Everybody in the pool!

Yesterday at church, Paul told me how Sarah, my God-daughter, climbed into bed with them that morning and asked if they could go to Miss Kim's house and swim in the pool. They chuckled and said it was too cold right now to go swimming but when it gets warmer they can come over. Sarah said, "Well, yeah....." as though she realized that weather was an issue. It was quite warm Sunday, particularly after it stopped raining. In fact, when I walked from my door to the elevator on my way to church, I was actually walking in fog! I cannot recall having that happen before, or at least, not that I ever noticed. My church friends nicely pointed out that I am always walking in a fog......thanks, guys!

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All the exterior surfaces at home and at church were still damp, especially noticeable was the cornerstone marker near the breezeway door, where one of the kids even wrote their name in the wetness. It was nearly 80 again Sunday, humid, of course, and will be for a couple more days this week until the temps decline once again to the 60's. Mom told me Lynn, Jill, and she drove to Sheboygan Saturday to the wonderful bakery (delicious sugar cookies) on washboard roads after the rain and snow from last week froze onto the pavement. That must be tough on tires, I don't remember. I do remember getting my car into a rut in the road and nearly hitting a car parked along the street because I could not steer my car out of the rut, like the car rides in theme parks. Really, I do not miss that one bit!

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Olivia, our family friend, attends college in Maryville, TN, which was featured on the news this a.m. Fox and Friends had a segment on where, at the annual tree lighting ceremony, a man was forbidden to read the CHRISTmas story from the Bible, as had been done for a couple decades previously. Until she went to college there, we had never heard of this place before and now, it's on the news! She is due home very soon, perhaps is already here, and I know we will be getting together to enjoy some time during the holidays with Owen and Sandy, her folks. I had better get busy and invite them for CHRISTmas dinner, since I really do not mind making two feasts. On TV last night, believe it or not, HGTV, one of the decorators was giving advice on entertaining over the holidays. She said to stick to what you know, keep it simple and do not experiment with new recipes on your family and friends. I can make a very nice meal for us without going nuts. Done!

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On the way upstairs after church, I had my laundry basket with me, which had been used to transport the goody bags for the kids the day before. It was helpful with getting my groceries upstairs plus a mess of junque from the back of my car. I stopped at the mailboxes and got my mail which also was loaded into the basket. Now I won't mind stopping for the mail since CHRISTmas cards are coming fast and furious. Several came yesterday, or likely, this week and I was thrilled to get one from my friend who lives near Maryville, TN. Judy and her family moved up there about five years ago. I feel like giving her a call just to chat, although she is often hard to pin down, being a busy mom. Her daughter was a friend of Timmy's and I have mentioned before about how Rachel buried her face in my lap during the pre-service viewing at the church at Timmy's funeral. Anyway, Judy sent a lovely two-sided postcard with photos of her family and I just love it! I see some photos on Facebook but very few of Judy herself. Somehow, she looks younger than when she left here, so living in the mountains of TN must be the way to go!

I'm a survivor!

The Advent Song Service was wonderful, at least that is what the congregation and other choir members and musicians report. My knees and hips held up better today than yesterday which is a huge relief. During the offering, Rachel played the piano and Suzanne the viola, playing "O, Holy Night", my latest addition to the funeral hymn list. Now for sure I have to go before Suzanne or it is a moot point! The arrangement the musicians used is quite lovely and I will get to hear it yet again next week as we take our show on the road to Victory. The bell choir was also very nice and I even "survived" having an acoustic guitar strummed during our song about candle lighting. Bonnie played the piano while the viola and guitar played the background music as Pastor read some paragraphs about the Advent candles and their meaning. We sang before and after his reading. As the director, Rachel, very nicely explained during rehearsal, the viola is a stringed instrument and the guitar is a stringed instrument......to which I nicely answered, "So, Kim, get over it already!!" and all laughed. Evidently I was the only one whose eyebrows went up when it was presented that we were having a guitar and amp for the service, which came as a surprise to me yesterday. Just so we do not get like my other friend, Kathy R. describes her son's church---the Jimi Hendrix church!!!! I am sure we won't but the door has been opened now....Come on, get with the program here!

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After the service and saying 'good-bye' to all my Victory friends, we had to gather again in the church for our annual congregational meeting. Today the voters had to make decisions regarding the budget for next year, making the necessary cuts and to elect new leadership for the coming year. Fewer tears were shed this week than last although I really did feel like it myself. I hate to see the sad state of affairs our members find themselves in, some taking pay cuts, me included, while others have lost their jobs, with little relief in sight. Prayers are needed for all folks having the same problems as well as for their congregations who suffer right along with them.

