking about - read it up, soak it in, let His love permeate your soul today. God Bless~

From her book, Your Invitation to Unwrap the Gift (the intro):

"The mystery so large becomes the Baby so small, and infinite God becomes infant.
The Giver becomes the Gift, this quiet offering. . .

It's the way the Gift unwraps; you have Christ's family tree...before you have a Christmas tree. IF you don't come to Christmas through Christ's family tree and you come into the Christmas story just at the Christmas tree--this is hard, to understand the meaning of His coming.

Because without the genealogy of Christ, the limbs of His past, the branches of His family, the love story of His heart that has been coming for you since before the beginning--how does Christmas and its tree stand? Its roots would be sheared. Its meaning would be stunted. The arresting pause of the miracle would be lost. . . and the family tree of Christ always gives you hope. . .
The Gift who hung on a Tree for us, cut off.
The Gift who was pierced for you, wounded--your wounded, willing God, who unfolds Himself on the Tree as your endless, greatest Gift."

Thank you Ann. Thank you Jesus Christ - we adore You!!!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Here is a Good Man

This is a shout out to my husband!

Ryan, I know I have told you how much I love you and what a wonderful husband & dad you are to our girls.

I need you to know it, deep down in the depths of your heart - how precious you are to us!

I thank God for His gracious gift of you to me . . . I thank Him for your parents who raised you and taught you about the greatest gift, Jesus. I am grateful for the gifts God has given you and how you use them to honor Him.

I pray for His blessing, His favor, His wisdom to you . . . so you can lead a life, lead our family, lead at your job an example of what following Jesus means.

I also know we have been through some amazing things together . . . disorders, marriage, sadness & death, happiness & life, business & craziness, leading our girls in the best thing yet - accepting Jesus into their hearts and so much more.

We KNOW, though maybe not always like and/or understand God's timetable. We don't need to. We do need to trust Him and follow Him. I am asking Him to give us direction, and give us ears to hear and a heart to understand. I love you dearly. I hope you have a good day and a great week!

Love,
M.

p.s. the girls were out on the swing this morning when I could not find them - thx for putting up for them; they love it!