Road Maps and Pause #3

 I'm pausing in appreciation of my life navigation map (my BIBLE) today.  When I met Bill, I noticed his current Bible and I was fascinated by it.  He is left-handed and has squiggly handwriting, but I could tell he poured over God's Word.  Years earlier while breakfasting at a childhood friend's house, I spied her dad's Bible on the top of the refrigerator.  I was amazed at its beautiful worn pages.  Every single page looked like it had been turned.  My mom's Bible was a New Testament Good News for Modern Man.  It was very worn, very marked.  She loved that version and used it to share with us when she was my Sunday School teacher one year. My dad's Bible was red and had a hard cover.  He had such slender fingers and I remember how his hands looked when he held his Bible.  I love seeing our kids' Bibles around their houses.  I'm thinking about asking my friends to bring their Bibles when we meet for coffee.  I'm so blessed by the way other people use their road maps.

 I am grateful that I am feeling very loved this December.  I feel calm and I am noticing the favor I have with people.  I shall try to be extremely responsible with it. 

 I like the Christmas tree lights and the shiny things hanging on the branches.  Christmas trees can be a lot of work, but we do it to honor Jesus and His birth.  I am more than willing to work for Him.

 Tonight when we have our family Advent celebration at Jeff and Christie's we are bringing these jingle bells that Bill bought at the grocery store.  I have to tie ribbons on them so the grands and Christie's niece and nephews can roar around jingling the jingle bells!

 I'm thankful for cards that people take the time to order, address, and send!  Today I am going to write some cards to our supporters, people who donate to Bill's ministry.  

 Last night Kelli and Bryan hosted their employees for a Christmas party.  Bill does some book work for them and Jenny's Scott and our Jeff also work for Bryan, so it was fun to be there with three of our darling four kids! I was so proud of our girl.  She is a people person and she is so beautiful and gracious.  She doesn't "care about the wrong things".  She simply provides a lot of good food, and sweetly acknowledges people.  It's hard to host a big party but she makes it look easy.

 And now it is snowing here in our land.  It's a good day to think about people.

 It's a good day for tea, hot chocolate, or coffee and a cookie or two.

I think it's sweet that we adorn our homes with greens and berries, candles and lights.  Amy from Love Made My Home suggested the film"Christmas with the Kranks" so I watched it and I liked how the neighbors noticed that the Kranks weren't decorating and they were VERY bummed out!  Our decorations have the potential to please others.  Isn't that nice?

Amy also suggested the Downton Abbey Christmas album and I am LOVING it. Thanks, Amy!

And speaking of thanks, I have to tell you that both our daughters-in-law write beautiful thank you notes.  I have so many of sweet April's kind notes and Christie is a wonderful thank you note writer, too!  We are the blessed recipients!  Bill gave Christie his old iPad (I didn't want you to assume we go around purchasing iPads for everyone!  Ha ha!) Doesn't she have lovely handwriting? I save the girls' notes.

 So, here's my "me-specific" pause and I hope you don't mind.  Hop over to Angela's if you'd like to read additional pauses.  I like all of them!