Is it NESTING Time or BUY NOW and DO MORE Time?

Oh my! The holiday ads, promotions, and marketing campaigns are amped up. Every day, the message is "buy now for best bargains", 50% off today only, deal of the day! BUY -- BUY -- BUY!! There are banners outside stores, ads coming in the mail and tons of them coming through on social media. It takes great willpower to NOT be drawn in. After all, it's only 20 more days until Christmas! And, believe you me -- I was one caught up in the frenzy for many years. The pain was real!

Something happened to me this year. I’ve turned over some new leaves. At this age and stage of my life, I get to do that. My father-in-law was the one who closed out our family Christmas’ present exchanges with his grand finale of handing out his envelopes which had a little money in them for each one of the family members. This was a big milestone year for me and I think it merited me making some changes. Since Dad has been long gone for about 20 years now, I’ve decided to carry on where he left off and this year, my family will receive envelopes with a few dollars in them with a love letter from me to them.

I can’t begin to explain the weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. You'll know that relief one day. No need for mall or online shopping! Oh, sweet Baby Jesus! I can celebrate the gift of You so care-free because of my newfound freedom! What a relief it is. I am sure not desiring to dampen your Christmas spirit by my new-way-of-thinking. This is my time to change, but oh that I might have discovered this freedom before now.

I also cut back on my usual “decorating every room in the house” to putting out just enough that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in my home – especially with my old family photos of Papa reading the Christmas story to the grandchildren and my children’s visits to see Santa. I didn’t even put out all of my Christmas churches or villages! I haven’t been tempted by Pinterest or emails that beckoned me to get started with craft items and buy more decorations. I’m passing up any reasoning that I need to do more to make this season more and just right.

Instead of my usual Christmas frenzy, I'm "nesting". This is the awesome season of Advent and finding a "nesting" place to ponder the beauty of Christ and His coming as a baby and His return to take us away to glory takes precedence over the hustle and bustle of the season. Don't we really want to push the MUTE button to separate ourselves from the crowds and busyness to enter into God’s stillness by taking some R&R (rest and relaxation) time to go find HIM in the secret place?

I'm a realist and I know we often don't have much choice but to stay on hyper-mode. Somewhere, however, there must be a quiet little "nesting" spot that we can find to pause for some silence when we can. It may mean we have to turn down the TV or the radio or shut off the computer because of the constant temptation to buy more, do more and be more. Hearing God’s voice in the midst of all the hubbub isn’t always easy, but when we place a high priority on practicing God’s presence, we just might find more strength, energy, and enthusiasm for all those things we must do. Maybe it’s as simple as reading a short devotion or simply whispering His name in prayer. Maybe we should start nesting like a Mama Bird who is preparing for the arrival of her babies, to sit and wait and breathe in peace and quiet and exhale the worries, the stress, the fears, and concerns. I promise. God is quite aware of all that's on our plates. He totally gets us, but all the while, He's over in a quiet "nesting" spot just waiting for us to cozy up to Him for refreshing and restoration.

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing

Day 340 of Photo Inspirations -- Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing
The word "nesting" has frequently been on my mind over the last several days.  "Nesting" is that word used when a pregnant woman is close to that day when her baby will arrive.  She wakes up one morning feeling energetic and wanting to clean and organize her entire house.  It's that overwhelming desire to get her home ready for her new baby.  Often, that urge is from boredom or frustration from still being pregnant, as well as knowing that the baby’s care is going to take lots of time and energy, and she wants everything to be ready before the baby arrives.  Excitement and anticipation of that new bundle of joy, and the desire to have everything just right.

In this beautiful season of Advent, I've been "nesting" -- anticipating the birth-day of Christ.  Here's what that "nesting" looks like to me.   It's those times of sweet reflection, peace and quiet, and really pondering this miraculous birth.  It's quite easy for me to be in that place.....naturally.  As I was sitting in front of my fireplace and just meditating about the message I was going to give at an Advent by Candlelight, I started pondering about this time many years ago, and what it was like for me in anticipation of my little girl about to be born.  Back then, however, we didn't know that she would be a girl or boy.  We were prepared, either way.  If a boy, he'd be named Robert Anthony.  But if a little girl, she'd be named Staci Michelle -- which means "resurrection life" and "close to God".   I was thinking about how I was getting her nursery ready.  All the gifts of clothes, nighties, and underclothes were washed and folded in the little dresser drawers.  The hanging diaper holder was filled and all the little items were all organized for her soon arrival.  I would open those drawers and smell that sweet aroma of "baby".   My house was clean.  My bags, with her little outfit, was packed and ready to go.   The plans were all made for taking her big brother to Granny & Papa's to stay until we came home with the new baby. Everything was ready in preparation for her debut.    The excitement was building.

