Christmas meaning

This song always touches my heart when I hear it. The lyrics are incredible. I cannot imagine being Mary. There was a recent movie done, The Nativity Story, that is a fairly good retelling of the birth of Christ. It really shows you what Mary might have been going through conceiving a child before lying with her husband. But what an amazing child and gift it was.

Mary Did You Know, written by Mike Lowry

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Can you imagine? Just incredible. The true meaning of Christmas has gone by the wayside with the traditions and the presents. When I hear this song I am reminded of what Christmas really is, it is the birth of our Lord.

Women of Faith: Eve

Eve, the first woman created in the image of God. Her story is found in Genesis 2-4.

Her name means "mother of all who have life" or "life-giving" and how appropriate. She knew God intimately, was on a first name basis and saw him face to face. Her story is well known; it involves a snake, an apple, and deception.

The blame is often placed on her, but is she fully to blame? God curses and blesses both Adam and Eve. They are both cast out of Paradise. True, Eve took the fruit first but Adam willingly accepted the fruit from his wife. In the eyes of God it makes sense that are both implicated and both responsible. For Adam and Eve, being husband and wife, are one flesh in the eyes of God. 

Eve was the first woman on Earth, and the first woman in this study. 

My favorite quote from her story: "Pressed hard by desire, she took the fruit and then shared it with her husband. Suddenly darkness spread across Eden. It came, not from the outside but from within, filling the man and the woman with shadows, cravings, and misery. Order gave way to disorder, harmony to discord, trust to fear."

Sin begins inside us. True outside circumstances can be crummy and hard pressed but it is our individual response that breeds sin. Two people in the same circumstance can respond in two different manners, one faithfully and one filled with sin. Eve began life in Paradise and decided that she wanted more, introducing sin into the world. How often do we want more, knowing that we have plenty already? This is part of being human. 

And while Eve was punished with pains in childbearing, there is a blessing at the end of that process and pain as well. I am not yet a mother but cannot wait for the day that I am. Eve was the first mother, is the mother to all. She led the way for the rest of us women. She gave birth to children with no modern technologies or conveniences and she did so knowing that God was the giver of life. It was through Him that she was able to experience the joys and pangs of childbearing. We are united with Eve in this same manner, after the pain is gone we are filled with joy of the life we have brought into this world.

We can clearly see God's love and grace through Eve's story as well. Even though they have betrayed Him by doing the one thing He asked them not to do, he still forgives them. Through His judgement His grace is also shown. Death has now become inevitable; but someday mankind will crush the head of the serpent who began mans downfall. So while there is negative there is also positive. We will die; but we will live in Him always and forever. 

Things I wil try to take from Eve's story:

I was made in God's image. I do not always remember this. I often do not feel the worth that I know God has bestowed on me. Like Eve I often try to take things into my own hands. I do not always want to wait and seek for what it is God wants for me in my life. While I know that I need to take an active role in my life and not just sit back and wait and wait for God to work in my life, I also know that I need to be more open to seeing God working in my life. It is hard to listen and see with all that goes on. 

Right now it is difficult for me to see God in my life when I have been looking for a job for over a year and found nothing. I am starting to doubt myself and who I am. I am starting to feel inadequate as a person in society and as a wife being a productive part of the household. It is really starting to get me down. I know that God has a plan for me and I need to wait for the job He has set aside from me but it is getting frustrating looking and having nothing come back in return. 

Eve is the mother of all mankind. She betrayed herself and let God down. Yet, even through His judgement of her God assured her that one day her offspring would reverse what she had done. Through her pain in child bearing she was still able to praise God and bestow upon Him the glory that her child was. This week as I reflect on Eve I hope to be more joyous in what I have been given, I pray to try and see myself the way that God does. It will not be easy, and it will take time. 

Women of the Faith Series

I often used to pray and read the Bible. I don't do that anymore; and I want to get back to it. I have had this book: Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture on my shelf for a very long time. It intrigued me.

We are all very familiar with the men of the Bible, but the women seem to be overlooked somewhat. My goal is to work my way through this. I also have the workbook that goes along with it. After looking through both of them again my focus will definitely be on the devotional book. For each woman they cover they do a story adaptation, along with key biblical verses. There are questions to ponder and the influence we can see in modern times based on what we know of these women.

I invite you to follow along in this journey. Some of the women are easily recognized from their names and others are not. I am excited to get to know these women of faith and to learn from their lives and relationship with God.

2010: Our year in review

2010 saw us settling into Lemoore, CA and finally joining the fleet. We visited over 40 different wineries (and went back to some a few times) I have searched for a job but have not received one yet, hopefully that will come in 2011!!

 January:

We rang in the New Year with amazing new friends!

We had our first visitors

Mike's high school buddy Kelly

Uncle Dan and Aunt Ginger

February:

My parents and Aunt Melissa came for a visit

March:

Shane and some of his college buddies came on their Spring Break!

We took a big group of friends wine tasting

 April:

Celebrated my birthday at Cheesecake Factory with amazing friends!

Flew first class....

....to Barcelona!!

