CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

It's almost Christmas and I am looking forward to being with friends and family for the next few days. At times I am sad when I think that this is the first Christmas without my grandmother. She loved the homemade gifts that we gave her every year and made a big fuss over the kids. A lady who lives in Peninsula is making something for us that will help keep our grandmother near our hearts all year long. She is designing a charm. One side of the charm she is taking one of her favorite blouses and snipping a small square of fabric and placing it inside the charm. She is mounting a daisy on top of the fabric. My grandmother loved daisies and her nickname was Miss Daisy. On the other side she is scanning my grandmother's signature from a card that I had kept. I can't wait to see the finished product.

As I look back on the month of December, it has been a wonderful time with family and friends. The annual cookie exchange, our buckeye making day with Sherrie and Sandie, the annual Christmas production at Hope, Wally's Christmas party, and a fun night last night with the teens at Hope. The best is yet to come.

This saturday our family will be going with 2 other families at Hope to visit children who are in the hospital and a dear friend in a nursing home. This just isn't any visit...we all dress up in the "nativity" costumes...including a camel, and bring the manger to them. This may sound "cheesy" to some...but we have fun.

I think I have truly felt the true meaning of Christmas this year. It is easy to be busy with the shopping and baking...but the importance of this holiday is sharing the love of Christ with those around us. It's about putting the busyness of the season aside and making time for people.

Stonecroft Ministry

One of the best kept secrets in women's ministry is an organization called Stonecroft. Stonecroft ministries are all over the country. They host monthly luncheons or breakfasts for women to bring their unchurched friends. There is always a secular speaker and a spiritual speaker. About a year ago I started the process to become an approved stonecroft speaker. Several times I wanted to give up. Your talk is critiqued over and over again. I had to swallow my pride many times as I listened to constructive criticism. They pay you to come to their clubs and speak. I have been blessed to have the chance to speak 3 times this week. Monday I was in Warren, Tuesday in sandusky and tomorrow I will be in East Liverpool. The clubs are mainly made up of women who are retired. At first I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this. I was so wrong. For example, today I sat beside a woman who was 92. She was what I would call a "firecracker". I enjoyed talking to her so much and appreciated the wisdom that she had. I also sat with a lady who is a greatgrandmother. You would never know it. She runs a bed and breakfast and invited me to come visit. YEH! Can I also say she was the best dressed lady there. She was so hip and fashionable. The best part is...she is going to send me a box of her hand me downs. YEH! YEH! The grandmothers there today were stylish, funny and more importantly...believers. Monday I met another group of mature women (I won't dare call them older) who blessed me as well. I can't wait until tomorrow to see what God has in store. Maybe I will meet someone who wants to get rid of some jewelrey.. HA HA

I also had the honor of speaking at a ladies event in Auburn. I am in awe of how the Lord continues to bring the opportunities my way.

Random Thoughts

I am about to begin my 8th day of teaching in a row. I have loved every minute of it. I have taught kindergarten to 11th grade in the last 2 weeks. It's ironic that I can't get the kindergarten kids to rest and I can't keep the high school students awake. I am thankful for the chance to work. It is great paying cash for Christmas.

It was great having a classroom with windows today so we could watch the snow. Yes today was kindergarten. It also makes my faithful that we have already booked our summer beach house for July. We loved this house and the irony of it is the owner lives one town away from us so we were able to book directly with her. I am also excited that 15 of the 16 people (my immediate family) will be there. We have never had this many before. It should be fun. I am excited to spend some time with my nephews and nieces that I don't see very often.



Another neat thing that has happened is that we continue to see the legacy of my grandmother live on. She was always a giver. An unexpected insurance policy was discovered and that money has been earmarked to help others. A fund has been set up in her honor. My mom has had the privledge of already helping buy medication and a hot water tank for people in need. This is exactly what my grandmother would have done. I don't think we will ever know the amount of lives that she touched while she was alive. Now her memory and her legacy live on. Way to go Miss Daisy. (her nickname)