God Stop Friday: The Lord Provides - A Year and Life in Review

The Siesta Organizer, Patty, from God is Able has a fabulous MEME that I have never participated in called God Stop Fridays. Yes, I've seen them around the interwebby, but I've never jumped in the God Stop Pond until today! So visit Patty at her BLOG and leave a word about your own God Stop on Your Blog... GOD Stop Here I Come!

This year I did a study on the names of God here at Because I Love You. One of my favorite posts from that study was the name of God "Jehovah Jireh." In that study, I found that our god is so faithful to not only provide for us - but to be in Himself the provision. I have testified over and over again this year about how the Lord in His great abundance is more and more becoming all I need and want to exist and receive victory in my life. So... For my God Stop, I'm going to review the year with my Provision and what He has shown me. (To read my post about Jehovah Jireh, Click HERE.)

*Fasting: I observed the Daniel fast for the first 40 days of this year and a technology fast for the first 10 days. Out of that came a year full of things that don't make any human sense, but God gets it - Oh Yes He does... and so do I ;o)! NOW.

* Breakthroughs: From the fast I received the following breakthroughs - 1.) I had often pressed into God to the point of breakthrough but never pushed through that point and reclaimed what was stolen from me. Oh Yes... This is the year of Taking it Back! 2.) I spent an entire afternoon listening to God. Being still while moving was a great revelation. I learned my body can be at work doing what the Lord has given me to do while my mind and my spirit are at rest being still with the Lord. GLORY! That was so freeing. Yes I do have times when I sit, lie down and just bask in His presence, but that was a lesson about spending time listening and I heard Him loud and clear. No talking, just listen. HARD for a semi-sanguine like me who uses lots of words.

* Ministry: I experienced some supernatural stuff this year with regard to getting jump started into ministry and being equipped by my church to walk in the calling of teacher, leader and intercessor. God put me in place to lead a grief recovery group specifically for Bereaved Mothers this past fall. I had several meetings over the summer and once we nailed down what it would like (that is a whole 'nother story I will save for later - for now suffice it to say we came to the table with different Ideas... almost a deal breaker until I submitted).

And Oh BOY, am I ever glad I did. I went through six weeks of Freedom Ministry training at our church (Freedom ministry is a total focus healing and deliverance ministry - not smack them on the head healing - but a Word focused, power of the Holy Spirit kind of healing that involves laying a lot of Biblical ground work and then creating safe environments for the Holy Spirit to come and work in the lives of wounded and bound up people.

During the summer I also wrote the curriculum - twelve weeks worth of lessons, listening guides and practical homework and devotions for the ladies who would come. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. Also had to work my own stuff while I wrote it - Can You Say Freedom? Some weeks I barely eeked out one lesson other weeks I wrote five in seven days. I felt like the brave little tailor that week - who killed seven (flies) in one blow! A few weeks ago I got a call asking me to train/mentor a facilitator to start a support crisis group for grief. We just concluded our group a week and a half ago. I was humbled and blessed by the entire experience. Each and every week God showed up and I walked through the curriculum He helped me prepare to find that freedom was coming in slow measured doses - one lesson, one brick and stronghold at a time until light began to shine.

The feedback has been encouraging and the revelation life-giving for me personally. It is really something to walk in the place God has called you forth to tred out a testimony and see something painful so beautifully used to bring healing to the lives of others. I must stop here... But, Oh Glory... I could go on and on and ON.

* Siesta Fiesta and Healing: The weekend of August 22-23rd has new significant meaning for me this year. In years past (1998-2004) it marked the date I celebrated marrying the love of my life and the man who brought so much goodness to my life - even driving me to press into God and become who I am today. We married August 22, 1998.

But, in 2005 tragedy struck our family on August 15th when my son was in a car accident. He lived 8 days struggling for life in a coma before God called him home on August 23rd.

