Boojoyful

This Santa was so much fun. He threw me for a loop when he whispered in my ear, "Instead of cookies, how about leaving me a piece of your cheesecake?" I had just baked a cheesecake and I am thinking he must be one of the floor guys who was in the house working that day. When I asked how he knew I had cheesecake he said, "I'm Santa." We left cookies. December 30-31 The house is eerie quiet, as all the little ones have gone.  My heart misses them so much, but my brain says...REST. Yesterday, one of our three year old grands looked up at me and said, "How many more days until Christmas?" I couldn't bring myself to say, "361." Instead, I reminded him we'd just opened our presents and would enjoy them for a long time. The word that came to me was anticipation.  There is excitement in anticipating  the arrival of something. And it's so much fun when you view it through the eyes of a child. Anticipate-  "regard ...

December 29 My man tolerates so much.  The other night at about 3:30 in morning, I sensed he was awake as well and said, "Can you believe how bright the stars are?" The response was simply a "huh."  Chatty Cathy here went on to say, "I'm prone to believe with all those galaxies out there and with who God is, that God has intelligent life somewhere else as well.  We are such a blip on the scale of the universe." And on and on our conversation went until I fell back to sleep. We will have our answers one day! "...look foreward to when He will come again. When the glory that shined on Israel-the same glory that shines on us-will illuminate everything forever. A place where there will be no night, no need for a lamp or even the light of the sun, "for the Lord God gives them light."  Revelation 22:5 . Posted by She Reads Truth

This daughter is our talented artist. It shows up in her cookie and gingerbread house making! December 28 Our Merry Christmas photo got lost in the mix and madness around here and is posted down near December 23rd. Sorry. The timing of today's Biblegateway post is perfect! " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."   Matthew 11:28  We are on to celebrating with family number two and stopping right now to pray for each of you!

A gift of cardboard building squares.... brought about much contemplation... and fabulous final results! December 27 I had a great conversation with an atheist this month. We both expressed why our faiths had taken the various paths they had.  We both left the conversation with a great respect for one another, yet still attached to our convictions. I hoped my inquiries about her faith caused some contemplation. Instead of following God she has chosen to follow something called "The Secret." I asked: Do you worship with others?  "No" Do you sing praise to the Secret?  "No" Are there moral absolutes or any accountability of sin?  "No" No written Word to instruct, to follow, to bring comfort, or conviction.  No Body of Believers to break bread with, sing praise or gather together and pray with.  I think I'll stick with my Jesus who loves me enough to die for me. " I will instruct you and teach you in the way which...

Sweet having all these girl cousins in the house! December 26 Last night at bedtime I picked up a book to read to two of our grandsons. It was called The Other Wiseman . Ends up it was a very long book and probably a little deep for a bedtime story, so it didn't make the cut.  We went with a story about following the star! Everyday we make choices about what or whom we will follow.  The grocery store we shop in and the food we put in our mouths, the type of gasoline we put in our cars, the books we read, the news we follow, the TV programs we choose, the schools our children attend, the neighborhoods we live in and on and on it goes. Pulling up Chris Tomlin's 2011 song "I Will Follow" immediately brought to mind the mother in law-daughter in law team of Naomi and Ruth.  Ruth had grown to love not only her mother in law, but her mother in law's God!  What a great reminder that others are watching our faith walk. 2018 will be filled with decision makin...

Our friends who gave us their townhouse during our floor refinishing adorned their home with Christmas cheer. The wreath on the door even said, "Joy!" " Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days." Proverbs 19:20 December 24 I'm getting such joy from my Advent season and time with Jesus. Reading in Luke 1 where Gabriel says, "Now listen." caused me to stop and listen.  The song "O Come, O Come, Immanuel" was playing and reminded me our faith should be full of action. We are to come  to Him, rejoice  over what He has done, bow down  before Him in reverence, worship Him with joy,  sing praises to Him, and pray without ceasing!   A relationship with Jesus takes time, but when we remember God is the one controlling all of our days that should put a Christ centered perspective on our priorities! Ann Vosskamp's The Greatest Gift  book posed the question:  "What does it mea...