 Friday, I sent my daughter this little note:
"Hi Sweet Girl.  I know you're in a whirlwind of busy.  But I'm nesting.  I'm not only speaking tonight at an Advent By Candlelight, but I'm thinking about this day 46 years ago when I was just a few days away from seeing my little baby girl for the first time.  Though I didn't know you would be a girl, I certainly was in such a sweet nesting mode, so excited and waiting for you to be here.  I'm already celebrating you and want you to know how much I love you today.  You are a mighty woman of God and I know God's looking out for you.  Love you so much.  Happy early birthday!"

This beautiful season of Advent is about WAITING,  preparing our hearts and having our hearts transformed in anticipation of Christ's birthday!  Oh, we know He already abides in us, but taking this sweet season to refresh and revive our relationship with Him seems like the best thing we can do to celebrate His coming.  In this "nesting" time, we can sweep out all the clutter and get rid of all the excess stuff that's been accumulating in our hearts.  Of course we know He is no longer the baby in the manger but He is our risen Lord and King, so this celebration is for royalty.  

At my house, we love to celebrate birthdays.  We make a big deal of it.   And getting ready to celebrate the birthday of Christ, is also about the preparations for the party.  We want the house clean. We want to bring out the best china.  We want to put up the Happy Birthday signs.  We want to be sure we have candles.  Isn't that what we're doing in this season right now?  What better way to prepare for his birthday than thinking about what He means to us, what His arrival on this earth did to change everything and about Him being Emmanuel -- God with us -- now and forevermore.
Oh come. Oh come. Emmanuel.

Out With Fall, In With Christmas

Day 333 of Photo Inspiration -- Out With Fall, In With CHRISTMAS!!
My sweet kids left for home on Friday, but not before my wonderful son, Larry, completed a page-long "Honey Do" list for me.  And, my precious "adopted" girl, Denise Gerrich​ helped me take down my Fall decor', move it up to the attic, and bring down the Christmas.  And if that wasn't enough, she helped me decorate with outdoor lights, trees, and wreaths, as well as my in-home decor'.  There is no question -- I am blessed beyond what I deserve, which is why Thanksgiving and Gratitude top my "Good Attitude" List.  Little photos of Papa reading the Christmas story to the grandkids are all around my house -- sweet reminders of Christmases past.  And, lots of decor' that go way back too.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas for several months now. I didn't decorate to the extreme, like I once did, when the family came to our house for Christmas.  There was a Christmas tree in every bedroom, the house was decked out with lights and enough decor' to open up a Christmas store.  In fact, Christmas decor' took up half of our attic space.

It was our favorite time of the year.  But, again, seasons change in our lives.   I’ll be heading to Texas to celebrate with my Wallace crew, and then onto Seattle to celebrate with the Wuerch crew -- in just a couple of weeks.  I was feeling the peer pressure in my neighborhood when others began putting up their Christmas lights a couple of weeks ago.  But, my humble little displays still shout -- loud and clear...... "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Today, starts the magnificent season of Advent.  When I was preparing for the talks I'll be giving this week, and the neighbors were putting up their lights, MY Advent season had already begun.  I’m already  enraptured by the miraculous Christmas story -- the UNLIKELY turn of events that altered the course of our past, present and future.  What an easy transition -- to go from Thanksgiving to all the joys and beauties of Christmas.

Though the stores were playing Christmas music a couple of weeks ago, and were selling their Christmas wares....months ago,  it only caused me to hone into the beautiful journey that will lead to the most HOLY AND MIRACULOUS DAY – and, it would have been alright if I started way back in July!

After all, it’s more than a season or a day, it’s about a REASON for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them ALL by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me.  HE totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and GREAT, amazing God. I'd say that's plenty reason to be celebrating ALL YEAR ROUND!   Thank you, all you early Christmas decorators, for the reminder to embrace this season ALL YEAR LONG!  Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!