Lots of Pix from Christmas Eve.

We Went to a Wonderful steakhouse Taste of Texas, on Christmas Eve., before going home to open gifts...the restaurant was decorated so beautifully...it really got us feeling "Christmas-y"! (Plus the food is delicious, too!)

Daddy and Momma, deciding what to order, amidst all the lights and nutcrackers....

My Sweet sister and her hubby, who was clearly being "himself" as you can see... LOL!

This santa and tree was part of the decorations at Taste of Texas



And here I am...really excited about opening those gifts.. even though I don't look it, hehehe!! I look like I ate too much, which I did! (But I truly was happy and just thrilled to be with my precious family... I thank God for them! He has been so good to me!)



Our own decorations... and all those gifts just waiting for us to open them!!

Lily, aka LilyBug... "helping" my sis open her gift.... of course Lily and Camo opened their own gifts...(and nearly drove us insane with the squeekers in those sqeeky toys LOL!) They are soooo much fun to watch, and they get soooo excited about their presents... almost like little hairy children, hehe!  As you can see, we had a wonderful, happy Christmas, and I hope you did too.... surrounded by those who love you most!

FINALLY put up our Christmas Tree....

WooHoo!  I finally got around to putting up our little Christmas Tree... and, I fixed that lopsided bottom you see in the pix...LOL!!!  (And yep... I just had to add the butterflies on there...)  Merry Christmas!   

Thoughts on REAL Christmas Joy

Yay!  I got my old piano decked in her Christmas Finery...And I think the old girl looks quite pretty!  Hmm.. I don't know why I'm a little bit later this year in putting up the decorations...I did get my grandmother's house done...I usually do the fall decorating and the Christmas decorating while she's asleep, so that when she wakes up the next morning, she's surprised!  I got our porch almost done... but have yet to put our Christmas tree up.  (I have had lots of fun shopping with my sister, though, and have been enjoying working with the Christmas Carolers at Church)  How about you?  Awww... I bet you already have got it ALL Done... right? **sMiLeS** Well, Whatever your doing, I Hope you're having fun...smiling a lot...and filled with the joy of the Season. (But even if you aren't, dear one... if, maybe this Christmas Season is difficult for you...for some reason... you may not feel all that joyful... or even a little sad....please remember, that, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle... amidst all the shopping and noise...there is SomeOne that loves you so very much.  His Name is Jesus, and He wants to give you Peace in the midst of your storm...and HE is the REAL reason for Christmas anyway....He came to earth so long ago, and gave His Life on Calvary, because He Loves YOU....and even if you had been the only person in the world, He still would have come....because that's the kind of God He is...So when you start feeling overwhelmed... when the sadness or dispair makes you feel like giving up... talk to Him about it... ok?  He wants to help you.  You are important to Him...and you will be in my prayers!)
Blessings,
Jenni    

It's That Time Of Year...

Yay!  The Christmas Season is finally here... Don't you just love it?  I hope each one of you had a Wonderful Thanksgiving filled with Love... surrounded by those nearest and dearest to you...I did!  And I felt like the most Blessed person on God's earth yesterday... enjoying a delicious meal with family and friends.... God is good, isn't He?  And even when I have eternity to offer Him Thanks.... it will NOT be long enough to adequately Praise Him for the Things He has done for me and my family....I hope you have a fabulous Christmas Season...filled with Blessings!  Best Wishes - Jenni

Thankful Thoughts



 Thanksgiving Day is so close, dear friends... So, I'm thinking Thankful Thoughts today!  When I stop to really muse and ponder the things for which I am thankful.... the list is overwhelming!  God has been so GOOD to this Girl....letting me be adopted into a family that would take me to Church from the time I was a year old... and into adulthood...

And they taught me about Jesus... and they loved me and fed and clothed me, and made sure I was educated...and they spoil me rotten to this day!  I am soooo thankful for my parents... I am quite generous with the hugs and telling them I love them.... I want them to know how much I appreciate and cherish them!

And I have a wonderful Sister and Brother in Law, whom I adore....and darling pets....Camo and Lily and Mr. Tom... on which to love and hug....

And I have the sweetest, kindest, Godliest, smartest and most wonderful friends anyone could ever have....

And I have a wise and loving Pastor and his wife... who really care about the condition of my soul.... and are doing their best to help me make it through this life and into Heaven.....

And, the list goes on and on and on.... (and I will be sharing more later this week)

Most of all, I am Thankful for my Beautiful, Wonderful, Amazing, Holy God.... Jesus Christ.... Who loves undconditionally, and gave His own life in order to save mine!  Lord, I thank You, with everything within me for all You have done for me....

and another thing, on a lighter note... this clutzy girl was feeling very un-lovely one day this past week.... (do you ever have one of those days?) and an adult student told me "Jenni, You are such a dainty, feminine lady! And you have such a beautiful life!"  Oh, dear friends.... that lifted my spirits so much... it was a comment that came at a much needed time...So, I am thankful for precious students and friends... that can see beauty in me, even on my "clutzy/absentminded/un-lovely" days....when I am so much more a caterpillar instead of a butterfly....

