Christmas Eve Morning Thoughts

My alarm was set for 5:10 this morning.  Enough time to get shower and do complete hair and makeup, bake the Cheddar Bread and Eggs Benedict casserole, wake the sleeping kids and get them ready, load the car and arrive at Mimi and Papa's by 8am.
Caleb had earlier plans.  He was ready to eat at 4.  While I could go back to sleep for about 45 minutes, there was a huge chance (as in, it's happened recently) that I would be just deep enough in REM that I wouldn't be able to get up at the beckoning of my alarm.  Thus, throwing off my whole pleasant-Christmas-Eve-morning plan.
I made the most of my extra hour.  I scanned facebook and Pinterest- although nothing had happened between 11:30pm and 4:15am. I finished the final 15 minutes of Water for Elephants (it's taken me 3 days to watch the whole movie!).  And, most importantly, I invested some time in increasing my knowledge of Him.
The ladies Bible Study I participate in read these verses and I can't get them out of my head:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

I am forever captivated that the Word of God is in fact the Living Word!  He, the Most High whom we celebrate this season, chooses to speak to me in a most personal way.  Sometimes in a soft whisper, sometimes with a loud ta-da, often with a sense of affirmation whaling up from the depths of my soul.  No doubt the Holy Spirit declaring the Truth with the Word.  I am forever in love and forever grateful for Him.

In this season of my life, and I would say for every season I will walk through, I need direction "for life and godliness." The answer is as clear as filtered water- it is through my knowledge of Him!  It is a gift he gives and that I must unwrap.  A fresh word this early morning when out of the corner of my eye I see twinkling lights, presents with shiny wrappings, 4 loads of laundry needing folding, a table needing cleared off, a bottle needing washed, my favorite winter mug wanting a coffee refill, and family needing stirred- never mind the clock on the bottom right of the screen!
This weekend will be full of lots of "lots" - family, food, gifts, expectations, travel, and little sleep.  I pray you will recognize and seize the opportunities given for you to steal away and increase in your knowledge of Him!
Merry Christmas Eve!
Now...on to wake four sets of sleepy blue eyes!

Need new Christmas recipes?

Check out my recipe blog!  I've added lots of new recipes I've enjoyed making these past few weeks!

Merry Baking!

He IS mighty to save!

This morning in our bed, between his Mom and Dad, Eli asked Jesus to come into his heart and be his Savior.
He is most definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, still saving lives!  Words do not describe my gratitude that He would allow me, a very flawed person, to participate in His work.
The details will come soon!

First Snow!

Well...it isn't much outside.  But, it's there!  I was up several times last night with Caleb and once when walking past the kitchen I looked through the window and saw huge flakes falling against a backdrop of our neighbor's Christmas lights.  It was just so beautiful!  The kids, thankfully, slept til 8:20 and then promptly bundled up to head outside.  Then, as any good Mom does, we had hot chocolate with marshmallows!  Tonight we're having Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (over on the recipe blog in the "Soup" category).  It's always eaten to the last drop!  Well, here you go...

Desktop Wallpapers

I found this website from Kate's blog (I like to speak of her as though I know her!).  They offer gorgeous wallpapers, with or without a calendar on it.  They have fresh ones each month!

Here's what I choose:

Lately

- Decorating for Christmas
- Planning our church's Women's Christmas Brunch (!!!)
- Staring at my children because they are getting ridiculously big every other minute!
- Fighting hunger on a local level (more on that later)
- Began a new Bible Study at church, When Women Say YES to God
- Reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Business Ethics...sorta for fun
- Prepping to assist my mom in teaching Global Ethics and Leadership (master's class...online!)
- Making an awesome no-sew ruffled tree skirt that I found on Pinterest (no surprise)
- Relearning how to use a PC after relying on Chris' Mac for the last few years
-And, obviously, not blogging =)

Ok...here's a friend from college's blog.  She is a very talented designer (and Mom of 2 boys), and has great giveaways on her blog! December's giveaway closes on Saturday!  Get at it, already!