Mike did some training in El Centro, CA to learn how to drop bombs.

May:

Went to AZ for Taylor's high school graduation

Went to Hayden's 8th grade graduation

Traveled to Washington for Jenny's college graduation

 (Unfortunately I had to miss Shane's college graduation this same month)

Went to Lake Havasu with the family

June & July:

Mike did some air to air combat training in Key West.

Uncle Mark, Aunt Michele, and the kids came for a visit.

Mike went to Key West and got his picture taken over the Grand Canyon 

August:

The Christoph's came for a visit

We visited Hearst Castle 

Mike got his carrier qualification in the F/A-18C Hornet

Mike sitting on the flight deck 

September:

We discovered we were going to be members of VFA-146 Blue Diamonds

October:

Mom came for another visit.
Mike went out for training on the USS Ronald Reagan for a month to prepare for deployment in 2011.

The Lady Diamonds represented at the base Halloween Party.
We now get a beer named after us at the new base restaurant!

 November:

Spent Thanksgiving in AZ.

We attended the Hornet Ball with our new Blue Diamond family.

Grandpa Melde passed away peacefully and much loved by his family.

December:

Many Christmas parties with our new Blue Diamond family.

Mike is currently flying to PA to attend the Army/Navy game.

We will be going to VA and PA for Christmas and New Years to spend time with family before Mike's deployment early next year.

A different look at Christmas

When I was in high school and college I use to write very often. I wrote stories and poems mostly. For some reason I no longer write. It is something that I have tried to get back into in the last few years. I have not done a very good job of it recently. I go through phases. One thing that I always do is journal on trips, so that I will have those to go back and write from later.

I kept everything I ever wrote and I was recently looking through my folders. I found this poem that I wrote my senior year in high school. It is not something my family does and I am not sure where the ideas came from. As I reread it, it struck a chord. The Christmas season has lost its true meaning...

A Christmas Tradition (2002)

  Wake up! Wake up! Is a child's cry
A wondrous night has now passed by!
The hearts of every little girls and boy,
Is filled with songs of laughter and joy.

  What awaits two children down the stair,
They run by as mom sits in her easy chair.
As they turn the corner, the sight they would hold
Was unlike any they had ever been told.
Before the tree there was a manger,
They saw a child, and felt safe from danger.
A mother and father knelt near the baby's face.
What is this peaceful and quiet place?
        "My dear darlings, Nick and Jane,
         Why the silenced look of pain?"
They turned around and looked in awe.
The couldn't explain what it is they saw.
Nick being the eldest,
Answered with earnest:
        "Mommy, what is this that lay before me,
         Where are the toys and presents I usually see?"
Jane held on to her mother with might,
This was a pitiful sight.
All the mother wanted to do was try
And show her children the truth, not a lie.
        "This, sweetheart, is what Christmas was
         Not about toys and presents just because.
         This story is one of old
         And now it looks as if it must be told:

            Many, many years ago
        Prophets they did know
        Of the birth of a child
        That would save the world from going wild.
        At the time of Christmas morn
       This wondrous child was born.
        Soon after birth, to save his life,
       The family had to flee; child, husband, and wife.
            At the age of twelve he taught and learned
        For God, this young child's heart burned
        He was talented in his father's trade
        But a different choice he soon had made.
             His exact age cannot be told,
        But we do know this; he was not that old.
        He taught of following in the footsteps of the Lord.
        Of death by righteousness, not by the sword.
        Many miracles he would perform,
        To listen to his stories people did swarm."

   At this the mother paused her story
And looked into the child's eyes filled with glory.
When her tale she did resume,
It took on a more sorrowful tune:

             "There were those fill with hate
        They were men of a higher state.
        They offered a reward for this man,
        One of his friends to authorities ran.
        They gave Judas his pay,
        And sent him on his way.
        Judas took the money and left
        This by far was his greatest theft.
        Guilt soon overcame him,
        He had grown week in every limb.
             Meanwhile Christ was deep in thought
       He already knew Judas had been bought.
       He was in prayer at the Garden of Gesthemane
       While the disciples slept in peace and harmony.
       Armies of soldiers soon came
       And carried Christ to their domain.
       He soon faced the people's shouts:
             'Crucify him! Crucify him! We have no doubts
             This man is not who he says he is!'
        Christ these people would not miss,
             They sent him to the cross to die.
        But why, for this man never once told a lie.
        He promised to all those who would listen,
        On the third day he would rise again.
        Christ's promise held true
        He began life anew.
        Soon His time on Earth was done
        He ascended to Heaven, He was the Son!
        Now he sits at the right hand of the throne.
        This story is widely known.

   So you see my children, this is not new
But I hope with this story your hearts grew.
And now you may realize
Christ is a much better prize,
Than toy trucks and dolls
And red bouncing balls."

    Nick and Jane knew not what to do
But to the baby cradle they soon flew.
They offered him all their sorrow,
And began to think of a better tomorrow.
     This tradition in that family started
Even when Nick and Jane had wed in never parted.
They learned the true meaning of Christmas that day
And with them that lesson forever would stay.    