And I am thankful for my precious young student Talayna... who gave me a turkey she had made for me from a bottle of glitter... with tail feathers made from cutouts in the shape of her dear little hands..... (I will share a photo later this week)  this is, I would imagine, the sort of thing Moms receive all the time.... but not being a mom myself, it is DOUBLY precious to me when I get something like this.... made with love by a dear little person God has blessed me to know.....

And I am thankful for each of you that has taken the time to read my ramblings....you are kind, and I appreciate it!  Have a wonderful weekend!
Jenni

The Bitter with the Sweet

It's the early morning hours... I was asleep, but woke up a little hungry.  Now, I cannot sleep if I'm hungry! Don't know about you... but if my tummy isn't happy, I may as well forget it!  So I went to the fridge and found a snack I LOVE.... I can't resist Strawberries...I was in strawberry heaven this Summer... my sweet Mom knows her girl, and kept me supplied. LOL! Only, Strawberries in the Summer have a sweeter taste....Sometimes I just wash them and eat them... Mmmm....

It is now November, though.... and THESE strawberries needed some help....they were a bit too sour.... so I added some strawberry yogurt and that was pretty good.....and it reminds me that if we trust the Lord, he can bring Sweetness, Peace, Joy and Hope to every bitter disappointment or hurt that we face in our lives.....

This has all made me think, precious friends...do you have something from your past, an old hurt that you think is healed over, but every once in a while, it makes itself known to you all over again.....it's like a wound you thought had healed up, but then the scab gets knocked off and there is fresh blood to cause you pain.....

This happened to me recently.....and so I shared it with my Lord throughout yesterday... and in these morning hours, too...everytime that hurt feeling rises up in my heart... I tell Him all about it! His Shoulders are big enough, and strong enough to bear the weight of the entire world, after all....so I don't have to deal with this all alone....This reminds me of an old song called: "Bring All Your Needs To The Altar".... "Bring all your needs to the altar... bring all your needs to the Lord.... He is so willing, and able to help you... so bring all your needs to the Lord"

The Lord has also brought a Precious Scripture to my remembrance... Psalm 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart,and bindeth up their wounds."

I've found in my Lord a real Hiding place... so many times I've run to Him, when things get a little hard to deal with, and He NEVER disappoints me... He helps me cope, Comforts me, and lets His Beautiful Peace that passeth all understanding fill my Soul and Spirit....Here's another beautiful scripture: Psalm 61:2-3 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

Is there something that's bothering you today, dear one? If the answer is "Yes", please think about what I've shared with you, ok? You are NOT alone in your painful situation... Jesus cares about you! You may wonder "Well, if He cares so much, why did this pain have to come into my life in the first place? Why didn't He just stop it from happening?" I Certainly don't have all the answers, (some days I don't feel all that bright, actually) but  I can only say that we live in a fallen, sinful world, and God gave mankind freewill to make choices...and those selfish sinful choices that are made affect those around them... inflict pain, hurt, and sadness...The Beautiful thing is, we don't have to deal with the aftermath or the consequences all by ourselves... Our loving Father is always waiting to help us pick up the broken pieces....He loves you and me SO MUCH! 

Tell Him about what you are dealing with, and ask Him to help you....and then, tell Him again whenever it bothers you....He loves you and wants to help you with it, I promise!

Wow... I had no idea I would say all of that....sharing this with you has actually helped me with my situation....and Jesus has brought Sweetness to this hurt...in the form of Scriptures, Song, and sharing with you, my precious friends....

I'll be praying for the Lord to strengthen and help everyone that reads this post... Hugs, Jenni

Nutcracker Market 2013 - Yay!

The Lovely Wells-Fargo Wagon is always Present in the Lobby...this pic was taken in 2011, and it looked much the same this year

Many of the Booths this year had these pretty flowered headbands...Here I am, Modeling the one I bought...LOL!

This smiling NutCracker was there to greet you as you entered the Market this year... Don't know why the photo turned out so RED!  Maybe it was all the red surroundings... carpet, booth curtains, etc....

My friend Sandy and I happened upon our friend Jan as we browsed...so we all stayed together, and had so much fun! I took this photo of the two Grandmothers occupied in a fave pastime.. shopping for Grandbabies!!  (Thanks Sandy dear for buying my ticket! And Jan for the tamales... yum!) These are some of the sweetest ladies ever... I am blessed to know them!

I fell in love with this gorgeous lace Jacket... Isn't it pretty? I also found a lacy black vest... and bought my sister a darling glittered snowman...(she didn't get to come with us this year and I wasn't about to leave without getting her SOMETHING! She's usually my ultimate shopping buddy)

Peace from His Promises



 Elections make me nervous!  I cringe in these uncertain times when the results are declared...and I must say the results of a certain Governor's Race gave me a sick tummy..... because I see the direction in which our Country is moving..... I am reminded constantly of the fall of ancient Rome.... and of a certain fiddler that played a merry tune among the flames as Rome, that great city, burned....but, you know what?? When I start feeling despondant over the way things are going, I remember precious Scriptures of Hope and Encouragement!  I'd like to share some with you.... these are the ones on my heart right now...

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Mark 4:39 "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Now I'm Smiling, Dear Friends- of- my- Heart.... Why Worry?  HE has it ALL in Control!  Aren't you thankful for the Bible?  It can Comfort and Strengthen with "exceeding great and precious promises" as 2 Peter 1:4 says....