This is their favorite way to ride around stores. Ava prefers the front and Audrey the back, except when they're out and about helping me throw things in the cart. I have to keep my eye on Audrey. Very mysteriously things I don't want or need will appear when I get to the check out counter.
The girls had their first morning of rehearsing for their Christmas pageant next Thursday. The first preschool Christmas show I went to back when Jackson was two I cried. It hit me as the kids walked down dressed as Mary and Joseph with a baby, shepherds, angels, wisemen, and all the little ones as the stable animals that it was one of those rites of passage as a mom. I was truly a mom of a young child. It still makes me cry every time I hear them coming down the aisle singing, "Go tell it on the mountain....over the hills and everywhere... go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born." My girls have been singing this all day today. I love it. We're in Michaels with lots of stressed out people angry at the line, angry at too few salespeople working when it's the holidays. And they're just sitting their singing announcing that Jesus is born.
This week in my bible study someone in my small group talked about someone they know who intentionally prays so often throughout the day that she'll pray that the Lord would guide her to what grocery store to go to, what gas station to go to, what errands to run and not run so that He may use her, so that she would be following the path He wants her to go. She's that intentional about being a light and possibly helping someone that she's meant to help, being Jesus for that person in that little moment, on that little errand. It hit me because I so seriously don't do that. I don't ask God which errands I should run today. I literally try to see how many things I can squeeze in, in the small window I have without being late somewhere.
But today, and this was without praying where I should go honestly, but as we were in line a lady who was noticeably frustrated by the line and the lack of staff on the floor asked me, "Your girls are so well behaved. What's the trick? Are you strict?" I said, "yea I'm strict, but it's more about not just correcting the behavior, but working on where their hearts are.. at least that's what I've gathered from things I've read." I didn't really go into more than that because it was her turn to pay at that point. But it made me realize that I can share little bits of my faith in the most obscure moments. It's being open to it and just taking the opportunity.
So tomorrow we're hosting our second annual 'mommy and me tea' to celebrate Jesus' birthday with my best friend Kim and her son Ashton. Last year they had us over, tomorrow we'll host. We decided we'd like to make it a yearly tradition. I went to Valley Book and Bible today in hopes of getting this book called, "The Tale of Three Trees.' They didn't have it, but I did find cute activity books for the kids to play with during the tea. I also picked up some things at Michael's to possibly do a craft. It all depends upon whether I get my act together tonight to get it ready.
One of the coloring books is all about the origination of the candy cane. I had heard it before, but it's always nice to read again.
I'll leave you with the story here:
"Look at the candy cane - what do you see? Stripes that are red like the blood shed for me. White is for my Savior who's sinless and pure! "J" is for Jesus, my Lord, that's for sure! Turn it around and a staff you will see - Jesus, my shepherd, was born for me! - Author Unknown
It was Christmas time. Old Ben, the candy maker, was very busy in his workshop.
Old Ben made all kinds of candy that children like to eat.
On Sunday the candy maker closed his shop and went to church. Old Ben looked at the manger scene. he thought, "I wish I could make candy to remind good little children of Jesus."
The next morning old Ben hurried to his workshop. He had an idea!
He began by making a stick of hard, pure white candy. "This candy will remind children that Jesus is our Solid Rock," he said. "I'll make the candy white because Jesus makes our sins as white as snow."
Next old Ben shaped the candy in the form of a "J." "J is for Jesus," he said with a smile.
When he held up the candy it looked like a shepherd's hook. "the Bible tells us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd," said old Ben.
Still, the candy maker was not quite happy with his candy. "I Know," he said. "I'll add some color."
Carefully, old Ben made some red stripes. "these stripes will remind children that Jesus loved us so much He bled and died for us on the cross," he thought.
Then he added some peppermint flavoring to the candy. "this smells like hyssop that was used in the the Bible when people gave sacrifices to God. I want children to remember the sacrifice Jesus made so we could live forever with Him in heaven."
The candy maker looked around at all the candy canes he had made. He was very happy with his work.
The next Sunday old Ben hurried to church with a big basket.
When the service was over, the candy maker opened his basket. The children were so surprised and happy to have a new treat!
Old Ben told them the special meaning of the candy cane.
From that day to this, every time children eat candy canes they remember the story of Jesus.
Or at least we hope so. Makes me want to run out and let my kids eat candy canes just to bring this story to life.
Tomorrow we'll be toasting to baby Jesus with cups of tea and sparkling blueberry water, finger sandwiches and little treats. But first we'll celebrate by singing happy birthday. For we wouldn't have anything here or forever in eternity in Heaven if God didn't give us the most precious gift of His son born as a baby in a manger.
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