The Color of Chrisrmas

What color do you think of when you think of Christmas? This year was a red Christmas for us. We spent a few days with the Gee family in Joshua, Texas. What a wonderful time of semi-controlled chaos!! Roy and Paula have a daughter, 2 twin sons, and twin grandchildren, plus a few random relatives. Last Friday was a quiet day followed by 3 days of eating and celebration frenzy! Saturday was a finger food evening followed by a visit from Santa for twins Mack and Mallie although we adults seemed to enjoy it just as much.  We ladies all wore red and black lounge pants and monogrammed black monogrammed t-shirts, the guys in black lounge pants and red monogrammed t-shirts - a family tradition to all dress alike and act crazy! 

The Gee family - do you see red

acting foolish - they always take some goofy pictures

Mack and Mallie were so surprised to see Santa

even Santa relaxes sometimes

us in one of the silly pictures 

love my red/black loungers and slippers

Fred does not look too impressed with the silliness with the Gees

my Christmas wish list is that each and everyone one you have a wonderful and blessed New Year

Sunday was a beautiful Church service with a sermon based on the many names and meanings of Jesus. Following the service and much discussion of where to go for a family dinner at a local Mexican restaurant was enjoyed by the entire family. A sort of quiet afternoon getting ready for a huge family Mexican dinner on Monday followed by opening of presents, then followed by the whole family attending the movie "Mary Poppins Returns". Actually very entertaining. A hour or so followed with a rest time before bed and some rest before facing another day of eating and Christmas fun. Tuesday produced the annual Christmas dinner of ham, cornbread dressing ( much different than our Northern type), cranberries and all the fixings followed by apple pie. We gave the twins a gingerbread boy and girl - when Mack opened his sister Mallie said,"Look Mack got the old man". Those two keep a person entertained forever.

Even with all of the worldly disruptions going on we managed to always keep in mind the real reason we celebrate. God allowed His Son to be born of man, to suffer and die so that we could spend eternity with Him!! In church last Sunday we heard a song about the trials Mary went through when she was preparing to deliver the Savior. She was in a cold, foreign place, in a dark and dirty manger with animals milling around, no midwife to calm and reassure her, a husband who was just as fearful as she, no cute baby clothes, only rags she had taken with her on their long journey to Bethlehem. Imagine her great surprise when the shepherds came to adore her son!!!! What a powerful song.

Now that all of the celebrations are almost over, we need to think about the coming year. Pastor Jim Maxson's sermon this morning was just about that - commitments. Not the normal commitments of going on a diet, more exercise, etc., but commitments to yourself to release yourself from the bondage of past sin - of allowing yourself to forgive others as well as yourself. To rely on the fact that God has forgiven ALL of your sins so you do bot have to wallow in the guilt of your past. Move on - release those past ghosts and live the life God promised us.

Next week I will have some awesome pictures of the Christmas Party at Children's Haven International in Reynosa as we attended their Christmas party before Christmas. What an amazing time we had. I did not want to overwhelm you with Christmas pictures as any proud parent would do, so be sure to come back and see them.

There was not going to be any food distribution this past Friday as there were not a lot of folks to help out, but an amazing group of young missionaries came to the Valley from NewMexico and were looking for someway to serve. Jim Maxson stepped up and delivered produce to them so they could serve the Lord as well as supplement the pantries of the people in the colonias. A person is never too young to serve - these young folks also are not afraid to share the gospel with others. We thank all of those involved.

Now as we closed out 2018 - let us resolve to not being bitter but being better in 2019. Do random acts of kindness throughout the week and see what a warm and fuzzy feeling you get from it!