... a jesse tree

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:11 

so i built a jesse tree. i hadn't planned on it. we were already 

doing our advent calendar, along with other activities during our bible time.

but the excitement of the season came over me like a tidal wave.

He is coming.

 i had lots of bamboo shoots in the garage for another project. they would be perfect.

in year's past i've always wanted to do one, but we've just always done 

other things, the boys were too little, i was too tired, whatever. 

but this year is different. sure, i am still tired, still do too much and the boys 

are little, but something about this year...

it is Him. 

life moves a little easier (oh, i still have some moments), things are brighter, 

peace is greater, love is more abundant, joy is louder.

"He didn't come to make evil people good, He came to make dead people alive." - Joseph Prince

He transforms me. He moves me.

we all know that the exact date of His birth is not the 25th of december, 

but it doesn't matter. what matters is that He came. and it changed everything.

and i celebrate.

the tools i used... gorilla wood glue, the best. but the glue gun worked the best on the bamboo.

i am transformed by the revelation of His love for me. for you.

it's what separates. it makes all the difference. because it's all about Him.

not you and me, not how good we are (or bad). it's all about One Man. 

Jesus.

think about it. ever wondered why so many people are offended at the 

mention of His name. because it ALL came down on Him.

say it with me. Jesus. oh it just gives me chills!

Jesus.

if my children learn one thing about Jesus, it's that He loves them. 

no matter what. in Him, NOTHING can separate.

i have always loved this blog, www.aholyexperience.com. she has a beautiful 

advent devotional to download! it's all there - the ornaments, scripture, a prayer. 

it even has an activity of love to do. use all of it or just use part of it. do what works for your family!

ponder the wonder, the beauty. meditate on the love that One Man came to give.

for you. complete forgiveness because you can't and He did. 

i will leave you with this...

"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ might dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Eph. 3:16-19

Merry Christmas

... a new blog

hi there! i am so glad you've decided to take a look! this is my first attempt at personal blogging... it has the potential to be disastrous, but i am willing to take a stab at it. 

if you know me, i have a little thing i like to call a "creative attention span"... imagine "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" kinda life (more on that later). i do not have ADD, but i tend not to do well with things that need me to do it the same way, at the same time or in routine. i can show up to a meeting once a week or do something everyday like eat breakfast or brush my teeth, but it will never, ever be the same. nope, i do not even brush my teeth or get dressed in a routine. i will even change up the route i take to that meeting! some say i might need to get help with that, but to me, it makes life livable, free and interesting!

so what does all this mean to you? my posts will be random bits from this exciting thing called life! it will not have regularly scheduled posts and they will be about all kinds of different stuff. 

one other thing about me (if you want to know more, go here) is that i can be a bit of a perfectionist, especially when it comes to design and projects. i know, sounds weird for someone so all over the place, but it is what it is! 

i created this blog several months ago, but never published because i wanted everything right. well, if i wait for that, it will never.get.done. so please bear with me as i get everything just the way i want it!

so my first post is basically my introduction, but i also wanted to share this amazing verse! i love this verse anyway, but the way The Message interprets it, is beautiful! i hope you find it to be just what you needed today!

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28–30, THE MESSAGE