In September 2007 when Living Proof Ministries announced that they would host a special event called the Siesta Fiesta for bloggers at the San Antonio Living Proof Live on August 22-23, 2008 - I knew I was all in. God was going to do something that weekend and He did. Check out my siesta fiesta posts HERE and read more about it. It was a glorious time of fun, God's Word and Beth Moore totally brought it... We fellowshipped, loved on and shared so much in those three days. The ladies in my room (Nesha, Lora O., and Alexia) joined me each evening for a Holy Spirit filled time of worship, prayer, sharing and ministry - we had church, ya'll - right there in that hotel room we lay down our own burdens and took up each others carrying them straight to the Throne Room for God's tender, loving care. It is a precious memory. On Saturday morning as Travis and the Praise Team sang about the Throne Room God love and healing flooded my soul Isaiah 61;1-3 style and I was finally set free as I worshipped Him in Spirit and in Truth and the last ebbings of painful grief began to wash away. The next morning I sat in the wee morning hours waiting for my ride home to arrive and I read Isaiah 60 and received such a beautiful word from Lora about my future that included the words "BIG - that's B. I. G. - Big plans for you my dear" and that's when I read through tear-filled eyes, "And the days of your mourning shall come to an end." Isaiah 60:20 NKJV.

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

* PROVISION: Okay. Don't laugh. I struggle, like big huge hurdle kind of struggles, with finances, budgets and anything mathematical. My husband happens to leave all of that to me... Yes, He does. It kills me to have to deal with this stuff, but I have found a place of rest in my Lord this year about it all. At a Freedom Ministry event called Kairos (my church hosts about three times a year) God showed me how the Spirit of Mammon has held captive my family for generations and that though most of my family handles finances fairly well - as in they pay all their bills on time - they all have huge debt loads, worries about the economy and all things tied to the economy, and well not one of them is faithful in the area of giving. This is a GENERATIONAL issue - not just a choice, but there is great bondage in this. FOR ME it manifests in irresponsible behavior and obedience for obedience sake. The evening after I received this revelation our pastor shared a message on "Breaking the Spirit of Mammon" and I went straight to the altar for prayer and surrender.

So this summer I was calculating our bills in my head and came up with $30,000 as a figure that would get us through the year and pay off our debts. NOT EVEN KIDDING. The hubs overtime hours dried up immediately. I mean - not a minute of overtime came his way. It looked bleak. I had heard God that morning I was contemplating getting a job that pays $30,000 say, "You haven't asked me about that." So I said, "Okay, if you want me to get a job - then show me how it works - and if not then show me how that works... I'm open." I then began to confess all the ways I have screwed up our finances and all the ways I have made our debt load... And... then the Kairos thing... And then, no kidding, I stopped desiring to shop. As a matter of fact, things I would have paid $5.00 for at the beginning of the summer just 'cause I wanted them - they totally made me sick to think of spending that much money on such an item - like a glass of lemonade at the street festival in Grapevine. Oh Yes. Something was happening - and I was very nearly unaware until I looked back on it.

Well... And this is huge. My husband got the call after Hurricane Ike to go work down in the Houston Area for seven weeks. He worked gobs of overtime and well God provided half (before taxes) of the amount I had talked to Him about in the summer. But, if it stopped there, that would be amazing enough - would it not?

Last weekend, hubs and I were at my brother's place helping my dad raise the roof on a shed... Another Long Story I'll explain later... when I got a phone call from ex-husband. He was hopping angry and about to go drown his sorrows in a bottle of beer when he said, "I have something to tell you and I want to keep it short because I'm angry, but not at you." Okay, so that's new.

Then he said words I couldn't help but think - God, you have a way about you, 'cause that was not even on my radar. What - You may be asking - Was going on? I was, too.

"You are going to be getting a really large child support check this week."

"What?"

"My employer garnished my Christmas Bonus and sent it to you as Child Support."

I had to absorb those words. Okay, this man is responsible for a great deal of pain in my life. Stopped paying child support in 2002 and resumed in 2007 when the state found him through the Texas Workforce Commission. Promised to help with his daughter's graduation expenses, but did not and then said, "Well, I send you child support every month - what do you do with that?"

He has not gotten either of the girls gifts for birthdays or Christmas in years and his entire side of the family sent our oldest daughter a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart for her graduation gift even though they OWN a gas company. (Do I sound Bitter? I hope not) I'm not at all. I have had to deal with my negative feelings about it... but the truth is, I'm used to it after about 16 years of the mess and I actually am nice about things most days. I do slip off the wall into the pit over this stuff every once in a great while but not so much anymore.

The bonus was $2,154.80. Almost 10% of the arrearage amount he owes. OH MY GOODNESS. But, he was hurting because this was the very money he was depending on to purchase Christmas gifts for our daughters, to help with the eldest's school expenses, and to make up for the times he has not been able to give them gifts in the past few years. So the conversation was really about if I would get them some nice things on his behalf. I said, Sure. Why not?

