Now They Love Christmas

Last night, Jeff and I had dinner with our dear friends, Susan and Houston. The plan...dinner, Starbucks and then drive around and look at Christmas lights.

My first time to do Starbucks and lights was Christmas 2004 with other dear friends, Mike and Rachel and baby Rose, when Jeff was in Afghanistan. It is such a good way to visit with friends during the holidays and not feel rushed and to enjoy a festive part of the holiday season. So we decided to make it an annual part of our holidays.

I don't have pictures from last night (so mad because I forgot the camera) and I would love to have pictures to go along with these favorite comments from the night.

• "wow, wow, wow, Hous can you slow down because we need to talk about what is going on over here at this house"
• "Now, they really love Christmas" (this was reserved for houses that really went all out with their decorations and it wasn't always the best design, but a great effort)
• "This house owner said 'forget lights, it is all about the inflatables'" This house had a village of the inflatable holiday characters. I've never seen anything like it. So wish I had a picture.
• "I think the kids helped with that tree" Various colors of lights that looked like they just threw them on because they had other things to do.
• "The wife did the tree and the husband did the outside using random sets of lights he found in the basement"
• "Now this one...the husband said 'honey bud light sign or the neon green runner lights?' 'Neon green lights'" Yes, neon green lights around the window while the rest of the house had white and multi lights. Again...need a picture.

And there were houses that we loved. Some of our favorites were the snowflake lights hung in trees, the old world nativity scenes, the lights that wrapped the entire outline of the trees and the beautiful swags around doors. More importantly we loved hanging out with Susan and Houston!

Merry Christmas!

Debra

Last Weekend

December 9th

Last weekend Jeff and I strolled to downtown Franklin for A Dickens Christmas. We had never been. We got there toward the end of the day so we didn't get to see as many people in "period" clothing. But, we got there just in time for the square dance. As they were dancing, I was thinking how cool to do at a party or wedding. Another reason to take dance lessons. :)

We also saw this cute table and chairs at Redo. Redo is this cute shop owned by some new friends, Mitzi and Brian Maynard. Brian filled in a few Sundays for our pastor. They are a very neat couple and her store is soooo cute. Anyway, she let me take a picture because we have a round table and 2 chairs that Hannah gave us for her cousin from China. I'm going to paint the main colors and a dear friend, Katherine, is going to add the artistic touches. So fun!
Debra

A Funny Christmas Message

I was reading email this morning and what to my wondering eyes should appear, a Christmas video from our friend, Dave Barnes. You have to check this out. It made me laugh so hard.

DAVE BARNES CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGAN ZA

Dave is a great guy. Check out his website at www.davebarnes.com and www.myspace.com/davebarnes to see if he will be in your city. You will love him.

Merry Christmas!
Debra

Holiday Decorating

December 2nd

Jeff and I are so excited to be in our new (new to us) house in Franklin. We love it and have been looking forward to decorating for the Christmas season. Because the house was built in 1971, we wanted to keep the decor a little vintage. We found the large, colored lights and put them on the house. The rest of the decor was kept simple: a wreath and a couple of swags and a greenery cross.

We got up Saturday morning (the 2nd) and went by a local coffee shop for breakfast. Next was Home Depot to pick out a tree. We spent the day decorating the outside, went to dinner and then came home and decorated the tree. It was a great day!

Jeff on the house. It was a bit scary at first, but he was pro by the end of the project.

Our tree. We just love it! When I was growing up, my parents got us a Hallmark ornament every year. It was so fun pulling those out for the tree.
The Front Door. It now has colored lights around it too, but I don't have a picture.

Debra with her swag for the mailbox.
The Retro lights

Something is Missing

There are two blogs listed on the right side of this page that I read on a consistent basis. From those, I often get introduced to other families on the web. Jaymum, Ivey and Ashley are three that I just met via Sarah over at In the Midst of It. These are sick children that Sarah prays for and encourages their families. As I read their stories, I experienced exactly what Sarah titled her blog entry...a wake up call.

I haven't been very excited about this Christmas season. I have felt a sense of restlessness lately. As so many have written, at the end of the day, I feel like I've missed something but I can't quite describe or really know what it was. We went to Andrew Petersen's "Behold the Lamb of God" Christmas concert last Wednesday. No fancy decorations, no manger scenes. Just musicians singing about the story of Jesus from the prophecies to his birth and what an amazing story it is! But do we believe it? Do we believe Jesus is the Prince of Peace? Do we believe that God promised a Savior? Do we believe that Jesus' story, the gospel, saves? Do we believe that the gospel changes people, including believers?

I'm not a journal keeper, so I only have my memory to fall back on and as I look back at the story of my life, I believe. He has delivered me from situations and relationships that did not glorify Him. He is glorified in my valleys and when I am on the mountain. He has blessed me with a husband who loves and supports me and a dear friend to remind me that Jeff and I really do compliment each other. He has pointed me to Sarah's blog where I am reminded that I am not alone. He is a Good Shepherd!

