A Lixy Life

Christmas has come and gone, but all it stands for--family, friendship, giving, sharing, loving--remains, and it's my prayer that we never ever lose that for even one day of this coming year.

I heard the statement "It doesn't feel like Christmas time!" a lot this year, and half of it was probably me whinning soomewhere in my own head. But maybe that's what makes it time for Christmas--the ending of a long year, too much stress, a haywire household, too much to do, too little time to do it, low on finances, low on patience, losing hope. But isn't that where it all started? As the darkness sets a light appears, " a ray of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

Christmas is the setting, the dawning of the New Year! And so regardless of whether our Christmas is white, or green, or gray, and bright, or gloomy, or even messy, and whether we get all the gifts we had wanted or not, we will always have the greatest gift and setting of all...A NEW YEAR and a FRESH BEGINNING and CHANCE to spend time with family, make new friends, give what we have to make our dreams come true, share our time, moments, experiences and love with a world full of opportunities and love living!

So that's my wish, my hope, my prayer for you all who I love and care for so dearly. I pray that God will give you these opportunities and then help you see them all around you and take them and claim them as your own so you will truly have a Merry Christmas every day and a Happy New Year all year!

And by the way, I had a lovely Christmas despite it being less white and more gray, and less frosty and more sloppy. I spent it with all my family, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins and there is nothing else in the world that could have taken the place of that. Check out all the pictures at A Family Christmas.

THERE will be a blue moon on Thursday as New Year's Eve revellers welcome in 2010--the first time since 1990 that a blue moon has coincided with the end of the year. A blue moon--the second full moon in a calendar month--happens only every 2½ years on average. This month, full moons occur on December 2 and December 31. Astronomer David Reneke from Australasian Science magazine said it was rare for the event to happen on New Year's Eve--another blue moon will not fall on the last day of the year until 2028. "While everyone's celebrating they should also take a moment and look up into the night sky"

1. Flying Alarm Clock. Evil genius at work here. A propeller-thingy on top goes flying away and the alarm won't stop until you find the propeller-thingy and put it back on the clock.

2. Puzzle Alarm Clock--That's right, put the puzzle together and the darned thing will quit buzzing at you.

3. Bombs Away! Plug in the wires correctly or the sound of a bomb blowing up will wake you. And the neighbors.

4. Donate. For those financially motivated folks, this wi-fi enabled clock takes money out of your bank account and transfers it to random charities every time you hit the snooze button.

5. Shag-a-licious--Yup, you have to stand up on the carpet to get this one to be quiet.

So, rise and shine to another beautiful day.

...and what have you done. Another year over, and a new ones just begun."

I think we all have heard that song a bit too often that our mind goes into retreat mode when we hear it playing, but today somehow it got through and got good and stuck in my brain.

On Saturday we visited our last retirement home for the season, and though one part of me heaves a small sigh of "freeeeeee...dom" another sigh is a bit more regretful. As hard as it is preparing and having to actually move out the door, once your out there everything is possible and beautiful, and having that honor and blessing of being a part of another one's life--there really is no better gift or feeling.

There are so many wonderful people out there, so many stories, so many friends, so many memories, so many special miracles that could happen, that could be yours. It can be so easy to get caught up in your own little world, the little problems, worries, limitations, responsibilities, expectations. But then you meet someone else, you see their lives, you feel what they are going through and suddenly you realize the world is a great big place and there is a part for you, not just in your own story, but in other stories, in a story that started thousands of years ago when someone realized by stepping out of His own world, He could create a new one and fill it with life and love.

And that is freedom, and so THIS is Christmas!

Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice
clothes to wear. And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade
beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night.
I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the
splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so
convenient. Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs
defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full
of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today;
It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass
that needs mowing, the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door.
My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me
says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I
shall do them gratefully. Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when
the alarm rings, Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are
deaf. Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as
possible, Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
Thank you, Lord, that I have the
strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,
Toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud,
Thank you, Lord, for my family. There
are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like
the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced, Thank you,
Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry. Even though the
routine of my job is often monotonous, Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity
to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my
fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
Thank you, Lord, for life. LORD, THANK YOU !!!!

In ALL things, praise Him…

Last week I read a quote that went like this...

“Our family pushes buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago; the baby, the peacekeeper, the general, the golden child, the villain, the caretaker, the avoider--it doesn’t seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we’ve traveled.”