Then I realized - there is a real opportunity for healing here. My youngest daughter has no memory of her father and I as a family and now she will get gifts from Momma and Daddy (on the same gift tag) this year. Glory. How that worked out! And I prayed for their Father as I wish no ill to come to him. However, I recognize God is doing a work in his life as well and it is all about God there. So, I walk a fine line between interfering and helping, and being empathetic to his plight. It is what it is... And, I can thank God for His faithfulness to this household in spite of everything that is happening around us.

So... My God Stop is this... Today, I am telling God - man, We've come a long way together. From insecure, fearful, self-destructive young woman... To growing, learning minister, wife and mother who lives every single day in awe of her God. He is so Good - I praise His Glorious Name today! Holy Spirit Fall...

Please, also stop by my post on the Holy Spirit and consider the survey there. I could really use your help. Much love and Merry Christmas...

IOW: Favorite Quote... Favorite Post... Just Join In!

Hey there! If you have been reading IOW (Tuesday's In Other Words) which I semi-regularly participate in, then I invite you to join us for some insight, some fun and some sharing over the next couple of weeks. Loni is giving the Hostesses a break through the Christmas Holidays and we will resume regular posts again after the first of the year. So, in the absence she has invited us to join her in sharing favorite quotes, posts or even to write new posts for previously shared quotes. Whatever you fancy, join us at IOW and get in on the fun. After you post your own quotes, insights and favorites - visit Loni at Writing Canvas and link up for the fun!

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Please be in prayer for Loni and her daughter. They are at the hospital and her daughter is very ill. They need peace, provision, comfort, mercy, favor and much grace in the hours and days ahead. You are blessings to me and I love you more than I every express it.

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So... On with the post! My favorite quote was shared by Amy on October 14th. To see more on the post from this day visit my post and click the link for Amy's blog at the bottom. READ ON:

“A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself,

but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.”

by A.W.Tozer

I am growing to LOVE A. W. Tozer and his concise, rich writings and teachings on the Christian journey. This reminds me of a song that Big Daddy Weave sings called Pharisee. I guess maybe this hit a cord in me because I am dealing with laying down judgmental attitudes that I developed over the years. Not judgments against others so much... God really has shown me that people in glass houses should NEVER. THROW. STONES. Because, of course, you never know when you might get it back.

I wrote a devotion for my curriculum about Embracing Grace that often times I will hear Christian leadership be critical of others and in so doing they are really sinning themselves by passing judgment on the circumstance of another. It doesn't prompt me to boycott their program, it prompts me to pray for their heart. To ask God why they are doing what they do, and how it is that people devoted to His Word could get so tied up in "doing" the law they miss the grace of God that is at its heart. The point I made in the devotion is that God set at work in the law His grace, not just by offering His Son in final atonement... But also in the fact that the observance of the law exemplified the grace of God at work in our own lives. Think of it - the first four commandments are the mark of devotion and love for God and the last six express His heart for mankind. Grace at work in the Law. We don't live under separate covenants - it is all one covenant with two parts. We don't live under grace and exclude the law anymore than we are to live under the law and exclude grace. They are not mutually exclusive, but were always purposed together to express the heart of God toward His people.

Now... I guess at this point I should say this - the reason for keeping the law is to keep ourselves lined up with God both in priniciple and deed.

Micah 6 tells us we are to "DO" justice and "LOVE" mercy. I think this pretty much sums it up for me. Doing justice means I do what is right, but loving mercy means that I extend grace to others.

Does this mean that I condone sin? NO! But, it doesn't mean I can willy nilly go around policing the lives of others based on my understanding of the Word of God. If someone has not given me permission to speak into their life, am I truly honoring God by beating them down with His Word?

Truth. I must carefully weigh the value. Case in point. My brothers and I were raised by honorable, Christian parents. I do not wish to dishonor them in any way. They were no more flawed or perfect than anyone else's parents both having backgrounds steeped in good moral values and skewed perceptions of the church and its role in the Christian walk. I spent much of my life passing judgment on their parenting by rebelling against it while my brother a year younger towed the line, did as much as he could to please them and seldom took up offenses on behalf of either of my parents.

