I ended up mailing cards from the Dollar Store – and they were half price from Last year’s leftovers. For quite a few years I have sent out hand made little creations of art filled with love and quite a bit of Darren’s Paycheck for supplies. . . . Much to my Joy.

This year, the craftroom was filled with a Lego League Table set up on my craft table. Monies for supplies went to monies for tournament preparation. We had company the first week of December, and then went through a three week coughing lung sickness. With Little Joy.

I did “earn” free cards from Shutterfly – but the idea of picking out a Photo , thoughtful words, getting it ready, in time to mail – was too much stress. So I passed the cards to my dad, and then he passed them back to me.

I worked for a few days on what angle to use for the “Holiday” card. My thoughts were wider and longer than those that I type here.  Yikes Right? I mean, it wasn’t an 11×17 card offer . . .  .

So tonight – It is Christmas Eve. I have just returned from an impromptu watching of Faith Like Potatoes.

I have a sister in law who is enjoying her last Christmas Eve Party with her family – cancer will take her life any day now – and she has a brother who is scared to share the gospel with her, for fear that she will be angry – which is her normal to the message of Faith in Christ’s plan for your life – instead of simple belief in God.  We prayed with and for him today to have the courage and the opportunity to share tonight, and have her receive his message of faith and love of his Savior – of whom he is being re-acquainted with this past couple of years.

I have a husband who is in the retail industry – he single handedly ran a major retail store tonight and yesterday, the only manager – with Record Breaking sales – and comes home exhausted.

My sons and I made a vat of clam chowder today for our Christmas Eve dinner – We also played outside, worked on our AVON boat a little, and played with the dogs in the lake. Not your typical White Christmas, Sleigh Bells type of atmosphere when it’s 60 with pansies, roses, green grass and honeysuckle buds flourishing.

So – tonight – I was driving home to my family – and thought of my whole family – of friends, in the Lord, in Blood, in Time. People who have walked in and out of my life. People who have walked through my life – Near and Far, New and familiar.

I want to tell them what the person in Faith Like Potatoes tells them – Un ashamedly – Boldly, With Urgently – that Christ is alive and real for our lives today. That He is in control of everything that happens. That we need to hear His voice and follow  – We need to be ready for opposition – for separation from our families – and for His Blessings.

My mind races from childhood, to Oklahoma City, to School Friends, to Coast Guard Friends, to Job Friends, to Friends in Missouri, to Friends in Coos Bay, to Friends in Bend, to Friends in Lincoln City – friends I have met this year on line – to Family from my childhood, Family in Santa Rosa, Family from my Pavao Side – cousins that I am meeting with aunts and uncles – Sisters, Parents, Grandparents – Family from Marriage, Family from inlaws of those marriages –

And I just want to send them all out a huge hug. What a 50 cent card just can’t do. A 50 cent card can say – here’s my new address, hope you update your contact list. It can say – I thought of you for 20 seconds while I signed my name while coughing and put a stamp on it.

What it can’t portray – is my depth of gratitude for each person that God has brought into my life in the past, and continues to put in my path even today.  I can’t tell each one of them how for the past few years our family has lived on faith instead of credit – self sufficiency instead of convenience – and love instead of easy – Joy in the midst of all sorts of circumstances – and how I wish for everyone who has touched my life to keep up in the Faith. To take a moment – and see what they have added to that simple gospel of Christ Crucified – and see what they need to shape up with their “religion”.

This is the first year in maybe 6? that we have had cable during the holidays. What I have seen portrayed in movies, sitcoms, commercials, news, specials – of what Christmas has become in the World.  . . . I have no words. Are Christians still really fighting for this one day? Really? It didn’t start as a “day of Christ”. No where in the bible are we urged to have one day set aside to honor the Lord – We were commanded – to follow Him. Every Day. Every moment.

So our simple Christmas Eve is coming to a late close as we watch Iron Man, and the boys have already laid out a Christmas Brownie and a Mirror Pond for Santa – (long story) –their few small gifts are under the tree, and their stocking stuffers are ready to stuff –and we will enjoy a quiet day tomorrow – we have plans for a bon fire at the beach looking for floats.  

Do you know ? That His time as a child was so that he could grow to be a man who would understand our every day? Who would let his physical life be taken? So that he could grab the keys of death and hell? And offer it to all who would receive? Life? Eternal Life? Freedom, Peace, Joy, Hope? Do you know? That he may return before the boys even see their Santa Stocking? If you know? Are you living like it? 

How do I put this in a Christmas Card? I might have to see if they come in 11×17 after all.