Christmas Tables

Thank you Trish! Last night I went to Christmas Tables at her church. This is an event where ladies of the church host a table, providing a beautiful table setting and centerpiece and a light snack/dessert. The men of the church serve the ladies ( water, coffee, help out with cutting and serving dessert). Then, there was a speaker. Our table was so pretty and it was fun to mix with the other ladies. I've posted a few pictures of our tables. I didn't get too many because the food started getting passed and I wanted to make sure I got some of the goodies (because with me, it's all about the food!).

Coloring with the Gifts God Gives Us

I ran across this excerpt by Max Lucado. It made me stop and think about what 'face' I present to everyone. Hope you enjoy it too:

Coloring Jesus With the Gifts God Gave You

Tucked away in the cedar chest of my memory is the image of a robust and rather rotund children's Bible class teacher in a small West Texas church. She wore black eyeglasses that peaked on the corners like a masquerade mask. Silver streaked through her black hair like a vein on the wall of a mine. She smelled like my mom's makeup and smiled like a kid on Christmas when she saw us coming to her class. Low-heeled shoes contained her thick ankles, but nothing contained her great passion. Hugs as we entered and hugs as we left. She knew all six of us by name and made class so fun we'd rather miss the ice-cream truck than Sunday school.
Here is why I tell you about her. She enjoyed giving us each a can of crayons and a sketch of Jesus torn from a coloring book. We each had our own can, mind you, reassigned from cupboard duty to classroom. What had held peaches or spinach now held a dozen or so Crayolas. "Take the crayons I gave you," she would instruct, "and color Jesus." And so we would. We didn't illustrate pictures of ourselves; we colored the Son of God. We didn't pirate crayons from other cans; we used what she gave us. This was the fun of it. "Do the best you can with the can you get." No blue for the sky? Make it purple. If Jesus' hair is blond instead of brown, the teacher won't mind. She loaded the can.
She taught us to paint Jesus with our own colors.
God made you to do likewise. He loaded your can. He made you unique. But knowing what he gave you is not enough. You need to understand why he gave it: so you could illustrate Christ. Make a big deal out of him. Beautify his face; adorn his image. The next few chapters have one message: color Christ with the crayons God gave you.
Don’t waste years embellishing your own image. No disrespect, but who needs to see your face? Who doesn't need to see God's? Besides, God promises no applause for self-promoters. But great reward awaits God-promoters: "Good work! You did your job well" (Matt. 25:23 MSG). My teacher gave us something similar. Judging by her praise for our sketches, you'd think Rembrandt and van Gogh attended her class. One by one she waved the just-colored Christs in the air. "Wonderful work, Max. Wonderful!" I smiled the size of a cantaloupe slice. You will too.

Cookie Exchange

Tonight we had a cookie exchange at our MOPS Christmas party. How can I resist such cookie goodness???!! I have a plan. I plan on freezing a few of the cookies and letting the kids have some and Dave may have a couple too (but only a couple, I'm not that generous). I just have to keep thinking, 5 lbs before New Years, 5 lbs before New Years.
Oh, but those lucious cookies are calling my name. Be quiet already!

Things that Bring me Joy

My favorite movie of all time is "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye. It's sappy, it's sweet, it doesn't have a great plot but oh, how I love this show!

I am planning on taking some time this week to sit down with a big cup of hot cocoa and watching this movie. Oh, the joy that will bring!!

Weighing In

You know, I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. Love it when it goes down, hate it when it goes the other way. Right now, I'm ambivalent (and no, I did not do this post just to use that word, although I do reallllly like it!). So, how much do you think I can knock off before the end of the year? I so want to start 2009 successfully. I'm aiming for 5 lbs. There, I've said it. Now, who's gonna hold me accountable??

Watch out, it's icey outside

Right as David was leaving for work today, he said "Watch out. The sidewalk and driveway are really slippery". "OK, OK," I'm thinking as I listen intently while making sure that Carissa and Simon are ready for school with all their winter gear, homework, etc. A few minutes later, Simon is in the car of the carpool Dad and I notice his lunch on the table. Mind you, I"m still in jammies, which is a big sweatshirt and capri sweats and slippers (oh so fashionable garb), but I grab it and step outside the door in what I"m wearing because I don't want him to not take his lunch. I take one step off the porch and WHAM! I'm on the ground, flat on my back, in the ice and snow. Carissa is screaming inside the house, panicking, "MMAMA!!!!! ARE YOU OKAY?????" with her little voice getting higher with each word. As I'm slowly picking myself up, but holding onto the Mystery Machine lunchbag all the while as it is the culprit for me being outside in the cold in pj's, I think to myself "Too bad the large part of my bodonky-donk that I fell on won't just stay frozen to the sidewalk. Would make my weigh in much easier this week!" Course, being the multi-tasker that I am, I notice that Carpool Dad and occupants have totally missed my fall and is now backing out of the driveway. So I"m yelling for him to stop, maniacally waving the Mystery Machine all over, and slip-siding my way to the van. I thought for a split second about stepping out of my slippery as heck slippers and walking barefoot to the van but quickly decided that frostbite was not needed on top of everything else.
I do make it to the van and Carpool Dad rolls down his window, grabs the lunch bag, mumbles thanks, and quickly leaves to pick up the next rider.
As I limpingly make my way back to the house to soothe Carissa and eventually warm my cold old body up, I think "Maybe school lunch isn't so bad after all."

I've been tagged!

I got tagged by Renee. I need to now post the 4th picture from the 4th folder on my computer.

Go figure, it's the MOPS theme! How appropriate since I'll spending today getting ready for tomorrow's meeting!!