Yep - I have the count-down on my watch and it tells me every day how many days to go. And I'm not stressing at all. Like I said, I have cut way back this year and am not buying like I have in the past. At least thus far. And, I haven't hit the stores - yet. May not, if I can keep from it. Hubby mentioned something he 'needed' last night so I will go to the store and look for that - some things you just can't order online. Good excuse to go shopping by myself - right? :-) And I'd rather go shopping when it isn't crowded - although all these 'black Friday' sales are happening already - stores are desperate for sales to stay afloat. I heard rumor Kohls was eliminating some departments in their stores. Macy's has cut back too. I really don't care.... even though I shop at both places.... there is nothing I need and no one has told me (other than hubby the one thing last night) that they want - so, they get whatever I get them. I try to make it unique and special for each one... but sometimes, when I don't see them all year an no contact, I have no clue what size they even are. Oh well - they get what they get. It may be a box of nuts!
I switched my musical clock on the wall to Christmas tunes yesterday. Yeah, I'm starting to gear up for the holiday. If I don't get the tree up this weekend; it will be up by next weekend. Goal? Not only to get the tree up, but to clear out this room and figure out what I have already bought! Got my sister's things wrapped yesterday as I am 'done' with her - just need to buy a little something for her hubby and then that box will go out a couple days after Thanksgiving. Or I may wait until December 1 to send it. Just to make her wait until December to open it. Not much for her this year either, but a couple things I heard she needed. Nope, not December 1.... just remembered my boss and I are going to the Christmas House that day. A day off work with my boss - fun times!
Hubby was in 'one of those moods' yesterday. He kept coming either in to the room and sit down to share his thoughts with me, or stand at the door because he was bored. It drives me crazy as I am working and it forces me to stop to see what he wants. Most times it isn't a big deal, because working from home I do have more time to 'spare'. But if he sees I ignore him and keep working, I get the "well, I see you are working so I'll leave." I don't know what he would be doing if I was in the office every day - would he even remain sane? Today he has an eye doctor's appointment downtown - the one where he went last week and they messed up his appointment - they gave him the paper with that date, but in their books they wrote this week. So back this week he goes. All the way downtown. He's not happy about that. But he will be gone a couple hours this morning.
The dinosaur tea party is this Saturday - and I heard we are to have rain. Plans are being made to move inside versus having outside as planned. It will be a bit crowded..... right now it's up to about 28 people I think. So - I will be taking down some of my teacups and teapots to wash and take over. I may take over Friday night so that I don't have to worry about them Saturday morning. I already have a task to do that morning so will be going over early. I have bought little jars to fill with honey as a party favor. Oh yeah - I still need to go get the tablecloths at the dollar store yet. I am not taking my good ones. I may take a break and run down there today. Gives me a place to go on a break.
Psalm 42:1 (NKJV): "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God."
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you 'panteth' after it? That you really, really, really wanted it? That you have such a deep yeaning in your heart to have it? That it is all you can think about?
That is what this verse implies. Think about it. Do you want God so much, that it is like a deer who is in desperate need of water.... that your heart is in desperate need of God's presence.
Isn't that where you want to always be? I love the song that came out years ago - Breathe by Michael W. Smith.
'This is the air I breathe / This is the air I breathe / Your Holy Presence livin' in me / This is my daily bread / This is my daily bread / Your very word / spoken to me. /
And I, I'm desperate for You / And I, I'm lost without You /
I love that song and whenever I would hear it (and still do) I return to that desperate state of needing God's Presence within me. To feel Him, to know He is there. He is always there, but I sometimes just need the reassurance. Know what I mean?
Especially when times are hard; words are spoken; attitudes surround me.... and I'm broken-hearted and it comes up within me... I can fall back on this song and know that He knows I'm more desperate for Him than ever. That I need Him more than ever. That I am truly lost without His comfort and peace within me. That I am empty without Him.
And so are you. Jesus is the absolute fulfillment of all that we could ever hope for or desire. He supplies every need; every emotion; every thing. Are you desperate for Him? Seek Him this season. It's time to be thankful - for all He has given you; for all He has supplied for you; for His forgiveness; His favor; His answers to our prayers. Rejoice in Him, for after we go through the season of thankfulness to Him for His provisions, we get to rejoice and celebrate with Him in His birth.
And because of His birth - we have rebirth in and through Him. Hallelujah! Prepare your heart - now is the time to turn to Him. Let Him have His way in your life.
Blessings!
