Open

This is my first time at five minute Fridays, here goes.
Open-- "open the eyes of my heart Lord"  Open my spirit and mind to all the possibilities that you have for me in the new year.  Open my home to receive my son and daughter home from Russia, and to minister to fellow travelers along the way.  Open me up to love as your Son loves , Open me like a quilt unfurled spreading warmth and comfort to all who come under it.

The Day After

It is the day after Christmas. A short time of reflection on the day, before preparing for another day with friends and family.  We had a sweet day of celebrating the birth of our Saviour.  It started with a good morning to Jesus, and then just enough time to do presents with Grammy before getting ready for church. For us that means some heading to the barn for chores, others dressing little ones and making sure everything that needs to go out the door with us is not left behind.  Especially my son Michael's dee (his favorite blanket). We then spent the day at church.  The church choir did an amazing Christmas Cantata, then the church family and friends served   a delicious dinner, followed by words of thanksgiving by our Pastor.  Once we got home we spent time opening family gifts. It is wonderful to see that my children enjoy giving the gifts they picked out, as much, if not more than getting their own gifts. What a joy to watch the delight of children young and old open gifts, I am reminded of the scripture that "every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father," I believe God receives joy from His children when we accept His gifts to us, the first and most precious of these gifts is His gift of Salvation. What a thought-- that I can bring joy to The Creator of the universe and Saviour of my soul. That He would possibly find delight in me, the unlovable. This thought astounds me,  humbles me and encourages me.  Oh what a great and mighty God I serve. Full of grace and mercy to all.

New to me

My daughter has been telling me for a long time that I need to have a blog. So today she got me started.  I am not  a writer by any stretch of the imagination. I am a wife and mom , I love the Lord and find great joy in serving Him.  I also have heartaches and sorrows like any one else. I have found encouragement through other blogs I have read and pray perhaps I can do the same for someone else along the way. 
Today is a beautiful day in Maine.  The snow is falling, Christmas preparations are almost complete, the family enjoyed making Christmas cookies last night.  My 11 year old daughter Gemini gave me an early present, as she and I were finishing up in the kitchen (just the two of us alone-- rare in this home) she said, " Mom, I am so glad you and Dad adopted me, this day has been so fun I wish it would never end."  All because we took the time to make cookies.  What a blessing to my mother's heart.  God is so good to have used Gem to speak to my soul, because truth be told I almost did not do the cookie bake. I contemplated just letting the children watch a movie and go to bed, I would make the cookies with out all the "extra help"...  it would be so much easier.   Oh to think of the joy I would have missed!  Watching the joy in the lives of my children, especially once Dad got involved in the process. My husband is so wonderful.  He keeps me grounded and encouraged.

                                                      Daddy decorating with the kids

                                                                      More sugar!

                                              Josh helping Mom cut cookies

        

                                                       Anna cutting out cookies

                                            Michael intently watching his cookies be cut

                                   It's truly a wonderful life the God has blessed me with.