Give Your Presence!

Church services, parties, malls, on the front porch fighting with decorations....

These are several places people can be found during the wonderfully special month of December.

You'll note that the Emergency Room is not included in the list of places the average person would prefer.

Insert threatening music

Last Monday morning at around 3:00 am poor Ryan got a sickness that would last FOUR days.  Poor guy.  He was absolutely pitiful.  The next day I told him that he needed to eat something, so he asked me to get some chicken noodle soup.  Off to Bi-Lo I went on a life saving soup trip.  In hindsight I thought the Campbell's cans looked smaller than usual, but I didn't think much of it.

I heated up a bowl of soup for Ryan to eat- his first real meal in at least 24 hours.  A little later (after seeing most of the noodles lying cold in the bowl) I asked him how it was.

 "Well, it was okay, but it was awfully salty."

"Goodness, Campbell's," I thought, "Get it together!  There is too much sodium in your recipe!"

During a later conversation with my grandmother I learned that I had overlooked some vital information on the can; add one cup of water.

Poor guy was dehydrated, and I gave him salty soup.

This was the making of a domestic case, or as my Dad so wittily put it: asSALT.  

Thankfully by Wednesday Ryan was feeling better, as I had planned my 2nd annual Christmas dinner for that evening.  Here's a little tour of our 2012 decorations.

Tree #1

Tree numero dos.

Our newest addition this year- the Peacock tree!!!

Mistletoe!

What??  Doesn't everyone have a light-up Christmas toilet seat cover?

A CANDY house that I found during our trip to Virginia!

The dessert table for my party.

These pretzel snowmen took FOREVER to make.  Ok, maybe not forever, but I listened to Sarah McLachlan's Christmas CD in its entirety twice.   It's a good thing she has a beautiful voice.

Christmas tree brownies

Homemade sugar cookies.

SUGARY PUNCH!!! MY FAVORITE!!!

Oh, and there was actual food, too...

My WONDERFUL friends!!!

During my trip of cleaning out Michaels' holiday inventory I happened upon what I thought were large pieces of confetti.  When I got home I realized they were in fact wine markers, or Diet. Mt. Dew in my case.

I thought they went on the glass like lemons.  

My friends quickly explained to me the correct way to use these.  

They go on the bottom??  Who knew??  I think my lemon idea is cuter.

The 2012 Christmas card collection!!! These are infinitely more exciting to receive than bills.

The next day was our Christmas gift exchange/stuff our faces party at the office, and later that day my VACATION officially began!!!

RIGHT when I got home to Dillon I rushed to perform a small miracle and get ready for the annual Jordan soiree.  I wouldn't miss it!!!

I was in such a rush that any thought of packing in an orderly fashion went right out the window, or more accurately, in a heap in the back seat.

But I made it!

The next day Jay was coming home.  As usual I had to get my creative fix and decided to deck out his room in honor of his delivery arrival.

It's amazing what you can do with some extra bows, balloons, lights, and stockings from the attic.

This is clearly the best use for a pull-up bar...

He's HOME!!!

The windy weather this week has been SERIOUS.  Even poor Frosty is feeling the effects.

Hang in  there, little buddy, Christmas is coming.

I leave you today with some Christmas comics and a reflection on the true meaning of the season.

At the culmination of this special time of year we bring forth good tidings and burnt offerings...

Patty cake gone wrong.

At this point many of you are probably finished shopping, and another good bit of you will spend the majority of your day in lines, circling like a hawk for a parking spot, or sifting through what's left in the stores to get the last few presents.

Don't forget to pause and thank the Lord for what He has done for You.  Count your blessings.  Say a special prayer for those precious families in Connecticut who will have an open seat at the dinner table tomorrow.  Pray that the Lord would comfort them in a way that only He can.  Thank Him for your loved ones that are still here to celebrate with you, and for those who are not- be grateful for the time you had.  

2013 is upon us, and I can hardly believe it.  The years go by so fast.  Be a bold servant in the next year.  Pray for and about opportunities where you can serve.  By far one of the greatest blessings will come through the giving of your time, energy, and love to everyone you meet.  Sometimes presence is the greatest present.

