Happy New Year everyone! God bless you!

Good advice to all for 2013!

The story never ends!

God loved us enough to come to earth as a human.  To be with us.  To prove that He always keeps His promises.  To give us eternal life.  To have an intimate relationship with us forever.  To show us that no matter how dark our world becomes, His Light can never be put out.  That's why it's not enough to celebrate His birth only with Christmas lights and decorated trees.  We must also celebrate it with His love.  For His love lives on forever in those who love Him enough to share it with others.  In that way the story never ends.

(From The Miracle of Christmas by Stormie Omartian.  A very good book of inspirational stories to read through the Advent season.)

My Prayer to God (from "The Miracle of Christmas" by Stormie Omartian

Lord, I thank You that into the deep engulfing darkness of this world You have come as a light that can never grow dim.  All the world has to offer doesn't hold a candle to the light of your presence.  You are a radiant fire that illuminates the shadows of our souls and warms the coldness of our hearts.  Just like the Wise Men who followed Your light to find You, I, too, have followed Your light and found You.  Now, because I believe in You, Your light dwells within me forever.  I have found the way of truth, and my darkness will never be the same.  Thank You, Lord, that You can be found by those who seek You.  Thank You that those who follow You will never walk in darkness.

In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.


God's Promise to Me:

I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.  --Jonn 8:12

Our 6th and final celebration!

This documentary was so good.  It pointed out lots of things from Matthew 2 that I hadn't realized was even there.  9 clues that the Star of Bethlehem was a real event!  Very interesting.  Very inspiring.  Very informative. 

We had dinner first.  I made chili dogs from a recipe in my trusty cook book.  Linda brought the potato chips (which I forgot to put out, so they didn't get eaten.  Sorry, Linda), and Susan brought orange jello.  We finished off the pie from our Christmas dinner.  Susan, Linda, Jeremy, Dad and I were here.  It was good to see Jeremy show up. 

Karen called while we were eating and cleaning up.  She sounds so sick. 

We prayed for Janet for her birthday.  And all the rest of the Eve's on the planet, too!

Then Jeremy went to see what his friends are doing, and Dad went downstairs to watch football, and Susan, Linda and I watched a movie.

Susan had to be home by 7:00 so Jean could go to mass, and Linda had to go, too, since Dad gave them a ride home.  Jeremy took the car they came in.

If you did not get a chance to watch these DVD's, I highly recomment that you try to watch them sometime when ever you can.  They surely are worth the time you spend with them.  We all did enjoy this time together with each other - and with you!  This was our last one. 

"The Star of Bethlehem"

Sunday is Janet's birthday!  And it is our 6th - and final - time to get together and ponder the greatness and majesty and miracle of the birth of Jesus.  This film is "The Star of Bethlehem" by presenter Rick Larson, from the producer of "The Passion of the Christ" - Stephen McEveety.  I previewed it today, and it is really an interesting, amazing and thought-provoking documentary about the actual star that led the Magi to the Christ child in Bethlehem.  Is it possible that the star was a real, astronomical event?  This presentation, as seen by tens of thousands in the U.S. and in Europe, explores the exciting truth of scripture and reveals the eveidence for God's existence as seen in the stars above.  Discover the secret of the Star - - a secret of magnificent beauty . . . www.bethlehemstarmovie.com

See you Sunday!  Hope you can see this one.

Our celebration tonight

We had a great time today at our advent celebration family time.  Susan and Linda and Dad and I were here.  Was anyone else with us today? 

The DVD was so good.  Louie is a great preacher.  He told us about the Christmas Story from Luke, chapter 2, in a way I've never heard it before.  If you didn't get a chance to see it today, you could go to google and google it in and watch it on the internet anytime. 

We ate dinner first.  I made meatloaf with a recipe from my cook book I've been having so much fun with.  Also some creamed potatoes with peas, and a raspberry salad.  Susan brought cookies.  Linda brought rolls and carrots.  Everything was so delicious. 

Then we watched the movie "Faith Like Potatoes".  It was quite good, too. 

Next week we will have our final celebration.  This one will be "The Star of Bethlehem".  Very appropriate for after the birth of Christ.  It is a documentary on the Star.  Very interesting.  You can find that on the internet, too. 

Linda and Dad are at the airport right now picking up Jade and Jeremy.  It will be so good to see them.  I am sick, so Dad wouldn't let me go.  It is too cold outside - only 4 degrees!  Brrrr.  I'm on my way to bed.  G'nite everyone.  Sweet dreams.

Oh - and be sure we keep praying for Tammy and Terry.  And Karen texted Chuck to tell him she couldn't talk 'cuz she's sick, too.  Please pray for her.  She will be going to Bev's for Christmas if she can feel good.  The roads are very nasty to get here for Christmas.  And she only gets tomorrow afternoon (Christmas Eve) until Christmas day at 5:00 off.  Not enough time to come here, anyway.  I'm so thankful that Bev has invited to her join them.  So nice of you, Bev!

Soldier Brian - Staff Sargeant in the 1st Infantry Division - the Big Red One.

Brian in Iraq.  Did you all go look at "Friends of the First ID Band" blog?  You have to click on the arrow on the bottom of the list of titles of the blogs and there it is!    Thank you, Brian, for defending our countries rights and liberties, and being a part of defending America and democracies throughout the world.  We are proud of you.

Our next Advent celebration - Sunday, Dec 23

This week's film - "The Twelve Words of Christmas" - Louie Giglio - is so good.  I do hope all of you can find it on the internet.  Or at the store.  I may have given some of you this one, so go look in your DVD library, too.  The scripture for it is the Christmas Story in the bible - whatever book you want to read it from.  Pot-luck.  discussion.  Post comment on here when you are done.  Even if you haven't been able to see any of the previous DVD's, watch this one.  It's about an hour.

See you Sunday!

P. S.  Did you all receive the prizes I sent you?  What did you think?

Brian's blog

Look to the side panel and find Brian and click on it.  It's quite interesting.  Good pictures.  Thanks, Brian.  And Bev is on there, too.  I wish we could hear from Bev sometimes on here.    Anyway, go read those and all of the ones on the side panel, if you want to.

Advent Celebration #3 - Dec 16, 2012

What a wonderful afternoon and evening it was today.  First we ate.  I made a turkey.  It was delicious.  Linda brought mashed potatoes and cookies.  I also made some sweet potatoes.  And I made a peach bavarian.  I found this recipe in my recipe book and it was really good!

Then we watched the part 2 Louie Giglio film "HOPE - When Life Hurts Most".  It was very timely with what has happened this week in the school in Connecticut.  Very consoling.  Louie is good.  Dad thought it was the best one yet! 

Then we drew the names for the prizes.  I will be mailing them out tomorrow. 

Thanks for participating, all who did.  Four down and two to go!  Next week is "The Twelve Words of Christmas" - Louie Giglio.

Advent celebration #2

This film was so good - "How Great is Our God".  Very powerful teachings on life and the universe and the miracles we are - There surely is a God.  An awesome God!  I love lamenin!

We enjoyed a meal of corn chowder and bisquits and chicken and chocolate cupcakes.  Very good.  I took some pictures to post of us enjoying the cupcakes - Susan requested that we do that.  Now I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto the computer so I can put them on here.  Somehow I'll do it, just give me a day or two.

We discussed the film and then we watched the movies "Analyze That",  and a movie called something Moon.  (I can't remember the name of it!)  The last one was such a good movie.  Linda brought it home from Minnesota.

All in all it was a great time and a good celebration. 

Next time our film will be "Hope" - Louie Giglio again.