After I began attending church in my late 20s I discovered that I had been pious, self-righteous and indignant toward my mother whom I blamed for nearly every trouble I had. I had to forgive her, accept her limitations and surrender her to God in prayer in order to find peace. Laying down any wound I felt was her responsibility and living with her in Paul's words, "As far as it depends on me, live at peace with all men."

Only more recently have I let go of the heavy wounds that I held against my father. Not because he was less deserving, but because those wounds did not add the strain to our relationship that the mother wounds had left in my relationship with my mom.

A few years back, my brother went through Christian counseling where he apparently was encouraged to confess any bitterness he harbored against others, especially in his family. He did so with my mother and me. It seemed that neither mother nor I anticipated, expected nor understood what he was trying to accomplish because the offenses he confessed did little more than insight hurt feelings and more offenses because we did not know what the point of the confession was. I totally missed he was asking for forgiveness and felt very judged and I am guessing my mother felt the same. Not... To dishonor my brother - he was only working through his own brand of misery and difficulties... It just turned into a big mess. One I would gather he did not intend to create.

The truth is, we all live in this human condition and have skewed motives and value systems based on a fallen existence. However, when rightly submitted to God - we have the power to forgive, to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and extend kindness and grace to others even when we ourselves feel they do nto deserve it. Why?

Because Jesus Himself did the very same thing on our behalf more than 2,000 years ago and to not do so would be denying His sacrifice, His love and His grace at work in our own lives.

Do Justice and Love Mercy... Perhaps I talked all around it this morning and missed the point of my own post. Or perhaps somewhere in this jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings is a message about God's heart that I have been learning and walking through the last 10 years. Either way I pray you are blessed and able to gleen from the mumblings of this humble servant. Be Blessed.

AMY at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 is hosting this morning. Please stop on by and check out what others are saying "In OTHER Words." And, thanks Amy for a great quote!

Yet Another Tour of My Humble Home... More Than A Few of My Favorite Things

Today Sophie (AKA BooMama) over at Her Place is hosting a "Christmas Tour of Homes."

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Since I just did the tour over at the Internet Cafe on Thursday, I thought I'd show you some of my favorite things at Christmas instead of just focusing on what's on my trees. I gave the tour last week and linked to it HERE if you'd like to see more.

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Decor will be a part of the showcase...

Yet, still - even more, I want you to feel welcome and right at home!

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So without further ado... I would like to welcome you, once again, to our humble home.

Once you arrive, you will see these beautiful lights glowing. Now - they are by no means fancy, nor a work of art... but, they are LIGHTS! And that to me says, "We are the Candle on Jesus' Birthday Cake!" Oh JOY! My husband and I worked for a little more than an hour on Saturday making our home lit-up beautiful just for your visit today! I did the ground effects, he hung the eave lighting. We were finished in no time, and after a little squabbling over how to hook up the extension cord to suit both of us... I would run it straight across the walkway and get it over with, but he had to go behind the mat and porch seating to keep those pesky cords out of the way... AND a trip to Wal-Mart to buy REPLACEMENT BULBS. Yes, we had to buy replacement bulbs 'cause hubs was hasty in dropping those strings of lights right over the sidewalk! CRASH! I did not even break a sweat or feel my pulse rise... I said, "It's okay, we'll just buy another." (SMILE)
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I told Hubs last week that as a child I loved it when my daddy put up the Christmas lights. But, when I was 8 years old we moved to Granbury where he began a seven year building project on our family home. Daddy only put lights up once (I think) after the move... And so I have loved the idea of having the outside of our home lit and longed for lights every year since I was a child.

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Now, come on up - I would love to show you those little trees.

You see, I have two trees inside my home and my youngest told me last week that she would love to have a "whole forest" of Christmas trees - just trees everywhere. So, at Target (or "Tar-Jay") I found these adorable little trees for the yard. Not quite the youngest's request fulfilled, but to my delight it is Christmas Yard Decor and, therefore, I bought them.

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The 2 ft. trees have huge Red Bows on them. Last week a violent wind storm blew through and stripped one bow right off its branch. I found it a few blocks away near the main road entering our subdivision. It was buried in the grass. But I noticed the flittering red wired ribbon in the wind and thought, "That's my bow."
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Hubs took me to pick it up the other night. I was so glad not to have to buy another one. Anyway... and the 3 ft. trees are all about Stars...
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This one is a leaner...

But it is so cute.

I just noticed that big bald patch right in front. It is a pre-lit tree after all!

