Miscellany Monday

     This week is going to be jammed pack with Christmas activities. On Wednesday night we will going to my Aunt Tammy's house to have dinner and exchange gifts. Two years ago my brother thought it would be really funny to show up in tacky Christmas sweaters. Of course Jeff and I, both having the sanguine personalities that we do, agreed that we'd show up wearing something ridiculous. So, Jeff showed up dressed like Cousin Eddie and I was his wife. He wore these outrageous baby blue pants with a skin tight cream turtleneck, and I wore a ragged plaid skirt (which may be used for this year as well) with this old Christmas sweater of my moms. I also added these huge, tacky earrings that were my mother-in-laws back in the day, and a handmade ribbon. (You know the kind that you wrap around gifts and can take scissors and make it curly?) It was absolutely hysterical. I so wish I had some pictures to show you.

      Anyways, every since that year, we have wanted everyone to dress in goofy outfits, and this year we have chose a red-neck theme. I am really not sure what I am going to wear yet. As I said before, I think I am going to incorporate the plaid skirt into the outfit and I'm not sure about the top. However, I do have a pair of coveralls that I will be wearing over my outfit for our entrance. No worries, I will definitely have pictures to show you all. I also googled handmade red-neck gifts, and came across the idea of putting dry beans into a zip-lock bag and labeling it, "Red-Neck Bubble Bath." I would like to do something more, but time is not going to allow me to do so.

     This will be the kick off of the Christmas festivities and will be followed by attending Christmas Eve service at church, hosting Jeff's family for dinner and gifts, going to my parents house for breakfast and gifts on Christmas day, and then going to my Aunt Rosie's house that afternoon. Needless to say, we will be going non-stop for a few days. With that being said, I am warning you in advance that I may not be very consistent with my blog posts. I am going to try to post a marriage tip tomorrow, and may be able to post on Thursday, but after that, I may be MIA for the rest of the week. Thank you all for being patient with me. I think that is all I have for tonight, but will leave you all with this...

    

"Have a Real Grand Christmas!"

Sunday Worship Song

     A lady from the worship team sang this song today at church, and it was so beautiful. They showed a video that went along with it and made it very moving. This song is off of The Story CD, which is definitely going to be the first album that I purchase with my i tunes gift cards that I get for Christmas. One of my favorite female Christian artists, Nichole Nordeman, wrote all the songs on the album and it takes you from the beginning to the end of the Bible through songs. Being the music lover I am, I cannot wait to get this. Anyways, this song is sang by Francesca Battistelli, and is written from the perspective of Mary. Our sermon today was on faith, and as our pastor pointed out, if it wasn't for the faith of Mary and Joseph, there would be no story. 

     As I put myself in Mary's shoes, I wonder what my response would have been when Gabriel announced that I would give birth, knowing full well that I was a virgin. What a disgrace she would now be considered to her family and community. What a slap in the face to Joseph, her finance, who also knew full well that there was no way the child in Mary's womb was his. What great faith Mary had when she said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me as you have said." I would like to think that I would have given the same response as Mary, but how could I ever say for sure that I would have been so willing to do so. After all, when Mary accepted this task she ran the risk of being stoned to death, losing Joseph, and, as I said before, disgracing her family. What a mature and selfless young woman Mary had to be to set all these things aside and simply trust her God. How I pray to have that kind of faith. Strong, courageous, unwavering.

     Not only did she have faith when the angel told her she would be with with child, but think about the journey along the way. As my pastor also pointed out, there could not have been a worse time for a census to be issued when Mary was so close to giving birth. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles. I have not yet experienced what it's like to be pregnant, but I have a lot of friends who have, and I would guess that they would definitely pass on traveling 80 miles, on a donkey, while being 9 months pregnant. Not only that, but then going into labor and giving birth in a stable. If I were Mary I'm sure I would have thought to myself, "This is the Messiah, the Son of God, and he is going to be born in a stable?"                