Merry Christmas to you from Shiloh!

December 23 There it is again...the reason that Jesus came. "You are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins." I'm tempted to hit the streets with a survey inquiring why Jesus came to earth. Even with the pattering of little feet running around the house and packages and cards coming through the door, the greatest thrill is to sneak away and spend time with Jesus.  While in Luke 1:48-54, the actions of God gave me reason to stop and praise Him. God...looks with favor on us,        ...does great things for us,        ...show us mercy,        ...satisfies the hungry,        ...helps His servants,        ...does mighty deeds,        ....scatters the proud,        ....topples the mighty. Amazing!

December 22 Here are some December words of wisdom.  December is such a visual month.  The stockings are hung, the tree is adorned, the packages wrapped and ribboned, the cookies are decorated, the glitter is applied and we look for that dress with a little bit of sparkle to be a hit at holiday parties.  And Jesus doesn't care a bit about any of that, for he's looking at the heart. "People judge on outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart. "  1 Samuel 16:7 "Our seeing must cut through surfaces and down to souls. It's strange how it affects us-from housekeeping to soul-keeping:if it's mostly the surfaces that absorb us, then we're mostly superficial. When my priorities aren't the things seen-when my priorities are rather the things unseen-it's only then that my life begins to have substance and weight."  Ann Voskamp So, we slow the pace and have someone sit by the tree and look into their heart instead of at their ...

December 21 Our neighbor called and encouraged us to join her on a back roads adventure. So, into the night we went. Curvy country roads, with only the stars to light our way, and THEN...WHOSH it appeared..a magnificent Christmas light show out of nowhere!  This truly stopped our car in its tracks. Light in the darkness is a fabulous sight. Just think...as the darkness of death over takes us, the greatest light we've ever seen will appear. " Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'" John 8:12

A live nativity is set up this whole week on Rt. 122 by Kroger in Westlake. They provide hot chocolate, S'mores and donkey kisses. December 20 We are treasuring having our daughter and her boys here with us.  Awaiting Christmas with a child adds a special sparkle to the season. There is such a longing for Christmas morning and for me that is a daily reminder of the longing I have to actually be with Jesus. How exciting that moment will be! A She Reads Truth author wrote: "God knew our distracted and discounted hearts would need to hear a voice to cut through the chaos of this world- a herald pointing to the good news to come, saying, 'Don't miss this!'"  So, John the Baptist was the man chosen to point others to Jesus. "One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me." Mark 1:7 People are longing to have the void in their hearts filled.  We can be pointers,  like John, pointing them to the One who can fill that long...

How cute are these two Minnesota grands and their giant tree! December 19 A couple Sundays ago,  I had to miss church because I was hauling a load of furniture to Charlottesville.  While driving I plugged into Thomas Road Baptist Church live on the radio and heard a wonderful gospel filled message from Jonathan Falwell. The service started off with the song, "You are what we've come here for." Can you say that about Sunday mornings. Jesus is what you've come to church for? To worship Him? The sermon title was "Why Christmas?"  It transformed my Advent.  In past years I've focused on "the Gift we've received" and the emphasis on us being open to giving that Gift away.  This Advent season the reminder in my mind is that my sin is "why Christmas.' My sin is what caused God to have to come to earth in a body and be Jesus to us and die for us. " But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of ...

December 18 She Reads Truth had an entry about how the first Christmas tree came to be. The story goes that in the 1500's the trees were called Paradise trees and were brought into the house on Christmas Eve and decorated with apples as a reminder of Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden and our need for a savior. Thinking about our tree ornaments brought reflection. At one stage of life we had a "designer" tree with all the coordinating ornaments and frills.  Each of our children had their own tree growing up (a tradition we started when we had two children, not seven) with their personal ornaments.  Now I've gone back to a tree with more personalized ornaments, especially ones relating to the grandchildren.  But after reading about the Paradise Tree, I've decided that I want our tree to tell the story of Jesus as much as a story of people who have gifted us lovely ornaments with sweet memories. "Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He did...

