Thanks SOOOO Much

While celebrating Christmas with my extended family, Brooke my two-year-old granddaughter, handed my brother a gift. He leaned down toward her, smiled, and said, "Thanks, so much." Brooke paused for only a second then went back to handing out gifts for my dad.
Later that night, while we sat around the table playing a game, Brooke repeated, "Thanks, sooooo much," softly. Over and over.
One of my nieces laughed and looked at me. She said, "If anybody else was doing that it'd be annoying, but with Brooke it's just so cute."
This scene has replayed in my mind as one of the sweet moments of Christmas this year.
Do I thank others enough for the things they do for me? Do I thank God enough for all the mercies He shows me? Maybe, I need to practice saying, "Thanks, so much."
Let me start by thanking you all for spending time with me these last six months as I begin my writing journey. THANKS, SO MUCH!!!

I hope 2012 is a slam dunk of a year for you all!

Sights of Christmas

Where I live we've seen record rainfall this year. And I think it's affected people's Christmas spirit. The times I've gone Christmas shopping, it has rained. The days I haven't gone Christmas shopping this month, it has rained.
We haven't gone out to look at Christmas lights in other neighborhoods because it's always been raining. I began thinking about the things I like to see at Christmas time. One of my favorite sights is the look of delight on a child's face. I also enjoy lighted Christmas trees and Christmas villages.
What about you?

What are some of your favorite sights at Christmas?

The Sounds of Christmas

I have a shoebox full of Christmas CDs. I'm not talking a lady shoebox, but one of the big shoe boxes for athletic shoes. Every year I tell myself, we have enough CDs and still I seem to find a new one I need.
Some of my favorites are by Harry Connick Jr. and George Strait. But this year I discovered Michael Buble's Christmas CD.



I've played this over and over and it's one of my favorites now.
What about you? Do you have a favorite Christmas CD?

My family took a time-out from Christmas to celebrate a princess' birthday.
Merry Christmas!

Hope

Christmas is the season for hope. For weeks now, I've been looking for signs of hope.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went down to Athens, Georgia. We went to the Georgia vs Kentucky football game. A family sat behind us cheering for UK. The kids screamed and cheered like crazy. I'd hear them talk to their dad. They hoped UK would win the game, and they played a great game. I was so impressed with the children though, because UK had a bad season. If Georgia won they'd be the SEC East champions. I'm a Georgia football fan through and through, but I enjoyed the kids hope through the game. UK's players must have hoped to win too because, as I said, they played a good game.

The Georgia fans hoped we'd win the game. So Stanford Stadium was full of people hoping for a win, but at the end of the day, only some of us left with our hopes fulfilled.

When we place our hope in Jesus, we'll all see our hopes fulfilled. He's the true One to trust and be worthy of our hopes.

I hope you all enjoy the Christmas season!