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Yesterday after rehearsal Rachel came up to me with a piece of music she wanted me to have. It had been on her desk for months, intending to share it with me for some time. She said I should read it at home because I might cry. The melody of the anthem was not that great, according to her, but she knew I would love the words. So far, I have not read through it, waiting for the right moment. Another friend from Victory, Audrey, brought me a book to read dealing with birth order. What? Well, when our group met at Victory a week or so ago to rehearse for the Ladies' Advent Service, Audrey and Bonnie were discussing their elderly parents, one in IL and Audrey's here with her now in FL. They are snowbirds and go back to the Milwaukee area where they formerly owned a restaurant along I-43. Bonnie's mom is giving her grief, even though she is not the only child, about being moved into assisted living from her own home. Audrey insists it all has to do with birth order and since I was puzzled about that concept coming into play, she brought me a book!!!! I hope she does not expect it back any time soon.....I am a slow reader!

Uh, what is the matter with me today?

Can it be from this endless rain, the heavy gloomy skies, the chilling temperatures? Perhaps---no---more, likely! I am also sad because Kerry has had to cancel her trip to see us at CHRISTmas because she must work, mandatory, and while I understand, having worked in that same field myself, I am sad nonetheless. As I mentioned to someone else, at least I will be preparing only one feast then, instead of two as originally planned. Since my guests arrived on scattered dates and I wanted all to have a feast, two were going to be prepared. Now, I must decide what to serve once all are here. As Justin thought yesterday, ham might be the better choice since we will have church in the morning and he did not want me to have to cook when I got home again. Awww....what a sweet, considerate child!

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The rain began, as predicted, last night just as Twila and I were leaving the restaurant after seeing a movie. The rain has been falling, I believe, all night and all day now, almost like a heavy mist instead of driving rain. Very dampening for my spirits as well as that of the elevator. A report came earlier from the maintenance guy that the elevator was out of order, due to dampness getting into the buttons. The repairman somehow dry the panel behind the buttons to make it operational. Another notice cautioned of slippery stairs and flat areas so it is best I lay low, as though I had any other choice. At least the temperatures are warmer than for those living in the upper Midwest and I pray they forgive my murmuring about this inconvenience and discomfort here. Even though Justin was vacuuming earlier, he asked to turn up the heat in the condo because he was chilly. Now, that is unusual for him!

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My house is just about ready for guests, all the beds made up and ready for sleep. Justin figures he will need to re-inflate Dusty's mattresses at least once more before they come and will show him how to do it himself in case they lose air. Alayna's bed, too, but it is easy enough to turn the knob to inflate or deflate, as the case might be. My table is still piled high with goody bags and the stuff to go into them, plus tablecloths for the tables and a center piece. Tuesday will be my next "big" day with the preparations for the preschool and kindergarten reception happening in the a.m. and the event, then, that night. At some point I must package and ship a gift or two for WI family plus buy something for Justin (shhh!). Thank the Lord for the Internet, oh, and Al Gore, too!

Here are our director, Rachel; our accompanist, Bonnie; Suzanne on viola, and Lynne after the rehearsal wrapped up. We had to yield the room to the CHRISTmas 4 Kids event which was being carried on simultaneously with the practice. This week the song service is at Good Shepherd, and next week, at Victory!

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I want nothing more than to lie down in my bed and sleep until tomorrow but that is totally unreasonable and I would regret it later. I have been asked to edit a long-range plan drawn up for church but am not sure if it is needed for the congregational meeting tomorrow or not. First the song service, and then the quarterly meeting. I should be working on that tonight, too, but it can wait until I am done with my posting!

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Before I got home from church this afternoon, Justin was already here and busy with his chores, after first hanging lights on the exterior of his father's girlfriend's house---in the rain. His friend helped him because Justin has a fear of heights and they are sharing the money earned for doing that job tonight, for wings at a local emporium at the Beach. In the morning he is going to church, which will be somewhat empty due to many being at Good Shepherd for the Advent Song service and then is going to the football game. Evidently he took advantage of a package deal offered for tickets some weeks back and will be enjoying the game in the rain, likely, in the afternoon. Again, a blackout for broadcast on TV but I can listen on the radio. Great Hang Ups is open tomorrow once more for shoppers so perhaps some lunch at Koko's (to be caught by Twila again I am sure!) stop at the store, and then back here to listen to the play by play.

