Christmas Light Overload

 We have had our share of Christmas lights this year. We shared the Lights of Texas in Joshua, Texas,  with the Gees, and then the Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville AR, with our daughters. We have not spent Christmas on AR for many years, so it was quite a thrill to be here. The lights on the square are so spectacular to see, but it always so cold where we decide to walk and view them. There were al lot of folks out, everyone wearing their masks and being careful about social distancing. In years past, there were vendors, carriage and camel rides, etc. but because of Covid we just exclaimed the beauty of the displays. A fun evening for us all. 

                                                    

                                                               the entire downtown square was ablaze with lights

                                                     

                                                                     imagine the time it took to do this

                                                          

                                                              there was a breeze, so the lights in the trees swayed in the wind

                                                     

two of our girls and their Dad!

Christmas Eve found some of our daughters, grands, and great grands enjoying the weeks of baking before Christmas, as well as numerous snacking foods, such as stuffed mushrooms, taco salad, small hot dogs in sweet sauce, potato skins, nachos and various dips, and much more. I am sure there are a few extra pounds that we all have added.  

                                                            

                                                                               brother and sister love - 2 greats      

                                                                

                                                                    4 dazzling girls in dazzling dresses - great grands

and a sassy but loved great

As we reflected on Christmas Eve, I wondered how Mary and Joseph felt at the birth of Jesus. It was not a clean, beautiful stable, but the Baby Jesus was born in a food trough, in a dark and smelly stable, with only  2 very nervous parents in attendance - no doctors, sterile delivery rooms no pain killers, no birth coaches to make the delivery easier, no grandparents waiting in to hear the news of a successful birth. But because of their obedience to the Lord, Jesus was born the son of Joseph of Nazareth, but best of all Jesus the Son of God, who came to free us from the chains of sin and allow us to be able to spend eternity with Him in heaven. 

After a few days of eating frenzy, our daughter made a delicious breakfast pizza - perhaps the most nutritious meal in a few days. A pizza crust, gravy, onions, peppers, sausage, and egg. You really need to try it!!   

so good and easy to make

We leave tomorrow to return to the Valley and Caring Hearts Ministry, but thank God for the time He allowed us to spend with family and friends here in NW AR. The weather was colder than we experience in S Texas, but we must adjust as we are still trying to sell our place and return to AR, but we know that God has a plan for us and we need to need to be patient and wait upon Him. 

We wish all of you a very blessed, peaceful, and wonderful New Year. These times seem to be very trying, but the Lord has this!!!  Trust in Him.