     However, the thing I love most about God is that He can redeem anything and make it beautiful, and how beautiful it is to think our Savior entered the world in such a state of humility. He deserved so much more than a stable and a manger, but as the Bible tells us He, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:6-8)

     What a sweet, sweet Savior that we serve. Jesus did not deserve the cross, but yet He knew it was the only way to save us, so that we may have the hope of eternity.  I am so thankful that Jesus did not stay a baby. He choose to live and die on the cross, and after resurrecting, is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God, waiting for the day when He can come and rescue us. I am looking so forward to that glorious day friends, and I pray that you are too. Over the next few days let's meditate on the humble way that Jesus came to this earth during His first coming, and gladly rejoice in the hope of His second coming, where He will forever reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Until then, I pray that God would make my heart a dwelling place for Him, and that I may have such an immoveable faith as Mary and Joseph.

My favorite part of this song is:

I'll hold you in the beginning

You will hold me in the end

Every moment in the middle

Make my heart Your Bethlehem

Be born in me

I also love this song by Mercy Me, which was written from Joseph's perspective. He also displayed a great faith when he trusted what the angel told him, and took Mary as his wife, and ultimately became Jesus' earthly father. I hope you all enjoy both of these songs as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Have a great night.

Marriage Tip Tuesday

     It has been entirely too long since I've posted a marriage tip, and for that I apologize. When I told Jeff it had been over a month since I've done a Marriage Tip Tuesday post, he jokingly said, "Oh great, marriage must be going bad." I can assure you, that is not the case, I just got really busy with school work and have had a lot of family/church events lately. Speaking of... Last Tuesday my church hosted a women's event with guest speaker Esther Burroughs. I had never heard of her before, but what a delight she was. She was so full of Godly wisdom and told lots of interesting stories.

     One of the stories she shared was that, when she was a young wife and mother she often felt very lonely, due to the fact that her husband was a full time minister who was very dedicated to his ministry. She told of a day that she went to visit her neighbor who was an older woman and a member of her church. Esther sat down with her and began to tell her of her loneliness and asked the woman to say a prayer and ask God to change her husband. The woman held Esther's hand and began to pray with her. She said the woman just kept thanking God over and over again for Esther's husband and the kind of husband, father, minister, man of character, etc. that he was. Esther said she kept thinking to herself, "Okay God, when is she going to ask you to change my husband." She then went on to say that, by the end of that prayer, she couldn't wait to get home and get her hands on her husband because she made him sound so good.

     I thought that was such a cute story, but also a good lesson for us as wives. It is so easy when we are frustrated with our husbands to think, "If he would just change and do..., then I wouldn't be so upset." However, this is a dangerous place to go and can be very harmful to a marriage. The next time you get upset with your husband, (and I'm speaking to myself here, too) instead of wishing he would change, let's begin to thank God for making him the man he is, and ask for God's wisdom to be a better wife. My prayer would go something like this... "Thank you Lord for giving me Jeff and allowing me to be on this journey with him. Thank you Lord, that he is a Christian man who seeks to do your will. Thank you for letting him love me so well. Time after time, Your tender heart and love for me has been displayed through Jeff, and I thank you for that. Thank you for the provider he is for our family. Please fill him with your Spirit daily, and please give me the wisdom to know how to love Jeff and be the wife that he needs me to be. Amen." 

     Speaking of a marriage prayer, I came across this sweet, amazing song the other day, and couldn't wait to share it with you all. What a sweet prayer and a good one to pray over your spouse on a daily basis. Hope you all enjoy this song as much as I did. Have a great night everyone!

Sunday Worship Song

     I love this song by Selah, and thought I would share it with you all as well. Happy Sunday Everyone!

Aliens and Strangers

     

     Today on my way home from work I decided to stop and pick up a few things from the grocery store. As I was walking in, I noticed a woman who was clearly not from here. (If I had to guess I would say that she was from the Middle East.) She had a cart full of groceries and a couple of bags in her hand. I also noticed that she had a very lost and confused look on her face, and she was looking all around the parking lot as if she were waiting for someone. I instantly thought to myself, "I hope someone hasn't left her and she finds whoever it is she's looking for." I was in the store for about 10 minutes, and when I came out I noticed that she was still standing there with that same lost look on her face.

