A twist on the holiday mindset

“Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels he's finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.”

C.S. Lewis

For some reason, the holidays always seem to create this pressure that everything needs to be perfect. The gifts, the decorations, the parties—and that brings on a feeling that all other areas of our lives must follow suite immediately, or else we cannot be happy and enjoy the season.

This brings me to another C.S. Lewis quote: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Mr. Lewis hits the nail on the head: we are not supposed to be completely happy on earth, because earth is not our home. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:1-8:

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Let us be thankful when we do not feel 100% happy here because it points us to heaven. It gives us something to truly anticipate and look forward to. We have this hope because Jesus (not giving up his deity) gained humanity and came to earth. He made the ultimate sacrifice for our sakes so that we might one day live forever in heaven with Him. This is what we should revel in and meditate on this season. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Christmas Countdown 2010

You can open your gifts in exactly....

Christmas Countdown 2010 - Find out how many days until Christmas 2010

Thought for the Season

I have not been able to stop thinking about the message from my daily devotional last week: "God doesn't comfort us to make us comfortable; He comforts us to make us comforters."

Sometimes God gives us the opportunity to use the lessons we've learned and the comfort He's given us during difficult times to help others in special ways. II Corinthians 1:3-4 says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reading this places a sense of responsibility on my shoulders. I think of all that God has given me and the abundant resources he has provided me with and the natural question for me to ask myself is: "What am I giving back? Am I using my time, talents and resources for His glory--and to show others God's love?"

As we celebrate Christ's birth--the Christian's ultimate sense of comfort, I pray that the Lord will show me how to better comfort others. As we enter into a new year--full of anticipation, hope and good intentions--I pray that I will be able to tangibly show comfort and love to others--and not just people I consider friends, but in relationships outside of my comfort zone.

Take time to consider how you can be a comfort to others!

Christmas at the White House

The White House holiday theme is "Simple Gifts."

"This special time of year provides countless reasons large and small to be grateful for the blessings of time spent with loved ones, and for the richness of culture and natural surroundings we as Americans enjoy. As families gather across our country during this holiday season, even in trying times, we can reflect on the universal pleasures of cheer and goodwill, and can find reason to rejoice in the moments the holidays bring."

-excerpt from a letter from the Obamas

The military tree--representing all 5 branches

Cards were provided and we sent a note to a military service member

Even Bo had his own display!

The White House Library decorated. President Roosevelt (who converted this room to a library on 1935) maintained a family Christmas tradition each year of reading aloud from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol upstairs in the residence.

A tree in the East Room

The Green Room

The Blue Room: This year's official White House Christmas tree is a rich, green Douglas Fir from Pennsylvania that stands 19.5 feet tall.

President Lincoln muses over the decorations

The White House gingerbread house!

Look closely--can you see Bo?

Throughout the entire tour we were serenaded by voice from North Carolina singing Christmas carols!

Shrimp Boil!

Ever since Laine Evans and I met in the summer of 2007 and discovered our birthdays were a mere 2 weeks apart, we have been plotting a joint birthday party. Thanks to our dear friends (especially Katie) we finally had our joint shindig to celebrate our quarter century milestone!

"Kitty and Bug" cake decorated by pastry chef Chas Casino

Carolyn, Katie, Sarah and me

Chilly day but great company!

Kern and me

Note: I am wearing cowboy boots from previous post!

Love these four. Cooper needs a girlfriend, I've decided.

Coops sported his Christmas sweater at the party!

The delicious southern masterpiece--thanks PLarge!

Birthday girls!

Time to eat schrimps!

Kitty and Bug :)

Getting the candles ready! We had candles on a cake and cupcakes!

Make a wish