The door wreath is a newer addition.

I made her with all the other new additions I purchased the year Justin died. I actually made three Holiday Wreath's that year with beautiful angels on them... But, I gave two away and kept this beautiful burgundy girl for myself. She matches our bricks perfectly.

Come on in out of the cold! It is a bit windy and nippy outside this morning...

Not expected to get out of the 30s all day.

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We'll head in to the Kitchen. I have some warm refreshments there waiting for us to make.

This morning I would like to share with you a favorite Christmas Eve tradition at our house:

Snowman Soup

You will need: Milk, peppermint sticks or candy canes, Hershey's Kisses, marshmallows, hot cocoa mix and your favorite Christmas Mug. We start buy pouring an ample amount of milk in a small sauce pan and heating it on the stove. Yes, we use milk - not water - 'cause it makes the cocoa richer. You can use the milk or the dark chocolate cocoa mix... Either way it is delicious.

I get the cocoa started by pouring the mix into my mug.

Then I add a little cold milk....

and stir....

Well I suppose you could shake it, but that would make a mess.

Add Hershey's Kisses (I use the baking size and include sixor eight pieces)
You can also use one or two of the regular candies.

Allow the milk to get nice and steamy hot...

I usually let it just begin to bubble around the edges, just before it scorches.

Add milk to cocoa mix and chocoalte pieces, stir and top off with a handful of marshmallows.

Add your stirring stick and enjoy the minty,

chocolately good deliciousness of SNOWMAN SOUP.

While you enjoy your cup of cocoa, I would like to tell you about a few of our holiday tradtions:

First: There is Candlelight Communion.

Our previous church held a special Christmas Eve service where we observed Candlelight Communion before going home to celebrate Christmas with our families. In June 2007, we moved to our new church home. It does not hold the Christmas Eve service. So, this year, our family began instituting family communion. On special occasions (Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) we observe the Lord's Supper as a family in our home. We read from His Word, talk about the significance of the body and the blood in our lives and even, as we did at Thanksgiving, approaching the Lord's Table in our home with an attitude of thanksgiving and reverence. It is a very special time for us. This year we will observe this old tradition in our new way as a family before moving on to an even more beloved and blessed tradtion.

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Second Tradition: Reading the Christmas Story

The reading of the Christmas Story from Luke 2 in our family Bible while sitting around our nativity in the living room is my very favorite tradition. Each year after the communion service, our family would come home, have a cup of Snowman Soup with some cookies while I read them the Christmas Story. It just seemed to be the perfect way to bring more relevance and meaning to the ordinance we had just observed at church.

Third Tradition: Christmas Eve Movies...

And then... Under the soft glow of Christmas lights all around, we watch holiday movies until our eyeballs fall out. Two of our more recent favorites are on the table with our other traditional elements. We do watch the classics like "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street" and all the cartoons like Rudolph and Frosty and so much more... ABC Family and the Hallmark Channel are keeping me in the Christmas Spirit to be sure!

A Newer Tradition: A Wreath For Justin's Grave

This tradition is mine alone. My family does not often observe this one with me - as it is just a little way that I continue to include Justin in my holidays. I take a wreath out (same wreath each year), and put it on his grave. This year I've added "Mittens" a little teddy bear the girls' dad gave to him when he was younger. The girls each have their own "Mittens" bear and now Justin's will be where it belongs at Christmas - where we go to remember his life and where his body rests until the grand trumpet call Home. This year the women who have journeyed with me through the grief recovery class I lead will accompany me to the cemetery and so Mittens and the wreath sit in the kitchen waiting for our trip out tomorrow.

Moving right along... Here are a few of my favorite decorations:

Beginning with these grapevine stars (one shown). They are hanging from my china hutch doors and I just think they have a rustic elegance about them. I purchased them with the "Jesus Tree" and other such new decor in 2005.

I received this little Christmas Ranger Station with Lookout Tower from my mother just yesterday! Oh It is so sweet and lights up inside, too. I told her about the Joy and Peace doll I wrote about last week and how this, too, was a sign of the new direction my life was taking with God. I have a strong calling and gifting in the area of intercessor and have been "standing watch" with others in my community and church on many fronts. Just more confirmation as I move forward with God! Thank You, Lord and Momma for all the goodness this represents in my life.