     I almost walked away but felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to go and ask her if she was okay. I walked up to her and said, "Ma'am are you okay?" She looked at me with a surprised look on her face and it was clear she did not speak a lot of English, so I said, "Are you looking for somebody?" She said, "I'm waiting, somebody, come get these," while pointing to her groceries. I wanted to make sure she was okay so I said, "Oh, are you sure you're okay though?" She assured me that she was and I didn't want to be pushy, so I walked away and got into my car.

     As I drove off I felt as if the Lord said to me, "Ashley, you are no different from her." I then suddenly thought of the verse in 1 Peter 2:11 where we are referred to as, "aliens and strangers in the world." That's when it occurred to me that, just like the woman at the grocery store, I too am looking for someone to come and take my load, and His name is Jesus Christ. This world is not my home, but rather a brief stop on a journey to a much greater place. How I am anxiously awaiting for the day when the Good Shepherd comes to rescue His flock, and take us to lie down in His green pastures. With that I say, "Come quickly Lord, come quick."

Miscellany Monday

 

     Hey Blog Friends! Thought I would take a moment to share some miscellany that has been going on in my life lately. First, I will share our annual cookie day. My mom, three aunts, and cousins all get together around Christmas time to bake cookies. The recipe is from my great, great grandma who was from Germany, and who so graciously shared her recipe of German Lep Cookies (I just had to Google that to make sure I was spelling lep correctly because it sounds like lip:) After seeing the recipes online, I quickly decided that it is not the same recipe that we use, therefore, it is a secret. Muhahaha! Anyways....here are some pics that I took from this years cookie day. 

 This is the "cooling table."

Here is what they look when they are decorated. I did all of the mittens. There were a good dozen or so of them, so they kept me busy for a while. My mom did the adorable snowmen. She is so talented!

More Mittens:)

My Aunt Beverly did these "Rudolph Reindeer."

My Aunt Tammy did these snowmen. So cute!

Our first full table of cookies. By the end of the day, we had three full tables covered.

My little cousin Izzy had a blast decorating the cookies, but mostly enjoyed eating them. (As did I ;)

      I also wanted to share some pictures of my Christmas decorations with you. So here they are...

 This is my nativity scene that was passed down to me from my Mom.

This our "Dancing" Christmas tree that plays music as the lights go in rhythm with the song that is playing. With the title of "Incredible Light Show," who can resist?! Hahaha!

This is my Christmas table scape. Thanks to my mom, as each piece was given to me by her.

Here is a closer look at the dishes. Love em!

 This is our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree that we put in our sun room each year. It was the first tree that Jeff and I bought together and has some of our favorite ornaments on it.

This is our tree in the living room. I have had this tree since the 7th grade, and have had many ornaments that are on it since I was born. 

This is one of my most prized possessions. It was my Granny's and whenever she wanted to start decorating I would race down to the basement, and this is the first thing I would grab. Some of my fondest Christmas memories were made with her.

     Well friends, I think that's all I have for tonight. I still have to make dinner and my soul is longing for some quiet time with the Lord. I love to cuddle up with a cup of coffee, get my Bible, journal, and I Pod, and simply rest in His presence. So, that is what I'm off to do. Hope you all have a lovely evening.

Sunday Worship Song

     I will begin this post with another, all too familiar apology, for my lack of blogging last week. I am going to try to do better this week, but I will not promise anything as this week is jammed pack with Christmas festivities. On Tuesday, I am going to a women's event that my church has each year. On Friday, Jeff and I will be attending Marriage Rocks at church, and on Saturday my cousins are coming over and we are taking them out to look at Christmas lights. So, I would like to say that I will be more consistent this week, but instead I will say that I will do my best. I will definitely be posting tomorrow; I can promise that much. Here is another great Christmas song by Brandon Heath. I hope you all enjoy it.