Christmas gift exchange

For our faculty meeting today we had a lunch and gift exchange. The tradition is a $10 gift that girls would like. (We're all girls on the elementary side.) I went shopping and couldn't find anything I wanted to give, so I made something, I cut it out last night and sewed it this morning.

The exchange was the pick a present or steal a present game. A gift could only be stolen 2 times before it froze. My gift was one of the frozen gifts!

Yes, it's reversible. Isn't it fun? Makes me just wanna start baking. Yum.

melt down

Today during the one and only full rehearsal, i had a melt down. I think I almost walked off the stage to go home, hide in a corner and never come out.

Good thing I didn't. I finished it out, found some good helpers to be up on stage so I don't have to be everywhere at the same time and now am feeling better.

It's hard putting it all in God's hands because I know I need to do my part. When does my part end and God grab it and go?

I know the kids did not see me melt down, it was mostly an inward feeling.
God give me the eye sight to see what I need to do. Give me the man power to get it done. May the glory of tonight be for You.

Into God's Hands

I've given the program to God. It's in His hands now.

Stress!

Christmas program is in TWO WEEKS! I have never been the one in charge of a huge production. At first, I really thought it was going to be small and easy, but then I start thinking of all the details and I am so worried that I might miss something!

• Music - The kids really know the songs well and I know they will do great here!
• Drama - ACK! I had a parent volunteer to help, long story short, he can't help so I'm running rehearsals. I don't know how to do that. All I am worried about is the kids learning their parts without reading their script!
• Sound - Here is where it gets fun. Last I heard 2 of the 3 mics the school owns have shorts in them. Should I find more to borrow or should I just settle for 1?
• Lights - Thanks to my church, they are going to light my stage. (that reminds me, I need to send an email to my pastor with the details.....)
• Props - Holy cow! I thought there wasn't much, but I start seeing more and more as I practice the drama with the kids. Where does one find gold, frankincense and myrrh?
• Set design - Thanks to a local church, I have risers. Problem is, they are homemade. Nice, big, heavy ones. It took Palmer and me all day long to transport them, now I have to set them up (in my spare time!)
• Music & Sound - Yikes! I need someone to run the CD player! While I'm at it, I ought to find someone who will sit in the sound booth and record the cute show so I can enjoy it later.
• Costumes - I hope the kid's parents realize they are making the costumes, NOT ME! I will send home a note tomorrow reminding them they are in charge of securing the costume for their child.

What else am I missing????

True Story

Our cute little family was walking towards the Holiday parade which Santa follows and turns on the lights at the Christmas Village. Many roads were closed off because of the parade. A local Police officer pulled over to us, rolled down his window and asked, "What's going on here?"

A bit startled I asked him, "What do you mean?"

"Why are there so many people around here?"

I felt relieved because I thought he was going to give us a hard time because we weren't walking off the road, but just on the side, I had to tell him, "There is the holiday light parade."

Then he asked what the parade route was. After I informed him, he drove away. I laughed and laughed. How can the local police NOT know what's going on in their own city? Glad it's not my city....

quick thanks

I am most grateful for the cross. The wonderful free gift of life given only by Jesus. Without it, I would not be saved.

I am thankful to God for giving me musical talent.
I am thankful for a job that lets me use my God given talent.

private mourning

A few weeks ago I saw a post by one of my Facebook friends about a little boy who was very sick and his wish was to get Christmas Cards from people so he could see he was loved. His family knew his time was drawing near to an end so they requested cards from their friends.

Someone posted it and it got posted and so on and so on.

When I first read it, I thought it was not real, like so many of those forwarded things. I went to Snopes.com and it wasn't there. So I did a little investigating and found out that indeed, there was a sick little boy named Noah for whom the family was celebrating Christmas early. You can read his story at
https://www.carepages.com/carepages/NoahScottBiorkman

Long story short, today I read his latest update and he left his family to be with Jesus. I wept when I read it.

God, hold Noah safe in your loving arms. Shine your grace on him and his family. God, be with his family as they mourn the loss of such a little life. May they find comfort in your mercy and love.