this world is not my home. 

i know that, because everywhere i go i think i could live there, especially the beach.  it just makes me realize that i'm not meant to feel at home anywhere here on this earth.  i'm just passing through. 

God is good.....all the time.

Currently Listening The Polar Express By Various Artists see related

DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

WE LOVE YOU.

GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME!

Currently Watching It's a Wonderful Life By James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, Frank Albertson, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Mary Treen, Virginia Patton, Charles Williams, Sarah Edwards, William Edmunds, Lillian Randolph, Argentina Brunetti see related

when i was little tinsel wasn't made of plastic...it was little strips of aluminum foil.  just a thought.

here are the things that we do on christmas eve.  these are the things that make it a davis christmas in our house.  we went to the circle in nazareth and sang happy birthday to baby Jesus.  i'm always amazed that the town of nazareth still puts up a nativity on public property.  it's a beautiful one that they spent a lot of money to have refinished a few years ago.  then we came home and i finished fixing the food for dinner tomorrow.  then we had sloppy joes that we always have left-over from the night of christmas caroling.  we lit the bayberry candle.  the girls opened the ornaments that i made for them this year.  we watched "a child's christmas in wales" and now we're watching "it's a wonderful life".  soon we'll hang the stockings and put the cookies out for santa and go to bed.

whatever traditions you attach to your christmas i hope that you have a wonderful time with friends and family and enjoy your own celebration of the BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR!!  

Happy Christmas to one and all.

God is good.....all the time.

it's almost here.  there are still things to do.  the carolers are coming tonight, the davis/tress christmas party tomorrow night, fixing food for christmas dinner, taking gifts to the neighbors.  i feel pretty good though, i finished wrapping most of the presents last week and we've been pretty much on track with the cookies.  it's the first year in a long time that i haven't felt so crazy busy!  it's been nice.

we leave for nag's head, north carolina the day after christmas.  i can't wait.  everyone keeps saying, "why do you want to go to the beach in winter?"  we got used to going to the beach in the winter when we owned the condo in delaware.  we had to go then because it was the off season.  we rented it out to people during the regular season so we couldn't go then.  we actually learned to LOVE the beach in winter.  yeah, it's cold but there are no crowds and it's just beautiful.  it's easier to find sea glass and nice shells because there is no one there to pick them up.  going to restaurants is nice too because there are no lines for a table.  even if the weather is terrible, i can't wait to go to just get away. 

okay, so there's still lot's to do before that happens though.  what are some of the last minute things that you have to do yet?

God is good.....all the time.

Currently Reading The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions see related

we had a wonderful christmas today with my nephew and his wife and cherubs.  what a wonderful little family!  i love them dearly!

my nephew's wife is so precious to me!  she has been such a sweet, godly example to my girls.  she gives the most thoughtful gifts.  she gave me a book of puritan prayers.  they are so beautiful.  here is her favorite:

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter the stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
  thy life in my death,
  thy joy in my sorrow,
  thy grace in my sin,
  thy riches in my poverty
  thy glory in my valley."

There is no question that this life is filled with valleys.  God never promised us a life without trouble.  What He did promise us is that, for those who claim Him as Savior, He would be with us no matter what the trial.  I speak from personal experience, from a life that has had more than a fair share of valleys; it's easy to take your eyes off the Savior when the storm is raging around you but what a miraculous thing to look at the Savior, take His hand and walk on the water.

Praise God that we can look beyond the celebration of the birth of the baby to the cross and victory of the resurrection.  Praise God for strength and hope that comes from knowing Him!

You might be thinking, "wow, what's going on in her life to write about trials?!"  nothing really, at least not right now.  it's just that my heart goes out to people who are struggling at christmas.  trials are one thing, but everything is amplified at christmas.  for those of you who are hurting right now, God knows who you are and where you are and as the prayer above says, "the valley is the place of vision." 

God is good.....all the time.