...a word from Kathy

O h, the hustle and bustle. I thought I was past this time of life. I know the real meaning of Christmas! But yet, it’s December 22 and I can’t see the forest for the trees… Mom, are you sure we have enough lights up? Let’s go buy some more decorations. Wrap, wrap, wrap. Oh dear, I’ve got to start cooking! What’s on the menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Will we have a brunch or early breakfast? Did I pick up the office gifts? Call UPS and track that package! Wrap, wrap, wrap. What are the ingredients for Eggnog? We need to mail those Christmas cards! I’m off for one more trip to the grocery store. What if they don’t like their gifts? Do you remember where you hid those gifts? Oh my gosh, I’ve got to vacuum pine needles and dust before company comes. Do we have any festive Christmas music? I think I might rearrange the den today. Why don’t these lights work! Wrap, wrap, wrap. Exhausting, isn’t it? I feel like the family in the movie, Honey, I Shrunk the ...

R ay and I met after we were both out of college. Our courtship was four years long and it seemed like four hundred to me! When we announced our engagement there were a lot of, “it’s about time” comments. The wedding day was a joyful celebration with nary a dry eye in house…beautiful memories for us. And then after four years of marriage, we were pregnant with our first child. Now the comments really began to flow our way. “Congratulations! It’s about time!” “What are you having?” “Have you decided on names?” “Boy, will your life change!” We were good to answer and smile but we didn’t really think our lives would change that much; you know, people make such a big deal out of everything! Wow, were we mistaken! Our lives changed all right. Here are few life changing observations: We cared for their needs over our own - not necessarily joyfully (just being honest!) Our full hearts of love for each other spilled over to our children and multiplied We cooked, cleaned, drove, w...

W e turned off the lights and the tree beamed glorious light. The lighting of the tree is definitely one of the best moments of Christmas. This moment happened again for me last week. I remember as a little girl climbing up into my parent’s attic and hauling out boxes….the infamous box of lights, the ornaments, the icicles, the old tree skirt, the top star and all the other decorations that went throughout the house. It was so exciting to open boxes and remember! I also seem to recall that the decoration process started with my daddy helping us but by the time we had finished it was just mama and me. (It seems that way in many households…smile). This past year I’ve talked a lot about the world and the people in it who have never heard of Jesus; therefore, don’t celebrate the Christmas festival. I’ve been convicted to go into the world and take His message to those who don’t know and I’ve written about it on this blog to urge each of us to go beyond our own borders. Ac...