Sharing from "Sharing the Journey: Christ in the Gifts"

I wanted to share a blog post called "Christ in the Gifts"  (hmmm, sounds awfully close to a blog name, doesn't it)  over at Sharing the Journey. Guest writer, Jodi, describes her family's gift-giving traditions and how they coincide with the three wise men in the Christmas story. I liked that idea a lot. Go check it out here to read more about it.

Source: google.com via Ann on Pinteres

I was thinking about gift-giving in our house. When our kids, then our grandkids, were younger, gift-giving was more about things (toys, candy, etc). There’s just something about the excitement of watching a youngster wake up Christmas morning and tear open presents that they have been waiting weeks to open. But our youngest is 19 and the grand kids are getting older and often we don’t get a chance to see them on Christmas. So it seems that gift-giving has been changing slowly over the years. Money is a little tighter and the idea of buying more stuff we really don’t need has affected our priorities when it comes to gift buying. Our values are more centered on giving to those in need, spending time with family and experiencing new endeavors together. We may also be moving this coming year into a smaller home on a local lake, so we are starting to downsize in order to prepare for a more relaxed and laid-back lifestyle. (The hubs would like to retire a little early and moving would help him make that possible). We plan on exchanging a few gifts this year, but more importantly, we plan on enjoying some small day-trips together over Christmas break, are planning a family vacation out west in the spring, and want to help some young people who have become an important part of our lives. It’s pretty amazing, how different phases of life bring different priorities. It’s actually less stressful and we can really dwell upon the true Gift, Jesus, who often gets put on the back burner once the holiday arrives.  My gratitude list is mostly a repeat of what I have previously posted, but I find these things come to mind as I think about what I have to be thankful for the most this Christmas…..

335. Salvation     

336. Loving husband and son

337. Friends

338. Family (including extended)     

339. Husband’s job

340. A home

341. Christ’s birth!!!!

342. God’s Word

343. Eternal Hope

344. Time with family

What are your family's gift-giving traditions like?

May you find the important things this Christmas to be about people, experiences, and God's love for us!!

Linking on over to: 

Feeling "Festive-r" Every Day!!

Today I'm linking on over to Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive, 365, A Beach Cottage and Best Posts of the Week with pictures of my Christmas decor, family photos, and some Christmas activities!

I'm feeling pretty festive. Maybe it's because my family and I have been going  to some fun-filled Christmas activities lately.  A few weeks ago, our city had their monthly "First Fridays" on the main square. Vendors sold kettle corn and bbq chicken, among other goodies. Stores had huge sales. There were live re-enactments, including characters from the civil war and a live nativity scene, with donkeys and all. There was a children's choir and best of all, horse-drawn sleigh rides. It was a really fun, albeit cold, evening.

(Live nativity, with live donkeys and goats to the left)

(Getting ready to go on the horse-drawn carriage ride)

(Trying to keep warm on the open carriage ride)

 We've also been decorating and taking family pictures around the house.

Our fireplace and hearth

Some family Christmas photos

(Gettin' a little silly, As you may have noticed, our tree is very colorful and eclectic)

(my tree-topper is a fiber-optic angel)

Here are some of my favorite tree ornaments.

I have several Religious wood ornaments that I love

I love nature, so a little birdhouse is put on the tree, too.

(These are a few (of several) quilted ornaments I made several years ago)

I hang this Santa decoration in a window. I love his fluffy beard!

Family photo in front of a Christmas quilt I made.

A simply lit Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus on my front door.

It seems like some years it's really difficult for me to get into the Christmas mood. I've even had a few where it didn't even feel like Christmas at all. Just no festiveness in the air, I guess.  Gladly, it seems that this year will not be that way. Every time I turn around there is something or someone encouraging me to get into the Christmas-y mood.

How about you? Are you getting that Christmas cheer? Or is this a year that leaves you feeling more discouraged and un-festive? If you are the latter, I pray someone or something comes into your day and cheers you up. If you know someone who may be going through a difficult year or just has that "Ba-humbug" demeanor, pray for them. If God leads you to say something nice or show compassion towards them, do it. We all need encouragement at times in our lives, and for some, especially at Christmas.

I read this touching story on Sharing the Journey and it made me think to look and listen. All around us people are hurting or struggling. All we have to do is let God open our hearts up to see where we can be an encouragement.

It's Cold Outside, but I'm Going Out Anyway!

I usually don't venture out too much in the wintertime. I'm just not a lover of the cold. But lately, I've been a little picture crazy. Don't know why, but my camera keeps crying out to me to go out and use it! 

These are pictures of one of our area lakes:

Looks like nobody wants to sit out in the 40 degree weather!

"It was You who set all the boundaries on the earth;

You made both summer and winter."

- Psalm 74:17

A view of an area lake

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments,

embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour."

- John Boswell

This channel divides the mainland from a small island.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

 Psalm 62:1

A walking bridge over the channel.

“Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!… 
He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments, Who can stand before His cold? 
He sends forth His word and melts them He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.” 
~Psalm 147:12-18

Large chunks of snow that fell on the icy water.

“Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold. From the breath of God ice is made, 

And the expanse of the waters is frozen.” 
  ~Job 37:9-10

A line, dividing water and ice.

The ducks don't seem to mind the cold water.

 Look at the birds of the air; 
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

 Matthew 6:26

A Mallard, enjoying a swim.

I saw this cute decorated antique sled in someone's yard, on my walk around the lake.

May you find peace and solace in nature's beauty!

 linking on over to:
Word-Filled Wednesday 

Reflections of His Grace


State of the Heart