After reading the stories of these three precious children, I realized that perspective is what I'm missing. It's not about the gifts; it is not about the parties. It's about the birth of child who was God in flesh who lived for one purpose...to die so that I might live for one purpose...to know and glorify Him.

Celebrate Him this season!
Debra

Really Good Stuff

Sarah at In the Midst of It has been blessing me this week with her thoughts. She is so open with her feelings and her relationship with Christ and that is so refreshing. Many times we want to look like the perfect Christ Follower and say the perfect thing and pretend life is perfect, but it is not and following Christ is challenging. But being a part of His grace, mercy, ever lasting love, justice, life, death is so worth it because I get reminded that this is my Father's world and this is not all there is, this is not my eternal home and He is refining me to be in His presence one day.

Click over to here and here to be blessed. If you really want to be lifted up, try and read her blog on a regular basis. She is truly gifted.

Debra

Parenting 101

I received this devotion from Elisabeth Elliott's Back to the Bible. I know this is an issue for so many moms. I wanted to tuck it away here on our blog for future reference because I believe she speaks truth. Ever so often, my friend, Susan, and I discuss parenting styles and I like the way Ms. Elliot explains it here. I also like the idea of each child having their own lullaby for bedtime (and I would add to wake up to as well).

A Child Learns Self Denial ~ Elisabeth Elliott

"One of the countless blessings of my life is having a daughter who actually asks for my prayers and my advice (and heeds the latter). She phoned from California one morning, describing the difficulties of home-schooling three children in grades six, four, and one, when you also have a four-year-old who is doing nursery school and a two-year-old, Colleen, who wants to do everything. And since Evangeline Mary was born, a nursing baby now claims attention as well. How to give Colleen proper attention and teach her also to occupy herself quietly for what seemed to her long periods? Valerie was deeply concerned over whether she was doing all she should for that little one.

I reminded her of the women of Bible times--while probably not homeschooling her children, an ordinary village woman would have been working very hard most of the time, carrying heavy water jars, grinding grain, sweeping, planting and cooking while tending children. This was true also of the Indians with whom Val grew up. An Indian mother never interrupted her day's work to sit down with a small child and play or read a story, yet the children were more or less always with her, watching her work, imitating her, learning informally. They had a strong and secure home base, "and so have yours," I told her. "Don't worry! You are not doing Colleen an injustice. Quite the contrary. You are giving her wonderful things: a stable home, your presence in that home, a priceless education just in the things she observes."

The demands on Val, as on any mother of small children, are pretty relentless, of course. She does all the housework with the help of the children (a schedule of chores is posted on the refrigerator). People usually gasp when I tell them the number of my grandchildren. "Wow," said one, "it takes a special woman to have that many children." Special? Not really. Millions have done it. But it takes grace, it takes strength, it takes humility, and God stands ready to give all that is needed.

I suggested to Valerie that perhaps she could define the space which Colleen was allowed to play in during school time, and make it very clear to her that school time was quiet time for her brothers and sisters. When Valerie was Colleen's age she had to learn to play quietly alone because I was occupied for a good portion of every day in Bible translation work, or in teaching literacy and Bible classes in our house. She knew she was not to interrupt except for things I defined as "important." At that time there were seldom children of her age to play with, and she had neither siblings nor father, yet she was happy and, I think, well-adjusted. (For a certain period we had the added difficulty of living with a missionary family of six children under nine whose mother felt obliged to be more or less available for her children every minute--they were thought too young to learn not to interrupt. It was not an ordered home, and the mother herself was exhausted most of the time.)

Does this training seem hard on the child, impossible for the mother? I don't think it is. The earlier the parents begin to make the laws of order and beauty and quietness comprehensible to their children, the sooner they will acquire good, strong notions of what is so basic to real godliness: self-denial. A Christian home should be a place of peace, and there can be no peace where there is no self-denial.

Christian parents are seeking to fit their children for their inheritance in Christ. A sense of the presence of God in the home is instilled by the simple way He is spoken of, by prayer not only at meals but in family devotions and perhaps as each child is tucked into bed. The Bible has a prominent place, and it is a greatly blessed child who grows up, as I did, in a hymn-singing family.
Sam and Judy Palpant of Spokane have such a home. "Each of our children has his or her own lullaby which I sing before prayer time and the final tucking into bed," Judy wrote. "That lullaby is a special part of our bedtime ritual. Whenever other children spend the night we sing 'Jesus Loves Me' as their lullaby. What a joy it was on the most recent overnighter to have the three Edminster children announce, `We have our own lullabies now!' Matt, who is twelve and who can be so swayed by the world, said, `Mine is "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross."'"

The task of parents is to show by love and by the way they live that they belong to another Kingdom and another Master, and thus to turn their children's thoughts toward that Kingdom and that Master. The "raw material" with which they begin is thoroughly selfish. They must gently lay the yoke of respect and consideration for others on those little children, for it is their earnest desire to make of them good and faithful servants and, as Janet Erskine Stuart expressed it, "to give saints to God." ... "


Happy Parenting!