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Most of the CHRISTmas cards are out, just a couple more awaiting addresses yet before they are complete. Joanne stayed home at her beach condo all day to finish her cards for the business. She needed an "at-home" today in order to get caught up as she is in incredibly busy in her real estate. She said she cannot remember when she had so much going on, although these transactions, many of them, are short-sales and are harder to negotiate. The banks are the ones saying yes or no to an offer, not the buyer, since the bank must agree to accept less money than is owed on a defaulted property. Complicated, and I give her tremendous credit for being able to keep all these balls in the air in this market!

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My sis-in-law from south Florida called me today to get some addresses, the same one whose address I was able to help a TR man with earlier this week. She is newly home from the hospital after having a knee replacement and sounded quite, oh, what's the word, not quite ready to be home. She said she has a good deal of pain yet and needs considerable physical therapy but am not sure how she gets forth and back for the pt. She told me her hubby struggles with her walker and/or wheelchair when they go someplace as his health is poor as well. It grieved me to hear her tell the story but there is little I can do to help, which weighs heavily on my heart. She cannot travel because of having an infected bedsore, cannot sit or sleep in the same position for very long which means she cannot visit her daughter and family in Palm Coast over the holidays. She did not see them for ThanksLiving either so she was really in a funk. Add to that the pain and misery both her hubby and she are in........And I am complaining about the rain? Really?

Oh, if I were young again....

.....I would go to the Winter Wonderland festival in St. Augustine! There is ice skating, snow fall on a scheduled basis, jump house (yes!), caroling, music, all sorts of fun, winter stuff. No shoveling or window scraping involved, no spray needed for defrosting the locks on the car....but perhaps sun screen in case the sun beats down too hard. Not really this weekend, though, as it remains gloomy and quite chilly through Sunday. Our temp at the moment is 42 above zero, quite a drop from the 80+ we had earlier this week.

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As was posted on Facebook this morning, my tummy was grumbling when I woke up. Thinking back, yes, I did have some supper before the movies last night, as Justin and I enjoyed a meal at TGIF. Normally my choice is the Sesame chicken strips with a berry/Jack Daniels dip but I could only eat about half the portion. Justin had some pasta dish and ate a few of my chicken nuggets. There was no line or any seating problem for the replay of the live show shown last week. Neither of us could make it last week so were glad to have a do-over. Justin made sure I had napkins for my tears because I surely needed them. Glenn Beck acts out the story of "The Christmas Sweater', about an ungrateful boy whose mom knits him a lovely red sweater when what he really wanted was a bike. Instead, because of their dire financial circumstances, this was the best she could do and he hurt her feelings so badly. Through a dream sequence, the 12 year old child, Eddie, is led through a stream of events that show him for the jerk he is, sort of a religious change of heart and mind. When he awakens, like Ebenezer Scrooge, he has an entirely revamped attitude about what matters in life and it is NOT a bike! Powerful, acted out as a one-man-show with no props, only a female singer who filled in some spots where needed, and screens with still-pictures as background. At the end of the play, Glenn comes out and introduces people and their stories of having "come through the storm", as Eddie had in the play, and how they thank the Lord for saving them. More about earthly saving than saving faith emphasized, but that does not mean this did not happen for these folks. Excellent time and money spent, with my boy!

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We got the lease information completed after Bible study, having to redo the entire lease after the property changed ownership since last year. Justin is signed up there until August of next year which means I am on the hook for his rent. Justin has registered for three classes, as I encouraged him to please show me he is dedicated student. Sadly, if he does get into the one class on which he is wait-listed, he will not be able to attend Bible study on Thursdays. Rats! He claims to have ended the semester this time with a B average which delights me greatly.

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He had to go to work after the lease was signed, but came back later on to put up the tree and drag out the ornaments and decorations for me. First thing, after this, I am going to the store for a few things needed for tomorrow's event at church plus lay in some soda supplies. Walgreens has a good deal this week to take advantage of. Later I hope to hear from Kerry about her work schedule as she found out yesterday that there was a change in plans. She evidently now must work on the 24th, the day she is supposed to fly down here. Of course, I am crushed but yet hopeful that she can come, but she sort of hopes I can exchange the ticket for a voucher for future travel or whatever. Not worth it to her for only just more than 48 hours to make the trip. Rats! Alayna already has her ticket purchased and the Schippers are traveling by car so no one else can use the ticket, especially since it was issued with her name on it. TSA frowns on that type of thing!

