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You know I make a list almost every day with what has to be done that day. Today is cleaning day and I am trying to finish up the Christmas decorating. I need to freshen up the chicken coop. Caleb and I are finishing up his last year of school~ no stress there. I need to get a package ready to send to my grand-Boston for Christmas. Those Christmas cards need addressed. Well as you can see my list each day never gets shorter. I know you are much the same. How about you? Is your list a mile long today?

Thanksgiving is behind us and it is time to get merrily busy for the most wonderful time of year.  The Christmas season is here. Our calendars are full. Our bank accounts are getting empty. Our hearts and lives seem to be crowded with things we deem important but have we made room for Jesus?  Each year I seem to realize there are more important things in life than my never ending to-do list.

I just don't want to think of a world without Christ! Yet ~ how often do I get so caught up in living that I live my life as though He doesn't exist? This time of year is busier than most and I confess I get so busy I leave no room for Him. How about you?

 Oh ~ I make mental notes each year to not allow it to happen. Then on  Christmas Eve I silently pray for God to forgive me for crowding Him out once again.

I just wonder what was the inn keeper's excuse the night he had no room for Jesus? He was surely over extended with an inn full of all those weary travelers who had returned to be taxed. I am sure he was busy feeding and tending to the people~ even probably being a servant to those who needed rest from the long journey. I am just sure he was exhausted himself. Was that his excuse for turning away the King of Kings?  He must have had some sympathy for he offered them his stable. Yet ~ he had no room.

I am planning to make room for Jesus this year. I am putting Him on the calendar first this year. I don't ever want it to be said of me that I had "No Room."

Oh~ where does the time go? Are you all decorated for Christmas? I am trying but I seem to be turning in circles. We are back in Missouri. Hannah is unpacked and Jacob has landed in Afghanistan. Grammy has dried her tears but I am missing my Washington grandbaby so very much. Back to a new normal~ or at least doing my best to get there. 

 If I am not careful all the planning, work, decorating and everything else that goes along with "being merry" has a tendency to rob me of my joy. It really is not so important if it all gets done but it is very important not to leave Christ out of it all. 

Just reminding myself and you too if you are listening.

Never doubt in the morning what God has promised you in the night. Don't let anything or anyone take away your joy ~ it is yours to have and hold.

"Isn't life glorious!

 Isn't it grand!

 Here-take it-hold it tightly in your hand;

 Squeeze every drop of it into your soul. 

Drink of the joy of it, sun-sweet and whole!

 Laugh with the love of it, burst into song! 

Scatter its richness as you stride along!

 Isn't life splendid-and isn't it great.

 We can always start living-it's never too late!"

-Helen Louise Marshall

John 16:22

 (KJV)

 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, 

and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

. 

How does time go so quickly? I am up above the clouds and heading back to Missouri. I had a wonderful time in Washington with my Washington kids. I had so much fun with my little Boston. He is a ball of fun and very smart. We colored and colored and colored some more. We watched Charlie Brown's Christmas and Rudolph and a few other movies too. I am trying to remember I can eat lunch with him any time I want. He is only a flight away. It helps with the tears.



Jacob is on his way to Afghanistan. Hannah and her Dad have made their two day drive back to Missouri and have already unpacked. Wow- what sad goodbyes. This Military thing is tough. I guess I need to harden up to it but I am not so good at it.



It helps in knowing that God has a plan for my children bigger than mine. So I quietly pray my prayers asking for my heart's desire for them all to be a bit closer but trust God to answer according to what is best for them all.



I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already again. Are you ready? I am not so I will be hitting the ground running. I am counting me blessings today. I am so thankful for those Wright brothers this morning- so I can fly all the way across the states and see my kids. What a blessing! I never want to take for granted the opportunity to be able to do so.


I watch my little Boston as he places such great trust and faith in his daddy and it reminds me that I too can trust my Heavenly father with child like Boston faith. I can rest assured that he has it all in His hands....He has it under control. Now that is something to celebrate today.


I pray that you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving!

I am writing from Washington this morning.......yep I am here with that grandbaby. We are having a time. The boy loves to color, work puzzles and play games. So I know you can guess how I am spending my time.


 This morning my devotion was called, Standing By The Beans. I seem to have turkey and ham on the mind so my thought was why are we discussing beans the week before Thanksgiving. Well let me fill you in.

 Shammah was one of King David's men. He was assigned to stand guard over the field of lentils (just plain ole' beans)- just a lowly assignment. Yet, I am sure it was the livelihood of many. He was faithful to his duties no matter how trivial they may have seemed. There were others there but the Bible tells us they all fled. I wonder if they thought is was a job that was beneath them. Not Shammah- he stayed and stood guard when all the others fled the scene.

 Guess what? Standing guard over a field of beans did not sound so appealing but then an army of Philistines showed up. Shammah defeated that entire army by himself landing himself right in the pages of God's Word as a great man after David. God helped him fight that battle because he had been faithful to do the little and unnoticed job. He became a hero for standing by the beans. 

We live in such a ego-inflated society. We look at what people do,   what they look like and how much money they make to decide their worth. Well I am here to tell you that God will help us fight our battles too if we continue to remain faithful in the simple tasks that God calls us to do. It may seem like your day today is as unimportant as standing by the beans. May we all be encouraged to remain faithful because just around the corner is a victory waiting! Woo hoo.... Now that makes tending to the beans a little more exciting!

"Moreover it is require in stewards,that a man be found faithful." (1 Cor. 4:2)

I will be back soon ~ I am being called away to color great masterpieces.

About Courting Cate:  When This Couple Gets to Courting, Sparks Will Fly! In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County! But the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule: older Cate must marry first, before younger Betsy can even start courting. Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor-until Pete Treger comes to town, that is. Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate's hand. But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play? Book 1 in The Courtships of Lancaster County series.  Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eSNfb

Meet Leslie:   Leslie Gould is the co-author, with Mindy Starns Clark, of the #1 bestselling The Amish Midwife and The Amish Nanny. She is also the author of numerous novels, includingGarden of Dreams, Beyond the Blue (winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice for Best Inspirational Novel, 2006), and Scrap Everything. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Portland State University and has taught fiction writing at Multnomah University as an adjunct professor. She resides with her husband and four children in Portland, Oregon.  Learn more at www.lesliegould.com.

To CELEBRATE the release of her newest novel, Courting Cate, Leslie Gould is giving away a Kindle Fire! Then on 11/20 she'll be hosting a fun Facebook Party where she will be chatting with readers and giving away fun prizes! Click for details and don't miss the fun.http://ow.ly/eSNIZ

Enter Today - 11/1-20!


I have a confession to make. I have been asking the Lord to let me live to be 100 since I was a little girl.  I want to grow very old and wear bright red lipstick and have blue hair~ really I do.

 I know God is not a good luck charm and doesn't answer our every whim.  But I love life and I will have eternity in Heaven forever so I want to spend as much time as possible on this earth.  I love living~ I love to celebrate everything there is to celebrate!

 So even in my childlike thinking~ I wanted to stay on this earth as long as I possibly could and can. Will I get too? Not sure because God does give us the desires of our heart but they are filtered through His knowledge of what is best for us.

 I was so blessed to grow up in a church that taught me the Word of God. I remember hearing that God gives us the desires of our heart if we are truly committing our ways to Him. I learned that at a very young age.

Good Morning Blog Friends~
I am counting my blessings on this Thankful Thursday. I am reading my Proverbs for the day and sipping Starbucks coffee with Praline Creamer~  talk about blessings! Have you counted yours today? Bear with me as I count mine~ ok?