Debra

Let Us Give Thanks

November 21st - 26th ~ Thanksgiving 2006

When Jeff and I were engaged, we agreed that Thanksgiving would be spent with his family and Christmas with mine. Thanksgiving is a reunion for Rose's family, the Holifield family, in Taylorsville, MS. It is a fun time to see Jeff's aunts and uncles and cousins. The most anticipated time of the day is (besides the eating of Wylene's dressing) is the music. This family is extremely talented and everyone gets the chance to participate in the singing and playing of instruments. I'm thankful that this a part of Jeff's life and is some of his favorite memories of growing up. Here are some pictures of the Thanksgiving holiday!

Debra, April and Barbara (Jeff's cousins)

Rose playing and singing with her brothers, Rickey and Bob.

Bob and Rose
Caleb and Shadow

Us

Jana, Danny, Brayden and Caleb

Christian, Robby, Cameron, Sheryl and Blaire (we traveled to the the coast to see Robby's family Thursday night and Friday)

Back in Taylorsville...Uncle Rickey's family: Barbara, Zirkon and April & their girls, Wylene and Ricky.

Jan and Jana

Waiting for the food.

Uncle Bob and Flora and their grandchildren

Janelle, Bob and Flora

Psalm 100 ~ A Psalm for giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Thank you God for family, safe journeys during the holidays and your enduring love.

Debra

November 2nd - 5th Bay St. Louis, MS

I'm so behind on this blog business.

A few months ago, our pastor showed a video from a church in Bay St. Louis, MS. The pastor in MS moved his family and started a ministry in Bay St. Louis following hurricane Katrina. After the video, we were challenged to take a group to the coast for a weekend work trip and Jeff was asked to organize it.

Jeff and I have wanted to go on a work trip to the coast since hurricane Katrina but because of our schedules, we had not made it happen. Even though this semester of student teaching and studying for the licensure exams has been more than challenging, Jeff felt organizing the trip needed to be a priority.

God is humorous in his plans. Originally, we had 11 people in our trip. As the travel date approached, six people dropped out. We were now down to 5 people. Was it worth the time and expense to go? The evil one started to do what he does best...plant doubt in our minds. We weren't sure if 5 of us could make a difference. At the same time, my sister had hooked us up with a contractor and his construction crew. They were planning to be in the area for a week prior to our arrival with another ministry. The plan was that they would meet up with us for the weekend. Despite our low numbers, we packed up the Sequoia and headed to MS with my nephew, Cody, and two other Hope Fellowship members, Lori and Michelle.

When we arrived, we weren't sure what we were going to do because our group was small and unskilled. Surprise...the organizers were thrilled to hear that we had skilled construction workers meeting up with us. They had a family that needed a roof put on their house. The shingles had been sitting for 2 months waiting on skilled workers.

God is good. We were discouraged because of our lack of skill. He used us to connect skilled workers to this ministry to fill a need for this family. If that was our only purpose for traveling to MS, what a great purpose! Don't fret, we did work. Once we arrived at the house, we learned that the house needed to be insulated. Bring in the Hope Fellowship crew. We were all over it and we have pictures to prove it. Praise God, Bay St. Louis was experiencing unseasonably cool temperatures while we were there!

We learned that the family was in the process of building this home themselves when Katrina hit. Portions of the house were from that build; portions needed to be rebuilt. The wife had become very discouraged. She cares for her ill mother and can not stand in long lines to apply for assistance. She had given up hope that someone was going to assist them.

The point...come on, it's been over a year! Why are people still suffering. Suicide rates are up. After driving around the area and along the coast, I can see why. People do not want to leave their homes, but can't rebuild because of lack of funds. Grants are just coming in for some people. So much attention is given to New Orleans. Our prayer is that the people along the coastal towns in LA and MS are not forgotten and that groups continue to take time to invest in their lives and help them rebuild. More importantly, pray that God will restore their spirits and constantly remind them that HE is present.

Now...the story in pictures.

Our Group with the husband and wife (front row second and third from left)

The house on day 1. Oh my goodness that roof is high!
Look how beautiful! A brand new roof in just 2 days!

Lori hard at work. This was day 2 and we were insulating this loft area ceiling. Can I say difficult?! I missed the picture to go along with one of Lori's best quotes of the weekend..."I feel like I'm making love to the insulation". So true and so funny.

Cody and Michelle trying to maneuver in a part of the loft that was not floored.

Fine craftsmanship. The instructions for stapling...every 12 inches. Our version...every 1/2 inch or wherever your staple gun lands.

The guys...Cody and Jeff (being silly)

Lori and Michelle getting ready.

Debra starting the walls on day 1.

We were tired and itchy at the end of day 2. We finished early and decided we were ready to get back to TN Saturday night instead of Sunday afternoon. God was good and protected us on the road and while we worked. More importantly, the spirits of the homeowners were lifted and we got to be a part of His work.

Debra