Christmas Day 2007

• We went to my parents house at 8:30am to open gifts.
• Back to our house to get a shower.
• 1pm - we went to Tony's parents house for lunch and to open gifts.
• 5pm - back to my parents house for dinner. Grandma was in a very talkative move as she talked to each of us kids and mom. We started to watch "Riddles & Stones" with dad.
• That evening we read Luke chapters 3-4
• And fell asleep watching "Princess Bride" (that was one of Matthew's gifts to us).

Christmas Eve 2007

Despite how much I wanted to avoid it, we did have to go to town and pick up a last minute Christmas gift. And to think that I had all intentions to finish my shopping by November. Haha. Maybe I'll do better next year. :-) We went to the Wal-Mart in Mount Olive, which was a lot busier than normal, but it wasn't too bad.

Around 4pm, my parents came over to our house and rode with us to White Oak for their candle light service. Very few people showed up, but it was a nice time to reflect on why Christ came to earth in the form of a baby. We sang several hymns, listened to the reading of scripture, and pastor Gene gave a short devotional. It was a very God glorifying time.

Around 7pm, Matthew, Joey, and Brittany all joined us at the house. We each opened up one gift. Then we ate Italian Sausage Roll with salad. It was really good! I was able to decorate the house a little bit. I put the tree up Sunday afternoon with lights only - I decided to keep things simple. Then I decorated the table with a white table cloth and red accents. We enjoyed the fellowship with my family. Dad, Matthew, and Brittany stayed to play Bible Outburst. It was a lot of fun! Then Matthew and Tony watched some of "Megeiddo 1", while Brittany and I laughed at some old digital pictures on the computer.

Christmas Caroling in Wilson

Friday night we joined Brian & Shannon, Bill & Denise, Guerite, Pastor Justin, JB, and all their children to go Christmas caroling in Wilson. We went to a doublewide subdivision, parked our vehicles, bundled up, and walked from door to door singing carols. It was mostly elderly people that came to the door to watch and I really had to fight back tears. They were so excited. We had prepared a little bag with candy canes, a gospel tract, and some information on Christ Baptist Church.

We then went to the Target parking lot, set up on a corner, and sang "Joy to the World". Then Tony proclaimed the gospel to people as they walked through the parking lot. Then we sang more songs. We were able to pass out the remainder of our bags, and several gospel tracts to people as they walked by. A couple ladies stopped to watch us sing; Denise felt led to give one of the ladies a hug. The lady just started crying. We found out that her mother had passed away recently and she was having a really hard time this season. We were able to minister to her and gather around her in prayer - right there in front of Target. It is amazing to think of God's perfect timing in everything!

We finished the night at the Cherries house where we ate chili and homemade tortilla chips. Yes, I Shayna, who does not like beans, ate chili. It was pretty good and I was able to pick out some of the beans. :) I tell you, there is nothing like fellowshipping with the people that you just evangelized with on the streets. It is so sweet and genuine! The Christians that sit in church every Sunday, but never share their faith, are missing out on so much! What a privelage and a joy it is to share the everlasting gospel with a complete stranger. What an awesome duty God has granted to us!

Four Days Away

Well, I didn't have time to put up any Christmas decorations last night. I did get most of my shopping done though. Yay! In a little while I'll be getting off work and going to Wal-mart to pick up a few more items, and hopefully I won't have to make any last minute trips to town this weekend. When we got home from the gym last night, I was looking around the house and realized that I am way behind on house work. I really desire to be a good homekeeper - and to have a tidy, orderly home. It just seems that we are always on the go and I fail to stay on top of it. Sigh. Lord, please teach me how to manage our home in a way that brings glory and honor to your name!

Christmas Traditions

Before marriage, there was one night set aside where all us kids helped mom and dad decorate the Christmas tree. I always enjoyed going through the ornaments and decorations that we hadn't seen for a whole year. Us girls would usually help mom make gingerbread cookies. Christmas music would fill the house. We would always watch the movie "A Christmas Story". Christmas Eve we gathered around the Christmas tree and we each opened up one gift. Then we went to bed, anticipating what was wrapped up under the tree. Brittany & I would usually wake up between 4am and 5am, and go through our stockings; mom and dad always made sure to put some "good chocolate candy" in there and a small gift of some sort. Then we would go back to sleep. I think Joey did the same thing. Matthew on the other hand loved his sleep. :) Christmas morning, we were all pretty eager to open our gifts before mom and dad could even get the coffee brewing. Mom encouraged us to eat breakfast before. When it came time to open the gifts, we would sit around the living room - leaving room in between us to gather our opened presents. Someone was designated to be "santa" - meaning that they would sort through the gifts under the tree and pass them out to the appropriate family member. This usually involved wearing a santa hat. With Christmas music playing in the background, and the video camera rolling, we would watch each other open gifts and would show excitement for what they recieved. Then we would clean up all the torn wrapping paper and save the bows. Then started the long wait for dinner. :) It was always worth it though!! We would usually end the night by playing a boardgame of some sort.