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Wednesday night at church, Suzanne gave me a 'thank you' letter written by her 7 year old daughter, thanking me for the Advent calendar card I sent to her brother and to her. They each get their own, something I like to do each year in an attempt to remind the little ones of the 'reason for the season'. It is a pleasure to do this, and I know the kids love getting mail with their names on it. And I love getting this letter from Hanna! Some of the other kids thanked me in person but her letter was extra special.

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So, it is time for me to get out of this bed and dressed for the day. Today it will be acceptable to wear layers! As Justin was putting up the tree last night, he kept teasing me by saying, "It looks perfect!!" even when it was half assembled. When I was married yet, my spouse would be under the tree, cranking the stand to make the tree look straight, asking me, "How does it look?" I always thought and said it looked perfect, although, a builder's eye would see it was dramatically listing one way or the other. We all have ideas of what perfection is and evidently my standards are lower than most!

Sitting in the quiet

Except for the washer swishing away down the hall, it is quiet in here for the moment. I had to shut off the TV for a while this early morning because all the news shows had the same thing on and I did not wish to start my nice day on that note. Evidently the laptop will not be able to play back TV shows on hulu.com or tbs.com, unless I was simply impatient with it, so I will wait until the "apology tour" in Norway is over and then resume watching the news before I get ready for my day.

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Justin's and my plans have been altered for today since he is running behind on getting a house ready for closing. He was being called off the job yesterday to go to his father's house to finish pressure washing before the holiday party there and I just had to chuckle. Justin remarked about there being so much to do in the house yet for the party but he was going to be cleaning outside. That was often the case when, in my married years, we were planning an event or party at our home, our garage or basement would get all cleaned up, the unknown stuff carried upstairs or into the laundry room, while there was other things that should have been done instead. It was always a mystery and now Justin is the frustrated one. His being called off the job, then, complicates our plans today as the walk-through is tomorrow. He will attend Bible study and then the two of us will have to sign papers for his lease renewal at the student housing (picture my face with a snarl!). I wish I could get out of signing this, after all, he is over 22 years old, but I guess it is required by the complex. Then he will come here with me, haul out the CHRISTmas stuff or what have you, and then go finish his work.

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Tomorrow he will go in early and vacuum behind the workers who were still finishing up today and work a couple hours, and then he is mine the rest of the day. Justin and Grove will still be able to go to the movies tonight, so that part of the day is undisturbed. I resent being "bumped" but admire Justin's ambition, at long last, to get a job done, particularly one he is being paid for! He assured me, also, that if we do not finish up Friday with my list of things to do, he can come back Saturday but wants to watch the Army/Navy Game on TV. Justin remembered watching the same game last year as we put up the tree and decorated the house, as JR attended West Point Academy and we felt loyal in watching the game. It told him it can be our tradition, to decorate for CHRISTmas when the Army/Navy Game is on! Navy beat Army last year, however the power lifting team from Army (i.e. JR!!) beat Navy. Not as much press but just as much pride!

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Saturday morning is full for me, as I have mentioned, but if he comes in the afternoon, I will miss Daniel's birthday party. Since I might have people over here after church and the meeting, I want to be sure all things are in place and ready to go the big event. Choir rehearsal last night was once more chaotic as we ran through the anthems which will be sung Sunday as part of our Advent Song Service with Victory. As usual, I lack confidence in some of them, others I can skate through just fine. Kathy said she cannot really hear us from her vantage point as the piano is behind us and she is behind the piano. She depends on us to report if there was something which did not sound right or if we have a problem...yikes! We only hope Victory is better prepared and will support our small number of seven regular choir members. Rachel is a great director and will certainly make us sound amazing, that, and the bell choir on Sunday. We will make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

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There, the news is back on, but it is a recap of the event.

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I have not seen Joanne since I got home from WI although she has called me once or twice. She is busier than a one-armed paper hanger but hopefully we will get together one of these days to catch our breath---or she catch hers---before she goes up to Ohio to see her family. She has a new grandbaby to see as well as the two toddlers and the other grands. Glad she is going up there since usually she goes to Amelia Island for the holidays and enjoys spa treatments, etc. instead of traveling.

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Last night I was dressed way too warmly for the weather since it was in the low 70's yet when I got home. The neighbors were having happy hour on the sundeck when I left for church, which tells you how nice it was outside. It rained as I drove on Wells Road and I figured it would cool off some, but not so much. Even the wind was warm! Presently it is 55 above zero and that might be as warm as it gets today...but should warm up through the weekend again. No more happy hours this year I bet, at least, not on the sundeck!

It's beginning to look alot like CHRISTmas....