God bless you on this wonderful Christmas Eve, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Yule Be Merry!

Ryan: "Why is there a caulk gun on your dresser?"

"Oh, Ryan.  That's a cookie press!"

Sometimes things don't appear as they are.  And sometimes things don't appear at all.  

Lately I and my work ID badge have had a terrible relationship.  The problem is that the evil thing likes to play a maliciously cruel game of hide and seek when I need it most.  I've found it in every place imaginable, and never when I need it.

Now you see me; now you don't...

It's amazing that a 2 x 3 inch object can make or break a morning.  There are no less than five million places where that miserable piece of plastic could be hiding.  Me keeping up with that badge is like trying to construct a hurricane proof building out of napkins, straws, and scotch tape.  It's just not going to happen.

Fortunately, for many of us this time of year brings an opportunity to spend with those we love and reflect on the good things. Last weekend was our annual Finklea/Legette/Stephens/Greene family Christmas party.

The Greene home was conveniently already decorated for Latta's tour of homes.  They did a beautiful job!

I LOVE these little girls!

How kind of the hosts to honor Ryan with a stocking.

Paula reading the Christmas story.

How rare for Ryan to have a plate of food that was prepared in a home.   He's so excited he doesn't know what to do!

Buzzy Finklea is not only a kind, awesome family man who happens to be a member of the Dillon County Council.  He makes the BEST turkey in the WORLD!!!  A Christmas would not be the same without this marvelous pile of meat.

Sweet Lola and Sophie Belle.  Wait, they're being serious?

Theeeerrrrreee we go.  That's what I thought!

Move out of my way as I bulldoze toward the dessert table!

Little Miss Sophie Belle : D

Family loving!

It's a bird, it's a reindeer, it's....a horse!!!

Wow!!!

A grinch tree for Ryan, too???  This is just too much.  

Two of the best hosts ever!

The "younger" generation take 1.

Take 2!

Of course, a weekend at home wouldn't be complete without a few trials and tribulations.  During a lazy afternoon of Lifetime movie reruns, Mama and I noticed a WASP flying around the family room.

Out comes the Oreck.  It's perfect for sucking up insects in mid flight, but they won't tell you that in the owner's manual.

That pest caused quite a scene, but several screams and some teamwork later, we successfully handled the situation.

Can you imagine if the two of us showed up at your door with exterminating equipment?

I can't FATHOM that there are only 12 days until Christmas.  I'll spare you the song.

How is December flying by so quickly???  I still have several people to shop for, and it appears that the calendar is in fast forward.

Christmas shopping can be difficult, especially if you have people that are hard to buy for.

This is TOTALLY my parents.

Last Sunday afternoon a miracle took place at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Moody.

What to my wandering eyes should appear, but a CHRISTMAS TREE???  Say it isn't so.  

No tree is complete without special touches, like Kevin's bald head and Ryan's third grade picture.

Sunday night was the cupcake fest children's musical at FBC.  It was wonderful!

Love Brandy and Kathy : D

Just like every year, the rest of this month is going to COMPLETELY fly by.  I'm trying to remind myself to stop, think of and pray for others, and remember that the ultimate Christmas gift wasn't wrapped in an ornate box with ribbons and bows.

Over the next 12 days millions of people will be searching and standing in line to get the perfect gift for a family member, close friend, or themselves.   So sadly, some of those people are missing the ultimate gift.  It doesn't require standing in a line, ordering overnight, or high and low searching.

The gift of salvation can never be sold out.  There is no number or limit on it.  The ratio is 1:1.  Each and every person who desires to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can do so by just asking and receiving.

Try that method at Toys R' Us!

If there is any doubt in your mind about your Salvation, don't let 2012 come and go without accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior.  The time is now.  

I saw this picture somewhere, and it was very eye opening.

Christmas services are equally as important as any other sermon, but if you aren't currently attending a church, now is a wonderful time to go back and get involved.

Merrily,