Reading that had to keep from jumping up and down while wildly waving my hand to make sure I could be counted as a part of that statement. Since moving away from my family 5 years ago I've been to different countries, lived with different people, taken on new cultures, interests, lifestyles, and roles, and eventually you think you're a different person then you were-older, wiser, confident, in control, useful and respectable. But then throw me back in with family and I'm just "that sister" again, surrounded by those who wanna dog your every footstep, wanna know more then you know yourself about what your doing, wanna pick sissy fights and eat your food and talk constantly and touch your stuff and aaaaaagh...they just wanna be a part of everything.

At the time I was feeling a little overwhelmed not knowing how to react and deal with everything. One of the reasons I had in praying about coming home for awhile was to help my family find and set up their home and mission, and here I was feeling lost and crumbling--just a little bit terrifying. Humble, uncertain, desperate and needy, I took sanctuary in the one place I've always been able to find peace, strength, and hope--Jesus' arms. He showed me that I wasn't lost, I was right in His hands, I wasn't crumbling, I was just falling into place, I hadn't failed Him, only my own pride. He showed me that together we could do anything and when I felt I could do nothing, it was only because I needed to let Him do more. This isn't about me. Sometimes to help others you have to let them be the one that helps you. And that is what family is about. It's not about who's better or worse, good or bad, it's not about who has more or less or is lower or higher. It's about being together, sharing the good and the bad times so you can have a great time, sharing the lows and highs so you can keep a steady ballance, it's about love--a love that covers everything and wraps it up into one big beautiful package, a gift from heaven, a family.

That's the kind of love that is God and that's the kind of love I want to have, not just for my own family but for others. After all that what I've commited my life to, and where better to start then with the special people that Jesus has place there right from the very first moment we were put on earth. So today when I read this prayer, I knew it was for me and this is my way of raising my hand way up high so others will know that this is what I wanted to be counted a part of...

Help me, Lord, to be like Your love, not knowing any hour or time. Help me, Lord, to be like Your love, that gives and expects nothing in return. Help me, Lord, to be like Your love, that just loves to give and give. Help me, Lord, to be like Your love, that is meek and kind and sincere.
Help me, Lord, to be like Your love,

My Christmas Discovery
by Norman Vincent Peale
One Christmas Eve when I was 12, I was out with my minister father doing some late Christmas shopping. He had me loaded down with packages and I was tired and cross. I was thinking how good it would be to get home when a beggar-a bleary-eyed, unshaven, dirty old man-came up to me, touched my arm with a hand like a claw, and asked for money. He was so repulsive that instinctively I recoiled.
Softly my father said, "Norman, it's Christmas Eve. You shouldn't treat a man that way."
I was unrepentant. "Dad," I said, "he's nothing but a bum."
My father stopped. "Maybe he hasn't made much of himself, but he's still a child of God." He then handed me a dollar-a lot of money for those days and for a preacher's income. "I want you to take this and give it to that man," he said. "Speak to him respectfully. Tell him you are giving it to him in Christ's name."
"Oh, Dad!" I protested. "I can't do anything like that."
My father's voice was firm. "Go and do as I tell you."
So, reluctant and resisting, I ran after the old man and said, "Excuse me, sir. I give you this money in the name of Christ."
He stared at the dollar bill, then looked at me in utter amazement. A wonderful smile came to his face, a smile so full of life and beauty that I forgot that he was dirty and unshaven. I forgot that he was ragged and old. With a gesture that was almost courtly, he took off his hat. Graciously he said, "And I thank you, young sir, in the name of Christ."
All my irritation, all my annoyance faded away. The street, the houses, everything around me suddenly seemed beautiful because I had been part of a miracle that I have seen many times since-the transformation that comes over people when you think of them as children of God, when you offer them love in the name of a Baby born two thousand years ago in a stable in Bethlehem, a Person who still lives and walks with us and makes His presence known.
That was my Christmas discovery that year-the gold of human dignity that lies hidden in every living soul, waiting to shine through if only we'll give it a chance.

A little bit of love goes a long, long way.
by David Brandt Berg

So many people are tired, weary with life, discouraged with pushing on, lacking the energy or enthusiasm that it takes to get anywhere in life, or even the peace that it takes to enjoy simple things. But if you give them a word, a smile or a look of sympathy and understanding, if you give them the respect that they deserve just for keeping on, then it can change them completely.
So give people the respect they deserve-Jesus did! He died for that person, just like He died for you, and He’ll be mighty glad if you show His love to them, too. Won’t you? Will you let that be your Christmas gift to those around you? Just show His love, even if only in small ways, to those you meet, those on your path each day, and see if it doesn’t make a great difference-not only to them, but to you!