......except, here, it does not feel like it. Further north, where my family and some friends live, they find themselves buried with snow. My nephew, Jamie, reported 12" of snow already in the southern portion of the state and reports from the Oshkosh area showed 9"+ overnight. Lisa sent a photo of what they are getting in Sheboygan, when earlier they had only rainfall. This means ice will form under the snow and then, treachery!!! Since the schools are closed, many are home making cookies, wrapping presents, cooking comfort foods, and shoveling snow, or watching its removal from afar. Enjoy your snow day(s), make the most of them, and do not take foolish chances, okay?

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This is what Lisa can see from her windows....looks icy already!

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My morning was lazy once again, with no place to be until church and choir tonight, although I am incredibly hungry for some Cracker Barrel meat loaf! Our temperatures here are hovering near 80 right now but are expected to drop dramatically later today as a front moves through, bringing thunderstorms and cooler temperatures. What a wild ride this weather gives us! Welcome to Florida! Regardless of the rain and winds, at least I do not have to use my library card to scrape my windows! That is what Lisa used when at Lori's to remove the ice from the car windows, much to the horror of Alayna, who works at the library.

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After having several conversations with people at and from church Tuesday, I am rockin' and rollin' here with preparations for several upcoming events, starting with Saturday's CHRISTmas 4 Kids program. I am making up bags for which to take their papers home (remind me to grab my rubber stamps before church tonight!) and some handouts to send home for mom and dad. We are also having joint rehearsal with Victory's choir at our church that same morning, yikes! Later that same day is a party at my friend's house for her son's 5th birthday and I have a special place in my heart for this young man. His mama was Timmy's Sunday school teacher and she remarks often how much her son reminds one of Timmy. Even the smell of syrup on Sunday mornings! Last week we were chatting on-line, Suzanne and I, and she remarked having a candle named "Angel Scent". She asked, "Do we even know what angels smell like....?? to which I replied, "Syrup!".

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Back to church business---the President called to ask me to do a few things on his behalf prior to Sunday worship since Janet and he are taking a couple days of R & R before the Congregational Voters' Meeting this weekend. That too! He will be presenting the proposed budget, which all members received copies via e-mail yesterday. Necessary cuts were made, painful ones, and I am quite sad about it all. But as was said at First German last weekend, we must not allow our dire financial situation overshadow our mission, to spread the Word and to feed the sheep. But, man, that is hard not to do!

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On Facebook this a.m. I took some teasing for the temperature at which I like to live, inside and outside. Just coming back from the kitchen, which might be about 73 above zero, the warmth in my room might be about 10 degrees higher than the other rooms. It makes no sense to heat the other rooms, much to the delight of my pending guests (only 16 more days!) but they will have to brace themselves if they venture into my room! David told me they like a warm bathroom so I might have to put my other electric space heater in their bathroom. They may not find my house temperature low enough to require additional heat as they keep their home, normally, in the 60's. One can see their breath even after brushing in the morning!

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For the life of me, I cannot locate my address book so am resorting to using whitepages.com and other resources to find some addresses. My desk is starting to look like it did "pre-Linda" but this is only temporary until the cards are completed and other things find a home. My phone has not even gone off once today, which is somewhat scary---yes, it is turned on and battery charged. What is going on???? Martie was going tile shopping with Ernie today or she would have been here to help with the goodie bag assembly. Kathy B. and I had talked about having a gathering here Sunday afternoon but did not solidify the plans--yet. I would LOVE to have the Victory people here, too, since they will be on this side of town but we have the big meeting after church, soooooooooo...Rats!

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Justin and I will be together all day tomorrow, beginning with Bible study at Victory. After that we are coming here to get things ready for the holidays, getting as much done as possible before heading off to the movie theater that evening to see "The CHRISTmas Sweater", Glenn Beck's story, an encore presentation of the live show last week simulcast to the theaters. Grove is going with us and I look forward to seeing him again. Perhaps if we make good progress around here, we will have time to catch a bite of supper beforehand. I must go to Joann's yet to look for the clip-on ornaments since Michael's did not have any. Also need some paper plates and lace paper doilies for Saturday's event. Should I be writing this down?

Shared with me from Rosalie

Letter from Jesus about Christmas:

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

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Now, having said, that let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of santas and snowmen and put a small nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all believers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

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Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree "a holiday tree", instead of a Christmas tree. It was me who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

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If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

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1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

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2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

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3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

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4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

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5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

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6.. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

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7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

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8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes my love and Good News to those who have never heard my name.

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9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to your church or a charity which believes in me and they will make the delivery for you.

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10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

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Don't forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember: I LOVE YOU!

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JESUS