December 23

It's been a year of mixed baggage.  First part of this year? AMAZING!!!  I went on a trip of a lifetime to Palestine and Israel.  Dave, my husband of 35 years and I were back together after living apart for over 4 years.  His job was hard, but hey!  We were together! 

Then...it began to slide.  In February our incredibly talented teacher daughter was accused of harming a child in her classroom.  It's been almost a year and finally the legal stuff is almost over, but there's still more stuff to do to clear her name and get her back in the classroom. 

Our amazingly gifted son had been looking to get a job with the state...to no avail.  He finally got a job working in retail and thank God they realize what a gem he is and have been promoting him all along. 

Our phenomenal youngest daughter changed jobs and is enjoying her position in a national insurance company because it has regular hours and NO weekend work.  Very important when you have young children at home. 

Dave was fired in May.  He's been looking for a job and hasn't had any luck.  Unemployment has run out and we're struggling to figure out how to live on my salary alone until he gets back to work. 

And, it's Christmas.  That time of year when everyone loves everyone...or so it's supposed to go.  But, there's bombings happening, and people are dying at the hands of other people every minute...let alone the diseases and plagues that kill and maim. 

I have seven sermons to preach in four days.  Just thinking about that makes me exhausted and yet...and yet...that baby in the manger is the reason I get up in the morning. 

Jesus, baby in the hay,
come and pour your love into me today. 
I'm to preach your amazing birthday story
In a way that brings hope and glory.

Love, hope, peace, joy.
All because of this baby boy!

Help me, Jesus, to convey this joy-filled message!