What with Christmas parties and workouts and baking and lunches - it's was a busy week! I met my 'oldest' friend yesterday for lunch and gave her a few things for Christmas. I know I've shared before, but we met back in 1968 and hung out together while our spouses were overseas - mine in VietNam, hers in Korea. When they came home we got together infrequently - until we didn't. Many years passed, many things happened; we both remarried; name changes. But, she eventually found me and we both were thrilled we lived in the same state - and now we are in the same city! I think we are six miles apart now. We don't get together often, but try to meet for lunch once in awhile to catch up. She made me some of her famous chocolate covered cherries (these put the boxed ones to shame!), buckeyes, and a rollo pretzels mix - it is (some almost was) so good! I refuse to get on the scale the rest of this month. Hubby has been worse than me. I may eat a cookie now and then... but he will fix a big glass of chocolate milk and grab a handful of cookies! Good thing we both are working out. Well, sorta. Our trainer has been sick the past two days - so we haven't gone - and haven't gone on our own either.
This upcoming week will be a busy fun one as well. Tomorrow two granddaughters and two great granddaughters are to come over and bake cookies. I also speak at the RV park in the morning. Monday I am taking off work to finish up my shopping - yes, I'm going to finish - either pick up at the store or get it on Amazon. I don't have that much left to get... but need to get a gift here and there. And yes, I went way over my goal budget again. I will try again next year to rein it in better. If I ever want to retire, I need to get in that mode of saving money and quit spending it. But then... if I die before I retire, I can't take it with me, right? So I may as well spend it. And I love to spend on others.
Moving on through the week, Monday night two grandsons are to come over and bake, and I'm looking forward to that! I may be able to get another granddaughter over too - will have to work on that for later in the week. I'll see my trainer once or twice this coming week. Then not at all next week as he is taking the week off to fly back to Wyoming. Will I work out in the mean time? Probably not. This is MY busy time of year!
Friday I will be meeting my favorite boss for brunch and giving her all the goodies she likes to have for the holidays. That's why we meet close to Christmas - she likes having it all for her social entertainment of family and friends. And I love making it all and giving to her. I could never have a shop - I'd want to give it all away!
I have gotten in the habit of sending my siblings a large loaf of my cranberry pumpkin nut bread - in fact, last year I didn't send - and they got after me! Glad they like it and I love to make it and send. Usually the first thing they do is dive into the bread, or so they tell me. My oldest brother always tells me 'you don't have to send us anything just because we send you something' - and I tell him I know that, but I love to bake and I love to send. Yesterday he mentioned that if he ever bought a restaurant, he would want me to manage it for him. I told him no - that would be too hard of work - but I could bake for it! So many things I want to bake - but since I work from home, it is not wise to do all the baking and keep it here. I do give some away, but it messes up other people's diets so it's better not to. But at Christmas, I do what I want to do!
Luke 1:46-47, 49 (NKJV): "And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."
Ah, yes, it is getting that time of year where sometimes we just need to pause and think about what we are celebrating this time. We get so caught up in the baking and the giving and buying and all that... and we neglect the REASON for the season. Jesus.
Yes, say His Name. JESUS. He is the Light of the world. He has given us breath. He has heard our prayers, our cries, our wants, our wishes. He has protected us. He has provided for us. He may not give us all we want or all we ask for, but only He knows best what is good for us.
Think about it. Someone prays for financial success. They work hard and they get it. It wasn't because they worked hard. It was because God enabled them to work hard and to earn it. He gave them the wisdom to do what they do. But then, they forget about God. They forget their prayer for financial success. They forget Him, and what He has done for them.
Someone prays for healing. Healing happens... but how often we forget that God heard all the prayers for us, for our child, for a friend.... and we forget He heard and answered our prayers.
Someone prays for a job. They get a job to provide for their family.... and they forget who provided that job and gave them favor for it. They neglect Him.
Someone prays for protection. They may never see what could have befell them, because God protected them and their family, and nothing happened. It doesn't mean God didn't answer their prayer - He did answer. But we forget.
But for this week; for this season; and for the future.... let's turn our thoughts back to Jesus. Does your soul magnify the Lord for all the good things He has done for you, has provided for you?
What about that medical test you had... maybe you were a little concerned, but pretended you weren't... and it came out ok. But even if it didn't, do you even realize that if you offer up that result to Him, He hears you and will bring you peace about whatever steps you need to take?
Oh the peace that we can have when we bring our requests to the One who can answer them! Truly, let us take some time to magnify the Lord, and allow our spirit to rejoice in God our Savior. He is, after all, the Savior of the World.
Blessings!
