Happy Birthday Jesus...

simple beauty

The second candle

This week we lit the second candle in our Advent wreath.  It is the Bethlehem Candle.  It reminds us of Mary and Joseph and the amazing journey they took from Nazareth to register for the Roman census and pay their taxes.  Funny how God got them just where they needed to be to fulfill the prophet Micah's prediction:

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity.  Micah 5:2

We read this week of how amazing it is that Mary and Joseph didn't seem to fuss about trying to be in Bethlehem for the birth.  They certainly would have known the prophecy.  How many times do I fuss about how to make things happen instead of resting in the plans of the Holy One?  

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world give do I give to you.  

Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  

Jesus to the disciples, John 14:27

The first Sunday of Advent

The first Sunday of Advent we'll light the Prophesy Candle.  I have the breakfast table set with a wonderful book to guide us through the season, (Rebecca Hayford Bauer's The 25 Days of Christmas) Christmas plates, yummy cinnamon rolls, oranges, Marie's cheese souffle and small packages for the family.  I'll post pictures later...

We've been celebrating Advent, looking forward to the coming of our Savior, from the first Christmas we were together.  That Christmas we were given the privilege of lighting the Prophesy Candle in our large church in Bel Air, California.  Jon was just a little guy and I think the experience was a bit much for him.  He was a trooper.

The Prophesy Candle reminds us of the incredible "fingerprint" our Father God left through the prophets  to help us see the miracle of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection and know for certain that He is The One.  Isaiah, Micah, King David and even Moses write of the coming Messiah among others.   Each year, as I learn more and study scripture, I am even more amazed at the complexity and depth of the prophecies and their miraculous fulfillment in Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Thank you, Lord Jesus for coming...  May we celebrate You well this season.

Christmas in August

I've been wanting to do this forever... It was supposed to be "Christmas in July..." but, oh well. July was busy. I finally cleared the calendar and just did it. Yea!

I told the girls that they were going to have a special day but it was going to be a surprise. I think the anticipation is almost as much fun as the event.

When they awoke, I was wearing Christmas jingle bell earrings, a hastily painted tree t-shirt and Christmas music was playing.

They totally bought in, bless them, and even put on their Christmas duds.

Christmas tree buttermilk pancakes...

Crafting cards, tags... It was so fun just creating without the pressure of a package to finish...

Later in the day we watched Christmas movies and went to our local Christmas shop, Sleigh Bells. Let me tell all you local friends, off season is the time to shop Sleigh Bells...

We didn't do half of what I had planned, but there's always September.