Christmas Open House..please come in!...

I love to picture people in their homes, and especially at Christmas, to see what your ideas are and how Christmas inspires you to decorate...

So I am opening my home today and inviting you in for a quick tour, just the downstairs... all the stuff that was laying around has been temporarily moved out of camera view!...

As I looked at these pictures I thought... 'what a nice neat home this person has, no clutter... and then I laughed with some guilt, as I pictured what the upstairs looks like right this minute!!...

I would love to see what you have done in your home...

Merry Christmas!

A gift I'll never forget...

It was December, 1988, when our daughter was in high school... the days of December passed quicky and she had no gifts to put under the tree.

Our kids always gave to each other, never anything expensive, but always a gift for each brother and sister.

First I hinted... but as December grew into December 20 and 21... I began to nag... I reminded her that there would be gifts for her from her brothers and she had nothing for them!

She just put me off, and Christmas Eve arrived...

At the dinner table, as we were finishing our meal, she stood and passed one of these papers, all hand printed and personalized... to each of us, grandparents included. She said... 'this year I have no extra money, so this is my gift for my family'...

As we opened it and read the words, she turned on her 'boom box' and began to sing a solo to the music of Amy Grant's 'Heirlooms'...

By the time she was one verse into it, tears were running down my face, and I have them again right now as I remember, and share this memory of the gift I'll never forget...

I was trying to press the issue and get her to go and buy something... anything, for her family. She knew she had no money, and she was WAY ahead of her mother, as she gave this beautiful gift from her heart...


----------------------------------------------------
Up in the attic,Down on my knees.
Lifetimes of boxes,Timeless to me.
Letters and photographs,Yellowed with years,
Some bringing laughter,Some bringing tears.
Time never changes,The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from, And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me.

Wisemen and shepherds, Down on their knees,
Bringing their treasures To lay at his feet.
Who was this wonder,Baby yet king?
Living and dying; He gave life to me.
Time never changes,The memory, the moment
His love first pierced through me,
Telling all that I came from, And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious savior Is more than an heirloom to me.

My precious jesus Is more than an heirloom to me.

(Amy Grant, "Heirlooms")
-------------------------------------------------------