Jesus said, "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." John 8:12 MSG December 15 Tis' the season for lights! This one caught me by surprise. Walking into the bathroom of our Charlottesville hotel room, I cocked my head sideways to read the quote which lit up on the bathroom mirror. " You know our practice at placing our guests at their ease."   Thomas Jefferson Ease is defined as "the absence of difficulty or effort."  I LOVE that! Jesus is the Light of the World and he has come to be our ease.   There will not be an absence of difficulty or effort, but the load is lightened by allowing Jesus to walk through it with us.  Call upon His name.

Good-bye Nashville, we are heading to Virginia. December 14 Twenty years ago my husband, our five sons and I drove away from Nashville, with me sobbing, as we left our first born at Vanderbilt University.  This weekend our daughter will pull away from that exact corner where Lowes Hotel sits and head on a new adventure.  They are leaving so much love behind, but trusting God is sending them on another great adventure and it's so much closer to family! " I will bless you... and you will be a blessing to others."  Genesis 12:2 Ann Voskamp wrote: "He will bless you-the God of invincible reliability, the God who has infinite resources, the God who is insistent love. You can always go ahead and breathe-He will bless." This sweet couple thought they had purchased their forever home, but we all know that is in heaven!  We also know there is a Body of Believers in Charlottesville, VA just waiting to welcome them in to fellowship and service to God. ...

Our Minnesota grands visiting Santa. Hope you get to crawl up in God's lap of love today. December 13 Has anyone asked you what was one of your favorite Christmas gifts? I remember the year I received skies and boots, another year a new tennis racket, and one year a new sled. As a child, one year I received a doll and a beauty parlor chair. It was so much fun putting rollers in that doll's hair...then out came the scissors for her first hair cut, but that hair never grew back and she wasn't much fun without long hair to brush. We can't cut up or use up the gift of Jesus. It's the gift that keeps on giving into eternity. God's Word never grows old and unlike a novel we have read, we don't know the details of how it will end, but we do know life in heaven is a never ending story!

This Eiffel Tower lamp made me laugh! December 12 A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn! She Reads Truth posted this: "I love this line from the Christmas carol, "O Holy Night." The world was weary, tired, and broken . Yet, when Christ was born, hope came alive!" We've been weary in this floor refinishing phase at Shiloh, but we've seen Jesus in the kindness of others. Stopping by to drop something off at a friend's house she said, "Come in and let me make you some lunch." It was wonderful to eat without a mouthful of dust! Then she invited us to their neighborhood Christmas party, which was such a breath of fresh air for these weary workers. Another couple got us out of the mess and we went out to eat.  My walking buddy made us a fabulous dinner and we were able to walk to her home on a very snowy night.  The day which was probably the most discouraging, as I went to leave the...

December 11 Oh my, this transformed Bucket List needs to seep deeply into my heart. We are living in a mess, but it's no surprise to God.  We had hoped to have our floors refinished in November, but they got delayed until December 4th. Then the floor sander became sick..and on and on we go.  Nary a light, nor decoration is up, just a thick coating of dust covers the whole house and every nook and cranny. Sanding was to be done in one day, but it progressed into three. While it makes me so sad and overwhelmed to think about putting Humpty Dumpty (the house) back together again, God has provided for us in a most gracious way through a dear couple who has given us their town home to stay in and it's less than two miles away. The same friend gave me the Advent book The Greatest Gift  and it really ministered to me in these discouraging times. The key verse yesterday was: "Abraham called the place The Lord will provide. "  Genesis 22:14 Ann Voskamp wrote...