Boulder Falls Pet Resort at the Holiday Pet Fest AZ

This past weekend Boulder Falls Pet Resort had a booth set up at a Holiday Pet Fest in Scottsdale, AZ. Boulder Falls is a pet boarding and day care facility in northern Phoenix, AZ. They are great! If you live in AZ and will be traveling check out their website, also be sure to stop by for a tour.

Sage, a Great Dane, stopped by Boulder Falls booth to take a look.

This was a holiday PET fest, and this little guy took it to heart! A miniature pony on a lead walked around and was not bothered by any of the dogs. He was even in the holiday spirit with his Santa jacket. Boulder Falls has been known to take pets other than cats and dogs. They have had rabbits, birds, ferrets, chinchillas, and even a pot-bellied pig! They love all animals great and small!

 Pets could even have their picture taken with Santa at the Pet Fest.

This little guy was also dressed for the occasion, and was patiently waiting his turn to take a picture with Santa.

It was a great day with lots of fun and friendly animals. Boulder Falls hopes that some of you will give them a call and come for a visit!!

*The opinions are strictly that of the author. There has been no reimbursement for this post.

Giving Thanks...and stuffing our faces

Thanksgiving is a day spent with family giving thanks for everything we have. This year, two days before Thanksgiving my grandfather passed away. I will write more on that a little later, but we gave thanks for the 88 years he had on this earth, and the 66 years he had with my grandmother. 

Thanksgiving was hosted this year by my mother. We had a full day of cooking and hanging out in the kitchen. Everyone gets involved in our family. We cook together...parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Like I said before, Thanksgiving is a time of being with family. When you have a large family you need lots of help to feed them. 

Thanksgiving food is my favorite. I love the smell of turkey and gravy and stuffing and vegetables and yams and pumpkin pie and apple pie. It all melds together so well. I always say that I'm going to do a Thanksgiving in June or July but I have yet to go that. Maybe this year I will invite the gals whose husbands are also on deployment and we can have a big Thanksgiving in July. Hmm...sounds like it could be a plan!! 

 Each year we try to make a few new recipes in addition to the traditional Thanksgiving foods. This year we had butternut squash risotto, green chili mac and cheese, an artichoke and spinach dip, and a pumpkin cake in addition to the traditional desserts. Everything was amazing!

 Here is our feast before anyone dives in.

We had a good time enjoying each other's company. Everyone was able to eat their weight in food, okay not really but it sure seemed like it! And desserts were amazing. No matter how much you stuff yourself with that amazing THanksgiving food you always can squish some dessert into the crevices of your stomach! 

The Christmas Tree, and some of my favorite ornaments

I received a new ornament every year when I was younger, so did Mike. This gave us a good start to decorating our first Christmas tree three years ago. We have since added a few ourselves. A big contention for us was whether to go with a real tree or an artificial tree. I grew up with real, Mike grew up with artificial. We eventually decided on an artificial tree similar to this one.

Mike and I had a good time decorating the tree while listening to christmas music. It's always fun to pull out ornaments and remember when and where you got them and who gave them to you. 

Here are a few of my favorite ornaments we've got. Most of them are more recent. Like this one that we got our first christmas we were married.

This nativity was given to me by my grandparents.

This ornament was from Mike's childhood. I think it is way cool how it drapes across two branches like that.

 My family got these painted horse ornaments a couple years in a row. Because Mike likes penguins my mom got him this one.

This was a gift from my aunt for our first christmas as well. If I remember correctly she painted it herself.

Mike gave me this ornament our first christmas together, back in 2003 when we were just dating.

Do you have ornaments with a story??

Christmas decorating, Christoph style

It's that time of year again! The fun and festivities and stress that come along with this amazing time of year. Mike and I brought our boxes of christmas decorations and ornaments out, listened to christmas music and set it all out.

I always look forward to this time of year. When I was younger I'm sure it had to do with the presents, but now I enjoy it for the time it is to spend with family. We are lucky enough that Mike will have two weeks off for the holidays this year and we will be traveling to see both sides of the family. Yes it will be stressful traveling over the holidays (we are flying through Denver! Hope we don't get stuck there) but it is necessary as we get ready for Mike's deployment in the spring of 2011.

Here is a peek into our holiday home this year...

For our wedding we received this nativity set by Willow Creek. Eventually I might get the Wise Men, we'll see I kinda like it with just the animals.

The stockings for our small little family...Mike's is the penguin, mine is the reindeer/moose looking thing, and our pup Sunset gets the dog of course!

I found these snowmen at a garage sale when I was in my first college apartment.

 I am collector of Precious Moments. I have this full nativity set and two more of just Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

Mike likes penguins, and so I found this for a dollar a couple of years ago and had to grab it!

Our Christmas table decorations. I might put one of the other Precious Moments nativity sets here too. I'm not sure yet, what do you think?

If you know anything about me, know that I am a Disney fanatic!! This is too cute, we got this a few years ago from Mike's parents. I love it!

And look at my cute Christmas mug!!! YES!!

Have you gotten your holiday decorating started?