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Here is a great recipe for some Christmas Joy~

1/2 cup of Hugs
4 teaspoons Kisses
3/4 cup of Smiles
4 cups of Love
1 cup of Special Holiday Cheer
1/2 cup of Peace on Earth
3 teaspoons of Christmas Spirits
2 cups of Goodwill Towards Men
1 Sprig of Mistletoe
1 medium size bag of Christmas SnowflakesMix Hugs,
Kisses, Smiles, and Love until consistent.
Blend in Holiday Cheer, Peace on Earth,
Christmas Spirit and Goodwill Toward Men.
Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart where it
can be stored for a lifetime, for it never goes bad!
Serve as desired under Mistletoe, sprinkle liberally with
Christmas Snowflakes
It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas
carols and family get-togethers.
Serve to one and all!

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

As I was looking at Advent ideas this year I  and found this beautiful poem about how Advent and Christmas has become very commercialized sadly even within our Churches!

Twas the Beginning of Advent by J. Todd Jenkins  
'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church 
Our hope was all dying-- we'd given up on the search. 
It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited, 
But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited. 
 
Oh, we knew what was coming-- no doubt about that. 
And that was the trouble-- it was all "old hat." 
November brought the first of an unending series of pains 
With carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns. 
 
There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys. 
Enough to seduce even the most devout girls and boys. 
Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt 
From this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt. 
 
The priests and prophets and certainly the kings 
Were all so consumed with the desire for "things!" 
It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason 
For the origin of this whole holy-day season. 
 
A baby, it seems, once had been born 
In the mid-east somewhere on that first holy-day morn. 
But what does that mean for folks like us, 
Who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss? 
 
Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting, 
Of hoping and praying, and anticipating? 
Can we let go of all the things and the stuff? 
Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough? 
 
Can we open our eyes and open our ears? 
Can we find him again after all of these years? 
Will this year be different from all the rest? 
Will we be able to offer him all of our best? 
 
So many questions, unanswered thus far, 
As wisemen seeking the home of the star. 
Where do we begin-- how do we start 
To make for the child a place in our heart? 
 
Perhaps we begin by letting go 
Of our limits on hope, and of the stuff that we know. 
Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss, 
Let go of the searching, let Christmas find us. 
 
We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes, 
To see the king coming in our own neighbors' cries. 
We look without seeking what we think we've earned, 
But rather we're looking for relationships spurned. 
 
With him he brings wholeness and newness of life 
For brother and sister, for husband and wife. 
The Christ-child comes not by our skill, 
But rather he comes by his own Father's will. 
 
We can't make him come with parties and bright trees, 
But only by getting down on our knees. 
He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction, 
Coming in spite of, not by our restriction. 
 
His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt. 
The question is whether we'll be in or out. 
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock." 
Do you have the courage to peer through the lock? 
 
A basket on your porch, a child in your reach. 
A baby to love, to feed and to teach. 
He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son. 
How far will we follow this radical one? 
 
He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are. 
He'll lead us to follow a single bright star. 
But that will come later if we're still around. 
The question for now: Is the child to be found? 
 
Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?  
Can we find solitude in our holy halls? 
Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake? 
Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake? 
 
From on high with the caroling host as he sees us, 
He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus! 
As Advent begins all these questions make plea. 
The only true answer: We will see, we will see. 

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

So many birthday's we have celebrated together,
so many changes we have faced from the world,
standing together and yet often alone,
time marches on and we continue to learn,
of love ever deepening, of blessings to be shared,
of a home as a refuge for those in our care.

I thank God daily for this life he has given me,
for the joy of being your wife and a mother,
It all means so much to me, and it started with you.
Without you the joy is gone and life would be blue.

Contentment we find in the life we have been gifted,
I would never  have know it but for the grace of God,
who knew we were perfect,
and yet to others it seemed a bit odd.

The gifts we bring to share with the world,
are as different as we are and yet so much the same,
for we complete one another,
as we commit to the life we have made.

Have a very blessed and beautiful birthday my love

All my love forever ( and the children too) ♥ ♥ ♥