When Tony & I were dating, my family traditions remained the same for the most part. Tony was introduced to our Christmas Eve tradition of opening one gift. Brittany and I still woke up extra early to go through our stockings; and our gifts were opened one at a time as we all sat in the living room. Things that changed: On Christmas Day, after everyone was done opening gifts, I would get ready to go join Tony's family (usually around noon). There, everyone gathered in the living room and someone started distributing the gifts. Everyone was opening up their gifts all at the same time, so you couldn't really see what everyone else recieved, which was definately new to me. It was always fun; and I always recieved very nice, unexpected gifts from my future in-laws. Then we ate all the good food that Mrs. Donna had been laboring over for the past couple weeks. Because his family is much larger than ours, we can't all fit around the table, so everyone is spread out throughout the house. We also use paperplates and plastic cups that are easily tossed in the trash can when everyone is done. After we ate and fellowshipped with Tony's family, we would go back to my parents house. If it wasn't already done, I'd help set the table (with the finest dishes) and help mom finish up dinner. We would all sit at the table and enjoy the meal before us. Then we would usually go for a walk around town. After that, we would load the dishwasher and wash the remaining dishes that didn't fit (as well as complain to mom about not using paperplates. Haha). We usually end the night by playing a board game of some sort.

Since Tony & I have been married, the traditions have somewhat changed. We had the joy of decorating our own home for Christmas. For the past couple years, we've had my family over our house on Christmas Eve to continue the tradition of opening one gift. After they leave, Tony & I have been opening all the gifts from each other on Christmas Eve. We've always had a lot of fun! Christmas Day we go to my parents house first thing in the morning to open gifts, then to his parents house for the afternoon, and back to my parents house in the evening.

This year has been really different. It is now the 19th day of December - which means that Christmas is only six days away. We do not have our tree up; the house hasn't been decorated at all; Tony & I haven't bought gifts for each other; Christmas music has been played very minimally. Why? Within the past few months we have learned of all the pagan roots that surround this holiday called CHRISTmas. And right now I think we are going through the learning process of how to keep Christ as our focus this holiday season. God created everything for our enjoyment. Sinful man has used these things (among others) to worship their gods: decorated evergreen trees, wreaths, mistletoe, stockings, etc. Now does this mean that Christians are now forbidden to hang greenery in their home. I think not. Sinful man has also used food of all types to worship their gods. Does this mean that a Christian can no longer enjoy the food that God created? I think not. The beautiful rainbow that God gave to us as a reminder of judgment and His promise to never flood the earth again, has been used for quite some time to represent the homosexual lifestyle. Does this mean that a Christian can no longer enjoy the rainbow in the sky? I think not! I believe a Christian can enjoy all created things and give glory and honor to the true God. We can eat, decorate our homes, play games, buy and recieve gifts, all to the glory of God!

Tomorrow I will hopefully be able to finish purchasing Christmas gifts for our families. And who knows, depending on the time, I may even put up a few decorations in our home... maybe even some lights. Oh yes, and have Christmas hymns playing in the background. I feel that a form of Hannukah should be celebrated by Christians. We should reflect on what God has done in the past to bring us to where we are today and to look forward to eternity. We should reflect on the fulfilled prophecies and all the promises that God has given to His people over the years. We should rejoice that God humbled himself and became a little baby - so that He could one day suffer God's wrath on the cross; so that He could be risen from the dead three days later; so that He can sit at the right hand of God Almighty, awaiting the day to call all His people home.

For a very good reason, Tony & I decided to exchange our gifts sometime in January. The reason: well after December 25th, most everything is marked down 50% and more! We are to be good stewards of our money. :) We haven't picked out an exact date yet ... but we're making some new traditions, and revising others. Christmas Eve, I believe my family will be joining us at church for a candlelight service. This will be something new to all of us and I know that it will be a delightful time of singing praises to our King.

