That's about how the day went yesterday. We headed up north for church; decided to go to SA as it doesn't start until 10:45AM (and they serve lunch afterwards). We surprised our friends who got in from Wisconsin this last Tuesday - we knew they would be attending at SA after the RV park church in town - so we waited by the door and 'greeted' them as they came in. Were they ever surprised! It was so good to see them! Church service was good by Major Mark. Lunch was awesome -huge salisbury steak with a ton of mushrooms on it, a corn casserole, mashed potatoes, and vegetable dish mixture - plus salad and crumb cake for dessert. It's all by donation - I understand the food is donated by various stores and food banks - and the cooks at SA whip it up for whomever wants to stay and eat. Neither of us could eat it all, they gave us so much. So we 'vegged' most of the day.
I did get my adopted daughter in Georgia's package ready to ship out today. I made up a cookie package to send up north to our grandson. I felt so exhausted I didn't get much else done - I did end up taking a nap - and then did some sewing on a quilt, watched a Christmas movie, then read until I couldn't keep my eyes open - which didn't take long. I'm either overwhelmed with Christmas or the very minor surgery I had on my neck took more out of me than I realized. It is itching a lot this morning so today may be a fun day.
I need to do more baking of cookies and I need to get these gifts figured out in here. I should have come in here yesterday and worked on it, but I just couldn't get going. I am hoping to get in touch with my daughter-in-love today and run a birthday gift up to her. Depends on the work load as I was off on Friday. I may have to wait until tomorrow. This week I don't have any major driving to do, but next Monday and also next Thursday I will have to do a drive down to Mesa. I'm already thinking of cancelling out on the Thursday run - it's a department Christmas party, and I'm so tired, I don't even want to go - but I do plan to meet my favorite boss early that morning to give her the gifts I have for her - which means I will be busy next Wednesday getting everything made that I give her. And, I do need to go. Whether I want to or not. Anyway - I'm rambling already because I already feel exhausted and the day is not even started yet. That's my excuse anyway.
Did one batch of salsa yesterday so that I could send a jar up to our grandson. Oh - my sister's package that was in Philadelphia, PA? They finally realized it late yesterday and I received a text during the night that it arrived in Indianapolis, IN at 11:18PM. I wonder if they will continue routing it to where she can get it today. Ironically, I sent a package to our grandson in NM at the same time, in an Amazon box, and it was to be delivered today. We got a text yesterday they had received it. So much for shipping early so that things would arrive as they should. I need to get two more packages ready to ship - to my brothers. Which reminds me - my older brother text'd me that a package should arrive today and it has to go under the tree. He always makes me wait until Christmas morning to open his package to us. I never hear from my little brother, but I do send him a package. Sometimes I just order cheesecake or a danish and have sent to him because I just can't do everything. My big brother asks for my bread, and I have plenty in the freezer so I can ship it soon for him. One year I sent something else instead of the bread - and he actually commented he missed my bread! Of course I sent him a loaf immediately - and have ever since! It does make a nice gift for some.
I'm done shopping. Truly! I look at everything I have in here on the bed and on this side of the bed on the floor - and wonder why in the world did I buy that! Seriously! I'm not going to sort out what store it came from and return it; I'm going to empty out a cabinet in the garage after Christmas and put the 'extra' gifts in there, if I don't give them away. I'm too tired to even mess with figuring it all out. I overbought and I don't understand how or what my line of thinking was. But because I want to keep my credit card at zero - I have paid for everything. I'll figure it out. I'll either give it out this year for Christmas or save it for next year or give to someone in need. Maybe that is why I overbought - there is someone out there who needs something of what I bought. Need to keep my ears open. At least with being back to work today, unless I am overly busy, I can sort out some of this craziness in here. Maybe. I just know I am done shopping. And I need to bake more cookies. And make more salsa, but that's more towards whenever the families will be coming over so that it will be fresh. As mentioned before, I have two down - one the 21st and one the 30th. 16 days until December 25th? Is that right? And I still have so much to get done! No shopping, for sure - but want to do a lot more baking!
Luke 8:19-21 (NLT) Then Jesus' mother and brothers came t see Him, but they couldn't get to Him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to see You." Jesus replied, "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God's Word and obey it."
There have been different things said about this passage. One being that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers thought Jesus was crazy and was coming to take Him home. Imagine that. But Jesus says, we who listen to the Word of God and obey it, are all His brothers and His mother. Isn't that cool? We are grafted into the family of God when we accept Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, as Lord and Savior.
Ephesians 3:6 (NIV): This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Because of Jesus, we Gentiles can also share in the blessings God gave to Israel. Salvation isn't only for the Jews, but for Gentiles as well - and that includes us! Nations may exclude other nations - but Jesus accepts us all as His brothers when we acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Grace doesn't get any better than that, does it!
Blessings!