The Christmas Crosses

Each of these crosses tells an element of the Christmas story. The right tells of the Birth of Christ, the one to the left tells the story of the Magi's visit and the one beneath tells the story of the Shepherds. They hang there with the picture of Jesus at the Passover table (Home Interiors, print by Greg Olsen) year round. I keep my Willow Tree nativity out year round. You will see it in the other post HERE.

I discovered that Marshalls had these precious Lenox porcelain angels this year for a very good price. I got a set of four for $12.99. I have more Lenox in my tour, but for now suffice it to say these little gems are a perfect addition to my Jesus Tree.

A sweet little crocheted angel from Cracker Barrel joined the Jesus Tree last night when my mother gave her to me. She is so elegant and right at home. I even gave mom a little angel and glass heart off of my Jesus Tree in return. It was an ornament exchange Momma Style.

Okay... Kirkland's Swingin' Snowmen. I wrote about these little treasures HERE when I asked others to share about their worst or best White Elephant gifts. These were the best! Hubs won them.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

They joined us from the shelf of Wal-Mart this year. A treasure for my hearth for $15.00.

A bargain! Who doesn't love a little inspiration at a good price? I gave my mother one of these last night as well!

Avon spent some time decking out my house a few years back. I got these three silly snowmen in 2005, and they help me with the decorating every year. When the babies (my neices and nephews) stop by for a visit the snow trio provide precious lights and sounds to delight little eyes and ears! Too Much Fun!

I have six of these cuties lining my mantle garland. They hold snowflakes, poinsettas and Christmas trees. Snowmen are one of my favorite holiday decorations and have been known to hang out the entire winter season... Love it!

I have had this little Christmas Boot from my Aunt Jewel since I was a young girl. It had candy stuffed in the top when I received it as a gift. My aunt painted them for us kids that year. Each of the cousins got one. My brothers and the boys had black tops and straps while my cousin, Deeanna had a green strap and top. Mine was thsi pretty white and I have loved it all these years long. I keep a tealight in it and it provides warm memories on cold holiday nights!

I received this beautiful felt Christmas Card Holder a couple of years ago from my friend and former Pastor's wife, Claudia. She and I worked together, ministered together as well as laughed and cried much together. I miss her, and always love placing my cards in this beautiful wall piece that reminds me of three gifts of Christmas that I always find: Joy, Peace, and Love.

These precious and crafty little dolls and snowmen were ornaments on our original tree... AKA the Memory Tree... that I put up the first time ten Christmases ago. Our memory tree (the big lunky artificial) got traded in this year for a newer, pre-lit artificial that is easier for me to assemble. So, now these little dolls mark the stockings for our children. They are from top to bottom: Brittany, Taylor, Megan, Justin and Travis.

These smoochin' reindeer mark Hubs' and I's stockings... Where is that Mistletoe?

And Speaking of the Memory Tree...

That's it in the foyer ahead of the Jesus Tree (to your right).

I have a few things to show you on your way out so let's take a look:
This is the Precious Moments ornament from mine and Scott's First Christmas in 1997.

These little skates were made by my Justin in grade school.

They are even more precious and priceless today than when he first brought them home.
The girls always insist on putting these little treasures on the tree themselves.

Brittany got this Lenox Reindeer as a Keepsake Ornament this year.

And Taylor got this adorable sledding Snowman by Lenox as well.

And as you exit back the way you came, I would like to share one last little memory item with you. These little bears represent our five children. I worked for a craft store the first year we were married and made a bundle of these precious little bears. I hand tailored their winter wardrobes and gave each a task for decorating at Christmas. They milled about in our tree for several years before landing on this holiday wreath that represents the blending of our families from two to one. A Treasure of our hearts as well as our children. These bears are known as (Left to Right) Top row: Brittany with the Poinsetta and Justin hanging up some garland; Second Row: Travis is helping with the lights, while Taylor is clowning around hauling out the holly, and last but certainly not least (bottom row) is our youngest girl, Megan. She is the one with the Candy Canes... And that concludes your tour of our Christmas to the Core Holiday decor.

And do leave your name and a brief comment so I can enter you into a door prize drawing for: Kari Jobe's Christmas CD - Bethlehem (learn more about it and Kari HERE)

Before you go, I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Thanks for stopping by. ((HUGS!)) Be sure to wear your mittens and snuggle that scarf up tight... The wind is biting and the temperatures cold as you venture off to the next home on your list.

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