Jason & Amber Howell

This past Saturday, Amber Dawson & Jason Howell had a wedding ceremony, and I was very much honored to be a part of it. October 27th Amber had called and asked me if I'd like to be her Matron of Honor. Of course I said yes! So a wedding was planned in six weeks and it was beautiful! We were able to reuse the bridesmaid dresses from our wedding - with just a few alterations. I was able to wear Brittney's, Lorrainna wore Amber's, and Misty wore Brittany's. So the only thing we had to buy was our shiny black heels from Wal-Mart. Friday evening was the rehearsal dinner at 5:30pm. It took some time to get everything organized for the ceremony, so we were very hungry when it came to eat. McCall's catered. Tony & I stayed late to help set up the round tables and decorate the fellowship hall with Mrs. Sue, Aunt Judy, Cousin Jordan, and Little Ashtyn. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad we were able to stay and help.

So Saturday was the big day. At around 1pm I go over to my parents house and mom tries to curl my hair for about an hour and a half. It didn't work. Haha. But it did make my hair look a little fuller. We got the church at 3:40pm. Amber's hair was so pretty!! The wedding cake was delivered - three tier cake with white frosting, red poinsetta's all over, and a big red bow draped over it. It was so pretty! Then it came time to get dressed. Amber was such a beautiful bride!! And Ashtyn was an adorable flower girl! :) 5:30pm seemed to arrive quickly and before we knew it everyone was in place as Jason kissed his sweet bride. It was a glorious event!

Road Trip

We got to Nathan & Mary's house Thursday at midnight. We had thought about driving straight through to DC and just sleeping in the car, but Jimmey canceled, which made room for us in the Magnusen car. Praise the Lord! After about four hours of sleep, we were on the road again to join about 20 other seedsowers on the streets of Washington, DC. We met with them at the hotel and had a time of prayer. Once in front of the Washington Monument, it was a really slow start. Not many people were out and about. We walked what seemed like forever to the Union Station and stayed there for the remainder of the day. People were constantly coming and going, which makes for a great place to share the gospel, and that we did. Tony & I also took a little stroll through DC to see the Supreme Court Building. Only after we walked back all the way to the Union Station, did we realize that we were at the back of the Supreme Court Building,which means we didn't get a picture of Moses with the 10 Commandments. Oh well. :) But I did find this beautiful leaf on the way back. Such a reminder of how glorious the Creator is!

Saturday morning we left the house at about 7:30am to meet up with the Richmond team for their Christmas Parade. There were LOTS of people lined up along the streets and most all of them recieved a gospel tract or heard the gospel being preached. Praise the Lord! Tony & I walked the whole distance of the parade, plus some. We walked for We were very tired and grateful to be able to sit on some bank steps and relax as the parade finished. We then ate some lunch at Arbys, stopped by the house for 20 minutes, then met up with some of the Terry family at the VA Beach Parade. It was so nice to meet Jessica face to face. :) It was very cold and windy by the waterfront. We finished up the night at a Mexican restaurant - in celebration of Jessica's 22nd birthday.

Sunday we went to church with Nathan & Mary. It was a really good message about the importance of church membership - taken from Mark Dever's "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church". That evening we went to the Grand Illumination Ceremony at Williamsburg. There were thousands and thousands of people crowded in the historical village waiting to watch a 20 minute firework display. It was really neat. Tony stood up on the stool and began to lift his voice. When he did, everyone got silent. You could hear a pin drop. They were all listening. But when they realized that he was preaching the gospel, many of them started shouting "Shut-Up" and all the voices started talking again, trying to ignore the message. Several people rejected gospel tracts and mocked at the preaching. There was one lady that rejected a gospel tract and said "I'm a Christian and I don't want to have anything to do with what you guys are doing." It is so sad when professing Christians reject the gospel. But God sent several encouragers our way. They were like a bright light in the darkness. There was a 14 year old boy, Andrew, that came up to me and said "may I have some more gospel tracts? I passed all mine out." He and two of his friends had talked with Nathan earlier and he apparently gave them some tracts to pass out. So I gave them each a stack and they said they were going to save them to pass out to their friends at school. :) Praise God! Andrew went on to tell me that when they walked by earlier, his mom gathered the family together and prayed for us. The encounter was such a blessing! And then there were those that stopped and listened intently to the unadulterated gospel being preached. And some stayed and listened as we tried to reason with them about sin, righteousness, judgment, and God's amazing grace. May God open their eyes to the Truth they heard. We got home last night at 2am and got about four hours of sleep before we woke up for work. So needless to say, we are both very sleepy, but it is always worth it! :)