These are just a few of the Christmas lights at the Boar's Head Resort in Charlottesville. The decorations and lights are beautiful. "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying,  “I am the Light of the world;  he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,  but will have the Light of life.”   John 8:12 December 8 Peace:One dictionary defines it as freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility . Why do we desire peace?  It makes us feel better.  We want things to go as we planned. We forget God is up to good weaving things together! A friend and I were talking recently about choices people close to us make which can seem inconsiderate, leaving a hurt in our heart. That "What about me!" expletive comes out.  She laughed out loud, as she said we must remember..."It's not about us!" I'm having those feelings right now in the midst of a home improvement project. Paying big bucks for inconvenience after inconvenience and a lack of r...

A lamppost near the lake! "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105  December 7 The holidays stir up sweet memories and many of those memories relate to a loved one who is no longer here to celebrate with us. It can be a very difficult time of year. A sweet friend of mine lost her husband last month, another lost her sister this week, for one friend this will be the first Christmas without her mother, while a couple others are approaching the anniversaries of the loss of their children.  Each of you has a story of longing, I feel sure. Another friend eloquently email me on the topic of holiday grief: "When I was a child I never thought of Christmas as a sad time until I was 16 and my 7 year old brother died following surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Now, at Christmas even in the midst of the joy, I think of those I love who are no longer with me to celebrate. It is a joyous season and we wish everyone we love was...

Our son is an amazing home builder in VA Beach. Last year they finally got to build their own dream home and he built a gym/playroom over their garage.  This past week he has added a climbing wall element to two walls of the room. He painted this amazing design himself.  The holds are the next thing to go up. December 6 I can remember thinking of December as a month with mountains to climb!  Shopping, baking, costume making for school programs, party after party, addressing Christmas cards...whew!   Yet, the anticipation was so much fun. An email from Lifeway came yesterday and included this message: "During this season, we celebrate by remembering something that really happened-the first coming of Jesus Chris, born meek and lowly as a humble king wrapped in swaddling clothes all those years ago in that manger in Bethlehem.  But it is also a time to anticipate something we're still waiting for : Jesus' glorious return as the Mighty One of God wit...

Tree in the dining room at The Boar's Head Inn, Charlottesville, VA December 5 After just two days of seeking the Lord during Advent, I'm overflowing from the time with Jesus. Every radio message, devotional book, study guide and email I've received on the topic has left me enriched.  God has placed on my heart to focus on Jesus as the "LIGHT" of the world this season. So, I will try to bring that theme into the photographs. The phrase "Once and for all" was my revelation on Sunday.  I had read Isaiah 9:6-7 " For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;  And the government will rest on His shoulders;  And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,  On the throne of David and over his kingdom,  To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness   From then on and forevermore. ...

This is the view from our daughter's apartment in Charlottesville. It will be a big move for them after 20 years in Nashville. Lots of new perspectives, new friends, new opportunities to serve the Lord. December 4 God gifted me a new friend this summer who has been so much fun.  We just clicked and are both members of the NFL, Nuts for the Lord! Although she doesn't live her year round, we see each other at least once a month. She texted to inquire about my neurology appointment the other day and as I shared my discouragement she wrote back great encouragement. Here is part of what she wrote: "Oh my dear sweet sister...  This is a Psalm 46:10 time.  Remember the great I AM... Look how far you have come in your healing.  All I can say right now is this... I didn’t know the “Before Boo”.  I know THIS Boo and she is one amazingly wonderful sister who encourages many as she loves them IN THE LORD!!!  See you soon." It was such a perspective chan...

Brain Injuries: Put on a Happy Face and hopefully no one sees what it looks like inside your head. December 1 At the recommendation of one of my physicians, I went to see a local neurologist.  Having had the stroke in Nashville and adoring those docs and never hoping to have a stroke again, I've put off seeing a neurologist here.  It was a discouraging appointment.  Not up for sharing details here, but I want to address how we handle discouragement. Sitting alone in a dark room like I did that first night probably wasn't the best way to proceed, but sometimes we have to get alone and process! The following morning getting into Bible study was a healthy choice.  Accidentally, okay providentially, I ended up in Colossians 3:12-17 and I found great healing there. "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoev...