The Stockings Are Not Hung, But....

Day-before-Christmas-Eve joy to each of you! Wonder fills my heart.
We drove around town last night checking out our town's private Christmas lights. Even Ava went along and stood still for a Christmas photo !!

After supper, I got the cookie dough made and it's chillin' away.

     We are going to mid-week noon communion in a few minutes. Somehow, stopping to go into the house of the Lord strengthens me to keep my heart focused on my King during the daily grind of living.
     Then we've giving ourselves a treat to lunch out before we come home to bake cookies. If my granmother's Snickerdoodles turn out okay, tomorrow I'll post and picture and the recipe. Then tomorrow we'll deliver some to friends.
      I do have to make one more stop at the grocery story *sigh* but mostly my pantry is ready. We're keeping it SIMPLE this year and I LOVE it!
      We'll have a light supper after Christmas Eve traditional service with one grandson and his "intended."
      Our Christmas Day will be quiet and I'll make a simple ham/baked sweet potatoes/fruit salad meal and we'll CHILL. [lol: kinda like my cookie dough ]
      It took a LOT of prayer, but I finally let go of my sadness that we cannot make the trip to Kentucky to be with my son, daughter-in-law, and beautiful granddaughter for Christmas.  We had so looked forward sharing this first Christmas in their new home and new life. Last summer, he retired from 21 years in the Marine Corps and they stepped out into a whole new world. They wanted us to share this special Christmas with them, but it wasn't to be and I cried--a LOT. Then while the hot water poured over me in my shower prayer closet, my Father showed me how good life is, how much He's given me, how blessed I am.
      So, I dried my eyes and dressed and got a sweet Christmas ready for my sweet husband and precious daughter.
      It was good to remember that we do NOT have to have and extravaganza  of bells, whistles, lights, candles, people, comings/goings/doings, events, or special gatherings to celebrate the amazing gift of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Merry Almost Christmas, Sweet Friends,

Liz

Lunar Love from God

The Creator of the universe and all that is or ever has been or ever will be is amazing. And to think, this awesome Triune God knows you and me by name!!!!

Today is blowing my mind, so to speak. I KNOW that I WILL get up (or still be up???) around 2 a.m. cst to view the total eclipse of the moon.

Why?

• Because it is an incredible event
• Because a total eclipse of the moon ON WINTER SOLSTICE has not happened in 456 years. Let's see, that would be.... 1554 ???? What on earth [or heaven] do you think people thought that night?
• Because a total eclipse of the moon ON WINTER SOLSTICE will not happen AGAIN until the year 2094. Let's see, I will be 157 years old. Of course, some days I already feel that old, but never the less........ 
• Because my husband's FIRST great grand DAUGHTER will be born tomorrow morning, on Winter Solstice, just a few hours after the astonishing event in the night heavens. [of course, I get to ride on my Dear Heart's coat tails and will claim a little great-grand-memaw status]
• And, because our little Samanta Kay will only be 84 years old when the next one occurs. What a birthday she will have!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I hope you wake up or get up or just stay up to witness one of God's breathtaking gifts in the heavens that He so lovingly created.

God made two big lights, the larger
      to take charge of Day,
   The smaller to be in charge of Night;
      and he made the stars.
   God placed them in the heavenly sky
      to light up Earth
   And oversee Day and Night,
      to separate light and dark.
   God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1: 16-19 The Message

Heavenly Blessings to ALL of you,

           Liz

Shepherd Sunday

Tomorrow, the 4th Sunday in Advent, is sometimes known as Shepherd Sunday.
I'm praying diligently that my shepherd heart will be open to those who need help, encouragement, time, and guidance and that I won't be afraid to go where my Holy Father leads. I'm also praying that I will allow my Shepherd to protect my heart and thoughts and time and energy. Sometimes keeping up with a flock of sheep--even if it is only a few--can be difficult.
During the wind up to Christmas, it is easy to remember that part of shepherding is listening. Let's listen closely. We might even hear angels singing!

Holy Father, bless our earthly spiritual shepherds and help us to grow up and become the shepherds you call us to be.

Blessings through this last week of Advent. Welcome the Lord Jesus with joy!

~~Liz~~

Septuagenarian Scribe Search

I’m intermingling other posts between Favorite Book List. The other six books are on my desk, ready to have their beauty described, but I'd like input from my readers about LIVING life in the Septuagenarian box.

AND there WILL be a PRIZE! Okay???

The story is not very long…..

When I reached the age of 70, I barely noticed. I was still energetic, relatively healthy, and about as mentally alert as I ever had been J. I kept on keeping on and life was good.

Until someone said, “You are a Septuagenarian."

*YIKES* A WHAT????????? I am NOT yet eighty !!!

My thinking was corrupt. A Septuagenarian is

A person in the EIGHTH (8^th) decade of life;

  a person between 70 and 79 years.

EITHTH DECADE???????   PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!  GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!!!!!!!!!

I counted it up on my fingers to be certain. Yep. Septuagenarian.

Okay. Deep breath. All in all, things were well. My husband still loved me, my children enjoyed coming home, they invited us to fly the friendly skies to visit them, and my writing life was modestly successful.

Then I got stuck at thirty-thousand words on my historical fiction and the few things left on My Bucket List rattled around at the rusty bottom. As I languished in the innocent, early stages of Septuagenarianism, a boredom worked its beguiling way into my days.

My family needed me at home more and more, my writing was blah, and our friends were younger and heavily involved with grandchildren and volunteering. I began “surfing the net” in my loneliness.  Soon I thought That looks like fun.

Shaking the dust from my sandals, in the summer of my 71^st year (2008), I set up a web site: Liz Writes in Texas to showcase my writing [ now at http://www.lizwritesintexas.com/ ] and family brags. [ now at: http://www.welcometoourhill.com/ ]...combined into one site :-)

By autumn, cyberville was in my blood so I set up a BLOG: Liz’s Front Porch for prayers, devotions, and praises.  In fact, I posted a devotion on my blog every single day of the 2008 Advent season.

During the summer of 2010, I discovered fabulous FREE blogs and websites written by  fabulous and busy young women. I moved my web presences to the free sites, improved their appearance and content.

Through blogging, I’ve met many fine, Christian, cyber women from around the world who are lovable, smart, fun, and devoted to our Heavenly Father. They are also ALL very YOUNG. I adore and admire these women, but I NEED MORE!

Here is where my faithful readers and busy bloggers come in:

I want to meet other Septuagenarian Christian bloggers.

My questions:

            How do other gals in their EIGHTH decade of life handle life and the cyber world?

            How do they manage to make the world better?

            What do they read?

And I want to read what Christian women in their EIGHTH decade write.

I’ve found many bloggers in their fifties and sixties but I’m stuck there.

Please send me the blog address of any BLOGGERS you can find--or currently read who are

Female

Christian

Septuagenarian

Everyone who submits to me a Septuagenarian Christian Blog Address will have their name put into my warm, fuzzy winter hat.

On January 1^st, I will conduct an honest and fair drawing.

The winner will receive a SIGNED copy of

Dena Dyer’s book: Let the Crow’s Feet & Laugh Line Come! [Rediscovering Beauty and Self-Worth at ANY AGE] (Barbour 2010)

Dena is another of my YOUNG friends, but she and the many older women she interviewed take us on a fun-filled word trip to learn how to slip into our older years, gracefully enjoying life and all it has to offer.  

You may contribute your “find” on the comments section of this blog or you may e-mail me at eberle225@gmail.com  I promise to keep ALL e-mail addresses and your personal information absolutely private.

I will also post the best finds!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs and Blessings on Our Septuagenarian Blog Search!!!!

Liz

My Favorite Books - Entry Two

Category: Christmas Books

The Shoe Box - by Francine Rivers:

The Shoe Box (A Christmas Story) by Francine Rivers

 (Tyndale Fiction 2010)

       

           I have little self-control when it comes to Christmas gift books. There are many on my shelves and though we have favorites,  my family and I re-read our collection year after year.

           However, I believe The Shoe Box, new this year, is exceptional. It is a short, must-read, tender story about love, hope, angels, and the simple faith of a little boy. Francine Rivers makes Christmas come alive in the life of a young boy and his foster parents.

          Woven between the short chapters of this precious fiction story are the author’s own real Christmas experiences, recipes, and traditions. As always, Mrs. Rivers stays true to her trust in Jesus Christ and includes the true Christmas Story from Holy Scripture’s Matthew and Luke.
          The Shoe Box is a lovely, small, inexpensive gift book that will endure over time as a family Christmas devotion or as a re-read year after year for simple pleasure.
          Give The Shoe Box to someone you love for Christmas….whether that “special someone” is a grandchild or yourself!
          You’ll hear more about Francine Rivers in my list of favorite books, but if she is a new author to you, check her website at www.francinerivers.com Her testimony is as beautiful and real as her Biblical fiction.
         
P.S. I bought my copy "just because," and have already wrapped it as a gift. I ordered another for myself from The Closer Walk Christian Bookstore and because you took time to read this blog, if you live nearby, call Sheila and tell her I said to let you buy my ordered copy--it should be in this week! She will order another for me! http://www.thecloserwalk.com/

Christmas Blessings from my bookcase to yours,
   Liz