Christmastime is here…

...And I love it! We have our lights up, our tree, our decorations and we are ready!


What’s your favourite Christmas movie? I love A Charlie Brown Christmas. On the other hand, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas used to scare the heck out of me when I was a child, and he still does. I am still uncomfortable watching it! I really like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, the old stop-action animated one where the characters are felt or clay. I like A Christmas Carol, too, but I can’t say which version I like best. I think that the movie The Nativity Story is one of my new favorites. Perhaps I am biased because of my faith, but I think it is a very well made, impeccably acted and visually compelling adaptation. I think anyone could appreciate it, even if they are not particularly religious. It’s directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who most recently directed the blockbuster Twilight. Check it out.

What’s your favorite Christmas music? I have so many favorites. Away In A Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by the Pretenders, 'Zat You Santa Claus by Buster Poindexter, Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, Put The Lights on the Tree by Sufjan Stevens, Ave Maria by Joan Baez….and of course, Christmastime is Here from the Charlie Brown special.


I will miss a few of the holiday traditions we enjoyed in Central Florida. Visiting Donelly Park in Mt. Dora, and enjoying the magical wonderland of lights and eating dinner at Vincent’s! Plant Street in Winter Garden was also lovely! I will miss driving by the decorated, old southern mansions in Oakland, some tasteful and some kitschy, but all a delight to the eyes. I will miss my dear family and friends there! I will not miss my dog-tired feet from working the retail craziness at Bealls, but I will miss my old co-workers. Last year I was so busy with my job and having some extra children in the nest, it was a very good Christmas overall, but a little crazy and stressful, too. God bless them (((J & T))), every~one!

I am looking forward to new traditions here in the Keys. I hope to visit the lighted boat parade in Key West. I have never seen a boat parade before, let alone boats with lights and decorations. That should be fun. I’m also told that the lights in the prayer garden of San Pablo are beautiful; I can’t wait to see them. We are having a candle light service on Christmas Eve. I look forward to some down time with my family, and to reflect on the season in a quietly joyful way this year.

Blessings, Ya'll!

The Nest

In the late spring of 2007 God sent a mama bird to nest in one of my hanging planter baskets. I was able to gently take the basket off the hook and observe the nest. This was for me, a direct answer to a prayer. Let me explain why.

Earlier in the spring a person from an online message board community of which I was then an active member, posted of a similar experience. (You can read "Kingdom Minded's" original post here.) I remember reading his story with interest. I thought and prayed, “God, that would be so cool! I wish something like that would happen to me.” Imagine my surprise when it did - and only a short time later!

The children and I watched the light brown, speckled eggs, checking on them nearly every day. There were four of them. We observed them as they hatched and grew, the mama bird busily bringing her hatchings food. I suspect that they were house swallows, but I can’t be sure. Then one day she taught the four baby birds to fly in our backyard. In one afternoon, they went from shed to swing-set, patio table to porch rail, and back over their practice circuit again - and then they were all gone. It was a delightful and encouraging experience for our family.

At that time I was really, really busy and concerned about some things regarding our living arrangements. The Lord brought to my mind those Bible verses on birds and His Providential Care. We are not wealthy by the world’s standards, we don’t most of the latest and most popular things (and when we do they are gifts from relatives), but I felt so rich, that this little bird family had taken shelter under our porch roof, and the simple yet profound truths they taught me. This really, really blessed me, it literally stopped me in my busy tracks and reminded of all the little things that were important. It also made me feel very loved and cared for by my Heavenly Father. To have a prayer like that answered so specifically and quickly was a miracle for me. Now, I have witnessed God working miracles and healings, I know He does. But for Him to answer a “little prayer” I mumbled hastily and breathlessly about something that was not a big deal, or essential, well, it really reminded me of how a Daddy loves His child.