I splurged on ME this Christmas and included hubby. My daughter and son-in-law agreed to go with us - I bought dinner and theater tickets to see White Christmas tonight! White Christmas has always been one of my favorite Christmas shows to watch - and we haven't watched it at least since we moved as the DVD/VCR isn't attached to the 'smart TV'. Yes, we could bring it up on Netflik (oh, no, we can't do that anymore; we don't belong) but I'm sure we can bring it up on Prime Video. Hubby is more apt to 'watch' it if we go somewhere - and this is a special treat for me. We've never done this before, and the cost is a definite good reason - but for a special treat - yeah, we're doing it. It's at the Arizona Broadway Theater and we have 'dinner and a show' and it starts at 5:30PM tonight. I told hubby it was my Christmas gift to me, and I'm letting him tag along. :-) He doesn't care; he gets to go with me. He's included.
Yesterday was another quiet day at work - but today may prove otherwise - all four of my bosses are back to work today. I imagine I will have emails flying everywhere. But hopefully, they will keep it light. I am shutting down at 4PM so that I can get ready for the show tonight. Make-up won't be a problem, but my hair... it's a whole nother story!
I visited Ms. Vicky last night for a little while and she is doing well. I must get over and see Ms. Diane at some point this weekend. It's been a few weeks to visit, although I did take both of them goodies the week before Christmas. But I didn't visit then so need to catch up.
Loving I got stationary for Christmas - I actually was able to write 4 notes the other day and get them in the mail. I don't write often anymore but do enjoy touching base with people. Texting and emails - impersonal touches, have taken over the communication world. It is much faster, I will admit. And I do use both - a lot - but there is just something about 'snail mail'. Although the price of stamps just keeps going up. I don't even know what it is anymore as I buy a roll of 'forever' stamps and they are good for a couple years for us. Unless I take the time to write notes/letters, hubby uses the majority of the stamps to mail bill payments. Some he just refuses to pay online, for whatever reason. It's like with our house payment - Security National sold us to PNC Bank - and since PNC bank is down the street, hubby will drive down and go inside the bank to make the payment, rather than paying online or mailing it. Yeah, I just shake my head.
I was able to work some on the January 7th message the past few days with it being so light at work. I finished it yesterday and now just need to review and tweak it. The topic is about our attitudes on certain things. Our perspective, if you will. The scripture is based on Romans 12:2, in the Living Bible (TLB) translation.
Romans 12:2 (TLB): "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you."
That is pretty blunt, don't you think? Some translations of the Bible will really break down the words so that anyone can understand what they mean. I imagine we all have learned this version of that scripture.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV): "and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
In other words, don't let the world tell you how to live. Don't do things just because others in the world do them. Choose wisely how you will live, choosing to live a holy and blameless life, one that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Don't be like the world..... be like Jesus.
Hubby has his Bible study this morning (yay! get him out of the house!!) and I hope I won't be busy with meetings while he is gone (as my work has to come first) and I can at least get one tree down. I have ordered some storage containers from Amazon and they should arrive today. I am wanting to pay attention and get the Christmas things all together and packed neatly for storage. Too many years I have just put everything in boxes and put back in the cabinets. This year I hope to do it more neatly. Organization isn't my greatest gift, but I do try at times to be organized. Still need to take down the Christmas shower curtains and get those folded up as well as store all my bears and all that I put in front of the TV. I need to get rid of a couple of them, I think. I know of a couple I'm willing to part with. I bought them a few years ago at a thrift store so there is no special meaning with them..... and now I really don't have the room to have them here, although I've tried. Rather than pack them away, start letting go and declutter, right? It's a start. Hmmm need to get the Christmas quilt and shams off this bed too, as well as our bed in the other room, and get the regular comforters and shams put back on. That may be a weekend chore. But I'll do what I can today while hubby is gone.
And with that... I think I'll close this off and just be quiet for a few minutes before I need to get up and ready for work. Had another night of waking up and being pulled into prayer. Not sure who I'm praying for.... but am willing to be used by God to lift someone up that needs it.
Hope that this Friday is a good day for you - the weekend is here - and a fresh start of a new year is Monday! I will be starting my reading in my new Bible on January 1. I bought the Passion Translation of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. The Old Testament isn't in one book yet. They have a few of the books done separately, but I haven't bought those. I'll get through this one first as it will take me a little while. I just love the clarity of the Passion Translation. I try to start fresh every year in my Bible reading... maybe we all should look at some places we need to start fresh in our life. Up for a challenge? Grab your Bible and start reading it. Make 2024 a year you get all the way through it.
Blessings!
